What is quitting weed like

Abnormal serotonin levels can lead to nausea, for example. But this timeline, as well as particulars about the onset and duration of certain symptoms, again, differs from one person to the next. And not everyone who quits cannabis, or drastically reduces their consumption of it, experiences withdrawal. But frequency seems to be more important than potency; Lin notes that consuming weed every day, even at low doses of THC, can result in the biochemical changes that might, in turn, lead to withdrawal.

Health issues like a lack of sleep, dehydration, and poor nutrition can render you even more vulnerable to the stress of restoring normal body function, Fong notes. Your risk might increase if you smoke high-potency concentrates like wax or shatter , but again, only if you do so every day.

Quitting weed has its upsides, though. The moment you stop using it on a regular basis, your body starts reverting back to what it used be before you started smoking weed, Fong says. Maybe you decide to go cold turkey but end up smoking again. This happens to most people trying to quit. Research suggests it often takes multiple attempts to quit successfully, so take heart. Breaking habits can be challenging, but resolving to try again keeps you on the right track.

Focus not on the setback, but on the change you did make — several days without use. Then challenge yourself to increase that period of abstinence next time. Simple talk therapy can help you work on developing self-compassion and feel more supported throughout the quitting process. These resources can help you find support:. While some folks can use cannabis without issue, plenty of people deal with issues of dependence or unwanted side effects.

Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In recent years, marijuana has been legalized and touted for its medicinal purposes. But how do you know when use becomes abuse? Weed is detectable in bodily fluids for up to 30 days after last use.

For daily users, weed may be detectable for several months after last use. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Uncontrollable or overly frequent marijuana consumption may indicate abuse or…. While there are benefits to using marijuana for medical conditions, there are also some risks.

We discuss benefits, side effects, and risks of using…. People who use cannabis regularly may need up to two times more sedation if they undergo a medical procedure, a new study claims. Users were defined…. A new study found that the driving skills of frequent pot users were affected even when there was no cannabis left in their system — and the impact…. We'll offer some tips for relief, take a look at the research behind…. Why does marijuana help some people's anxiety symptoms and worsen those of others?

Cannabis is shrouded in misconceptions and myths. An estimated Others who have quit smoking report having "using dreams" in which they dream they smoke marijuana. Frequent, vivid dreams typically begin about a week after quitting and can last for about a month before tapering off. Although some former users have reported having these types of dreams years after they stopped smoking pot. Insomnia symptoms after you stop using weed can last a few days or a couple of weeks.

Some people find that they can experience occasional sleeplessness for a few months after quitting. Not everyone who stops smoking marijuana experiences headaches, but for those who do, the headaches can be very intense, especially during the first few days after quitting. Headaches, like most other symptoms of withdrawing from marijuana use, will usually begin one to three days after quitting and will peak two to six days after stopping.

Symptoms usually fade after two weeks, but some former smokers report continued symptoms for several weeks or even months later. Physical symptoms of marijuana withdrawal tend to be less intense, peak sooner, and fade more quickly than the psychological symptoms associated with quitting. The frequency and amount of marijuana used prior to stopping affect the severity and length of the withdrawals, which may include:.

Making a few healthy lifestyle changes and employing some coping strategies can help you get through this period of withdrawal:. There are no worrisome dangers in quitting marijuana cold-turkey or detoxing on your own. That said, consulting a medical professional can help you better manage the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal and prevent relapse.

Just as people with alcohol use disorder who are trying to quit drinking may pick up a drink to relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal , marijuana users may be tempted to light up a joint to relieve the discomfort they experience when they try to stop smoking pot. One study found that In many cases, the symptoms of weed withdrawal will dissipate with time and can be treated without medical attention.

However, if your symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks, you should see your doctor or mental health professional. Make sure you tell your doctor that marijuana withdrawal is playing a role in how you are feeling. If you just say you are depressed or anxious, you may be prescribed medication, like benzodiazepines , that can present its own set of dependence issues.

Fortunately, many non-addictive pharmacologic options exist for anxiety, as well as non-drug treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT. If you have decided to quit smoking weed after regular use, chances are you will experience some kind of withdrawal symptoms.

Depending on how much and how often you have been smoking, these symptoms could become intense enough to drive you to relapse to find relief. But you don't have to do it on your own. Seek help from your healthcare provider to deal with the physical symptoms of withdrawal or seek help from a support group like Marijuana Anonymous to handle the psychological symptoms. Experiencing the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal can be unpleasant and may temporarily interfere with performance at work, school, and daily life.

While withdrawing from marijuana use can present challenges, remember that what you are going through will pass. Be patient. Making life changes is always challenging, but with the right support, they can be transformative.

Arguments have existed for years on several topics concerning marijuana use: is it addictive, is it safer to use than alcohol, is it a gateway to other drugs? Hopefully the information on this website will provide for you a better understanding of marijuana and the key points in these arguments. A good place to start is to explore one of the first myths heard during the early years of prevention. For example, in the s, advertisements showed someone jumping out of a second story window after smoking marijuana.

Nothing probably happened the first or second time, and maybe nothing too horrible has happened yet, and then you begin to question what everyone has been telling you. Or, eventually things may happen but they occur to different degrees for different people. Addiction with substances such as alcohol and marijuana is slow and progressive. As with any substance initially it may feel good, and so use continues to increase and possibly become more abusive.