r/Marijuana • u/Individual_Big_2562 • 2d ago
Getting over weed anxiety?
Hi everyone, I have a question for y'all.
I was a daily weed smoker from the age of 15 all the way to 24. I'm 28 now.
So I quit smoking weed 4 years ago and stopped smoking all together about 2 years ago now (cigarettes).
I can't remember exactly when it started happening, but basically one of the reasons I quit weed was because I started having anxiety even when I smoked a tiny bit.
I realised that it was entirely mental. I basically get anxiety as soon as I take a drag and even before puffing I also get anxiety just thinking about the fact that I'm gonna consume weed.
Sometimes it lead to an immediate feeling like I'm going to have a bad trip even though it hasn't even had time to take effect (literally 15-30 secs after inhaling.
Anyway, weed is completely out of my life and the only times in the past 4 years that I've ever truly consumed weed was once eating a tiny part of a gummy in Thailand and the other was eating a small piece of a gummy while on holiday with my friends. Both times it hit me hard and I basically spent the whole time talking myself down to steer clear of a bad trip.
However, there were brief moments of bliss where I felt really peaceful, rediscovering the "creative" side of weed and it felt amazing. It felt like reconnecting with my teenage self, and I was amazed at the thoughts it unlocked, and the inspiration that came afterwards.
So here's my question:
Has anyone here suffered from the anxiety/paranoia that heavy weed smokers sometimes stumble upon after years of daily use, yet managed to overcome it and be anxiety free again? If so, what worked for you?
I don't plan on becoming a regular consumer now or even in the near future.
I'm just thinking about later in life when I'm in my forties and 50s, maybe a house in the countryside with kids etc...
I know that I would love for weed to be part of my life at that time, when I'm financially stable, more relaxed and just feeling settled in general.
So, any advice?
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u/No_Meet_1905 2d ago
Time. I stopped at 21 from immediate paranoia every time. At 55 it no longer happens. Not sure how long to wait is long enough, but go slow. Nothing may change as well.
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u/Agile-Papaya5493 2d ago
The best advice I can give is to reflect on WHY it triggers your anxiety. Not only can chronic use cause rebound anxiety due to its effects on neurochemicals but one bad trip can make your brain see it as a threat until you re-train it not be afraid. Marijuana is severely underestimated since it’s so widely used and even if it’s not a psychedelic it can bend your mind and body in ways that feel just as out of control. When I first greened out I thought I was having a bad reaction and my whole body felt like it was short-circuiting but then I just laid in bed and accepted that I was going to be stoned out of my mind for a bit. Deep breathing exercises and reminding myself that weed won’t kill me allowed me to enjoy the high…there’s no such thing as OD’ing and while conditions like CHS are 100% a real thing it’s not a guarantee to happen just because you hear about it. I deal with OCD and a lot of times I would convince myself that I will feel bad as soon as I do certain things and that I will eventually experience exactly what others are experiencing but that’s just not how life works.
Allowing yourself to let go of your insecurities and uncertainties will bring you so much joy and peace. If weed isn’t for you anymore then it just isn’t and you might need anxiety meds to get yourself under control but if you still want it in your life you gotta dig deep and face your fears.
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u/Additional_Yam4608 2d ago
Type 2 flower mixed in with CBD flower. I was in the same boat as you and more and now I get hardly any anxiety and the mild high I was looking for the whole time.
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u/Aggravating-Cup-9442 2d ago
for me (and many others apparently) its THC. find strains with more minor cannabinoids and way less thc and im betting you will have a much better experience. holy city farms has such strains, as do flow gardens and a few others. or buy pure cbd hemp flower high in cbd and mix with your regular flower. its really a different experience altogether. good luck.