[Kaschperl]

Hey Guys,

i took a bit cocain about 2 month ago and i think i got a panic attack through that substance ( i thought i would die, sweated, couldnt think straight, heart beated very fast)
Since then i feel like im 24/7 high and got some existencial thoughts too, i got emotions and so on, but im kinda scared to go to places because i feel like im here but kinda not here too if you know what i mean.

Can someone tell me if that fits in that DP/DR thing? and is it even possible to get into that state doing cocaine?

Thank you for your help guys!

 

[Kaschperl]

my memory is affected too, i cant think straight or remember something i did a hour ago.
Also everything seems kinda blurry, but just a little.

 

[Midshouse]

I would certainly say so, with DP/DR drugs can trigger it and an upper like cocaine can cause a panic attack that can bring about it. What other symptoms do you have? Does using downers like alcohol or benzos reduce symptoms?

 

[Oyku]

Hello, I am new here around! and having DPDR for 6 months. Before I was always anxious without really knowing it. One day (after my mother's heart attack) I smoke weed and had terrible experiences. After a week, I start to have DPDR which could be triggered by both weed and my mother's heart attack stressed me.

 

[Kaschperl]

Hey, sorry for answering that late
@Midshouse
i havent done any drugs since then, i drank about 2 or 3 beers one night, but nothing really changed i think, or i haven‘t noticed.
my symptoms are constant feeling like in a dream, and also my vision is not that clear as it was before. (just slightly off)
its hard to remember stuff and to concentrate and i often got thoughts like „is this real?“
also i feel very disconneted from my surroundings and im getting a bit anxious when im around people or when i go shopping, etc. because of this feeling of disconnection.
so you think thats DP/DR? So the cocaine dont have done any serious damage? (thats a fear of mine that ive damaged something in my brain) also i really took a very small amount of cocaine
thanks alot for your help!!!

 

[Midshouse]

Hey, sorry for answering that late
@Midshouse
i havent done any drugs since then, i drank about 2 or 3 beers one night, but nothing really changed i think, or i haven‘t noticed.
my symptoms are constant feeling like in a dream, and also my vision is not that clear as it was before. (just slightly off)
its hard to remember stuff and to concentrate and i often got thoughts like „is this real?“
also i feel very disconneted from my surroundings and im getting a bit anxious when im around people or when i go shopping, etc. because of this feeling of disconnection.
so you think thats DP/DR? So the cocaine dont have done any serious damage? (thats a fear of mine that ive damaged something in my brain) also i really took a very small amount of cocaine
thanks alot for your help!!!

Hey Kaschperi,

So you have not done any physical damage to your brain and its very possible that you were very anxious before taking the drugs. I developed HPPD DP/DR smoking way to strong weed 8 years ago while dehydrated, while my parents were going through domestic disputes. I had the most intense panic attack of my life. Drugs that activate our nervous symptoms can generally trigger DP/DR and develop a type of obsessives compulsion and hyper vigilance and awareness of our vision and how are body operates. Feeling like your in a dream , bad memory and developing social anxiety is extremely normal. I certainly did. I almost think its as if our brains never turned off the panic from our anxiety attacks. This was 24/7 for about 3 months until I finally got on meds.

Anyhow these are all very fixable. I've found exercise, cardio eating healthy, no caffeine, no nicotine or anything stimulant helps a ton. Benzos, SSRIs basically have gotten rid of 85% of my symptoms. I was on Effexor. I went off my meds and was completely fine for about 3 months except some flair ups but then it got worse once I wasn't focused on grad school . If you have any possible trauma from childhood/ PTSD I've heard this can be a massive cause of DP/DR. I have heard Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing cure people.

I have also heard very good things from the use of anti convulsant lamotrigine and keppra.

This thing is very manageable and gets way easier to deal with as time goes by.

 

[Midshouse]

Hello, I am new here around! and having DPDR for 6 months. Before I was always anxious without really knowing it. One day (after my mother's heart attack) I smoke weed and had terrible experiences. After a week, I start to have DPDR which could be triggered by both weed and my mother's heart attack stressed me.

Hey Oyku,

This is very normal and a similar experience to what happened to me. Having intense trauma and taking psychoactive substances is just about the most common perquisite for this disease. Idk what it is about us but it seems our brains can not turn off the panic mode and this is a defense mechanism of our brain. This happened 8 years ago to me and I am 90% better than what I was the month a of my panic attack. Just know your completely physically fine and your condition wont get worse and can only get better. It is most likely temporary and with the right therapy, life changes, medication you will see a massive reduction in symptoms shortly. As I've mentioned above. Exercise, good diet, staying away from stimulants like nicotine and caffeine will help a lot. Also you will most likely want to get on a SSRI or SSRN. Most people get better from this it may not seem that way since only people who still have it hang around here. You aren't loosing your mind. This is extremely scary. But you will work it out. The worst is already over.

 

[Kaschperl]

@Midshouse Thank you very much!!! yeah i was a bit dehydrated too and wasnt that happy too when i took the drug, maybe that all played together and got me into panic attack. But i want to go on without meds, as long as i feel okay with that and i just try to accept it and going to therapy. Hope this gets better soon🙌🏼 Thank you!!!