Anxiety caused by Marijuana?

yes, Xanax is terrible, i would not take it if i were you ... but if you stop taking it you can go into seizures, so you have to ask your doctor how to get off it (dont just stop taking it or else).



The doctor will SLOWLY lower your doses over time until you can safely be without it. I know someone who tried to stop too quickly, and went into seizure and broke both his sholders

I've read all the posts about panic attacks from smoking pot. I am 57 years old (was a hippie) I had smoked pot (daily) for 35 years. For the last 5 to 10 years during that period I had many panic attacks. Same as your facts with panic, breathing, heart, etc... thinking I'm going to die. I quit smoking abrubtly 2 years ago. I have not smoked at all since then! The panic attacks and especially shortness of breath continued. Guess what? I have been diagnosed with 'asthma.' I think back on all the times I had the attacks and it now all makes since that they were indeed asthma attacks, which are often misdiagnosed as panic attacks. I am now being treated for asthma and doing much better. The pot smoke or cigarette smoke can trigger the attack or physical exercise, pollen, food, etc. See your doctor and be checked out for asthma. Once I quit, it took awhile to see life and enjoy it through a sober mind and eyes!
Good luck and God Bless!
Michael

same thing is happening to me, i quit marijuana a year ago now and am still experincing panic attacks. they seem to have gotten better but about 2 months ago some people were smoking and i inhaled just enough (on accident) to get buzzed. now i have the panic attacks whenever i think i smell marijuana, or something like it. i dont know how to make it go away, i just tell myself that its going to be ok and im not going to get high. i am getting over it but it is so hard, i feel for you all. panic attacks are horrible.

not exactly related, but maybe -- every time i've tried smoking/eating weed, the muscles all over my entire body start spasming uncontrollably. i don't feel any anxiety at all. it's like i'm totally detached from the situation, a little amused but mostly annoyed that i can't enjoy myself. after a half hour to an hour, depending on the amount, it goes away. anybody else get this, or know what it might be?

I've only smoked pot 5 times in my life. The first thre don't really count because A) I was very young (around 10-12) & B) I did not know how to inhale properly. I smoked a joint with my brother in law about 2 years ago and got pretty high. It was nice, mellow and calm.

However, I smoked a bowl today that had me as close to an acid experience as I wanted to get (I dropped acid twice about 10 years ago, 1st time was okay/2nd time was a horrible trip). I was having a panic attack for almost two hours. That was off of one hit. It is now over 12 hours later and I am still bombed, but recovering. I never thought that anxiety would ever play into smoking pot. Boy was I ever wrong.

HI there i have also been experiencing releted problems. Im 19 and have been a cronic weed smoking machine for the last 4 years, and just recently took a break because i wanted to feel just high on life lol, plus i just started college and need the money. Note: i have done my share of phychedelics of all kinds. Well just the other day i was in class and i started to feel as if i was really uncomfortable so i kept switching positions, then i got an overwhelming sense of fear and uncontrollability,heart race, and sweaty hands. i thought i was going to pass out getting up tring to go outside. I have really never experienced this before and didnt know what the hell was wrong. Later i got home laid to rest and couldnt stop thinking why i went crazy then it started happing agian! It is the second day now and nothing as bad as yesterday but do feel a lil shook up if u know what i mean. I hope to never feel like that agian especially when nothing went wong. Well my own theory is that weed does effect the seritonin in ur brain , which also relates to anxiety disorders. That does not mean weed makes u have anxiety, but that it may induce that overwelming feeling, some more than others. In fact if u were to look up cannabis u would find more positive uses for it than neg. (so true)So if u want to smoke weed still do as u please but just take a hit or 2 at a time, dont smoke ur back out everytime u have a session haha. Never think weed, a dose, or shroom or what ever it was, has fried ur brain, or has alterd ur life in a neg way because without the experience u would have just been ablivious to urself. Remember every one reacts different to every chemical know ur mind, ur body, ur substance, and source. ps-i aslo have asthema i might need to look up more on that

Hopefully, people are checking this post still. I'm 21 and have been smoking for about a year now and have had minor 'panic attacks' during that time. I've smoked pretty much every day, and lately more than once a day. 2 days ago I smoke a small blunt and then passed a bowl around with 4 other people. I felt fine and was chatting with my friends until I completely forgot what we were talking about.

I tried to remember the topic we were on but experienced a terrible, sharp pain in my head when I did. This freaked me out and started a chain of events that I'd rather not remember. My heart started racing, about double, maybe triple my resting heart rate. I noticed because I checked my pulse. Bad idea. That made me feel like I couldn't breathe, and I was struggling for air. For the next two hours I paced my house looking for something to keep me occupied. I have a few of these little blue pills, they are similar to xanax I believe. They were given to me to help me deal with my testicle pain from either a bacterial infection, or something I have yet to get diagnosed.

Anyway, I took half the pill - thinking it would calm me down. I've taken them before while smoking, and every other time they had just made me more relaxed and I felt like jello. This didn't help so I took the other half. This didn't help. Nothing was getting worse, but nothing was getting better either. I felt like I was going to die. If I had to make a few suggestions, I would say:

DON'T

-think about your heart rate
-think you are going to die, lose consciousness, stop breathing, etc...
-chew gum (i'm pretty sure this makes your stomach think you are eating, so it prepares some stomach acid for digestion. The problem with this is that it may cause you to have an upset stomach and possibly sharp abdominal pains that you would otherwise disregard; this is my case b/c i think i have some acid reflux problem)
-freak out if your heart starts to slow down - this is probably a good sign
-over analyze your situation

-----

DO

-tell someone around you, whom you can trust, about your situation
(have them talk to you and keep your mind occupied)
-any activity that you enjoy; hobbies like video games
-eat crackers or pretzels and drink water; *this helped me a bit, but might not help you so try it*
-sit in or near the shower with some warm/hot water running; *again, this helped me, but might not help you*
-realize that you are making the situation worse, and try to control your thoughts to calm yourself down.
-get fresh air
-place cool/warm cloth on your head and/or chest; *test which is better for you, it's just something to help you relax*

I may not be experienced with drug use and side effects, but I'm pretty familiar with anxiety, stress and paranoia. Just realize you are making yourself feel like sh!t and that you are not in any real danger. Try to play some video games or listen to relaxing music, while doing something to keep your hands busy. Keeping your mind and body occupied will help you in most cases. What I did last night was masturbate. It kept my mind busy and my body busy. Afterward I was pretty relaxed. I was still feeling alittle anxious, but my condition improved a ton.

I want to test some treatments out, but I don't feel like having a panic attack. If someone reads this and has a panic attack afterward please reply. Try cough drops, if you feel like you are having trouble breathing I think the feeling can be calmed by this. Or try some vapo-rub on your chest which will help you breathe a bit, i think. What I think was going on for me was that my heart was beating fast, I thought that was odd so I felt like I couldn't breathe. That feeling made my heart beat faster and so goes the cycle.

Ok, I think that's a big enough wall of text.

i smoked weed on thursday and ever since i have been feeling depressed an i have been worrying alot and anxiety attacks i cant stop it can someone please help

Marijuana caused me bad anxiety and paranoia, and I am certain it has damaged my brain. I was a very heavy user though, if you want to read my blog on the subject here it is

http://www.forummatters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31

The above person's post mimics my exact experience and thoughts. Remember, when it comes to drugs and psychological experiences, everyone is different. I have experienced almost all of the negative aspects of long term daily smoking described in this thread, but my roommate, who is an even heavier smoker then I ever was, has never experienced any of these problems. We all have different tolerances and reactions and you need to find what works for you. Your life is worth living to the utmost and if smoking pot doesn't work for you...cut it out. I say this as someone who struggles with it myself, and have difficulty taking my own advice, but it IS the correct advice. Also, I think it is worth mentioning that people that have these types of reactions to marijuana probably are using marijuana as self medication. The ironic part is that the same reason we struggle with marijuana is the reason we use it. The healthiest way is to get counseling for your "problems" and take medications under the supervision of a doctor, not a drug dealer. Good luck to all...and may you find happiness.

no joke that is what happened too me!!! exc. the same thing i have panic attacks out of no where and my heart beats way too fast!!! i get very very scared trying it worst regreat of my life!!!! =[

Wow I thought I was the only one that this happened to all my friends seems to really enjoy weed. I used to smoke weed every once in awhile and one time it felt like i was sinking into my seat, like my body was becoming part of it. It felt like I couldn't move or breathe and was basically losing control, worst experience of my life without a doubt. I smoked a couple times after that and didn't have a panic attack but would get really, really depressed. I would also be extremely depressed afterwards. I obviously decided to stop and after a few months things have gotten a lot better. You kinda just have to let it pass I guess, and stay away from the stuff. It just sucks because pretty much everyone in my school smokes it and I hate even being around it.

Jesus. My experience was so terrible, I had smoked hydro weed while being under the influence of ecstasy. I thought it would calm me down, but after 2 hits of the joint, I really didn't feel anything. I had hit the joint probably 6 times. Then out of nowhere my heart rate had shot up SO MUCH! The pleasure was so intense I thought I was going to die. I felt like I couldn't stand up. I was panicking and I seriously couldn't remember what was going on. I had a 5 second memory span. I was remembering a lot of bad things about my pass. That made me panic even more. I had drank probably 10 bottles of water and threw it up. That rose my heart rate so much. I kept on thinking I had a heart disorder, since my mother has one, so I thought I would die from a heart attack. Since I was forgetting so many things, I really thought I would never be the same. I went into my friend's bathroom and walked around for 30 minutes. I would come back into my friend's room and I would tell her something like "hey i feel really bad i dont know what to do", and she told me "hey what are you talking about? you need a cigarette?" after that I had seriously passed out on her floor of panic. I had stopped breathing for a second. I thought I had died but then I woke up in such anxiety and terror. I started crying and drinking more water. My friends were telling me different things, and I would just hear them, but I couldn't understand them. The panic was so intense because I really didn't know what was going on. My friends started to calm me down, so I started to calm down.. they put some chill music on and we played rockband. That seriously calmed me down 100%. After about an hour and a half of being high, I was intensely happy. I guess I was pretty high then. I smoked some more after that but I had got regular weed. It was all good for me.

The experience happened to me a second time a few days later and I panicked very roughly again. This time I had controlled myself.

All you need to do while this happens is control your emotions and thoughts

And think happily
try to put your favorite song on

that will help ALOT

Da mn, Didnt know others had my same problem, but yeah, I had the same problem.

Still do...

A few times I have experenced this terrible feeling after smoking really good weed. I don't quite understand why, but I have put two and two together and came up with its 90-95% in your head. If you are not used to what kind of weed you are smoking, then your heart will commnly speed up, sometimes wayyyy up, due to higher levels of THC, even though you cannot overdose (one of the many thoughts that sets off panics). Just put it like this if you ever get into this situation, for 1 remember

*Noone has ever died from smoking cannibus (weed).

Its never been recorded, so therefor, try not to put death into the picture when you start to feel jumpy, and your heart rate speeds up, that'll just make you trip even harder, instead, walk around a little bit, just enough to get your head off of it, think good thoughts, the heart race scare only last for about an average 3 to 5 minutes, maybe more, maybe less, depends on how fast you can relize (while tripping) that its in your head, YOUR IN CONTROL!.
After so, you should feel very goofy or very high, you'll start to enjoy it and laugh your ass off!!.
My suggestions to you panicers, as well as myself, only smoke what makes you feel relaxed, like if its good sh*t, and you know itt, take 2 hits, wait 2 to 3 minutes, and you should feel really relaxed, if not, take 1 more, 3rd time should always be the charm :-P same goes for reggy weed.

Hope all is well, continue to feel happy my friends.
Signing out-
GrAvY

Here's my story.


So I used to be a heavy pot smoker, loved smoking pot! it was the damn best thing in the world and I always promoted it whenever I could. I thought it was the damn best thing in the world.


Then one day I tried psilocybin mushrooms with some friends. I had a HORRIBLE trip and had my first full blown panic attack. For the first week I felt fine and just tried to forget about my bad trip. I continued smoking pot everyday. Then suddenly, the next weekend (Keep in mind I had already been smoking pot on a daily basis for nearly 8 months) I smoked a joint with some friends, and I had an anxiety attack.

Then as time went on I started having anxiety more and more every time when I'd smoke pot. Finally it got to the point where no matter what, if I'd smoke pot I'd have an anxiety attack. Though this was evident I wouldn't give up pot just yet till finally I smoked one night with some friends and had a full blown panic attack. I quit smoking pot about 3 months ago now and from the day I quit, my anxiety has disappeared completely. But in its place, Depression has set in. Ever since I quit smoking pot, depression has taken over my life and now I'm a struggling non-functioning alcoholic. I'm 19 years old.

In conclusion, pot is good for some, for others...it cane be the worst decision of your life. Because even though the shrooms may have started my anxiety. I would not only have never tried them if I hadn't been a pot smoker, but while I was a stoner I was not functioning and lost many friends and family.

So yeah thats my story.