ncj said:

well, its official.  my dad is a schizo.  he has been getting worse lately, mentioning suicide and thought of murdering me and my mom.  he was put on a medication called zyprexa, and after a day of taking it he didnt seem to get any better.  my mom took him to the hospital where he is in the mental health facility and on medication.  he will probably be there for a couple of days until he shows signs of improvement.

i asked my mom if there have ever been any other family members of his or hers with schizophrenia, and she said no.  apparentally he is the first.  she did mention a cousin of my dad who had mental problems, but not schizophrenia.  it's strange because he is the only known person in our family to have it, and he is like 45.  i heard psychotic illnesses usually show up between 15-30 and are genetic.

i went to visit him today and that place creeped me out.  he kept talking about the voices he was hearing and how they were cursing and
taunting him.  i feel bad for the guy, even though he hasnt really been much of a dad.  being there even made me consider my usage of pot and alcohol.  i'm really confused right now. 

i heard marijuana may trigger psychosis in someone who is vulnerable, such as someone who has a family member with it.  i've only had a couple of bad highs on weed which i didnt enjoy, but those were when i was in uncomfortable places or with stranger. 

i remember once i had to walk like a mile home while high, and as i was walkin i was extremely paranoid and was imagining that people were yelling things at me like "get the hell out of here you junkie" and "i know your hallucinating".  i always feel like this when i'm high and around strangers, even when i first started.  i remember in my newbie days when i used to smoke in an area behind a school i would have to walk home and i would imagine the the dea was watching me and about to bust me.  as soon i would get home those feelings would go away though.  i always just brushed these feelings off as paranoia from the weed and nothing having to do with schizophrenia.

also, on the last 4/20 i smoked way too much.  i had to walk home again and it was really hot and i think i got dehydrated.  i felt like throwing up but couldnt, and i just layed on my bed thinking things like "u need to quit drugs" and "dont ever try shrooms".  i don't know if this was a sign or not, but i just brushed it off as i smoked too much.

whenever i smoke in my room or someone else's house and listen to music or watch tv, i have always loved it.  i love mary jane, but i dont know if she is worth risking my mental health.

is there anyone else here in a situation similar to mine?  any advice or comments would be appreciated. 

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Hey chief, I am 19. My old fella has ADD and my mum is has a form of Schizophrenia and is on Zoloft. Not good.

I have used Psychedelcis (P. Sub and acid) relatively frequently for the last 6 months, moreover because I have moved out of home and am living with a few friends. I smoked pot (although i wouldn't call myself a pot-head) from 15, and well at Uni (where I am studying Psychology), its kinda the law... 

How much influence has your father had over you in your upbringing? Schizophrenia is a tricky illness, putting it simply, there are major variations within the one illness (like it can be brought on from being locked in a room for days and it can also be sepretly be brought on through your genes).

As there are no others in your family with a history of it, it is possible that you will not be at all affected. Still this is not a green light for you to plow head first into the world of psychedilics. There are many other things to consider. At 16. reflect on your reasons for wanting to use them. Are they really legitimate? Do you think you are mature enough? Chances are, your probably not... and that your looking for an escape. In my experience, this is not a healthy stance to be entering into this realm with. I did it, and I realised that I could and should work through my problems without drugs... it seemed such a waste. So i did work through them, and then embarked upon my spiritual quest with a sure and stable self knowlege. But then thats just me.

It is an excellent sign that you have decided to wait in my opinion. Also, only do it when your sure, not 95% sure, 100% sure.

Also, I'm not sure, but it seems a reasnable assumption to make; that using these drugs at an early age will damage parts of your brain. Although, with psilocybin, you should be at less risk in actually hurting your brain than with other drugs like mescaline and acid. Also, DO NOT try Salvia until you brain plateau's if you know what I mean. It screws with your immune system, which physiologically is vital for you at your age. Ideally i think 18 (minimum) and onwards  is when you are mentally and physically best able to deal with a psychedlic experience.

Hope that helps a bit

Colum 

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and have smoked alot of pot for a while. i've never heard any voices or had any mental problems at all. i'm worried because i heard that schizophrenia is hereditary and that if i start using psychedelics, such as shrooms

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