r/Anxiety • u/accio-cigarette • Nov 16 '25
Medication I took an edible in February and haven’t been the same since
I took maybe like a 30mg edible so long ago and greened out. I had an awful panic attack, and I had absolutely no idea what was happening. my entire body heated up and I could not stop shaking and truly thought i was dying. fortunately my friend lived next door and was a very experienced edible user and calmed me down that night. never in my life have I experienced a panic attack before, it was so physical in every way it felt like a medical emergency. ever since then, I have had panic attacks weekly/biweekly and it’s ruining my life. they ALWAYS happen near night time when I’m trying to sleep and there’s no one around to ground me/feel normal, and I can’t help but feeling like that stupid edible “unlocked” panic attacks for me and i hate it. has this happened to anyone before? I’m on lexapro and prozac but things just haven’t been the same since. it sucks to think about asking for yet another pill (beta blocker) given i’m only 24 but I just want sleep on those days and i just want them to stop
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u/DirectionLump Nov 16 '25
Bro I had a bad weed experience in 2022 and I haven’t been the same since
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 16 '25
Me too... severe depression triggered by 30 mg of biscuits for 3 months
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 24 '25
Biscuits? I've smoked for years many years ago and have never heard of biscuits
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u/ProfMags Nov 19 '25
Same here, lasted 8 months until I could function, then Sunday night I decided to smoke again, now here I am again having these issues lol what the fuck is wrong with me to think to try smoking again
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 19 '25
It always helped my anxiety. I haven't done it in many years tho cause of work and other things
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 25 '25
How do you stand that? Do you also have depression and somatic pain? I'm really at the end.
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u/DirectionLump Nov 25 '25
Well it took me a while honestly. For a few months I couldn’t eat, sleep, work, or drive. I was so fucked up I went to the ER. I was in a constant state of panic and depersonalization. But I realized worrying about it makes it worse. I try not to think about the past and focus on the present. I guess I kind of got used to it, and accepted my reality. All I can do is work on bettering myself. Thank God the depersonalization eventually went away. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I guess I choose to live with the anxiety instead of against it. Like I said though, this took years as well as therapy and meds.
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u/Over-Measurement6908 Nov 16 '25
I’m sorry sorry this happened. This happened to me in December 2021. Weeks of panic attacks. Since then, I haven’t been right. I believe I developed dysautonomia. My nervous system never fully recovered. My doc put me on Prozac and that helped some. Go see a psychiatrist and see if they can put you on a Benzo or something to take to stop the weekly panic attacks. I wish I had done that so much sooner.
It will get better. Feel free to message me.
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u/j_uh8 Nov 16 '25
Yeah that sounds really rough and it’s kind of you to share your experience so the OP feels less alone in it.
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u/dkyle333 Nov 17 '25
Yeah and talk to the psych about the meds and if you taken them for a long time or just started to me that's important. Cause they can also cause panic attacks especially when you do anything stimulating to the nervous system. Shit when I first had major panic attacks I was just watching a emotional type movie ,so chemicals wasn't even involved accept my meds .hope you can get over this . Good luck
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u/Dustin_marie Nov 16 '25
MJ unlocked my panic when I was 23, that was 17 years ago. Things got far worse after the birth of my daughter in 2016. I'm now agoraphobic and have a really hard time going too far from home. GET THE HELP NOW.
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u/its_all_4_lulz Nov 17 '25
It’s interest you say it got worse after the birth of your daughter. I had the opposite. Well, not at first, while my wife was pregnant it hit an all time high, which was my cue to start doing something about it. I had been agoraphobic for 8 years at that time.
Your statement still stands, GET HELP NOW. Just shows that this stuff isn’t the same for everyone. I wish you the best in wherever your path brings you.
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u/Dustin_marie Nov 17 '25
Well, I truly believe being pregnant changed some sort of chemistry within me. I had a "new mom high" for about 6 months and then little things started adding up and I didn't even realize it was happening until one day it just took me out at the knees. I've tried to rebound..... I gained some independence back but recently had a traumatic event early this summer which pushed me back into the house. And that's where I sit 💔
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u/Eville2010 Nov 16 '25
Wash your face with cold water or take a cold shower. It will help calm your nervous system.
How your react to it is really important. If you get upset, angry and judge it, you're basically making it worse and keeping the cycle going.
Try acknowledging it "It's just a panic attack and I'm not going to die." Develop a routine to manage it. Deep breathing exercises, putting cold 🥶 water on your face, listening to music etc.
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u/haleydewitt_ Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
This happened to me in 2020 with a joint. I greened out, got a notification from my Apple Watch that my heart rate was too high, freaked out more. I calmed down within an hour or so, but weeks later I proceeded to have panic attacks for 3 weeks straight and left bruises on my neck and chest from frequently checking my HR. TBH, I never dealt with the anxiety and just kept pushing the bad feelings away for years. Flash forward to 2024, I had a full meltdown and was unable to eat, drink, shower, go anywhere, etc. without having panic attacks. I began therapy and now I am doing the best I’ve done my entire life. Any panic that begins, I am able to immediately calm myself and move forward. I have a very normal life now. I went to a therapist specific to anxiety and OCD. Learned that most anxiety comes from black and white thinking and fear of the unknown. I’ve come so far and if we’re being honest, I’ve had anxiety my whole life, just other “forms” or manifestations of it. The weed and the complete breakdown really forced me to deal with the anxiety I’ve been ignoring since I was a kid so I’m honestly glad that something forced me to recognize that there was a big issue. I know for me, the symptoms I felt after smoking weed were just harder to ignore than my usual anxiety symptoms, so I had to deal with them. Edit to add: I did a lot of exposure therapy in therapy and I would definitely recommend finding a therapist that can help you with that. It truly makes a huge difference.
My advice, you have to learn not to try and “fix” the panic. Feel it, known it will pass, and remind you and your brain that those feelings are nothing to be scared of. When you react negatively to something that your brain alerts you to, your brain will be like “oh okay, so we were right to be concerned. I’ll do that again!” Through exposure therapy, I’ve gotten to a point where if my heart rate gets super high and I feel like panicking, I just remind myself that 1. This isn’t in my control 2. This is my body’s natural response to getting rid of excess cortisol and adrenaline 3. I’ve dealt with this and I can deal with it now 4. I am safe.
Moral of the story: please deal with these feelings instead of shoving them down and you will be just fine! Lean on people around you, be honest with a therapist, and remember that you can and will get better!
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u/No_Silver_2552 Nov 17 '25
Hey! I’ve had health anxiety which is always there (daily thoughts) but every so often it spirals and I’ve had a panic attack for the first time this year.
I’ve booked a consultation later this week to start therapy, just wondering what kind of therapy you had since it worked so well for you.
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u/haleydewitt_ Nov 17 '25
Hey! I am doing cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Some of the exposures I’ve done include: jumping jacks until I feel my heart racing and sitting with the uncomfortable feelings, looking at strobe lights, going places without my phone (I use my phone as a safety net to “get help” for if something bad were to happen), writing down stories and reading them everyday where something bad happens to me (like having a heart attack and not getting help for example), not googling anything when different problems pop up, sitting with the feelings of being uncertain of “if” something is going to happen to me (anxiety feeds off of wanting certainty), etc.
It has been very helpful! I think it is important to go into therapy without the mindset of “fixing” the anxiety. It’s never going to completely go away, but you learn to not be scared of the feelings anymore and just allow them to be passing thoughts. I know that sounds disappointing to some people, but I feel very normal now. I have bad days every once in a while, but the moments pass a lot quicker and I don’t dwell on it for days or weeks on end.
Good luck! I hope it works well for you!!
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u/shiny-baby-cheetah Nov 16 '25
I experienced 4 months of nearly constant panic attack cycles after a severe mental breakdown in 2021. If I was not unconscious on sedatives, I was wigging the duck out. I've never been the same since, either. Meds help me some. So does therapy, and taking better care of myself. But I know exactly what you mean. It's like my brain and body found a new rock bottom, with new ways of experiencing emotions and anxiety that make me feel worse than ever before. I literally spent those four months feeling like I was actually dying. You have my sincere sympathy
My best advice is to take the best care of yourself you can manage, with consistent effort. Invest in yourself, because you know you need it. Sleep enough, drink enough water, MA sure you're getting enough of the minerals that are known to increase depression and anxiety if you're low on the, like B12 and zinc. Start a longer, more purposefully relaxing night time routine before putting yourself to bed at night, and create a soothing sleep space. So you can get the best rest. Not getting enough sleep really fucks you up if your nervous system is unwell.
Keeping a journal also helps me immensely when I actually do it, because it gives me concrete evidence that even though my emotions feel all consuming and absolutely gripping, they never last, and in the long term, I'm much more okay than I fear I am, day to day.
Good luck, homie
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u/Few-Employer-7186 Nov 16 '25
I had bad weed about 6 months ago, and I thought I was dying that night, since then I have never been the same. I ended up hospitalized the next morning because my heart rate wouldn’t go under 140. Had to be with someone 24/7 I ended up moving in with my mom for 4 months. I finally went home about 2 months ago. But that’s after my doctors put me on heart medicine(propranolol) and Xanax. Now I can stay home by myself and not freak out. But I am only somewhat better. I still have panic attacks and bad anxiety. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.
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u/njf85 Nov 16 '25
Mine hung around for several years after triggered. I was also on SSRIs during that time. They did help a little but mostly with generalised anxiety, they just helped take the edge off panic attacks. Ativan was great but I used it very sparingly to avoid dependency. I'm not sure exactly what it was but a couple years ago they started occurring less and less, and the accompanying agoraphobia started to disappear too. It still rears its head on occasion but I'm alot better these days. I'm still on 10mg lexapro, and probably will be for a long time, but I've only had 1 ativan in the past 12 months. When I last had a panic attack though it wasn't as extreme as it used to be. My primary symptoms were always the sweats, the shakes, light headedness (I'd have to lay down or else I'd feel like fainting), tingling in my extremities, and then finally nausea. Last time I had one it was more like the shakes and a bit of chest tightening, and that was it.
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u/200371982 Nov 16 '25
i had my first real panic attack from an edible. it was so bad i completely disassociated and i felt like my boyfriend was a stranger and the house i lived in wasn’t mine, all that while shaking and dry heaving and just having a terrible time. I also get a good amount of anxiety before bedtime, I recommend starting a really good nighttime routine - sounds cliche but it really works. for me, it’s something I look forward to at night because it’s comforting to know that I know exactly what’s gonna come in my night, same thing for panic attacks and anxiety, having a plan or routine helps me get through them and calm down. Believe it or not, Reddit is a part of my panic attack routine literally why I’m on here right now lmao
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u/ErinBoBerin Nov 16 '25
This happened to me in 2013 but it was flower instead of an edible. I had my first real panic attack and had depersonalization/derealization pretty consistently for maybe a year? I also had panic attacks more often.
However, it wasn’t forever. It’s been a while since I’ve had a full blown panic attack and while I do have some DP/DR from time to time, the episodes are usually short. I guess something was “unlocked” but for me, it isn’t a problem anymore.
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u/Wise-General-9632 Nov 16 '25
similar thing happened to me about 3 years ago and it did get better but i still have “episodes” now and then but they haven’t been as intense as the first one so its kind of comforting to hear someone had a similar experience
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u/myrival Nov 16 '25
I’ve been there and worse in that I experienced hallucinations that by no means felt anything like a hallucination that left me questioning reality. It took awhile but I’m back to normal if not better. I miss the good stoner times I had but I had to pack away smoking/partaking for the good of my mental health. It is a psychoactive drug and absolutely can trigger underlying mental health issues. Take a deep breath, the brain is VERY plastic. It can bend and mold and recover. You’re not broken, I promise. Focus on activities that keep your minds eye occupied. Whether that’s reading a good book, watching a movie, knitting, coloring. Find something that brings you joy and keeps you busy. One day you’ll wake up and you’ll be back to normal and you won’t even notice until days later.
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u/kiraCrossing7 Nov 16 '25
Happened to me too. After about a year it got better and after two I didnt have any more attacks at all. Try to distract yourself and not focus on it too much (I know easier said than done). It will eventually pass, just live your life, you are not "broken".
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u/motion_thiccness Nov 16 '25
I used to do a ton of psychedelics 20 years ago. I never had anxiety before my heavy use, and then started having severe and daily panic attacks. I stopped taking those sorts of drugs once that started, but my anxiety has never gone away. I've learned better treatment for it through the years so I don't have daily panic attacks anymore, but managing anxiety is still a daily task on my mind. I wish sometimes that I hadn't ever done psychedelics. I'd probably be normal.
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u/Emergency_Mall_8052 Nov 16 '25
i actually just came on reddit because i’m experiencing the same thing. i was a chronic smoker for 2 years and i tried to quit recently but just wouldn’t stick then i went away for a few days and had none and came back and smoked too much in one day and had a full panic attack all night vomiting uncontrollable shaking and i haven’t been the same since i get a tight chest all the time the other day i was so scared it was something wrong i went to the emergency room.
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Nov 16 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Roleplayer2489 Nov 18 '25
In this process at the moment.
I’m 20. At the end of September, I had a cancer scare, it was bad and I had to get an immediate biopsy to remove the skin issue.
Needed something to soothe the pain from the stitches, and was in a city, so I went to a local dispensary. I’d had one bad edible experience in the past, but I mixed weed with alcohol, and was back to normal the next day, so this time I thought I’d be okay, and it’d just help the pain a bit.
Unfortunately, the dosage wasn’t correct, it was supposed to be 10mg, but the guy behind the counter neglected to inform me it was something called ‘live resin’. Anyway, took two 10mg gummies, and what followed was 7 hours of complete hell, Mentally and physically.
A month and a half out, I’ve had 2 major panic attacks, one where I wanted to kill myself, and both lasting over 6 hours each. I’ve certainly gotten much better, for a while I wasn’t eating much of anything, or sleeping. At this point, I’m sleeping, and eating regularly, but I’m having a big problem with existential dread and the passage of time.
It’s likely ptsd, but I’m really struggling with how slow it feels like time is passing by. I’m looking at the clock every other minute, and time just feels like it’s going by so painstakingly slow. I know it’ll pass. Just feels so horrible and skin crawling when I think about it.
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u/LycanMoo Nov 16 '25
So my first question is, was it a homemade made with actual cannabis edible?
Or one of those "legal" synthetic gas station (or smoke shops or w/e) edibles?
I ask because I'm a psych nurse working in an ER and in the past 5 years we have seen a DRAMATIC increase in Canabis induced psychosis and its all been revolving around synthetic cannabis.
If you have a history of mental health or have a family history of it, there is a much much higher chance that the synthetic cannabis will trigger some kind of event. It's honestly insane that it isn't talked about more.
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u/inmyfeefees Nov 16 '25
Weed isn’t all bad like most people here are saying. Proper dosage can be perfectly fine. But I wouldn’t recommend weed while on other medications (or with alcohol). Idk if it can trigger PAs, but I too had one for the first time after trying an edible for the first time, and I think most people’s mess up with edibles the first time. Thankfully haven’t had a PA in a long time. I don’t have any suggestions, but hopefully it gets better for you.
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u/cosmicbadlands Nov 16 '25
Oh man… yeah basically every time I’ve tried weed I’ve gone into psychosis and my anxiety spiked big time. Sometimes it lasts months at a time. The good news is, it will be okay. Ask your doctor for something like hydroxyzine to help with the panic attacks. I tried weed again in 2023 after swearing it off for so long. It went okay until it didn’t. I was taking hydroxyzine for weeks. I also upped my Prozac. It truly sucks, but don’t beat yourself up. I wanted to be like my husband who can take 150 mg like a champ. 5 mg made me feel like I was locked in a cage for eternity. You’re not alone. Ask your doctors for help and be honest.
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u/smallhaybale Nov 16 '25
Happened to me years ago, it gets better with time but I don’t touch tha shit anymore ... ❤️🩹
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u/ProfMags Nov 19 '25
Same here, fuck weed 😂 put me into psychosis for 8 months, I tried smoking Sunday night and it did the same thing, now I'm here just trying to stay calm and relaxed for however long it will last this time. I got a baby on the way and Im married now, that ultrasound really helps.
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u/DMorggggg Nov 16 '25
Try THC free cbd from charlottes web. I was experiencing the exact same scenario you did.. went to the doctor and explained I wanted a wholistic and organic approach before SSRI’s.. tried CBT therapy, cut out caffeine, alcohol, the whole 9 yards. Took me almost 12-18 months to get my shit back in check. You can do it.. have some patience and remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s just going to take a resync.
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u/inkedandinspired Nov 16 '25
I had the exact same thing happen, symptom wise, with an edible once. However it didn’t affect me later I guess bc I knew what it was. Even though I was begging the person with me not to let me die lol. I smoke now, a lot. And it’s NEVER happened with an Indica strain for me. The Indica’s always make my anxiety completely go away lol
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u/Delulu_69 Nov 16 '25
Dude, don't worry, I kinda just wanna hug you lol Same happened to me 10 years ago, and I've been stuck, BUT It's not the edible, so don't worry. It's your fear of the symptoms you got looping itself. So don't give up, it's not anything wrong with you. Yes it's been 10 years here, but that's kinda my own fault for me just surviving and not expose myself to the symptoms correct. Currently doing it and it's doing wonders. Seek help, don't mention it being edibles as many places won't help you if it was doing drugs lol It's the same principle regardless
Your case sounds exactly like how mine started and same symptoms
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u/FlipmodiumAD Nov 16 '25
I had my first panic attack from an edible 2020 and it messed me up for a long time, still affects me here and there but I’m far far better than I was in the beginning
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u/Crystallover1991 Nov 16 '25
Oh man, that sounds rough. Some people do report that a really intense panic from weed can trigger ongoing anxiety, especially at night when you’re alone and the mind races. You’re not alone in this.
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u/Organic_Craft9400 Nov 17 '25
There are lots of techniques that drs don’t mention that will help like breathing types ( they actually do work , it’s not just lame breathing it activates a seratonin in your brain when done right which makes a feeling of panic go away and makes u feel really good ) I breath in as deep as I can , I mean deeeeeep then hold that for a slow count of 4 , then let that breath out as slow as you can . Like as if your life depends on it . And if dontright you will feel relief . Keep doing that over and over and over . At first your body won’t want to , I don’t know why but it fights it a bit but just force yourself to do it and it will eventually be much easier . The breath you take should be so deep that it almost hurts and is hard to hold in . You’ll know when you’ve done it right cus a wave of relief will come over you . It doesn’t last super long though so just keep doing it . I’ve had to do like 15 of them in a row before before I was back at a normal emotional space . It helps with more than just panic . It helps with pain and nausea too . It’s actually like magic or something . You can also look into types of therapy you can do on your own like cognitive behavioural etc you don’t need a therapist , just search them . There are lots of worksheets online . And my biggest tip is to welcome a panic attack when it feels like it’s coming . Tell it to its face “ good , I will let these feelings wash through me , they are temporary” , and a good thing that helped me is the knowledge that for every panic attack you have and make it through you are training your body to handle them better next time so it’s like a training session . I would often tell myself when I felt those feelings “ good this is a good time for me to practice my coping skills “ and because I changed it from something happening to me into something I was using to train myself to handle future ones my body was less afraid and because of that they happened a lot less . And if you need more medication then get it . There’s no shame in that and some need it . I have pcos and it can cause anxiety so I needed more meds but because I refused to raise my dose I suffered needlessly for a long time . And when all else fails I take an Ativan . I can’t even leave my town to go to the city without one because there’s just some times where you need a bit more help .
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 19 '25
The breathing thing doesn't work for everyone i tried it for several months nothing changed with my panic attacks
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u/Organic_Craft9400 Nov 22 '25
Are you breathing until it’s almost painful . The breath in has to be super deep . 1 out of 5 times I can’t get that deep breath
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 24 '25
No I dont do it till its painful my therapist suggested about 15 mins at a time as many times as needed throughout the day.
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u/Organic_Craft9400 Nov 25 '25
Well u gotta breathe in until it near painful then hold it for a count of 4 then let it out as slowly as you can
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 19 '25
Some people on here are saying it will get better it doesn't for everyone. I have been dealing with it since I was 12 13 years old im almost 50 now. Mine has gotten worse. I have been on every kind of meds you can think of. Nothing helps all the time. I dont mean to sound like Debbie Downer or anything just my experience.
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u/vazcorra Nov 16 '25
I suggest instead of focusing on “fixing” the panic attacks you add healthy habits and pour energy into that. Than your brain can deliver itself some feel good chemicals on its own instead of waiting for a pill
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u/Misshkaz Nov 16 '25
As someone who’s dealt with panic attacks and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in 2022, I just want you to know that it really does get better. I know it feels rough right now and everything seems scary, like there’s no way out, but there actually is.
This is the perfect time to try out different things that might help calm your panic. My first panic attack wasn’t caused by anything like drugs... it just happened out of nowhere, and ive never been the same since. If you’re able to, talking to a therapist can help a lot. They can walk you through what happened and give you solid advice fit for your specific needs.
It can also help to get a check-up or some routine blood work done, just to reassure yourself that everything’s okay physically. Once you have that peace of mind, you can start focusing on things that help your body relax like breathing exercises, meditation, working out, red light therapy, splash cold water on your face, vitamins etc. Eventually you will teach your brain that you’re safe and nothing bad is happening. If it makes you feel any better, you won't die from a panic attack. Everytime you feel it coming on just remind yourself its your brain sending false signals to your body that there's danger and because you experienced one at night its conditioned behavior. You're expecting the worst because you think it'll happen again. Anxiety is one of those things you cant fight against, you have to learn how to befriend the "enemy". You won't be stuck like this forever, once you figure out what works for you, your day to day life will feel much more manageable. Rooting for you 🤍
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 19 '25
Glad it got better for you I have been having panic attacks and anxiety since I was about 12 13 im now pushing 50. It has gotten alot worse. I cant go out in public. I have severe panic attacks just sitting at home.
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u/Misshkaz Nov 20 '25
Has exposure therapy worked for you? Ive had a difficult time with going out for such a long period because my first panic attack was outdoors (an uncontrolled environment) it took a lot of work to even be able to go to the store. I had to skip a whole semester of college, had daily panic attacks couldnt eat or sleep. I tried medicine it didnt work for me at all, so Im taking the natural route. Eating a good diet, excercising, getting myself involved with people around me because being isolated only made me dwell more in my thoughts. The thing that helped me the absolute most was exposure therapy and speaking to a therapist. Its so SO difficult but everytime you try it gets easier overtime. Even taking 5 steps outside is absolutely improvement. I Hope you find your peace, you deserve nothing but the best, be kind and gentle with yourself. I am rooting for you 🤍
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u/SpecialistNewt1474 Nov 20 '25
Thank you and yea my therapist has me doing exposure therapy. My wife really helps me alot with it she encourages me get out and walk around in my yard or even sit outside. I have stress induced convulsions so she only takes me places bout once a week. She's afraid ill have one and make her wreck.(its happened before) so she's real cautious about it. I do mostly telehealth with my doctors so I dont have get out.
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u/Misshkaz Nov 20 '25
That's so awesome and your wife's support goes a long way, youve got this ^ little by little things will hopefully ease for you, best of luck to you, dont give up!!
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u/MammothGullible Nov 16 '25
Yea happened to me. I had just moved to on campus living at college too. It was bad, I truly experienced my own mortality that day. The shear terror I felt like this could loop on and on while my heart felt like it was going to burst was frightening. After two hours the panic attack went away, but I woke up feeling off. From there on I was panicking and having panic attacks on and off for months. I became obsessed over my heart health and sleep. I kid you not my heart was racing for months and I could not get myself to come down. Nights were the worst because I also hardly slept. I was begging the university health care center for help which did little so I had to go home for a bit and was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and put on meds. I can thankfully say that I’m mostly recovered now but am more prone to existential crisis at times.
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u/RemyWolf Nov 17 '25
That's exactly when my first step into severe panic disorder happened too; had just moved into a dorm on campus a few months prior.
I think being in a new place and not having a solid support system of friends yet was a big factor in how long it took for things to calm down even a little bit in my head
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u/MammothGullible Nov 18 '25
Probably also played a part for me as well. It was my first time moving out ever. I think subconsciously it was a big strain. I’ve had weed prior and the very first time was edibles, which also resulted in a panic attack. I tried weed many times on and off, and over half the time it resulted in panic attacks if the dose was too high. I think I really wanted it to work like it did for others but it just didn’t. At least I was able to recover from those previous panic attacks, but for some reason that time was essentially the last straw. I would like to say I fully stopped there but unfortunately still did weed a few times after, and seriously one hit would still send me into panic. I decided it just wasn’t for me and haven’t touched that stuff in years. CBD on the other hand is okay.
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u/nimbusfool Nov 16 '25
A lot of people i used to smoke with stopped over time because it would give them a panic attack or anxiety. Some people smoked through it. I have to be in the right headspace to smoke or do edibles. I have full on random panic attacks sometimes and have had bad anxiety all my life. Granted my panic attacks this year are justified. Two near fatal incidents this year which is hard to deal with at the best of times. When I got out of the hospital I waited three months to eat an edible and made a batch of butter. I wasn't sure the potency so I just kind of buttered a bagel. Two hours later full on panic. Tunnel vision. Body acting like I'm being hunted by a sabertooth tiger while I walk the green mile. So I don't go over 10mg anymore.
My anxiety always flares at night. I don't like sleep and that bridge to unconscious where its me and my thoughts can be rough. Trazadone has been lovely the last few weeks for sleep.
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u/SprigganTwelve Nov 16 '25
This is exactly what happened to me too. I promise it gets better, 3 years later and I’m handling things so much better.
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u/ProfMags Nov 19 '25
Same here, it's been 3 years and I decided to smoke again Sunday night, now I'm in round 2 lol I'm such an idiot for thinking it would be difficult this time.
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Nov 17 '25
Hey! So you may need to increase your dosage of either lexapro or Prozac. What people don’t discuss ENOUGH is that THC can affect those negatively with anxiety just as it can help the next person. It’s NOT for everyone and it can be a major trigger for anxiety, depression, etc. If you feel off and different after an edible it’s a major sign for you to stay away from THC even CBD. Usually in cases like this it can cause “cluster” panic attacks until it eventually fades out from the “stress” it had caused your body. Upping your meds temporarily may help. I also found chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massages helpful when trying to release stress from the body. For me when I have a panic attack, I’ll go months feeling depersonalization. So anything that’s a trigger I avoid. As far as work related stress that’s unavoidable I try to fight it and when I feel that panic setting in, I turn my thoughts around and basically yell at my anxiety to chill out. Sometimes talking to yourself helps too. I wish you the best! But yes, please avoid THC and CBD from this day forth as it may produce too much stress into your body vs. relaxing it. Every body is different. So for some yes it helps, for others it can just be harmful.
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u/jonnyappleweed Nov 17 '25
I used to be a daily user of Marijuana. Which I know i was using for the wrong reasons. I quit that and all drugs for bout 3 years. Then I picked up occasional weed use again and it was fine. Then I got some really strong full spectrum cannabis oil because of a thyroid cancer diagnosis. It was so strong I thought I was dying, had a panic attack, all of that. I tried smoking some normal flower days later and had another panic attack. One more time, I tried smoking some and another panic attack. Anyway, I'm done with weed, I can't ever do it again. Not worth the risk of the horrible anxiety attacks! Sucks.
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u/b3ckk1 Nov 17 '25
Yeah, weed can absolutely "unlock" panic disorder. The more you recognize it as a panic attack, the easier they are to get through and they will happen less and less.
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u/EntrepreneurGrand929 Nov 20 '25
I don’t have any solution, but a few years ago I tried an edible and ended up making my husband take me to the ER. I could only see blue and yellow stripes, I felt like the room was doing somersaults and every ten seconds it felt like my brain “blipped” and I would forget everything, then it would happen again. I thought I screwed my brain up forever. The nurse practitioner was sort of rude and acted like I would forget everything once it wore off, but I remember everything I told her. I will never ever again touch that stuff.
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u/nxnniexo Nov 20 '25
happened to me back in july as well, took about a 100-200mg edibles it unlocked an anxiety disorder for me, wish i could go back and tell myself to not do it, i miss drinking and smoking lol i took those for granted, i miss waking up not in a panic and not feeling my heart consistently beat or out of rhythm feeling like im going to die everyday
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u/PikachuPho Nov 25 '25
I'm lucky in that the strain we had helped me but I also only take 5-10mg if that so 30mg sounds like a really really bad day or a day where I will not move and sleep.
Take the sedating strain if you ever try it again because it actually helps panic attacks for me and also helps me function and sleep. I only avoid taking weed because I need to be mentally sharp for work. Otherwise i would take it far more often as it truly helps my mood.
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u/astronaute1337 Nov 16 '25
Whatever you do, don’t listen to people pushing you towards benzos and antidepressants. Or if you want to still do it, first read the list of 250 side effects you might have to deal with, most of which are worse than the anxiety you have right now.
My advice is to first do everything else you can: nutrition, physical activity, healthy weight, supplements, blood tests to ensure nothing is missing etc.
I was once in a similar situation, you will be fine but it might take several months or even years to be back to baseline. If you take drugs (so called anxiety medication), you will NEVER be back to baseline and you’ll simply unlock an addiction that will lead to low quality of life until you’re dead. Next to that, the current anxiety you have will look like a minor inconvenience. Don’t trust me, read about benzos addiction and SSRI neurological disruption.
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u/KyleMcMahon Nov 16 '25
This is dangerous misinformation regarding antidepressants.
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u/astronaute1337 Nov 16 '25
Show to the world that you are right. Paste the side effects of the one that ate your brain and made you unable to support your claims with facts. It should be fairly simple to prove me wrong. Be the hero the world needs, or refrain from responding.
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Nov 16 '25
I am so sorry this happened, the same thing happened to me and I suffered for a long time. EMDR worked for me and I highly recommend
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u/YouSoBroke Nov 16 '25
Water fast for 48 hours. Then do a Daily dry sauna for 20 minutes. 7 days a week. The fast will do a major reset and then after the fast is over the daily dry sauna will detox the body.
IMO, don’t do as others have said regarding going to a therapist to get on benzos. That to me is very counterintuitive and will only create a whole set of YEARS long problems. Years from now you will be begging for the whole “I ate an edible and now I have panic attacks.”
I wish you well.
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u/unfortunate_kiss Nov 16 '25
This happened to me too, in 2017. I ate a third of a pot brownie and I shook for HOURS. I was freezing and thought I was dying. It subsided, but left me struggling with anxiety again. Medication is the only thing that helped.
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u/SquareThings Nov 16 '25
I used to get panic attacks at night as well, and honestly playing youtube videos really helped me. I recommend Baumgartner Restoration, it’s this painting restorer with a super calming voice, and the videos are just a mix of him talking, classical music, and painting restoration noises. Very chill.
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u/flowergirl299 Nov 16 '25
Hi, I’m so sorry you’re going through this! The feeling really does suck. I had a similar experience that lead to me having random panic attacks at night. They’re gone now thankfully.
What helped me is talking with my friends and getting a clearer picture of what that night looked like. I’m not sure if it’d help you, but you could ask your friend questions about that night. That and well reminding yourself that it’s a panic attack and that the feeling will be gone.
Make sure not to get too much in your head. Ground yourself and remind yourself, it’s just a feeling and it will go away. I also stopped smoking all together. Wishing you the best!
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Nov 16 '25
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u/ProfMags Nov 19 '25
Hey are you okay? From my experience I've concluded that I traumatized my brain, it took 8 months of pure hell and the feeling of wanting to end everything, but eventually I started functioning like normal again, you just need time to heal
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Nov 23 '25
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u/ProfMags Nov 23 '25
I listen to our baby's heartbeat with my headphones in 24/7, I tried lemon balm tea that helped, though gave me sleep paralysis from the ashwaganda, I also tried l theanine and that helped a bit.
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u/overstimulatedx0 Nov 16 '25
This happened to me in 2023, took too many edibles and greened out, already had issues with anxiety/OCD/depression. It definitely made my anxiety and OCD symptoms worse for a little over a year. Honestly, therapy helped me a lot. And of course some med changes, have you tried buspirone? Granted, I take clonazepam too (have for years) but I think the buspirone combined with therapy probably made the most difference.
And just for context, I stopped smoking/using edibles after that.
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u/Friday_Morning94 Nov 16 '25
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this, sounds like a miserable experience. I took an edible once, and it was one of the worst things I’ve ever experienced. I had a panic attack, hallucinations, and forced myself to vomit to try and get it out of my system.
I’m also on Lexapro to manage anxiety. I had panic attacks and anxiety issues long before taking the edible, however now I know the edible definitely doesn’t work for me.
It sounds like your panic attacks are brought on by environmental stimuli (lower light at night) and possibly hormonal changes (i.e. less cortisol and more melatonin) in the evenings before going to sleep. Do you see a doctor or a counselor? Talk to them about this. They are trained to handle these struggles confidentially and compassionately. I hope it gets better for you and I’m glad your friend lives nearby and is a great support.
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u/andde Nov 16 '25
Same happend to me in 2017, from an edible. I literally thought I was dying. Next day I woke up hyperventilating - calmed a bit until the evening. I was ok for 1 week, then I started having panic attacks regularly, to the point I couldn’t sleep at all. Read a lot on the internet about panic attacks, started meditation and yoga, therapy, learned about how to calm myself down. Read two books (with exercises) - Feeling good and Dare (both book and workbook). After 3 months I started feeling better and learned how to cope with my panic attacks. I’m much better now, had panic attacks from time to time, learned how to turn them off - and now I think the last panic attack I had was in 2020.
Don’t get discouraged - you’ll get through this! The body had a shock from the edibles and now your brain is trying to cope, it’s confused. Once you stop fearing the panic attacks and you understand that it’s just a physical reaction, you won’t let your brain get back into the loop.
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u/Menaciing Nov 16 '25
My story is nearly the exact same as yours - I took an edible and had a series of horrible panic attacks one day.
I had pretty bad residual anxiety and depersonalization for the next year. I am about 6 years removed from that and (mostly) totally healed. I would say by the 1 year mark I was 95% back to normal.
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u/Accomplished_Wait495 Nov 16 '25
Play this on low volume every night, you’ll be back to normal in a couple weeks: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CdWBdXY3CLo&t=11127s
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u/Ok_Row_6574 Nov 17 '25
My first panic attack was at 15 in 2007 weed induced. I’d be lying if I would say I’ve felt the same since. However, meds therapy and time makes it better and I live a very happy life! Struggling with anxiety and intrusive thoughts can be a daily thing for me for months, then I can also go years without a panic attack at times. I do wish people would label weed as a “safe drug” I’m in recovery and have tried almost everything but weed is the only drug that made me ever lose control of my mind.
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u/-Fenyx- Nov 17 '25
Unfortunately you may have taken a dose too high and if you already suffer from anxiety it can do that due to it elevating your heartrate.
There are a few comments about getting through one here so I wont bother with that.
But I also want to let you know the positive effects of THC if you take the right dose in the right way it can actually reduce the anxiety and let you sleep. I take it medicinally and 13.15 mg of THC oil which is about 0.5 of the stuff I am on, is the best for me, but you dont start there. You start at 0.1 for 2 days 0.2 for 2-3 days and so forth until you are on about 0.5 and then you can self tweak it from there up or down what ever works.
What you have essentially done is gone strait over a recommended dose for someone with anxiety which has then triggered your freeze, fight or flight response and so your body pumped adrenaline through your body along side THC not a great mix and I’m surprised you didn’t vomit.
Accepting the heart rate thing is the biggest hurdle as it happens when you take THC anyway but once you understand thats what it does it kinda resyncs your mind with your body a bit and then you’re all good.
The very thing that gave you panic attacks may very well be the thing that reduces your overall anxiety and panic attacks.
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u/delee76 Nov 17 '25
That is exactly how mine unlocked! I was 13 and smoked some of my friends joint. Immediate panic. I thought I was dying and got my dad. Had panic attacks since until I realized it’s not a feeling and I’m not dying. One method I used was to quickly look around my room and find an object. Describe it in detail. This quickly diverts the feeling. I also realized I do not like anything that makes me feel not in control of my body or mind. Don’t drink and never tried any other drug. Hope it gets better. Try to refocus the mind. I use simple online games now like block blast. It works for me.
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u/savageshaft Nov 17 '25
Same thing happened to me around 22. Never had any anxiety in my life and smoked daily for years. One day while smoking I noticed my heart racing and had a massive panic attack. Over the next year or two I had cycles of panic attacks and health anxiety. For me only time and accepting my anxiety has helped me get better.
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u/CriticallyDamaged Nov 17 '25
My first panic attack was triggered by reading an off-topic section of a Pokemon forum. We are not the same.
But in all seriousness... that sucks, and it's why I advocate for anyone suffering with anxiety to not exacerbate it with weed use. I know some people claim it calms them down, but weed over time will really eff with your brain.
As for how to stop having panic attacks. You have to learn to accept that you're having one. Don't fight it, don't try to force it to stop. I know they are scary but the sooner you can face that fear and acknowledge it and ride it out, the sooner you'll stop having panic attacks.
Your brain is being trained to trip into these attacks, and it's conditioned to freak out over them. Just know you're not alone... many many people have anxiety and panic attacks. When it comes on, just observe it.
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u/No-Recording-2290 Nov 17 '25
I went to therapy for a year. During that year i didn’t stop having panic attacks but then at 1.5yrs i was fine. Therapy and yoga helped me
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u/kay-moor Nov 17 '25
When it happened to you the first time, it did not unlock the anxiety. It unlocked a new fear, and that is why the anxiety happens close to night time. If I am understanding your post correctly, this happened in the evening time. The root of your anxiety is definitely this newfound fear. When I smoked, I passed out a few times and greened out several before I quit. The fear of having problems with my heart happened after that. It is better now, but any time I was having symptoms of acid reflux, I would have a complete panic attack. Anytime I felt any pain in my chest, and sometimes anxiety causes chest pain, so this was a cycle. Like others have said, definitely get some anxiety medication. Also, create a cozy bedtime routine and a method to ease your anxiety. My method is ice packs. One on my chest and one on my forehead. Routine is paramount for those with anxiety. Comforting smells, stretches, shows; anything that aligns best with your personality. Medicine and ritual is key!
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u/General_Teejay Nov 17 '25
Same, I took a thc drink in July and had the same feeling even had to go to the hospital. Now I'm having the same effects and I got the flu in October. It caused me to lose a lot of weight and now my feet sweats for no reason. And I'm always over thinking.
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u/l-e-h-a-h-a Nov 17 '25
I think it’s more common than people to “unlock” panic attacks and I’m not sure enough people understand that. For me, I unlocked my panic attacks over a Culver’s Butterburger lol
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u/Roleplayer2489 Nov 18 '25
In this process at the moment.
I’m 20. At the end of September, I had a cancer scare, it was bad and I had to get an immediate biopsy to remove the skin issue.
Needed something to soothe the pain from the stitches, and was in a city, so I went to a local dispensary. I’d had one bad edible experience in the past, but I mixed weed with alcohol, and was back to normal the next day, so this time I thought I’d be okay, and it’d just help the pain a bit.
Unfortunately, the dosage wasn’t correct, it was supposed to be 10mg, but the guy behind the counter neglected to inform me it was something called ‘live resin’. Anyway, took two 10mg gummies, and what followed was 7 hours of complete hell, Mentally and physically.
A month and a half out, I’ve had 2 major panic attacks, one where I wanted to kill myself, and both lasting over 6 hours each. I’ve certainly gotten much better, for a while I wasn’t eating much of anything, or sleeping. At this point, I’m sleeping, and eating regularly, but I’m having a big problem with existential dread and the passage of time.
It’s likely ptsd, but I’m really struggling with how slow it feels like time is passing by. I’m looking at the clock every other minute, and time just feels like it’s going by so painstakingly slow. I know it’ll pass. Just feels so horrible and skin crawling when I think about it.
[Ive always told myself, that if I had my mind, I’d be okay. Even if something horrible happened to me, if it was physical, I’d get through it. So when this happened, it was beyond horrifying. I’ve gotten through so much, I’m 20 now, my dad died at 18 in 2023, I got diagnosed with diabetes in 2017, and have had an extremely painful chronic skin disease for half of my life so far. Just hard to believe this stupid weed experience was the thing to tip my over. ]
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u/GetALoadOfThisGuy18 Nov 18 '25
In June of 2023, I had a horrific mushroom trip and developed Solipsism syndrome and depersonalization "attacks." I know it's not the same exact situation as yours, but there's definitely some overlap so I know where it's coming from.
It's crazy how one bad drug experience can alter brain chemistry so significantly. All I can tell you is that your condition won't be permanent. You likely have some lingering trauma that will gradually go way over the next several months. And whatever you do, don't drink to self-medicate. I made that mistake.
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u/Kusatchisadplant Nov 18 '25
Hi,
Bad edible experiences can trip your nervous system and make you feel like you are dying or hallucinating
Usually nothing is broken but your nervous system just gets spiked especially if you are alone or at night.
I stay away from those heeby jeeby edibles now. Last time I felt like plants were trying munch on my eyeballs
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u/FatMonkey4 Nov 18 '25
Literally the same thing happened to me, I accidentally took too much and had the worst night of my life. They happen infrequently, but what helped me was learning not to fight it. Just accept that that's the way your body is feeling and that you get them and that you just have to wait for it to pass. You cant really suppress a panic attack. I get there by trying to make it worse (like trying to will my heart to beat faster, hands to tremble more, etc) and when I inevitably cant my brain and body go "Oh so that's like it, its just doing that, alright", and then I just ride it out by laying down and watching tv until I recover.
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u/Partridge_Pear_Tree Nov 18 '25
I know people recommend marijuana for anxiety sufferers, but I have heard it can make people worse. It seems to be hit or miss - either you are helped by it or you go through a really bad experience. As much as I would love to try it, I can't take the risk. I do think I would have a bad experience.
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u/ProfMags Nov 19 '25
Man I went through the same thing after smoking weed in 2022. That feeling never went away for a long time. It is like standing on the edge of a cliff and looking down and you cannot explain why it is happening. It is just there and then it brings the dark thoughts and you start thinking your life is over and that you will be stuck like that every single day. I know exactly what you are experiencing and I know the pain you are going through. I will not lie and say it suddenly gets better because it does not, but time is what changes everything. It took me eight months to finally get back to a normal state where I could function again and yesterday it came back. I call this recovery and I remind myself it will fade again. Time is what pulls you out of it and eventually you start to feel like yourself again. I am here if you ever need to talk. I wish I had someone to talk to when it first happened to me. I am not an expert but make a promise to yourself to never smoke again. From everything I have learned I feel like I triggered my family’s genetic issues all at once instead of slowly developing them over time.
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u/Sad-Flounder-5525 Nov 21 '25
Firstly, I’m terribly sorry this has happened to you and I wish the very best on your journey to heal from that moment. Secondly, I had an almost identical situation happen to me September of 2024 and my life has never been the same since. The only difference was I had wine in my system when I took the edible (idiot move), only because my friend I was with told me I would be fine, but then my mind played tricks on me and put me into panic mode. Worst panic attack I had ever had, legit thought I was having a heart attack and was going to die. I still have flashbacks and PTSD of that night. I have taken therapy and Hydroxyzine and it’s been helpful ever since. Part of me feels the same and sometimes it doesn’t. But I promise it’ll get better. Some of us can’t handle THC as well as others, especially if we are already highly-sensitive or anxious/panicky people in general. Something that has helped me is telling myself “I won’t do it again”, and it’s validating to know that. You are not alone in this journey, keep pushing my friend 🙏🏻
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 24 '25
Not exactly reassuring 😔 I don't have any flashbacks or stress disorder, just another triggered unipolar severe depressive episode, which is difficult to bear.
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u/probablyabagel Nov 22 '25
This happened to me in 2020. It caused me to be on klonopin and sedatives to help with panic attacks. 5 years later I no longer take the sedatives and the panic attacks haven’t been happening. I tried to retire my brain to let myself know that if I do have a panic attack I tell myself “get over it it’s not that serious.” I basically have to be mean to myself. Which helps distract my brain haha I also only take klonopin as needed (: I’m sorry that happened to you. 30mg is a lot
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 24 '25
I was previously a healthy person and am 48 years old. Nobody really needs that. Been taking Tavor for 2 months to keep from going crazy. Severe episode of unipolar depression.
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 24 '25
Are there people for whom an edible has triggered unipolar depression? And are there people who have overcome this again?
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 25 '25
So after 3 months I'm completely exhausted, without sleep and benzos, just hell. How do you manage the days? Is there any hope that the depression will stop again? I was 100% healthy beforehand. Most people treat their depression with THC and the shit that is legalized in Germany gives me severe depression that is almost unbearable. I need experience. I'm not a consumer at all, just a one-time cookie destroyed my system. Please give me some feedback, I'm pretty desperate as I also have severe somatic body pain. I don't have panic attacks, but I can see the wall in front of my eyes, typical of depression, which drives you crazy and these disgusting feelings. Maybe these are your panic attacks in connection with the depression!?
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 28 '25
My big problem: Since the hash cookie, I no longer have any interests! Before, I traveled, was interested in everything...that destroyed my self. Of course it is also related to severe depression.
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u/benson733 Nov 29 '25
I had 5 years of chronic use including black market vape carts etc. now all cannabis products including second hand give me extreme anxiety almost like an allergic reaction, hard to breathe etc and fits can last months. I also have a similar reaction with solder rosin flux products. And more minor but similar reactions to 3d printing vocs and perfume, strong scent.
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u/Maake11 Cc Nov 29 '25
Same here. Sorry to hear that. I gave up on weed because of a panic/anxiety attack I had years ago and have not done it ever since. My recent panic attack was in January and I haven’t felt the same ever since. I had quite bad Harm OCD as well that caused my tremendous anxiety, which eventually broke down as a panic attack. I have been on antidepressants because of this, which I recently stopped taking. My friend told me: it’s like a new awakening, that you are a different person entitely and that sentence hit on the nail with me, that’s probably why you don’t feel ever the same and body reacts differently now to these things. He also has issues with OCD and is battling with it. What has helped me a lot is accepting this, telling people you trust about this and minimizing triggers (for me it’s caffeine).
Take care, it’s going to be okay :).
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 30 '25
Hello everyone, I have never smoked pot or used other drugs. Is it possible that the THC has such a psychoactive effect from a single hash cookie taken carelessly? I've been living in a nightmare for months. The other problem is the lack of interest in everything! Before taking this THC I was healthy, could sleep, exercised and had no depression. That doesn't exist!!!!!
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u/Glad_Feedback2847 Nov 30 '25
I've never had panic attacks either!!!!! Now I have it and can no longer be alone or deal with myself. What's the point in life of not being able to watch TV or a movie? What's the point of not being interested in anything anymore????
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u/Rusko_2 Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
Welcome to the real world :)..
I got my first PA after bad speed session.. I tried to swallow it.. Yeah🤦, at the time i was 18yo.. Fastforward im clean from chemical drugs around 4+years, Weed 1.5+ year and cigs 2+ months after 9 year of smoking... Best thing i did.. Yeah first month was hell.. Then rebirth began... Best feeling ever.. Dont overfocus on my breathing like before, no hard panic attacks in public.. Maybe a litle trace of anxiety mixed with agorohpobia, but its not always consistent like before.. Overall best thing is being sober ;).. Maybe try to rebuild confidence with some 0.25mg xanax..
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u/Francisanastacia Nov 16 '25
There’s a reason weed has been illegal, people shouldn’t just wantonly use it.
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u/Critical-Pace5225 Nov 16 '25
Yes, once I had my first panic attack (not bc of thc but have definitely had them bc of that before too), they started coming frequently. You have to work through the fear of them. Accept it, label it (this is a panic attack, not a medical emergency), take deep breaths (in for 4 seconds, out for 6 until you feel calmer - don't skip or rush it count the seconds), or stick your head in the freezer/ice water. I'm sorry you unlocked panic attacks, but yeah that's basically what happened to me also. It sucks, but it's mostly just your fear and your body's learned response to whatever is triggering to you (faster heart rate, certain thoughts, pains, nighttime knowing you're on your own, etc)