Ahh what to do? Anxiety attacks?
Well here is the story:
About 2 months ago, after smoking a little bit of pot (have been smoking it avidly on a regular basis for about 2 years) I noticed my heart rate was going pretty fast. After a while it was pounding and I thought I was having a heart attack. I freaked and ran to my neighbor (university residence) and they convinced me it was an anxiety attack. I calmed down after a bit and laughed it off (even though I was shaking for a good hour after). Anyways, the next day, and pretty much every subsequent day for like a month, I had at least 1 panic attack. Whether it be the full blown heart pounding & palpitating, muscles tensing up and freaking out attack, or whether it be just feeling anxious for the whole day. After a few weeks of it I got sick and tired and went to the doctor. She scheduled an echocardiogram, and a holter monitor test (both which turned out to be fine).
After that doctor’s appointment, I had a severe anxiety episode (at this point in time I thought there was something wrong with my heart – before the results of the echo or the holter monitor) and checked into the ER for a few hours where they did a chest X-ray, blood test, and an electrocardiogram (all fine again).
I have smoked pot 3 times since the initial anxiety attack. 2/3 of those times I have experienced a bad anxiety attack. The first time was only a day after the initial attack, same symptoms. The second time I could feel a panic attack coming but I was with my friend and as we talked I calmed myself down and was pretty OK for the rest of the night (smoked a lot more pot). The third time (after all my tests came back fine), even though I was telling myself “I know its just anxiety, theres nothing wrong with me, no need to panic”, my heart was still pounding so fast, and palpitating so hard that I had a panic attack regardless.
I have now cut out pot completely (as well as cigarettes too!) from my daily life. But I am still feeling day to day anxiety. My doctor gave me some meds to take for when I have an attack or am just feeling anxious, but I don’t want to have to rely on medication to deal with this bullshit. The symptoms that I now feel on a day-to-day basis are:
General shortness of breath (not severe, just at the point where I feel uncomfortable)(I find that lying on my stomach or hugging a pillow or something makes me feel better)
Tightness of chest (muscles are all tense)
Lightheaded-ness (only sometimes)
Heart Palpitations (I constantly check my pulse, am trying to stop worrying about it so much)
I have read up on the effects of marijuana and anxiety, and it worries me to see that people with the same general backstory as me have had to deal with anxiety for 5-6 years since their initial panic attacks began. I don’t want to have to do that. My parents are suggesting therapy, and I don’t know if I want to do that either, I have always thought that therapy was a complete waste of time but if it will help me stop this constant anxiety then maybe I should do it? Anyone have any good suggestions/experience with this kind of problem?
I know I just wrote like an entire essay but I appreciate anyone reading this.
I am almost 20 years old, university student
I have been suffering from panic attacks for years. In the beginning I was convinced I was dying. I experienced increase heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and an over all sense of imminent death. I spent about two years gripped in constant fear. I visited my local emergency room frequently during those two years, and at times would just drive to the hospital and sit in the parking lot until my symptoms subsided. After being told by the emergency room doctors that I was experiencing anxiety attacks, I was embarrassed to return back tot he hospital. I have had several test done with no physical ailment found. I noticed when I smoked pot it seems as though it would induce my symptoms as well. I quit smoking pot. However, I have learned to deal with my attacks. I have learned to have an inner dialogue with myself during these attacks. I tell myself that they are mental and not physical. It feels physical because we panic causing our adrenaline to increase. When adrenaline increases our body responds to it, increase heart rate, trouble breathing, and so on. We create our own symptoms by feeding the panic. You essentially have to learn some control techniques. Doctors have told me that the worst that will happen is I will “pass out” from hyperventilating, at which point my breathing will calm and I will wake up and be fine. No medical conditions have ever been found in my case. I now smoke pot regularly, I do it to get a “buzz” and not necessarily “stoned”, that way if symptoms occur I feel more in control to deal with them.
Here are a few things that have helped me through an episode. Keep a notebook handy, sometimes writing about what you are experiencing during an attack or writing about anything in general will subdue the situation. Praying or talking with your higher power tends to help. Talking with a friend or family member. Let them feel your pulse and tell them your symptoms, so that they can be a voice of reason. Remember, you are not dying, let them talk you through it. A shower, I know this sounds odd, but it helps me. Something about the coolness of water helps to soothe my anxiety.
I don’t take medication for my anxiety because I believe they are a quick fix, and by the time they stop working, you will be addicted. I use “mind over matter” to cope with my now sporadic anxiety attacks. I know some people who do use meds and they still suffer from these attacks. You have to make that decision on your own.
Panic attacks are caused by many different things. They can be caused by current stress in your life, financial, family, and depression. These issues manifest themselves into “panic attacks”. They can be caused by unresolved issues in your past, essentially anything that lingers on your mind or in your subconscious. Maybe something happened years ago and you never dealt with it. Maybe you are mentally exhausted from over tasking, it could be any of these things.
Panic attacks are extremely frightening. You feel as though you are dying. You try to explain to people who don’t suffer from them and they are convinced you are crazy. I am a functioning person in society, a Mother of a twelve year old son, and I am 32 years old. Believe me when I say, you can overcome this.
Inner dialogue is key, tell yourself you are okay. I have even told myself if I die, I die…but I will not succumb to the fear. I’m truly sorry you have developed this condition, but it can dissipate just as quickly and abrupt as it began. Talking with a professional is a good idea. They can give you more tips on how to overcome an attack.
Good Luck
I have been smoking ganj for about a year now and I get panic attacks too sometimes. I feel like disconnected from the world and like I’m doomed and I’m going to die, and people are after me, and all these bad emotions…
panic attacks from marijuana are all psychological. They exist only in your mind… The reason for them is because you are feeling guilty about smoking pot because its illegal, or because you are stressed, or just nervous. You read up on all these stories about anxiety attacks and you start thinking about having one before you even smoke and that causes your brain to become nervous and you start feeling awful.
good news: you don’t have to stop smoking pot… just use it responsibly.
make sure if your gonna smoke, its in a comfortable surrounding, with somebody/people you trust… if you start feeling anxious, don’t be afraid to say it and the person/people you are with can help calm you down… tell yourself “NO ONE HAS EVER DIED OF MARIJUANA. its all in my head. its alright.” and take deep breaths of air to relax yourself.. best of all, eat food. lots of food. i’m not trying to be silly, but having food in your belly can help calm you down.
hope this helped :]
Peace
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