Prompted by “Neil Young tells Howard Stern his secret cure for high paranoia”: http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/10/14/neil-young-howard-stern-marijuana/21436/
Life can be antagonizing to varying degrees sometimes, as we all know too well.
On the lighter end of that antagonism, if the song you’re listening to no longer fits the moment, you can simply turn it off. However, cannabis provides no off switch. This facet of cannabis use is important, especially for unskilled cannabis users.
Some people (e.g. many skilled cannabis users) can adapt to the discomfort of an unfitting cannabis session by effectively hunkering down and riding out the mental storm. Other people need another option. My suggestions follow with the unfortunate need for liability protection in the form of never advocating breaking the law, so for all of you living in the land of the more free, this bud advice is only for you.
While the divide still dominantly rests between Indica and Sativa, the need for strain granularity (“strainularity” for simpler communication) is paramount. Strain effects can vary dramatically from each other (the difference can even feel like two very different drugs). Understanding strains may help in this paranoid case. If paranoia is caused by discomforting effects (basically the cannabis equivalent of watching a horror flick — e.g. a harsh train wreck strain), adding a pleasant strain (e.g. Purple Kush) to a sufficient intake amount can smooth out the rough edges. Despite amplifying the overall effects, the net result can be more pleasing, so easier to free oneself from dominating negativity (“negdom”).
Combine that option with a positive distraction against the cause of paranoia (e.g. pleasing video such as “Cannabis Fannabis” — http://youtu.be/qRjW6U-cbMs?list=UUSXMUWvvaBNmXGiyDjIzUeA), or focusing upon positive memories, and the “It’s all good.” mantra can be realized.
Finally, anyone understanding the basics of Yoga (i.e. meditation) understands that a discomforting cannabis session calls for some meditative practice (which is healthy for anyone stressed out, even while sober). Yoga does not only apply to tuning the “brainless” parts of the body, but the basic tuning principle applies to the mind too (gently feel that mental burn and namaste). Successfully applying this technique centers the user, so strengthens that user’s core and consequently increases the ability to ride out the mental storm (and prevent future ones when practiced regularly aside of paranoia-causing situations). This option is for people knowing at least some Yoga, and cannabis users capable of maintaining the bodily balance required by the performed pose(s) — i.e. using a strain, or combination of them, that provides a reasonably balancing effect. In other words, people ‘plastered to the couch’ (because they launched themselves way too far out — i.e. a grossly overwhelming Effect to Reality ratio causing the effect to seriously dominate the user’s normal perception of reality) should probably avoid this Yoga option and simply (or otherwise) tune the television or sound system to something enjoyable (e.g. harmlessly humorous cartoons and/or psychill music).
Cannabis is a tool for the mind. When used properly, it helps tune your mind to a better place (effectively creating a “stress harbor” for your brain). Also, that positive experience is memorable, so you can learn to revisit that state without the plant’s aid (the plant is effectively a guide). In other words, while the plant compels a user to enjoy a strong mental structure upon positive use, performing mental exercises upon returning to sobriety to achieve that mental state without using cannabis is wise.
In any case, turning “negdom” into “posdom” or “baldom” is what righteously dealing with antagonism is all about (regardless of drug use or not).
Your “posdom” thoughts are surely welcome here, and so too is your aid in ensuring people legally able to consume cannabis have access to this (or similar) information to help prevent abuse.
All of my cannabis posts reinforce a preference for vaporization as the intake method of healthy choice (as future posts will elaborate) btw and fwiw.
I am an honest freak (or reasonably responsibly balanced "misfit", if you prefer) of an artist working and resting to best carefully contribute towards helping society. Too many people abuse reasoning (e.g. 'partial truth = whole truth' scam), while I exercise reason to explore and express whole truth without any conflict-of-interest -- all within a sometimes offbeat style of psychedelic artistry.
Spirit Wave Journal 
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