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Can Smoking Weed Cause Anxiety

Cannabis Addiction: What Does It Mean

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Cannabis can be a tough opponent to beat. The addiction that the drug brings is not comparable to heroin or cocaine addiction for several key reasons. Firstly, cannabis itself does not contain any addictive qualities. Often, cannabis addiction is linked to a behavioral or mental disorder for which it is being used as a coping mechanism, whether the user realizes it or not. For example, an individual living with bipolar disorder might develop an addiction to cannabis through repeatedly using it to feel calmer, more balanced, or simply better. This can get even more complicated when you consider that cannabis cannot only heighten pre-existing conditions rather than alleviating them, but in some cases can even bring out, or awaken, a mental concern that an individual never knew they had.

Cannabis addiction, or extended cannabis use, can potentially lead to something known as cannabis-induced anxiety disorder. If this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone.

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How Much Thc Will Start Triggering Bad Effects

Science actually has an answer to this question, at least according to a 2017 study. A group of 42 participants was divided into two groups. The low-dose group received a 7.5-milligram capsule of THC, whereas the moderate-dose group received a 12.5-milligram capsule.

Participants were then given 10 minutes to prepare for a mock job interview, after which they were made to go through a five-minute interview where they werent given feedback of any kind.

The final test was for the participants to count backward from a five-digit number by subtracting 13. They were required to do this for five minutes.

Participants who received the lower dose reported feeling less stressed. Meanwhile, those who took the moderate dose experienced greater negative mood before and during the aforementioned tasks.

So if youre a beginner, consider starting with a dose at the lower end of the spectrum . This may even be just a few puffs from a joint!

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What Do You Need To Know

Some individuals use cannabis recreationally to have fun, relax, or unwind. Others are simply addicted to cannabis and need it in order to function properly around their friends and family, at school, and even in their careers.

If you or someone you love is addicted to cannabis, what do you need to know? Firstly, you need to know that you are not alone. And secondly, we want you to know that Alta Mira Recovery understands the seriousness of your addiction, and our team will be fully dedicated to helping you become the absolute best version of you, without a need for cannabis.

Cannabis is most commonly found in three popular formsmarijuana, hash, and hash oil. These drugs can be smoked, eaten, or even incorporated into health and beauty products. There are so many avenues for cannabis addiction or a cannabis-induced disorder to occur that while this drug is commonly thought of as less dangerous than many other drugs, much of its potential harm lies in how readily available it is. It is this availability, in part, that makes it almost too easy to develop a dependence on cannabis that sneaks up on you. You might be thinking to yourself, What makes cannabis such a popular drug? The answer is quite simpleTetrahydrocannabinol.

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The Link Between Marijuana And Depression

The statistics we have available from marijuana users about their mental states may have more to do with self-medication than cause and effect. As an example, some research suggests that marijuana smokers are diagnosed with depression more often than nonsmokers are particularly regular or heavy marijuana users. Its important to acknowledge that these statistics do not necessarily indicate that marijuana directly causes depression.

There are most likely genetic, environmental, and socio factors that initiate depression and marijuana use. Many marijuana users start using it as a way to cope with depressive feelings and, resultantly, are categorized as individuals with depression who use marijuana.

Another interesting perspective is that frequent marijuana users may seem depressed because of the drugs effects. Marijuana has a dulling effect on the body, impacting how the individual feels and acts. Marijuana affects every user differently some people may get lethargic with low energy, while others may be giggly and energetic. An individual with low energy may appear depressed, but it could solely be the drugs effect on the body.

Does Cannabis Cause Mental Illness

Marijuana and Anxiety

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia, with one in three adults using it at some point in their life. Its legal in some places around the world, and offered medicinally in others. But what does smoking pot do to your mental health?

The potential harms associated with using cannabis depend on two things above all others.

The first is the age at which you first begin to use cannabis, particularly if its before 18. Using cannabis during key stages of brain development can impact on synaptic pruning and the development of white matter .

The second is the patterns of use: the frequency, dose and duration, particularly if youre using at least weekly. The bigger or more potent the dose, the more tetrahydrocannabinol you are ingesting. THC is the main psychoactive component of cannabis and appears to act on areas of our brain involved in the regulation of our emotional experiences.

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How To Handle A Panic Attack Safely

In a May 2018 article for Forbes, comedian Chris Allport was frank about what happened after he called 911 while having a panic attack caused by cannabis use. The dispatcher advised him to remember that it will pass and to drink water and breathe. Allport said the panic attack passed eventually.

Most people who call 911 because of an adverse reaction to cannabis report feelings of panic. The NHS says it is important to confront your fears head-on during a panic attack because it is the only way to learn that you will not be harmed.

It can help to have a friend support you through a panic attack. If you see someone else going through a panic attack, reassure them that they will be OK.

Medical News Today outlines a few additional tips:

  • Visit a doctor if this is the first panic attack.
  • Breathe from the stomach while slowly allowing the lungs to fill.
  • Use medication if it has been prescribed.
  • Breathe lavender scents unless you have taken a benzodiazepine recently.
  • Go to a calm place or corner. This can reduce the stress that causes a panic attack.
  • Identify the things that set off panic attacks and aim to avoid them.

Generally, 911 will not classify a panic attack as an emergency, but if you call them, they will oblige your request for an ambulance if you feel you need it. Though panic attacks are not dangerous, they are unpleasant. Having them frequently may also signify that you have panic disorder and need additional help.

Disorders Associated With Pot

Substance use disorder is when a drug can affect your mental health and cause you to have symptoms like anxiety, depression, or hallucinations. For substance use disorder, you can refer to the diagnostic and statistical manual for a better understanding of how marijuana use can affect you.

If you dont have an addiction or can control how much weed you smoke then quitting shouldnt be too difficult for you.

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What To Do When You Know You’re Panicking

The key thing to remember is that a panic attack can’t hurt you. Contrary to what some of the above symptoms may suggest, you’re likely not suffering a heart attack or obstructed airway.

There’s also zero chance you’ve “overdosed” on weed. Remind yourself that this condition is not lasting but temporary. In due course, it will all be over.

The experience “usually doesn’t last that long,” Vandrey says, perhaps “half hour or an hour, depending on how the cannabis was ingested â shorter if inhaled, longer if eaten.”

“It all depends on the individual,” he adds. “None of it is applicable to everybody.

How Can I Get Help If Cannabis Is Affecting My Health

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Can I see my GP?

Speak to your GP if cannabis use is affecting your physical or mental health. Be honest with your GP about your cannabis use and symptoms. Your GP may not offer you the right support if they dont know the full picture.

Your GP might:

  • offer you treatment at the practice, or
  • refer you to your local drug service.

You can find local drug treatment support by clicking on the following link: www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you

What can my local drug service do?

The service can offer counselling, support groups and advice. They can help you to:

  • reduce your cannabis use,
  • reduce the affect that cannabis has on your life, and
  • support you to not start using again.

The service may be provided through the NHS or through charity. You may be able to self-refer to this type of service. If you cant self-refer speak to your GP or health professional.

Should I be referred to a specialist mental health service?

Your GP should refer you to a specialist mental health service if they think you have psychosis.32 The service could be the Community Mental Health Team or an Early Intervention Psychosis service. Both psychosis and schizophrenia can be treated using antipsychotic medication and talking treatments.

Find out more about:

Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007 and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

Can I be excluded from services?

You shouldnt be excluded from:

Can I see a therapist?

  • you misuse drugs, and

Can I get further support?

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Anxiety Disorders And Marijuana Use

The relationship between substance abuse and mental health concerns is strong. There is often significant overlap between the two because people who have underlying anxiety conditions may use substances as a form of self-medication.

An analysis by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found that 20.2 million American adults have a substance use disorder, and more than a third also have a concurrent mental health disorder.

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  • Cannabis may help some people calm anxiety, but that doesn’t mean it’s a safe or effective treatment.
  • Weed can also contribute to anxiety symptoms, as well as other health risks and side effects.
  • Research is limited, so it’s important to check with your doctor before using weed for anxiety.
  • This story is part of Insider’s guide on Anxiety.

Research is scarce about how cannabis can affect anxiety symptoms like irritability, muscle tension, and excessive worrying. For some people, it may even increase anxiety.

Here’s what experts know so far about how chemicals in cannabis affect the brain and why that may help, or enhance anxiety.

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This Is Why Weed Makes Some People Anxious

As a type A persona generous understatementI used to have high hopes that weed could give me that elusive experience known as chilling out. But each of the five times that I tried it in high school and college, it did nothing. Then, when I was 24, a friend and I took a walk through San Francisco and saw a huge cloud of smoke rising from Golden Gate Park. Thats when we realized wed arrived at around 4:20 on 4/20. Eager to take advantage of the coincidence, I bought a weed-laced Rice Krispies Treat from a guy in the park and downed a third of it. What followed was one of the most stressful afternoons of my life.

As my brain seemed to become progressively slower and more ineffective over the course of the next hour, I worried I wouldnt remember how to get home. What if I walked in front of a car and died? Then, I got a text from a colleague who needed me to share a Google doc with her. I panicked as I realized that simple task eluded me. I spent ten minutes trying to figure it out, convinced shed somehow know why I was taking so long and think less of my adulting abilities.

Weed similarly has given Alaina Leary, a 24-year-old editor in Boston, a flood of worries like: Does my girlfriend actually love me? Is what I just said really stupid and are my friends going to abandon me now? What if we split up while walking and I get lost forever?

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Is This Different Than Normal Anxiety If So How

Can Quitting Smoking Weed Cause Anxiety

The answer to this question is both yes and no. While anxiety can manifest in different ways- increased heart rate, sweaty palms, racing thoughts- anxiety does not feel distinctly different when it is experienced as a result of marijuana. The root cause is simply different. For example, for some, anxiety only became a problem after they started smoking marijuana. Others have always experienced anxiety and their marijuana use simply exacerbated and intensified these feelings.

Anxiety is typically described as feelings of nervousness or worry about a specific incident. This can lead to overthinking and even physiological responses in the body. Those who experience anxiety after using marijuana may feel lightheaded, dizzy, tenseness in their body, racing thoughts, sweaty palms, accelerated heartbeat, and more. However, when anxiety occurs after using marijuana, there is no âspecific incidentâ at the root of the anxiety.

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Ready To Get Help Beaches Recovery Is Here

If youre ready to stop worrying about whether youre going to experience a weed panic attack, Beaches Recovery is here to help. We understand that it can be hard to ask for help when it comes to marijuana addiction, especially since some people dont believe that you can be addicted to weed. Nothing could be further from the truth. Weed addiction is real and can cause you to suffer. You do not need to be using another substance to seek treatment for weed addiction.

At Beaches Recovery, we offer a number of addiction treatment services, including:

  • Residential drug rehab program
  • Fresh start DUI program
  • Dual diagnosis treatment

No matter what your current circumstance, you deserve to be free from panic attacks and other negative symptoms associated with marijuana use. If youre ready to seek weed panic attack treatment in Jacksonville, FL, Beaches Recovery is here and waiting for your call. When you decide that its time to learn more about treatment, call us at to speak with one of our caring counselors about treatment options. We understand that its hard to reach out for help, but theres no pressure when you call. Well talk with you about your choices when it comes to treatment, and its up to you to decide whether its a good fit for your life right now. Recovery is possible, you just need to take the first step and reach out.

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