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how does mdma cause panic attacks?

While you're coming up, your body initiates a fight or flight response, which causes an impending sense of doom.

Once the euphoria and the hallucinagenic effects set in, it should end. However it's not uncommon to have panic attacks while coming off of it.

It has a lot to do with it being a stimulant. Stimulants are known to cause panic attack disorder to come out in people who do not normally have it.
 
^^Yep, like me.

Also, I think when you've taken MDMA in the past, your body sort of 'remembers'. Just because you're having a good time doesn't mean your body is happy. It's actually in great distress while being attacked by such chemicals, hence the 'fight or flight' response. So when it remembers MDMA, and the distress it was put under from it, I find it can trigger the same response before you even take the drug! At least that's the sense I make of it, because now after I've abused MDMA, any time I think I'm going to take some, my body starts literally freaking out, shaking, panicking, anxiety, sweating, getting dizzy, nauseus, etc.. Then, when I convince myself "OK, I'm just not going to take it." 100% of the symptoms I just described subside.

It's bizarre, but clear enough of a message for me to take it seriously and shelf the molly for good.
 
Panic attacks are in the head. In fact, convincing yourself something IS actually wrong while on a panic attack, will just cause more damage (elevated temperature, high blood pressure, FAST heart rate)

it's essential to not fear panic attacks. Know the difference between something actually being wrong with you.
 
For first timers,
When the Fight or Flight mechanism kicks in, Its very hard for them to calm down,

First timers could have a really bad anxiety, but they are treated with liquid gold experience for their bravery :)
 
I've only experienced MDMA panic attacks as a result of using too frequently- a lot of people notice feelings that are seemingly the "opposite of rolling" when they're likely drained serotonin: anti-social, feeling off, anxiety, not wanting to hear music, lights feeling too bright, low energy, scary visuals etc. I experience the anxiety attacks for a few months to come, which is a common effect of over-use. Eventually, they went away.

I think in cases where someone brand new to MDMA, or someone who does not abuse it gets panic attacks and anxiety on the come-up, it's that adjustment to the new state of being that MDMA gives you, or as Renz said the "fight or flight" response. Eventually, when you're fully engaged in the MDMA experience, anxiety is the last thing you could even think about.
 
I only get them when I have been using too often, they usually don't start till its gotten to a pretty bad place and once I'm there it takes a few months for the anxiety to go away...
 
I find that when I first started doing E, I loved it so much, I had so much fun that I didn't even think about anything that would give me a panic attack. Once I started doing it often, I think I had one panic attack and that was when I smoked weed with it, and I just got too high. But other than that I've gotten so used to the high that I usually know exactly what is going to happen and I always enjoy it :P

My friends who are new to it have had panic attacks on the come up, but once I told them that the second it hit them it will be bliss they calmed down and then it hit them. They fell in love with it too :p
 
The only near panic attack I ever have is when I ingest, waiting for the come up, I sort of get anxious and wonder if the gear is hitting me etc.

Usually when the yawning and stretching kicks, or with friends dancing, I hardly notice the anxiety.
 
Listen...
During the come up just realize that your nervous feelings are going to dissipate once the MDMA kicks in... oh and do the d.a.n.c.e 1,2,3,4 fight stick to the b.e.a.t get ready to ignite !!!!
 
It has a propensity to cause panic attacks (although any drug can depending on the individual) because it has stimulant fx in addition to the euphoric/entactogen fx. Stimulants tend to cause panic attacks in some people, and in people with anxiety disorders stimulants w/o benzos sucks ass IMO. Although i find MDXXs to be less likely to cause panic attacks than pure stimulant drugs.
 
I find that rolls tend to cause me to panic really easy, especially if they're cut with meth. My first roll, I had no idea what it was going to be like, and when I started to feel it kick in a bit, I thought I was going to be sick, have a heart attack, or get so fucked up that I wouldn't be able to get home. I couldn't enjoy the high at all because I was so nervous.

I had a bad panic attack when I ate a roll a week ago. I ate it on an empty stomach (except for an energy drink), and while standing in line to get out of the rave to smoke a cigarette, I started to get scared that I was going to vomit. The very second I got outside, I puked. I felt a little better but until I peaked, I kept worrying I was going to vomit again. I even tried to force myself to get sick and when nothing came up, I forced myself to sit down, eat some Skittles, and calm the fuck down.
 
The adrenaline's pumping through you, you're in an altered state of consciousness, you might be thinking about weird stuff that freaks you out, all those together totally makes sense for a panicky environment in your head. Oh and plus if you take a lot and start hallucinating crazy bullshit all over the place, that can get kinda scary haha
 
It's all mental. The stuff makes you care too much, so you worry more. Caring too much is great; worrying too much is not. The only solution is to keep at it over time until your mind learns how to not worry about imaginary junk.

Do it no more often than every 6-8 weeks. Build up a buffer of known good stuff so you can always objectively determine if panic about quality of new stuff was mental or legit. Make sure your relationships and job and everything are solid before doing it so you have no rational cause for panic after comedown. Take a 6+ month break every two years.

Over time you learn to get rid of all the imaginary fears you projected on the stuff and you learn to trust it. Then its just you and the drug. The first time experience is never really gone for good; that's the worst lie your imagination will tell you. Just need a break and proper set and setting to be right back there. And if it doesn't work one time, there is always next time.
 
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