CBD oil, no THC

[Cre8er79]

After 35 days sober, I tried CBD oil with no trace amounts of THC in it.
My anxiety reached a debilitating point after being fired from my job.
I was surprised to see that it actually helped! It is so subtle, so subtle that I probably wouldn’t no any difference if I were still drinking and using. Any thoughts on this product?
I’m getting mixed responses from people I’m connected with in my AA community.

[Brock]

Welcome here to e-AA.

Firstly my apologies that your post took a little longer to approve than normal, there just weren't any moderators around for a while, any future posts go straight up. 

We have had the topic of using marijuana here quite a few times, with the argument that the person needed it for medical reasons, anytime we suggested they use the type without the ingredient that gets us high, they stopped posting. Here you seem to be saying that’s just what you are doing, I wasn't familiar with it, but by Googling got some information, here’s a part of that -

Using CBD hemp oil for pain is an effective alternative to harsh prescription drugs. Every Day Optimal CBD specializes in making the best hemp derived CBD oil in the United States, 100% THC free.

One of the great things about cannabidiol is that it can help with a number of different conditions, including insomnia, muscle pain, joint pain, and psychological problems like stress and anxiety. CBD can also reduce neuropathic pain and discomfort associated with difficult to treat pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

This sounds pretty OK to use in my opinion, my mind went to a long timer here Paige, when I saw that it helps with fibromyalgia, since she has mentioned suffering from that, and how painful it can be.

But in my experience, AA folks can be very fussy about anything that can change a persons mood, or lower things like anxiety, but modern science is taking a closer look at drugs like the one you describe. I think it’s up to you, this stuff sounds harmless, and if it helps you for the time being I see no harm, but keep in mind that the work of AA, the steps, also when completed can help in reducing anxiety to a great extent, so work on that as well.

[tomsteve]

wlecome, Cre8er79.

i find many choices in my life are all about the motive behind them.

there are people in AA that can go to extremes- even with alcohol. some dont go anywhere near parties,liquor stores, social events,etc. however, the BB tells us, assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do many things an alkie isnt supposed to. it goes on to say that its all about the motive for being there.

the same is with medications and what you are asking about. ive been on some pretty heavy meds post surgeries. some folks in AA freaked out and said i shouldnt have been on any meds. fortunately for them they hadnt been through the surgeries i had.

i will add i hope youre working the steps,too. it did help me remarkably with anxiety, which for me was/is fear.

[1Peter5:10]

I have never heard of an AA tell someone to stop taking prescribed Zoloft nor anything else (including mood altering drugs. antidepressants etc.) that has been prescribed by an actual doctor.

When it gets shaky is when someone with a history of abusing alcohol or other mood altering substances, decides that doctors are stupid and he should medicate himself based on what his friends and a few websites say.

We have a history of making poor decisions regarding mood-altering drugs. We didn't suddenly begin making better decisions just because we stopped drinking.

[PaigeB]

I am also on the side of checking my motives. When I first got sober my family doc gave me benzo's in case my anxiety reached the point of seizure - and of course I did not tell her exactly how much I drank or that I mixed it with benzo's at the End. It scared me that she would be so willing to prescribe such a potent drug and how little she knew about alcoholism itself. That stuff basically went to dust in my purse. I only used it one time, when I was standing by the river dam, thinking of throwing myself in because my husband bought the wrong jello for the party.

There was no option in my state for CBD at the time, but since then she has looked to other, more holistic methods in other areas of my medical care. I tried some CBD oil orally at a Holistic Fair. It made me sick to my stomach, just like smoking pot did. I am still allergic I guess, LOL.

Here is my motive test: Am I practicing half measures with this program?

[Cre8er79]

Thank you everyone for your open minded thoughtful responses!
After a couple days using the CBD oil my wife said that I had a demeanor shift that reminded her of my personality traits after having a couple beers. This freaked me out since I am all in on the sober path. I stopped using the product and am currently questioning whether I should be restarting my sober date. I obviously don’t want to restart my sober date since I am 40+ days in and doing great otherwise. I’m currently seeking new sponsorship since my current sponsor isn’t providing me with the type of support I need and don’t have many people to consult at this time. I am not going to use CBD anymore since it may have worked too well at relieving anxiety. I am working the program and going to meetings. Should I be restarting my sobriety date? Can I look at this as a small experiment gone wrong and keep marching forward with my original sobriety date? Please let me know your thoughts, I’m a little torn.

[Brock]

Should I be restarting my sobriety date? Can I look at this as a small experiment gone wrong and keep marching forward with my original sobriety date?

If you personally feel that you were ‘spaced out’ or whatever, you might start from day one again, but from what you described I would certainly feel this was not necessary. There are drugs we will take under medical recommendation if we are unlucky enough to get injured, or have an operation, that might make us feel and maybe act, like we had a few beers. We are living a normal life and stuff happens, alcoholics don’t need to be resetting dates for little things, if you knowingly drink liquor then yes, change the date, but it is a personal decision for you to make.

On the subject of sobriety dates, it’s very common for newer members to get wrapped up in this, but as you go along you will meet some who have lots of time and not a lot of happy sobriety, and some with much less time who have done what is asked, and are living happily in the solution. It comes down to what you are doing with the time you are sober, trying to get advice where you need it in doing the steps, and actually doing them. This program has the potential to make you feel a lot calmer, you may even act calmer and your wife will ask if you had a couple of beers, but then you can smile and know it is the spiritual promises coming true.

I’m currently seeking new sponsorship since my current sponsor isn’t providing me with the type of support I need and don’t have many people to consult at this time.

If by ‘support,’ you mean he isn’t available to speak to when you have a question about the program, then yes, but if you mean just moral support, that really is not his job. I am afraid that some people even think that AA meetings are just an occasion for alcoholics to offer moral support to each other. Yes, if someone is having a hard time we can let him lean on us a little, but basically a sponsor just shows us what he did and guides us through the steps, if we are having a ‘pity party’ he should tell us to snap out of it, and not really be just a shoulder to cry on.

It’s gets easier as you go along, and remember that we enjoy giving our opinions on questions like these, you are welcome to share anything which is troubling you.

[PaigeB]

Should I be restarting my sobriety date? Can I look at this as a small experiment gone wrong and keep marching forward with my original sobriety date? Please let me know your thoughts, I’m a little torn.

This is a good 1st question for a new sponsor. Mine asked me if I was trying to get high. I wasn't. I was looking into holistic alternatives for pain control. Something my doctor suggested. No white chip for me.

[Cre8er79]

Thank you again! I’m very happy I stumbled upon this forum!
Good insights! After much deliberation and discussion, I am not going to restart my sober date, but I am going to learn the valuable lessons. Non psychoactive herbal remedies are now on my list of things to avoid without proper investigation and true need under the guidance of a physician. It seemed like such a harmless thing at the time, given the fact that there are countless people chain smoking cigarettes outside the fellowship daily. I am one of them, mind you, no judgement.
I will eventually 12 step tobacco out of my life. My wife advised me not to quit both at once, probably sound advice.

[Theo50]

What would be the difference between smoking a cigarette or smoking non-THC marijuana? I do not smoke either but if I, as an alcoholic, at some point needed a pain medicine due to a severe injury or severe arthritis wouldn't CBD be a better alternative than an opioid?

[avaneesh912]

Do you have any painful injury or arthritis now?

[Cre8er79]

I have heard some people getting pain relief from using CBD oil topically, similar to Bengay.
I’m not sure if it has the same “calming” effect as ingested the oil via mouth though.

[Theo50]

Do you have any painful injury or arthritis now?

Yes, I have some arthritis in my left thumb which will eventually need surgery as cortisone injections did not work. The pain is manageable and I will continue with the pain until it becomes unmanageable and proceed with surgery. The recovery time for the surgery is significant. I have shoulder problems as well, My left shoulder is prone to partial dislocation and my right shoulder has an impingement of the rotator cuff socket. The cortisone injection in my right shoulder help slightly and I will be going for physical therapy soon. The only pain med I take is some over the counter 200 mg Walmart store brand Ibuprofen. The only time I have ever had any prescription pain medicine was after some oral surgery years ago.
My 89 year old Mother suffers from severe arthritis in her back and everywhere else it seems. She is unable to take almost any pain medicines as they interact with her other medications. I wish that her doctors would prescribe non traditional "Big Pharma" pain meds as I have heard good info on the non-psychotic forms of marijuana, cannibis and the like.
If I every get to the point that I have seen my Mother deteriorate to, I would hope that as an alcoholic, it would not be considered as an issue in my AA recovery.
I do take prescription medicine for anxiety and I am sure this could be considered controversial in AA.

[Brock]

I am pleased this was discussed here, since I knew little about the use of this stuff for things like arthritis, my wife suffers and myself to a lesser extent, so I am going to try it.

Theo said -

The only pain med I take is some over the counter 200 mg Walmart store brand Ibuprofen.

This is available where I live in 800mg tablets, which we use quite frequently. The only problem with these is possible stomach damage, (I am not playing doctor this can be seen on Google), so it’s best after a meal, or with a glass of milk.

I do take prescription medicine for anxiety and I am sure this could be considered controversial in AA.

You are right about that. What I don’t like about some AA’s, is they are quick to say if it’s prescribed by a doctor no problem, but when it’s something like a tranquilizer, they start telling people to stop. Some speakers in meetings and on speaker tapes, say words like I haven’t had a drink or a mind altering pill in X years, and they consider tranquilizers mind altering. I have heard it expressed as ‘wanting to wrap alcoholics up in cotton wool,’ and while I don’t believe in taking these things unless it’s really necessary, the decision is the alcoholics, (and his doctors), alone. I think we must be mature about it, test our motives for using something, while always having an eye open for a solution which may be non habit forming. No recovered alcoholic who is enjoying their sobriety, I believe would put it in danger, by using drugs which were not necessary, to live relatively comfortably in today’s fast paced world.

[Blue Moon]

IME things like antidepressants get me depressed, sedatives wake me up, etc.

Studies of "non-opioid" drugs are relatively few, and likely don't take into account the predisposition of an already alcoholic / addicted brain. Just because something is considered safe for a normal, healthy brain does not mean ours will react the same way.

Bottom line: exercise caution even when looking at "expert" opinions.