Anxiety around the /idea/ of taking substances

[applejuice]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to shoot the shit on this one and get some views and opinions.

My question is, has anyone experienced mounting irrational anxiety around the idea of taking any particular substances?

SWIM has been smoking a fair bit of weed off and on for,, almost 10 years, with varying degrees of anxiety either made manifest or quelled by the practice.
A few months ago, during a period of intense stress with work, SWIM was smoking quite a lot. After one particular sitting with MDMA and Salvia added for good measure, SWIM tipped it over the edge. The actual experience it's self wasn't intense or scaring, however in the days that followed, SWIM experienced anxiety & for the first time depersonalisation. SWIM appreciates that the aforementioned combination probably isn't a good idea at the best of times, never mind during times of heavy stress, but we live and learn.

So cutting to the chase, after abstaining from intoxication for a few months to shake off the anxiety and dp, SWIM eats a raisin sized nug of grass before bed time, safe in the knowledge that it would take a while to come on, hopefully just in time for falling asleep. Almost straight away after taking it, SWIM was incredibly anxious over the whole thing. SWIM had a crappy sleep and experienced anxiety for the next few days, feeling like he's set himself back a bit as a result. Assuming that this would be much too soon for it to be a pharmacological effect, it has left SWIM concluding that it is stemming from some psyche based issue relating to the idea of consuming weed. Potentially a net result of the irrational fear indoctrinated at youth through the media, education system etc.

Has anybody experienced anything similar to this?

SWIM appreciates that, after almost 10 years of smoking, there is little harm to come from a single dose as small as this, in a single sitting. And like any irrational issue, SWIM is keen to get it out in front of him and deal with it.

I'm keen to hear your views on the above, if anyone has experience with anything similar and perhaps any advice in dealing with it pragmatically.

Many thanks to everyone for taking the time to read and response.
peace

 

[Pagey]

We don't use SWIM here fyi - it's annoying to read and doesn't protect you from anything

Paranoia and general uneasiness/stress as a result of weed is extremely common. It's absolutely possible that your brain now associates the very idea of weed with paranoia, and you therefore experience such feelings even before getting the drug's effects. I'd recommend stopping it for a while at least, as it's only likely to get worse.

 

[pasha]

Paranoia and general uneasiness/stress as a result of weed is extremely common.

This. It's well established that cannabis is an axiogenic drug, sometimes in some strains more than others.

 

[applejuice]

Many thanks for taking the time guys.

It's absolutely possible that your brain now associates the very idea of weed with paranoia.

If this were the case, is abstinence the only vehicle for reversing that association? Can that association even be reversed? I'm keen to understand if there is any potential in the idea of being able to enjoy it again moderately in the future.

The incident mentioned above was the first interaction with cannabis in around 3 months; but I will continue to abstain.

This. It's well established that cannabis is an axiogenic drug, sometimes in some strains more than others.

If this is the case, is it likely then that this guy has a lower tolerance level in comparison to some peers who seem to be able to enjoy cannabis to a limitless extent ?

There seems to be some low level background anxiety involved when ingesting any substance, be it cannabis, md etc. The goal here would be to find the source of this anxiety, assuming is not associated with a specific substance, and work at resolving any preconceived notions or ideas. Oh perhaps its a healthy anxiety,, I dont know.

 

[Pagey]

I'm not really sure - CBT is the best way to un-do associations but since this is drug-related I'm not sure you'll be able to find a therapist willing to help you with that honestly I think the best is to take a good long break from weed to give your brain time to 'de-condition' itself.

 

[Crashing]

If drugs make you really anxious, don't do them. If you eat nuggets of weed, you shouldn't be doing any drugs, period.

 

[laCster]

Yah everyone feels anxious about trying a new drug when you first start using . After a while the anxiety and worrying about negative side effects, messing up your body or brain, ect...diminishes with continued used.

For me, trying a new drug doesn't cause anxiety per say, more anticipatory like anxiety occurs. Like I'm not worried if I will be "ok" but rather am excites to try something new.

Before using any drugs, I was really scared to try something new. I was horrified by the idea of smoking weed, and now I smoke weed everyday. I avoided heroin like the plague, and well let's just say I have multiple encounters with heroin after trying it for the first time...

 

[hefe1313]

If drugs make you really anxious, don't do them. If you eat nuggets of weed, you shouldn't be doing any drugs, period.

This ^

but really, what it sounds like what's happening is exactly what your question was for the thread.
You are scared about what is going to happen after the drugs/weed kick in.
No this hasn't happend to me, I would call it excitement not anxiety for me.
It's really about how you look at it. If you're content in the moment and not worried about what "might" happen, it'll most likely be a smooth ride.
I would try and calm your mind, breathing slowing in thru the nose out thru the mouth with a psy, like ahhhhhh can help calm you down. Breathing is really the only thing that can calm you down, other than drugs, it anchors you into the present moment. and takes you out of your mind. try it out.

 

[pasha]

If this is the case, is it likely then that this guy has a lower tolerance level in comparison to some peers who seem to be able to enjoy cannabis to a limitless extent ?

There seems to be some low level background anxiety involved when ingesting any substance, be it cannabis, md etc.

Well a lot of factors can come into play when determining whether or not a substance will produce anxiety, your current state of mind, your mental health, your diet, any predispositions you have, and your physical health. Even still, there are substances which are somewhat notorious for provoking anxiety, and even psychosis (including cannabis), especially if the mentioned factors are unfavorable. Amphetamines for example are anxiogenic substances with it being listed as a clear side effect while opioids on the other hand, can't be labeled as anxiogenics, since they're not typically popular for aggravating or creating anxiety. Ofcourse, there are exceptions to every substance.

The goal here would be to find the source of this anxiety, assuming is not associated with a specific substance, and work at resolving any preconceived notions or ideas. Oh perhaps its a healthy anxiety,, I dont know.

As clinical studies see it, it's certainly not preconceived, and the genesis of the anxiety is unknown. Here is a review that might be interesting to you:

Frequent cannabis users consistently have a high prevalence of anxiety disorders and patients with anxiety disorders have relatively high rates of cannabis use. However, it is unclear if cannabis use increases the risk of developing long-lasting anxiety disorders. Many hypotheses have been proposed in an attempt to explain these relationships, including neurobiological, environmental and social influences.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19693792

Subjectively speaking, I've found that smoking cannabis needs to be treated with respect. If you over do it, such as smoking joints as if your smoking cigarettes, it loses its magic. Strains like indica's for me provide anxiety relief, while synthetic cannabinoids and sativa's tend to send my anxiety sky high. I also find that smoking when your in the right mood makes it a pleasurable experience, unlike opioids it doesn't really unplug you from reality, so if I smoke when I'm depressed, I tend to get more depressed, or If I smoke it when I'm happy, it can make me even happier. I try to schedule my cannabis smoking to perhaps, once every few days, at night, preferably in front of the television with a good meal after a long day. It also tends to be a very poor drug for social situations.

 

[bronson]

Moving this BDD --> CD

 

[yeahbutno]

Youre that anxious that you have to write 'swim'? We all know its you, youre not fooling us, the police or anyone really.
Its not even allowed on this site.

 

[Jibult]

Youre that anxious that you have to write 'swim'? We all know its you, youre not fooling us, the police or anyone really.
Its not even allowed on this site.

He's a Greenlighter with 2 posts-- he obviously didn't know about the SWIM rules and hasn't repeated it since, so it's kind of unnecessary to lambast the guy for it after he's already been made aware of the inefficacy and prohibition on BL of using "SWIM" instead of referring to yourself in the first person.


applejuice, personally, I've only been nervous about slapping a 100mcg/hour fentanyl patch on my arm at a time when I had 0 opiate tolerance and weighed about 135. (I managed to keep it on for two days before I woke up on the third night choking on my own vomit. Ripped that fucker off and had close to a panic attack trying to figure out if I ODed and needed to go to an ER or not. Turns out I was good.)

I agree with Crashing, though, if drugs are making you anxious/stressed/nervous, don't do them. This thread is about anxiety stemming from the thought of doing drugs, though, and I don't have much helpful advice for that at all. Is there a legitimate reason that you think certain substances might effect you differently from other people? I only ask because I think this is harmless stress that could be easily beaten by "facing your fears" and dosing whatever you're nervous about, but if there's a medical or mental issue involved then I think the anxiety could very well be justified.

Put simply, if you're an otherwise healthy individual (aside from this little bit of stress) then I think the best way of eliminating this anxiety would be to put yourself through it and discover that you'll come out the other side just fine.