The other, less-introspective ideas that were occupying my mind while falling asleep.
I don't quite feel "myself," these days. I have decided, for the moment, that it's most likely related to a few specific scenarios.
The least likely being my level of distinct satisfaction with life lately - something which, as I've said many times now, is fairly alien to me.
But more likely, it's a combination of:
My body and mind adjusting to being 100% deprived of THC after over eight years of being excessively bombarded with it... And being on birth control while sober of THC for the first time ever. In other words, I started birth control for the first time after I'd begun my long streak of THC abuse. It makes sense that I would not have really noticed side effects until now. Especially if the main side effect I'm noticing happens to be mild fatigue and a subtle, general sleepiness at all times. I just feel slightly sedated. I feel a little slower in my thinking... my conversational skills are lesser than usual. I actually feel slightly stoned all the time and I don't like it!
I HAVE gained a significant amount of weight as well which I am not exactly thrilled about. I was malnourished before I started the birth control because of my poor spending habits which I've remedied - at least, I DO buy myself food now, that is. I don't buy it in the form of groceries nearly as much as I should, though. That whole thing is a work in progress... which will be easier for me to maintain healthfully and sanely if and when I'm making more money. So. After starting the birth control, for multiple reasons, I'd gained the weight I wanted to but then I gained more and more and now I'm about ten pounds more than what I would prefer to be. It's really not a big deal but it does definitely irk me when I'm getting dressed. I've been working out more which is great but I am still craving things I should not be, in volumes that are somewhat excessive and that's just not a good thing from any angle.
Anyway, after talking to a few of my friends about it, they've confirmed that I don't seem quite myself these days. At least, they have all noticed a decrease in my energy level and general alertness and sharpness. This is very frustrating to me, having finally quit smoking pot and so looking forward to feeling myself again especially in the areas of alertness, sharpness, energy level, appetite and overall organization of my life.
So, I hear that the way that birth control works is that it tricks your body into thinking that it's pregnant... something like that. If I remember correctly. I don't feel like googling it right this second. If I'm wrong about that, that'll throw all of the following out of the window but assuming that that's correct, that would explain my illogical cravings, mild fatigue and weight gain. It might be causing poor blood circulation as well which would explain a lot of my more poor sleep quality these days.
My conclusion is a series of questions: Is birth control really worth while? How much better or more "normal" would I be feeling right now without it? VS. How much do condoms suck? Heh.
My strongest impulse is to stop taking the birth control and deal with preventing pregnancy by other means. Which, as of now, sounds like using condoms. There is no answer I'm entirely happy with but I am really thinking that my "not feeling myself" lately is seriously not a worthy exchange. Not to mention all of the other, more common-sense reasons one should not be taking birth control. - The many risks involved, etc.
MARF.
The least likely being my level of distinct satisfaction with life lately - something which, as I've said many times now, is fairly alien to me.
But more likely, it's a combination of:
My body and mind adjusting to being 100% deprived of THC after over eight years of being excessively bombarded with it... And being on birth control while sober of THC for the first time ever. In other words, I started birth control for the first time after I'd begun my long streak of THC abuse. It makes sense that I would not have really noticed side effects until now. Especially if the main side effect I'm noticing happens to be mild fatigue and a subtle, general sleepiness at all times. I just feel slightly sedated. I feel a little slower in my thinking... my conversational skills are lesser than usual. I actually feel slightly stoned all the time and I don't like it!
I HAVE gained a significant amount of weight as well which I am not exactly thrilled about. I was malnourished before I started the birth control because of my poor spending habits which I've remedied - at least, I DO buy myself food now, that is. I don't buy it in the form of groceries nearly as much as I should, though. That whole thing is a work in progress... which will be easier for me to maintain healthfully and sanely if and when I'm making more money. So. After starting the birth control, for multiple reasons, I'd gained the weight I wanted to but then I gained more and more and now I'm about ten pounds more than what I would prefer to be. It's really not a big deal but it does definitely irk me when I'm getting dressed. I've been working out more which is great but I am still craving things I should not be, in volumes that are somewhat excessive and that's just not a good thing from any angle.
Anyway, after talking to a few of my friends about it, they've confirmed that I don't seem quite myself these days. At least, they have all noticed a decrease in my energy level and general alertness and sharpness. This is very frustrating to me, having finally quit smoking pot and so looking forward to feeling myself again especially in the areas of alertness, sharpness, energy level, appetite and overall organization of my life.
So, I hear that the way that birth control works is that it tricks your body into thinking that it's pregnant... something like that. If I remember correctly. I don't feel like googling it right this second. If I'm wrong about that, that'll throw all of the following out of the window but assuming that that's correct, that would explain my illogical cravings, mild fatigue and weight gain. It might be causing poor blood circulation as well which would explain a lot of my more poor sleep quality these days.
My conclusion is a series of questions: Is birth control really worth while? How much better or more "normal" would I be feeling right now without it? VS. How much do condoms suck? Heh.
My strongest impulse is to stop taking the birth control and deal with preventing pregnancy by other means. Which, as of now, sounds like using condoms. There is no answer I'm entirely happy with but I am really thinking that my "not feeling myself" lately is seriously not a worthy exchange. Not to mention all of the other, more common-sense reasons one should not be taking birth control. - The many risks involved, etc.
MARF.