Im new. Panic/anxiety

[Robertnb]

Hi my names Robert and about two months ago I had my first panic attack of my life. It was extremely scary and intense, all the classic symptoms. It came out of no where as I was siting up late one night watching TV. The 3 or 4 days right after I couldn't eat or sleep, was having chills and hot/cold sweats and dry heaving. I feel like I haven't been the same since, I have a constant level of heightened anxiety that seems to be more prominent at night, especially right before sleep. Luckily those initial physical symptoms have dissipated since te first few days after the attack. What concerns me is that It has been about two months and I continue to have what I call mini panic attacks as I try and sleep every 3 or 4 days. Also my heart rate spikes at random times during the day, especially after I first wake up and towards the evening. I'm 23 and was a heavy cannabis user up untill my initial panic attack. Also I am in therapy now and they have me on low dose alprazolam ( it helps only alittle). I am new to all of this and am seeking advise or just comments from people who have had similar experiences. Thank you very much for reading :)

[embrace123]

Hope your doing well and welcome

[PanicPhobia]

Hi my names Robert and about two months ago I had my first panic attack of my life. It was extremely scary and intense, all the classic symptoms. It came out of no where as I was siting up late one night watching TV. The 3 or 4 days right after I couldn't eat or sleep, was having chills and hot/cold sweats and dry heaving. I feel like I haven't been the same since, I have a constant level of heightened anxiety that seems to be more prominent at night, especially right before sleep. Luckily those initial physical symptoms have dissipated since te first few days after the attack. What concerns me is that It has been about two months and I continue to have what I call mini panic attacks as I try and sleep every 3 or 4 days. Also my heart rate spikes at random times during the day, especially after I first wake up and towards the evening. I'm 23 and was a heavy cannabis user up untill my initial panic attack. Also I am in therapy now and they have me on low dose alprazolam ( it helps only alittle). I am new to all of this and am seeking advise or just comments from people who have had similar experiences. Thank you very much for reading :)

Hi Robert. I see you used to smoke cannabis. I did as well, and to be honest, I never had any anxiety issues until I did. When I was in my mid-20's I smoked some one night and had a terrible, terrible panic attack when I was "high." I went straight to the hospital because my pulse wouldn't slow down. I admitted to them I was high, but I told them I had been high before and never felt like this. They told me marijuana induced anxiety is not all that uncommon.

For days after this I had panic attacks just as intense (I felt like I was high even though I hadn't smoked anything). I felt like I was outside my body floating around. It is the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced and I do not consider myself a "weak" person. I have read accounts of other people who never had anxiety issues until they smoked pot and then continued having them thereafter even though they no longer smoked.

I am no expert, but I think marijuana or other drugs can induce panic attacks in people who are genetically prone to them. A lot of people can smoke all the pot in the world for years and have only minor (if any) anxiety. Apparently you and I are not one of those people. This is why I am against recreational drugs (even pot) because you never know what you're getting into.

[Robertnb]

Thanks a bunch for responding, I'll get more detailed once I figure out how to use this app...it's quite confusing