Possible Ptsd Through Bad Trip

[fearcandy64]

Hello,

This is my first post on this site.

A few years back I experienced a bad trip after having smoked cannabis, possibly laced with something else.

The following day, I experienced what I now think was a anxiety/panic attack. Because I'd never had one before, and it was following such a scary experience, I felt like I was going crazy. It lasted a good month or so (because I didn't understand it, so was continually anxious about being anxious etc.).
It did go away, but for a while I was super aware of my existence, and the concept of time passing really scared me, I couldn't watch TV because I would be thinking about life passing by.

I haven't done drugs since (and never will) but I experienced my first 'attack' in a few years while watching TV the other night. Luckily I recognised the symptoms and told my friend what was happening.
It really shook me up, and I haven't quite been the same since. I keep thinking about existing and time and all that jazz, especially when alone/falling asleep etc.

I went to the doc who said it was probably just anxiety and I will get used to it and it will go away again, but its only recently occurred to me that it may be a form of PTSD as it was a very scary experience, and like I mentioned, initiated this anxious state.

The very thought of there being a problem is enough to start up an anxiety attack, and talking to someone about it face to face can start them too.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest anything to stop me getting these anxious states/controlling them?
And maybe even diagnose if it could be PTSD?

Thank you, sorry for the paragraph (hope I've posted it in the right place!)

Tom

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Hi and welcome, I personally would say no as I don't see how this means criterion A of the diagnostic criteria although I am not a professional. I will post them here so you can see for yourself. Also you haven't mentioned, nightmares and/or flashbacks which are key defining features of PTSD - fear of sleeping and difficulty sleeping doesn't really cover this.

A: Exposure to a traumatic event. This must have involved both (a) loss of "physical integrity", or risk of serious injury or death, to self or others, and (b) a response to the event that involved intense fear, horror, or helplessness (or in children, the response must involve disorganized or agitated behavior). (The DSM-IV-TR criterion differs substantially from the previous DSM-III-R stressor criterion, which specified the traumatic event should be of a type that would cause "significant symptoms of distress in almost anyone," and that the event was "outside the range of usual human experience."

This however is not to say that anxiety isn't a serious and often debilitating issue and especially as a disorder, does not just simply go away or you get used to it. I'm saying this to be dismissive of your situation, only (as I'm sure many others here will say) that you can't get the right help if you don't know what you've got. I would recommend either revisiting your doctor and explaining further the issue or requesting to see a psychiatrist who may be able to help you further and prescribe medication if necessary.

I also wanted to say the few times I've been in hospital on a psychiatric ward, a large part of the inpatients were there because of drug or alcohol related issues including psychosis, so I think it is right that you are concerned about this and I think you should seek help even if it's "just" anxiety.

 

[Deleted member 20280]

Firstly welcome here as all are :-)

What you describe is only too well known to me. I have had a smoked cannabis. That was many years ago and I discovered that the Joint roller had laced it with PCP. The experience that followed was terrifying.

Luckily I do not trigger about this as I realised very soon what would take me back mentally and I was able to avoid that memory all the time.

As for anyone here diagnosing that is not possible. We are primarily sufferers (diagnosed and undiagnosed) and (supporters).

You will need to see you GP or family DR depending on what country you are in.

I would suggest researching therapists in your state/county to try and get a diagnosis.

Kindest regards and well done for breaking the ice here, You will receive masses of help and friendship here.

Laurie 71

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Oops! I forgot that as well, no one here will diagnose you with anything PTSD or otherwise, even if we were trained, simply because it would be unethical as we haven't met you. I do think all or at least most of us would recommend you see someone for that but we can give advice and listen to you. :)

 

[Deleted member 20280]

I do think all or at least most of us would recommend you see someone for that but we can give advice and listen to you

We are a friendly close knit community here and there will always be someone here to listen with a non-judgemental ear.

 

[Dee Morris]

I recommend you see a psychiatrist but I'm thinking PTSD is quite a leap based on what you describe. Anxiety is only a small part of PTSD symptoms. A psychiatrist can diagnose and treat the problem appropriately.

 

[EvenStrongerNow]

PTSD cannot be gotten from drug experiences according to the criterion, but I agree with others, it would be a good idea to see someone who is qualified to assess you.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Please seek out professional help. PTSD is one of those diagnosis' that can't be diagnosed as the result of drug use. Actually, there are quite a few disorders that exclude diagnosing someone who's symptoms showed up solely as a result of drug use. That's not to say you aren't suffering, rather it can't be PTSD unless you had a criterion A trauma in your past and it was the drug use that triggered symptoms.

 

[StarChild]

Welcome to the forum @fearcandy64. The same or a similar topic has already been discussed in another thread. I'll put in the link to that discussion: https://www.myptsd.com/threads/lsd-1-bad-trip-changed-everything.8353/#post-612571

You might have a look at it. Good luck on your journey!

 

[fearcandy64]

Some really useful and interesting information, thank you! And also for the fast responses.

I'm comforted in the fact it may not be PTSD, but not knowing what else it could be is scary in itself.

I will contact the psychologist I visited and give him the full story.

 

[TheShawn]

I don’t think people should be saying it’s not possible to be diagnosed with PTSD after having a bad trip. The perception of “loss of ‘physical integrity’, or risk of serious injury or death” is very real and very traumatic to someone having a bad trip. Criterion H also does not necessary negate it. It states, “Disturbance is not due to medication, substance use, or other illness.” Consider these two hypothetical situations:

1. A person presents with symptoms of PTSD, but has narcotics in the body or recently used narcotics. PTSD would not be diagnosed.

2. A person presents with symptoms of PTSD and narcotics have not been in the body for several years. The diagnosis of PTSD is a possibility because the disturbance is not due to substance use at that point; it is due to a traumatic event that just happened to involve a narcotic.

It doesn’t make sense to say a current disturbance is due to substance use when a person hasn’t used a substance for several years. I understand that a bad trip is quite different from a real experience, but it really isn’t very different for the person who has a bad trip.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

@TheShawn,
Please read the diagnostic criteria. It excludes diagnosis as the result of drug use. That is, using drugs cannot cause PTSD as outlined in the DSM itself. You can argue symptoms until the cows come home but that won't change a thing.This is why you shouldn't self diagnose. Regardless, there is no criterion A trauma so your point is moot. You can have every symptom of PTSD but without a criterion A trauma, you won't get labeled with the disorder.

A bad trip is NOT a criterion A trauma. You can't argue around that point.