Quit weed anxiety (3+ ways to cope)
In this blog, we will be analyzing the topic, “ Quit Weed Anxiety”, discuss briefly about weed, it’s components, usage, effects, signs of weed use, further we will discuss anxiety, explore the topic Weed/ Marijuana withdrawal symptoms and in the end, answer some of the queries regarding the topic.
Quitting weed can result in Anxiety, one can cop with it by:
- Taking proper nutritions and vitamin. Add these Best Vitamins & Minerals for Anxiety & Depression to your diet to manage anxiety better. You can find them in fruits.
- Proper production of serotonin and balancing it
- Physical exercise and workout
- Relaxation of body and mind
- Seeking counselling and therapy
- Antidepressant pills and other medication
- Alternative therapies
Weed.
Weed and marijuana both are Cannabis which is a plant that is used popularly or widely in psychoactive drugs for recreation as well as medicine. It is a tobacco product and the term was widely used in the 1930s. Weed is usually associated with or related to Cannabis users. It is a slang term which is not used in legal terms.
Anxiety.
Anxiety is our natural or inherent physiological response to stress and a feeling of apprehension with fear about the future. It is the most common psychiatric symptom in the clinical setting and anxiety disorder is found to be the most common disorder in the general population.
Anxiety is a state characterised by a feeling of uneasiness resultant of the apprehension of danger and future threat. Despite anxiety being normal, it becomes pathological when it causes significant impairment and distress in their daily functioning
Here are the top books for people with high functioning anxiety.
It is also defined as anticipation or apprehension towards a problem while Fear is our immediate reaction to danger. It is not always that stress and anxiety are hampering or dysfunctional, these can also be positive and growth inducive. It is often called Good Stress or U-Stress.
Symptoms of Anxiety
The major symptoms of Anxiety include:
- Physical symptoms comprising Motor symptoms and Autonomic Symptoms.
- Motor Symptoms include restlessness, facial expression, muscle twitches while the Autonomic symptoms include sweating, flushes, hyperventilation etc.
- Psychological symptoms include cognitive, perceptual, affect and other symptoms.
- The cognitive symptoms are impaired concentration, attention, hypervigilance and negative thoughts
Weed and Marijuana
- Marijuana is the dry leaves and the top of a pistillate hemp plate while Weed is a slang term used as a tobacco product.
- Marijuana was popular since 1910 while Weed emerged only in the 1930s.
- Weed is a less generic term and there is no implication in legislation while Marijuana is a generic term and often linked with legal terms.
- Marijuana is used in medical terminology and doesn’t refer to unwanted plants while Weed is often referred to as an unwanted plant but not a medical term.
Different ways of using or consuming weed
There are different kinds of consuming weed and few of them are:
- Rolling weed and smoking it like cigarette or cigar
- Smoking it via pipe
- Mixing with food and consuming
- Brew it like tea
- Using vape or vape pen
- Use marijuana oil
- Water pipe
If vaping is something you use to cope, try these Best Weed Pen for Anxiety.
Effects of Weed
Few of the effect of consuming weeds are mentioned below which be either short term or immediate effect while others are developed over time.:
- Dizziness and heaviness
- Easily break into laughter
- Red eyes
- Forget things easily
- Lost track of time and pace
- Sensory disturbance
- Get hungry easily
- The smell after smoking weed
- Affect one’s mental health
- Get high and Dopamine rush
- Distorted thinking and thoughts
- Brain Impairment
- Lung inflammation
- Ease pain and alleviate other symptoms
- Pacing heartbeat
- Increase the risk of cancer
- Learning Difficulties
- Lack of motivation
- Anxiety and Paranoia
Sign of Weed use
Some signs can be observed in individuals who consume weed despite the different means of consumption.
- Easily distracted
- Talkative
- Drowsiness and Sleepiness
- Bloodshot and Red Eye
- Poor Time Management
- Secrecy
- Weight gain
- Dry Mouth
- Poor motor coordination
- Distorted Perception
- Lack of motivation
These are different signs exhibited by people who consume weed, it can either be caused directly by weed or simply by variation in their normal behaviour.
Component of Weed/ Cannabis
Weed/ Cannabis are composed of more than 120 chemicals which are known as Cannabinoids Out of those, the two major components are CBD and THC
Cannabinoids and terpenoids, like terpenes in pepper, possess a range of chemical correlations, which may be one explanation why they tend to have some advantage in blocking the effects of too much THC..
It is psychoactive, however, it doesn’t produce euphoric feeling and makes an individual high. To alleviate pain and inflammation, it is often used
Here is a handy list of the best CBD Oil for Anxiety at Holland & Barrett.
- THC: Tetrahydrocannabinol:
It is the key psychoactive component in Cannabis where it produces euphoric and high feeling or sensation in most individuals.
The cannabis products contain either CBD, THC or both. The hemp plant contains CBD but no THC. Both components interact with systems in our brain significant for our mood regulation.
If you consume CBD, you can check the Best CBD Gummies for Anxiety. If you like to chew, some gum for anxiety can be beneficial.
Weed and Anxiety
It is found through the research studies that most of the people use weed for the treatment of anxiety and for the treatment of other health-related symptoms. Although it serves as a relief for anxiety, stress and depression, there are also concerns of marijuana making the anxiety worse.
Clients have reported that weed helps in relieving the symptoms of social anxiety, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Panic disorders, sleep disruption and panic disorders.
CBD present in the weed serves as a potential benefit for the treatment of anxiety, especially social anxiety. And a lower dose of THC also helps in the treatment.
Although weed helps in the treatment of anxiety, a high level of THC is associated with the increased risk of anxiety and its severe symptoms such as racing thoughts, palpitation, increased heart rate and etc.
There is no observable long term effect of weed like medication and psychotherapies, however, it only produces temporary and short term relief and calmness to the individual.
The working of Weed in our brain results in excess production and release of serotonin and dopamine which affects the way we feel, and the pleasure sensation. Serotonin affects our mood while dopamine is responsible for our pleasure feelings.
When there is an abrupt or sudden quit in smoking, the increased and elevated level drops down which creates depression as well as anxiety since the brain is accustomed to that level.
Check the best herbs to smoke for anxiety, besides marijuana.
Duration of anxiety caused by Marijuana
One common side effect associated with the quitting of weed is Anxiety. Since weed has an anxiolytic effect in the brain, the removal of the drug causes our brain to restore the normalcy which results in a heightened reaction to anxiety.
The anxiety associated with the use of weed lasts for a few days and post that, our brain restores back to the normal production of the neurotransmitter and adjusts with the new level.
Side Note: I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.
Weed withdrawal symptoms
It is basically the occurrence or onset of all the negative symptoms such as behavioural, emotional and physical occuring after stopping the use of drugs. Unlike other drugs, Marijuana is not that serious in terms of developing addiction and dependence like that of alcohol, heroin and etc.
Weed Withdrawal syndrome is caused not only by quitting the week abruptly, however can be a result of gradual reduction of the use of Weed over time. Although the withdrawal symptoms vary from individual and their biological differences, a minimal reduction will cause such symptoms.
When our body is in the state of withdrawal, it is hard for it to restore normal functioning and adjust the low level of neurochemicals such as adrenaline and serotonin since it has been habituated with the high concentration of both. This adjustment causes great stress in the individual and it’s often similar to death experience.
The withdrawal symptoms are at its peak during the first few days of last use and then it gradually dissipates. Some of the symptoms of Weed/ Marijuana withdrawal are:
- Aggression, irritation and anger
- Extreme nervousness and anxiety
- Disturbance in the sleep with nightmares and disturbing dreams
- Decrease in appetite
- Feeling of depression
- Abdominal pain, chill, fever, headache and etc: Physical Symptoms
Research studies have shown that the course of withdrawal symptoms of Marijuana and weed usually begins within a week after discontinuing the drug. The peak of the symptoms is observed within the ten days and then declines steadily.
In all cases, the length and severity of the symptoms are determined by the use and frequency of usage of Marijuana or weed.
For the treatment of Weed Withdrawal, although there is no approved medication that is especially designed to treat it, there are certain drugs that can be used to dissolve the withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the medicine includes ambien, buspar, neurontin, FAAH Inhibitor and drugs that are allosteric modulators. These are the medicines that can be taken to assist the symptoms and management of it which otherwise is not an approved medication for weed withdrawal.
Other alternatives for the treatment of Marijuna are therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy, medication, cannabidiol oil.
Here is a quick list of the best SDQC weed that can help with anxiety.
What we recommend for curbing Anxiety
Below are some of the services and products we recommend for anxiety
Online Therapy
- Online therapy is another thing we should all try. We highly recommend Online therapy with a provider who not only provides therapy but a complete mental health toolbox to help your wellness.
Anxiety Weighted Blankets
- Anxiety Weighted Blankets are by far the number 1 thing every person who suffers from anxiety should at least try. Anxiety Blankets may improve your sleep, allow you to fall asleep faster and you can even carry them around when chilling at home.
Light Therapy
- Amber light therapy from Amber lights could increase the melatonin production in your body and help you sleep better at night. An Amber light lamp helps reduce the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep and increases overall sleep quality.
BetterHelp: A Better Alternative
Those who are seeking therapy online may also be interested in BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers plenty of formats of therapy, ranging from live chats, live audio sessions and live video sessions. In addition, unlimited messaging through texting, audio messages and even video messages are available here.
BetterHelp also offers couples therapy and therapy for teenagers in its platform. Furthermore, group sessions can also be found in this platform, covering more than twenty different topics related to mental health and mental illness. The pricing of BetterHelp is also pretty cost-effective, especially considering the fact that the platform offers financial aid to most users.
FAQs: Quit weed anxiety
How can I deal with crippling depression and anxiety after quitting weed?
The crippling effect of weed can be treated by seeking professional help be it a psychologist or a psychotherapist.
How long will it take for me to feel better after I quit smoking weed?
The duration of getting better and restoring normalcy after quitting weed depends on the individual’s circumstances. While for some individuals with very low consumption and use of weed, it can get better within a week, however for a heavy user, it might take some time to get better.
Do you have anxiety once you quit smoking weed?
Yes, there are anxiety issues after quitting weed, however the severity of anxiety symptoms and duration varies. An individual tends to feel anxious, irritable and agitated after quitting weed.
How do you feel after you quit smoking weed?
The post effect of quitting weed varies and there are no particular feelings and post effects. Different individuals react and behave differently. While for some it produces elation and satisfaction, others might also relapse and resume the use.
Conclusion
In this blog, we analyzed the topic, “ Quit Weed Anxiety”, discussed briefly about weed, it’s components, usage, effects, signs of weed use, further we discussed anxiety, explored the topic Weed/ Marijuana withdrawal symptoms and in the end, answered some of the queries regarding the topic.
Links for more information and details
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-expect-from-cannabis-withdrawal-22304
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323425
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/marijuana-rehab/withdrawal
Bibliography
Crane, M. (2020). Marijuana Withdrawal-Is it real? American Addiction Centers. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/marijuana-rehab/withdrawal
Hartney, E. (2020). How long does Withdrawal From Marijuana Last? verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-expect-from-cannabis-withdrawal-22304
Pandika, M. (2020). When you quit weed, here’s what happens to your mind and body. Mic. https://www.mic.com/p/when-you-quit-weed-heres-what-happens-to-your-mind-body-20512434
Phoenix Rising Addiction Center. (2018). Dealing With Depression and Anxiety Symptoms After Quitting Weed. Phoenix rising. https://phoenixrisingbehavioral.com/symptoms-after-quitting-weed/