bin_tenn
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- Sep 23, 2019
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Hey all. I've posted about this before, or I've at least mentioned it in other posts. Many years ago I smoked marijuana socially, and never had an issue. Then one day, around the same year that I developed regular anxiety / panic attacks, smoking marijuana caused intense panic. I took a break for a long time, and tried years later. Same problem, as soon as the high set in I felt terribly anxious and had a panic attack.
At this point I'm convinced that it's a mental problem. At least some of you know the effects of a weed high - particularly the lightheaded / "floating" sensation. It feels a lot like one of the symptoms of a panic attack, in which case it's usually due to hyperventilation. I tend to feel quite anxious any time I experience a symptom I've associated (negatively) with anxiety and panic over the years. That's why exercise can be difficult at times, because the elevated heart rate makes me feel like I'm panicking.
Anyhow, I decided to try it again. This time fully aware of the possibility of anxiousness and panic. I consumed very little, just enough to let me test it. Yes, as soon as the high began to set in with that head feeling, I began to feel anxious. This time, however, I was aware and I talked myself through it as I do any time I have a panic attack. It actually worked. So I'm feeling like weed itself isn't the problem, it's the fact that I've associated some of the "high" sensations with a negative situation.
I'm sort of excited because I've missed smoking occasionally. I intend to try it again at some point, again going in fully aware and prepared to walk myself through it. Taking it very easy. Don't want to be a "stoner" anyhow, just have a bit from time to time. So yeah, this is cool and I wanted to share. LoL.
At this point I'm convinced that it's a mental problem. At least some of you know the effects of a weed high - particularly the lightheaded / "floating" sensation. It feels a lot like one of the symptoms of a panic attack, in which case it's usually due to hyperventilation. I tend to feel quite anxious any time I experience a symptom I've associated (negatively) with anxiety and panic over the years. That's why exercise can be difficult at times, because the elevated heart rate makes me feel like I'm panicking.
Anyhow, I decided to try it again. This time fully aware of the possibility of anxiousness and panic. I consumed very little, just enough to let me test it. Yes, as soon as the high began to set in with that head feeling, I began to feel anxious. This time, however, I was aware and I talked myself through it as I do any time I have a panic attack. It actually worked. So I'm feeling like weed itself isn't the problem, it's the fact that I've associated some of the "high" sensations with a negative situation.
I'm sort of excited because I've missed smoking occasionally. I intend to try it again at some point, again going in fully aware and prepared to walk myself through it. Taking it very easy. Don't want to be a "stoner" anyhow, just have a bit from time to time. So yeah, this is cool and I wanted to share. LoL.