Hawaii Island Recovery 
Cannabis-induced anxiety can kind of feel like paddling into a sea expecting calm and relaxation, but being met with an intense and unexpected shift in the tides. The waters become choppy and the waves grow taller, and before you know it, what was meant to relax becomes deeply overwhelming.
Rather than easing tension, using cannabis can often trigger racing thoughts, panic, paranoia, and dread. Understanding the science behind it and recognizing usage patterns becomes key in stopping it. Today, Hawaii Island Recovery will walk with you as we learn more about what cannabis-induced anxiety is, why it happens, how to recognize the signs and symptoms, and what to do going forward.
Understanding Cannabis-Induced Anxiety
Of course, before anyone can improve their struggles with cannabis-induced anxiety, it’s important to better understand it. So, let’s dive in.
What Is It?
Cannabis-induced anxiety refers to anxiety, panic, or, in some cases, paranoia that occurs have using cannabis.
Instead of providing the anticipated results – relaxation or euphoria, to name a few – the experience becomes distressing. It may be accompanied by a racing heart, uneasy sense of dread, looping thoughts, or, in some folks, full-blown panic attacks.
The phenomenon is quite distinct from any baseline anxiety. For example, those with general anxiety disorder (GAD) may become triggered by any number of life factors. With cannabis-induced anxiety, the cannabis use in and of itself is the trigger, although underlying factors can overlap.
How Common Is It?
While many cannabis users use without major distress, studies find that a significant minority experience acute anxiety or panic tied to cannabis use.
For example, one study published by Cureus consisted of 1,135 emergency department patients and found that 17.3% reported anxiety as a significant complaint following cannabis exposure.
Despite being in the minority, this remains problematic, and if you’ve felt uneasy after cannabis use, it’s important to know that you’re far from alone.
Why Does it Occur?
In short, the most significant reason cannabis-induced anxiety occurs is because of how the psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), interacts with the brain.
It has the potential to interact with the brain systems that regulate fear, arousal, and threat detection. For the right person under the right condition, what could have been a float in the ocean becomes a storm.
Within the brain, THC binds to cannabinoid receptors, including, as mentioned, the fear-processing structure like the amygdala. In smaller doses and in calmer settings, this can lead to the anticipated effect – relaxation and euphoria. However, at higher doses and in less secure settings, particularly in vulnerable individuals, the same binding activates the brain’s threat circuit. This quickly pushes someone toward hyper-arousal, paranoia, and, ultimately, intense anxiety.
Additionally, external variables – such as dosage, or potency – and internal variables – like mood and trauma – can also influence how your sea reacts. When one or more of these factors shift, even the slightest shift, the experience can flip from soothing to unsettling instantly.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
Along with understanding why something’s happening, it’s imperative to understand why. Understanding why cannabis might trigger anxiety helps individuals make improved decisions, identify warning signs, and avoid the unsuspecting riptides. Let’s dive deeper into some of the major causes.
Dose and Potency
As mentioned, dose and potency can quickly influence cannabis use. How much THC is being consumed and the potency of the amount are significant risk factors for cannabis-induced anxiety.
For example, research shows that oral doses of THC greater than or equal to 10 mg in healthy subjects increased anxiety. Additionally, different strains often vary in the amount of THC. Ultimately, what felt safe in the past may not be safe if the product is stronger and the dose and potency are inconsistent.
Administration, Frequency, and Tolerance
The method of consumption is another important consideration.
Edibles, for example, typically have a delayed response, causing someone to consume more before experiencing effects. Then, the experience is a sudden, strong peak, which can lead to panic.
Additionally, vaping concentrations can have a fast onset and high potency, also spiking THC levels quickly, increasing the risk of overstimulation. Frequency and tolerance also play a role, as experienced users build tolerance to certain effects. Unfortunately, this doesn’t eliminate the risk of anxiety. On the flip side, novelty users or using a new form can increase sensitivity, also leading to distress.
Personal Vulnerabilities
An individual’s unique vulnerabilities are another thing to consider. These refer to factors that may elevate one’s risk for experiencing cannabis-induced anxiety.
Some of these factors may include:
- Having a history of anxiety disorder, panic attacks, or trauma, which primes the brain for hyper-arousal
- Being genetically or neurobiologically predisposed to experience anxiety when using cannabis
- Starting cannabis use at a young age can be extremely problematic for the developing brain
- Already experiencing symptoms of panic, stress, fatigue, dehydration, or using other substances
- Using cannabis in noisy, chaotic, or socially demanding situations and environments increases the risk of the mind interpreting internal sensations as danger
Why Relaxation May Become Elusive
Now, for individuals who’ve previously used cannabis without issues, you may wonder what’s changed. The simple answer is that the riptide has unexpectedly approached because one or more variables have changed.
Some of the include.
- Higher potency or a new route of administering cannabis
- A shift in your baseline mood or physiology
- The environment has changed and now consists of unfamiliar places, people, or more internal self-awareness
- You consume more, or faster, and cross the threshold from soothing to stressful
- Previous safe use may create false confidence, but now the margin for safety is narrower
When one or more of these variables change, nearly everything changes. It becomes nearly impossible to guarantee the same experience, and anxiety becomes a new real-world risk to use.
Recognizing the Symptoms
So, now that we know what it is and why it happens, the question remains: how do you know you’re experiencing cannabis-induced anxiety?
It’s different than just being a little too high, so let’s look at some of these symptoms.
Common Symptoms
When experiencing cannabis-induced anxiety, people report all kinds of symptoms. Of course, these vary from one person to the next. However, some of the most common include:
- Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- Sweating, trembling, shaking, tinging
- Shortness of breath or chest tightness, sometimes even struggling to breathe
- Feelings of doom and paranoia, and not knowing what’s happening to you
- Racing thoughts, mental loops, and rumination of the same worry over and over again
- Detachment or derealisation: feeling like you’re not real and you’re outside your body
- Full-blown panic attacks, typically marked by intense fear, hyperventilization, dizziness, and nausea, to name a few
Intense High vs. an Anxiety Reaction
As mentioned, there’s a difference between an intense high and an anxiety reaction.
When too high, one may feel spaced out, giggly, sleepy, and may even experience visual distortions. However, the person is usually okay with the experience. Cannabis-induced anxiety causes one to feel trapped, unsafe, and like they might lose control. They experience a weird, altered reality mixed with fear. Further, if your internal dialogue shifts into a fear of losing it, you’re no longer cruising – you’re on an intense wave.
When to Be Concerned and Seek Help
Of course, a single scary reaction may be short-lived, but there are red flags that signal it’s time to seek professional help.
Some of these signals include:
- Anxiety or panic that lasts long beyond the acute high, ranging from many hours to days
- The emergence of psychosis – hallucinations or delusions – or very intense paranoia
- Constantly using cannabis to avoid anxiety; however, use then triggers more anxiety, causing a vicious cycle
- Anxiety attacks or panic attacks occur even when you haven’t used cannabis
- Functional impairment, such as trouble sleeping, eating, working, or functioning because of cannabis use and/or anxiety
When these signs show up, adjusting your use may not be enough – it might be time to explore deeper support.
Managing Cannabis-Induced Anxiety
Having recognized the wave, you now need tools. That includes what to do in the moment and how to prevent future waves.
What to Do in the Moment
It’s important to develop a toolbox of things you can do to help the anxiety in a real-time scenario. The tools you put in your toolbox will vary, as what works for one may not work for another.
Nevertheless, if you feel anxiety from cannabis use creeping up, here are some immediate strategies to try:
- Change your environment, move to a quiet, safe space, sit or lie down, dim the lights, and play calming music.
- Try to slow your breathing, perhaps with the 4-7-8 breathing technique by inhaling slowly through your nose for a count of 4, holding for 7 seconds, and exhaling through your mouth for a count of 8.
- Hydrate and snack lightly, as dehydration or low blood sugar could potentially worsen symptoms.
- Remind yourself that the feeling is temporary, and it will pass – the narrative shift helps the brain switch off threat-mode.
- Gently distract yourself by focusing on a non-stimulating activity, like quiet reading, a mellow show, or drawing. Additionally, work to avoid intense visuals, social media scrolling, or other high-stimulus activities.
- Seek help if necessary. That includes if chest pain, difficulty breathing, or thoughts of harming yourself occur. If these do, seek medical attention.
Deciding to Use or Not
If you currently use cannabis and want to make your use safer, it may be time to make some changes.
You may even be starting to think differently about your relationship with it. In any case, there are several steps you can take to reduce potential risks. The strategies can help you make more informed choices and support your overall well-being.
For starters, when using cannabis – especially edibles or high-THC products – it’s best to start low and go slow. Start with a small dose and wait at least 90 minutes before considering more. Additionally, if possible, choose products with a balanced THC to CBD ratio, as the CBD may help counteract anxiety-producing effects of THC.
Again, always pay attention to potency and form, especially when switching methods of consumption. It’s also crucial to ensure you’re in a safe, familiar setting with people you trust. These play a significant role in shaping one’s experience. Lastly, mixing substances should be avoided. Things like alcohol, caffeine, stimulants, or other substances can amplify arousal and anxiety. Be mindful of your internal state. If you’re already anxious, tired, stressed, or dehydrated, use is not a good idea.
Usage Journal
It may also help to keep a usage journal, especially when wanting to stop. A usage journal can help you identify patterns and note details, such as dose, product type, setting, emotional state, and after-effects. If stopping isn’t the first goal, this can at least help with management.
Alongside mindful use, work on building baseline resilience to manage anxiety. That includes practicing mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or spending time in nature. Doing so will help prevent people from using cannabis as a substitute for managing stress, and can help you better manage anxiety, too.
Lastly, know your exit plan. If using cannabis begins triggering more anxiety, you may find yourself chasing a calm rather than feeling it. This might be a sign that it’s time to stop and consider seeking professional help or treatment.
When It’s Time to Seek Professional Help
So, when is it time to seek treatment? If you’re cannabis-related anxiety is recurrent, severe, or part of a broader issue, professional support is vital. Consider seeking help when you rely on cannabis to manage anxiety, but it increases your anxiety instead. Also consider if you have panic attacks outside of use, or if the anxiety interferes with day-to-day life.
Another consideration is the presence of a co-occurring disorder. If you suspect you’re also struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and a substance use disorder (SUD), treatment can help. Consider if you’ve tried to reduce or stop cannabis but can’t without distress or relapse. If so, you’re not alone. Help is available. That’s where a residential treatment program like Hawaii Island Recovery can provide trauma-informed, dual diagnosis care – including both substance use and mental health support.
Why the Relaxation Went Away
Now, you may be wondering why the relaxation went away.
So, let’s dig into how the sea becomes stormy so you can anticipate when it might.
THC’s effect on anxiety appears to follow a biphasic pattern. At lower doses or under calmer conditions, it can reduce anxiety; at higher doses or under stress, it can increase anxiety. One review published by the Journal of Translational Medicine found that acute doses of THC were associated with anxiogenic responses, whereas CBD tends to reduce anxiety. So, little may relax you, but a lot can flare.
Additionally, as briefly mentioned, factors like potency, novelty, tolerance, and setting can significantly impact whether cannabis relaxes someone. However, fear circuit activation is another consideration. Neuroimaging studies published by the Journal of Neuroscience show THC increases activity in the amygdala. The effect correlates with CB1 receptor availability in that same region. As such, the THC may trigger your brain’s internal alarm, leading to anxiety.
Why You Should Consider Support With Hawaii Island Recovery
So, why consider Hawait Island Recovery? Simple – because an integrated program can offer what self-help can’t.
If cannabis-induced anxiety is part of a pattern, especially when substance use, mental health, or trauma are involved, it may be time for additional support.
What to Know About Hawaii Island Recovery
Hawaii Island Recovery offers an integrated model of recovery. Within that model, we specialize in treating SUD and co-occurring mental health conditions. That includes individuals struggling with anxiety, PTSD, or depression, to name a few.
Key features of our program include:
- Small client-to-staff ratios: Allowing for individualized treatment tailored to each person’s unique background.
- Full continuum of care: This includes medically supervised detox, residential treatment programs, as well as outpatient and aftercare services.
- Trauma-informed care: These range from programs that utilize a number of evidence-based modalities, neurofeedback, and holistic practices.
- Holistic practices: Situated in the restorative surroundings of Hawaii’s Big Island, clients can engage with nature through meditation, nature-based interventions, cultural programming, and a calm island setting to support healing the mind, body, and spirit together in tandem.
How Can We Help With Cannabis-Induced Anxiety
Hawaii Island Recovery’s specialized approach means tailoring treatment to your needs. So, if your anxiety is tied to cannabis use and overlaps with substance use or trauma, we can help you address the root causes. Symptom management is, of course, crucial, but getting to the root considers the entire picture.
Again, consider working with us if you’ve:
- Experienced repeated episodes of anxiety or panic tied to cannabis use
- Find yourself using cannabis to manage anxiety, but it increases it instead
- Suspect you have co-occurring mental health issues, like anxiety, trauma, or depression
- Decided you’re ready for a comprehensive, immersive process to treatment
This kind of structured, holistic support can make all the difference between episodic anxiety episodes and meaningful recovery.
If you’ve experienced repeated anxiety or panic following cannabis use, or you find yourself using cannabis despite feeling more stressed than relaxed, you’re not alone, and it may be time to talk to someone who truly understands. Whether you’re exploring moderation, cessation, or just want to regain control and confidence, please reach out for help. Call Hawaii Island Recovery at (866) 390-5070 for more today.
