Despite its rocky recent past, cannabis has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. In the USA, weed has been illegal for decades due to fears spread by propaganda such as ‘Reefer Madness,’ which have collectively led to cannabis being listed as a Schedule I drug.
There are many arguments to the contrary nowadays, though, since people are discovering that marijuana is not as dangerous as many governments would have you believe. As researchers uncover the beneficial effects of compounds like CBD, the public are becoming increasingly open-minded about the drug, and this is leading to more advocates for cannabis legalization.
One of the arguments at the forefront of these campaigns is that cannabis is not an addictive substance. While this assertion is not ill-intended, it is not wholly true. Sure, marijuana is not addictive to the same degree as opioids or heroin, but it isn’t impossible to develop cannabis addiction. Any behavior or substance can become addictive, including alcohol or even video games. This means that, ultimately, if you smoke a lot of weed and are thinking about quitting, there will doubtless be some effects experienced as your body adjusts itself.
In this article, we will explore several symptoms you may experience when you quit cannabis, so you know what to expect. But first, let’s check out what cannabis withdrawal actually means.
What is Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome?
As mentioned above, any substance can become addictive. As a result, when you stop taking it, your body will have to endure some withdrawal symptoms; in the case of marijuana, this is known as cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS).
Some users say that withdrawal symptoms of cannabis are similar to those of tobacco. To be suffering from CWS, you need to meet the following criteria:
- The individual must have used marijuana regularly for several months prior to quitting.
- The individual must exhibit 3 symptoms of CWS.
There is a vast number of symptoms that CWS sufferers may experience, some of which we will explore in more detail below.
According to a study conducted by Udo Bonnet and Ulrich Preuss, regular consumption of cannabis leads to “a desensitization and down regulation of human brain cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors.” In other words, the cannabinoid receptors become less responsive to natural stimulation in the body. After 2 days of abstinence, this process begins to reverse; it should be back to normal within 4 weeks.
Basically, this means that the CWS symptoms you experience will be due to the body adjusting itself to respond properly to CB1 stimulation once again. Now, let’s look at a few of the symptoms you might experience.
1. Sleeping problems
An extremely common problem reported by sufferers of CWS is insomnia and sleeping problems. Insomnia refers to finding it hard to fall asleep, waking up during the night, lying awake, and feeling tired even despite getting some sleep.
Insomnia can be quite a hinderance in daily life, as it can have a knock-on effect on relationships and work due to your fatigue and irritability. Unfortunately, it is a common symptom in many types of withdrawal, and it something you will have to deal with.
Try not to worry too much about it – stress will only make the problem worse. Since insomnia is such a natural reaction to withdrawal, it will pass not too long after you stop consuming marijuana.
For now, in order to get around the problem, you can try:
• Relaxing for at least 1 hour before bed.
• Practising good sleep hygiene by having a regular sleep schedule, avoiding screens in the run-up to bedtime, ensuring your bedroom is dark and quiet, and perhaps investing in an eye mask or ear plugs.
• Exercising regularly to tire yourself out.
• Making sure your bed is comfortable.
• Avoiding nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine for at least 6 hours before bed.
• Refraining from eating a large meal in the evening.
• Not napping during the day.
None of these are guaranteed, but it might make things a little easier until the CWS subsides.
2. Sweating and weakness
The medicinal properties of cannabis make it great as a natural painkiller, meaning that weed smokers are likely to feel quite resilient and healthy. However, when you deprive your body of a substance it has begun to rely on to feel this way, you’ll quickly start to feel feeble and fragile.
Once again, this is only a temporary symptom that will fade over time. It is just your body’s reaction to a lack of stimulant – it is treating cannabis withdrawal the same way it would an illness, meaning it gets worse before it gets better. Your weakness allows you to take greater time resting, and you may perspire more (even if it’s cold) as your body tries to sweat it out. No worries, though, because everything will be back to normal in no time.
3. Nausea and stomach pain
Nausea is a very common symptom of any type of withdrawal, particularly alcohol and other drugs. Unfortunately, this nausea may be accompanied This is the body’s way of performing a detox, allowing you to cleanse your body of any remaining parts of the substance so that it can heal properly.
Stomach pain might come alongside this, with a combination of the two meaning that you mind find yourself lacking in appetite. The stoner stereotype is someone who constantly has the munchies, but CWS has the complete opposite effect!
Not to worry – there are several ways you can ease the symptoms of nausea, without using weed!
• Pepto-Bismol: This may help ease the nauseous feeling.
• Drinking plenty of water: Vomiting can make you dehydrated, so make sure to keep ingesting fluids, including rehydration fluids.
• Psi bands: although usually used for motion sickness, stimulating the P6 point with Psi bands may help combat any kind of nausea, including that caused by withdrawal.
4. Dysphoria
Dysphoria refers to a feeling of unease or dissatisfaction without any particular reason. It’s the opposite of euphoria, and it often accompanies conditions like depression and anxiety. In the same manner as these mental conditions, dysphoria leaves you feeling very dissatisfied with life, a little run down, and quite lost. And the fact that you can’t pinpoint an exact cause is likely to make you feel more helpless.
If you have just quit weed, however, it is likely that CWS is to blame for your negative feelings. This, fortunately, means that the feeling will probably pass soon enough. Try not to let it get you down too much, and comfort yourself with the knowledge that it’s only temporary.
There is no real quick fix for dysphoria; you have to wait it out. However, you can try doing things that relax you or activities you enjoy, such as hanging out with friends, taking a long, hot bath, or even motivating yourself to hit the gym. Don’t worry, this too shall pass.
5. Cravings
Any withdrawal will likely result in you craving the substance you have just quit. It is expected that you will have a craving for more cannabis.
Since the cannabinoid receptors in the body have been desensitized by regular use of marijuana, they don’t respond as well to the body’s own endocannabinoids. As a result, they want you to ingest marijuana in order to stimulate these receptors, thus solving the problem. However, you will need to build these receptors back up to their powerful best, which unfortunately means fighting those cravings and abstaining from cannabis.
The annoying thing is that, as you may have noticed in this article, cannabis could fix all the problems caused by CWS! Research has pointed out that cannabis could be used as a treatment for nausea, insomnia, and pain, making it an ideal treatment for these conditions. That said, cannabis is, in this case, what caused the problem in the first place, so you need to stay strong.
To try and deal with this symptom, try exercising. The adrenaline and serotonin released during physical activity may help you to curb those cravings.
Final thoughts
The above isn’t a list of all the symptoms you might experience as a result of CWS, but it does tell you some of the most common. Depending on your history of weed usage, the severity of these symptoms may differ, but they can be tricky to handle no matter what.
Cannabis withdrawal syndrome occurs because your body is so used to receiving cannabis, and the sudden stoppage occurs it to react negatively. Thankfully, function should return to normal not too long after you quit. This is not to say that it will be an easy road – negative symptoms are what make addictive substances so hard to quit, especially when it comes down to cravings.
All you need to cope is some willpower and good people around you. Make sure your friends and family are aware of your quitting journey so that they can help you deal with these symptoms, and this might make it a little easier. Remember, there is also no shame in seeking professional help if you’re really struggling.
Most reassuringly, as long as you didn’t develop any adverse side effects as a result of excessive weed usage (such as psychosis), your body will return completely to normal, meaning that you won’t suffer the effects of CWS for the rest of your life.
Finally, cold-turkey might not always be the best way to quit. You could try slowly weaning yourself off marijuana to minimize the effects of CWS, and you could even try switching to CBD oil or even CBD hemp oil to help you cope. Whatever route you decide to go down, CWS is not a guarantee that you will fail to quit – you can do this!
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