PDA

View Full Version : hi everyone, I'm suffering



Dale
04-24-2010, 03:19 AM
hi everyone,

I'm 21 years old, and have been suffering some distressing events lately. I used to be a social smoker of marijuana, only having a smoke every 3 to 4 months with friends, until one day I had some pot that a friend of a friend gave to me, and instantly I felt different, i started to feel intense paranoia and i felt dread and helplessness. i started getting a faster heartbeat and I couldnt get away from distressing thoughts about dying from being 'too high'. I eventually spoke out that i was scared and panicing and a work mate watched over me with some water and offered some help. I didnt think anything of it after that, until I had similiar symptoms occured while at rest in my room, which really scared me, as I had given up smoking and it was at least 3 months ago that i had my first attack.
a little while later, my high school girlfriend took me back after 6 years of being apart. For some reason, i started feeling really alone, in my own house, with my friends with my family, like nothing i used to like doing was good enough or made me happy.
Then when things started to go stale with my girlfriend, which it did in highschool, I started to have some anxiety symptoms.
one day while driving alone in the outback, i had a feeling so overwhelming i had to pull over to stop my self shaking, it felt like i was so alone and help was impossible, even though cars were occasionally going past.
it all came to a head however when my girlfriend wanted to part ways. I had always loved her, and i still do. i felt alone, my mate came over to watch tv with me, and after a little while I got up to go the toilet and begun gagging and having hot flushes, with rapid heartbeats and hollow legs. I rushed downstairs to my dad so he could help, but i felt an urge to escape. he took me to hospital, where they would eventually tell me that I had a panic attack, then the GP would tell me the next day that I have panic disorder.
so now i take anti depressents everyday and have Xanax tablets to take if i have another panic attack.
I have ruminated over this for the following months and it has taken a giant toll on my social life as im understandly cautious about travelling and being embarrassed. i have my suspicions that I may also have social anxiety too, as i generally have overwhelming self consciousness and am hypersensitive to criticism and embarrassment.
I feel anxiety is ruling my life, as now all i can do is think about the panic and helplessness, and has stopped me from doing a lot of things, and has even 'numbed' me to all other emotions like love and happiness.
So im looking forward to participating in this forum and getting insight and piece of mind from fellow sufferers, thanks

Dale

mamascrazy1985
04-24-2010, 09:22 AM
the day i had my first panic attack is when i was high.... i was upset and just started to smoke. the high came to fast and lets just say i havent smoked since. about 5 yrs now. i didnt realize at the time that it was a panic attack. i didnt start anxiety till about 2 years later. but i would never ever ever smoke agian. or take my anxiety meds for that matter.

vanphelan
04-26-2010, 09:36 AM
I am a light pot smoker myself but I know exactly where you are coming from. I didn't realize at the time I was having a panic attack I just thought I was "too high" while I was in the supermarket. My whole arm went numb, racing heartbeat, the whole experience. I also believe I have a bit of social anxiety. Always thinking people are talking about me yada yada. It does take some time but take it from me once you get a chance to wrap your head around all of this it can be dealt with. It will take some time but with support you can get through the worst of it. I still have moments where I feel nervous and stuff but for the most part I am myself again.

mamascrazy1985
04-26-2010, 11:33 AM
wow i am glad i am not the only one who experienced the pot thing....... it was very scary and now today i look back and think of how dumb i must have looked... but i still feel like everyone is out to get me so i am mostly bitchy and have few friends because of that. but i would rather have those few friends that i can trust. you never know who is up to stab you in the back

ks-panic
05-15-2010, 08:24 PM
wow, im glad i read this, i dont smoke pot, but have smoked it, its been several years now since i have, but was considering it again, thought it might take the edge off the panic.... doesnt sound like it would.

Brandon M
05-16-2010, 07:43 PM
From my experience marijuana can definitely cause panic. It has happened to me a few times. For me if I'm high it can turn bad quick. All it takes is a minor thought and my anxiety can go through the roof. A thought like "is my heart racing?" Then, even if it isn't, I start thinking it is. Then I get palpitation where my heart beats really hard. Hard enough I can see it move my chest and feel it all the way through my back.. then I feel like panic is starting to set in. So I go to bed and eventually the marijuana wears off and I feel better and fall asleep.

Maybe it helps some people but for me it's no good. I haven't told my friends about my anxiety issues and I think they wonder why I would pass up a hit.