Marijuana caused panic attacks

This is RICH! I have  some prior posts about my ongoing neck pain (after 2 vertebra fusions).  Want to get off oxycodone, not just because of its addictive tendencies, but also because all of the pain killers cause constipation. I had 18 inches of my descending colon removed (diverticulitis) so I already had a bowel problem. I am presently taking 8 x 5mg oxycodone a day. Much as I would like to increase the dose - the pain is always there - it's my tolerance that is building up.  I went to my naturopath and he suggested marijuana for relief. I asked him if he was serious. He replied, "of course!" and he faxed down a requisition to the "Compassion Club".  It was suggested that I run this by my neurologist and pain doctor.  The first acquiesced and my pain dr I see tomorrow.  But my big question is this:  I have had similar episodes to many others in this discussion.  I am far from a constant user - have only tried it twice in the past 2 decades.  I had been a more frequent user in my university days but never was I addicted nor was I a daily user.  But, nearly everytime I used cannibus, I would have a similar reaction.  I became detached from reality.  I would watch a TV program and I would not see what everyone else saw.  I would see actors reading their lines.  And I would become increasingly introspective.  Always the results would be the same.  Instead of "accentuating the positive" as the song goes, I would see nearly everything in a negative light and I would get a distorted perspective that would lead to depressed thoughts.  (There was a time when the senses such as sound - music - and sight (colours) would be enhanced and it would be a very sensual and positive experience.)  But the 'highs' became progressively negative and I would become cynical or always wondering why I - and others around me at the time - were wasting time trying to superimpose some drug-induced interpretation of reality.  So, the idea for me to try cannibus as an ulterior type of pain killer opens up more issues that I hadn't planned on!!!

I suppose the purpose of this 'reply' is to share those very real negative feelings that cannibus "conjures up" that border on pychotic episodes.  (The only way that I could fight those feelings is either by trying to sleep or, more often, consume a couple of strong shots of alcohol.)  And to ask those in this discussion group if there really is some pain killing quality to cannibus.  Finally, is the pain killing quality of cannibus worth the very real anxiety if not outright panic that seems to accompany its use?

Ive been smoking weed for nearly ten years now and I just returned from the hospital this morning after my second anxiety attack in four days. All x-rays and blood tests were good, my blood pressure was normal as well as my heart rate. The only thing abnormal was my heart beat. It was beating irregularly and felt as if it were pounding. I was expecting an attack to happen for some time now, due to the amount of stress that has been accumulating in my life for the past 3 years. The fact that the symptoms of an anxiety attack and heart attack are so similar, fueled the paranoia for the anxiety about the heart. Nasty little circle. On both occasions however, I had just finished smoking weed. The first hospital visit was 30 min to an hour after I burned a FAT backwoods of some KUSH. The second was a shorter time frame due to the ambulance ride, but also was followed by a two spliff session. Now, the two days in the middle were nearly smoke free. Miniscule amounts of weed along with only mild numbing and pains in the chest as I walked. It seems that I now have a personal limit to smoking. Anything beyond that will result in an attack. This does not happen to everyone but I see it more and more  within my neighborhood. I think all potheads know that weed can exaggerate any emotion you feel, along with perception of space and time. What it also does is raise your heart rate. I believe mine was irregular because of my efforts to slow it down. This made me want to hyperventilate and became more fuel for paranoia. To basically sum it up,if you have stress in your life, real stress, it may be reflected into your high. If that's the case, sit down till your sober. Have an orange, apple or even a coke. Drink water and whatever you do, don't think about what you were before the attack. As for the heart, irregular heartbeats can be a cause for anxiety itself. Anxiety and paranoia go hand in hand. Plus the paranoia from the weed along with exaggeration can easily put one self in distress.

Bongo, try not to judge. You will be a happier and better person if you have a little love and compassion for other people.

I  smoked pot everyday for 44 years , also cigarettes. Suprise i'm still alive. On Aug 22 2011 I quit pot & cigs cold turkey. I never quit or tried before. I tossed all ashtrys, rolling papers, and my pot tray. I did not have panic attacks. Anxiety, maybe some, vivid dreams and some sleeping disruption. I took lots of naps. The thing that helped me the most, and this sounds stupid, I just kept telling myself, "hey i'm a non-smoker" yea. No more wasted $$$$, no more dirty ashtrays, no more coughing, no more embarrasment about coughing, no more stinky smoke in the house, no more cleaning all the c**p smoking does to the walls etc of your home. No more worry about traveling or visiting someone, can I smoke, where can I smoke, when can I smoke. No more guilt, and feeling stupid for smoking around my family.

I did give up something I always thought was my right to do, and I should have the freedom do, and in doing it I was set free ! Hell yes, and that is the best feeling in the world. Now for the 1st time in many years I am really awake !!!!! I can go anywhere, with anyone and have no worries. Also I feel strong and powerful because I did it.

So keep the faith all you XXX stoners, its a good life if you don't weaken. You can do it, and after you do you will see that life is good when you conquer your addictions. Believe you can do it, treat yourself well, take back your own personal power. The rewards are awesome. Believe it or not you are going to feel sooooo much better. You will really see the light, not the fog.

Peace and good luck !

Hey guys!

First of all nice to have this thread feels good that iam not alone to have "panic" attacks.

Ive realised what triggers theese attacks in my case and how i gain back the control of my body and toughts!

At first everything is fine and then suddenly a deep tought accours! Then another! Then another! And before i know it my mind cant stop thinking, i become aware of my awarness, my toughts, my body, my soul and theese things are really scary!

What happens when theese attacks occur is that time seems to stop or go really really slow!

Everything is relative e=mc2 stuff, when your high drugs do things to you and u gotta realize that you taken it and it has its effects on you!

What i start doing when i peak my attack is to start breathing just focus on ur breathe try to clear your mind!

Then talk to yourself, seriously the best answers you seek for are hidden in yourself, do this infront of a mirror!

And just breathe and try to focus on something best thing is to take a walk or shower something that makes time pass by, its important to stop noticing time and try to grab back your senses!

And remember noone has ever died of weed!

Just breathe!

I read most of the threads on this page and most of you are really accurate in describing what you felt during a panic attack when I compare them to my experiences. I've been smoking weed about 4 times a day for almost 4 years, and my first real full-throttle panic attack occurred about a year ago. 

I have experienced very few panic attacks, maybe four (all of which have been after smoking weed), and I feel like I may know why this 'panic attack after smoking weed' problem is so widespread. The people who previously stated how panic attacks work in a cycle are very correct. I believe the only reason why people have panic attacks in the first place is because they either:

A. Think something mentally that disturbs them to the point of it changing their heart rate, like getting surprised by an unusual/negative thought that they PERCEIVE to be true, and from my experience are NEVER true.. This starts the 'panic cycle', and someone who is inexperienced or is very sensitive to something happening internally that they seemingly have no control over would OVERREACT. If you think that these changes in your body are worse than they actually are, your heart will react by beating faster, thus causing more worry etc. This concept happened to me personally a few weeks ago. I take pre-workout supplements, and because of this, I am sensitive to any changes in my heart rate/chest area (because these supplements have side effects that include heart attack, etc.). I talk more about my experience below...

B. Experience a RANDOM sensation of a changing heart rate or (faster/palpitations) internally, even if its the tiniest change in heart rate, and this causes everything to spiral out of control. 

I had a panic attack about two weeks ago, one of the few where I knew exactly what was happening during the first moments. I felt like my heart was bursting out of my chest, and I also felt a weird thumping on the right side of my chest that I've never felt before. I think the MAIN REASON why the panic attack continued for the 15 minutes that it did, was because I compared my 'symptoms' to that of a heart attack. I distinctly remember thinking that my chest felt like it was 'tightening', and I even felt a numbing sensation in my arm (all symptoms of a heart attack).  Because I knew this was a panic attack and not a heart attack, I simply thought to myself "I know exactly what this is, and it's NOT a heart attack, and I KNOW I have nothing to worry about". After I thought this, my heart rate returned to normal and I stopped sweating/shaking. IT'S ALL IN THE MIND! DON'T LET YOUR MIND TRICK YOU INTO THINKING THAT SOMETHING SERIOUS IS HAPPENING WHEN IN REALITY IT'S NOTHING! The main reason why people have panic attacks is because they allow a small change in heart rate or a really deep/negative thought to sway their mind into believing something more serious is occurring. When I thought to myself that I know this is a STUPID panic attack and not a heart attack, the panic subsided very quickly. While thinking these thoughts, I found it very relaxing to lie down, take deep breathes and drink water. I do not recommend physical activity as some people mentioned, because I felt a sense of light-headedness/dizziness , and have personally experienced fainting (not from a panic attack). 

If you have confidence in your ability to control your own mind, and change negativity to positivity, then you have complete control over your body and heart.

PEACE

how many days,months or years we can recover again to normal life??? please reply

What symptoms do you have that prevent you from living a normal life? Marijuana induced panic attacks shouldn't affect your life to the extent of living uncomfortably for months or years. Do you mean how long until you can smoke again without having a panic attack? Or do you mean even without smoking you experience symptoms that prevent you from living a normal life?

While I took a lot of hits bout 7 hits of "Reggie" I was good clowning around with friends making them laugh.. I started to feel like things where in slow motions cuz this guy was holding my hand cuz I told everybody I was leaving but he didn't want to let go but he did.. We left after that we had to climb up some stairs to go up to his house I was bout fall then we was at my friend house.. His mom just started screaming then I just started freaking out! I was telling my sister let's go home.. She didn't wanna go.. I said man let's go home I just got loud Like it felt like I was nervous my hands was sweating and my feet and hands where tingly in a nervous way I took off my clothes got in the tub nun happen got home and my mom wasn't that upset I just felt like I wanted to be hold by somebody that loved me which was my mom I was still feeling a little sick for like a week I was in bed the hold time I couldn't eat i had to make myself eat.. And now when people mike around me I act like that some times like I would say I wanna go home I feel like I'm bout catch a panic attack "second hand smoke"