If you're currently feeling on edge from weed, remember that THC is not deadly, and the discomfort will pass soon. Try to relax and distract yourself—deep breathing, listening to calming music, or watching something comforting can help. Setting a timer on your phone can remind you that the effects are temporary, and you'll feel better soon. Focus on staying calm and know that this feeling won't last forever.
Your brain's chemistry can change over time due to various factors like stress, trauma, or even natural aging. Weed, particularly strains high in THC, interacts with your brain's endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating mood, stress, and anxiety. If your brain chemistry has shifted, THC might start to amplify anxious feelings rather than calm them.
Over time, your sensitivity to THC might increase. This can happen if you've taken a break from smoking and then returned to it or if your body has simply become more sensitive to its effects. Higher sensitivity can lead to a heightened heart rate, altered perception of time, and a sense of losing control—all of which can trigger panic attacks.
Weed can exacerbate underlying anxiety disorders, especially if you are predisposed to anxiety or have a history of panic attacks. The psychoactive effects of THC can intensify feelings of anxiety, making a mild worry spiral into a full-blown panic attack.
Your mindset and environment when using weed—known as "set and setting"—can significantly impact your experience. If you're already feeling stressed, anxious, or in an uncomfortable environment, weed can amplify these feelings and tip you into a panic attack.
Social settings can significantly impact your experience with weed, especially if you're not comfortable with the people around you. Since weed is often enjoyed in groups, being in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable social environment can heighten anxiety and make you feel more socially anxious. Remember that you're the only one hyper analysing your actions. Worried you've been too quiet? You're not. Worried you said something stupid? You didn't.
Not all weed is created equal. Some strains are more likely to induce anxiety, particularly those with high THC and low CBD content. CBD is known to have calming effects that can counteract some of the anxiety-inducing properties of THC. If you're consuming a strain that's high in THC and low in CBD, this might explain why you're experiencing panic attacks.
Weed affects your body as well as your mind. It can increase your heart rate and cause changes in blood pressure, leading to physical sensations that can mimic the symptoms of a panic attack, such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, or dizziness. These physical changes can trigger a panic response, especially if you're already feeling on edge.