Cannabis Detox & Withdrawal
Are you or a loved one struggling with your use of cannabis? From an occasional smoke, is it now an everyday thing? Do you feel lightheaded, nervous, or more easily annoyed without it? Psychological withdrawal from cannabis can be difficult. If you feel that, while quitting cannabis use, you feel any kind of symptoms, then you may be experiencing withdrawal. Withdrawal can be psychological or physical, although cannabis does not have formally proven physical withdrawal symptoms. You do have the strength to manage these events by yourself, but cannabis may be obstructing you from learning the ways to do it.
Cannabis withdrawal alone does not require medical intervention, however if you detox from cannabis within a treatment centre such as ours, our team will support you throughout the withdrawal phase.
What Is Cannabis Withdrawal?
When you stop using after repeated use or reduce the amount you usually take, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. If you have been abusing for a while, your body might not function properly until it experiences the feel-good rush that this drug gives. When you try to give up cannabis to achieve abstinence, your mind and body react negatively to these sudden changes, as they are relying on the crutch that ‘pot’ is to them.
Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms will present themselves during this period. If you are going through withdrawal, there is a chance to feel a powerful urge to continue taking the drug to avoid experiencing these withdrawal symptoms. This is the biggest discomfort when it comes to cannabis use – our psyche threatens us into using more and more.
Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawing from this substance leads to a combination of negative physical and psychological symptoms. You may experience the following symptoms when you stop taking or lower your intake:
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Recurring headaches
- Unusual sweating and fever
- Chills
- Poor concentration
- Shaking
- Intense cravings
- Low appetite
- Increased feelings of depression
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
The severity of withdrawal symptoms depends on:
- How much you used (before quitting, you may have been smoking only during the weekends, or daily)
- For how long you’ve been using (people who have been using during their teenage years, when the brain is still developing, may experience more severe symptoms compared to others)
- How do you take the drug (smoking, mixing it with other substances, rolling a cigarette or smoking out of a bong, etc.)
- Your overall health (any psychological or other medical conditions may have been affected by the use of marijuana)
Smoking cannabis is associated with intense psychological withdrawal symptoms. You may be irritable, or get extremely angry when someone even suggests quitting – this is unhealthy attachment talking. Your ‘recreative’ cannabis use shouldn’t be a cause for arguments, fights or anxiety and cause you to cry. Extreme emotional outbreaks indicate that you are no longer a recreative user.
Cannabis smoke contains high Tetrahydrocannabinol levels, or THC, as many call it (the chemical in that gives the ‘high’ effect). When you smoke for a long time, the THC chemical goes directly to your brain and bloodstream, making your body and brain dependent on the drug. If you quit, you will feel some or all of the abovementioned psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms.
Timeline of Withdrawal Symptoms
- Cannabis withdrawal symptoms begin quickly, with many individuals reporting issues with sleep or vivid dreams within a couple of days.
- During the withdrawal period, the psychological symptoms (mood swings, irritability, etc.) will last longer than the physical symptoms (abdominal pain, shakiness, etc.). The reason for this is: the high THC levels in the brain take a while to go down.
- Some individuals experience pro-longed symptoms of withdrawal such as depression. Symptoms can persist for much longer than the initial withdrawal phase.
- Cannabis withdrawal symptoms quickly disappear when a person takes the drug. That’s why many find themselves trapped in the cycle of abuse and overdose. It’s important to note that the timeline of withdrawal symptoms differs from one person to another. Cannabis withdrawal symptoms of chronic users can extend for over two weeks compared to a user with average dependence. A chronic user can experience intense withdrawal symptoms that last for weeks and even months after discontinuing use.
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Is a Detox Enough to Tackle Cannabis Addiction?
As many users think cannabis addiction doesn’t exist, it can be difficult to challenge those assumptions. However, cannabis abuse over a long period of time does lead to dependence. Detoxification from cannabis is a great way to jumpstart the achievement of your sobriety goals as far as addiction is concerned. Detox gives your body a fresh start as you begin your addiction recovery journey. However, detox alone does not treat the psychological dependence on cannabis, which is the leading cause of withdrawals.
Rehab, therapy, and involvement in aftercare services, such as support groups and fellowship groups, will be your trusty companion during your recovery.
If you are struggling to quit weed, or have made previous attempts to stop, we offer residential detox to help you on the road to recovery.
To help you resist future temptations, we will work with you to create effective coping skills. You need to learn how to approach triggers to avoid relapsing, which will help you to stay sober in the future.
