How to avoid panic attacks from contact with weed

[clerksfan]

I have only smoked weed once, and have been scared to death of weed ever since from experiencing a terrible trip. Since then, I was once in a room full of people smoking pot, and I experienced the same thing just from being surrounded by the smoke. I do not, and never have, been constant friends with pot smokers. This was in the beginning of high school, and it was at a couple big parties. since those couple times, I have no longer put myself in those situations and with those people. The problem is, later this month I will be attending a concert to see a band I have always wanted to see, but their fans are typically heavily associated with drugs, so I am sure there will be a ton throughout the concert. Is there anything I can do to block the smoke from entering my system? Like breathing through my sweatshirt sleeve when i smell it or something to that effect? I am nervous that I will experience another freakout like in the past (which I NEVER want to have again obviously) from smelling and being around the stuff. Any ideas? Thanks!

[starleigh91]

I go through the same thing.. it has me in a panic for hours.. I question whether or not people are putting stuff in my foods drinks ect... And no one I know understands it.. I feel so alone most of the time I avoid going out and living cause what if I freak out... If I smell it I feel high and when I would smoke I would black out so it scares me to death and I just get told I'm being "stupid"  "it's all in my head" "I'm crazy" and so on. As for concerts it depends on where you are cause I was able to do concerts without smelling weed

[Paxiled]

It's not the weed coming through the vents, folks.  It's because you have an anxiety disorder.  Many people when stoned turn deeply inward, and if there's an anxiety problem lurking there it will be intensified because you're stoned.  If the scent is giving you panic attacks it's because once you develop an anxiety disorder if you get in situations similar to those that triggered panic before you might go back to feeling as you did then.  The solution, if there is one for you, is to get into therapy and see if you can beat the problem, and if it's so disruptive to your life you aren't functioning well at all you might seek out medication.  But the problem is the anxiety disorder, not smelling pot.  It can also happen just by getting dizzy to some folks.  

[Thounamewhoshallnotbemention]

Correction**** I have to turn off my A/C unit  not to smell the pot

[Liasurggemz]

Yes I am the same way! And now that pot is legal in the state of California I am looking to rent a house my nighbor also smokes pot and it goes through the vents I recently bought a indoor AC which cost $500 bucks just so I won't use the central AC I can't even go anywhere at times due to heavy pot use I feel trapped and it sucks. My husband thinks it's all in my head but it's not I get anixtey and freak out.

[Paxiled]

It isn't the second-hand smoke that's triggering your anxiety, it isn't strong enough a high.  More likely is you associating  it with your experience of anxiety triggered by smoking pot, which is what anxiety sufferers do -- they expect to get anxious, and so they do.

[Thounamewhoshallnotbemention]

It has nothing to do this a bad experience. I've never smoked pot and found myself being rushed to the emergency room. I was told I was havingva panic attack but couldn't figure out why. Well my neighbors used drugs and it was coming through the vents and I couldn't smell it unless I went outside then returned inside. So yes it can trigger it and not because of experience. That's like saying you're allergic to cats because of a bad experience. I have to turn off my A/C unit to smell the pot.

[plaguedwanxiety]

I couldn't smoke it due to my anxiety. After I was on Paxil a few weeks, I can smoke it.
It removed all anxiety from anything.

[plaguedwanxiety]

You have anxiety and the weed is the trigger. The second hand smoke will only trigger it if you're thinking about it. Like how you are, worried about the future. "I am nervous that I will experience another freakout like in the past "
You need to address this illness with your doctor.