Marijuana related to anxiety.. help!

[Cubsfan125]

Hi everyone!

I have been doing some thinking. But some background first. I had anxiety 2 years ago and I dealt with it quiet a bit, and then it vanished. In late 2018 and early this year I would smoke marijuana at least a few times a week. Then it early March, I stopped because I began getting anxiety feelings.

Overtime until now, it has developed and gotten stronger for sure. But certain times I feel like I’m high and it is weird.

I am wondering if that weed smoking could have triggered my anxiety again and how to deal with it?

Thanks a lot!

 

[AiThink]

Im not sure about your case but i can tell you about my experience with anxiety and marijuana. It all started back when i was 15. I started smoking weed with a friend of mine and everything about the experience seemed normal. I would always get nervous before smoking, and during the high but i thought that was part of the deal. Mind you that no one ever coached me on smoking marijuana and now that Im older, i understand that this is crucial part of becoming a stone head. Anyways, i thought I was though and smart enough to navigate through it. Little did i know what was lurking around the corner. When I turned 18 i met a group of friends who were real pot smokers. I mean these guys were smoking the heavy certified stuff. And i thought since I had been smoking the cheap stuff for a couple years, i felt i was a veteran and that i could naturally fit in with these guys. Between 18 and 19 i ran with these guys. We smoked and drank heavily during this time. And thinking back now, i don't remember ever enjoying the high. It wasn't nervousness like before, it was full blown anxiety. From the moment we got together and began our little ritual of getting high, i was a ball of nerves, cold hand, tense muscles, pounding heart. And it would get 100 times worse when the high peaked. But i didn't realize what was happening to me. Sometimes my body would kick it to overdrive just so i wouldn't pass out. It felt like there were insects literally eating the skin of my brain. And i guess the alcohol sort of kept me sedated enough to withstand the anxiety. But it didn't last. About a year of this went on until my body finally broke. I was at work and a budy called me and wanted to meet me during my break for a smoking session. And i agreed like always without hesitation. So we smoked for about 30 minutes in his car and i was eager to get it over with so that i can get back to work and figure out how to calm myself. Im getting a bit emotional here because I can't believe what I put myself through during this age. Anyways, i said goodbye and started walking towards my job when I realized my keys to my work were missing. I must have dropped them in his car. And this was the only way i could get back into the building without anyone noticing. (The circumstances were much worse but im going to leave out a small detail for the sake of anonymity). Anyways, the high had just peaked and i find myself in a desperate run back towards the parking lot with the hope that my friend didn't leave yet or maybe he spotted the keys and was trying to return them. I ran back and forth like a mad person. People in the parking lot started to notice. I don't remember how much time passed by during this but it felt like an eternity. I finally spotted him. I quickly ran up to him and explained about my keys. Surely i was able to locate them underneath the car sear, ran into the building and thought it was over. ReMind you that the sequence of events that i just described are enough stressful to cause a normal, sober person to have anxiety . this happened to me after smoking a substantial amount of some very potent marijuana. As i got in the building, i prepared to go back to work, my mind was still racing. I was so caught up in my head that I just realized how fast my heart was beating. I mean it was not even a beat, it was like a phone vibrating. At that moment i couldn't breathe. I kept pacing back and forth forth wishing it would subside but it didn't. Then i got this stabbing pain in my stomach. I couldn't beat this thing, not this time. I told a coworker i wasnt feeling well and that I had to leave. I tried my hardest to play it cool but it was evident that I was in a serious crisis. I drove off, still not catching my breath, heart still pounding. I remember calling my girlfriend at the time and begged her to meet me somewhere and telling her that I needed to go to the hospital. She quickly agreed and we rushed to the ER. They quickly took my vitals and determined i was not having a heart attack. They had me waiting room for over 2 hours and I finally calm back down. It was such a relief, as i really thought I was gonna die. We left the hospital before i was called to see a doctor. But something wasn't right with me. I couldn't stop analyzing that night and what had happened. My girlfriend took me home and waited until I fell asleep, she knew i was rattled and was really concerned. Next day, i went to work. Feeling really embarrassed and ashamed. I played it cool as if nothing happened. I was a little off that morning but i was determined to go back to normal. Lunch time comes around, my buddy calls me up, wants to come around and smoke. I said ok. I was desperately trying to convince myself that the night before wasnt real and i wanted to delete it from my memory. He came to my job just like the day before only this time, before we even began smoking, i began feeling like the night before. Breathing difficulties, chest beating heart. My left arm went completely numb. Tingling all over. I couldn't hide this from him so i told him. I rushed back to the ER. No signs of a heart attack the nurse tells me. Ekg was negative. Again i felt better after a few hours in the waiting room. I realized this story is too long. I will finish this up by saying i was latter diagnosed with generalized anxiety with panic disorder. And that the anxiety wasnt a consequence of the marijuana. The anxiety was always inside of me and it was brought out by the drugs and alcohol. I just was completely unprepared and uninformed as a 19 year old. I just wanted to be cool and have friends. Sad thing is i could of had that minus the drugs. And maybe i would have given myself more time to better deal with my anxiety. Non the less, its been 20 years since and the anxiety never left. Its something i learned to live with now. It deeply rooted in my brain. Sorry for the long story.

 

[Cubsfan125]

Im not sure about your case but i can tell you about my experience with anxiety and marijuana. It all started back when i was 15. I started smoking weed with a friend of mine and everything about the experience seemed normal. I would always get nervous before smoking, and during the high but i thought that was part of the deal. Mind you that no one ever coached me on smoking marijuana and now that Im older, i understand that this is crucial part of becoming a stone head. Anyways, i thought I was though and smart enough to navigate through it. Little did i know what was lurking around the corner. When I turned 18 i met a group of friends who were real pot smokers. I mean these guys were smoking the heavy certified stuff. And i thought since I had been smoking the cheap stuff for a couple years, i felt i was a veteran and that i could naturally fit in with these guys. Between 18 and 19 i ran with these guys. We smoked and drank heavily during this time. And thinking back now, i don't remember ever enjoying the high. It wasn't nervousness like before, it was full blown anxiety. From the moment we got together and began our little ritual of getting high, i was a ball of nerves, cold hand, tense muscles, pounding heart. And it would get 100 times worse when the high peaked. But i didn't realize what was happening to me. Sometimes my body would kick it to overdrive just so i wouldn't pass out. It felt like there were insects literally eating the skin of my brain. And i guess the alcohol sort of kept me sedated enough to withstand the anxiety. But it didn't last. About a year of this went on until my body finally broke. I was at work and a budy called me and wanted to meet me during my break for a smoking session. And i agreed like always without hesitation. So we smoked for about 30 minutes in his car and i was eager to get it over with so that i can get back to work and figure out how to calm myself. Im getting a bit emotional here because I can't believe what I put myself through during this age. Anyways, i said goodbye and started walking towards my job when I realized my keys to my work were missing. I must have dropped them in his car. And this was the only way i could get back into the building without anyone noticing. (The circumstances were much worse but im going to leave out a small detail for the sake of anonymity). Anyways, the high had just peaked and i find myself in a desperate run back towards the parking lot with the hope that my friend didn't leave yet or maybe he spotted the keys and was trying to return them. I ran back and forth like a mad person. People in the parking lot started to notice. I don't remember how much time passed by during this but it felt like an eternity. I finally spotted him. I quickly ran up to him and explained about my keys. Surely i was able to locate them underneath the car sear, ran into the building and thought it was over. ReMind you that the sequence of events that i just described are enough stressful to cause a normal, sober person to have anxiety . this happened to me after smoking a substantial amount of some very potent marijuana. As i got in the building, i prepared to go back to work, my mind was still racing. I was so caught up in my head that I just realized how fast my heart was beating. I mean it was not even a beat, it was like a phone vibrating. At that moment i couldn't breathe. I kept pacing back and forth forth wishing it would subside but it didn't. Then i got this stabbing pain in my stomach. I couldn't beat this thing, not this time. I told a coworker i wasnt feeling well and that I had to leave. I tried my hardest to play it cool but it was evident that I was in a serious crisis. I drove off, still not catching my breath, heart still pounding. I remember calling my girlfriend at the time and begged her to meet me somewhere and telling her that I needed to go to the hospital. She quickly agreed and we rushed to the ER. They quickly took my vitals and determined i was not having a heart attack. They had me waiting room for over 2 hours and I finally calm back down. It was such a relief, as i really thought I was gonna die. We left the hospital before i was called to see a doctor. But something wasn't right with me. I couldn't stop analyzing that night and what had happened. My girlfriend took me home and waited until I fell asleep, she knew i was rattled and was really concerned. Next day, i went to work. Feeling really embarrassed and ashamed. I played it cool as if nothing happened. I was a little off that morning but i was determined to go back to normal. Lunch time comes around, my buddy calls me up, wants to come around and smoke. I said ok. I was desperately trying to convince myself that the night before wasnt real and i wanted to delete it from my memory. He came to my job just like the day before only this time, before we even began smoking, i began feeling like the night before. Breathing difficulties, chest beating heart. My left arm went completely numb. Tingling all over. I couldn't hide this from him so i told him. I rushed back to the ER. No signs of a heart attack the nurse tells me. Ekg was negative. Again i felt better after a few hours in the waiting room. I realized this story is too long. I will finish this up by saying i was latter diagnosed with generalized anxiety with panic disorder. And that the anxiety wasnt a consequence of the marijuana. The anxiety was always inside of me and it was brought out by the drugs and alcohol. I just was completely unprepared and uninformed as a 19 year old. I just wanted to be cool and have friends. Sad thing is i could of had that minus the drugs. And maybe i would have given myself more time to better deal with my anxiety. Non the less, its been 20 years since and the anxiety never left. Its something i learned to live with now. It deeply rooted in my brain. Sorry for the long story.

Wow. Thank you for sharing that story. I know the panicky feeling and I get the left arm numbness too.

 

[thewayiam]

Non the less, its been 20 years since and the anxiety never left. Its something i learned to live with now. It deeply rooted in my brain. Sorry for the long story.

The ending rings so unreal but real nonetheless.

What steps did you take during the first years to try to deal with your situation until you started to accept it?
Can you describe in more detail about the physical sensations your anxiety expresses itself and how they connect with your thoughts before and or after?
If and how has the nature of your anxiety developed, changed over time?
How would you describe it has impacted your ability to deal with day to day activites, living so-called "a normal life"?
Did these feelings ever made you contemplate suicide?
What if anything has helped you along the way?

20 years is a long time, I am in my mid-twenties, only 2 years in and whenever I get an intense case of anxiety which in my case is left sided chest uneasiness lasting hours, even days, not letting me sleep or focus properly becoming a self-reinforcing loop, I sometimes feel like if this is what is in store for me for the rest of my life, it is better not to live. I am not there yet but I do feel like I now understand the people who have gone that path, do you understand?

PS.
If you're a teenager and using weed or other substances then I suggest you quit while you're still ahead. Train your body, learn to play an instrument or a new language. Do something that challenges you in a positive way because you are going to want to do those things as opposed to the former things as you grow wiser anyway, so why not start now?

 

[ladybj]

Im not sure about your case but i can tell you about my experience with anxiety and marijuana. It all started back when i was 15. I started smoking weed with a friend of mine and everything about the experience seemed normal. I would always get nervous before smoking, and during the high but i thought that was part of the deal. Mind you that no one ever coached me on smoking marijuana and now that Im older, i understand that this is crucial part of becoming a stone head. Anyways, i thought I was though and smart enough to navigate through it. Little did i know what was lurking around the corner. When I turned 18 i met a group of friends who were real pot smokers. I mean these guys were smoking the heavy certified stuff. And i thought since I had been smoking the cheap stuff for a couple years, i felt i was a veteran and that i could naturally fit in with these guys. Between 18 and 19 i ran with these guys. We smoked and drank heavily during this time. And thinking back now, i don't remember ever enjoying the high. It wasn't nervousness like before, it was full blown anxiety. From the moment we got together and began our little ritual of getting high, i was a ball of nerves, cold hand, tense muscles, pounding heart. And it would get 100 times worse when the high peaked. But i didn't realize what was happening to me. Sometimes my body would kick it to overdrive just so i wouldn't pass out. It felt like there were insects literally eating the skin of my brain. And i guess the alcohol sort of kept me sedated enough to withstand the anxiety. But it didn't last. About a year of this went on until my body finally broke. I was at work and a budy called me and wanted to meet me during my break for a smoking session. And i agreed like always without hesitation. So we smoked for about 30 minutes in his car and i was eager to get it over with so that i can get back to work and figure out how to calm myself. Im getting a bit emotional here because I can't believe what I put myself through during this age. Anyways, i said goodbye and started walking towards my job when I realized my keys to my work were missing. I must have dropped them in his car. And this was the only way i could get back into the building without anyone noticing. (The circumstances were much worse but im going to leave out a small detail for the sake of anonymity). Anyways, the high had just peaked and i find myself in a desperate run back towards the parking lot with the hope that my friend didn't leave yet or maybe he spotted the keys and was trying to return them. I ran back and forth like a mad person. People in the parking lot started to notice. I don't remember how much time passed by during this but it felt like an eternity. I finally spotted him. I quickly ran up to him and explained about my keys. Surely i was able to locate them underneath the car sear, ran into the building and thought it was over. ReMind you that the sequence of events that i just described are enough stressful to cause a normal, sober person to have anxiety . this happened to me after smoking a substantial amount of some very potent marijuana. As i got in the building, i prepared to go back to work, my mind was still racing. I was so caught up in my head that I just realized how fast my heart was beating. I mean it was not even a beat, it was like a phone vibrating. At that moment i couldn't breathe. I kept pacing back and forth forth wishing it would subside but it didn't. Then i got this stabbing pain in my stomach. I couldn't beat this thing, not this time. I told a coworker i wasnt feeling well and that I had to leave. I tried my hardest to play it cool but it was evident that I was in a serious crisis. I drove off, still not catching my breath, heart still pounding. I remember calling my girlfriend at the time and begged her to meet me somewhere and telling her that I needed to go to the hospital. She quickly agreed and we rushed to the ER. They quickly took my vitals and determined i was not having a heart attack. They had me waiting room for over 2 hours and I finally calm back down. It was such a relief, as i really thought I was gonna die. We left the hospital before i was called to see a doctor. But something wasn't right with me. I couldn't stop analyzing that night and what had happened. My girlfriend took me home and waited until I fell asleep, she knew i was rattled and was really concerned. Next day, i went to work. Feeling really embarrassed and ashamed. I played it cool as if nothing happened. I was a little off that morning but i was determined to go back to normal. Lunch time comes around, my buddy calls me up, wants to come around and smoke. I said ok. I was desperately trying to convince myself that the night before wasnt real and i wanted to delete it from my memory. He came to my job just like the day before only this time, before we even began smoking, i began feeling like the night before. Breathing difficulties, chest beating heart. My left arm went completely numb. Tingling all over. I couldn't hide this from him so i told him. I rushed back to the ER. No signs of a heart attack the nurse tells me. Ekg was negative. Again i felt better after a few hours in the waiting room. I realized this story is too long. I will finish this up by saying i was latter diagnosed with generalized anxiety with panic disorder. And that the anxiety wasnt a consequence of the marijuana. The anxiety was always inside of me and it was brought out by the drugs and alcohol. I just was completely unprepared and uninformed as a 19 year old. I just wanted to be cool and have friends. Sad thing is i could of had that minus the drugs. And maybe i would have given myself more time to better deal with my anxiety. Non the less, its been 20 years since and the anxiety never left. Its something i learned to live with now. It deeply rooted in my brain. Sorry for the long story.

I can relate to part of your story. Mine was a bit worst and lets just say, Marijuana will not touch these lips... This is just my personal opinion but if you have anxiety.. drugs may make it worst. Alcohol does not have that affect on me.. it helps to calm my tight muscles. I drink responsibly.... I know my limit which is not much.

 

[bin_tenn]

Marijuana may exacerbate or trigger anxiety for some people. I used to be able to smoke a whole lot, then suddenly only small amounts would cause major panic / paranoia episodes. It was pure, not laced, same stuff I had smoked a day or two before. That was about 16 years ago. Then about six years ago I tried it again, same problem. So I just dropped it. It's unfortunate, because aside from that I enjoyed smoking a little from time to time. But life goes on.

Marijuana affects blood pressure, breathing, and other things. Its effects can mimic a panic attack, and when you have panic disorder, any symptoms that resemble an attack may trigger a real attack.

 

[AiThink]

The ending rings so unreal but real nonetheless.

What steps did you take during the first years to try to deal with your situation until you started to accept it?
Can you describe in more detail about the physical sensations your anxiety expresses itself and how they connect with your thoughts before and or after?
If and how has the nature of your anxiety developed, changed over time?
How would you describe it has impacted your ability to deal with day to day activites, living so-called "a normal life"?
Did these feelings ever made you contemplate suicide?
What if anything has helped you along the way?

20 years is a long time, I am in my mid-twenties, only 2 years in and whenever I get an intense case of anxiety which in my case is left sided chest uneasiness lasting hours, even days, not letting me sleep or focus properly becoming a self-reinforcing loop, I sometimes feel like if this is what is in store for me for the rest of my life, it is better not to live. I am not there yet but I do feel like I now understand the people who have gone that path, do you understand?

PS.
If you're a teenager and using weed or other substances then I suggest you quit while you're still ahead. Train your body, learn to play an instrument or a new language. Do something that challenges you in a positive way because you are going to want to do those things as opposed to the former things as you grow wiser anyway, so why not start now?

Sorry for the late reply. I will try and answer all of your questions.

What steps did you take during
the first years to try to deal with your situation until you started to accept it?

Wow, it's a long time ago, but I remember not being able to deal with my situation. It got so bad I wasn't able to leave my house for about 6 months straight. I was fortunate enough to have a girlfriend at the time who really supported me during this difficult time. I got on meds that helped me function again. Took about a year to get back to work and out of the house.

Can you describe in more detail about the physical sensations your anxiety expresses itself and how they connect with your thoughts before and or after?

My anxiety comes in the form of physical sensations that trigger negative thinking. Catastrophying I believe is the term. So the symptoms include tightness in the chest. Racing heart. Cold hands and feet. Not catching my breath. The not breathing normally really messes me up because that really amplifies the thoughts of I'm really having a medical emergency. But how can you not panic when you can't breathe. I challenge anyone to have someone pin them down under water and not panic. That's exactly what it feels like.

If and how has the nature of your anxiety developed, changed over time?

It's gotten more manageable. I still get really severe anxiety but the panic attack have reduced substantially. Ive read a bunch of stuff online that really helps. I think learning how to control your breathing is big. I would be lying if I said I mastered it but definitely gotten better.

How would you describe it has impacted your ability to deal with day to day activites, living so-called "a normal life"?

Every aspect of my life has changed. Litterly, the trajectory of my life was completely altered. I was in college when this began. Never went back. I had to end relationships. People wondering if I fell off the earth. Never gave them an explanation. I put my family through a lot of worry.

Did these feelings ever made you contemplate suicide?

The thought crossed my mind but thank God i never felt the thought. Meaning it never felt like I wanted or needed to go that route. If anything it was the opposite. my anxiety was the feeling of dying. I desperately want to stay alive.


What if anything has helped you along the way?

Meds for the minority of the time, I honestly would have never gotten out of the state I was in without the medication. Eventually, I started to fall into a routine that resembled normal. But the truth is I was just trying to mimic others. I never feel normal. I'm always in my head and struggle to make deep connection with others.

20 years is a long time, I am in my mid-twenties, only 2 years in and whenever I get an intense case of anxiety which in my case is left sided chest uneasiness lasting hours, even days, not letting me sleep or focus properly becoming a self-reinforcing loop, I sometimes feel like if this is what is in store for me for the rest of my life, it is better not to live. I am not there yet but I do feel like I now understand the people who have gone that path, do you understand?

I get you. The sensations in your chest are purely chemical. If you were being chased by a lion, all these sensation would naturally occrr within your body except you would not notice them because your mind is too focused on this lion and how to get away. But when the fight or flight gets triggered and there is no lion. Now it's your mind trying to make sense of whats going on and it get confusing to say the least. Best advice is to read online. Tons of information on this topic.

 

[deenman]

I find it depends on the strain, an indica strain such as a kush or cheese helps with my anxiety and allows me to easily relax however a sativa strain will make me 10x worse. You just gotta make sure you have the right strain for you!!! I find out by going to leafly and checking the negative side affects of whatever strain I'm smoking.

 

[matisworried]

i'm a daily smoker and i've found that it has actually helped my anxiety. it has reduced my use of PRN medications (like xanax, ativan, klonopin) by 95% and has gotten me off of SSRIs which is awesome because i can't tolerate the side effects at levels that have any impact on my depression or anxiety.

with that being said, it's extremely important to know your limits. smoking too much has the potential of inducing anxiety in some... and as @deenman said, you need to pick a strain that is right for you. if you're smoking a sativa and then planning on sitting on the couch and watching TV, it's probably not going to work well for you.

 

[deenman]

Yep! It sounds like you fit the bill to qualify for your medical card https://dr-weedy.com/ You can also try CBD oil. I take 10mg morning and 10mg nightly as well. Definitely slows the racing thoughts in my head! Not a be all end all but something to use in the anxiety toolkit
In fact, some clinical trials have revealed that CBD oil is effective for a wide range of conditions, from chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease to depression, stress, and anxiety. Furthermore, it can lower blood pressure and act as a natural anti-inflammatory supplement. While some individuals take CBD oil to soothe their everyday worries, others use it to treat more serious conditions like generalized anxiety disorder.
CBD is definitely one of the first options that people go to for severe anxiety.