scamit

My first post, but I really need some help from some of you who have gone through the same situation and some who have not but are experts in the field of marijuana.

Well 4 years ago, I decided to smoke pot for the first time. I got some hydro from a friend and smoked it in a bong with a buddy. I really cannot remember how many hits I took, but it was around 5 or 6, and I did hold it in as well. After about 15 minutes or so, I started to feel really weird, I felt spaced out and started to feel really hot. I had to go outside get some air and I also felt really agitated, felt like throwing something. I quickly went to bed and had no problem sleeping. The next day, I felt really down and depressed. Just did not feel like myself at all, and was really sluggish and down for no reason. After that day, everything went back to normal. I really did not think much of the reaction, until what happened a week later.

A week later, when i was going to sleep, i started to feel agitated, felt really hot, did not feel in control of myself, had to go outside to get some air and instantly, had to go to the washroom. I felt really nervous and I ended up sitting in my living room watching some television until I fell asleep. The next morning, I really did not feel like myself, as I could not concentrate, felt constant chills, had brain fog, I really did not know what all this was. At that point, I did not even know what anxiety, panic attacks or depression was, I just thought I probably had a fever and it would go away within a week or so. I went to my family doctor who said I had an anxiety attack and ever since then, my life has been hell.

I have gone through many doctors and done many tests, and before my attack, I was the happiest person one can ever be. I mean, I literally had no problems at all, and the psychological tests have also indicated that. The doctors tried really hard to find a psychological cause, and I honestly thought there was one, but finally, they came to a conclusion that something physical is going on. Everyday since, I have ups and downs, where I feel agitated, really worked up, cannot concentrate for shit, feel really nervous and many other symptoms. The doctors classified me as "Anxiety - Not specified".

Now I know that none of these symptoms occured before me smoking weed, and this all occured right after me smoking weed. I am not saying weed is negative and what not, I know many who smoke it everyday without any problems, but for me, it has really screwed up my life. Now i just wanted to know maybe it was not the weed that screwed with me, maybe it could have been other substances which i might have been allergic to or i could have suffered some sort of toxicity to the glass of the bong, i really do not know, that is why I have come here to explore and listen to any suggestions anyone will have. I really need help, and I would appreciate any comments.

Thanks!!

Buzzby

It is not at all uncommon for underlying anxiety problems to be brought to the surface by the use of a substance like marijuana, which seems to lower the barriers between the conscious and unconscious minds. I suspect that is your problem. Marijuana doesn't "cause" panic attacks. It puts you in touch with hidden anxieties and amplifies them. Experienced users know this and take such things with a grain of salt and a sense of humor.

The acute effects of marijuana are gone in a few hours. All of the THC, which breaks down into non-psychoactive compounds, is out of your system that quickly. I've found that large doses of B-Complex vitamins prevent most of the day-after sluggishness, as does experience. Beyond that, marijuana is not known to have any long-term effects.

Six bong hits of hydro is a lot of pot for a first-timer. With my 39 years of experience, I'd do one or two and wait fifteen minutes to see if I wanted any more. I think you did too much for a first try.

__________________

scamit

Thanks for the prompt reply. You are right, that I did too many hits for a first timer, and that is what my doctor tells me as well. Again, you are also right that the smoking maybe brought out underlying problems I might have, but to be honest, I had no psychological problems, and my doctor seems to think the same. I was never abused, went through a traumatic time or anything of that sort, my childhood and teenage years were normal and full of joy. If its not pyschological, then there must have been some underlying physical problems or allergies that have been brought out. There was one problem I was having before I smoked pot. Since I started University, I was constantly getting a cold, one week I would have the cold, one week I would recover, and the next I would have a cold again. Even when I did not have a cold, every morning I would wake up with mucus and throughout the day, i would still have mucus. I stopped eating and drinking anything cold, that helped as I no longer get constant colds, but everyday, I still have mucus, cannot seem to get rid of it.

Well, 8 months ago, I moved into a new house from an apartment, and after two months in the house, I started to develop new symptoms, such as my ears always feel plugged up. This was a new symptom which never occured before, and I dont think it is a symptom of my anxiety as well, as I started to realize that whenever my ears feel more plugged, my anxiety goes through the roof. I feel really agitated and its a hellish experience. I completely cut out diary out of my diet and it has seemed to help a bit, but still, everyday, i get mucus and my ears feel plugged. My parents suggested I drink grinded up ginger, and OMG, what a difference. I mean literally, 3 minutes after drinking that, my ears start to open up, and behold, my head also starts to clear up more. My anxiety lessens and I am able to concentrate much more than I did without the ginger. I am talking about like a 50% improvement, for me, its as close as I have come to a miracle. I still feel agitated, but its an improvement.

I have always thought that maybe my sinus had something to do with anxiety, and I did have an allergy test completed, and I am allergic to dogs, tobacoo, and dust. Now im thinking, maybe some substance in the weed I might have been allergic to or something of that nature. I am no expert, and I really do not know what substances are in hydro, but nevertheless, I am sure some of you can shed some light on my situation.

Thanks!

Buzzby

With apologies to you and your doctor, the only people I've ever known who have access to the contents of their unconscious minds are some Tibetan monks who have been meditating for 20 or 30 years. Often, the memories of the root events that cause anxiety problems are so well repressed that the person has no awareness of them.


I wouldn't dismiss the psychological so quickly.


This can be true. One of the most basic fears, one that is built into the organism from very primitive evolutionary ancestors, is the fear of suffocation. Anything that prevents you from breathing easily is likely to make you anxious. When my sinuses are acting up I often wake up in a panic, feeling like I can't breath.


The nature of allergies is such that when you remove the allergens the symptoms dissipate. If you smoked pot once four years ago, I don't see how your continued anxiety problems could be due to a marijuana allergy.

cb123

Hey,

I've been going through the same exact thing as you. You just don't feel like yourself, everything is distant, detached and unreal.

How many meds have you taken in the 4 years?
Have you obsessed for these 4 years?
How long was the longest that you went without obsessing? Did you feel any better?
Have you smoked weed since then? If so, was it a relaxing experience?

I think that with every doctor's appointment that I go to, and every new med that I'm put on, the situation gets worse. This is only because I am making this a bigger beast than it really is, it is really just psychosomatic to my belief.

This is why when I worked out, and did anything to get my mind off of it about 4 days after the incident, when I wasn't worrying too much, I felt COMPLETELY normal. Now, I must get my mind off of it for about a day to feel normal, which is very hard. I also felt normal in the mornings when I was not thinking about it too much, but now it's so massive that I believe it to be subconsious.

I think that it's all about perspective on weed. If you think that it hurt you and altered your reality, it will. If you think nothing more of it than a fun plant to smoke, it won't effect you at all. Before, when I was on a roll getting a 4.2 and making $ on eBay, I believed that it was helping me think outside the box, thus giving me an innovative advantage over other eBay sellers.

I had this realization after considering smoking again, and being sure that it would cure me. As soon as I decided on it (though I have not done it yet), I instantly felt a little more normal. Also, I realized a key point in my story; when I smoked for the second time to relieve these high-like symptoms after 4 days, as advised by my friends who I completely believed were right, I felt better. I continued to feel better for like 2 days, until I went over to my friends house to smoke again, and I kept on wondering: will it come back? What do ya know, it did.

I know deep down that by changing my perception, my symtoms will diminish. However, I'm not toally for it now, and if I smoke with a little, tiny worry, I could trigger a panic attack, or simply make the whole situation worse.

My advice to you is to try and see what's really wrong. This has happened to more people than you think. I've spoken to many people who feel completely normal, and have found that they learn to enjoy marijuana once again. If you decide not to smoke, simply put it off in your mind as 'something that's just not for me.' Otherwise, smoke a little bit in a comfortable place, and don't think too much about it, just relax and know that you are doing good.

BTW if you do, get back to me on how it all works out, specimen...

scamit

Thanks for your response. I am glad there are members who have gone through similar experiences as I have. I understand what you mean by changing your thought patterns and what not, to this point, it has not worked. My problem is weird, even while I am distracted and having a good time with my friends, my symptoms will come up. It happens out of nowhere, and it can happen during good times and stresfull times. The only thing I know is that because of my Anxiety now, I am more frazled by the smallest things. Since my nervous system is in overdrive, I have become really sensitive to anything around me, including medications, even vitamins. Believe me when I say this, but for the last 4 years I have gone trhough everything I can and everything points to something else other than some emotional problems, which have never existed for me. Now the question regarding my sub-conscious, well thats another story, maybe there is something lurking in my sub-conscious that I need to explore. I am open to alternative treatments, as my parents are strong believers in it. Currently, I am doing a yoga technique where you do a head stand once a day, it is said to enhance blood flow and calm down your mental state. I just started a week ago, so cannot say much about it in terms of results.

I never want to smoke weed again, thats never the question for me, I really dont care much for it. I have taken common SSRI's such as Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and the latest, Lexapro. I have had bad side effects on the first three, and had to quickly stop taking them. Lexapro I tried while I was in India for 3 weeks, but I only tried 5mg and when I got back home, I stopped. I did not notice any bad side effects, so maybe I should start again at 10mg but I am hoping for an all natural treatment to help me out.

I briefly talked to one of my friends mom, who is a MD, and she said I should really get to the bottom of my sinus symptom as it can cause the body to go into the "fight" mode after having it for so many years. Did not really get a chance to discuss in detail, but next week, I am going to see my family doctor and demand something be done regarding my sinus.

Thanks for listening!

Peace