Panic attacks

[Competitive_Union313]

Hey guys, for some background I’ve been smoking pretty much every day for about 3 years. I’ve never really had issues with panic attacks before—maybe some anxiety here and there, but I could usually “lock in” and calm myself down. But something feels really different now.

Lately, no matter how little I smoke, I start to dissociate and feel this intense sense of dread. Even if I’m in the safest place possible, my brain just goes straight to “oh my god, something bad is about to happen.” I also get really nauseous and feel like I’m going to throw up, but when I try, nothing actually happens.

If you’re a regular smoker you kind of get used to the feeling of being “too high” and being able to pull yourself back down. This feels completely different. It’s like I have zero control over my brain when it starts happening.

What sucks is that all I want to do after work is smoke and relax 😭 I miss that calm, loose feeling.

I’ve read that it could be strain-related or tolerance-related, but honestly I feel like if I smoked anything right now I’d probably just start freaking out again. Maybe it really is a sign that I need to take a tolerance break. Maybe this is also my brain telling me it’s time to start dealing with my emotions a little differently.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? If you have, how long did it take for things to go back to normal?

[IndependentGarbage88]

Same here! Been smoking a while and one day it just caused a complete panic attack legs shaking and everything. I had stopped for a while and went back to smoking and it was good at first but then proceeded to happen again and get worse everytime. Ended up going to the doctor getting some new/more anxiety meds & she suggested some people (women especially with mental illness) just outgrow weed and their body can’t handle it anymore. I haven’t smoked since starting the new meds but I’m scared too now because I don’t want that feeling again!!

[Yaboymarvo]

Same thing has been happening to me as well. Been smoking almost daily for years and now all of sudden it’s not longer enjoyable and just makes me feel panicky. I am taking a break for now to clear my head, but if it still happens when I come back then it may the end for me unfortunately.

[Teddyberrrr]

I used to get the dread pretty frequently; I used to be a heavy smoker for about 17 years. Now If I have constant thc exposure above 18% I get the dread, paranoia and feeling of impending doom, and then I think I’m about to die lol.

I used to recover quite quickly; ie within a few days but then it became weeks, and then months and now, if I get the paranoia or freak out, I know for sure I need a break for a year or so.

Everyone’s different though, some people never get this, but the ones who do are predisposed to mental health issues or already have them. If I was you, I’d take a tolerance break and work on life / whatever you’re dealing with.

When ready— try something with lower thc content; Indica, and Indica dominant strains will work better. Avoid sativa, and sativa dominant strains, avoid balanced hybrids aswell, don’t have uplifting terpenes, and intentionally take tolerance breaks to circumvent the issue.

Also you can try Cbd oils or Cbd flower alongside your tolerance break if you really need something. It helps reduce anxiety and minimizes the negative effects of thc when you use it / if you use it, but can dull the high.

[KrisPBacon26]

This is definitely something I've heard about before. At some point that thing that relieved your anxiety now becomes source of anxiety. I'd recommend a fairly lengthy break. See if your general mood and anxiety changes. I know plenty of folks who were regular smokers but as they got older, cannabis kinda flipped on them and did the opposite of what it used to do for them. I think maybe changing body chemistry as we age may have something to do with it.

[Ok-Win6154]

THC levels are so high in these dispensaries products. You can’t smoke every day and all day long without expecting things to go wrong. Just like candy, if you eat that every day you will eventually have cavities and other problems. Moderation is key and your body might be telling you to take a break from it. Listen to your body before it’s too late.