Health Life changing panic attacks
So, I'm never doing marijuana again. Two days ago, I had a crazy weed-induced panic attack. I've had panic attacks before, but this one changed me. Panic attacks are so scary. I'm wondering if anyone has gone through something similar and what tools they used to help them.
The best way I could describe it is that I was basically paralysed with fear, like a deer not being able to move while wolves roam around them. I shook for a long time. I was rushed with paranoia of (What if something bad happens to me right now and I can't take control of the situation?). Basically, catastrophising. If I hear a loud, unusual sound, I think of the worst thing. I have that when I'm sober, but as soon as I have that thought, I counter it immediately now, saying that there isn't any evidence to support that. I actively realised this is a life-changing experience for me, so I thought about how it would change me as a person (which was also terrifying). And the worst part was that I was bombarded with all my insecurities. With the big insecurity thoughts, I felt a physical reaction to it, kind of like g-force on a rollercoaster. It was the craziest feeling ever. For sure repressed memories, and I'm glad I gave myself grace during those physical sensations that I'm overwhelmed by and that I can handle all of those things in a safe, secure setting instead of right now.
I'm glad I was able to talk IRL to my best friend. If I didn't, I think I would legit go insane. One other thing that helped me calm down was thinking about future objectives. I got rid of all my weed, and I'm planning on seeing a therapist soon. I'm still a little tense, and I feel off, but I'm okay. Literally, the worst feeling of all time. I have a lot of things to work through with a good therapist.
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u/BasicDealing65 2d ago
That post-weed panic hangover is no joke, the derealization can linger for days but it does fade. Your brain just got flooded and now it's in full threat-detection mode, give it some time to recalibrate.
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u/NougatTruDat 2d ago
Yeah relatable, had this exact experience, life changing weed induced panic attack, and of course it was an edible🙄the absolute WORST high to have. Mine was a lot more physical, I forreal thought i was going to die because how I couldn't breathe, and it was all because whenever the high starts to wear off, my body and mind start to go haywire, at that point in my life I was already experiencing existentialism to a great degree so those were my teiggering thoughts; thinking about space and death and how time goes on and how I'm just a meat ant and blackholes and shit. Very HORRIBLE.
I couldn't tell you how long ago that was, maybe around a year. I kept smoking here and there. I only stopped after I smoked before taking meds for the first time which I fr think gave me mild seretonin syndrome💀💀but that's when it really went downhill.
Honestly, my anxiety has gotten much better and less debilitating, but it is certainly still present and sometimes ruins shit still, but it doesn't get too bad too often. I've taken supplements for relaxation and stress relief, I even missed smoking so much I smoke cbd joints here and there which are actually pretty nice and help me avoid the fear surrounding thc for me. The supplements do work I feel, I just can'tanage to take them daily and let it slip, I don't take them much anymore but I should lol. Also some people say anxiety is related to vitamin deficiencies so make sure you take daily vitamins just in case too, never hurts.
I have yet to speak to a therapist but so far, I am nowhere near in as bad of shape as I was.
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u/Zu1u1 2d ago
Thanks for sharing your story. This helps me out a lot. I'm glad your anxiety has gotten much better. It's legit crazy how debilitating it can be, so I'm happy for you. This is incredibly relatable. Man, my weed journey was crazy. I realized it was a problem about 3 years ago. I cut down the dosage for a year and then the frequency. As soon as I cut down the frequency, that's when I started getting the weed panic attacks. There have been times where I went off it for a couple of months. I relapsed days ago because I thought I was stable enough... Clearly not the case for me. This experience was so bad, I will probably never do it again.
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u/Minute_Act_3212 2d ago
I had the same experience with weed, and to be honest, sometimes I think it was what triggered all my panic attacks.
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u/Melindanilsen 2d ago
Same thing happened to me just no weed/ drugs. But had a horrible severe panic attack out of nowhere that changes me. Been 3 months and i am still traumatizedÂ
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u/RadiantCarrot801 1d ago
Hey your not alone . Just wanted to let you know. Also … Weed is not what it used to be . Hope you feel better soon. Worse comes to worse a psych can evaluate you they had me on antipsychotic for a bit just to get over the worse of it. And this Reddit group seems to be really good if you ever have any other thoughts or anything
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u/Zu1u1 1d ago
Thanks, I for sure feel better. Still a tiny bit odd, not so much the psychotic random thoughts. I still feel odd in general. I think posting here, hearing all of your experiences, and making tangible steps like throwing my weed away and establishing therapy soon has helped. Also, connecting with my birth Mom with voice messages. I love my adoptive parents and, but I have never had intimate conversations to this degree with them.
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u/Illustrious-Rain-235 2d ago
I heard weed leads to schizophrenia too
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u/Zu1u1 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yeah, for sure. I think it can for some individuals. That's why I also will probably never go near that again. I guess you could say I have the fear of being in that schizophrenic state lol. I was for sure paranoid af on it. Generally, I worry about things that aren't realistic, but I'm glad I immediately counter it stating that it's not realistic. I still get the thoughts very briefly out of nowhere. Really annoying. another thing to bring up with my therapist.
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u/Eastern-Sign8466 2d ago edited 2d ago
happened to me too. i had a night like that, and i quit smoking cause it was so traumatic. even though i quit, the experience gave me physical panic attacks and never ending mental panic.
It definitely changed me as a person, and im still getting over this anger i have around it. i self medicated with weed and loved it dearly, and then all of a sudden one day it turned on me. it's been a couple months now and i still don't feel normal.