cannabis related panic attacks or worse?

[LauraJayne28]

for the first time last tuesday i smoked cannabis. exactly a week ago today. & as soon as i'd smoked it i went white. started feeling faint, feeling sick, shaking, everything was getting louder and more colourful. wasn't a nice experience. but now a week later i'm still getting the same symptoms. i spoke to a drugs advisor and she said that my mind was shocked by the experience and traumatised. she gave me the diagnosis that i'm having panic attacks. i thought this was exactly the truth. i seem calm at home, where i feel safe. and when i go out i just randomly feel faint and like i'm going to be sick. i look up and everything seems really sharp and really bright, i start panicking and breathing heavily. but now i've come onto this website and read about psychosis and now it's worried me slightly. how do i stop myself getting this feeling or these panic attacks and they have been referred to? i don't know why it's happening and quite frankly it's scaring the **** out of me. please help.

[the_one]

Everyone reacts differently to drugs, some people dont even feel the effects of cannabis at all. Panic attacks can be randomn and appear at any age, maybe since it was your first time you got scared without knowing it and that could have caused you to have a panic attack but I doubt the cannabis is causing you problems now, its not such a strong drug as to cause you long time issues by doing it once, unlike hard drugs like coke, etc. Sometimes when I'm worried about something it causes me a lot of anxiety and i dont realize it until i start feeling faint or shaky and breathless. It's true what the drug advisor said, for people who've never done drugs, to do it for the first time and have a bad experience with it can be traumatizing, but I think it will pass if you try not to worry about it.

[taniaaust1]

drugs.. even a soft drug like cannabis.. if one is "predisposed" to a psychological condition eg panic attacks.. it could bring them on and cause permanent issues in some. If they keep continuing, you may need to go and see a doctor about them for medication. Not even the "softest" drug is safe for everyone.

In the meantime, as a sufferer of panic attacks myself, I can say that it is possible to just breath thou them until the attack passes.

What i do.. is i take slow deep breaths IMMEDIATELY i feel one coming on and at the same time focus on something else rather than what is happening with myself. I usually try to think of a place I like.. a calming relaxing place. eg think of laying in the sun on a beach listening to the waves or I think of being in a calm forest with filtered light coming throu the trees.

[Unregistered]

Panick attacks can be really scary, i have had panick disorder for 10 years now, and you can beat them. the fact that the cannibas triggered your panick attack is actually a reassuring thing, as it can be seen as perhaps a one-off. after i have had a panick attack i feel jumpy and anxious for quiet a few days after, and i am used to them. so i think this will pass. Panick attacks are all about where you do and dont feel safe, and even the slightest thing can trigger them. The fact that you start to feel one coming on ( the nausea and faintness ) when you go out, is a sign that you are feeling out of your 'safe' zone, like you said. but i wouldnt be afraid it is psycosis or anything like that. i just think you are in shock from the experience of a panick attack and that your body is still recovering. It will pass. and if not, dont be afraid to ask for help, you can manage them.
but BREATHING is the most important thing.

[Unregistered]

First time I smoked weed I had the same thing happen to me. I could hear my heart pounding and I started to freak out really bad. After that I stopped using all drugs. I used to have panic attacks when and never leave my house because it was so bad. But I found out that you can't die from them. I know panic is brought on by stress and anticipation. For me I worry a lot and think of the worst. Every time I would get out of my comfort zone like my house or drive down the street I would feel like I was going to get one. One day I wanted to have one. No matter how hard I tried I could bring on a panic attack. I took it slow one day at a time. You can't fight this alone.... You need people to help you and reassure you that your ok. Panic attacks lasts for maybe 5 mins and they are gone. But I am living proof that I can be beat. I had the worst case. Now I live everyday and try not to sweat the small stuff. I know diet, stress and sleep has a lot to do with getting a panic attack. I've gotten so many panic attacks I tell my body to bring it on stronger. I am not going put up with this.... Try to make you symtoms worse.... I know that sounds werid but the more you avoid it the more it intesity of the panic. One thing that helps is writing down you thoughts on paper. What is is making you worry, or feeling sad? Write down every detail even when you get a panic attack. Most important is you have to learn to breath correctly. This is very important getting oxgen to your brain. But it will pass... Your not alone.... Today we have some great panic meds out that helped me. But every person is different. What might help me maynot help you. Good luck and remember it's 90% our in our head.
buddrive28872 at yahoo

[Azaral]

Yes marijuana can cause panic attacks.

I got very paranoid the first few times I smoked but then as I learned about how it has enough active chemicals that you can pretty much control the experience (uppers, downers, hallucinagens, etc), I started using it to treat anxiety caused from another medical condition. I would get stoned and practice math while focusing on the creative aspect, and the feeling of control and capability was amazing - or I would get high and go into a social situation that would normally make me uncomfortable and focus on the calming effect.

I don't recommend you smoke, no, just realize you can control how it effects you. You may never see the world quite the same way again, but you are still always in control, ultimately, with what you do with what you see.

Having symptoms for up to two to six weeks after smoking weed is NOT uncommon. The body stores THC in the fat cells for a long time. Drinking lots of water and acidic foods like pickles can help detoxification, but avoid caffeine as it will slow down the THC processing rate AND increase anxiety related symptoms. Once its fully run its course you will start to feel completely normal again, just with a series of unusual memories that make you wonder what normal really means

Remember, things may look and sound stranger than they used to, but everything is the same. The only thing that has changed is your perspective. Try to remember how you once saw it, and remember what you see now is still the exact same thing. You can use that to your advantage, once the freak-out factor passes.


One of my friends had REALLY bad panic attacks from weed, but he was always very anxious before hand too. I see it bringing out latent issues more than anything; it can be a good chance to face your weaknesses and learn to cope. For him, it was a realization that he was hanging out with the wrong groups of people. Once he started spending time with people more like him (and away from the weed & alchohol) his panic attacks dissapeared. For him, he could be happy in a safer more sheltered world. For me, I had to go face what I was afraid of because of what I really wanted in life. We both found different answers, but we both looked very hard at ourselves and came out to be very happy people.

[LSUT2003]

yea the same thing happened to me a month ago, i had a horrible panic attack and i havnt felt like myself since, everything seems different and i dont feel like me anymore, i think its depersoilization

[KnowSUMthings]

HI! many people get the panic attacks after smoking weed. Like someone above mentioned, drugs would cause different mental conditions in those predisposed to them. It would be best if you stayed away from drugs.



I hope you get better and don't get any more of the attacks.

[Someone]

I can't believe how you are all making something out of nothing, ALL that has happened is that you are ENABLED (yes, a positive thing..) to see life from a different perspective. Surely you have enough brain power to distinguish between these perspectives in the same way you would go at a math problem from different angles. There is nothing wrong with you (unless you had a predisposed condition, which is in your family...) and all YOU need to learn to do, is APPRECIATE this ability to see things in this way. Everything is in your mind. When you're happy..when you're sad, when you're ****** off! When you're only slighty happy...you can make yourself see the brighter side and be even happier!...When you are in the street, hold your head up high, be proud of yourself and your actions. Because there is noone in this world who is like you...and you should be completely proud of that. Don't be ashamed and panic when you leave your 'comfort zone' there is NO comfort zone, this WORLD is YOURS to take hold of! It's ALL up to you, WHERE do you want to go? HOW do you want to feel...

[Unregistered]

Well, weed ain't what it used to be - pure and simple.
Now it has so many chemical additives to improve the potency that many more bad trips are happening.
Remember how hydroponic works - it's not just water the plants are growing in - lots of chemicals and synthetic compounds.
Large scale grow ops also have many problems with pests and the crop is heavily sprayed with poisons to control them.
All of this gets rolled up into a tight little bundle and burned and put deep into your lungs.
Also, the strains that are grown now have been engineered to have the biggest effect and this is often more than most people can handle especially when they are looking for a little buzz to enhance the moment.
Panic attacks and residual effects are more and more common because of all these factors.