Severe Anxiety/Depression after LSD/Alcohol?

[eimajjjj]

So..1 week ago I took some acid. I'm 29, and it was my 2nd time in my life. It was on top of some cocaine and mdma. I didn't have a bad trip, but it was strong, properly changing my world around me.

Anyway, I felt shitty the next day and the for a week, nothing major. But then, a week later, I went out for a big drinking session. The next day hungover but about 4pm that afternoon bamn, something hit me, sweaty palms, fast heartrate, my mind just running wiild, not stopping.

This anxiety has now not stopped 4 days after it started. The depression and detachment is still strong. I don't know if it was the alcohol or the lsd that did it. I'm terrified that I'm never going to feel normal again.

Any others with experiences like this?

 

[n3ophy7e]

Hi eimajjj, sorry to hear about your bad experience mate. First things first, I would suggest you don't take any more acid. I'm guessing you probably won't want to after this anyway. Some people just don't agree with LSD very well.

I would also suggest that you don't consume any alcohol while you're suffering from any anxiety or depression, because it will likely make it worse.

The good news is that the human brain is an incredible organ which is very adept at healing any damage we do to it from substance use/abuse. The main ingredient for getting better is time. Over time you will feel more and more normal again.

You can speed up the process by living a healthy life, e.g. make sure you're eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegies, lean meat and fish, drink lots of water, and try to get at least 5 sessions of exercise in per week. The endorphins released during exercise help to stabilise the chemicals in our brain, and acts as a natural anti-depressant.

Is there a theme to your anxiety? Like, a particular subject or occurrence that you are worrying about? If so, it may help to get some counselling to help you come to terms with whatever is making you anxious/depressed. The LSD could've triggered some anxiety/depression that was already latent within you.

But please rest assured that you WILL get back to normal. No-one can really say when that will happen, everyone is different. It might take a few weeks, it could be a few months. But just focus on treating yourself well and you will be back to normal in no time

 

[eimajjjj]

Hi eimajjj, sorry to hear about your bad experience mate. First things first, I would suggest you don't take any more acid. I'm guessing you probably won't want to after this anyway. Some people just don't agree with LSD very well.

I would also suggest that you don't consume any alcohol while you're suffering from any anxiety or depression, because it will likely make it worse.

The good news is that the human brain is an incredible organ which is very adept at healing any damage we do to it from substance use/abuse. The main ingredient for getting better is time. Over time you will feel more and more normal again.

You can speed up the process by living a healthy life, e.g. make sure you're eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegies, lean meat and fish, drink lots of water, and try to get at least 5 sessions of exercise in per week. The endorphins released during exercise help to stabilise the chemicals in our brain, and acts as a natural anti-depressant.

Is there a theme to your anxiety? Like, a particular subject or occurrence that you are worrying about? If so, it may help to get some counselling to help you come to terms with whatever is making you anxious/depressed. The LSD could've triggered some anxiety/depression that was already latent within you.

But please rest assured that you WILL get back to normal. No-one can really say when that will happen, everyone is different. It might take a few weeks, it could be a few months. But just focus on treating yourself well and you will be back to normal in no time

Wow, that's the kinda stuff I want to read and I hope so much that it's true, thanks for giving the advice.

I was/am highly stressed over a lot of work projects over time but I didn't have a bad trip as such and in fact, didn't feel too bad until the day after a heavy night's drinking.

If I ever get back to normal, and that seems so far away now with a hazy head, tightening, anxiety and depression then I'm knocking it all on the head I think. Only so much seratonin to be destroyed right!?

Could have been an alcohol-induced disorder though that I'm blaming on the LSD. Just no way to know!

 

[n3ophy7e]

Could have been an alcohol-induced disorder though that I'm blaming on the LSD. Just no way to know!

Could be, but yeah you're right, you'll never know. Just focus on the present and the future, and on getting better
Do you think you would ever get some counselling?

 

[Cyc]

You're focusing on the LSD and alcohol, but MDMA is what caused my break when I was younger, and it came on almost a week after my last dose.

AS n3o said, you will get better. It might not happen as quick as you like, and it may mean giving up drugs for many months, but your head will sort itself out, given enough time.

 

[eimajjjj]

Could be, but yeah you're right, you'll never know. Just focus on the present and the future, and on getting better
Do you think you would ever get some counselling?

If it's purely physiological effects do you think I'd need counselling? or do you think its all because of some underlying anxiety with life that needs seeing to? i just worry the counsellor will say 'its ok etc' but won't understand the physical side of what i've done to myself..

guess we've all been here before right?

 

[spsv686]

Do you smoke cigarettes? I found that, that was my trigger. After an experience much like yours i was forced to give up that habit.

Stay positive my friend time will heal all wounds
and the brain most definitely will adapt

 

[n3ophy7e]

If it's purely physiological effects do you think I'd need counselling? or do you think its all because of some underlying anxiety with life that needs seeing to? i just worry the counsellor will say 'its ok etc' but won't understand the physical side of what i've done to myself..

guess we've all been here before right?

Well that's a tricky question because sure the brain itself is physiological, and whatever has happened on a neurological level is more or less a structural problem, BUT the effects of it are emotional. This is where a counsellor could help you. A similar scenario might be if someone is in a lot of physical pain, something physiological is wrong, but they might be having trouble coping with it emotionally, so they might get some counselling.

It's entirely up to you if you want to seek psychological help, eimajjj.

 

[Skelu]

About 12 months ago I couldn’t even use my laptop. All I could do was simply lay down on my bed. Gradually I have healed. At first the most horrifying thing was just the thought that I am never going to get back to normal. Believe in yourself, and if possible try to do something that takes your mind back to the real things. I have seen that people can recover from almost everything but it can take time.

I almost strangled one physician who told me to wait at least 6 months before hoping any improvements in my state. Now I could tell that bitch that despite of all the other things she said, there was one thing where she was right.

Don’t get stuck with those bad feelings. It helped me a lot when I discussed my feelings with my true friends and truly caring doctors.

 

[eimajjjj]

About 12 months ago I couldn’t even use my laptop. All I could do was simply lay down on my bed. Gradually I have healed. At first the most horrifying thing was just the thought that I am never going to get back to normal. Believe in yourself, and if possible try to do something that takes your mind back to the real things. I have seen that people can recover from almost everything but it can take time.

I almost strangled one physician who told me to wait at least 6 months before hoping any improvements in my state. Now I could tell that bitch that despite of all the other things she said, there was one thing where she was right.

Don’t get stuck with those bad feelings. It helped me a lot when I discussed my feelings with my true friends and truly caring doctors.

If you don't mind me asking, what were your symptoms and causes?

Really glad you feel better as well, sometimes we need these troughs in life I'm sure to appreciate everything else after.

 

[Skelu]

My emotional problems started after prolonged pain period. I was prescribed tramadol and lyrica for pain for few years when eventually I started getting panic attacks, which lead to some kind of depression and depersonalization feelings.

My worst symptoms were these strange feelings that I felt was not originated from my own head. I couldn’t breathe properly, my chest and back felt like those were burning, I couldn’t feel any of the so called positive emotions, I couldn’t sleep more than 2h per night (only nightmares), everything looked out scary and different. My panic attacks lasted for days, I had all sorts of medication but I wanted to get my thoughts clear before taking more meds. It helped!

Worst symptoms started after I talked with a psychiatrist who didn’t know what she was talking about. She made me believe that I had crossed the line and I am permanently damaged, for fucking using some pain meds as prescribed.

 

[eimajjjj]

Just want to say that although the depression is less and the anxiety is less in general, it still persists. It doesn't help reading on the internet the dozens of people that have developed an anxiety disorder from LSD or MDMA or Cocaine, or whatever it was that did this and it never goes.

I just can't stop feeling anxious, and when someone says 'breathe' it just annoys me, its an entirely physiological state that my mind is in and I feel like there's no end to it all.

 

[bben]

You're focusing on the LSD and alcohol, but MDMA is what caused my break when I was younger, and it came on almost a week after my last dose.

AS n3o said, you will get better. It might not happen as quick as you like, and it may mean giving up drugs for many months, but your head will sort itself out, given enough time.

This is correct. Its almost certainly the mdma, which seems to cause this sort of thing all the time anecdotally, plus its the only medically accepted serotonergic neurotoxin of the bunch and you drank alcohol with it all...

time is on your side.

 

[jerlin09]

* The depressed patient needs continual positive reinforcement to improve her self-esteem. Provide a structured routine, including activities to boost her self-confidence and promote inter. action With others (for instance, group therapy). Keep reassuring her that her depression Will lift.
* Encourage the patient to talk or to write down her feelings if she's having trouble expressing them. Listen attentively and respectfully; allow her time to formulate her thoughts if she seems sluggish. Record your observations and conversations.
* Don't forget the patient's physical needs. If she's too depressed to care for herself, help her With personal hygiene measures. Encourage her to eat, if necessary. If she's constipated, add high-fiber foods to her diet; offer small, frequent meals; and encourage physical activity.

 

[eimajjjj]

substance-induced anxiety update

I read a lot of threads about this as do many others as well but there aren't many where the original poster comes back to tell their tale so we're never sure if they got better or not! Most likely they did and just didn't want to relive it all again or couldn't understand why they felt bad in the first place..

Anyway, I posted about a month ago. I'm better. I'm not 100% yet but I'm better. To wrap my case up quickly, I'm 29, never had problems with mdma, coke, caffeine, alcohol or anything before but one weekend i took all the above in one night PLUS some acid. Well I was fine for a week but then after a night drinking, the next day I had my first anxiety attack. It was terrifying, and not only did is affect me that day but the next 2 or 3 weeks were hell, I had clinical depression, MAJOR anxiety, sweaty palms, foggy head, the lot, thought i'd finally lost the plot. Well it's been a month now and I feel better. I do still get the little element of that anxiety in me though so I wouldn't' say I'm cured but I'm HOPING I just need more time.

The thing that gets me is that I'll never know what did it. I hate to think I won't be able to drink coffee again or even enjoy a few lines or mandy. I gave up everything since the attack inc. caffeine, alcohol but had a few drinks the other night with no effect. I haven't tried a coffee yet but I do suspect it was the LSD. Who knows....

Anyway, just sharing my experience thus far. If I make a full recovery I'll be sure to post it here.

 

[ocean]

I merged your new thread into your old one for those who contributed to the first one to see the update- just in case they missed that it was the same person

Glad to hear you are doing better
Please continue to keep us updated!

 

[eimajjjj]

thanks...better..up to 70% i'd say though..nowhere near back to normal in terms of this constant anxious feeling...sometimes it really gets me down thinking it'll never go

 

[more]

Wow, that's the kinda stuff I want to read and I hope so much that it's true, thanks for giving the advice.

I was/am highly stressed over a lot of work projects over time but I didn't have a bad trip as such and in fact, didn't feel too bad until the day after a heavy night's drinking.

If I ever get back to normal, and that seems so far away now with a hazy head, tightening, anxiety and depression then I'm knocking it all on the head I think. Only so much seratonin to be destroyed right!?

I feel exactly the same way!

 

[bben]

LSD plays with your serotonin system and probably causes downregulation of SERT receptors in some people, im pretty sure LSD is not a neurotoxin though. This bodes well for you as you just have to wait for receptors to re-regulate and what not.

If it was mdma id tell a diff story, in that case too often is it permanent.