7 benefits of quitting marijuana

Marijuana is the most widely consumed illegal drug globally. Its consumption is being regularized in more and more countries, as well as moving more and more money. The large economic interests that marijuana moves make more and more companies and organizations begin to promote false myths and exaggerations about the supposed therapeutic benefits of marijuana use or its derivatives.

In this article I will tell you about some of the benefits of quitting marijuana completely and how your life can improve when you stop smoking joints.

• Related article: "How does self-deception work in addictions?"

What happens in your body when you stop smoking marijuana?

When a person has become accustomed to smoking marijuana frequently, quitting will cause a series of effects, both pleasant and unpleasant.

First I am going to explain the unpleasant short-term effects (due to withdrawal or dependence syndrome). marijuana) and then I'll explain some of the long-term benefits (all positive and very nice).

Short-term effects of quitting marijuana

Marijuana is an addictive drug. It is true that cannabis is not as addictive as cocaine or alcohol, but it still causes serious dependency problems in many people (I see it every day in my addiction therapy sessions, and the detox centers are full of people who have developed such an addiction that they feel unable to control their consumption without aid).

Cannabis is a very complex plant with many different substances, with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) being the substance responsible for most of the negative effects and dependence. The body gets used to the almost constant presence of THC, so it is difficult for him to readjust to his absence when the person who has developed dependence stops smoking frequently.

It is also important to consider genetics. There are people with a greater predisposition to suffer problems due to marijuana use (addiction, anxiety, psychosis, etc.), and others with less probabilities of suffering problems. Some people develop dependence after a few months of use, and others after years.

Whatever your case, the higher the consumption, the more likely there are to suffer problems, especially in people who reach daily consumption or smoke several joints a day for years. In those cases, it is only a matter of time before problems arrive.

When a person has developed tolerance and dependence for marijuana, It is common to feel unpleasant sensations when reducing or cutting consumption. Fortunately, these effects are temporary and disappear when the person manages to stay abstinent for a few weeks.

Most people who use marijuana regularly do so as an attempt to cope with everyday anxiety, sadness, or boredom. They get used to smoking joints more and more often, whenever they feel stress or frustration, so they finish becoming dependent on cannabis (not feeling able to face unpleasant situations without smoking a joint) before).

Those people miss the opportunity to learn how to deal with unpleasant emotions without getting high, so when they try to quit smoking they panic easily. Fortunately, it is something that can be fixed (for example, a good addiction psychologist can help the person deal with stress and anxiety on their own).

Physical Effects of Quitting Marijuana (Short-Term)

• sweats.
• Nausea.
• Muscle pain.
• Fever.
• Gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Headaches.

Psychological Effects of Quitting Marijuana (Short-Term)

• Sleeping problems.
• Loss of appetite.
• Anxiety and irritability.
• Sudden mood swings.
• Sadness and apathy.

These effects are a result of marijuana withdrawal syndrome, They are temporary and disappear when the person manages to stay abstinent for a few weeks. and the body becomes accustomed to the absence of marijuana.

• You may be interested in: "9 Negative Effects of Marijuana on the Brain"

7 Long-Term Psychological Benefits of Quitting Marijuana

• Better ability to concentrate.
• better memory
• Better self-esteem and opinion about oneself.
• Sleep much better, feel rested.
• Greater peace of mind on a day-to-day basis.
• Return to fully enjoying things (activities, conversations...).
• More energy and vitality, more desire to do things.

Frequent marijuana use causes brain damage that can completely change the way a person's mind works (especially in adolescents, since their brains are still maturing). For this reason, when marijuana is stopped, most of the negative effects of marijuana use gradually disappear. Many people feel fully recovered after just a few weeks or months after their last use.

Keep in mind that these are long-term benefits, and the sooner marijuana use is eliminated, the sooner the benefits will be experienced. They also depend on the type of consumption that the person took, in some cases the syndrome of abstinence can last longer, and in others the benefits are enjoyed a few days after quitting the joints.

• Related article: "5 excuses for cannabis smokers not to quit"

What is the best way to quit marijuana?

The best method to quit marijuana is psychotherapyespecially when working with an addiction professional. Psychotherapy allows the person:

• Get to know each other thoroughly and understand how the addiction to marijuana developed.
• Detect the personal difficulties that the person was trying to face using marijuana.
• Practice new strategies to deal with unpleasant emotions on a daily basis, so that you never need to smoke a joint to feel good again.
• Prepare a good relapse prevention strategy adapted to the person.

My name is Luis Miguel Real, and I am a psychologist specializing in addictions. Over the years I have helped hundreds of people overcome their addiction problems, in many cases dependent on cannabis.

If they have understood that you need to quit marijuana to fully enjoy your life and achieve your goals, contact me and we will get to work on your case as soon as possible.