What happens during marijuana withdrawal?

The effects of being without marijuana when marijuana addiction is in effect causes a variety of in marijuana withdrawal symptoms depending on how much and how often you smoke. Frequent users will begin to notice some symptoms within the first eight hours and may continue to experience symptoms anywhere from 10 to 45 days. Uncontrollable cravings for the drug coupled with difficulty in managing behavior and emotions are the basic indicators of a marijuana detox.

Marijuana users may experience a few or all of the following symptoms:

• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stomach pain, nausea, physical tension
• Trouble sleeping
• Bizarre dreams
• Loss of appetite
• Shakes, mild sweats or chills

Individuals with co-occurring mental illnesses or behavioral issues are prone to more intense symptoms during withdrawal and are more likely to relapse in a frantic attempt to self-medicate.

The Causes of Withdrawal

The one thing nearly all addictive substances have in common is the ability to produce an exaggerated sense of euphoria by acting on dopamine neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain. In other words, it’s easy to get hooked on these drugs because they make you feel good. The problem is, once an external stimulus has been introduced, it replaces the body’s natural manufacturing, which eventually shuts down altogether. Sudden absence of the drug in the same quantity or frequency results in exaggerated dysphoria-the exact opposite of what happens when the drug is present in the body-also known as withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment

While there are ongoing studies to determine whether medications can successfully contribute to treating marijuana addiction, no conclusive evidence has yet to be submitted.

The tried and true methods for stopping the cycle of addiction include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Multi-systemic Therapy (MST)
• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Support groups

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy seeks to examine assumptions, thoughts, and feelings that affect personal beliefs and lead to unhealthy reactions. Clients might be asked to journal responses to specific events, analyze personal belief systems, practice new methods of interaction, and increase exposure to previously fearful activities.

Multi-systemic Therapy focuses primarily on adolescents exhibiting antisocial and disruptive behaviors and involves family, friends, teachers, and community in order to craft an environment both sympathetic and supportive of the individual in need.

Individual counseling addresses core issues essential to understanding the root cause for an individual’s addiction. Examples might include stress management, low self-esteem, difficulty with relationships, and past or current abuse.

Group counseling encourages feedback from other participants along with social bonding through shared storytelling, role playing, support, guidance, and observation. It’s also a great opportunity to practice new skills and behaviors before bringing them out into the world.

Support groups provide a platform for individuals to share past and present experiences with an understanding audience and a chance to form supportive social networks outside of drug rehab.

Treatment at The Michael's House Treatment Center

Michael's House has a strong, clinically based marijuana addiction treatment program addressing all aspects of an individual’s chemical dependency, psychiatric and emotional needs. Upon admission, each client is assessed by an internist, addictionologist and a psychiatrist, and then monitored throughout their stay in treatment.

Michael's House’s approach to healing for individuals is a balanced approach that addresses chemical dependency and mental health issues, provides individual and group therapy, promotes immersion in 12-step recovery work and self help support groups, and provides introduction to a variety of mindfulness and spiritual philosophies and practices to enhance personal spiritual connection and personal growth.

If you’re ready to try out a new way of life without marijuana, call us at Michael's House today.

Understanding Marijuana Detox

Before you go into a drug treatment program, drug detox is an essential first step in your recovery. While you may be able to stop taking marijuana on your own, marijuana detoxification is better undertaken under the direct supervision of consulting medical professionals.

Marijuana affects brain development. The drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. The longer a person uses marijuana, the more likely they will have withdrawal symptoms when they aren’t using it. Detoxing from marijuana can lead to uncomfortable physical symptoms and cravings, which can be managed with the help of a marijuana detox center like Michael's House.

What Happens During Marijuana Detox

Marijuana interacts with a person’s central nervous system and produces pleasurable side effects. After discontinuing marijuana use, chronic users often display increased aggression several days to a week since the drug was used. This time can be confusing for a person. It can also be frightening for people who are caring for the person with the addiction, especially if they are doing a marijuana detox at home without supervision.

People who suffer from addiction often have at least one other mental health issue. A condition called dual diagnosis. Mental health conditions can make rehabilitation more difficult. In some cases, the conditions could even be contributing to the addiction. When doctors spot these conditions, they can begin therapies to ease symptoms and promote healing.

After this initial assessment, the patient can start their marijuana detox program. Not only can physicians prescribe medication to help patients heal, but they can also provide nutrient-rich food. Some people who have withdrawal symptoms and experience sobriety feel a strong sense of depression. The staff at a marijuana detox center knows to keep an eye out for this form of depression, so they can step in to help the individual feel better.

It often takes one to two weeks for marijuana to clear a patient’s system. However, some people can emerge from a detox program faster. Similarly, some people need more time to complete the process. Patients and their doctors determine when the detoxification program is over based on individual symptoms of their marijuana detox.

Benefits of a Marijuana Detox Program

Many people are familiar with the advantages of marijuana detox programs. However, there are still some misconceptions about what these programs can do for people struggling with addiction. A marijuana detox program can help break the addiction cycle and provide the tools needed to live a sober life. In addition, a marijuana detox program can also help to improve overall health and well-being.

Some physical and mental benefits from a marijuana detox program can include the following:

• Improved cognitive functioning
• Decreased risk of heart disease and respiratory problems
• Enhanced mood and ability to handle stress
• Improved relationships with friends and family
• Increased energy and motivation

Once the body has been detoxed, the focus will shift to rebuilding health and vitality. This process often includes education about nutrition, stress management, and other holistic approaches to wellness. Through a comprehensive marijuana detox program, it is possible to achieve long-term sobriety and improve overall health.

Tips for Detoxification Success

Detox is one of the biggest challenges facing individuals who are attempting to overcome marijuana addiction. Marijuana detox is a difficult, but necessary, process in which the individual stops using marijuana so that the toxins associated with the drug are given a chance to leave the body. Until this process is complete, the individual cannot continue on with counseling and other elements of drug rehab.

By following the tips below, individuals will have an advantage when it comes time to take part in marijuana detox. This information was obtained by asking for input from both addiction treatment professionals as well as those who have been through the detox process.

Tips for Marijuana Detox Success

Have a good attitude. Individuals who enter marijuana detox with the correct mindset and a real desire to enact change in their lives are the ones who get through the process on the first pass. By fighting the “system” and looking for shortcuts during treatment, the individual is selling short their chances of success.

Be prepared. When withdrawal symptoms occur during marijuana detox, it can throw many people for a loop. If they are not prepared for the kind of physical and emotional changes they will experience the process can be more stressful. Common withdrawal symptoms include: depression, anxiety, mood swings, loss of appetite, and a strong pull towards relapse.

Rely on the staff. The medical staff that oversees marijuana detox is there for a reason: to help individuals get through what can be a very difficult time. Individuals are encouraged to ask questions and get advice from the detox staff -especially when they are in the midst of withdrawal symptoms and feel as if they might leave the program or relapse.

Don’t get discouraged. Many people do not get through marijuana detox on their first try. While this can be discouraging, it is important to stay healthy and then attempt the process again as soon as possible. Some individuals do not successfully complete marijuana detox until their third or fourth attempt, but once they do, the feeling of accomplishment carries over into the remainder of their rehab process.

It is important to remember that marijuana detox does NOT represent a complete recovery from addiction. Detox is simply a part of the process, albeit a very important one. Some detox providers will claim that their procedure will “cure” their patients of their drug addiction. These claims are simply not genuine. In order to achieve recovery from marijuana addiction, the individual must also take part in those programs that address the psychological elements of the condition, such as counseling and aftercare.

Michael's House is a residential marijuana treatment facility located in the historic city of Palm Springs, California. Using a combination of holistic care and modern treatment methods, Michael's House helps the recovering marijuana addict achieve wellness in every aspect of his or her life. For more information, contact Michael's House today at 760-548-4032.

Sources

• ¹ “Marijuana.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, August 2017. Accessed 7 September 2017.
• ² “Marijuana Withdrawal Is Real.” NIDA for Teens, 2 April 2015. Accessed 7 September 2017.
• ³ “Cannabis (Marijuana) Withdrawal.” Psych Central, 9 August 2017. Accessed 7 September 2017.