Anxiety or something else? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

MEAD · 06-25-2006, 03:32 PM

Hey guys, I'm mainly lurker, but I post infrequently when I feel like I can help or if I've got a problem. Well, I've got a problem.

Maybe about a month ago I tried marijuana for the first time. I didn't do it for any reason inparticular. I was invited to and just thought "What the hell." I had no intention of ever doing it again. My older sister had abused drugs for a time when I was in middle and highschool. It caused a lot of arugments in my family and effected me more than i probably admit. So I never wanted to become like she was. Anyways despite my disdain for how marijuana can hurt people, I tried it. I took a few hits with two of my friends and after I few minutes I went into a intense panic attack that lasted hours. Luckily my friends were there for me to get me through it. I thought I was losing my mind and was incredbily scared. I woke up the next morning still not feeling right. I had a sense that things werent exactly real. I was somehow removed from reality. I had trouble concerntrating and was anxious and worrisome about it all. It was not very pleasent. Eventuallt over the course of a fews days those worries disappeared and my life went basicly back to normal.

However, a few days ago I was overcome with that same fear that I was losing my grip on reality, perhaps in danger of losing my mind. (Going crazy has always been my worst fear.) I don't know what triggered this. I was just watching T.V. when it hit me. Now for the past few days I've been anxious and worrisome like I was after after I had that marijuana induced panic attack. There are times where it doesnt bother me that much. I can function normally and tell myself that I'm not crazy, but there is just this naggin feeling that is constantly bothering me and I don't knwo how to put it away.

My older sister, the one I previously was talking about, has had problems with anxiety and has been on zoloft. I'm thinking now that might have an anxitey disorder as well that was latent until these recent events.

I'm just curious to know if anyone has dealt with this before. Or if anyone has any good advice. Thanks.

ratbastid · 06-25-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEAD

I took a few hits with two of my friends and after I few minutes I went into a intense panic attack that lasted hours. Luckily my friends were there for me to get me through it. I thought I was losing my mind and was incredbily scared. I woke up the next morning still not feeling right. I had a sense that things werent exactly real. I was somehow removed from reality. I had trouble concerntrating and was anxious and worrisome about it all. It was not very pleasent. Eventuallt over the course of a fews days those worries disappeared and my life went basicly back to normal.

Paranoia is a normal side-effect of marijuana.

No offense here, but... you seem sort of high strung. I've know some particularly tense individuals to have a hard time letting themselves relax into a high and enjoy it. They're always worrying about what it's doing to them, how weird they feel, whether they'll be okay. Add to that the distorted perceptions that pot causes, and you've got the makings of a Grade A panic attack. Sounds pretty normal to me.

The effects of pot only last a little while, but panic can last for days, no sweat.

Quote:

However, a few days ago I was overcome with that same fear that I was losing my grip on reality, perhaps in danger of losing my mind. (Going crazy has always been my worst fear.)

Yeah... It could very well be that, both tempermentally and because of things you decided through your experience with your sister, psychoactives just aren't for you.

analog · 06-25-2006, 06:06 PM

Marijuana, like any substance, affects all people differently. Unfortunately for you, it seems to trigger panic/anxiety attacks.

To put things in perspective, marijuana actually took away my panic/anxiety attacks, back when I smoked socially. I don't smoke at all now, but not for any particular reason.

Rule #1 is don't let people judge you and give you shit for smoking pot. People will talk down to you and call you all kinds of things for that. Tell them to go fuck themselves if you get abused like that. It's not their place to judge.

So, in short, just don't use marijuana, you obviously disagree with it on some biological/chemical level.

A quick question, though- is there any history of schizophrenia or panic disorders (other than your sister) in your family?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

I've know some particularly tense individuals to have a hard time letting themselves relax into a high and enjoy it. They're always worrying about what it's doing to them, how weird they feel, whether they'll be okay. Add to that the distorted perceptions that pot causes, and you've got the makings of a Grade A panic attack.

I agree with this as well.

MEAD · 06-25-2006, 07:03 PM

No, besides the alzheimer's that my grandmother developed after my grandfather died years ago, there is no history of mental illness in my family to my knowladge. Maybe I need to mention that I've been up in the town where I go to college all summer. I'm not enrolled in summer courses, and have failed to find a job so far after spending much time looking. I've had far less social interaction than usual and am mostly cooped up with myself all day. I recently got a traffic ticket which I am hardly able to pay for and my sleeping habits have become horrendous. I am wise enough to understand that those factors could contribute to any anxiety that I am feeling currently, however I've been in similar or worse circumstances before (pre panic attack) and not had this sort of reaction. Could that one episode have changed the way I deal with stress?

06-25-2006, 03:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
MEAD Insane Location: South Florida	Anxiety or something else? Hey guys, I'm mainly lurker, but I post infrequently when I feel like I can help or if I've got a problem. Well, I've got a problem. Maybe about a month ago I tried marijuana for the first time. I didn't do it for any reason inparticular. I was invited to and just thought "What the hell." I had no intention of ever doing it again. My older sister had abused drugs for a time when I was in middle and highschool. It caused a lot of arugments in my family and effected me more than i probably admit. So I never wanted to become like she was. Anyways despite my disdain for how marijuana can hurt people, I tried it. I took a few hits with two of my friends and after I few minutes I went into a intense panic attack that lasted hours. Luckily my friends were there for me to get me through it. I thought I was losing my mind and was incredbily scared. I woke up the next morning still not feeling right. I had a sense that things werent exactly real. I was somehow removed from reality. I had trouble concerntrating and was anxious and worrisome about it all. It was not very pleasent. Eventuallt over the course of a fews days those worries disappeared and my life went basicly back to normal. However, a few days ago I was overcome with that same fear that I was losing my grip on reality, perhaps in danger of losing my mind. (Going crazy has always been my worst fear.) I don't know what triggered this. I was just watching T.V. when it hit me. Now for the past few days I've been anxious and worrisome like I was after after I had that marijuana induced panic attack. There are times where it doesnt bother me that much. I can function normally and tell myself that I'm not crazy, but there is just this naggin feeling that is constantly bothering me and I don't knwo how to put it away. My older sister, the one I previously was talking about, has had problems with anxiety and has been on zoloft. I'm thinking now that might have an anxitey disorder as well that was latent until these recent events. I'm just curious to know if anyone has dealt with this before. Or if anyone has any good advice. Thanks. __________________ Here are some phrases I'd like to be able to say, in all honesty, before I die. "That's it, send out the ninjas!" "So then I had to kill my way to the second floor."

06-25-2006, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
MEAD Insane Location: South Florida	No, besides the alzheimer's that my grandmother developed after my grandfather died years ago, there is no history of mental illness in my family to my knowladge. Maybe I need to mention that I've been up in the town where I go to college all summer. I'm not enrolled in summer courses, and have failed to find a job so far after spending much time looking. I've had far less social interaction than usual and am mostly cooped up with myself all day. I recently got a traffic ticket which I am hardly able to pay for and my sleeping habits have become horrendous. I am wise enough to understand that those factors could contribute to any anxiety that I am feeling currently, however I've been in similar or worse circumstances before (pre panic attack) and not had this sort of reaction. Could that one episode have changed the way I deal with stress? __________________ Here are some phrases I'd like to be able to say, in all honesty, before I die. "That's it, send out the ninjas!" "So then I had to kill my way to the second floor." Last edited by MEAD; 06-25-2006 at 07:17 PM..