In responsible amounts, cannabis can feel invigorating. However, there are sometimes when people overdo it, causing bouts of anxiety, paranoia, and cloudy thinking. It’s these kinds of moments when you feel stuck in a deep, scary place. Perhaps the worst part about it is, once THC has entered the system, there’s little to nothing that can be except let the effects run their course. Although it may be a highly uncomfortable experience, we’re happy to tell you that everything is going to be A-Okay.
Thankfully, there are no known cases of cannabis causing an overdose and scientifically speaking, it can’t cause death. While consuming THC in high amounts may pressure your breathing or ramp up your heart rate, it’s only temporary and won’t cause any damage to important functions in the body such as the liver, kidneys, heart, or adult brain. If anything, it might give you a bad case of the “scaries”. If you ever do get too high, you might be wondering about what you can do to better help the situation? Below, we have listed several tips for you to jot down, so you can avoid making this mistake during your next session.
How Do I know When I’m Too High?
Trust us, you’ll know. THC found in the cannabis plant is a non-toxic substance that contains certain properties that can provide therapeutic results such as anxiety relief and tranquility. Though, as we mentioned earlier, ingesting too much burb has its downsides. The negative side effects of THC, in particular, may cause you the exact opposite, especially if you’ve taken more than you would normally consume. Too much THC might cause nausea, dizziness, tremors (uncontrollable shaking), green out, or even psychosis as suggested in some studies.
No doubt, experiencing these unpleasant side effects normally associated with excessive THC consumption can be daunting. Luckily, there are a few ways you can alleviate your high when feeling uneasy or overwhelmed.
Keep Hydrated
As cannabis can cause cottonmouth, this may seem obvious but the purpose of staying hydrated is to detoxify and regulate the temperature in the body. Being dehydrated causes 80% of the heat loss in the body, which stops the transport of nutrients in our circulatory system. Drinking a cold glass of water not only gives the green light to this biological system, but it can help you relax by flushing out energy-draining toxins.
Eat Some Black Pepper
You read that right. Chewing on a few black peppercorns are able to reduce your high and give and near-immediate relief. Although distasteful, there’s a terpene called beta-caryophyllene found in black pepper that has the ability to block receptors found in our endocannabinoid system. This effectively reduces THC’s negative effects by inducing a deeply relaxing effect.
Get Physical
This might not tickle your fancy in the very moment of being too high, but we’re not telling you to run a relay race. When the body is active, endorphins get released. Often called the “feel-good” chemicals, these natural hormones are produced in the body and can do wonders when stressed or anxious. By doing activities like taking a stroll in the neighborhood, doing a DIY project or a few stretches endorphins are released in the brain.
Take a Nap, or Two
Excessive THC consumption can be extremely overwhelming and puts the body in a state of hyperactivity, making you feel extremely tired and groggy. If you feel you’ve exerted enough energy, try taking a nap and reboot your body. Not only are naps proven to help melt away stress, but they also reduce feelings of anxiety. You may wake up feeling completely refreshed — and who knows, it just might make the time go by a little faster!
Say No To Google
We’ve all been guilty of using Google in place of our health practitioner when we need an answer about our health, and fast. At times, it can be a lifesaver (literally), but if you’ve consumed too much THC, we don’t recommend performing any Google searches while on your trip. There are tons of forums of posted messages filled with stories spreading enough fear to make the boogeyman shred away in fear. That said, whatever you do try to keep away from the internet in general, as it probably won’t help the situation.
Just Breathe
The burning thought about how high you are while being high does nothing but strengthen the feeling of anxiety. When all else fails, the best thing you can do is try a few breathing exercises by taking a few deep breaths. This can be done by inhaling through your mouth and exhaling out of your nose. The purpose of doing this is to help get yourself out of panic
Take some CBD
By activating CB1 receptors, properties found in CBD can effectively minimize the effects of THC, by counteracting with its effects. In other words, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid may be used to balance out your high. Just like THC, CBD has therapeutic effects and may be able to help diminish your paranoia and bouts of anxiety caused by over consumption of THC. The best part? You can’t take too much of it.
Just Remember
Well, there you have it — these are some of the most common ways to reduce the side effects of THC over consumption. Being stoned can be fun for some, but terrifying for others — especially if you’re out in public or around people you don’t know. Of course, this all depends on how much THC you take and how you take it. But, know that one negative experience isn’t the end all be all. If you happen to ever find yourself in a situation where do you get too high, don’t let it run you away from cannabis entirely.
Reversing your high is totally possible, so in order to prevent another bad episode, make sure to carefully monitor your intake for next time by keeping these tips in mind. As a general rule of thumb, start low and slow my friend.
