Story Do NOT use THC if you're severely mentally-ill.

[ILiveAlone]

For reference, I have anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder with traits of a borderline personality (if not full blown BPD, but I haven't seen a psychiatrist in a while, so I don't know), and PTSD. Also, I have really, really weird compulsions. I don't know if it's indicative of anything, but I'm obsessed with order and making sure everything is aligned (y'know, like, aligning bottles and stuff).

Also, I'm not a psychiatrist, so I can't speak for everybody. THC may work for you. I'm just speaking from personal experience.

I ingested a 10mg THC gummy about 24 hours ago. I've been experimenting with drugs (Benadryl/THC) and alcohol for a bit over the course of years, doing it once every couple of months.
- I've stopped using Benadryl because I don't think it's safe to get high off of on a consistent basis. I was ingesting 30 pills at a time. Granted, I was very suicidal at the time, so I'd only do it as an act of attempting. Now that I'm no longer in that mindset, I have no urge to do it anymore. Regardless, it made me paranoid.
- I don't like alcohol because it has a bad taste, but it's the only thing that doesn't make me paranoid. Also, personally, no matter how much I drink, I don't get drunk for long. Only 15-30 minutes. Then I'm just stumbling around because my body feels heavy, but I don't feel buzzed.
- I've tried smoking it, but it's hard. Also, I have asthma. But when I smoked it, I felt...good. But same thing as alcohol, it didn't last long. After that, I switched over to edibles and the first two times, I was giggling at first, but then I quickly got paranoid and thought the high would never end. However, I thought that was because I was a beginner and I needed more exposure/experience.

So, yesterday, I took a gummy and I told myself that I'd remain calm as I let it hit.
I experienced such vivid hallucinations--I don't even think that's common with THC, right? For reference, I've hallucinated throughout my life, but it was rare and they weren't super vivid (seeing things out of the corner of my eye, hearing my name, feeling a presence behind me, feeling that presence shake me, etc.) They have become more prominent as I've progressed in my mental decline, but still rare. Until yesterday.

I saw a woman crouched over hugging her knees turn her head to look at me. I heard whistling coming from the hallway of my apartment building. I'd be on my phone and in the unfocused view behind my phone, I'd see a mirror. I felt my shadow grow and hover over me. I tried to lay down and, I have a bag of chips on my table, I heard the chips crunch, like, someone was balling them up.

I tried to sleep, and I did for a couple of hours, and when I woke up, I wasn't hallucinating anymore, but I was still extremely on edge. I was sensitive to any noise that was made--like I'd jump at anything. I thought my phone was responding to my thoughts--like I thought my phone was showing me things on purpose to scare me.

I think I'm still a little on edge, but I've definitely calmed down a lot from my high. Regardless, it's been a very intense experience and I don't know if I'll be using THC again. I read CBD might be better.
It's not all bad though. I've been on a health and wellness journey. I think I just need to find something else, something that's not mind-altering, to take my mind off of things. I've been drawing, dieting, exercising, and performing haircare/skincare on a consistent basis. Also, I've been going out (to the mall, thrifting, watching movies, etc.) and having fun! I'd just thought I'd give gummies a try again.

I just wanted to share because I wanted to know if:
1. Was my experience normal?
2. Has anyone else with similar mental health issues had a similar experience using THC?

 

[telekon]

I become instantly delusional when I smoke, but I kind of like it.

I was happier back when I used to be in psychosis.

 

[meowmrrpmeowmeow]

were they from a dispensary or what

i had a similar experience but its absolutely not normal i stopped bc i didnt want to become schizophrenic u probably should stop too
id feel like people were following me whenever id leave my house for several weeks after

just find something else

 

[ihateittoo]

weed is what got me through highschool. going through most of high school unmedicated bipolar i used a lot of weed to help both calm me down, or help me feel better during any depressive episodes. i can go through a 2g cart in maybe a week. been a smoker since 9th grade, with some minor periods of breaks(mostly the 2 times my parents caught me).

it reacts different to everyone and while I have never hallucinated from weed its not ENTIRELY uncommon(as in it is a documented phenomenon, most people wont experience it). i would advise no longer taking any thc products

 

[strangulation]

I just wanted to share because I wanted to know if:
1. Was my experience normal?
2. Has anyone else with similar mental health issues had a similar experience using THC?

i dont think what u described is normal, i wouldn't recommend you keep using it. if you're prone to hallucinations already it'll just make it worse

i sometimes have weird experiences depending on the strain it is, i've noticed with sativa it'll look like my walls are growing or i'm in a stop motion movie but no full on hallucinations. i've been smoking for years and have a good high most of the time.
THC can def amplify anxiety though so if it's really bad i just don't smoke that day

 

[ILiveAlone]

were they from a dispensary or what

i had a similar experience but its absolutely not normal i stopped bc i didnt want to become schizophrenic u probably should stop too
id feel like people were following me whenever id leave my house for several weeks after

just find something else

I got them from a friend, who got them from another friend (neither wanted them, however I don't think they were passing them off because they thought they were bad), but they look like they're from a dispensary.

 

[meowmrrpmeowmeow]

I got them from a friend, who got them from another friend (neither wanted them, however I don't think they were passing them off because they thought they were bad), but they look like they're from a dispensary.

k thanks
if you are younger you are more prone to psychotic symptoms
if psychotic symptoms dont run in your family id just wait a few years before trying again
doing things that make you psychotic is pretty bad

 

[heywey]

10mg is a LOT for a beginner. I have a pretty high tolerance and a 10mg edible can still catch me off guard and send me spiraling for hours. Hallucinations like you describe OP aren't common but not unheard of either, especially with how you kinda jumped into the deep end there.

If you're still getting a feel for weed, avoid edibles, stick to smoking or vaping even if it's less comfortable (and tasty) -- you have way more control over how much you're having, and it fades fast enough that a bad trip will be over before it gets overwhelming. And go very slow, keep quantities small, have both distractions and calm quiet available. Advice for psychedelics like set and setting and all that apply here too.

I get not wanting to take the risk, but weed is generally pretty safe as long as you're keeping quantities low and infrequent, especially if you don't have experience with it.

 

[illvoid]

Sends me into psychosis. It never did in the past, but I had to quit because I became completely delusional last time I smoked and started telling my friends and family that I knew when I was going to die. I believed I knew when they would die as well, but didn't say that part. It was fucking terrifying. Avoid weed at all costs if you're schizophrenic or have any history of psychosis.

 

[whywere]

Never tried it, never will, not for me.

If it works for others, great, just not me.

Walter

 

[aceHardlight]

Yeah, I stay far away from it. THC gives me extreme episodes of paranoia and panic attacks. I actually wish I had never tried it.

 

[sadgirl1997]

I believe my mental health is very similar to yours and I have had pretty much the exact same reaction to edibles.
Hope you feel better and stay safe!
To my understanding it's the dopamine. You're getting super high levels which is causing those symptoms.

 

[trying ungracefully]

I'm lucky I think. I'm bipolar and have been through psychosis but weed doesn't really affect me. I've had a couple episodes since being diagnosed but they were very minor and linked to stressful events in my life. Even when I get extremely high I'm just enjoying it.

I've been smoking for 5 years and was diagnosed 3 years ago.

 

[JeyJeyOfJeypore]

That girl that crouched over and looked at you in your vision is the same one from the Shining.

Youre lucky. All i feel is sleepy and concerned for my gag reflex when i do it

 

[never mind me]

I think your reaction sounds like a very normal THC overdose. You explained you had only used weed (smoking or edibles) a few times previously. So you have no tolerance. 10mg in an edible is a huge amount. I use weed regularly (normally smoking or vaping) since 2009 and when I took cannabis oil with 2,5mg THC last week I felt it was way too much for me. For a good effect I need 1 to 1,5mg THC when using edibles. And that is after smoking/vaping almost daily or daily (even if I usually use small amounts) for 17 years!
The hallucinations you had are probably an effect from the overdose, too. Although hallucinations are not super common when consuming THC, they are possible, especially when mixing with other drugs or consuming large amounts. I don't necessarily think that your mental state is the reason for your bad experience, but rather the large amount you consumed. I think anyone with little tolerance who eats 10mg THC could have a similar experience. That being said, your mental state can influence your experience. For example in earlier years when I was still a bit paranoid about my parents maybe trying to force contact with me I could regularly "hear" my parents' voices in the house where I lived after smoking weed.
If you want to consume THC again, try vaping. It is a lot easier to get the right dose and not as harmful as smoking. I also have the feeling that I am less prone to overdose myself vaping rather than smoking a pipe. As the effect sets in much later edibles are a lot more risky with regard to overdosing. If you still want to do edibles again, try to use really small amounts and wait at least 2 to 3 hours before increasing the dose.

 

[LittleJem]

I had cannabis psychosis for years, and believed in it. It took many mental hospital stays and treatments to get me out of the psychosis. I was escaping suicidal ideation, so the psychosis was hmmmmm bettter that the depression, but it cost me money, friends, and my life. I don't have a medication that works on me though, so I understand why I did it. I just really believed in alll the stuff my brain told me when I was high. It was hard for everyone else to watch. It was on whole bags of cannabis gummies. They are definitely hallucinatory.

I think I am autistic, but diagnosis is bipolar. The THC can calm autism, but can also bring psychosis.

 

[aceHardlight]

I've had my first panic attack on THC. This would've never happened without it. Once you have had a panic attack, the body responds different to anxiety.

I've had great experiences with everything else though, amphetamines, psychedelics, opioids, benzodiazepines etc.

Just weed was a catastrophe.
I just wish I'd never tried it.