Did I just have a panic attack?

I smoke weed maybe once every few weeks. I've never really had any problems with it - it just relaxes me and I lose the 'high' after a few hours. However last night a friend rolled a blunt containing skunk - renowned for its high potency - and we went on to share (between about 5 of us) three large blunts.

That was all fine and dandy, and I went home feeling normal (I thought I had shrugged off the high by the time I walked into my door). Then something that I've never experienced before happened - here are the symptoms:

When I'd lie down and close my eyes, I'd still feel relatively fine. However, just as I was beginning to dream, my body would be gripped by intense fear, my heart rate would speed up and I'd feel each beat hard through my body, and I'd feel extremely dizzy and be jolted right back to reality. I had been to Thorpe Park (a theme park) yesterday, and as I was lying there trying to sleep I'd keep on having my dreams switch to me riding a rollercoaster - and feeling like I was on one with those symptoms of fear and dizziness taking over.

Now the fact I smoked skunk means that I assumed I must have got a panic attack - but I had nothing like numbness, tingling, consistent fear or apprehension or 'feeling like I was going to die', which are common symptoms (or so I've read). I simply had the very unpleasant experience of feeling a massive adrenaline rush surge through my body every time I'd try to sleep (my body would also jolt as I fell asleep, as in my limbs would kick out suddenly). It felt like my body was doing everything to prevent me from sleeping. I eventually said 'you know what, you're going to ride out the storm and fall asleep', and eventually fell asleep in the midst of great dizziness and fear.

Would someone be kind enough to tell me what on earth happened to me?

[cj29]

Why not lay off of the skunk?  If you had an experience like that with this, then I would probably not do it anymore. Drugs can definintely increase your anxiety in my opinion, and can bring it forward.  Also, you may not know exactly what is in the stuff you are smoking...keep us posted!

[gofio]

Fools don't learn from their bad experiences.Suggest that you take the greatest care you can of your brain & general health.Mental illness can be much more distressing than anything you have so far experienced ~ the choice is yours. Look after yourself & avoid playing around with substances that are proven to be harmful. Jolting as you are about to fall asleep's not unusual for anyone, riding out the storm may not always be possible if you don't make a positive step to stay well. Good Luck

[WendyLady03]

You very well could have had a panic attack, even though you didn't have the "common" symptoms. Attacks vary, and the symptoms aren't always the same. My first panic attack was also after doing a drug, though mine was x. At the time I didn't feel like I was going to die, I just felt completely overwhelmed, hot, dizzy, tingly, and my heart rate was out of my control. It was my second attack a week later in which I actually felt like I was going to die, and the attack was much more intense then my first one. Like the other people said, it's probably best to lay off the drugs altogether. Some people can do drugs for years and never experience a panic attack and others, like me, can try it once and ruin everything. I should have known better, my family has a history of anxiety disorders, but when you're young you think you're invincible.

Drugs can have really real, horrible consequences. In my nonmedical opinion I think you did have a panic attack. You may never have another one, or you may develop an anxiety/panic disorder and end up battling it for the rest of your life. Just be careful. If you experience anything like this again or if it gets worse, you should definitely go see a doctor to make sure it's not something more serious.