The other day my shrink rattled off a list of harm reduction therapies, some of which she believes in, some she doesn’t. This was in response to a nagging concern that quitting my weed smoking habit for good might be harder than I care to admit. She suggested I consider a whole list of biological interventions if I were to try to stop smoking weed altogether, or cut back in a drastic way. (which, by the way, she doesn’t think I need to or should.) I could barely keep up with my note-taking, scribbling down her input. I have yet to do the research, but wanted to at least plant the seed here, get a conversation started. In the order she mentioned them, with her immediate phrasing, I’ll share my list:

TMS, she doesn’t believe the data. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targets key areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression.

Psychiatric Medications, of course, there is, (as you know, she says) a whole host. Some work, some don’t, and it would take time to figure out what might work for you, in particular. She also knows I generally rule out, discount, dislike, am terrified of, and distrust this entire category, so she quickly moved on.

Acupuncture/Massage. This physical, touchy, feel good as therapy is my favorite. She is a firm believer and I want to sign up, saying – hey my doctor prescribes this! Point me to the practitioners in network please! How many times a week is good, or enough?

ECT, also known as good old fashioned electroshock-therapy, is harsh and she doesn’t think I’d like this, nor would I need this.

EMDR: she does believe the data. This is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Uh, what?

All are replacement strategies along the lines of harm reduction, which I had always relegated to the likes of heroin users. As I toke this joint and open a bunch of tabs, I guess I have some reading to do.