Anxiety Question, Help Appreciated

[DaftPunkFan]

Ok, so I smoked weed for well over a year, without any problems at all. I thought it was the best thing, and I really enjoyed how it made me feel. However, one time I experienced severe anxiety from this weed, and I went into a full-blown panic attack for an hour or so. This weed was definitely strong, and I definitely smoked a lot of it.

At this point, whenever I get high, I immediately start worrying about possibly reliving that event again. It's very hard for me to move on and enjoy the high. I believe my case falls under Pavlovian Conditioning, but what I'm wondering is how can I get back to the way I used to be? I'm definitely not going to smoke as much as I used to, but any amount of weed brings me straight back to that panic. I really appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[Drotacular]

reward yourself with smoking. plan a project for the day and talk to a good friend or a girlfriend and have them come over whenever you finished what you were trying to do. then just sit back and smoke. try to think about it as a well earned reward instead of just smoking. if you have a chick over just keep yourself distracted with her haha. idk ive always found that when i start to get anxious shit like this helps. if this doesnt wor try drinking and smoking cause itll help your nerves

 

[swilow]

but what I'm wondering is how can I get back to the way I used to be?

but any amount of weed brings me straight back to that panic.

Is this only happening when you smoke? Because, the simplest solution is to not smoke I know you may want to smoke, but these panic states can emerge into daily sober conciousness if one keeps going. Take a break from pot for a bit, maybe try smoking less and of a more indica-dominat strain.

But I would say, as someone who has got a lot of anxiety in everyday life, that weed defintely worsened- or more accurately, my abuse of weed worsened it.

Just be aware that smoking pot is ingesting a strong drug- very strong. Yeah, its just weed and all that, but its powerful. Of all the drugs I've used (which include lotsa intense and reality shattering psychedelics) cannabis induced the worst drug experience of my life- utter, blind panic. I foolishly kept smoking, and subseuquently worseneed my condition....

Take care

 

[DaftPunkFan]

Thank you swilow, I understand that it can affect my everyday life, because it definitely has. I guess what I'm trying to do is figure out how to make weed good again instead of quitting, because I really do enjoy it.

You would recommend a indica strain though? Is indica known for helping with anxiety?

 

[swilow]

^It contains a higher ratio of CBD to THC- THC is more likely to cause paranoia, CBD produces a more body stone. Theres a fair bit of research into the use of cannabis analogues as anti-anxiety medications; I know that THC was trialled with CBD- the results indicated that more anxiety and paranoia with THC then CBD. It also indicated that CBD appeared to lower anxiety levels in *some* people. That said, much research also suggests that THC can do so too Its a prickly conundrum really- I would really urge you to take a break from it, and let the 'conditioning' as you put it subside. After my terrible weed experience, I stopped smoking for a year, and re-began by purchasing literally quarter-grams, and smoking a few tiny joints out if them which I would light, take a puff or two, put out, and relight an hour or something later; eventually, I could really enjoy weed again. BUT- now I can't, because I took it to far.

A prickly conundrum indeed...Its not quite right to say indica 'helps' anxiety; its more appropriate to say that it will cause less paranoia and anxiety then sativa strains. Look for lighter green type of bud, which should be indica-ish. Also try a smoking method where you don't take massive doses in rapidly. THC effects areas of the brain that GABA (the inhibitory or "calming" neurotransmitter/hormone) receptors are not present in. Often people will agree that for the first five-ten minutes after smoking, anxiety will increase- but as CBD receptors start switching things "off" a bit, one calms down. Ultimately, the relaxing effects of weed come via inhibitng certain neurotransmissions. BUT- the first stage of intoxication almost needs to be experienced as anxiousness, due to the inactivity of GABA. A lot of people don't experience this mind you, but if you can remind yourself that, chemically, you SHOULDN'T feel anxious after smoking, you may have some luck.

Still, I would suggest a cessation of the habit for a while- I only say that because I've recently stpped after smoking an ouunce a week for a few years, and prior to that daily since I was 15 (i'm 26)- and I truly do feel a whole lot better inside.

 

[wungchow]

The same exact scenario happened to me, except I had been smoking for about 2-3 years before the panic reaction became commonplace.

Quit smoking for over a year, and weed still makes me super anxious. The anxiety is more pronounced in social situations, so now I only take a puff or two by myself on special occasions.

The other route is to take a xanax bar (or any strong benzo) before you smoke, but then you will get addicted to those fuckers (not fun)

 

[Roujaxian]

I think if you practice and are determined it can be overcome my sheer mental strength. Now obviously I dont know the full extent of your anxiety but mine wasn't too severe. I just always tried to be as confident as possible, sometimes purposely embaressing myself for "practice". For example ripping a fart then just take it without trying to weasle your way out of it. Simple little things can have a great positive affect.

My personal favorite confidence booster however is some oxycodone . Even after the high has worn off I am still super confident and don't experience any anxiety for the rest of the day, even when im smoking!

 

[ziggo]

I thought I read awhile ago that weed effects this one receptor that at first removes lots of your anxiety, but over time with excessive stimulation it starts to give you more anxiety. I figure it's true since all my friends that started earlier then me quit after about 1-2 years I'm guessing from panic/anxiety attacks.

Whereas all my friends that haven't quit yet and have been going for 1-2yrs we sometimes can get a lot more quiet then other times and we've just learned that weed can make everyone super anti-social from time to time and just to not care about it. Relax and know that it effects everyone that way time to time.

 

[haikod]

One thing that worked for me was clonazepam. After about a year, like you, of some serious smoking I put myself in a hole. I wasn't just anxious about my life but I was absolutely depressed and suicidal. I went to a doctor just for clonazepam to help me relax when I was smoking. After I went through months of trying meds he wanted I finally got the kpins. I used them for many months at about 1mg a day and they worked like a charm.
I decided to quit the Kpins because they eased me back into an acceptable place (and state of mind) and I fully understood what it was like to be Anxiety-free and feel great in social situations.
All I needed was to be reminded of what I was like before the downward spiral.
I never abused them when I had a script so they worked great for me and I had very little problem getting off.

I wouldn't recommend that anybody do this because benzos can be trouble. About 6 months ago I got an order in the mail of benzos and I abused the hell out of them, took 76 mg in three days and wrecked my car while blacking out for almost a week. So I'm not going to use them again (I'll stick to alcohol now when I want that kind of intoxication).

Well...I just realized that my anxiety wasn't due to weed it was brought on by me skipping school, lost my girlfriend.... and fucking up in other ways. So for you, if it is just weed that is making you anxious I would recommend stopping like others have said. But, if it's circumstantial then you might figure out another way.

 

[pkt]

Take a break man...

I think this is a pretty common scenario that most long term smokers can relate to.

I quit smoking weed regularly after a similar experience but after a year or two without smoking daily im back to smoking everyday, i no longer worry about anxiety but i know that in a social situation i'd prefer to drink a few beers as opposed to smoking a few bongs.....

 

[DaftPunkFan]

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate the advice. I did actually take a 3 month break to see if that would help, and I just recently started smoking again. The 3 month break did almost nothing to help with my anxiety, so I'm not really sure what to make of that. It seems as though the weed anxiety carried over into my normal life.

I think the advice of taking a couple hits, and then waiting a while and going from there is a good idea. I think if I can become comfortable again with being high, but not incredibly high, I will be able to smoke again without these paranoid thoughts. It also could just be that I need to go into the high thinking positively, and making sure only to smoke in a setting where I feel comfortable/relaxed. I'm not really sure why I'm having trouble with anxiety, but I think it's just a combination of a bunch of things working together to cause this.

 

[IncorrigibleHulk]

I agree with the guy who said try smoking as a personal reward. Take care of something that's bothering your mind, THEN smoke in the satisfaction that there's nothing you have to do but bask in a nice high. If you start feeling anxious, try talking yourself out of it. When I get weed anxiety, I just tell myself "ok, I'm just getting worked up 'cause I'm high" then I shut my eyes and focus for a minute on the high, just the physical and mental feeling of being high and the pleasurable sensations. That usually works for me.

If not, I have friends who recommend such panic killers as smoking a cigarette (works for me, but I don't want you to get hooked on cigs if you aren't a smoker), take a benzo (not available for everyone, I know), take a hot shower, drink a TALL glass of milk (I know that sounds retarded, but milk had naturally calming properties and, let's face it, it's delicious). You can also try herbal melatonin that you can buy OTC at any drug store, but that might put you right to sleep. Basically, anything that can lower your heart rate (or pre-emptively keep it low) will keep you calmer.

The key is to chill. Just chill. Once you get that down, you're fine.

 

[Mystery Brew]

^It contains a higher ratio of CBD to THC- THC is more likely to cause paranoia, CBD produces a more body stone. Theres a fair bit of research into the use of cannabis analogues as anti-anxiety medications; I know that THC was trialled with CBD- the results indicated that more anxiety and paranoia with THC then CBD. It also indicated that CBD appeared to lower anxiety levels in *some* people. That said, much research also suggests that THC can do so too Its a prickly conundrum really- I would really urge you to take a break from it, and let the 'conditioning' as you put it subside. After my terrible weed experience, I stopped smoking for a year, and re-began by purchasing literally quarter-grams, and smoking a few tiny joints out if them which I would light, take a puff or two, put out, and relight an hour or something later; eventually, I could really enjoy weed again. BUT- now I can't, because I took it to far.

A prickly conundrum indeed...Its not quite right to say indica 'helps' anxiety; its more appropriate to say that it will cause less paranoia and anxiety then sativa strains. Look for lighter green type of bud, which should be indica-ish. Also try a smoking method where you don't take massive doses in rapidly. THC effects areas of the brain that GABA (the inhibitory or "calming" neurotransmitter/hormone) receptors are not present in. Often people will agree that for the first five-ten minutes after smoking, anxiety will increase- but as CBD receptors start switching things "off" a bit, one calms down. Ultimately, the relaxing effects of weed come via inhibitng certain neurotransmissions. BUT- the first stage of intoxication almost needs to be experienced as anxiousness, due to the inactivity of GABA. A lot of people don't experience this mind you, but if you can remind yourself that, chemically, you SHOULDN'T feel anxious after smoking, you may have some luck.

Still, I would suggest a cessation of the habit for a while- I only say that because I've recently stpped after smoking an ouunce a week for a few years, and prior to that daily since I was 15 (i'm 26)- and I truly do feel a whole lot better inside.

I went from smoking oz a week too. Ive never felt that bored the week I took a break

Correct me if im wrong, buds (compressed brick weed) has more CBD because it has been given time to cure alot longer

 

[Pinkpuff]

I went through kind of the same thing, and I quit for about a year. I still get anxious when I smoke, so whenever I smoke (like once every 2 weeks) I take xanax before. I just find that to be the best solution... I've tried smoking without it and ill be ok, but not happy and relaxed. I'll still be tense...
I know what you mean about not wanting to stop, I feel the same way! If you smoke everyday, your anxiety will most likely go away (I have many friends who do), but if youre like me and want to smoke occasionally, idk how to overcome the anxiety... I'm still trying to figure it out myself!

 

[ShroomBoom321]

out of the 4 years I have been smoking, I have only had one panic attack, actually happened about a week ago.....I was taking some bong hits (hot boxing in a car) and right after that I was so fucking high! haha I was just like "holy shit, my heart rate is going crazy!" then I took a xanax pill then was super chilled out. The funny thing was that right after that I smoked more weed with friends a few hours later and was perfectly fine!. (Birthday blunts are the best)

 

[DaftPunkFan]

I agree with the guy who said try smoking as a personal reward. Take care of something that's bothering your mind, THEN smoke in the satisfaction that there's nothing you have to do but bask in a nice high. If you start feeling anxious, try talking yourself out of it. When I get weed anxiety, I just tell myself "ok, I'm just getting worked up 'cause I'm high" then I shut my eyes and focus for a minute on the high, just the physical and mental feeling of being high and the pleasurable sensations. That usually works for me.

If not, I have friends who recommend such panic killers as smoking a cigarette (works for me, but I don't want you to get hooked on cigs if you aren't a smoker), take a benzo (not available for everyone, I know), take a hot shower, drink a TALL glass of milk (I know that sounds retarded, but milk had naturally calming properties and, let's face it, it's delicious). You can also try herbal melatonin that you can buy OTC at any drug store, but that might put you right to sleep. Basically, anything that can lower your heart rate (or pre-emptively keep it low) will keep you calmer.

The key is to chill. Just chill. Once you get that down, you're fine.

Thank you, this definitely helps a lot. I do actually have benzos, but have only tried them with weed a couple times. I try not to use them unless I absolutely need to, but I think I'm going to try and use them a bit more when I smoke and see what happens. I also tried the closing the eyes for a minute and just trying to relax, and I found that pretty helpful. The thing that bothers me the most is that I know nothing bad is happening, but I'm still anxious for some reason. I'm going to try the idea of smoking as a reward too, that sounds like it would help with the relaxing aspect.

 

[swilow]

^I would really urge you NOT to use benzo's to mellow out a weed high; its like using heroin for a headache. The best solution (broken record :D) is that you should simply try not smoking anymore. If a drug is making you feel shit, what are your reasons for wanting to do it? Theres lots of 'other things not drug related' that can bring about immense satisfaction.

But yeah- if you begin the benzo use, bad things can happen. Your essentially conditioning your mind further into believing that you can't manage your anxious thoughts; and they will get stronger, and the benzo's will stop working, and bam. Pain for a long long time- seriously think about whether this is worth it.

Correct me if im wrong, buds (compressed brick weed) has more CBD because it has been given time to cure alot longer

Hmm, I'd have thought it would be the opposite- more THC being decarboxylated by the longer curing process. That said, I have no idea.

 

[Nibiru]

reward yourself with smoking. plan a project for the day and talk to a good friend or a girlfriend and have them come over whenever you finished what you were trying to do. then just sit back and smoke. try to think about it as a well earned reward instead of just smoking.

I dunno, that might not be a good idea, attaching a drug to the reward system on purpose.

And stuff that's sit longer would have more CBN, not CBD.

CBN is a degradation product of THC, but not CBD.