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The reality is that cannabis use has become more and more socially acceptable in recent years. There are many reasons for this. However, one of the biggest reasons is that many states in the U.S. have made cannabis legal for recreational use. This can make people think that cannabis use is harmless. This is not the case. There can be many mental side effects of cannabis addiction.
Better Understanding the Mental Side Effects of Cannabis Addiction
Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. This includes people who struggle with cannabis addiction. According to the peer-reviewed Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, “Cannabis is the most commonly used substance of abuse in the United States after alcohol and tobacco. In the US, cannabis use increased from 4% to 9.5% between 2001 and 2002 and 2012–2013, and the prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) increased from 1.5% to 2.9% in the same time. Despite these increases in cannabis use and CUD, attitudes towards cannabis use have softened: adult and adolescent perceptions of cannabis use risk have decreased since 2001.”
There are also many mental side effects of cannabis misuse and cannabis addiction. According to the Journal of Addiction Medicine, “Cannabis use has been shown to impair cognitive functions on a number of levels – from basic motor coordination to more complex executive function tasks, such as the ability to plan, organize, solve problems, make decisions, remember, and control emotions and behavior. These deficits differ in severity depending on the quantity, recency, age of onset, and duration of marijuana use.”
Better Understanding Cannabis Addiction
Some people also feel that cannabis is not addictive. This is simply untrue. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, “Despite some contentious discussions regarding the addictiveness of marijuana, the evidence clearly indicates that long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction. Indeed, approximately 9% of those who experiment with marijuana will become addicted (according to the criteria for dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition [DSM-IV]). The number goes up to about 1 in 6 among those who start using marijuana as teenagers and to 25 to 50% among those who smoke marijuana daily.”
Now, many people fail to understand cannabis addiction because they don’t know the signs and the symptoms to look out for. Knowing these signs and symptoms can be critical when it comes time to get help for yourself or a loved one.
The Signs and Symptoms of Cannabis Addiction
Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of cannabis addiction are going to vary based on the individual, but there are some more universal red flags to look out for. The following are a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Not being able to stop using cannabis once started
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Feeling overly anxious and/or depressed
- Isolating oneself from family and close friends
- Negative changes in appetite (including overeating)
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Experiencing mood swings
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Aggressive feelings toward oneself and/or others
- Having suicidal ideations
These are the types of symptoms of cannabis addiction that must be addressed as soon as possible if one is to recover in the long term. Seeking professional help as soon as these symptoms arise can be critical. It can mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
How to Best Treat Cannabis Addiction
There are many ways to treat cannabis addiction. The key is to find the right types of means, modalities, and methods that work best for you. This may come from the many areas of recovery, like psychotherapy, experiential recovery, and holistic healing methods.
Holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation can be ideal for recovery from cannabis addiction. This is because it can address those mental side effects that come from cannabis use.
Yoga also offers a myriad of other benefits. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent, reduce, or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our cannabis addiction recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with afocus on the future.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You are ready. You can do this! We can help.
Many people discuss the emotional component of cannabis addiction, but fail to discuss how much damage it can do mentally. It is important to understand the mental consequences of cannabis addiction if you are going to recover in the long term. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about how to best recover from cannabis addiction, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
