Marijuana and anxiety, panic attacks/mental health problem!

Yep. It felt like your mind turned against itself because it DID. for me the actual trip was like i was drowning in my own turbulent thoughts, i was physically almost paralysed but inside, i was flailing and thrashing for some thread of sanity to hold onto. the whole world was suddenly far far away and i would get a snippet of rational thought and try to remember it to comfort myself that I was comign out of it but then it was snatched away and I was lost in panic again. Time seems to stretch out forever, while my panicked thoughts sped up and up and up in a terrifying whirlwind. sound familiar? Actually, this reaction is not as uncommon as you'd think. and beware, if you ever smoke weed again, it could very well happen again...and it will be worse. I have a feeling that once the chemical flick has been switched once, you're much more susceptible to it. I don't know why this phenomenom happens to certain individuals, I've researched it and I can't find any conclusive evidence that tells me exactly what's going wrong in the brain. All i know is that it felt very much like a case of acute Akathisia which i've had twice after being administered dopamine antagonists, so it must have something to do with the release of dopamine. those two episodes were equally hellish, so be careful of anti-emetics (drugs that stop you vomiting) and antipsychotic drugs (used sometimes to treat anxiety disorders and anxiety attacks, ironically enough). One of my friends suggested that it happens after an "overdose" of marijuana. While you can't die from too much weed, it sure as hell FEELS like you can at the time! (just listen to that hilarious 911 call the cop made after stealing evidence marijuana and making brownies with it at home with his wife). This could be true, since you said that you guys smoked a lot, and I tend to be hypersensitive to a lot of central nervous-system drugs. I think THC comes under this category. Hope you're doing better, and you'll get through it...the first few months are sh*t. you may need the help of some antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs if the panic attacks persist and you can't stop doing the hypochondriac thing. (i did that, too lol its just a reaction, your brain trying to explain why you feel this way. It helps for a bit, if you think you've hit the jackpot, but actually it just winds you up more).

Good luck hope it helps to know you're not alone :-)

My experiences with marijuana have been completely different. I've was diagnosed with a panic disorder about 8 years ago and have been on many medications. Nothing has ever helped me except for smoking marijuana. I think for every person the effects of drugs are different. For me it is one of the only things that can help me and I think that is amazing. For others, it can cause anxiety which is very unfortunate.

how have you been feeling since then?

I think i know what you are talking about or feeling...

I am not a weed smoker, not anymore. my last time ws about 9 years ago. where i used to be a daily smoker, and i had a bad trip, where i got depressed after that night, i got panic attack, and the 2nd day i felt depressed and it went on for the about 6 months, as i used to get the feeling that i have a heavy cloud in my head, feeling it in my forehead and something pressing at the back of my head...i started getting into the awareness of what my subconsioness do...as is how am i breathing, how am i talking, how am i understanding what i am being told...and all this, and it is really bothering and annoying...and since then i stopped smoking weed...

till about a week ago...i smoked a joint, and all went well, nothing of the sort...i am in a situation now that is very stressfull, and have a lot of problems and unempolyed for the last 6 months practically, as everything seems to go the opposite way in my life...anyway. i smoked weed, i didnt even finish 1 full spliff...but the very 2nd say those ugly feelings, and restlessness, and thoughts and tight cloudy brain came again, something that i dont need now...

i know it is my fault for smoking again, even if it is for once....but could this be a heavy stress i am passing in, or depressions, or weed effect...or all?

these feelings dont take grip of me all the time, but certain times during the day...

i was advised to take xanax (anti depressant), it is helping me sleep...but i am sick and tired of this thing in my head, and this tight feelings...

but as you said, it is all in my head, maybe when my life gets back on track...things will get back to normal...

 

MY ADVICE...DONT DO DRUGS...DRUGS WILL BREAK YOUR HEART!

I have/had  the similar problem. I stopped in 07 after being hospitalized twice. When i first had my panic and anxiety attacks. i think thats what they where (they are different) it got so bad. I also had a psychotic episode while being very high. I wanted to hurt everyone in the room one second then I gained control and ran to the the bathroom. While in there I looked in the mirror and said to myself "get yourself together" Then i said something like "heres the plan" (the plan was to go out and start attacking everyone who was sitting down the chypher) but i didn't say that on purpose to then i started to freak out EVEN MORE. I felt like a turned into a psychopath and couldn't control myself. My friend came to the bathroom to see what was wrong with me and i didn't want to let him him because I thought i would hurt him. I just yelled though the door you i need to get out of here now please take me home. So eventually we all got in the car and he started driving. At that time "lil wayne - Fireman" was a big song so of course that was on.. i started to relax while i listened to the song then for some reason the words of that song started seeming really grim and it sounded like it was the devil talking and telling me something i can really remember right now. So anyway we get out the car and i realize my friends brother brought us to his house.. not mine. Whatever they have halo ill just go downstairs and try to calm down right? WRONG as im making my way to the basement i visualize me grabbing something and just swinging at everyone. I try to ignore it and sit down, i start making funny faces and sounds and all types of sh*t to try to distract myself from these horrible thoughts. All of a sudden I get up slamming my fist into my palms walking towards my brother.. then i snapped out of it and ran upstairs and outside and locked myself out. My brother comes to check on me and i tell him to just call my mom. (16 year old logic) im outside and waiting for my mom cant really remember what went on at this point but my mom came and got me. I get in to the backseat and im sitting next to my baby sister.. now im getting thoughts of hurting her. UNEXCEPTABLE (if giving the chance i would and jumped out that car on to on coming traffic before i put a hand on my pride and joy baby sister). My mom was also sitting next to me and i told her to hold me and dont let me go even if i saying im fine now. So she did .. i blackout a lil bit and awoke a couple second later to my mom saying its ok baby just calm down. No idea what had just happened but my sister was crying and i was being held down so i couldn't look up t make sure i didn't touch her or if she was just scared. we finally get to the hospital and my mood change a lil bit i was kinda calm still on egde though. When i got into a bed i cant remember exactly what i was doing or saying but they needed to sedate me. Here came my other blackout. but right before i blackout remember being really calm and i told my mom I love her. then i was gone, when i came back my mom was sitting next to me with her head down so i was like hey mom whats up..(doped up at this time lol) She asked how i was feeling and i told her good then she told me it took like 7 people to restrain me. (this is something i have no memory of) From there I was since to the hospital (mental hospital) for a week and dealt with panic attack and paranoia since. Its 2012 about to be 2013 and things are getting better but its still a struggle every single day. meds zombie me up and without them i feel like im going to just go insane. Anyway thats my story well atleast the first time. has this happened to anyone else?  

Same here, marijuana helps me with almost all my symptoms like no other prescription med.

*****important to note that he said they smoked ALOT of weed he is not familiar with (amsterdam has some of the most potent weed in the world ) after traveling to a new place without eating for hours. You have to understand how drugs are going to affect you in specific situations.(He probably Vaporized as well, since most shops there have a Volcano as a center piece in every table )

I have a Depression, PTSD and GAD... and even though marijuana helps me a lot and allows me to take less of my highly addictive benzos. i still take them because i know thati cant smoke weed in some situations for example: I have to meet with my clients (i'm a designer), or i have to do a site visit. im far too worried that i'll make a mistake or that the clients will smell it on me. So I dont put myself in situations where me being high will do more harm than good.

I hope he gets better but the whole dont do drugs is extreme and makes me less sympathetic to him because he is not taking responsability for the bad choices he made leading up to it instead he is putting all the fault on the drug. To me it sounds like what happen

"you shouldnt do drugs that are harder than you, and you certainly shouldnt do it to excess"

If you do things to excess sh*t like this happens...
Sorry this happened to you, i hope you get better.

It’s the same story over and over again. Someone smoked marijuana with a group of friends and within 24 hours, usually sooner, they begin feeling unreal, depersonalized, foggy and detached. They are convinced that the marijuana had to have been laced with something that created this uncomfortable and distressing sensation. They worry that some sort of “damage” has taken place inside their brain. When they contact the people they partied with, they are amazed to learn everyone else is feeling fine. Now they become very confused, worried and fearful.

This is not an unusual course of events. I hear this story time and again, in almost exactly the same detail. The individual is positive they have caused damage to themselves even though they are the only one experiencing these symptoms. They often resort to “doctor shopping” and taking medications which do little to resolve the problem. Frustration enters the picture as feelings of depersonalization/derealization often intensify.

There is a simple explanation for this chain of events. Once understood, recovery is not difficult. It requires a simple yet specific process.

Let’s rely on basic science and facts:

(1) Personality– Some individuals are basically more reactive than others. These are the people who are intelligent, creative, analytical and generally more reactive to outside stimuli. They often experience a greater reaction to stimuli where others may not. They may react in a stronger manner to:
– Medications
– Alcohol
– Caffeine
– Nicotine
– Excessive Sugar
– Temperature Changes
– Bright Light
– Lack of Sleep
– Recreational Drugs

(2) Habit of Fearful Worry– The mind quickly wraps around whatever it is dealing with, to create a sense of closure, whether the facts are true or not. Therefore, if one has recently smoked marijuana and is feeling “strange” or “odd” afterward, the mind, by process of elimination, deduces that some damage must have occurred. Every free moment is spent in self-blame and fearful worry that permanent damage has occurred when nothing could be further from the truth.

(3) Fatigued Mind– The mind quickly becomes exhausted, due to the continuous loop of worried thoughts. A tired mind is far less resilient and naturally the longer this loop continues, the foggier the mind becomes. The person may even lose their appetite, develop insomnia and find it difficult to concentrate or socialize with friends and family. They might even take time off from work, in order to recuperate, when this is completely unnecessary.

Once they understand what this is, what it is not and what to do, they are home free. It is important to note that one is not ill, nor have they ever been, which is why medication is not required. In a reactive individual, medication often may exacerbate the problem. This is merely the product of a tired mind and nothing more. The marijuana may have been the trigger but it is not the only trigger.

Triggers of Depersonalization

– Constant and Lingering Stress
– Certain Medications
– Alcohol
– Traumatic Event, Shock
– Unresolved Issues
– Unresolved Anger
– Recreational Drugs

Resolution of Depersonalization Due to Marijuana Use

Resolution of this sensation is not difficult. It is based upon a Two-Fold Approach:

(1) Retrain the Brain- Learning how to refresh the fatigued mind. Thinking more productively. Through behavioral modification one is able to tame a mind that is overactive and unproductive.

(2) Food Therapy– Learning to use the correct foods, one already has in their own kitchen, to work for you rather than against you. Boosting Serotonin levels in the brain naturally and maintaining balanced blood sugar levels in the body to create a far less reactive mind and body. The correct foods will accelerate recovery when used in tandem with the proper behavioral modification techniques.

This two-fold approach is all that is required to overcome feelings of depersonalization, created by marijuana use, or any other trigger. It does not require a long or drawn out process at all. It does require that one follow the specific process, leading to rapid relief and permanent recovery.