can smoking weed cause anxiety attacks

[john1220]

Hello I am 28 and I quit smoking weed a little over 7 years ago and was told I had anxiety attacks and social anxiety dissorder and now I have headachs all the time back pain and dont sleep good at all and I was told that weed would help with all these things but I am worried that if I start again it could bring on more attacks because the heart speeding up in the start of the high and im worried that it could cause heart problems now I know in alot of states weed aint legal but I have put some time into looking into all this so if anyone has an answer or thought to my fears or an answer or a thought to if it would truly help with the problems I have I would love to hear back from you

[abs141]

I soothed my panic attacks from the increase my breathing deeply. Plus knowing that the slight rise-only 20 beats- only lasts for a bit but afterward lowers your blood pressure. I have all of your issues there plus major depression, a supraventrical tachycardia, stage 2 hypersion, scoliosis, and a handful of random little issues. I can't not smoke or I have panic attacks and episodes where I just cannot eat at all. When I don't smoke all day my blood pressure is 168/99. With a few tokes throughout the day, my bp lowers to 120/71. Not bad without any medications besides marijuana I say. I don't want to take meds because of side effects. I self- medicate the old way. My back pain is less I think or maybe the stoned effect makes me not care about it; either way I feel that my pain is managed pretty well without opiates.

[juleslady]

Dont know if yu finally figured this out or not but here u go. There are basically different types of weed... durrr. ok now some weed makes you giggly and its "light" and funny and its great. Now some weed is heavy and more LSD like this will basically make you high in a different way but will "trip you out" Colors will start looking strange for instange a "white" wall will appear very colorful and things like walking to the end of the street will seem to take hours when in fact its the same time as usual its just that your mind is racing. You will get stuck in a loop... for example: I need to find my lighter, i think i left it over here, i cant find it, o look cigarettes, i want a cigarette, where is my lighter, i need to find a lighter. Sometimes a cold enviroment will make you shiver, this is similar to being afraid, your brain says I am shivering i am afraid... try and stay some where warm with people who make you laugh in an enviroment that you know and dont mix alcohol will pot. Of course you get anxious when you smoke pot because it illegal and alot of people dont approve and also because people tell you stupid stuff will happen to you if you smoke, like growing breasts, hair on your breasts, etc. So you are trying to get high but other parts of you have conflicting emotions and thus anxiety.  This produces the downward slide or the "bad trip" you start to get worked up, you dont feel right, you start to panic, something is not right... Sometimes it will feel as if your throat is constricted or a heavy weight is on your neck. All you need to remember is ITS NOT YOU its the THC in the pot you are smoking that is making you feel like this. Dont panic the reason you smoked this was to have a good time, the thing that is wrong is that you are not having a good time, go somewhere warm and familiar and play some music you like or watch a funny movie - you are gonna get panicky if you are out in a cold forest in the dark.. k?

[nerdberglar]

When you firs smoke weed you might get a really bad anxiety attack or you might not feel anything at all like hermaniscool says "I think weed effects people in different ways"and that is so true but if you were a heroin addict like I was,weed helps out alot.

[hemaniscool]

I think weed effects people in very different ways. I know people that smoke it to help but I also know people (including myself) where it makes anxiety worse. I think either way it can be a danger if you're an anxious person because if it helps your anxiety in the short term you may become reliant on it.

[ehearle]

Short answer, YES! I had pretty much identical experiences to hmf099. i tried it a couple of times in my early teens and was fine, then one time BAM. it was a terrifying experience, but it's funny how you forget how intense it was, no? i mean when you're in that state you're like what the **** was i thinking, this is HELL, but when you're straight you can never remember JUST how bad it was, which explains why we had the guts to try it again. It's strange, like, your thoughts go around and around in this endless, dizzing panicky circle, you get waves of it, and then feel a little bit lucid, and then sink down and into craziness again. To john1220, if there's even the SLIGHTEST possibility that you could experience what we're talking about (and there is, judging by your condition, even though you've smoked weed before and been okay in the past) then steer a mile clear. trust me, IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!!!!! it's 5 hours or more of absolute hell that seems to last a lifetime.

[hmf099]

Just wanted to add that since you have social anxiety you really might want to stay away from the weed. Many people expirience paranoia and a fear that everyone is watching them while high. There are also many other therapies that help with sleep.

[hmf099]

I'll tell you my own expirience. I have never been a "regular" pot smoker, but I have done it a few times. About 12 years ago, 1 year before I was diagnosed with panic disorder, I had my first panic attack while high. It was about the second or third time I ever tried it. I can't even describe how severe the panic was, but I was sure I was dying and/or losing my mind. This was so teffifying that I stopped doing it and up until I found out what panic attacks were, I thought I was having flashbacks. I know it sounds silly but it was very real to me. About 4 years later when my panic was under control, I got gutsy and tried it again. Same thing. So much terror that I.ended up in the ER this time, positive all my anxiety fears were becoming reality and I was losing my mind. 3 years ago, same thing, only my husband calmed me down enough after a couple hours that I slept it off instead of going to the ER. Never again will I put myself through. The above post was right, weed does intensify anxiety and panic. Part of my fears also were that unless it is prescribed legal medical marijuana, we don't know what it's laced with. Some people will cut it with cocaine, even arsenic. We with anxiety already have problems with feelings of unreality, it doesn't make much sense to do this to ourselves. Plus with the legality problems like the ones listed by nursegirl just pile onto all the other things that could give us more anxiety. I feel medical marijuana can be very benificial to those who NEED it (cancer patients, ect) and it is legal for those things in my state as long as it is prescribed. It sounds like your problem could be helped with the right pain meds and physical therapy. In my opinion, marijuana should only be used when medically neccessary, and as prescribed by a doctor. Let us know what decision you made. Good luck.

[Paxiled]

Marijuana intensifies what you're experiencing.  So if you're struggling with anxiety, it's likely to make you obsess more over it and get more anxious.  It's not the best drug for what you're going through.  Therapy is your best bet, at least to see if it works.

[nursegirl6572]

Honestly...there have been countless folks who report an increase in anxiety with regular marijuana use. I would tread very carefully if I were you.  My personal opinion is you ought to simply avoid it all together.  For many reasons.  Despite what people's opinions are about the legalities of weed....the bottom line is it IS illegal and if caught in the wrong situation, you could find yourself in trouble.  Talk about an increase in anxiety!  Not to mention the fact that even if your employer doesnt currently require random drug screenings...if that SHOULD ever occur, you will be left to find another way to battle the anxiety. So,why not go with a traditional method....either medications or therapy, or both?  Have you tried anything like that?  What HAVE you tried to reduce your anxiety?

Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing!

[boogieman]

Hello. Have you consulted a doctor or therapist? You may benefit from meds and/ or therapy. As far as weed, despite the ignorance of most people and its resulting legal status, some people do benefit from its use. In my opinion, it is far less addictive and has milder side effects than many prescription meds. I have seen this first hand in cancer patients, who with its use, were able to eat and relax where conventional sedatives and painkillers would have more undesirable side effects. It baffles me that weed is illegal and alcohol is not- the statistics speak for themselves, but that is another issue I won't get into here. Anxiety meds can be tricky as to finding the right dosage and effectiveness, I've been trying to find the right combination for years. I've tried other substances too, but found they weren't effective. The decision is ultimately yours, all drugs carry a risk factor. Just be sure to weigh the potential consequences whatever you decide. Best wishes, GM-