I already go frequently to therapy and take SSRIs (for over 10 years now). I guess they kinda help as antidepressants, but anxiety wise I haven’t had any luck if it’s not Benzos or Weed (but weed creates money anxiety on the comedown)
Should I try to meditate? I’m thinking on reading anxiety books but am worried the usual tips (go exercise, eat healthier, sleep better, etc) won’t exactly work out since we think differently. I know they are all good advice but they are extremely hard to stick to.
Stimulants help but I get extremely anxious on the comedown after they wear out, so I decided not to try them anymore.
Non stimulants ADHD meds were not helping, but I might have not given them enough time to work.
Idk, I’m confused right now. Too much bruxism lately, muscle cramps and trouble sleeping. Gabapentin helps to sleep but I don’t take it daily, afraid I can get “addicted”. I usually skip weekends.
Look into vortioxetine, it’s not quite an SSRI but a multimodal antidepressant with a similar safety profile as SSRIs, it basically functions like an SSRI but is rather clear headed as opposed to the slight fog that traditional SSRIs induce. Generally less anxious with it than I was with sertraline.
Other aspects are, vape your weed, don’t smoke - it’s sooo much cheaper and healthier.
Cut out tobacco, and try reducing caffiene, if applicable
Thanks for the reply.
I’m already on 20mg of vortioxetine, I quite like it as an SSRI and I feel tons better after trying out Venlafaxing (effexor), Probably the worst SSRI I have ever tried.
Vape vs smoke? Will need to research more into that. I know most of the benefits, but wasn’t aware of an anxiety being worse when smoked.
Yeah I ready cut almost all nicotine out of my system, only smoke when I’m out drinking which doesn’t happen to often now. And only one cup of coffee in the morning.
Vaping your weed likely won’t make you less anxious. I get mad anxiety if I vape in public (unless I’ve had some alcohol, then I’m generally fine). But it is way more efficient and your lungs will improve a lot. I can make 7g of flower last me 2mths now. When I was smoking it, I could use 2x that in a week if I had a heavy week when smoking. It’s also a much cleaner high than smoking, you’re not getting CO and other combustion prodcts making you all foggy. I’m not going to say it’s healthy to do this, the only thing you should inhale is country air (that city air is full of pollutants), but vaping it and how my lungs have cleared makes me feel confident in saying it’s healthier than smoking it.
You’re spot on about everything you’ve said, the only bit I’d like to say is that my reasoning for the reduced anxiety is the reduced CO2 inhalation, as increased CO2 levels will generally increase anxiety.
Also my goodness I am so much more outgoing now that I vape weed as opposed to smoke; when smoking it back in the day I wanted to be atleast 100meters from people (or better yet in some woods) due to concerns about the smell etc, nowadays I will confidently walk down the street vaping, or go to social events not too worried about it, ironically my friends who still smoke are so much more anxious about going out.
I’ve only ever had someone comment on the smell when we were both in the same room.
(Also unrelated but seriously fuck my countries culture of smoking weed with tobacco)
To be clear, I ment CO, not CO2. Two very different chems.
Believe me, I’m quite aware they’re very different chemicals, just was pointing out one aspect for the reasoning regarding the reduction in anxiety might be too do with CO2. I would attribute the reduction of inhaling carbon monoxide has possibly helped reduce the amount of lightheadedness I used to get when smoking
Venlafaxine is an SNRI, it not only messes with serotonin but also norepinephrine. Made me anxious (likely because of the noradrenergic fuckery) and the withdrawal was a fucking BITCH.
My working theory for the increased anxiety from smoking Vs vaping is to do with increased inhalation of the combustion products as well as both CO and CO2; increased CO2 inhalation is known to increase anxiety (or atleast the symptoms of it).
Plus with vaping my consumption of cannabis went from 1oz a month to 1oz every 6months.
Interestingly cutting out caffiene helped massively with my anxiety, but I noticed I was unable to effectively multi task, as such I’ve switched from coffee in the morning and through the day to a single strong cup of tea, and then 1-2 cups of coffee between 3-5pm, with very little negative effect (though my coffee is half decaf and half regular)
The main bit of caffeine coming towards the end of (but not after) my meds functional period appears to be much less anxiety inducing, but still allows me to function in the evening.