What to Do if You Get Too High: 14 Ways to Calm Down

You overdid it with your drink or edible, and now everything feels way too intense.

Don’t worry. It can happen to anyone, and you’ll be okay.

Use these tried and true tips to calm down, regain control, and ride it out safely.

14 Tips to Help You Calm Down if You Get Too High

First step: don’t panic. Your Delta-9 THC experience will eventually pass.

Whether it’s your first time trying THC or you’re a seasoned consumer who miscalculated a dose, there are many ways to ease any discomfort as you ride out an overwhelming high.

Stay hydrated.

Drinking water is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to ease an overwhelming THC experience. THC can cause dry mouth, intensifying feelings of discomfort from overindulging.

Sipping on cool water or an electrolyte-rich drink like coconut water can help ground you and restore balance. Avoid sugary or caffeinated beverages; these may worsen dehydration and the attendant discomfort.

Eat something.

Eat a light, healthy snack to stabilize blood sugar and moderate the high. Foods rich in healthy fats, like nuts or avocado, and complex carbohydrates like whole-grain crackers are good choices.

Some users swear by citrus fruits like limes and lemons because the limonene terpene in these fruits may help reduce stress and counteract the effects of THC. Avoid heavy, greasy meals, which may make you feel sluggish.

Find a calm, safe space.

What you’re surrounded by has a lot to do with how you experience a high. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, retreat to a quiet, familiar space where you can relax without being overstimulated. Dim the lights, put on some soft music (or enjoy the silence if that fits your mood better), and wrap yourself in a cozy blanket.

Removing stressors like loud noises or chaotic surroundings can help you regain equilibrium. If you’re with others, let them know you need to be alone for a while. A little solitude can work wonders.

Use breathing techniques.

Deep, slow breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling your body to relax. Try the 4-7-8 method: inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, exhale for eight seconds. Repeat this cycle a few times, focusing on your breathing.

Or try box breathing: inhale for four seconds and hold your breath for four seconds, repeating the pattern for at least two minutes. These techniques reduce heart rate and prevent spiraling thoughts.

Distract yourself.

Sometimes the best way to handle being too high is to focus on something else. Engage in a low-effort, absorbing activity.

• Watch a lighthearted show or a nature documentary.
• Listen to calming music or a podcast.
• Be creative: doodle, color, or do a puzzle.
• Play a video game—so long as screens don’t make your high even more intense.

What you want to do is keep your mind busy with something that is pleasant and undemanding. Overthinking will only increase discomfort. Distraction is your ally, especially if it’s your first time trying THC.

Talk to a trusted friend.

When you’re feeling uneasy, chatting with someone you trust can be very reassuring. The conversation of a calm, sober friend reminds you that the experience is only temporary. Sometimes, simply articulating your worries (“I feel way too high right now”) removes their power over you. If you’re alone, even a phone call or text exchange can help.

Use CBD.

CBD often counteracts some of the more intense effects of THC, like paranoia and rapid heart rate. If you have CBD on hand, consume a moderate dose. CBD won’t sober you up, but it can help balance the euphoric effects of THC by interacting with the same receptors that THC interacts with. The effect is calming. Many users find that even a small amount of CBD takes the edge off and makes a high more manageable.

Go for a walk.

Gentle movement can also help if you’re up to it. A short walk outdoors in a safe and familiar setting helps take your mind off things and gives you some fresh air. The rhythmic motion of walking can also help regulate your breathing and heart rate. Avoid busy streets or crowded places. You want the stroll to be a peaceful one.

Take a shower or splash yourself with cold water.

Water therapy works wonders. A warm shower relaxes tense muscles and provides a soothing sensory reset. If you’re feeling overheated or panicky, try splashing your face with cold water. The sudden temperature change triggers the dive reflex, naturally slowing your heart rate.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

When you’re too high, your nervous system is already working overtime. Adding a stimulant like caffeine or a depressant like alcohol will only throw things even more off-kilter.

Caffeine may exacerbate uneasiness and jitters. Alcohol may intensify the effects of cannabis. Moreover, mixing substances makes it harder to figure out how you really feel. Your goal is to stabilize, not add more variables to the equation.

Stick to water, a hydrating sports drink, or herbal tea. Chamomile tea or peppermint tea are great choices.

Try black peppercorns.

Here’s an old-school trick: chew or sniff a few black peppercorns. Terpenes in pepper (particularly beta-caryophyllene) may help counteract THC-induced stress by interacting with the endocannabinoid system. There’s no scientific proof yet, but since it’s harmless, it’s worth a try if you’re feeling panicky.

Keep a peppercorn in your mouth for a minute or simply inhale the scent. The sharp, spicy aroma can also serve as a grounding sensory distraction.

Lie down or sit comfortably.

Because fighting the high often makes it feel worse, instead, surrender to it: get horizontal. Lie down in a comfortable position, prop up your head if you need to, and let your body relax. Focus on releasing tension in your muscles, starting with your toes and progressing to your forehead.

If lying flat seems like too much, try sitting cross-legged or reclining with a pillow under your knees. The point is not to sleep (unless you want to), but to let your body process the THC without resistance. Slow, steady breathing enhances the calming effect.

Remind yourself that it’s temporary.

THC typically peaks within two or three hours, after which the intensity starts to fade. Stress thrives on thinking the worst, like “What if I’m stuck like this?” But you’re not. Cannabinoids do gradually leave your system.

Repeating a simple phrase like “I’m just high and this is temporary” can keep panic at bay. Some people find it helpful to set a timer for 30 to 60 minutes. When it goes off, they often realize that the worst is over.

Sleep it off.

If all else fails, let your body reset with sleep. If you’re somewhere safe, just let it happen. Close your eyes and drift off. Keep a glass of water and a light snack by your bedside in case you wake up feeling disoriented.

As you sleep, your liver will metabolize the THC, so that you’ll probably wake up feeling more clear-headed.

How long does a THC high last?

How long a high lasts depends on the THC dosage you consumed and on your body weight, metabolism, tolerance for THC, and method of consumption. Understanding these factors helps you plan your experience and avoid overdoing it.

Individual differences mean that although one person may feel sober after four hours or so, perhaps thanks to a fast metabolism, someone else, with more body fat, may still feel the effects eight hours later. The fact that THC is stored in fat cells helps explain the slower processing in the latter case.

Your tolerance for THC also matters. A regular user may need higher doses in order to feel the same effects enjoyed by a new user. But the bodies of regular users may also clear THC faster.

Whether you consume THC drinks or THC edibles will also affect the timeline.

THC Drinks

THC drinks have a much faster onset than THC edibles, especially drinks using nano-emulsification technology (like all drinks offered by Crescent Canna). That faster onset is about 15 minutes. Factors like carbonation, which speeds absorption, and whether you drink on an empty stomach also influence how quickly you feel the effects.

The duration is also shorter. At two to four hours, the effects of THC drinks don’t last anywhere near as long as those of traditional THC edibles.

A Crescent 9 THC Seltzer high will peak around one to two hours and taper off within four hours, making these drinks ideal for social situations.

THC Edibles

THC edibles take longer to kick in than THC drinks, about 30 minutes to two hours. And the effects of edibles last much longer, about six to 12 hours, depending on dosage and metabolism.

Because they’re processed by the liver into the relatively potent metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC, the high produced by edibles is often stronger and longer than the high produced by other THC products.

If you’re a first-time user, be careful; delayed onset may trick you into consuming too much accidentally. Start with a low dose (of 5 mg) and wait at least two hours before ingesting anything more. Heavy or fatty meals can further delay the absorption of a Delta-9 gummy. To have a better idea of when to expect the onset, keep in mind what you have eaten on that day.

11 Signs You May Be Too High

Even if you are using THC responsibly, the effects may feel stronger than expected. Recognizing the signs that you’ve overdone it helps you take appropriate action as soon as possible.

Everyone reacts differently, but some common signs you’ve overindulged include:

• Impaired coordination. Feeling clumsier than usual.
• A racing mind that won’t slow down.
• Red eyes, caused by the fact that more blood is flowing through dilated blood vessels.
• Confusion or disorientation. Trouble following conversations or performing tasks.
• Warped perception of time. Minutes may feel like hours.
• Difficulty thinking. Mental fog or scattered thoughts.
• Fatigue or lethargy. An overwhelming urge to lie down.

None of these sensations are dangerous. And they’ll soon fade as your body processes the THC.

8 Ways to Avoid Getting Too High

Even the most experienced user of cannabis may occasionally overdo it. But with the right approach, you can enjoy THC’s effects without overindulging. Know your limits, choose the right products, and set yourself up for a smooth experience.

• Start low, go slow. This is the golden rule. Especially when you are using edibles or new products, start with a small dose of 5 mg of THC and wait for at least two hours before considering whether to consume more.
• Use products with a ratio of CBD to THC. CBD can balance the intensity of THC. So use a blend like Ginger Lemonade Seltzer, which has 5 mg of THC for every 4 mg of CBD.
• Choose drinks over edibles. The effects of Delta-9 drinks hit faster than edibles and fade more quickly, making dosing easier to manage.
• Find the right dosage for you. Keep notes on how different cannabis edibles affect you. Everyone’s ideal dose is different.
• Check product labels. To avoid accidental overconsumption, learn how to read the labels on the packaging to verify the amount of THC per serving.
• Remain in a comfortable environment. Being somewhere familiar, safe, and relaxing reduces stress.
• Don’t consume THC on an empty stomach. By slowing down absorption of THC, eating a light meal first prevents sudden and intense highs.

Frequently Asked Questions

For how long am I going to be too high?

In the case of drinks, most THC-induced discomfort peaks within one to two hours; in the case of edibles, within two to four hours, with effects gradually fading over four to six hours. Stronger edibles may cause residual effects for eight or more hours. But the feeling of being overwhelmed by a high typically subsides more quickly. To make the experience as brief as possible, stay hydrated and relaxed.

What’s the difference between being normally or pleasantly high and being too high?

A pleasant high enhances mood, relaxation, and creativity. When you’re too high, you are overwhelmed by such effects as stress and confusion. Low tolerance for THC or a too-high dosage are common culprits.

Is it possible to feel high the next morning?

Yes, you may feel the effects of THC the next morning, especially in the case of high-dose edibles. The lingering byproducts of THC may cause grogginess or mild euphoria. Hydrate, eat well, and rest. The effects will fade as your body fully metabolizes the compounds.

Do certain foods help if I get too high?

If you are feeling too high, light snacks like nuts, fruit, and toast can help stabilize your blood sugar. Citrus, peppercorns, or CBD-infused foods may also ease discomfort. Avoid heavy, fatty meals, which can prolong the digestion of THC.

Takeaways

• If you get too high, stay calm, remembering that the effects of THC are temporary. Hydrate, rest, and use deep breathing or CBD to ease discomfort and help ground yourself.
• How long the effects of THC last varies. Edibles last a long time, four to eight hours or longer; drinks last two to four hours.
• Avoid consuming too much THC by starting with low doses of just 5 mg, waiting before consuming more, and choosing products that contain CBD as well as THC.
• Edibles require extra caution. Their delayed onset of 30 minutes to two hours makes it easy to use too much. Always wait at least two hours before considering more.
• Being in a safe, comfortable space reduces stress.
• Avoid mixing THC products with alcohol or caffeine.
• Natural remedies like chewing black peppercorns, sniffing citrus, or taking a warm shower may ease anxiety.
• Listen to your body. To find the perfect dose, pay attention to how different products, doses, and formats affect you.