Acute Stress/post Traumatic Stress From Pot

[Adam McKay]

but if you've got PTSD, you've got it for life. (Maybe now you can understand why so many of us are pushing you in the "it's not PTSD, it's brought on by drugs" direction....although I must say you are very eager to attach this label to yourself which is worrisome.) Yes, you can experience remissions in symptoms, but again, you'll always have a higher level of self care to deal with in order to ward off spikes in symptoms, and sometimes that isn't enough.

Yeah, maybe you're right. It's been a month, so maybe it is just acute stress disorder. Maybe I am being premature. I've done this before...when I was having gastric issues and feared the worst (cancer), I comforted myself with lesser diagnoses like Crohn's or gastritis. This is probably the same thing (not to diminish PTSD - I know it can be debilitating, but it's comforting in the face of schizophrenia). If this experience brought previous trauma out, though, who knows. I guess I'll have to wait and see if this improves before I assign a label to it.

 

[Wolvescry]

I have seen some research of pot being able to help with ptsd. The problem is since it is illegal for the most part it is hard to studies for the right kind of pot would be best used for ptsd. It is important to regulate it like any other medications and not abuse it. And it is a controversial medication. Buds with higher cbd levels may be more effective. Either way I think it is important to talk to your doctor about it better then anyone else. I've heard some doctors agree with benefits of cannabis and some disagree. I do not think you have provided enough information for anyone here to tell you whether you do or do not have ptsd. If you stop smoking and still feel the symptoms then that can lean you more towards ptsd. At least I think so. The only one who can tell you is your doctor.

 

[Hashi]

Maybe I am being premature. I've done this before...when I was having gastric issues and feared the worst (cancer), I comforted myself with lesser diagnoses like Crohn's or gastritis. This is probably the same thing (not to diminish PTSD - I know it can be debilitating, but it's comforting in the face of schizophrenia).

I'm afraid I think you have just diminished PTSD. I really don't think you understand what it's like. If you had PTSD or were supporting someone with it, I doubt you'd be feeling comforted that it wasn't something else.

I guess I'll have to wait and see if this improves before I assign a label to it.

Assigning labels to things yourself isn't helping you. You can't self-diagnose disorders like this. It's for a qualified professional to diagnose. For one thing, there's more to a diagnosis than looking at a list of symptoms on the internet. For another, it needs objectivity - which none of us are going to have when it comes to ourselves.

I think you're actually keeping yourself away from appropriate help by speculating and self-diagnosing. Why not see a doctor?

 

[Lotusstarr]

You can't actually get ptsd from having a drug induced panic attack. While it may have felt traumatizing to you, it does not qualify as a Trauma under the definition of trauma used to diagnose ptsd. Trauma = life threatening event (ie, violent attack, car crash, natural disaster), sexual violence, or witnessing someone elses murder or death. If you haven't experienced either one of those things, you do not have ptsd. You should really be talking to a doctor, especially if the symptoms do not subside.

 

[JarHed]

I'm afraid I think you have just diminished PTSD. I really don't think you understand what it's like. If you had PTSD or were supporting someone with it, I doubt you'd be feeling comforted that it wasn't something else.

Hey Adam

Although I don't think it was your intention, I have to agree with Hashi's post above. Do yourself a favor; don't research every symptom you have as there is so much info on the internet that it's hard to truly put your finger on what it is that's actually going on with you and you posted that you're going to see a psychiatrist which should help to allay your fears.

On the advice side I'd say stay away from illegal drugs you never know what it is that's in it. And don't be quick to get on prescription medications either as they can be just as bad. I wish you all the best and in a way I'm happy for you, as I don't think you have PTSD. As always these are just my personal opinions and should be taken as that. I'm not a doctor just a guy with PTSD.

JarHed

 

[Spiderallis]

Hang in there until your appointment tomorrow and see what the psychiatrist has to say. If there's anything to diagnose, they'll be the one to say what it is. A lot of people with other types of anxiety disorders do tend to get their first symptoms in the college years, but that might not be what's going on. To me it sounds like a bad reaction to the pot more than anything. Someone with schizophrenia usually has their first symptoms around adolescence, for the most part. I really really don't think you need to worry about that, or PTSD, just be honest with the doctor about everything so they can help you through this.

Maybe some volunteer work would help with the socializing? It'd be a double bonus, you could help a cause you care about while spending time around people with similar interests.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

(not to diminish PTSD - I know it can be debilitating, but it's comforting in the face of schizophrenia).

A lot of us have comorbid diagnoses actually.

Do yourself a favor; don't research every symptom you have as there is so much info on the internet

I honestly think that putting all your symptoms in Google and pressing 'Enter' is like a death wish.

Maybe some volunteer work would help with the socializing?

I do this. It really helps with the socializing.