Understanding The Signs and Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawals

Marijuana is one of the most abused drugs in all of America, so understanding the signs and symptoms of marijuana withdrawals is quite important. Many admit to using the drug at least once. Many Americans are regular users. They first smoked marijuana for fun, but have since started to rely on this drug to unwind at the end of the night. It’s become a habit.

There’s a common misconception that marijuana is as harmless as caffeine and other substances. Many people believe that marijuana is not addictive at all. This is not true at all. It’s a huge misconception. It’s possible for regular and heavy users to develop a dependence on this substance. 

Much like with other types of drug addictions, many people who are addicted to marijuana are in denial. They believe that they can stop at any time. When they do, their body will go into a state of panic and shock. It doesn’t know what to do with itself. These users will experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms aren’t generally life-threatening, but, in some cases, they can be very intense and uncomfortable. Many people conceive the lack of information on marijuana withdrawals with a lack of withdrawals.

“From 2012 to 2013, nearly 3 out of 10 marijuana users struggled with a marijuana use disorder.”

The best way of easing marijuana withdrawal symptoms is to seek drug addiction treatment. Rehab centers can provide free phone assessments to determine the severity of your addiction. This will give them more information on how likely you are to experience co-occurring disorders. Marijuana abuse signs can provide insight into the type of withdrawal symptoms to expect. Understanding what withdrawal symptoms are, and why they happen is crucial. All drug abusers should fully comprehend how their drug of choice affects their body. Knowledge can be motivation to stop using drugs.

Common Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawals

The physical symptoms of marijuana withdrawals are notoriously difficult to get over. Many drug addicts claim that it’s very uncomfortable. Some even claim that it’s painful and comparable to withdrawing from prescription drugs. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety, depression, and irritability
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Chills and shakiness
• Difficulties sleeping
• Headaches and fever
• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
• Profuse sweating
• Restlessness

The intensity of the signs and symptoms will differ from person to person. Some people claim that the withdrawal symptoms are too intense to bear. Others have little difficulties getting over a marijuana addiction. The intensity of the symptoms will depend on the length of the drug abuse, the amount of marijuana taken, one’s biological makeup and more. It’s difficult to gauge just how severe the withdrawal signs of marijuana abuse may be.
Marijuana use can come hand in hand with other co-occurring disorders. Some drug abusers may struggle with eating disorders or bipolar disorders, and others may struggle with panic attacks. In these cases, the psychological symptoms of marijuana withdrawals may be even more pronounced.
The only way to treat and ease the symptoms of marijuana withdrawal is to get marijuana addiction treatment. This type of treatment is offered at many recovery centers. Amethyst Recovery offers addiction treatment options for those who abuse marijuana.

[su_pullquote]How Marijuana Abuse Leads to Dependence[/su_pullquote]

Cannabis contains at least 60 types of cannabinoids. These compounds stimulate receptors in our central nervous system (CNS). THC, otherwise known tetrahydrocannabinol, is similar to anandamide. Anandamide is a chemical that’s naturally produced in our brain. This chemical regulates our mood, sleep, memory, and appetite.
This compound prevents the brain’s neurons from firing. It blocks the receptors of crucial neurochemicals. This helps to magnify our thoughts. THC chemicals have the ability to interfere with dopamine levels in our brain. This results in a sense of relaxation and euphoria. The brain slowly gets used to these sensations. It adjusts to the new neurochemical levels.
Long-term or chronic use of marijuana changes the neurochemical levels in the brain. The brain becomes accustomed to the presence of the cannabinoids. Without them, the neurochemical levels are not balanced. This is what causes the withdrawal symptoms of marijuana abuse to kick in.

Who Is Most Likely to Experience Withdrawal Symptoms?

Surprisingly, whether you will experience withdrawals or not can depend on your age. Young users are much more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder than older users. The reason behind this is mostly attributed to the fact that the brain doesn’t stop developing until a person reaches 25 or 26.
Teenagers who start smoking marijuana at a young age are more likely to get addicted. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 17% of teenagers who misuse marijuana will get addicted to it. Those who try to quit will experience marijuana withdrawal symptoms. The type of symptoms will vary from person to person.

Will Your Brain Heal from Marijuana Abuse?

It’s vital to consider whether the brain can heal from marijuana misuse. Does marijuana abuse result in permanent damage to the body?
Fortunately, marijuana abuse treatment from a drug rehab center can help the brain heal. It takes the brain anywhere from 28 to 90 days to reset itself. Marijuana detox helps ease withdrawal symptoms and cleanse the body of its metabolites. Slowly, the brain and body will begin to heal. The effects of marijuana abuse slowly disappear. Over time, drug addicts will completely forget about the fact that they used to abuse marijuana.
Abstinence will be best for the brain and body. Those who misuse marijuana again will usually find that it becomes much easier to get addicted. It’s easy for the brain to return to old habits. It remembers old patterns easily.
Marijuana users need to undergo behavioral therapy. Therapy helps to retrain the brain. It keeps abusers from returning to bad habits. Popular therapy options include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which teaches patients how to become more self-aware of their own thoughts and feelings, Motivational Interviewing (MI), which restores inner motivation to get sober, and one-on-one counseling, which can help patients work out their own feelings and thoughts about marijuana addiction and abuse. Each patient will benefit from a different type of therapy or counseling. It all depends on the person’s needs and preferences. 

Marijuana Abuse or Misuse Can Lead to Dependence and Addiction

The media has romanticized weed use. Shows, like That 70s Show, make marijuana use look completely harmless. It makes it look fun and relaxing. Even though these are some of the effects of marijuana use, misuse and abuse can easily lead to physical and psychological dependence. Marijuana abuse can be just as dangerous as any other form of substance abuse. Its side effects can be intense and overbearing.

Those who become dependent on marijuana will experience withdrawal symptoms upon quitting. As mentioned above, these withdrawal symptoms do not tend to be life-threatening. However, they can so intense that they prevent marijuana addicts from quitting. Many regular users may have difficulties putting a stop to their marijuana use. They may feel unhappy or may feel sluggish without cannabis in their system. Their body and mind craves the drugs. They don’t feel like their normal selves.

If you’re addicted to marijuana or if you currently abuse marijuana, quitting may be difficult. You may need help from an addiction treatment center that specializes in this type of drug abuse. Amethyst Recovery offers different types of marijuana addiction treatment, from residential treatment to day/night programs. We can answer any frequently asked questions. We can help you make an informed decision on the type of treatment that will work best for your situation. Contact us today for more information. We’re available 24 hours of the day.