Hi, help needed for LSD and panic attack

[panicman]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and joined because I didn't know where else to turn for help. A friend of mine did a little LSD a couple weeks ago and had a really bad trip, and since then has been having severe panic attacks regularly. I did a search to help them out and found this website. I wanted to ask if anyone has had this happen to them and how you were able to get over it and get better. The panic attacks are really destroying my friend right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[panic in paradise]

understanding that this is not set for life, and noticing any pattern of changes that occur; frequency of panic attacks? what brings them on? what issues if any came up during the trip?, what has helped with the anxiety? how does what help, help?
id write all this down, and start answering them everyday, or with every anxiety attack, to get a tangible view of the stage/other contributing circumstances of the problem.
and again, understanding this isn't guaranteed for life.

if its possible to see a psychologist, not a psychiatrist yet, would be the ideal, or a therapist, counselor, any mental health professional. im sure there are clinics near that work on a sliding scale depending on ones income, this would be the first thing to look into locally.

but, in the meantime, maybe take my suggestion above to work with, and stay a bit occupied,,, as well as the advice to come. im sure there will be many creative thoughts shared.


once more, try and not go straight to a psychiatrist, and get put on meds. all this might take is a month or so of counseling, and inner-exploration that will always be accessible, not possible years on psych medication. id feel assured that if the therapist seen, feels that meeds are needed they would be made available.

please take care

 

[n3ophy7e]

panicman, if your friend is really struggling they need some professional help. They could start by going to their regular doctor and telling them exactly what's happened. Or as pip suggested they could just go straight to a psychologist/therapist/counsellor.

I wish them all the best, and rest assured they CAN work through this. They're going to be fine

 

[panic in paradise]

yeah, mentioning the LSD is of utter importance...

seriously.


its like having food poisoning and not mentioning eating anything when a Dr asks... the treatment, and diagnostic procedures a different, if this isn't a permanent issue, they would really rather it not be treated like one, im quite sure.

in '96, i took some "BlueFelix" blotter... 2 doses, 4 of the same the night before...
my reality and social perception were totally altered, i continued bashing my self with the stuff for a long while, but it took several years it seemed for things to settle down.
not admitting this to my Dr's, and continuing using exasperated it longer of course - so preventable and unnecessary.


seriously, if they go in, asking for help, telling them theta LSD was the trigger of this, and how much... they will treat them with some extra earned respect. this is unfortunately not uncommon, and usually, id bet 89% of the time people will not admit to their use; so some one asking for help, honestly will be very impressive to them, rest assured.


the sooner they start, the sooner it will be under-control.

Edit: for me it was a profound enough experience, for long enough, to chose it as my screen~name.

 

[Lord]

I really feel for your friend.

The way I see it, if his life is already not too stable he should probably go on some benzos (say clonazepam/Klonopin) until the rest of his life comes back into place and he can deal with the rest of the problems off the clonazepam. It's really a tradeoff though, because once he goes off the benzos, the symptoms may come back, possibly worse. IMO these drugs are only good for letting you skip to when you can deal with the situation, and it should be a short-term thing too. Benzo dependence and withdrawal is really nothing to fuck with.

 

[panic in paradise]

i didn't want to mention the stuff-

but in the middle of, debilitating agoraphobia, klonopin was miraculous...


but now, so many years later, the w/d's are far worse.
if your friend does go on benzos, please instill the courage, and knowledge, to get off them once they feel confident to do so, with a good support team-
a very patient prescriber, and attentive therapist.

time though, time and patience, with again; a caring understanding support group(family/friends) trumps almost all.

 

[panicman]

I want to thank all of you for your kind responses. This is exactly what happened. I was talking on I/M to my friend and all of a sudden he said he was having a panic attack, then asked if he could call me. Now, I've been through a phase of panic attacks myself, due to psychological reasons (not drugs) and I was treated with psychotherapy and Klonapin. So when my friend called I tried to talk him down from the panic attack the best way I knew how when I used to get them, without knowing the cause. I asked him when this started because he had never mentioned them before.

He said, "I did something really stupid. I took LSD a couple of weeks ago and had an awful experience/trip. And ever since then, I've been having panic attacks. At one point I thought I was dying and called an ambulance. They took me to the hospital and ran some tests but everything was clear."

This was the first time he did the LSD and he is not a drug user at all. I did my best to talk him down, and recommended that it was most likely the result of the LSD. I told him I thought the LSD may have awoken something in his subconscience and that's what the panic attacks are manifesting. I told him I have a really good General Physician that I see, and since I have an appointment in a few days, I'm going to bring up his case and see what the doctor recommends. I also told him about Klonopin, but said he will need to go through a doctor to get a prescription for that. I feel really bad for him, but am hoping with the right treatment, he will get better.

If anyone has anymore thoughts or responses, that would be great. And thank you all once again for your kind responses.

 

[panic in paradise]

um 1 last couple mentions

have you yourself tried guided/suggestive-hypnosis?
or heard of Hemi-Synch

the suggestive hypnosis, was taught to me as self guided meditation 15 years or so ago, and i used it all the time for years, until i forgot about it hah.

but then while shedding a nasty alcohol addiction i went into some suggestive-hypnosis session. it was, great.
and it was worth it just to be reminded of the techniques, or schematics if you will. i use it for pain when the drugs don't work, sleeplessness, just because;-), HighAnXiety, etc. etc.

HemiSynch is amazing, check it on line, i could explain, but alas, im too lazzzy atm.
hehe
good stuff though, manipulates you L and R brain hemispheres, it kind of just has to work.

let us know how it goes if you can...
youre a good friend.