Cocaine's post effects are different with different people mainly due to the function of the brain. Dopamine and serotonin play critical roles, when these levels elevate, you feel great which is your high- but afterwards these levels drop below their normal state. When this happens, anxiety and depression are suspect to be 'triggered' (I agree with you that regret can also play a role in this, especially when the brain is chemically imbalanced). Some people's levels take way longer than others to get back closer to normal due to a slower reproduction-- but trust me, if you went through a rough weekend or 3 day binge on drinking excessive amounts of Red bull and vodkas while doing cocaine and not sleeping (think vegas), it is entirely possible and in some cases likely to happen.
As mentioned, blood work, ct scans, EKG results, and ENT visits may all be normal.
Symptoms can include: light-headed Ness, dizziness, nausea, panic, depression, being unsocial, lethargic, extreme energy loss, feeling heavy and weak, crying, loss of appetite and weight loss.. and several other symptoms. STAY OFF GOOGLE and quit trying to find the answer or cure, all youre going to find is a worst case scenario that doesn't apply to you that you will have in the back of your mind and is going to make matters worse (unless you are lucky and have stumbled across this post..)
As I'm sure this post has made you a feel a little better, and the symptoms are identical, believe me that the brain is a complex thing and it will cure itself.. these things happen, and it undoubtedly will give you a deeper appreciation for life.. but, of course the recovery does take time- probably 90% of cases will get better from a few weeks to a couple months and sometimes do last longer.
As hard as it may be, ways to get out of the funk are getting out of the house despite your anxiety.. you must accept the situation for what it is and mentally prepare yourself to beat it as difficult as it is.. eat despite your loss of appetite because the body still needs protein and vitamins, stay hydrated with water and pedialite.. nothing else.
Sometimes a prescription of bupro pioneer will give you a kickstart, but it takes up to a couple weeks to get in your system- or Celexa, but this particular drug is not to be quite when you think you are feeling better as some doctors require you to take it up to a year before weaning off of it.
To the cocaine experts thinking people are over-reacting and cocaine only lasting 20 minutes.. People are talking about a permanent high- its the after effects.. This very commonly happens to people who don't have any regret for exessive partying at all so how would you explain that?
Just curious, where did you go to med school? ;) ... Now ask me.
Anyways, positive attitude, good vibes and the power of religion
I am going through something similar. In fact, I looked up this post because I have been going through the same thing. I had been using cocaine off and on for years with no adverse side effects. I've always had a thing for uppers. They made me feel good. However, about a month ago, I did some crystal meth earlier in the day and then got a 20 of coke later that night. I felt awesome for a little while but about 4 hours after I had stopped, I started experiencing those panic symptoms: extreme racing heart, constant adrenaline rushes, difficulty and shallow breathing. My hands went numb and I was so dizzy, I could barely walk. I called 911 and I was rushed to the emergency room. My blood pressure was so high that the EMTs said I could easily have had a stroke or heart attack. Thank God that didn't happen. They ran tests at the ER and didn't see any heart damage or evidence of a heart attack. They gave me Ativan to bring down my heart rate. They monitored me for a few hours and then released me. I thought that was the end. I thought I just got some bad coke and that's what caused my attack. I didn't even do that much! Half a 20, I would say. A few days later, I took a five hour energy shot and the same thing happened again. I went to the ER and they ran tests which all came back negative. I swore off drugs and uppers after that day. However, I started to have these symptoms randomly for the next few days without having taking any uppers at all. Although not nearly as bad as the first two times I went to the ER, I am still getting classic symptoms of panic attacks: racing heart, adrenaline rushes, sweaty palms. My doctor says I'm having panic attacks but I really don't think this is the case because I never had panic attacks before the night I did all that coke. Also, there aren't any triggers for the attacks that I can think of because I can be doing something fun like playing PlayStation and they occur. The clonozapam helps. I don't know why the doctor keeps telling me I'm just having panic / anxiety attacks since I never had them before and they only started after I did the coke. I'm supposed to go see a psychiatrist to try to determine what triggers my panic attacks but again, I never had them before the coke and there is no trigger that I have been able determine on my own. I truly believe that this is physiological and not psychological. I really believe that the coke had damaged my body somehow. From reading on here, the panic attacks subside after a few months. I know what you are going through and I'm sorry you went through that. Our stupid decisions put us in these situations and I wish I could go back in time and change what I did. I wish you all the best and hope you all feel better. I know what you're going through. I hope it gets better because these symptoms are not fun at all and I wouldn't wish them on anyone.
it sucks, but you have to trust me on this.. it goes away.. I didn't drink or have any drugs at all and it took me somewhere around 6 weeks before I noticed anything.. I had my first drink after about 3 months just because I kept telling myself I was going to give it a few more weeks after I felt better..
I felt like a bad father and husband (I am 30 and have a 1 year old who I rarely had energy to help with- wife was a rockstar) I mad a note to myself that said 'stay strong for your family' and kept it on my wallet- I'd read it 3 or 4 times a day..
there were lots of times where I didn't want to leave the house (or bed for that matter) - but you have to be focused and accept the FACT that you are going to get better. My anxiety was extra bad when I was confined to somewhere like eating at a restaurant. I didn't know why all of a sudden I felt so horrible so I googled my symptoms... big mistake.. I saw all kinds of doctors, from E.R. To ear/nose/threat specialists, to general practitioners to psychiatrists .. nobody had any answers other than"I think you just have a case of the blues" (real quote from a real doctor) but it turns out that's exactly what it was even though at the time I thought there was no way in hell thats what it was and it made me panic even more-- I was given a light prescription of lorazepam 1mg tablets, but I'd only take half of one when I felt extreme anxiety because a full one made me slightly nauseous and I didn't want to run out of them.. they helped a little- psychiatrist prescribed me bupropion or something and said I'd have to take it for 18 months, so I just never committed to taking it.. time heals everything and what helped me out a lot was talking to God and listening to Christian radio.
Lastly, I'll just say that it is the worst feeling in the world and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy-- but regardless of what you think- it gets better. My case was about 2 months and it hit me like a ton of bricks about 4 days after a bachelor party.. keep you're head and spirits as high as possible, and after a while you will be on this thread consulting people saying things like 'that guy is 100% right' because trust me I didn't just write this whole thing for fun! Haha, I just know what it's like because i was there about 9 months ago.
-R
Nobody listen to that dumb statement that has nothing to do with anxiety or anything 'I can't give the response I want to' isn't anywhere near what this thread is about .. it's not about people doing drugs everyday for years- anyways, my episode was a year, maybe 13 months ago- it lasted about 6 weeks which were the worst 6 weeks of my life.. it gets better a little at a time after about 4 or 5 weeks..be open minded that it will pass. I would not be back on this board if it weren't true, I'd still be looking for an answer.. learn from your mistakes, pay your dues and live a healthier life. I read an accurate response a few posts ago about seratonin depletion and some people slowly replenishing it. Read up on that as well as GAD general anxiety disorder. Neither are severe - some people replenish serotonin slower than others but it always comes back.. and as for GAD , it's very common, but gets wayyy way better after a short while and is extremely tolerable. I am not on any medicine and have learned my party days are behind me.. I drink socially and everything is back to normal. You'll be fine, pay your dues and learn from it
Part that bugs me is I still have best friends that do coke Every time they drink. They, there friends have never experienced anything like this. Even some buddies thinks it's crazy I don't smoke weed anymore and nobody understands how it can cause anxiety for people. It's very strange. I went from weekend warrior to an anxiety state for years in 1 one night (still get it But it's not bad I learned to deal with it). But just gotta say it's been 7 years and never heard of anyone going through this. I thought i was nuts. Because as far as health goes I'm healthy.
But yes this depersonilization thing needs to be brought to light.
Cheers (am I ever glad to find out I'm not the only one)