Marijuana withdrawal symptoms are usually mild in nature compared to those experienced with alcohol and other drugs. However, it can be uncomfortable enough that those trying to quit will relapse just to relieve the symptoms. This means that despite being non-threatening, the danger of someone trying to withdraw from using marijuana will eventually fail in doing it.
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Significance of Marijuana Withdrawal
In 1994, marijuana withdrawal was not considered as a condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) because of some doubts about its clinical significance. However, further research that was conducted by DSM IV shows that withdrawing from marijuana should be a target for clinical treatment because many people who are trying to quit will cause them to relapse.
This is similar to anyone who is also withdrawing from alcohol because they often pickup another drink just to relieve their discomfort from the withdrawal symptoms. As for marijuana users, they will just smoke another joint just to relieve themselves as well.
A study usually confirms this because they found out that 70.4% of users who try to quit marijuana just relapsed so that they can relieve themselves from the withdrawal symptoms. If this is the case for those trying to withdraw, it can cause some serious problems to their job, studies and personal life.
Craving for Marijuana
The most common symptom found in marijuana withdrawal is that the quitter craves for marijuana and often times have a stronger desire for it. A study shows that 75.7% of quitters are having an intense craving for marijuana.
Mood Swings
The second withdrawal symptom commonly reported is that quitters experience mood swings. These users usually undergo a series of emotional mood swings that ranges from anger and euphoria, depression and back again. Anger and irritability is common for anyone trying to quit from using any type of drug especially if they are being forced to do it.
It was reported that 50.1% of marijuana quitters experience mood swings especially irritability or anxiety. Other than that, users experience nervousness, aggression, loss of concentration and restlessness. Usually, these symptoms will start to diminish with two to three weeks but it can linger somewhere around three months.
Sleep Disruption
Insomnia is a common withdrawal symptom not only in marijuana but in many other drugs as well. Anyone who is addicted to any type of drug finds it hard to sleep.
Marijuana users will experience insomnia symptoms for about a few days or even several weeks. There are also some users who will experience occasional sleeplessness for a few months right after they quit.
Headaches
Just like sleep disruption, headaches are very common withdrawal symptoms in marijuana and other types of drugs. But then not everyone who quits marijuana experiences this but when they do, it can be very intense especially after a few days after quitting.
Other Symptoms
Researchers reported that other withdrawal symptoms would include weight loss or gain, appetite change, cramps, digestion problems or nausea after eating. Other reports show that the symptoms also include increased or decreased sex drive, night sweats and loss of sense of humor. There are also other users who experience dizziness and shaking once they withdraw.
The physical symptoms that occur in marijuana withdrawal are less intense and will fade very quickly unlike the ones experienced with the psychological symptoms.
