This young man sitting on a bed doesn't think he needs to worry about marijuana withdrawal.Any mind-altering substance that creates a dependence that’s psychological or physical can be addictive, and some experience marijuana withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal from marijuana are different than other drugs, but they do exist. Some people think that marijuana can’t become addictive, but this is far from the truth. There are many people who develop a marijuana addiction, and it begins to affect their life.

The first thing one must understand about addiction is that it’s not dependent on any type of substance. There are some drugs out there that are more addictive than others, but some addictions don’t involve a substance at all. Once you understand what addiction actually is, you’ll begin to understand what marijuana withdrawal entails.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is when a person suffers from a mental obsession and physical craving to an activity. One of the reasons treatment centers teach mindfulness is so a person can be aware of these sensations. An addiction causes a person to continue doing something even though they have negative consequences. There are so many different addictions that a multitude of 12-step approach programs has been formed:

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
  • Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
  • Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA)
  • Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

Much like other addictions, an addiction to marijuana develops when a person uses the activity to deal with life. Each time a person uses marijuana as a way to relax or escape or to deal with stress, anger or emotions, a dangerous habit forms. When the person does this, the brain sees it as the proper coping mechanism and tells the person to do that again. What happens is that the need to resolve issues and cravings becomes greater than logical decision making.

What Does Marijuana Withdrawal Look Like?

When a person is accustomed to turning to marijuana regularly to handle various situations, the brain develops a dependency. If the person tries to moderate or quit, the person begins to experience various symptoms of withdrawal. With drugs like opiates or benzodiazepines, a person can experience physical withdrawal, but marijuana is different. Most of the symptoms a person experiences for marijuana withdrawal include:

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Paranoia

Do You Need Detox for Marijuana Withdrawal?

Although you won’t experience physical marijuana withdrawal symptoms, it may be advantageous to begin at a detox level of care to help your recovery. Many people believe they can detox alone, but the withdrawal symptoms and cravings sometimes are far too strong. Without being in a safe place to go through the detox process, the chances of relapse are extremely high. Being in detox will help you deal with some of the initial symptoms of withdrawal and set you up for addiction treatment.

Recovery from Addiction

Drug use is only a symptom of the problem when it comes to addiction, so you need to uncover more answers. In treatment, you’ll learn about what is triggering your cravings to use so you can reflect on your situation with a clear head. Through this process, you’ll receive suggestions from highly trained clinicians to help you deal with life in a better way. You’ll also go through different types of addiction counseling in which you see that you’re not alone in your struggle.

When you’re at Beaches Recovery, you will see that your addiction to marijuana is no different than someone else’s addiction. The key is that you begin to see that marijuana is the source of the problems you encounter. Whether it’s your relationships with loved ones or your career, marijuana can cause anyone’s life to be unmanageable. Allow us to help you overcome your addiction by calling us today at 8666050532.