Hey everyone, I'm 18 and over the past year I've been getting very bad anxiety and it is stopping me from doing alot of things. I was smoking weed all throughout grade 10 and some of 11 but then stopped because I was slacking off. A few months after I stopped smoking weed, I started to experience anxiety, I was not myself anymore, not as happy or energetic, and have become very depressed. I also was partying quite a bit and experimenting with other drugs which I think could also have effected it. I recently smoked weed again in april but had a terrible anxiety attack, heart felt like it was pounding right out of my chest. I usually experience anxiety 50% of the day, which varies on how bad it is. Most of the time I experience nausea and then I panic about the nausea which causes my anxiety to get worse. I feel like I get a lump in my throat and that I cant swallow or breathe, which of course makes it worse. I've been getting better at dealing with and calming myself down, but I hate feeling like this all the time, it's ruining my life and preventing me from being myself. I was hoping you guys would have any tips on how you deal with it, or even have made it better! This is the first time I've reached out to anyone about it, and I hope it helps. Thanks :)
Anxiety and depression are both mental illnesses. I'm not sure about the pot but to me it seems odd that you have a time delayed reaction to stopping but anything is possible. I would guess that the partying and "other drugs" are the culprit. Drinking is a central nervous system depressant and if you are inclined to depression and anxiety the worst thing you can do is drink. I'm curious about the other drugs because pot is practically benign compared to most other drugs.
I would see a doctor and spill the beans, be honest. Or see a therapist to sort out what's going on. These are both serious conditions and usually get worse without treatment. Try to exercise, go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday, take walks in mother nature, lift weights, ear right, etc etc etc. Do not do drugs or alcohol. If you can't stop then you have another problem. But you'll be alright just get help.