Ecstasy / Question
Published: April 16, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Hi, it's now been a little more than a year since I last took Ecstasy, which back in that period I took on a regular basis for 6 months. Actually I stopped cause I realized the danger that this drug can have on your body/brain. I am not proud of what I did, and regret ever having consumed this drug. So after I quit, I started working out, eating properly, sleeping well ... But still, somehow I could feel that I wasn't exactly the same person, I mean I didn't feel like completely normal, always seeking excitement, pleasure, over time my condition got better, after many hours of sleep over months (slept 10/12 hr everyday) I now sleep a normal 8 hours without problem. So even though I regularly feel depressed, which doesn't really worry me cuz it comes back and forth and I can cope with that, hoping that over time it will disappear for good, I have sometimes at unpredictable moment, some panic crisis, which I can't control and always occur when I am in the middle of a conversation. The thing is that suddenly, I completely disconnect of what I am saying and can't think anymore, this is followed by a panic rise since I find myself in a predicament. Can u tell me if over time this will disappear, or if an irreversible change in the chemical of my brains happened and that I am condemned to recurrent loss of control and panic crisis. Thanx for your answers PS: your website is great and really well thought out.
Signed: Used X - Still Depressed & Disconnected
Dear Used X - Still Depressed & Disconnected,
Thanks for letting us know that you enjoy TeenHealthFX.
FX is glad that you have stopped taking Ecstasy. The scary thing about Ecstasy (most often the drug compound MDMA) is that it is unregulated. That means that since a scientist in a controlled laboratory did not prepare pills that you were taking, they could have contained MDMA, but maybe they had other drugs or something else in them. Therefore, it is difficult to determine not only your immediate reaction, but also short and long-term effects. Things like eating right, exercising, and getting enough rest are important, and especially for those who are trying to make themselves healthy following drug or alcohol use. There are some reports that the use of Ecstasy (even just once) can cause serious long-lasting consequences like learning problems and emotional issues.
FX recommends that you discuss these concerns not only with a mental health professional (especially someone who has expertise in drug rehabilitation), but also with a physician. A medical doctor can conduct a complete physical and possibly other diagnostic tests that may be able to determine damage that has been done to the nervous system (especially the brain and its receptors for certain chemicals called neurotransmitters that can alter your emotional state). It is possible that the causes of the problems that you have described are ill effects of past drug use, but they could also be caused by something else (like depression or an anxiety disorder). It is really important for you to seek additional advice from a physician as well as a counselor. Perhaps dealing with these symptoms now could reduce problems in the future.
If you live in northern NJ and would like to meet with a doctor at the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health call (973) 971-6475. It is very important that you are honest with anybody who is treating you regarding your past. It might even be beneficial to bring this letter with you, so you can show them the concerns that you have expressed here. Look at "What's E" and "Rolling on XTC" for additional information.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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