Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 3/24/2007

Question
I have smoked pot off and on for about 25 years. Having my own kids has
now compelled me to stop completely, since I'm not going to be one of those
parents scurrying around in secret sneaking a few puffs. I am concerned that
long term use has possibly depleted my dopamine production. Does the body
resume production after one quits? I have had episodes of mood swings and
anxiety after quitting before, but I was always predisposed to those
conditions even before I ever tried pot. Now my mood swings and anxiety
seem more uncontrolled as I get older, possibly due to my increased concerns
over career and parental responsibilities. My wife claims that I don't seem to
enjoy life as much anymore. I just hope I haven't irreparably damaged the
pleasure center of my brain. Thanks for reading this.

Answer
Dear John,

It is always difficult to give up marijuana. Once you stop smoking you will be bombarded with stress hormones, such as adrenaline, that give you the shakes, sleepless nights and wild mood swings.

The reason is that these symptoms are due to hypoglycemia. Most drug addicts are hypoglycemic that can be medically tested as explained at our web site.

Hypoglycemia is probably a pre-existing condition prior to your addiction, except that smoking pot has masked this and the condition worsened whilst smoking pot.

Thus the first step is withdrawing from pot. Take GLYCERINE to stop the craving and go on the hypoglycemic diet. This diet should help you to restore any damage done to brain cells. It may take a year. Search our web site for GLYCERINE.

Please read:

What is Hypoglycemia? at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/what_is_hypo.html

The Serotonin Connection at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html

“Why Alcoholics drink?” at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/why_alcoholics_drink.html

Tis applies to any addiction.

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=clinutrition&msg=183.1

“Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease” at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/alcoholism_treatable.html

I hope I have been of some help.

_________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, BA(Psych), Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
Editor: HYPOGLYCEMIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA at
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author: “Getting off the Hook” at
Google Book Search