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[Mega] Anxiety and Paranoia Help / Discussion Thread

Lasting Anxiety caused by Weed

Hey, so I have this problem, I never really cared much for weed and just smoked some with mates now and again , but a few months we were celebrating a friends 18th and we hotboxed a lot in his room. I had weird feelings like I'd shat myself or that something was wrong but it wasn't too major. The next did I had a joint lying around and no cigs so I thought fuck it, might aswell, lit up and listened to underworld long dark train ( if any of you know it) and next thing I know I'm tripping balls thinking in going to die and having a heart attack and not feeling real anymore

I said to myself there and then, I'd I survive it ( I didn't know it was a panic attack at the time I thought it was real) id never touch the stuff again, as I said I never really cared for it. But ever since then every week once or twice I get hit with crazy depersonalisation and anxiety, it isn't a full blown panic attack most of the time thank god. But it's enough to make me shit myself. I don't know what the fuck to do, I feel like ive lost it, that im different. I used to be a amateur bodybuilder and now it feels like a joke for me to say that, I'm not as confident and my body has gone to shit, so has my work ethic. I've tried to stop smoking and drinking caffeine and start running again and getting to the gym 5 times a week again I stead of 1 or 2. But I can't. I've had panic attacks at college and work, I even lost my job because I didn't go on one day due to being paralysed with fear during an episode. I'm 18 and I feel like my life is over, it's depressing and makes me so angry. I've tried the whole thought reprocessing thing, saying 'come at me bro, I don't give a fuck' when the attacks or derealisation starts but it's useless it just ends up making me worse and worse till the full blown panic attacks are almost as bad as the first one,
The only time of the day I feel normal is when I wake up in the morning and then I remember why I couldn't sleep the night before.
I know this sounds so melodramatic but I'm lost, I never had any anxiety or panic attacks before that night I was always laid back about everything.
The only light at the end of the tunnel is that it does feel like they are getting less severe with time. I need advice or at least someone who's had the same experience to tell me it will go away.
I don't want to have to see a doctor about this, I'd humiliate my family.
 
Maybe you have extra pressure (other than the anxiety caused by the pot). It will get better over time, don't worry yourself too much about it.

On the other hand, maybe you really have issues with anxiety and are only aware of it now. There's no shame in going to the doctors about it, you don't have to mention you have anxiety due to pot, but just generalized anxiety.

Hope it works out.
 
You cant "trip balls" from cannabis friend...but yer' mind can play tricks on you where you think yer "trippin balls"
Once you sort all that out w/ yourself you will be in a better place, then you can control the mental aspects of the high, instead of the other way around...
 
I think if you really have anxiety, you should go see a doctor no matter what your family thinks. I had social growing anxiety growing up bro and it took me until I was 18 to go see a doctor and get a grip on it. Worst decision I made during then? Waiting to go to the doctor and suffering for 4 years before that. I also was embarrassed and I mostly didn't want to go because I didn't want my family knowing. I came from a household where one of my parents really didn't think mental disorders were real. He thought depression and stuff was something only you could take care of and control, which myself and I'm sure most others on these forums will agree isn't true. There's nothing wrong with getting help with it, and there's many people and different kinds of treatment you can get. Like others said, you DON'T have to say you smoked weed. If they were to find out, they're not going to get you in trouble or anything. Try not to stress about it and get some help if it doesn't get better or gets worse, but first I'd give it some time.
 
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Fire&Water said:
You cant "trip balls" from cannabis friend...but yer' mind can play tricks on you where you think yer "trippin balls"
Once you sort all that out w/ yourself you will be in a better place, then you can control the mental aspects of the high, instead of the other way around...
Click to expand...

Course you can... ever ingested large amounts?
 
You can certainly trip balls. Especially if you have a mental illness to synergize with the stuff.

Panic attacks can come from growing up. The brain grows sometimes in bad ways. I've had lasting anxiety on weed, and like two or three panic attacks from them. Some of them severe and painful!

You should be fine in time. Just keep trying your best to talk yourself down. Try not to get freaked out or depressed, as that will make your anxiety worse and last longer. I experienced a similiar response from a lot of weed. I was fine in like 6 months.
 
Nordic thunder said:
Hey, so I have this problem...
NSFW:
I never really cared much for weed and just smoked some with mates now and again , but a few months we were celebrating a friends 18th and we hotboxed a lot in his room. I had weird feelings like I'd shat myself or that something was wrong but it wasn't too major. The next did I had a joint lying around and no cigs so I thought fuck it, might aswell, lit up and listened to underworld long dark train ( if any of you know it) and next thing I know I'm tripping balls thinking in going to die and having a heart attack and not feeling real anymore

I said to myself there and then, I'd I survive it ( I didn't know it was a panic attack at the time I thought it was real) id never touch the stuff again, as I said I never really cared for it. But ever since then every week once or twice I get hit with crazy depersonalisation and anxiety, it isn't a full blown panic attack most of the time thank god. But it's enough to make me shit myself. I don't know what the fuck to do, I feel like ive lost it, that im different. I used to be a amateur bodybuilder and now it feels like a joke for me to say that, I'm not as confident and my body has gone to shit, so has my work ethic. I've tried to stop smoking and drinking caffeine and start running again and getting to the gym 5 times a week again I stead of 1 or 2. But I can't. I've had panic attacks at college and work, I even lost my job because I didn't go on one day due to being paralysed with fear during an episode. I'm 18 and I feel like my life is over, it's depressing and makes me so angry. I've tried the whole thought reprocessing thing, saying 'come at me bro, I don't give a fuck' when the attacks or derealisation starts but it's useless it just ends up making me worse and worse till the full blown panic attacks are almost as bad as the first one,
The only time of the day I feel normal is when I wake up in the morning and then I remember why I couldn't sleep the night before.
I know this sounds so melodramatic but I'm lost, I never had any anxiety or panic attacks before that night I was always laid back about everything.
The only light at the end of the tunnel is that it does feel like they are getting less severe with time. I need advice or at least someone who's had the same experience to tell me it will go away.
I don't want to have to see a doctor about this, I'd humiliate my family.
Click to expand...

Don't worry - You're not alone! And it will go away as long as you never touch it again :)
Fire&Water said:
You cant "trip balls" from cannabis friend....
Click to expand...
Trust me and our friend here - You absolutely can :\
My Story:

I smoked weed from ~13 years old toooo..... about 18 years old I think, like seriously kaning it morning, noon and night:
I'd wake up, have a bong, go to school / college, have a single-skin spliff or a pipe before classes started, have another at first break, then have a few spliffs with mates at lunch break, go to other classes, end break it was again a small spliff or pipe, last class, go home, smoke bongs constantly until I fell asleep, then it was rinse > repeat day after day. Weekends were just smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke.

One day I was hanging out with my mates - We were at one's house, we had a few spliffs then went to the pub for a couple of pints.
All of a sudden I became incredibly self-aware. There was a TV hanging above where I was sitting with footy or rugby or some shit on, so everyone else in the pub were looking in my direction.
I sat there really panicky until we finished our pints and went back to the house. We had a few more spliffs on the go when all of a sudden I started hallucinating: proper shrooms / LSD hallucinating (mate's faces were melting and morphing). I was panicking like mad too but I just had to ride it out.

It eventually stopped but since then I can't smoke like I used at all - Not even 1/8 of what I used to smoke. Like I can have about 2 tokes of a spliff but only if I'm proper knocked out via booze or Benzos or Opiates (preferably all 3). And even then it's hit-or-miss: I could be alright and just have the + aspects or I'll panic and possibly have minor hallucinations.

So yea, I had to stop smoking it obviously, and the Anxiety has been a lasting thing but it's lessened over time too.

You'll be alright mate ;) Just stear clear of weed obviously and don't drink a shit load of Caffeine etc. etc.
Strangely, I'm totally fine when it comes to stimulants or MDMA or psychedelics :? I'm perfectly fine taking MDMA / Methcathinone / Amphetamine / Psilocybin / LSD, but I just get the negative effects of all of those substances if I touch weed!

But yea, anyway, with time it will lessen and you should find yourself close to being rid of it :) Plus try keep up with CBT techniques and such stuff, that should help if you ever find yerself in a bit of bother :)
 
Panic Attacks when smoking weed?

I've been a daily smoker for the past 3 years. Up until the end of last year everything was going fine. I was handling my MJ very well. Recently, after smoking sessions I've started having breathing problems, which then leads to a panic attack making it even harder to breath. I go into this state where I feel very light headed, hear my heart beating in my ear and feel like i am going to die. At first this was happening on the occasional smoke, now it's happening every time I get high. I struggle to breath in all the way or exhale all the way. Its like theres a weight on my chest. I need to know if I should take a break from MJ or if this is a form of a panic attack and I should just try and be prescribed medication for anxiety? I do have panic-like attacks when I do not smoke weed, Almost with the same symptoms minus being light headed. More of a headrush feeling when im not high that is very unpleasant. Any clue what my problem is and advice please? thank you.
 
You should definitely take a break. Why would you take a medication for something when you know how to stop what triggers your malady? If you're still having attacks and you've quit smoking for several days then I would see a doctor. We can't diagnose you or anything over the net. Hope this helps.
 
Thank you for the reply. I know I probably should take a break but I notice this is an ongoing problem that is just VERY intensified when I am high. It's very hard to take a break from something i've been using as a crutch for the passed 3-4 years.
 
Supplementing Lecithin daily can be helpful for people who use weed in helping to create a more positive high - a lesser likelihood of anxiety/more clear-headed
Kanna also may be of some value - try mixing a little in with a joint
 
Prolonged cannabis use can cause latent psychiatric symptoms to present themselves more acutely. I had a similar problem when I was a heavy user but with not quite as bad of a reaction as yours. I was able to counteract it by smoking a lot less as has been suggested. Abruptly stopping anything that has been a large part of your life can increase your anxiety temporarily so weaning your self off may be an easier approach. Smoking less in one session and switching to a strain with a higher CBD content can help to. Overall though like it's been said you should take a break even if you have to work your way down at first, then after a month or so of not smoking if you find any of your symptoms persisting go see a doctor... good luck.
 
this is all too common in heavy daily long term users. It happened to me as well. I can take a few hits or just smoke hash oil and i am fine. You may have an anxiety disorder besides that anyway, sometimes cannabis helps with it, depending on strain, sometimes it makes it much worse. Definitely switch to a high CBD strain (like brick weed, or the shittiest weed you can find really) and that will help a lot, if you must continue smoking.

If however you are having panic attacks every time you smoke then i don't understand why you would bother any more, it took me a while too but i eventually did quit because of the anxiety and started up again like 6 months later only taking a hit here and there, it's never been the same since.

CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) deals with these kinds of issues in particular, so if you want to keep getting high seek therapy, there must be something going on under the surface that is bothering you.
 
do not smoke any more weed. even if your problems are there when sober, using weed is going to make it worse (my personal experience, having similar problems). in fact you should avoid most drugs right now and get some things in your life straight, anxiety doesn't come from nowhere.

seriously don't wait til it gets really bad, you don't wanna lie in your bed one day thinking your life is smashed to pieces...
 
These conversations were pretty much unheard of 30-40 years ago when I was around "boatloads" of people who were smoking
Reds, golds, Jamaican, Thai, which were basically all sativas (the strain all these people are getting anxiety, panic attacks) from.
And the THC content was very high, although some recent strains can be 30-50% higher... If a friend or someone was uncomfortable the first few times they "tried it" they just passed on it or waited to be in the right "setting" and eventually most found it to be wonderful. I believe most people need to find their setting and just pass if their not in it. There should be no peer pressure involved in smoking cannabis anymore.
 
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Thanks for all your replies. My problem is that I have no intentions of quitting marijuana as I am in love with the herb. My dad passed away a few months ago and the only way I can deal with getting up every day is rolling outta bed and ripping the bong. Even though smoking cannabis may trigger anxiety/panic attacks, I feel as if it still relieves stress. I smoked some mj today after taking (10 mg valium) and the ill effects were much less noticeable. I didnt "panic" and I enjoyed my high. I also have just starting having attacks when I'm not high however taking valium relieves my symptoms. (my moms prescribed). Maybe I have a panic/stress/anxiety related disorder?
 
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