Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Richard Dreyfuss health: Star wondered if marijuana caused his bipolar disorder - can it?
Express (U.K.) ^ | Sat, Jun 18, 2022 | Luke Whelan

Posted on 06/22/2022 6:22:26 PM PDT by nickcarraway

RICHARD DREYFUSS, the Close Encounters of the Third Kind actor, first recognised he was a manic depressive as a teenager. Over his life, he has spoken candidly about the condition - including how he questioned whether marijuana was the cause.

The Jaws actor, who was in plenty of popular films in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, first figured out he had bipolar at the age of 11, although he thought the condition name was “too neutral and stodgy”. Dreyfuss, born and raised in Beverly Hills, California, said: “I have surfed my manic depression since I was 11-years-old. I enjoyed it and made it work for me and have not known the world without it, so it’s my only known existence.”

Bipolar, or manic depression, is generally diagnosed to people who experience periods of intense depression, that follow or precede periods of “mania” where they may be full of energy, or become easily distracted and delusional.

Despite his embrace of the condition, in the past, Dreyfuss questioned its cause – wondering if the condition could’ve been prevented if he hadn’t taken marijuana.

He told Piers Morgan in 2013 on his old program Piers Morgan Live: “I said to my sister, ‘I wonder what would’ve happened to me if I had never taken any drugs’ and she said, ‘Why are you asking?’

The effect of marijuana on mental health is controversial. Some studies have shown cannabis is linked to the development of bipolar disorder – while others play down its effect.

The University of Warwick found evidence of a significant relationship between cannabis use and the onset of mania symptoms.

Another study of 6,800 people who experienced psychosis in Denmark found almost a third developed either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia over the next 20 years.

Other studies have found cannabis can make bipolar symptoms worse later on.

Dr Ranj Singh's 'suicide pain' condition - trigeminal neuralgia However, on the other side of things, some researchers believe cannabis can improve bipolar symptoms.

Dreyfuss may have doubted the causes of his bipolar disorder, but in later interviews, he talked about how he was against the Bipolar Disorder’s “stigma” and concluded it was something he was born with that he doesn’t feel guilty about.

In a documentary alongside Stephen Fry called “The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive”, he said, “Stigma is silly; stigma is stupid; stigma is what other people think about you.”

He has even recalled a sense of relief about finally having a reason for some of his unusual behaviours.

"It took away all of my guilt because I found out it wasn't my behaviour — it was something I was born with," Dreyfuss said on the TODAY show in the US.

Dreyfuss has described the symptoms he developed as a young man.

"Every once in a while, when I was talking, I would find myself getting up and talking louder and faster and louder and faster and louder and faster, until my friends would say, 'OK, OK. Let's get the big circus cables and throw them around his ankles and pull him gently back to Earth," Dreyfuss said.

Although bipolar disorder can be a challenging condition, it is manageable in most cases, and the NHS has posted guidance on how to cope with the condition.

The health body recommends talking about the condition, whether to friends or helpful organisations.

“Many organisations run self-help groups that can put you in touch with other people with the condition,” states the body.

“This enables you to share helpful ideas and helps you realise you're not alone in feeling the way you do.”

Some organisations the NHS recommend are Bipolar UK, Carers UK, Mind, Rethink, Samaritans, and SANE.

It also points out there are courses available for people who feel “distressed” or “uncertain” about their condition. The organisation Self Management UK runs such courses.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: actors; bipolar; dope; druglegalization; jaws; marijuana; mentalillness; pot; richarddreyfuss; smellslikefreedom
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last
To: nickcarraway

Usually people who smoke MJ strongly deny its effects. That’s part of the reason its debilitating effects are muted - because so many people smoke the stuff and mute anything about its negative effects.

But pot causes psychosis. The degree of psychosis depends on the person, but it causes it. One way to tell that is generally anyone who smokes the stuff almost immediately feels a certain paranoia (especially back in the days when it was illegal).

No, I don’t think the government should regulate what adults choose to do do in their own private lives, but I wish the truth about MJ was more widespread. Screws up the memory something firece also.


21 posted on 06/22/2022 7:03:01 PM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

More expert advice from Hollywood play actors.


22 posted on 06/22/2022 7:07:36 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The dude is a liberal douchebag. His mind was already fried before he started smoking weed.

Like all leftist turds, his insanity and psychosis increased proportionately to the level of his success in Hollywood. Fe and fortune are every bit as addictive as heroine or methamphetamine. The more you get, the more you need to maintain the “high”.

I suspect that douchebag is beginning to feel death creeping up on him and is now looking for an excuse for his depravity.

Suggest he just come out and admit he sold his soul for fame and fortune.

Otherwise, “F” him and the horse he rode in on.


23 posted on 06/22/2022 7:11:09 PM PDT by Qui is (First, never apologize to the enemy, and second, never forget that Biden spews and Harris swallows. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Qui is

Fe = Fame


24 posted on 06/22/2022 7:11:53 PM PDT by Qui is (First, never apologize to the enemy, and second, never forget that Biden spews and Harris swallows. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Qui is

Fe = Fame

D’oh!


25 posted on 06/22/2022 7:12:42 PM PDT by Qui is (First, never apologize to the enemy, and second, never forget that Biden spews and Harris swallows. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: jjotto

“Big assumption that typical street marijuana does not contain other psychoactive drugs. Big mistake. Lot of weird drugs can aggravate existing conditions of all kinds when used to ‘strengthen’ marijuana.”

I highly doubt that any measurable amount of street weed contains other drugs.

But hopefully fear should drive all the users to your ‘legal’ store


26 posted on 06/22/2022 7:12:49 PM PDT by algore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: JennysCool

Thanks for Your Post,
Richard gets It!


27 posted on 06/22/2022 7:13:28 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (We Are JONAH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: jjotto

Not to mention pesticides used by the growers. Pretty sure they are none too careful with the “do not use within X number of days of harvest” instructions.


28 posted on 06/22/2022 7:17:42 PM PDT by Valpal1 (Not even the police are safe from the police!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: JennysCool

The ideas he’s laid out do
Not come from a drug damaged brain. IMHO


29 posted on 06/22/2022 7:21:44 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (We Are JONAH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“Dave’s not here”


30 posted on 06/22/2022 7:32:06 PM PDT by wyokostur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
" Dreyfuss, born and raised in Beverly Hills, California"

No, born in NYC and moved to California at the age of 9.

31 posted on 06/22/2022 7:34:10 PM PDT by CaptainK ("If life's really hard, at least its short")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I believe this is also a big factor in the crazy street violence we’re seeing these days.


32 posted on 06/22/2022 7:34:40 PM PDT by The Duke (Search for 'Sydney Ducks' and understand what is needed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Unless he started smoking marijuana at age 6...

...he’s a dumbass, probably from overuse of marijuana (ironically, if being a lib wasn’t bad enough).


33 posted on 06/22/2022 7:51:03 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I don’t think there is any mental or emotional problem that smoking pot really helps with, except maybe temporarily.


34 posted on 06/22/2022 7:51:53 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Valpal1

“Not to mention pesticides used by the growers. Pretty sure they are none too careful with the “do not use within X number of days of harvest”

I don’t know a single weed grower who would even think about using pesticides, but tobacco growers on the other hand...


35 posted on 06/22/2022 7:56:59 PM PDT by algore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

In short, the answer would be “yes.”


36 posted on 06/22/2022 8:01:25 PM PDT by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: All

What’s he worried about??? Two poles are better than one pole. Unipolars are so one dimensional. Plus we’re naturally smarter. I’m so smart and my brain is so big my head tilts to one side because I can’t hardly hold it up straight from all of the heavy knowledge there.


37 posted on 06/22/2022 8:02:28 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Where is Biden leading us and what's with the hand basket?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
If you take any mind or mood altering substance long enough and regular enough it will have an impact on you physically and mentally.

Don't see how there could be a question here.

38 posted on 06/22/2022 8:07:04 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (It is better to light a single flame thrower then curse the darkness. A bunch of them is better yet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

The illicit growers squatting in the national forests do and leave huge messes to boot.

https://timesofsandiego.com/tech/2021/09/23/spotted-owls-fishers-dying-in-california-from-pesticides-in-illegal-marijuana-fields/

Even though MJ is legal to grow, most states have made the regulatory and tax burden so heavy, that illicit MJ is still cheaper and thus vastly more profitable especially for the illicit growers stealing both land and water. These people don’t give a rat’s ass about the end user’s health.


39 posted on 06/22/2022 8:28:34 PM PDT by Valpal1 (Not even the police are safe from the police!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Valpal1

Oh my, Spotted Owls...

Haven’t heard that in a long time, Maybe it’s time to get to get my bell bottoms and flannel shirts out of storage.

More seriously, our military bases and chemical pharma conglomerates are of such far greater concern this does even register


40 posted on 06/22/2022 8:45:51 PM PDT by algore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson