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How To Deal with Cannabis Induced Panic Attacks

Cannabis can be incredibly relaxing, but for some people it can cause anxiety. Here's how to deal with cannabis induced panic attacks.

By Madeline ZenkPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Most of the time, cannabis can offer one of the most relaxing experiences. But not everyone is going to have the same experience or have the same brain chemistry. Cannabis and drugs in general can affect the brain differently, depending on an individual's body. Sometimes there can be instances where we feel anxious on cannabis and overthink situations or environments we're in. When you're having cannabis induced panic attacks, try these methods.

Breathe

Before you call an ambulance, just try to relax and take a few deep breaths. Feeling like you're about to have a heart attack is never a pleasant feeling. Taking deep breaths slows down your body and can drop your heart rate down to a more reasonable tempo. Sit down, close your eyes, and take four deep, slow breaths. Try this and see if your heart rate slows down and feel more centered during cannabis induced panic attacks.

Talk to a Friend

Take the time to talk to a friend and tell them about how you feel. Perhaps they can make you laugh, feel better, or at the very least, comfort you. They will either understand how you feel, suffering from anxiety attacks or they won't, which can be a good thing also. Sometimes a sober opinion might make more sense when you're having cannabis induced panic attacks.

Give It Time

Just keep reminding yourself that it doesn't last forever. Smoking marijuana can last a few hours and even though edibles, which can last up to 10 hours feel like they last forever, just remember that it will eventually be over. If you're having cannabis induced panic attacks, you'll just have to wait it out and try to enjoy the ride as much as possible.

Distract Yourself

When you're having cannabis induced panic attacks, it's easy to get inside your head and overthink every situation. The best thing to do is to just get your mind off it by distracting yourself. Try watching a movie or listen to music and let your mind wander. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself in a more relaxed state and might even forget that you're high.

Try to Sleep or Lie Down

When all else fails, try going to sleep or lie down. This will slow down your heart rate and relax the body. Just close your eyes and drift away. After having cannabis induced panic attacks, taking a nap is probably one of the greatest things you could do.

Change Your Environment

Environments play a huge factor with cannabis. If you're in an uncomfortable environment, it'll cause you to tense up and speed up the heart, causing anxiety and panic attacks. Be sure to surround yourself with people you feel comfortable around or in a setting where you feel safe when having cannabis induced panic attacks.

Listen to Music

Music and cannabis go hand-in-hand. Listening to some relaxing music can set the tone of your experience. Soft music without any big variations in pitch or bass can be better for the nervous system and calm down the body. When you're having cannabis induced panic attacks, music can be your best friend.

Take a Shower

If you suffer from anxiety, taking a shower or a bath is one of the most relaxing things you could do, especially when dealing with cannabis induced panic attacks. Turn up the heat and soak in the hot water, which can relieve stiff muscles and raise your oxytocin levels, easing stress and anxiety.

Eat Some Food

Everyone knows about "the munchies." But if you're having cannabis induced panic attacks, eating some food could both distract you from your anxiety and satisfy your munchie appetite. But try eating some yogurt or oatmeal which could both lower your blood sugar and relieve stress. Yogurt also contains probiotics which have been said to reduce brain activity in areas that handle emotions like stress.

Drink Water

Cannabis can dehydrate the body and dry out your mouth. Try drinking some water or hot tea to calm you down. All of the organs in our bodies need water to function properly. Dehydration can cause cortisol levels to rise, which is a stress hormone. If you're having cannabis induced panic attacks, drinking some water or hot tea can only help revitalize your body.

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About the Creator

Madeline Zenk

Certified nutritionist. Yoga teacher and meditation guru. Proud mother of twins.

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