Panic attacks, as a result of anxiety, may be traced to one of several reasons: substance abuse. The World Health Organization defines substance abuse as ‘the harmful and hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. When a person’s addiction becomes deep, withdrawal from these chemicals can be a long and difficult process; especially that it can also cause anxiety leading to panic attacks. It is incorrect to assume that panic attacks only occur depending on the kind of drugs one consumes. Even the so-called ‘harmless’ marijuana can trigger panic attacks.
Marijuana, scientific name cannabis, is used as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. However, it is also the most widely used illicit substance in the world according to the United Nations.
Yes, it’s true that marijuana have some therapeutic abilities. It can be used as an anesthetic agent and can be prescribed for the treatment of glaucoma. It also stimulates appetite. But when it is taken as a form of recreational drug, harm and danger get in the picture. Even if each person reacts differently to drugs, it has been widely associated that the use of marijuana and the occurrence of panic attacks most often go together.
Others who have used marijuana for the first time shared that they experienced an ultimate high. A majority of users, however, immediately become sweaty. Their hearts beat irregularly fast. They also lose the ability to comprehend and reason. Significant loss of one’s ability for short-term memory retention has also been scientifically observed.
In many instances, marijuana and panic attacks are almost always related to each other. What purpose does it serve if you treat the anxiety, yet marijuana consumption continues? Panic attacks will never completely cease unless the person stops smoking marijuana. The person must totally abandon the habit and live a drug-free life. Marijuana or any illicit drugs for that matter never give anyone a better life. It always ruins lives.
For someone who has been addicted for a time, eliminating the chemical in that person’s system would be hard. He needs to be properly attended. There should be constant supervision and support. Agreeing to be admitted to a rehabilitation center is probably the best option, more so if the addiction is already severe. Seeing a psychotherapist who can guide the person to total recovery will also help a lot.
Panic attacks are not the problem per say, it’s the addiction to marijuana. Unless that person stops taking this illicit drug, panic attack will continue to occur and who knows what other problems will arise out from this addiction. If you know someone who is suffering from anxiety and the panic attacks that come with it are triggered by smoking marijuana, you need to be that friend who does not tolerate. You need to intervene before it’s too late.
