Do You Have a Cannabis Addiction? Top Nine Signs It Has Become a Problem

Dealing with any kind of addiction can be difficult, and the first place you have to start is realizing that you have a problem. One addiction that is becoming increasingly common is cannabis addiction. This is a type of addiction that is very easy to ignore and suppress since many people use cannabis recreationally. It isn’t a serious drug, which makes it easy to downplay its negative effects on your mental state and lifestyle. In this article, we will be discussing the nine warning signs that your cannabis use has become a problem.

1 . Depression and Anxiety

A lot of addictions come with some of the same side effects that make addition easier to spot. Cannabis addiction is no different, as it can cause increased depression and anxiety when it has become more than just a recreational habit. This can happen as your need for cannabis increases in order for you to continue to feel that high. Addiction also messes with the balance of your body and brain, potentially increasing your risk of feeling more depressed and anxious.

For many people, cannabis may have been their solution for depression and anxiety, but it can quickly become the cause of it. This is why even something so commonly used, like cannabis, has serious drawbacks.

2 . Difficulty Sleeping

If you start using cannabis more often instead of just recreationally, this can quickly spiral into an addiction. A common sign of this is increasing difficulty when it comes to getting enough sleep that leaves you feeling rested. You may struggle to fall asleep, or you aren’t able to stay asleep throughout the night. This often leads to a variety of other symptoms, such as feeling tired and lethargic throughout the day and having irritated or bloodshot eyes.

3 . Irrational Behaviors

If you become addicted to cannabis, you may start to show behavioral changes such as irrational behaviors. This is going to look different for everyone since it depends on the type of person you are and what your normal behavior looks like. You may start to think that everyone is against you or that everyone is judging your behavior. You may also start to act spontaneously when that behavior doesn’t make sense or isn’t realistic for your lifestyle.

4 . Lack of Interest In Other Activities

Addiction is something that often starts to take over your life one piece at a time. With cannabis addiction, you will probably start to lose interest in any activity that does not include cannabis. You are constantly looking for that high and quickly discard hobbies and any other activity that you used to enjoy doing. Not only is this bad for your mental health, it usually makes the addiction even worse as you no longer have any other distractions in your life.

5 . Social Isolation

There is a lot of shame that comes with addiction, even if you haven’t admitted that you are addicted. When this happens, a lot of people tend to isolate themselves from others, whether that be their friends or family.

6 . Paranoia and Agitation

Many people consider cannabis to be a safe drug when you compare it to more intense options, but the reality is that it still has the potential to become harmful. Cannabis can also cause paranoia and agitation if you have started to abuse it. The symptoms can quickly escalate if you are also isolating yourself and increasing how much cannabis you are using.

7 . Priority Changes

Part of the irrationality of cannabis addiction is how your priorities are going to change. People who are addicted stop having the correct priorities and start prioritizing when they are going to get their next high. This often results in people losing their jobs, getting kicked out of school, or pushing loved ones away. This can quickly escalate and cause much more severe isolation, allowing them to escalate their cannabis use.

8 . Memory Issues and Mood Swings

Addiction impacts your brain in strange ways, often making it difficult to control your mood or keep track of what you need to do. This is why many people with addiction have memory issues and have high and low emotions that come without warning. This can make it hard to survive in the real world and maintain your responsibilities.

9 . Concealing Cannabis Use

Recreational cannabis use is accepted for the most part in society but when you start to become addicted and abuse this substance, you will often start to develop shame around it. This usually results in you concealing your cannabis use since you know that you are abusing it, but you don’t want to admit that to anyone.

Short-Term Vs Long-Term Cannabis Use

When people start to use cannabis, they are usually only considering the short-term effects of cannabis use. These effects are going to be different for everyone, but in general, cannabis is known for helping you to feel relaxed and lighthearted. You may get the munchies, or you may feel as though time has slowed down. There are some negative short-term effects as well, such as memory issues, confusion, and hallucinations. Some people also become very sleepy and can start to feel paranoid or anxious.

The short-term effects may not seem too bad, but the long-term effects can have a drastic impact on your life. This includes health problems like heart and lung issues and delayed and mental abilities. On the other side, you may see lifestyle side effects such as strained relationships, mental instability, and financial issues.

Conclusion

Even though many people look at cannabis as a safe drug, you can still become addicted to it. The majority of people are going to struggle to use any kind of drug in a responsible and safe way without it getting out of hand. If you believe that you could possibly be addicted to cannabis, you need to watch for these common signs to see if they apply to you.

If you realize that you are addicted to cannabis, this is the first step in the right direction. There is help available, and you are not alone in struggling with this kind of addiction. A big part of recovering is finding a community of people who understand what you are going through and can push you in the right direction.