Our happiness, fear and desires exist because of that squishy thing that lies inside our skull—our brain. It plays a vital role in generating our emotions and makes us strive for things that give us pleasure. Do you know that our brain circuitry starts expanding as we grow? New neurons come into existence and form synapses, which is why we learn new things. However, consuming bad things like cannabis has a detrimental impact on our brain’s circuitry and impacts learning, cognitive functions and our behaviour.
Cannabis: Inhibits Learning and Impacts Behaviour
While most people yearn to master productive habits that allow them to live prosperous and healthy lives, others lose connection with reality and end up abusing narcotics like cannabis. Over some time, our brain circuitry is altered due to the excessive use of cannabis, and we fail to function in the usual way. The feelings of ‘high’ dictate behaviour at every step, and it becomes difficult to control behaviour. Therefore, addiction counselling is crucial to nip the problem in the bud and move from the high phase to the healing phase.
Identifying Cannabis Addiction as a Problem
Cannabis addiction often goes unnoticed because many communities do not consider cannabis to be as dangerous as ‘Class A drugs. In some cultures, cannabis is smoked as part of religious activities. While there are some sections of people who consider cannabis to be completely natural and without any harmful effects, there are others who regard them as a medicine for stress relief. Such grossly unique and wrong viewpoints create a positive aura around cannabis, making them appear innocuous instead of dangerous.
It is vital to identify cannabis as a health hazard and debunk the whimsical excuses people use to abuse it. Some of the adverse effects of cannabis overuse that clearly establish its harmful effects are:
- Reduction in memory and intelligence
- Dependency on the drug
- Chronic psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum disorders
- Panic attacks
- Psychosis
- Lung problems due to smoking cannabis
- Manic behaviour
- Suicidal thoughts
One of the biggest reasons for curbing cannabis use at the earliest is its tendency to act as a gateway drug. A person frequently using cannabis might not get similar highs with the drug anymore and would like to experiment with more dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin.
Moreover, cannabis cause depersonalization and the person abusing the drug starts to behave differently from their regular self, indulging in more dangerous behaviour without owning up to their acts. Hence, they are likely to get caught in legal trouble and even sent to jail for their illicit actions.
Identifying When You Need to Help Overcoming Cannabis Addiction
Cannabis addiction progresses slowly and in a way that is hard to spot. There are times when a person feels they are entirely in control of how much cannabis they use, but then suddenly, a time comes when they are skidding down a slippery slope knowing the dangers but still enjoying the ride. Due to the thrill and enjoyment associated with cannabis, they constantly ignore the hazards and continue on their path until they crash. Therefore, it is important to stop before the treacherous slope arrives by spotting the early indicators as mentioned below:
- Your work and social life are hurting, but you don’t care
- You are called out for your bloodshot eyes regularly by people you know and even strangers
- You are no longer concerned about your hygiene and how you look (despite being vain for a significant part of your life before getting hooked on cannabis)
- Your life becomes utterly dependent on cannabis, and you feel powerless against your cravings
- You only crave friendship with people who smoke cannabis
The Path to Cannabis Recovery
The path to cannabis recovery is not easy, but it is relatively easier to quit when compared with harder drugs like cocaine and heroin. Below are three steps that you can follow on your path to recovery from cannabis:
1.Acknowledge Your Problem and Commit to Change: The first step in cannabis recovery is acknowledging a problem and committing to change. It’s essential to recognize any adverse consequences associated with cannabis use and the desire to make positive changes.
2.Seek Support and Professional Help: Recovery from cannabis use can be challenging, and having a support system is crucial. Contact friends, family, or support groups who can offer understanding, encouragement, and guidance throughout the process.
3.Develop Healthy Coping Strategies and Lifestyle Changes: To sustain long-term recovery, developing healthy coping strategies and making positive lifestyle changes is important. Identify triggers and situations that may tempt you to use cannabis and find alternative activities or coping mechanisms to deal with stress, boredom, or emotional challenges. Engage in activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as regular exercise, mindfulness or meditation practices, hobbies, or pursuing new interests
Final Thoughts
Identifying and taking action at the right time is the best way to overcome cannabis addiction. Following the steps in this article can put your life on the right track.
But if somehow, it is not possible to conquer cannabis addiction by yourself; it is vital to visit a cannabis rehab in the UK that has a good track record of rehabilitating patients.
