Oh great, I have anxiety...

[Nailhead]

For a long time I've had minor heart palpitations from time to time, usually pretty rare, but it seems in the past few months I've been getting them more and more frequent. Now I get them on a constant basis and I was just reading the symptoms of anxiety and I have just about every single one...

Ok, well at least I know I don't need to see a heart doctor, but I would like some tips on how to avoid this. I did recently stop using marijuana, not a choice, I just ran out and I'm dead broke. I'm sure that is a good reason why I've noticed an increase in these anxiety symptoms, but I'm guessing it is primarily caused by the stress I've been going through, (mostly financial problems). I'm sure if I didn't have these financial problems I wouldn't have anxiety, but unless anybody is going to help me out by sending me a couple grand I'll need to find another way to resolve this problem.

Should I, in general, avoid marijuana? I don't know much about marijuana effects on anxiety, but I did read that indica strains are supposed to be better, but I wasn't sure if it was just not as bad as using sativas. Are there strains that relieve anxiety symptoms? Also, are there other ways to self treat myself with anxiety?

I really don't want to go the medication route, so I hope I can get some good advice on how to relieve these symptoms without having to see a doctor...because then I would have to pay a co-pay...and as I said, money is the main reason for my anxiety, so seeing a doctor itself would just contribute to the problem lol (but mostly I just have a general distrust with prescription drugs).

Thanks in advance

Nailhead Reviewed by Nailhead on 07-02-2007. Oh great, I have anxiety... For a long time I've had minor heart palpitations from time to time, usually pretty rare, but it seems in the past few months I've been getting them more and more frequent. Now I get them on a constant basis and I was just reading the symptoms of anxiety and I have just about every single one... Ok, well at least I know I don't need to see a heart doctor, but I would like some tips on how to avoid this. I did recently stop using marijuana, not a choice, I just ran out and I'm dead broke. Rating: 5

[Jah420]

Yeah I wouldn't really advocate pharmaceuticals.. although tranqs do work for some people they come with an impressive list of side effects including addiction and suicidal tendencies.. oh.. and heart palpitations.

I would be tempted to suggest weed but it sounds like it won't be solving anything if it could be behind your financial problems in the first place.. maybe you could carry on smoking if you find a way to tweak your tolerance, depends how much self control you have. If you can cut back on smoking to weekends only or just one day a week, your tolerance will be lower, your spending will be lower and your high will be higher. Even if you don't agree with that surely it's preferable to pills.

Keep us updated on your thoughts :thumbsup:

[birdgirl73]

For the anxiety in general, get some exercise. And make sure you're breathing correctly and deeply. In slowly through your nose until your lungs are fully expanded, then out slowly through your mouth. Do that 10 times and you'll notice a difference in your anxiety. Do it reguarly throughout the day, and it'll really help. The exercise makes a tremendous difference, too.

For the anxiety-related heart palpitations, which are very common and are called PSVTs (paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia), try this. When you feel your heart flutter, exhale forcibly through your lungs, but keep your mouth tightly closed and pinch your nose, too, so the air can't actually get out. As you exhale, you'll bear down like you're straining to cough or have a bowel movement. This is called the Valsalva Maneuver, and it nearly always gets rid of those types of palpitations. You only have to do it once when you feel the palpitations, not repeatedly.

Other anti-palpitation techniques include rubbing the neck just below the angle of your jaw to stimulate the carotid sinus or plunging your face into ice-cold water, but those other two aren't as easy or practical as the Valsalva.

Finally, be very judicious about your use of cannabis. It can definitely aggravate anxiety, and smoked cannabis isn't good for the heart rhythm. If you can find Indica-dominant strains, you'll be less prone to anxiety than you will with sativas.

[AtomicBlaze42o]

If all else fails, buy xanex. That'll solve both problems, cause cost less than marijuana.

[Nailhead]

I would be tempted to suggest weed but it sounds like it won't be solving anything if it could be behind your financial problems in the first place

I actually just recently started smoking primarily to treat my Crohn's disease. I've lost a lot of weight and I'm still having trouble with that and weed really helps. I am sticking to indica strains and I know sativas can be bad for anxiety, but I didn't know if indicas could still cause issues, or relief. But I'm sorta forced to quit anyway now cause I just don't have the money, I might get some more this weekend because my next pay check should be decent....and seriously...it sucks when you keep loosing weight and every time you try to eat you get full after a few bites.

I'm almost thinking about getting a doctors note and taking some time off from work, stress is really bad for Crohns disease, and I'm sure my financial problems are a good reason why I've been sick these past few months, but I don't really know if taking time off would really help. Taking time off would probably be more to simply relax and keep myself from blowing up at work than anything else, I've really been on edge lately. I don't think the stress from my job is really all that stressful, and if I take time off I might just end up thinking about my money problems more often than if I'm at work doing something with my time. I dunno, I probably won't do that, but I was thinking about it a lot today....maybe it's just cause it was a sucky monday hehe

Thanks birdgirl, I have to apologize for criticizing you in a previous thread about there not being withdrawal effects of pot, I've never really gone from heavy smoking to cold turkey until now and I feel like a bit of an ass because it seems like what I'm experiencing are withdrawal effects of some sort. Specifically I remember criticizing you on the sleeping part....and here I am, staying up till 4 am when I have to get up at 9...and I wasn't like this a few weeks ago, or even before I started using marijuana. But thanks for the tips, I'll try that out next time!

[Matt the Funk]

Alright I can actually help here. I have EXTREMELY bad anxiety. Currently taking 3 meds for it, and I still have it really bad. Exercise is VERY important. Try to run for an hour everyday. Deep breathing is A GIFT. There are some deep breathing techniques that really help. If you find weed is creating more anxiety, SMOKE INDICA'S. Weed is one of the only things that relieves my anxiety. And lastly, if all else fails, xanax works very well, isn't THAT addictive, and it's relatively cheap prescription. Now i'm not saying pop it like candy, but if you are having just realy bad anxiety, or you feel lots of stress from the day, take a simple .5-1mg(depending on how big you are) and do some deep beathing. Hope this helps.

[LOC NAR on probation]

Sorry to here about your condition. I don't think time off will help either problem. I know it's hard but try not to let work control your life. The money problems can be bad but it's only money. We came with nothing we leave with nothing. I'm not trying to preach. I myself owe more than 100 thousand in credit cards and hospital bills from a heart attack about 5 years ago. Anxiety is a hard thing to deal with. I take valium, it almost does nothing for me. Xanex trips me out. My problems are backwards from yours. I gained weight when I stopped smoking cigarettes after the heart attack. However indica's help me with anxiety and keeps me from eating so much, I know strange. If you can get the extra exercise it will help. Exercise is my problem because of unstable angina. I am self employed and sometimes you work and some you don't. It's worse not working.


I grew some to help me and a cancer friend who is now dead. I only let one person see it, my nephew and he turned me in to get out of coke charges. He joined the army and will be a war vet, I now suck ass as a felon. Well it didn't make my problems better I can tell you that. Yes there are withdrawal symtems but it could be worse. Find a good herbal tea and relax after you exercise. Try not to let work get to you. Laugh when you can, it helps.

Remember some one else always has to worse. I would like to see some way we could help others here by sending them a buck or two but I suppose that would lead to scammers. I would help others before I bought a bag. Once you do without for a while it's not so bad. Like you said getting regular sleep is the worste problem.

Good luck and get well.

[birdgirl73]

Thanks birdgirl, I have to apologize for criticizing you in a previous thread about there not being withdrawal effects of pot, I've never really gone from heavy smoking to cold turkey until now and I feel like a bit of an ass because it seems like what I'm experiencing are withdrawal effects of some sort. Specifically I remember criticizing you on the sleeping part....and here I am, staying up till 4 am when I have to get up at 9...and I wasn't like this a few weeks ago, or even before I started using marijuana. But thanks for the tips, I'll try that out next time!

No problem, babe. To be honest, I didn't remember any criticism anyway. We see and hear so much flack here as mods that it has to be really major before it stands out.

Sorry you're having so much stress and financial worries. I'm sure none of that's helping your Crohn's, and stress alone can contribute in a big way to insomnia. Stress and fatigue are pretty much the number one cause of those annoying (but nearly always harmless) PSVT palpitations. Hope the Valsalva Maneuver helps with those. You take care!

[Nailhead]

Thanks for the responses, I've been wanting to exercise more anyway, to build muscle and just in general feel healthier. I know it's important for Crohns too...I just gotta stop procrastinating ha

I think I was just having a bad day yesterday, taking time off work really wouldn't do anything but start a bad habit. I'll figure something out for my finances, I know that in the worst case scenario I'd have to room up with a family member....but at least I have that option, many people don't. Ironically the reason I'm in so much debt is from helping someone else that has things off far worse than me.

I might look into xanax, but I think I'll probably just stick to getting into an exercise routine.

[Ryedog]

I have suffered from Anxiety for years, I actually stopped smoking about 8 years ago because I couldnt enjoy it anymore. I couldnt tell you if it was Indica or Sativa and I wish I new so that I could experiment more. Anyway besides the smoking you should do this, it helps if abnormal heart beats also.

Take Vitamin Supplements! This is Key! Be consistent!

1.) 2-1 Magnesium/Calcium supplement everyday (Magnesium is the key, it will calm and relax your nerves, Trust me on this, better than any medication, you still need the right ratio)
2.) B-Vitamin Complex or B50 complex 200-500% RDA should be good or a Multivitamin that has Good B12 and B6 amounts but not more that 1500% of your daily recommended allowance
3.) 1 Gram of Fish Oil Pharmacuetical Grade Daily
4.) Stay away from Coffee or drink de-caf and start drinking green tea
5.) Drink 8 Glasses of Spring or Purfied Water Daily
6.) Eat Good! Not alot of sugar or processed flour based food and Eat lots of Vegetables, Fruit, Lean Meat (Get at least 75-100 Grams of protein daily!
7.) Get 8 Hours sleep a day if possbile!
8.) Workout and do 30-45 minutes of cardo 4 times week!
9.) Pray, your creator wants a relationship with you!

It works! Hope this helps you, God Bless!