Anxiety Disorders - Marijuana and Panic Attacks

Marijuana can cause you to have panic attacks. And if you already suffer from panic or anxiety attacks, taking marijuana will make them worse. This is because marijuana affects the way we see the world. It induces paranoia, and this paranoia, although felt at different degrees by different people is what will lead to the attacks. To get a better understanding, let's have a more in-depth look at the relationship between marijuana and panic attacks.

The main ingredient in marijuana is known as tetrahydrocannabinols or THC. This ingredient will act on specific receptors that are used for memory, reward, cognition, pain perception and motor co-ordination. Under the influence of marijuana, all these receptors become especially sensitive. Everything is heightened or sharpened. That's why many users will report that the lights looked brighter; voices were crisp, clear and loud, and everything around them seemed that much more defined.

This enhancement can swing the other way as well, so that feelings of fear, irritability and paranoia become heightened. Of course a lot is determined by a user's state of mind before they took the drug.

A person with an anxiety disorder (and in many cases they may not know it) taking marijuana will experience paranoia. The classic symptoms will be deep fear and thinking that they are on the verge of death. This will be accompanied by symptoms that are common to both marijuana taking and panic attacks; palpitations, sweating and difficulty breathing. The difference will be that in a normal panic attack your mental functions are not affected by THC; therefore, you may be able to regain control after a short period of time. A panic attack brought about by taking marijuana will be more intense and may take a longer time to pass.

If you use marijuana and have panic attacks, you should consider that research revealed that 50% of ALL marijuana users will experience a "bad trip" at least once. These are people who may or may not have a panic disorder, but such a high percentage should tell you that its effects for you are much worse.

For whatever reason you take it, it may not be worth all the trouble that it causes you (including with the law). Also, because a panic attack in itself causes chemical reactions in the brain that are abnormal, you may be exposing your brain to too much stress - both from the panic attacks and the marijuana. Teenagers are especially prone to these changes because their brains are still growing, and such dramatic changes in chemical balance may be recorded permanently.

I trust that you know by now the negative effects of taking marijuana. Now you know marijuana will cause panic attacks, and if you already have them they will be worse. You should stop. I acknowledge that it's easier said than done, but it's worth whatever you need to do to get clean.

Talk to a therapist. Talk to your doctor. Talk to anyone who is willing to work with you to help you kick the habit. Many people have done it and so can you.

You may be wondering; should I try all that hard if I'm not suffering a panic disorder or panic attack? Yes, you should! The more "bad trips" you have, the more you unbalance your brain. The effects are permanent, and although you may not see them now, they may come back later in life.