Pot induced Panic Disorder

[Pulpo]

As I crawl back through my window, I lean against the wall, my chest is inflating. I dropped my weed, my mom is going to find out, [irrational] my mind revolves around both these horrible fucking things as every pot session goes, but this time I get stabbed in the heart.
As I fall to my knees, a sense of impending doom falls before my perception, as the fabric of space and time swirls in an orange glow. I became Gandalf until the heart pain went away. I'm describing my first panic attack btw.

This happened with pot, and pot alone. Any/everytime I smoke, my heart starts acting up. I feel horribly beta and feel as though I have absolutely no control and need to escape. My muscles surrounding my heart and abdomen are tense. My heart skips, beats double, and in general sounds like it's reacting to poison.

What the hell do I do? I've been smoking for so long, all my friends toke, it became a part of me. All the laugh attacks have been replaced by irrational bullshit, and my body/mental health is suffering. *If I run, my heart will ache.

So, I'm asking: How do I retake the harnesses of the divine sage before I plunge into psychosis. I hallucinate on relatively small doses, but I think it's because of anxiety and the adrenal glands doing there thing.
How do I stop giving a fuck, and enjoy pot again? Stuff that used to be great seems to be less enjoyable (masturbation, vidya games) and it seems like pot used to amplify these things positively but now they're being amplified negatively.


THEE BIGGEST CONCERN, is I'll think about my breathing, and that's usually where things go to hell.

How do I get the good vibes out of their locked cellar?! I've tried taking breaks but somefucking how that only serves to amplify the amount of negativity for the upcoming session.

In conclusion:

How to feel in control
Not be anxious as all hell
& be focused on what matters, not what sucks.

I get bum highs every time, even on a buzz I think about all the wrong shit. Just by writing all this down and reobtaining that mentality, my heart is starting to act up. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cyc]

Many, many regular smokers get to a point in their lives where pot starts causing more negative mental stress than relaxation. The answer is the obvious one. You already know what I'm going to say.

If these people are your friends, they'll bust your balls a bit but they'll understand. You will adapt. It will suck at first, but over time it will get easier.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

I smoked for 8years until one day it turned on me. Then it was like a 75percent chance I would have a horrible panic attack. It was weird to because it was all good then something dumb would happen, a stray thought, a funny look, and it would set me off I would panic. I quit bro. I think your going to have to quit to. This has happened with lots of my friends too where after years of using one day weed just turns on you. Im not sure why but your not the only one.
I never found a way to get back that happy high. Quiting won't help I agree it makes it worse if anything. Time to move on, your friends should understand.

 

[Missykins]

Who knows just what's in marijuana these days--adulterants, agents used to mask the odor, fuel from smuggling in gas tanks, etc. Unless you grow your
own or have a medical marijuana card, no one can guarantee a safe product.

 

[cire113]

U know what's sad same thing happened to me and I kept smoking for a month straight getting panic reaction every single time!, it was horrible ;

Man I felt so much better when I stopped.... This happened about 3 years ago.... Now I smoke about once a month and the high is ok....

Quit or have fun with that panic reaction ; it's almost like a subconscious physical reaction to thc... It ain't mind over matter shit trust me..: it's like a physical reaction caused by tons of adrenaline releases due to thc..

Life is actually way better when your not stoned but don't believe me


Haha I never talk about weed and ironic post 1,420!!!

 

[im3rdworld]

been through exactly the same situation, xxsicknessxx is right even if u quit, as i did, and smoke again the happy factor will be gone instead the panic will be ten fold. you will eventually quit as it will become unbearable.
and i think this change is permenant to an extent.

 

[lazygit]

Same here, I used to enjoy weed although I got negative effects the positive effects outweighed them, I continued smoking 24/7 getting anxiety attacks until enough was enough. Wish I quit when I knew it was affecting me negatively as I believe its fucked me up in the long run. Sometimes if somethings not right in your mind/life the weed will let you know. On an MDMA comedown I smoked weed and for the first time realized what sort of effect it was supposed to produce...I could smoke a tonne and not get the intense anxiety feelings a small few crumbs would usually produce.

Really wish I could smoke weed as I like to get fucked daily and weed is quite good on your body but have no doubt it can fuck up ya mind if predisposed to its fuckery.

All my close friends smoked (young teenage years)...In reality the thing that brought us together most was pot sadly and with that I grew away from them (or rather them me).
Hopefully your friends will stick about otherwise fuck em there just drug associates

 

[zombiesarepeaceful]

delete

 

[theseeker]

Holy shit, man, I know this feeling all too well. I used to smoke pot every day, I'd begin my day with weed and end it with weed. I really felt it made my life better, made the boring times more bearable especially. It also helped tremendously with my ADD and increased my productivity in school and work. Then one day, BAM- it turned on me out of the blue. I eventually realized I could no longer smoke weed. It really sucked and I tried to drag it out but I just had to give up. Afterwards, it was really hard to do work without weed and it took some time for me to acclimate without it. You know what I learned? I really didn't need the weed to help me through my days, it was just a habit and a poor coping mechanism on my part. Though I really felt it helped with my ADD, I found other ways to get around it.
So it will probably be hard to quit smoking buds, but after awhile it's not a big deal. You'd be surprised at what you can get used to.

 

[shady4091]

I have had the same problems in the past when smoking weed. There's no doubt that weed increases paranoia and panic in everyone and I know a lot of people who won't smoke weed for that reason alone. The difference with me, and I don't know if it's the same for you guys but when I panic while high, it's always about something concerning my life. If there's something going wrong in my life, if I know I'm not where I should be, or there's something that I'm stressed out about, smoking only amplifies the stress and I get anxiety attacks. But I use this to my benefit. I love smoking weed waaaaay too much to really consider giving that up yet, so instead I'll try to correct the things in my life that are causing me to panic while high. And low and behold, not only does the stress go away, but it's a rewarding feeling to be able to get high again, worry free.

Now if your panic is really unjustified and your sure there's absolutely nothing nagging on your mind, even subconsciously, then I'm afraid you'll just have to quit. Why keep doing it if it's not fun anymore?

 

[xxsicknessxx]

I wonder if this is from long term pot use or if its just from a build up of chemicals from the weed over time or maybe even its just from growing older. Seems most people start smoking weed before other drugs and start when there young so maybe as you get older and you start having read problems the weed turns on you and starts increasing your problems? So when your young with nothing to worry about its fun but when your older and you have shit to deal with its not fun. No matter what I think we answered your question.. time to quit

 

[Fixed5217]

my question to you is two fold, followed by why i ask

1. how is your drinking and/or benzo usage?

I have naturally avoided such because of my severe general gaba abuse, like beginning to need a beer with my smoke, etc..

2. how much and what type of bud are you smoking?

high grade bud and the jwh's induced similar panic attack feelings in me, with one or two pretty serious jwh od's

 

[MagickalKat777]

OP, I feel for you. I have pretty much the EXACT same response to certain types of weed.

If you want to continue smoking, here are some tips.

1) One hit at a time. SMALL hits, not huge bong rips! This is the key because once that first hit comes over you then you know if you can have another hit.
2) At least 5-10 minutes between hits. What's the rush? If people want to rush you, they can fuck off. Take it slowly or you can get yourself smacked to the wall (especially with creeper weed)
3) Try to smoke Indica, not Sativa. Most recreational weed is Sativa. Sativa is very stimulating to those (like us) that are sensitive to it while Indica is a heavy and slow stoned feeling. Me personally, I used to get DJ Short Blueberry from the dispensary but even then, it was 2 hits at the most or I'd freak out. Not even benzos could save me from marijuana attacks and I'm currently reliving them just typing this.
4) Quit. End of story. That's the only REAL way to make sure you don't have panic attacks from weed anymore. That's what I eventually did - but far too late - I'm on benzos and have been for years. First panic attack? Weed.

 

[Pulpo]

Final Solution

Well, after a heavy dose of some fine synthetics last night, I have come to a conclusion: 'We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.'

As I soared in mental imagery, I focused on my life and how I lived it, without any bias. I saw how my own opinions played out, and quite literally became immune to my ego, experiencing an extremely left half of the brain critical thinking, logical pov, all the while visualising my thoughts. What follows is the resulting epiphany:

First off, I know that I have cut the cords of emotion, making me a sociopath. I realize I may very well be feeling this as some war vets do; glazed eyes and no emotion after the trauma. I then realized, no, I just dismantled it for the time being. I proceeded to figure out why normally I experience irrational fear & no pleasure. It turns out you need to have selective focus, and not multitask. It made sense. It still does.
It dawned upon me, the importance of good vibes. I searched my mind for a good vibe environment. I realized that anywhere I smoked had a connection to my fear basis. My parents finding out triggers adverse nervous system reactions, which then plummet by a focus on this new body state, along with fear of getting caught. By staying 'zoned' on something, the irrational anxiety simply vanishes; nowhere to be thought up. My multitasking high brain loves to think about bad stuff though, no matter what I do.
I recall, years ago, my solution to paranoia was going out to smoke with friends. It was fine until the fear cracked that safe zone, wide open, by my mom calling. Bad vibes everywhere at this point.

I have to disconnect the potency of these memories to reestablish a neutrality to being high, and then reconnect to, as I did in my first sessions with weed, experience things I normally do sober and laugh about how different my perception is.


I need psychotherapy, obviously, and I'm going to attempt to self-treat this with deep trance/meditation. I'm going to log my process on paper, if anyone is interested.

************
In summary, anxiety is an inner demon that needs to be eradicated. I can't confront my parents, which would be what some of you were unintentionally implying. I'm hoping that once eradicated, I can look back and laugh about how the thought of getting caught somehow triggered as far a response as convulsions, and then MOVE ON, not continue to delve into it (the process of anxiety manifestation) like I do now.


You may not want to believe it (your opinions getting in the way/hindering your logic), but speaking without any opinions, pot anxiety is a mental disorder. It's a mental issue, and it's not orderly at that, hence, mental disorder. Keeping this in mind while I go about the process of recovery will help me to take it seriously, & not give up, I hope. It has ruined a good year of my life on Earth.
As with any 'mental disorder,' the solution is a change to the brain.


I'm rambling on sorry I'll stop here.

 

[MagickalKat777]

People have been hospitalized for marijuana-induced panic attacks before so I don't think its just all in your head when your pulse is pushing 200 and your BP is so high they're worried about a stroke.

One thing that NOBODY takes into account is that there can be an allergy. You can develop an allergy to ANYTHING and completely without warning - allergies have various reactions. And besides that, its already well-known that marijuana increases the heart rate - the amount of which is dependent on dosage of THC and its other derivatives in the plant. It isn't hard to have a panic attack when you smoke too much and all you feel is that racing heart radiating through your body.

 

[Legerity]

Well, after a heavy dose of some fine synthetics last night, I have come to a conclusion: 'We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.'

I like this. If fear must be avoided, then your life will be limited to whatever is comfortable. What if a beautiful relationship is possible but the fear is there? You then have the choice to face is or to avoid it.

There is no fear. Only fear or fear. Or if you continue to take that more and more steps backwards, you're left with nothing. Once you are able to experience complete terror and laugh in it's face, you become invincible.

 

[jaurk]

Ever since I OD'd on ADD meds (first time 60mg instant release Ritalin)
I had an 8 hour long panic attack, with BPM in the 180-200's.

I can't smoke mj anymore, because I get that fuckin' RACING heart beat, and I get so damn scared my heart is going to give out, I get dizzy.
I remember smoking whilst drunk with a few friends, after hotboxing I stood in the middle of the room (so if I dropped they knew to call 000) and held my heart, just hoping I'd survive

I really really hate it
I always get confused whether it's a panic attack, or it's my heart actually telling me to settle down, I need to see a cardiologist.

I've had higher levels of anxiety since the ADD incidient (2 months ago)
And smoking (3 weeks ago) didn't help.

I also get minor heart pain everynow and then, so I think there actually is a problem with my heart.