Avoiding Stress
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
There are simple reasons most people aren't able to leave marijuana alone even when they know it isn't what they want in their life. The discomfort of withdrawal is more than they want to handle.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalms 139:23-24).
There are two levels of withdrawal from marijuana. The old myth that marijuana isn't physically addicting is not true. Recent studies show that it is physically addicting. Most people fail trying to get past the physical addiction. Narconon notes:
Symptoms of marijuana withdrawal first appear in chronic users within 24 hours. They are most pronounced for the first 10 days and can last up to 28 days. Marijuana addiction withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:
- irritability
- anxiety
- physical tension
- decreases in appetite and mood
One person who has quit marijuana wrote about his struggles, he noted:
Not being prepared for marijuana withdrawal is the number one reason that people fail to quit smoking. ... Anxiety is very common in the first stages of withdrawal. For example, you have probably been through a time when you just run out of pot and have made plans to get more, but it didn’t work out. You are on edge and jittery until you can secure a new supply, or at least get stoned. Multiply this by 10 times, you will have an idea of what the anxiety can be like if you are unprepared to quit for good. Insomnia and loss of appetite are also common in the first week of quitting.
I know you turn to marijuana when you get stressed. It makes you think you can handle stress better because it deadens your emotional responses. But when you stop, those emotions come back alive, not gradually, but all at once. It is much like having your leg go to sleep and when the blood starts flowing again the pain is excruciating for a while as all your nerves start firing at once. Marijuana does reduce the blood flow to the areas of the brain that deal with emotions and when you stop it all comes back at once in a jangled mess. The very stress of uncontrolled emotions sends you begging for another marijuana hit.
This same ex-user also gave this honest assessment:
How Long Does Marijuana Withdrawal Take?
Most people who experience marijuana withdrawal symptoms get them between the second and tenth day of quitting weed. Symptoms can last for up to a month in some people. The most intense withdrawal period will be the first week to ten days after you quit smoking marijuana. Different symptoms will resolve themselves at different rates.
Remember that each day the negative symptoms will decrease until you are physically and mentally free from THC! When you know what to expect, you will be well equipped to deal with it!
Marijuana Withdrawal Anxiety
The most common symptom of withdrawal is a low grade anxiety. Although not severe, this feeling is not easily remedied through distraction or just thinking happy thoughts. In my opinion, the anxiety felt when detoxing from weed is a combination of fear of being sober, and desire to return to a stoned state of mind. It’s almost like your mind is saying "Things aren’t normal, I don’t like this new state." As you become accustomed to not smoking and the new state of mind, the anxiety will fade.
Insomnia, Sleeping, and Dreaming
Whenever I quit smoking weed, I would always have disturbances in my sleep. In the beginning the insomnia can be quite severe. The worst for me was about 4 hours sleep in 60 hours. I have heard of some people sleeping less than 5 hours every night, but the worst of the insomnia symptoms tend to disappear about a week after quitting.
The dreams that you experience during marijuana withdrawal can be very intense and vivid, and many people (myself included) have had crazy end-of-the-world nightmares. When you smoke a lot of pot, you tend not to dream as much, or at least not remember them, so getting used to dreaming and interpreting dreams takes some time. I have found that my dreams stabilize after about a month, and the bad dreams subside within the first couple weeks.
Change of Appetite and Weight Loss
Another common marijuana detox symptom is the lack of an appetite. I have met a couple people who need to smoke before they eat. When they quit smoking, they don’t have the desire to eat. It’s almost like they needed the munchies to eat food. Let’s face it, marijuana withdrawal stresses the body out, and when you get stressed, you can lose your appetite and lose weight. The weight loss has got to be the best benefit of detox!
Cures for Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
The best cure for marijuana withdrawal symptoms is time and patience. Having a plan to get through the withdrawal and avoid relapse is also one the keys in learning how to quit smoking marijuana.
I hope you see why you left. It wasn't about me and your brother "rescuing you." You weren't prepared to face the anxiety and stress of withdrawing, so you ran back to mama marijuana for comfort. You blamed us for your stress instead of the real culprit.
