The emotional and psychological impact of marijuana withdrawal can be significant. Many individuals experience heightened anxiety and depression as they stop using cannabis. These feelings can be particularly intense if the person relied on marijuana as a coping mechanism for stress or underlying mental health issues.
Once you are more aware of the things that trigger your drug use, you can plan to deal with those triggers. Sometimes this might involve avoiding or eliminating things that create pressure on you to smoke marijuana. In other cases, you’ll need to explore healthy coping mechanisms to help you manage your urges. During this time, it can be helpful to have a plan that will help you stick to your recovery efforts.
Improved Physical Health
Research indicates that approximately 47% of regular users experience withdrawal symptoms after cessation. This awareness can prepare individuals for what to expect, helping them to develop strategies to cope with discomfort. Although withdrawal from marijuana is not life-threatening, its symptoms indicate a dependence on the substance, which can derail attempts to quit. Symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and sleep disturbances may dissuade users from stopping, emphasizing the necessity of recognizing these challenges. This accessibility is vital for those grappling with withdrawal symptoms, which can include anxiety, irritability, and sleep difficulties.
- Some people also report stomach pain, loss of appetite, anxiety, and depression.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) builds internal incentives for quitting marijuana without addressing withdrawal symptoms directly.
- Understanding this timeline can help users prepare for what to expect after stopping cannabis use.
- This estimate is subject to change based on the admission route and several biological factors.
Virtual IOP for Busy Professionals: Prioritize Mental Health Without Missing Work
Many of our programmes also offer 12 months of aftercare, which may include therapy, relapse prevention sessions and family support. External triggers involve people, places, or situations that are tied to an individual’s past marijuana use and may spur drug cravings or addiction pathways even after months of abstinence. Education and compassionate support are critical for understanding what to expect and successfully moving through withdrawal on the path to recovery from marijuana addiction. By your second week, your symptoms should be must less intense than the first week, and any flu-like symptoms (changes in body temperature, marijuana withdrawal: symptoms, timeline, and tips for coping headaches) will have dissipated by now.
Why does weed cause withdrawal symptoms?
While some people may find giving up marijuana easier than others, your own experience may depend on whether you have developed a dependence or addiction to the substance. Cannabis withdrawal symptoms can last two to six days and, in heavy users, several weeks. Cannabis use disorder is one of many substance use disorders characterized by the inability to cease use without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Cannabis use disorder belongs to a group of conditions called substance use disorders. The most severe form of a substance use disorder is addiction.13 Someone with a cannabis addiction may display several signs that overlap with those of a cannabis use disorder. A problematic pattern of cannabis use can lead to tolerance, necessitating a higher amount of cannabis to achieve intoxication.
Weed Withdrawal Timeline
A 2022 review of research highlighted that weed withdrawal symptoms typically peak within the first week of quitting. Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) builds internal incentives for quitting marijuana without addressing withdrawal symptoms directly. Instead, MET employs compassionate listening to uncover the person’s deepest life values and vision for themselves.
They provide assistance and medical attention as you manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Tolerance develops when the body becomes accustomed to regular marijuana use, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects. When usage is stopped, the body struggles to adjust, leading to withdrawal symptoms. This cycle highlights the relationship between tolerance and withdrawal. As mentioned, the absence of THC can bring underlying issues to the forefront, emphasizing the need for supportive interventions. For those undergoing withdrawal, incorporating therapy, mindfulness practices, and supportive networks can help in managing these emotional challenges.
- Weedless.org is collaborating with researchers to explore this topic and others.
- In terms of medications, options have been explored—dronabinol and gabapentin are two that have been studied, although their efficacy varies among individuals.
- These findings suggest that online peer support can complement traditional recovery approaches by fostering community and therefore reducing isolation (Sowles et al., 2018).
- Over time, the long-term effects include better lung health, improved cardiovascular health, and stronger personal relationships.
Pacific Coast Mental Health is committed to providing accurate, fact-based information to support individuals facing mental health challenges. Our content is carefully researched, cited, and reviewed by licensed medical professionals to ensure reliability. However, the information provided on our website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Avoiding illegal drugs like Mary Jane leads to significant financial savings that can be redirected toward healthy activities and personal goals. Encouraging a cannabis-free lifestyle without being judgmental can help loved ones take steps toward a brighter future. Over time, the cognitive deficits caused by chronic marijuana use start to reverse.
Although some former users report having these types of dreams years after they stop smoking pot. There are many places that people can go for support with stopping cannabis use and coping with withdrawal symptoms. Though the physical effects of withdrawal will stop after the drug has left a person’s system, the psychological symptoms can last longer. Once the detox process is complete, some people may go on to take part in further treatment to explore the underlying causes and triggers of their cannabis use. If appropriate, we can support you with the next steps to help maintain progress and reduce the risk of relapse. While withdrawal undoubtedly causes discomfort, MET provides the internal and external tools so people can push through the pain to build the life they want.