Let’s Talk about Marijuana Withdrawal

By: Camden Baucke MS LLP

Withdrawal is the cost of changing your mind – deciding that you no longer want to use a substance.

It’s a full body response with physical and emotional symptoms.

Withdrawal throws your body’s homeostasis off balance. If you have a history of consuming substances, like alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine, then your body has adjusted to their presence.

If you take away the substance, your body is set off-balance. This creates terribly uncomfortable symptoms until the body readjusts to a new homeostasis.

While this is commonly known about substances like alcohol and cocaine, the idea of marijuana withdrawal is rather new.

Sure, marijuana is potentially not as addictive as alcohol and cocaine, and it’s not designed to be addictive like nicotine, but it can be addictive.

Marijuana is another substance where you can increase your tolerance, ramping up your dependence, which often leads to harsh withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal

Marijuana withdrawal is not an easy ordeal.

It includes a whole list of possible symptoms such as headaches, stomach pain, changes in appetite, exhaustion, flu-like symptoms, weight changes and more.

Also, marijuana withdrawal involves cravings – a symptom shared by other substance withdrawals.

These symptoms can start to arrive 12 to 72 hours after your last use.

However, there are a few more symptoms that relate to mental health in particular.

1 – Anger

Irritability is a common sign of marijuana withdrawal.

It can range all the way from mild frustration to full-blown aggression.

It makes sense that pain becomes hard to manage from all the distress withdrawal brings – spilling out through snaps and snippy remarks.

If you’re noticeably frustrated once you stop using marijuana, you might be going through withdrawal.

2 – Anxiety

Anxiety, the cousin of anger, often shows up during marijuana withdrawal.

This could be a substance induced anxiety or exacerbation of a pre-existing anxiety.

If it’s a pre-existing anxiety, quitting marijuana gets that much harder. By ceasing any use, someone would be returning to the distressing thoughts and feelings they might have been avoiding.

If you feel symptoms of anxiety, such as racing thoughts, chest tightness, or heart racing when you stop using marijuana, you might be going through withdrawal.

3 – Depression

Depression is another common symptom of marijuana withdrawal.

Like anxiety, depression could be a reason why someone uses marijuana in the first place. Stopping any marijuana usage could bring in a wave of depressing thoughts and feelings.

Additionally, people may tend to regret or feel self-conscious about their marijuana use. This self-criticism and self-shame can lead to depression after cessation.

4 – Insomnia

Dysregulated sleep patterns are common with marijuana withdrawal.

This can include difficulty falling asleep, trouble waking up, or getting enough sleep at night. It can also include vivid or distressing dreams and night sweats.

While dysregulated sleep is associated with several other mental disorders, it’s important to determine if it’s a cause of substances rather than habit.

5 – Inattention

Inattention or easy distraction are common symptoms of marijuana withdrawal.

It’s so pervasive that many individuals mistake marijuana withdrawal for ADHD.

I’m not saying that both don’t exist simultaneously, but withdrawal from marijuana, or even short periods of sobriety, can drastically affect executive functioning.

If you struggle with staying focused, completing tasks, or staying still after stopping marijuana, you may be experiencing withdrawal.

How to Navigate Marijuana Withdrawal

Marijuana withdrawal can result in a lot of symptoms – but there are ways to manage them.

1 – Take it Slow

If you’re ready to quit a possible marijuana addiction, you can’t rush yourself.

First of all, your body is going to be in discomfort and distress – so you need to take care of it.

Drink plenty of fluids, engage in some gentle exercise, and get some sunshine.

All of the above help with reducing the pain of headaches, the intensity of irritability, and sleep.

If you can take it slow, and take care of your physical needs, you can start planning for your emotional needs.

2 – Plan for Your Feelings

As you just read, marijuana withdrawal mimics plenty of symptoms from other disorders.

If you know you’re going to feel irritable, prepare to manage your anger without hurting others.

If you know you’re going to feel anxious, have a plan for self-calming and mindfulness exercises.

If it’s depression, make a plan to stay connected and active. Fill your time with rewarding activities.

If you struggle with attention, simplify your schedule. Don’t put too much on your plate and ask for help if you need it.

Also, keep a stable sleep schedule – it will give you the energy you need to endure symptoms of withdrawal.

3 – Ride the Waves

Marijuana withdrawal is something you can endure, so be patient with yourself.

Have a self-help toolkit ready for each potential symptom of marijuana withdrawal.

Mindfulness exercises (like the 5-4-3-2-1 method) and deep breathing (5 second inhale, 8 second out exhale) are helpful tools, but you can always practice more.

I encourage you to take care of yourself, and allow others to help as well. I encourage journaling, speaking about it with others, or even seeing a therapist.

Marijuana withdrawal isn’t easy, but the reward of enduring it is often worth the cost.

Thank You for Reading

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