BACKGROUND - 5 months from present: I’m 20 years of age, quite smoking cannabis a few months ago and I believe that I have developed a form of social anxiety. All throughout me teenage years, until about a year ago I was an extrovert. Very outgoing, with lots of charisma. However, I am now the complete opposite of that following my cannabis induced panic attack. I have not felt the same since and have become extremely introspective.
After my cannabis induced panic attack, I quit cold turkey and went to the doctors because I didn’t know who I was. My brain was in a fog, I could not concentrate, my eyesight was blurry and dull almost like I was looking through a film of grey, sounds were earsplitting, I had a full prickly rash all over my body, I had tingling in the fingers and an odd sensation in my left front-upper side of my head that resembled a void/black hole. I always felt it when I smoked but it didn’t seem to bother me until my panic attack. To cope with it I usually try to occupy myself with something or else the sensation will become too overwhelming. Nevertheless, Lyme disease was ruled out, although blood tests can oftentimes come back false negative. My doctor me to take vitamin D3 everyday.
Moreover, the biggest PROBLEM is that I get these weird spasms that can materialize when I’m anxious/nervous. It has caused me to try to void my thoughts in order to block out the sensations; my brain feels as though it's trapped in a pressurized vise and my head wobbles. This has also caused me to be unable to look people in the eyes. If I do my neck will tense up and I’ll start to spasm out. I try to control my spasms by never looking up or making eye contact and resting my head on my hands. If I’m in class, I’ll distract myself by scribbling or taking notes, however if I cease doing this my symptoms will appear. If I let these symptoms continue, I’ll start to clench and sweat. Moreover, I am unable to talk long periods of time to people because my brain feels like it stops working. I’ll forget what I am saying mid sentence and an uncomfortable, overwhelming feeling will take over me. That being said it is very annoying and I want it to stop so bad! This never happened before I started smoking cannabis! I was the complete opposite of who I am today. I can’t even look at my parents in the eyes! Others have told me this is a time of transition from adolescence to adulthood and, like all transitions, is often accompanied by a degree of doubt and worry.
That being said I am not anxious or depressed if I’m in solitude/alone fishing or hiking. I continue to do the things I love to do sober, like music, hiking, fishing, and birdwatching but it seems I like to do these things in solitude. I believe that company is good but solitude is bliss, I’m just striving to be more social in the process.
Currently: Some days I’m full of energy; blissful and happy, other days I’m completely emotionless, spaced out and anxious. When I’m spaced out my social anxiety goes through the roof.
I struggled with spasms that materialized when I was anxious/nervous for another 2 and a half months. The feeling surfaced when I was at college in a class, where I just wanted to leave and hug a tree. The black hole like void sensation in my head has all but disappeared, it usually will surface when fight or flight response kicks in.
My thoughts can be intrusive, in the way that I overthink social situations to the point where I sometimes experience impending doom. I just want to cry. That’s why Im so desperately trying to find a cure. I exercise heavily 4 to 5 days a week. I also eat healthy, quinoa, chia, grains, fruit, vegetables, meat twice a week, fish 2-3 times a week.
Supplements:
Cycled Perfect Brand Rhodiola Rosea (3% rosavins) 4 days on/3days off for 4 weeks: It seemed to boost my physical performance at work, however it also increased my anxiety and intrusive, negative thoughts. I got easily agitated and angry. Others have said this was a miracle herb for their anxiety.
Gaia Ashwagandha - 1cap/2times daily: Made me extremely tried. I took it just before bedtime and although I was able to fall asleep quick I felt spaced out and groggy the next day. I also took two capsules, (recommended dosage) one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It gave me extreme brain fog, possibly because it is an GABA-recepter antagonist. I could barely concentrate. I felt slow, lethargic, and dumb, which made it hard to think.
Maca powder Nutivas - 1/2tsp. daily: Increased energy, no significant impact on anxiety, increased libido, harder/longer erections.
Nordic DHA/EPA fish oil - 1cap/2times daily: Seems to reduce inflammation. No more aching joints, no more brain fog but still no effect on anxiety. Should I also take naturewise organic flaxseed oil ALA with the fish oil or is this pointless?
Turmeric curcuma (Curcumin) - 2 tablespoons: Made into a tea, with cinnamon, cardamon, milk, peperdine, and honey. Felt like a sedative. Ridded of all aches and pains but made me groggy and more irritable.
Swanson Inositol for my OCD - 10-18g once/day: The first day I took 8g, the second day I took around 17g. My OCD and anxiety was reduced tenfold, be it I was alone and not in a college classroom but it seemed to really help! I also felt an inner peace that I only seemed to experience as a child. The only side effect was drowsiness at night and perpetual diarrhea. Recently took 12g of myo-inostiol a day ago, experienced heart palpitations, slight onset of panic/impending doom. Groggy, unable to think clearly.
Reishi 35% polysaccharides powder - 1tsp. two times/daily: Experienced tranquility with long term use, (2 weeks). Relaxing, eases intrusive thoughts and saturates colors. Have yet to try in social situations, but it definitely helps with the burden of worry.
L-theanine 200mg - 1cap/2 times daily: Defiantly psychoactive. Increased sense of calmness. Pairs great with caffeine.
Could anyone give me some input regarding supplements worth taking for anxiety and/or panic.
Experiences with these supplements would greatly be appreciated!
-Caffeine/L-theanine
-Piracetam
-Gotu Kola
-Niacinamide
-Kratom - Serious withdrawals so I’ll probably stay away from it
-Relora
-Ginseng
-Resveratrol - Use to get a lot of hype
-Magnolia Root/Bark
-5-HTP
-SAM-e
-PEA
-Phenibut - Serious withdrawals
-DL-Phenylaline
-Rhodiola Rosea
-St. John's Wort
-Manganese
-Lexapro
-Bacopa - Heard great things!
-DMAE
-1,3 dimethylamylamine
-Chocamine
-Coffee and/or Green Tea
-Kava Kava
-Valerian Root
-Inositol
-Lemon Balm
-Reishi
-DHA/EPA Omega-3
-Raw Cacao
-magnesium
-L-Tryptophan
Edited by birthdaysuit, 03 September 2015 - 11:31 PM.