How to prevent cannabis-induced anxiety attacks

As cannabis legislation circulates and American citizens are drawn to the allure of marijuana, discussions have shifted to issues of cannabis-induced anxiety. Concerned communities are wondering if marijuana causes anxiety or helps manage anxiety. And experts have stated that it works both ways.

Marijuana-induced anxiety is often experienced by both long-time and new cannabis users. The type of cannabis used does not matter, as both recreational and medicinal cannabis have been found to trigger the condition.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

This article looks at the causes of weed anxiety, methods to combat its occurrence, and how to prevent it from occurring in new cannabis users.

Cannabis and Anxiety

These two have an intriguing connection. Researchers have conducted attempts to explain this connection. Some studies have looked at using cannabis and its compounds to develop a potential form of anxiety treatment, while other studies have focused on finding ways to develop and improve cannabinoid-based anxiolytics.

Along the same lines, some experts are also working to find out more about THC being a paranoia trigger in cannabis users. Experiments have been conducted to link marijuana to the occurrence of anxiety disorders in individuals who have no medical history of mental illness.

fear of weeds

To understand weed fear, you need to know the concept of fear itself. Anxiety triggers a range of reactions, such as increased heartbeats, inability to focus, incessant worrying, and sweating. It occurs in moments that cause a person to release their doubts and insecurities.

Fear of weed can be described by some users as an involuntary reaction of the body to cannabis. It causes psychological stress as well as physical symptoms such as tremors, fatigue, nausea, stomach upset and excessive sweating. It can go so far as to cause panic attacks in users.

Unlike brief moments of anxiety that can be wiped away with breathing exercises, weed-induced anxiety is much more complicated.

recognize weed fear

For first-time visitors, it can be difficult to tell if symptoms are anxiety-related or illness-related. Especially in those who only have physical symptoms.

It starts with the person having too many dark thoughts. These negative thoughts are very difficult to shake off. The physical symptoms follow closely, extreme weed-induced anxiety causes shortness of breath and causes the person to have difficulty moving comfortably.

RELATED: How CBD blocks the paranoia and anxiety of marijuana’s THC

People who have experienced cannabis-induced anxiety explained that they felt like they were trapped in a cage in their heads. They had distressing thoughts that seemed very loud in their heads and kept them from paying attention to their current surroundings.

Photo by PhotoAlto/Sigrid Olsson/Getty Images

Recreational cannabis smokers who have experienced this form of anxiety added that hearing any strange noises made them paranoid, with some saying occasionally having to look outside their windows for police officers. Recreational cannabis use is illegal in some states, and worrying about being caught in a crime is enough to trigger a manic episode.

Factors that can predict weed-induced anxiety

Several factors come into play when trying to determine why cannabis anxiety only affects a select number of people.

age and gender

The user’s age and gender both play a role in determining how prone a person is to weed anxiety. An older person is more likely to experience an intense form of weed anxiety compared to a younger person. This is because as the brain ages, the body ages and therefore receptor density decreases over time.

Females are more likely to suffer from weed anxiety than the male population due to the presence of estrogen, which increases their sensitivity to THC.

genetics

Certain cannabis strains are used for the creativity and tranquility they evoke in the user. The user’s genetics also play a role. Individuals who are THC sensitive in the front part of their brain rarely experience weed anxiety, while those who are THC sensitive in the back part of their brain are more prone to cannabis-induced anxiety.

TIED TOGETHER: Marijuana makes you paranoid? Study suggests your genes are to blame

Photo by qimono via Pixabay

tolerance level

The user’s tolerance level determines how well the weed fear can be managed. Women tend to develop a higher tolerance to cannabis in a shorter period of time. Frequency of use is an important factor in how well a person can develop a tolerance to cannabis.

mood

Anxious patients tend to worsen their symptoms when using cannabis during an episode. Only a few feel relief after using cannabis immediately after feeling anxious, the rest only experience more intense symptoms.

Coping with weed-induced anxiety

Experts say that the first thing to do when you are afraid of weed is to accept and fully understand what is going on. Fighting the fear without accepting it only makes the situation worse. Even in regular anxious moments, the individual is always advised to accept it first, although this is difficult to do.

RELATED: New to smoking marijuana? Expect coughing, fear and paranoia

The next thing to do if symptoms persist after a few breaths is a cold shower. The sudden rush of cold water can be enough to rouse you from this confused state. If you can’t take a cold shower, find some water to pour on your neck.

Another suggestion is to use the deflection technique. This includes something to eat or drink, go for a walk, watch a movie, or listen to soothing music. This helps keep the mind away from the stressful thoughts that are ravaging the mind.

A positive attitude also helps.

Photo by Mayara Klingner/EyeEm/Getty Images

Prevention is better than cure

It is better to prevent weed-induced anxiety than to manage the condition.

The most effective way to prevent these traumatic episodes from occurring is to use products with more CBD and less THC. This works for both beginners and experts, as the CBD compound helps to balance out the psychoactive effects of THC.

bottom line

The effects of weed-induced anxiety will wear off over time, depending on the method of ingestion and the amount consumed. Using cannabis responsibly allows you to enjoy the benefits of the drug without the risk of having traumatizing weed anxiety episodes.

Beginners, remember that only a few hits of a joint are okay for the first time. Get used to the effects of the drug before increasing your dosage.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.