Quitting weed depression (what is it?)

In this article, we will try to understand if quitting weed can cause depression, how long does the depression lasts, and what happens to the body when you quit weed. In addition, we also look at what is marijuana, how it smoked, and the legal status of the drug in the United States of America. Lastly, we look at different ways to deal with depression caused by quitting weed. 

Can quitting weed cause depression? 

Yes like any other drug substance the use of Marijuana, also known as weed, can cause depression. The intake of weed causes changes in both brains and the physical self. Like any other physically addictive substance a sudden withdrawal from it can cause depression and anxiety. 

When smokers take in Marujiana, they feel elated. This is because the neurotransmitters, serotonin, and dopamine receive an increase and rush through our bloodstream, making us feel happy. When you suddenly deprive yourself of this substance, it is difficult for your body to handle the imbalance caused. The reduction in the amount of serotonin and dopamine then leads to depressive symptoms. 

However, it is not necessary that this happens to everyone. Withdrawal symptoms are indeed a subjective experience. Some may have a difficult time quitting weed, but this does not mean that you shall also suffer from the same. 

People who usually suffer from depression after quitting weed may experience feelings of uneasiness, sadness, or absence of motivation to do anything. This occurs because the mind is familiar with having increased serotonin and dopamine levels. At the point when you quit smoking marijuana, the levels dive and your mind makes some harder memories delivering them without anyone else. 

Many people recommend to quit smoking only to smoke electronic cigarettes.

This can bring about the experience of not having the option to appreciate things that were once pleasurable. Regardless of whether it’s an activity, social commitment, sexual action, or other dopamine-creating exercises, we may struggle to get the delight we need. The cerebrum is recovering from dopamine and serotonin consumption, so it won’t create the very “highs” that we are searching for.

How long does depression last after quitting weed? 

In any case that you are a friend who goes through withdrawal symptoms and suffers from depression after quitting weed, you need to worry that it may last forever. Again this is a unique experience. You may have to deal with depression for a day or two or it may last for months. 

What happens to your mind and body when you quit weed? 

At the point when you extensively use weed, you definitely increment the degrees of the high-prompting compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in your circulatory system. To reestablish harmony, your body changes its regular degrees of THC receptors, just as neurochemicals like serotonin and adrenaline. Quitting weed or definitely lessening your admission of it loses this equilibrium, which your body needs to reestablish by indeed changing THC receptor and neurochemical levels. 

At the point when you’re in a condition of withdrawal,  your body is striving to get to typical capacity. It’s such a weight on the body — which clarifies why it seems like death. Anomalous serotonin levels can prompt nausea, for instance. 

In case you smoke weed every day in a great amount, you may start to see withdrawal indications about a day after you last smoked weed. They generally top one to four days after the last intake and bit by bit disseminate in half a month’s time. 

What is Marijuana? 

Marijuana is the most known and highly abused drug in various countries. This drug grows in the form of a hemp plant. The part that is smoked or that causes intoxication is the flower or the bud. 

Marijuana, when sold, is a mixture of dried-out leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds of the hemp plant. It is usually green, brown, or gray in color.

Marijuana is smoked in different ways. It can be smoked in the following ways 

• By rolling a joint like a cigarette 
• Through a pipe 
• It can be mixed in food like brownies, known as pot brownies 

Some people mix tobacco with it while smoking to reduce its harshness on the throat, while others smoke it without it, called as blunt. 

When a person smokes the weed through a joint or pipe, he takes in the smoke until his lungs and blows out the extra smoke. The immediate sensations are increased heart rate, lessened coordination and balance, and a “dreamy,” unreal state of mind—peak within the first 30 minutes. These short term effects usually wear off in two to three hours, but they could last longer depending on the intake. 

Is marijuana legal? 

The legality of the usage of this drug depends from one state to another. In the United States of America, a few states have recreational marijuana legalized, while other states have medical marijuana legalized. 

Here is a list of states that have medical marijuana legalized 

• Arkansas

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Hawaii

• Louisiana

• Maryland

• Minnesota

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• New Hampshire

• New Mexico

• New York

• North Dakota

• Ohio

• Oklahoma

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• Utah

• West Virginia

The other states that have recreational marijuana legalized are: 

• Alaska
• Arizona 
• Washinton DC
• California 
• Colorado 
• District of Columbia
• Illinois 
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan 
• Montana
• New jersey 
• Nevada 
• Oregon
• Vermont 
• South Dakota 

Quitting weed withdrawal symptoms

Marijuana is a psychoactive herb that comes from the cannabis plant. Intake of marijuana sometimes leads to addiction. If a person takes weed regulation in large quantities, he will face certain withdrawal symptoms while quitting weed. 

Henceforth, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has included the diagnostic criteria for marijuana withdrawal symptoms. 

Cravings 

Well, for starters, after you quit weed, there are pangs of drug cravings. The intensity may differ from person to person, however, any physical addiction to drugs is seen to have cravings after the drug is absent for a few days. The person who is addicted would go to any extent to get the drug. Over 75% of people who quit weed, experiences such cravings within the first few days of withdrawal. 

Irritation 

The DSM classifies irritability as the most common symptom of marijuana withdrawal. Irritability can range from mild and relatively easy to control annoyance to excessive anger and even aggression. If this lasts for more than a week, it is important to have to visit a professional who can help you 

Anxiety 

In addition to depression as established earlier in this article, anxiety is a very common symptom of withdrawal. this is because of the way marijuana interacts with the human brain. As marijuana has some anxiolytic effects, the removal of the drug causes the brain to go back to normal. This results in some heightened sensitivity to anxiety. This may last for a period of a few days or a few months. Essentially, we have to allow the brain time to return to the normal production of the neurotransmitters. 

Sleep-related problems 

An expected 46.9% of previous weed abusers report sleep interruption issues, including a sleeping disorder called insomnia, surprisingly clear or upsetting dreams, and night sweats during cannabis withdrawal. 

Other people who have stopped smoking weed report having “utilizing dreams” in which they dream they smoke weed. Successive, distinctive dreams regularly start about seven days in the wake of stopping and can keep going for about a month prior to tightening. Albeit some previous smokers have announced having these kinds of dreams a long time after they quit smoking pot.

Other physical symptoms 

In addition to these behavioral symptoms withdrawal of marijuana, also causes other physical symptoms. These symptoms may fade away earlier than psychological symptoms. However, the length and severity of these symptoms may depend on the quantity and quality of abuse. 

These physical symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Nausea 
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Stomach pain 
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite 
• Chills 
• Shivers 

How to deal with depression after quitting weed?

Take proper nutrient-rich food 

In order to overcome the depressive symptoms, it is neccasary that you need food that is rich in nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Eating junk and fate oriented food or sugary food can only increase the symptoms. Our body needs to regain the neurotransmitter balance. In order to do so, it needs quality food that can assist the entire process. Therefore, eating rich food is important even if you are craving a large pizza. This will help your body detox. 

Drink plenty of water 

Another best way of keeping your body in your control is through hydrating yourself. It is essential that we drink plenty of water. This way most of our intoxication will come out through the urine, again assisting in the process of detox. This will keep us active and avoid to fall under the spell of depression 

Exercise 

Having an active life is very important. If you laze around and do nothing, this will only increase your symptoms. Exercising or any other physical activity will help you sweat out what is excess in the body, in this case, your THC level. This will help your hormones restore the balance they are looking for and therefore decrease the depressive symptoms 

Relax 

An optimal amount of rest and sleep is needed for your body to recover from these times of depression. Or one can draw themselves a nice long bath. Bathing is certainly quite relaxing as well as helps in detox. Using Epsom Salts is also of great use.  These are usually high on magnesium. When magnesium enters the body it creates a soothing and calm effect. 

Antidepressants 

If your depression persists for longer than imagined, you can also go to a psychiatrist who can prescribe you certain anti-depressants to help with your depression. However, since you have just come out of substance abuse, this would be a less appreciative method 

Therapy 

However, instead of antidepressants one can surely go to a mental health professional and start a course of psychotherapy. A regulated therapy session can help you deal with depression and can also cure it. 

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.

Conclusion 

In this article, we have tried to understand if quitting weed can cause depression, how long does the depression last, and what happens to the body when you quit weed. In addition, we also looked at what is marijuana, how it smoked, and the legal status of the drug in the United States of America. Lastly, we looked at different ways to deal with depression caused by quitting weed. 

FAQs: Quitting weed depression

References 

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-expect-from-cannabis-withdrawal-22304

https://oxfordtreatment.com/substance-abuse/marijuana/withdrawal/

https://disa.com/map-of-marijuana-legality-by-state