The medical name Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome may sound worrisome, but the symptoms aren’t life-threatening and are significantly less severe than the withdrawal symptoms experienced by heavy drinkers when they stop drinking, for example.
While the symptoms create discomfort and anger while they continue, you should have no issue avoiding a recurrence unless you’re a heavy user.
Some people have equated quitting cannabis to stopping coffee, for example. Caffeine withdrawal is defined in the DSM-5 as causing headaches, irritability, sadness, and cognitive and behavioral impairment.
CWS effects can last anywhere from one to two weeks for frequent and occasional users, and up to a month for chronic users. Further, you can read a beginner’s guide about bongs.
These are the most common CWS symptoms:
Irritability
Irritability is one of the first symptoms to arise after quitting smoking, usually within a day or two. It might be anything from a minor annoyance to mood swings, hostility, and even aggression. While this is a common reaction in people going through cannabis withdrawal, if the hostility lasts longer than a week, we urge seeking professional help.
Anxiety
During the first few days of your withdrawal, you’ll most likely feel anxious. If you’ve ever had anxiety, quitting cannabis can make it worse, and some people even claim to have panic attacks as a result. This can have an impact on your overall mental health or pre-existing mental health concerns, but keep in mind that this is only a temporary situation.
It’s critical to continue reminding yourself that you’re feeling worried or paranoid as a result of quitting smoking at this time. If you’re having trouble coping with major changes, you might want to talk to a friend, family member, or a licensed therapist. You can read more: most valued smoking accessories for beginners.
Depression
Feelings of depression or sadness, which can be weed-induced or pre-existing, are the third CWS symptom. Many persons who have quit smoking have remarked that they are less interested in regular activities and have difficulty concentrating on them.
Remember that these thoughts are normal because quitting smoking (especially if you’ve been smoking for a long period) might make you feel as if time has been wasted. This is a time when you may experience resurfacing of previously suppressed emotions.
However, this is also an opportunity for you to reflect and make positive adjustments in your life. If the task proves to be too difficult and time-consuming, it’s a good idea to consult a public relations expert.
Sleep Difficulty
People consume marijuana for a variety of reasons, one of which is to improve their sleep. People who stop using marijuana have problems going asleep or have extremely vivid dreams as a result of this self-formed habit.
Dr. Hans Hamburger, a neurologist and sleep expert, revealed to VICE that marijuana shortens the REM phase of sleep and interferes with a person’s capacity to achieve REM sleep, the period associated with dream vividness.
If you’ve been using medicine to suppress a certain occurrence for a long time, after you stop taking it, the phenomenon will return stronger. This is known as the ‘rebound effect.’
Sleep problems usually go away after a week, while insomnia has been known to continue for up to a month after quitting.
Somatic Symptoms
Stomach pain, hunger changes, weight loss (or increase), headaches, sweating, fever, and shakiness are just a few of the somatic or physical symptoms of CWS. They arise in the first few days but are less intense and last for a shorter period of time.