While most people claim that marijuana isn’t addictive, there is a tendency for people to develop a dependency on it. Like any other drug, marijuana can be addictive when used excessively. Quitting can be hard, especially when you’ve gotten used to the feeling of being high. Most people with addictions may not always be able to see that they are indeed addicted to weed and only begin noticing when it’s too late.
With quitting marijuana comes withdrawal symptoms. People who have been heavily relying on weed will experience withdrawals when they stop using the drug all at once. This can lead to relapses, wherein they start using the drugs again and fall into the vicious cycle of quitting marijuana.
Marijuana withdrawals are unlike what you see in movie portrayals and TV shows. They aren’t like heroin withdrawals where people are seen sweating, shaking, and often curled up in bed because of unbearable pain. Marijuana withdrawals are actually a lot more subtle, but are very much real. Although symptoms are relatively mild and aren’t life threatening, they’re uncomfortable enough to cause the possibility of relapses to those trying to quit smoking weed.
The most common symptom associated with marijuana withdrawals are cravings, or the intense desire for more. Marijuana users say that this is the most common symptom, especially during the early days of abstinence. Other symptoms may involve being irritable, having trouble sleeping, losing weight and being depressed.
A lot of people tend to feel anxious or worried when without the drug; they may feel tired during the day but restless during the night. Mood swings are evident in a lot of users—one may feel depressed at one point, then angry, happy, then back again. This may cause them to find falling asleep difficult as some may experience vivid nightmares that may disrupt their sleep. “Using dreams” or dreams that involve smoking marijuana have also been reported by people who have quit smoking.
Noticeable changes in appearance can also be observed in individuals trying to quit marijuana. Since withdrawals often make people lose their appetites, significant weight losses can occur. Other physical symptoms of withdrawal may include stomach pains, sweatiness, shakiness, fever and chills, and headaches. The body tends to get used to the constant intake of drugs, so the longer a person uses marijuana, the longer the withdrawal period that comes with it.
The experience of withdrawal symptoms are often enough to cause significant distress and interference from responsibilities for anyone trying to quit. In fact, most cannabis users report that although withdrawal symptoms aren’t enough to require medical attention, they have tremendously contributed to relapses and have made it difficult to quit.
Marijuana withdrawals have been commonly documented among adults and adolescents, with symptoms being stronger and more severe with adults. This is most likely related to the fact that cannabis use tends to be of greater frequency and quantity among adults. Many who seek treatment for marijuana addictions do so because of pressure from family and friends, this makes recovery harder and more painful for most individuals.
When it comes down to it, quitting is a choice. It all depends on whether you’re strong enough to face the consequences of your actions and if you really want to quit smoking weed.
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