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Ok, so you started using weed to relax at the end of a hard day. Or perhaps, you use it to calm the anxiety or help you sleep. However, now you’re experiencing some weird side effects, such as paranoia, worrying, cottonmouth, or maybe even hallucination. At times, you might find it hard to function effectively the next day. So, you have to wonder what is in weed that causes these side effects. You might be asking yourself, do I need to quit smoking weed?
Side Effects of Using Weed
Among the many recent explanations, scientists believe that the psychoactive compounds in cannabis, such as THC, bind to the endocannabinoid receptors in various parts of the brain. One of those parts of the brain is amygdala, which helps us experience emotions. Apparently, weed causes a calming effect, followed by symptoms like paranoia and anxiety.
Quitting weed is a serious commitment requiring a clear strategy and reason for giving up. Lack of clarity and commitment can lead to relapse and further discouragement. You must identify why you wish to quit weed. An activity I usually recommend to my clients is to write down all the consequences of smoking in the form of a letter. I ask them to keep that letter safe as a form of reminder when they experience triggers or cravings of using weed.
Preparing for the journey to quit weed.
Like I mentioned, preparing well to quit weed is important to your success. When I perform therapy on my clients, these are the steps I recommend to them because of how effective they are.
1. Identify the “Why”
Why do you want to quit smoking weed? List all the consequences of using weed (i.e. lack of focus, motivation drop, anxiety, paranoia, work performance issues, etc). Be specific in how weed has impacted your life.
2. Pick a Time of “Quitting”
It would be a good idea to give yourself a week to prepare for this. An impulsive plan to quit cold turkey often results in a relapse, which can be very discouraging.
3. Avoid the Common Triggers
People, places, and things are often the reason we can’t quit weed despite all our great efforts. You need to make a decision how you will avoid some of these triggers. List down your strategy on how you will avoid situations. Create plan A and plan B, and even a plan C while you are at it. As sad as it may sound, avoiding people, saying no to your friends, and keeping yourself from being in such enticing situations is the hardest part of quitting.
4. Prevent the Future Surprises
House cleaning is by far the most common reason why people start using again. They keep their favorite bong or hide a few strains of weed in their room. It is important that you get rid of everything before you start the journey. If you don’t, you will never start the journey in the first place.
Expect a Hard Battle
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to stop using weed. Therefore, it is important that your “why” or reason for quitting is strong enough to withstand the withdrawals or discomforts you will be experiencing.
A Timeline of Quitting Weed
Quitting weed is a process, not an incident. You have to be patient and face the hardships with perseverance if you really wish to quit weed. Here is what a typical timeline of quitting weed looks like.
Day 1 – Day 3: You might experience irritability and edginess. Give yourself a lot of grace during this time and avoid intense or triggering situations. Inform your loved ones about your decision of quitting weed. Let them know about the side effects.
Day 3 – Week 2: This period usually highlights the peak of withdrawal symptoms, which may manifest in the form of moodiness, depression, lack of motivation, and low energy. Depending on the length of use, you may experience some of the withdrawal symptoms longer. However, most people seem to experience feeling better after two weeks of quitting weed.
Week 2 – Week 3: During the third week, you may still experience issues with sleep and have vivid dreams.
Week 3 – Week 4: If you haven’t relapsed until now, you are very close to making your journey a success. However, experiencing triggers, cravings, and sleep issues are a common part of the early recovery, which means, you might have those cravings and symptoms at times. For this reason, having good social support is crucial to your success. Also, you might want to see a therapist to help you through this.
Don't Be Alone in the Journey
I often remind my clients that they don’t have to do this alone. Instead of struggling alone and feeling discouraged, include your loved ones, friends, or social support groups to cheer you up. More importantly, their presence will make you accountable for whatever actions you take. To the very least, find a therapist who is familiar with the chemical dependency treatment.
With professional help, you will have access to insight and resources for managing triggers and cravings. At the same time, you will have a safe place to learn the skills to manage life stressors.
Choose Medication Detox When Nothing Works
Unfortunately, some people experience severe psychosis, paranoia, or agitation that may require safe detoxification from weed. The longer we use weed, the more vulnerable and dependent we become, making it impossible to quit weed with self-help. Therefore, it is important to work with a professional counselor to help you along the way.
If you’re having trouble doing it by yourself, it is highly recommended that you seek medical detoxification. There is no shame in getting help. You deserve to be healthy and happy. Please do not allow shame to get in the way of your health and happiness.
Choose Medication Detox When Nothing Works
Unfortunately, some people experience severe psychosis, paranoia, or agitation that may require safe detoxification from weed. The longer we use weed, the more vulnerable and dependent we become, making it impossible to quit weed with self-help. Therefore, it is important to work with a professional counselor to help you along the way.
If you’re having trouble doing it by yourself, it is highly recommended that you seek medical detoxification. There is no shame in getting help. You deserve to be healthy and happy. Please do not allow shame to get in the way of your health and happiness.
Summary: You have to prepare to fight a hard battle if you want to quit weed. The journey starts with preparation and having a clear plan. With a clearly defined 4-step that involves identifying your biggest triggers, you can make it possible.
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