Why do I feel depressed when I'm not smoking weed?
Anonymous
on
Nov 29, 2019
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It's all about chemistry. Drugs "fool" the brain's reward system flooding it with chemicals over and over again. After a long time of using drugs, the brain's response to neurotransmitters stops working properly, for example, the pleasure neurotransmitter Dopamine no longer has the same effect.
For this reason, when you stop smoking, your brain has a hard time adapting now that the reward system isn't constantly being stimulated and the regular Dopamine secretion is not enough.
The feeling of depression comes from a normal reaction of your brain's receptors needing more to "feel better".
Your body craves getting high because that's the purpose of a drug.
A bit of a scientific explanation but I hope it helps.
When it comes to drugs I think science is the right way to approach them.
Dealing with alcohol or drug abuse?
Anonymous
on
Aug 2, 2017
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Weed makes you feel happy because it releases dopamine and it sends out pheromones. It makes your mind happy, if you have rough things going on, you may feel blue the rest of the time. If you are sad before and after but not during, it may be because you have things going on and are depressed otherwise, or you are too used to the happiness from smoking it so often that you don't feel as happy otherwise anymore.
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anita61
on
Jul 10, 2020
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Weed tends to numb out the pain, the noise. It takes you somewhere else, or no where and let's you forget about the day. But when you smoke heavily and consistently as an escape, your brain feels dependent on that to deal with your problems.
Scientifically, studies have found that long-term heavy smoking can heavily affect dopamine levels, reducing it to the point where it might not reach your brain. And that affects many things, such as motivation.
I highly encourage anyone reading this to do your own research, as you should before you try any drug. Not just how to use it and what it's for, but the side effects and how to use it in a helpful manner.
Anonymous
on
Aug 9, 2020
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I felt like this for a while because I started using weed as an escape from everything going on but after a while you start using it as a crutch and you start relying on it and once this becomes a problem you’ll constantly be wanting to smoke and do it just to feel that satisfaction in a way and truly the best thing to do is to find a healthier and more accepted escape or way of coping which in my case I went from smoking to doing small things like crosswords of word searches because they give me something to do to ease my mind without having to turn to weed. It might not be easy at first but it is worth it in the end. I’m going to be honest and say that I don’t know where I was going with this because my memory isn’t the best but the main point was that it’s hard but it’s possible.
StephanieCarr
on
Nov 30, 2020
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I'm sure you should find a new hobby right now. For example, you can master the guitar. This will help you redirect your thoughts. This helped me a couple of years ago. When you abruptly start doing something new for yourself that you are really interested in, that it distracts you from problems. I used to like listening to music when I was depressed, so I thought it would be a good idea to learn how to play these songs myself on guitar. Soon after that, I formed a band and we even managed to perform once on stage. Depression is gone!
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justjack2001
on
Aug 5, 2023
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I'm not a mental health professional, but I can offer some general insights. Feeling depressed when not smoking weed may be related to various factors, including the impact of marijuana on the brain and body, psychological factors, and potential withdrawal symptoms.
1. Dependence on marijuana: Regular use of marijuana can lead to dependence, which means your body may have become accustomed to the effects of the drug. When you stop using it, your brain chemistry might be affected, leading to feelings of depression.
2. Withdrawal symptoms: Some individuals experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using marijuana. These can include mood changes, irritability, anxiety, and depression.
3. Psychological dependence: In addition to the physical dependence, you may have developed a psychological dependence on weed as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or other emotional issues. Without it, you might feel overwhelmed, leading to feelings of depression.
4. Underlying mental health issues: It's possible that marijuana use was masking underlying mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. When you stop using it, these issues may resurface.
If you're experiencing depression or other distressing symptoms, it's essential to seek professional help. A mental health professional can properly assess your situation, provide a diagnosis, and offer appropriate treatment options. They can also help you understand the relationship between your weed use and your feelings of depression.
Remember that you don't have to navigate this alone. Reach out to a healthcare professional or a therapist who can offer guidance and support tailored to your specific needs.
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krishna9762
on
Jan 18, 2018
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Smoking cause the mind to fall and give's an effect of an antidepressant medication. Addiction to smoking weed will cause this problems. best way to overcome this problem are by consulting a doctor and taking medication to overcome this addiction...
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Luciia
on
Jan 27, 2018
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THC can alter the response to negative images or emotions by activating the endocannabinoid system in the brain.
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Gracey
on
Feb 9, 2018
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Weed can be addictive, like any drug/addictive substance if you don't take it for a while you may suffer withdrawal symptoms, leading to feelings of depression.
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Rugbyboy98
on
May 2, 2018
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Weed numbs the mind and therefore causes you to experience less emotions compared to when you are not smoking
Anonymous
on
May 9, 2018
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Because you are getting psychologically addicted to it , i hope you can soon get over it because it's really harmful more than you think
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gigantMoon31
on
Jul 16, 2018
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you may be addicted to it. smoking it everyday may not help you. you may think it calms you down but you are getting yourself more addicted to it. try to smoke very less and less every day and see where that gets you. if nothing helps see a therapist and see what they recommend for you.
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enigmaticForever38
on
Aug 11, 2018
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You might suffer from clinical depression, or you might think you need to smoke to be happy. Were you happy before you starting smoking?
Anonymous
on
Sep 11, 2019
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You feel depression when you are not smoking weed because you are addicted to weed. Although weed isn't physically addictive it is emotionally. You most likely used weed as a coping mechanism to get away from your issues but when you sober up your issues are still there. Is it possible you've suppressed your issues and ignored them, as well, and used weed to help you do so? You should attempt to access and shine light on these underlying issues you've hidden so that weed can be something you do for fun rather than to escape your problems and then have to deal with them once you sober up.
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Fairy33
on
Jan 16, 2020
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Weed only helps for a little while, but when looking in long term it is totally the opposite. If you believe that by smoking weed you will fight the depression, you are thinking wrong. If you feel like you are struggling with depression you need to find the cause and treat it properly, finding your own happiness through other options. I believe that practicing well being it will be a great help. When you are well everyone is noticing it. Start with small steps like a proper diet, activities in the nature, meditation, volunteer work, strengthening the relationships with family/friend/partner, you will find more happiness this way.
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Friendlypopsicle
on
Jan 30, 2021
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There are two parts of you that are affected by weed. Your physical body as well as your internal mind. Your physical body is affected by weed because an unnatural amount of serotonin (your happy hormone)is released into your body by the weed. That is why you often feel euphoric and plain old happy when you are high, however when the weed wears off your body stops releasing as much or even less serotonin for long time smokers this is when you experience a low. emotions associated with a low will often be depression. The other aspect that weed affects is your internal mind it also very powerful in creating your reality which can often (if you are unhappy with it) can cause depression.
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CharlesC
on
Feb 13, 2021
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There are a few reasons this could happen. Often people become dependent on weed and when they stop certain physiological processes start to occur causing irritation, mood swings, trouble sleeping at night. With that said, there could also be a much deeper problem causing your depression. Are you using weed as a scape for certain things in your life you find hard to deal with? Many people smoke weed as a way to run from problems in their life they find too difficult to solve. When people successfully stop smoking weed these problems become much more palpable and it’s difficult to cope.
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bouncyWatermelon6770
on
Apr 8, 2021
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Weed is not technically addictive but it is habit forming, when we become accustomed to having something and then we don't have it anymore it can be stressful and that stress can present it's self in many ways. Weed creates chemical reactions in your body that effect the way our synapses fire as a result it can effect mood when we are using it. My concern would be that perhaps the Weed is masking an underlying depression issue that you are suffering from, for this reason I would maybe consider looking into that. There is nothing wrong with smoking a bit of weed but if it becomes a necessity we should look for the reason why.
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Yourstruly14
on
May 2, 2021
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co-dependency it sounds like. I assume you've been smoking weed for a long time. A friend of mind had this very same problem. Although he wanted to quit, he couldn't sleep at night and the way the drugs held him back in life only made him seek the escape more. It doesn't matter whether you started just for fun or from peer pressure, etc. It can be a very tough habit to break. Remind yourself the benefits of not smoking weed and also going to the right people for help quitting. Have faith in yourself that you can indeed lead a well-rounded and happy life without it. It will just take you some time.
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NinaBee
on
Jul 16, 2021
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Weed has "high" properties that activate the body's reward system, which leads to the feelings of calm, happiness and ease when high. When that high wears off, the underlying issues are no longer masked. If you're feeling depressed, it's a really good time to seek professional help. This has a lot of benefits, including but not limited to a reduced reliance on weed as an emotional buffer, understanding yourself, reduced risk of addiction or substance abuse, and addressing the underlying issues that make depression worse. Getting proper medical attention is a much more effective form of self-love, self-care and self-respect than constantly being high on weed, which can also affect driving, relationships, awareness and possibly career opportunities.