Does weed cause anxiety?
Posted , 17 users are following.
It all started about 3 months ago, this might sound really strange but I smoked weed for the first time with my friends and since it was my first time and I guess we had quite a lot I started to hallucinate and so it was my first time it was quite scary but after a while it was fine. After getting off that a few hours later I felt normal as I usually would. However the next day I felt really out of it and for some reason my brain was telling me "your not here" and all these strange thoughts that I was still tripping out and for some reason I believed what my brain was telling me. So since then I believe that smoking weed made me feel anxious and paranoid throughout my daily life. I smoked a few times with friends after the first occurrence and I believe it made it worse. I fell into peer pressure, I can't really blame peer pressure though as I should of just said no.
It has affected school, work and everyday life. I must sound crazy, but I have no idea why I'm getting these thoughts that keep telling me I'm not here because I am alive? You get what I mean, the thoughts are deceiving and trigger my anxiety. I always try to block out the thought and tell myself to stop thinking that I'm dreaming or I'm not here because clearly I am.
Sometimes when I go out into public I feel out of it like I feel like I'm not even there like I'm in a dream of some sort. This only happens sometimes in public and it triggers my anxiety. I did see a doctor and I have generalised anxiety, I Was referred to a psychologist and I will be seeing him next week. However I can't wait that long to talk about it. Having this weird condition has made me less eager for events and has crushed my motivation, I am no longer as optimistic as I used to be. I have had about 4 anxiety attacks in the past 3 months. I really want to recover and return the old me again because I hate feeling like I'm not here and out of it all the time.
4 likes, 30 replies
Anxious_Nick reeff
Posted
Yes. Marijuana is a well known trigger for anxiety. Some might argue with me here -- and for the record, I'm not a conservative person is most ways -- but I highly recommend you never smoke again. Stay clear away from it. Peer pressure does stink and I totally get it....I've made soo many mistakes because of it, haha. That said, what the marijuana probably did was "unlock" your anxiety in a noticeable way. The good news is that now you've been diagnosed and will get the help you need! Your psychologist will help you a lot, and discuss ways of dealing with your anxiety...and possibly some medications that can help. And please, don't worry too much. You'll be fine!
Best wishes !!
Nicholas
bellbell Anxious_Nick
Posted
This is great advice don't get me wrong, but I would say that medication for depersonalization and anxiety is really not a good idea because it has plenty of side effects and the best way to work through anxiety is to deal with it head on and talk yourself through it. It's like a self monologue where when you feel anxious you talk to yourself and decipher why you feel this way and ways to make yourself cope with this pain in a healthy way that will be permanent rather than medicine that is permanent until you stop taking it and makes you dependent on a medication. Self help will also make you stronger and it will make you know yourself more and become more aware of people and environments that cause you unwanted stress or anxiety. You are the best medicine for yourself, but definitely if you want an immediate result take his advice.
dee53012 reeff
Posted
For simple anxiety, exercise is the best imo. It is hard, because you want to sit and feel the worry and pain of it all, but you have to break it off and do soemthing differnt or it will control your life. I have panic often, but I just get up and do something! If you exercise and don't feel better, there could be other underlying issues.
Stay away from pot if it makes you feel bad. Like any substance, there are side effects. Like alcohol, use is sparingly and carefully!
reeff dee53012
Posted
Thank you very much for your reply, I do excercise regularly almost everyday. It does help to get your mind off things. I definitely will stay away from weed, clearly it isn't my thing but that's okay though I guess it wasn't a bright idea in the first place. I'm scared I won't recover though
I'd rather not have meds and I just don't want to overthink the whole situation
phil76209 reeff
Posted
Phil
joe_04369 reeff
Posted
No more weed, it makes some people paranoid like you, if you hallucinate on pot it was probably spiked with something. It's good you are seeing a psychologist but the problem is they can't prescribe Meds like a psychiatrist can, they might recommend one if needed. It's good you are on your way to get help. Good Luck!
jmcg2014 reeff
Posted
Yes there are studies which suggest it does, although frequent users would say no but obviously. For those who already have issues or have a sensitive disposition mentally then its an idiotic thing to do,its playing Russian roulette with your mental health. Of course noone will care. It's an individual choice and noone will try to convince anyone, bottom line is do it and you may be fine, or do it and it could ruin the rest of your life. Easy decision I'd say
lele22410 reeff
Posted
Hi! This doesn't sound odd at all, I've smoked weed multiple times before and was 100% okay but a few months ago I was smoking with my friends and boom I had the most intense panic attack of my life, thought I was going to die and ever since then I've had depersonalization (Look this up it is very likely to be what is causing your dream state in public, maybe even derealization) and worsened anxiety! It's getting better though *touch wood* I believe in can bring out the underlying anxiety in you but not exactly cause it, it's known to make a lot of people extremely paranoid which ties in with panic/anxiety you name it. It's a drug that's not for everyone, it sucks cause it was chill but I've been scared to try it ever since! Best of luck and definitely reply back if you want since our situations are somewhat similar x
reeff lele22410
Posted
Hi, thank you for your time in writing to me. I'm glad I am not the only one. I'm scared I won't recover
though I am only young. How long have you been suffering for?
I definitely will never touch it ever again, at least I know now that it isn't for me at all. I have searched up depersonalization and disrealization before also and the symptoms sound similar to mine. I really hate feeling the way I do, and I think the weed has just spiked something in my brain. Do you think that when the THC is fully out of my system (which takes about 3 months) I'd feel better?
Because it's getting to a point where it's really interfering with my life now and I don't really see a way out
I don't wanna be put on meds.
lele22410 reeff
Posted
Hi! I'm a teenager myself but also thought it was going to last forever, the first few weeks were so hard I honestly thought something was definitely wrong in my brain. But the more I read about how anxiety can affect us I became more and more understanding. I've had this anxiety for about two months now and it's getting better every day and I guess the THC slowly leaving my system could definitely have an impact on my recovery but I also think it's a lot to do with our mindset rather than the weed. Since the particular panic attack happened whilst smoking we may think the drug caused our mind to alter but I think it was just the panic attack that caused it to alter if you get what I'm saying? It's understandable not wanting to be on meds, but I'll give you a lil info anyway
there are short term ones that you only take when you're feeling really panicky and anxious or in derealization and its interfering with your life, they're called benzos and doctors give you just a few, (I only got 5!) and they last about 6 hours and you feel chill and calm 
they're short term and could help during your recovery if it gets too much. If you're still not interested then distraction is key! Find things to keep your mind occupied, try not to sit alone and think about how you're feeling so often, force yourself out and about but if it hits you too hard, take a moment to chill, a warm bath or shower, listen to some music, but try to be productive! Time heals all! Hang in there
lele22410 reeff
Posted
Also have a read of this, this guy writes some really good articles that helped me understand my feelings the first few weeks after the panic attack happened;
calmandcourageous . com/anxiety-induced-depersonalisation-and-derealisation/
I needed to do spaces between the dot because you can't post links
reeff lele22410
Posted
I read through that article, and I guess I just have to not let it affect me. I really do hate having it and it's just affected everything my motivation and optimism. Last time I did weed was like August 20. So it should be out of my system by November. But also yes the anxiety would of caused the brain to alter a bit. I just really want to recover. I have to change my mindset though, but I'm not really optimistic anymore
do I just tell myself it's going to be okay?
dee53012 reeff
Posted
Hi Reeff,
Tony Robbins is one of my favorite inspirational speakers of our time. If you can watch his documentary, I think it might be of help. He can really get people to think about how their (our) thoughts can control us and and how they can be amazingly transformed. He has books too, but his docu is awesome. I'd watch it first before reading. If you are in the US it is on Netflix.
A quote that is being used to fight stigma of mental illness here in WA State (USA) is, "mental illness is a physical illness that manifests itself in the brain". Meaning, things mental, like panic, depression, schizophrenia etc., are all physical illnesses. They just land in the brain.
Ex: I have celiacs, it caused malnutrition. Before knowing I had it and before eating gluten free, I had hallucinations, panic attacs, phobias, suicidal ideation and actions, and more horrible things, all because of a physical illness (celiac disease) that landed in my brain (malnurishment).
Anxiety is a feeling, it is telling you there is something going on and it needs to be to listened to. For me is was the food I was eating that was making me sick. We have to investigate the cause of our illnesses, not cover them up with pills like sooo many doctors want to do.
I personally believe that food is our best medicine most of the time. Eat healthy whole foods, stay hydrated, and move our bodies! If we eat processed foods, we are being malnurished causing more hunger, so we eat more processed food, still not satisifed, we go for more. it is a vicious circle eventually leading to illnesses.
So no, Please don't tell yourself to be more optomistic or that things will be ok. See if you can find the reason for the panic. Then take action; show love to yourself. Ask youself questions. Am I drinking too much coffee, or eating too much chocolate? Am I getting enough vegetables and protein? Am I getting a proper amount of exercise? etc.
I so want people out there to know they have control of their emotions! It is not that you tell yourself to stop thinking a certain way, it is learning to love and honor your beautiful self and take proper care of it because you and all the others out here deserve to feel well 🙏 and have fun 🚴
Be as well as you can and remember to eat your 🥗🍠🥝🥕🥑🍒🍗
D
reeff dee53012
Posted
I think the thing that is causing me panic and anxiety is that I don't feel normal. I probabalt have despersonalisation or disrealisation and I can't help but think I don't feel normal. It's affecting everything I do. I have a well balanced diet, I excercise almost everyday. I hate feeling the way I do, I just want it to end.
dee53012 reeff
Posted
Do you have a crisis line you can call? Better yet, do you have a therapist that does CBT? If you are dissociating, then there may be other causes for your troubles, past trauma possibly?
Please, don't end it. I know you are in pain and I know you don't know me, but I take statment like that seriously. I have had so many people in my life die by suicide and I miss them so much. There are things that can make your life more tollerable. Reach out for help in your community or the Crisis Line.
HUgz,
D
reeff dee53012
Posted
dee53012 reeff
Posted
glen36804 lele22410
Posted
Just wondering how long it took u to get over the panic attack or whatever it felt you had?
I’m currently going through this and it’s making me feel bats**t crazy! I feel sick with the needle sensation in my hands and feet and panic attacks. Been approx 1 1/2 months now. Been to the hospital once and my doctor has tested me for numerous problems. He said I was having severe anxiety. Prescribed me with Alprazolam only take it when I’m having a bad attack.
Can hardly wait till this crap is over! Trying to eat healthier and exercise more.
Any pointers would help tremendously. From anyone!!