This is how I cope. My brain runs away with me, coupled with OCD (people love to romanticize it byt forget about the obsessive/compulsive part). With that and depression and anxiety, the meds prescribed to me were insane, as were the side effects (many permanent too- fuck that). Weed was the lesser of the evils. I don't drink because aside from the fact that I hate the taste of alcohol, what I really detest is the loss of self control. I spend most of my waking and much of my sleeping time trying to keep one thing or another under control. I don't have to fight them nearly so much with weed.

I know it's an imperfect solution to myriad problems, but it helps me greatly,but I very much realize I am self medicating.

When I quit smoking weed it takes me about a year to get back to full 'normal'. But I'm also miserable. I can't sleep, I wake in the night in the middle of thoughts that are making me anxious or whatever. I eat too much, I have less energy. I simply become better at hiding my issues.