I'm a 15 year old girl diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress and acute anxiety/panic attacks, minor depression and minor insomnia induced by stress and drugs. I was wondering if I'm a one-off to get this sort of reaction to marijuana after only having it in a real large dose once a month for two years. I know that this disorder is common, but I feel so alone and like a freak that this could  happen to me on such a soft drug. 

I am a 27 year old male. About 2 years ago, I was at a point in my life where I was working a lot of hours and getting very little rest. One night, I was at a friend's house and we decided to smoke some marijuana. I hadn't smoked in almost 3 years. I had a terrible reaction to it and ended up in the emergency room with what I can only describe as panic/anxiety/paranoia. It was very traumatic and I was very scared. Several days later, the panic subsided but this feeling of dissociation has persisted ever since. I feel as if I'm not really "here". I can't concentrate as well, my memory is poor, and I feel as if I'm not mentally sharp. The symptom gets worse if I exercise vigorously. Occasionally, I have mini-panic attacks but mostly its the constant (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) feeling of dissociation. 

Approximately twelve acquaintances of mine have discussed having panic attacks. Speeding heart beat, panic, going to hospital, etc.

Every single one of them had their first panic attack while consuming marijuana, including me. About half of them, including me, were heavy smokers.  Also, I saw a small TV report about a year ago where a medical doctor (psy.) says that he's encountered more and more adolescents coming to see him about anxiety disorders. The TV reports subject was about high levels of THC in Canadian cannabis plants. He seemed to state that there was a link. I am not a doctor, I am an engineer and am absolutely positive that there is a link between THC levels in cannabis and panic attacks. Ever since my first panic attack, I have completely stopped smoking pot! Most of the many acquaintances that I know that also smoked pot have also stooped.

The amount of people I know who also now have panic attacks is astounding. There should be a lot more studies on this matter. A person who has had panic attacks is the only one who knows how scary and devastating an attack is!!! 

I first experienced panic when I was 17 after having marijuana. It was so extreme, panic doesn't seem strong enough. More like absolute terror. I am now forty and in recent years depression has also been a problem for me. I have tried most of the anti depressants but I just can't seem to tolerate them, even at a very small dose like a quarter of a tablet. They make me feel more anxious and susceptible to panic. I know I get quite apprehensive about taking them but I feel that it is more than psychological. I have been in a support group and never known anyone else to have such weird reactions to drugs. In recent years I have found even antibiotics make me feel more depressed and anxious. I don't experience full blown panic very often but when I do it seems to be extreme. To say to myself "don't worry it is only a panic attack" seems ludicrous.