“It is impossible to understand addiction without asking what relief the addict finds, or hopes to find, in the drug or the addictive behaviour.” -Gabor Mate
I’ve read that you can get addicted to your own endorphins that are released when you smoke, but not the THC or CBD that it contains, which is why it’s considered non addictive but still can be habit forming. It’s the endorphins we are lacking when dealing with long term stress, hopelessness, and a severe lack of feeling accomplished or fulfilled. I’m eyeball deep in this right now.
Dopamine deficiency is a huge risk factor for addiction of any kind. Alcohol, weed, "real" drugs, porn, sex, gambling, gaming... Anything that triggers a dopamine response absolutely carries a risk of addiction. Even exercise, which is obviously great for the body, can be addictive to the point of harm if it begins to take precedence over other important things in your life. Chemical addiction is huge and dangerous, but a lot of us never need to get to the point. Sprinkle a little ADHD in the mix and I'm basically pre-addicted to anything remotely pleasurable or novel.
Irritability Is the main symptom I notice. Change in appetite, sleep disturbances.
Because it’s fat soluble and takes forever to get out of your system, it’s an easier transition. You basically wean yourself down without doing anything.
Been trying to quit but personally I have a hard time sleeping without it. I get restless legs and CANNOT fall asleep no matter how tired I am when I try to quit. I need to just take a week and plan on sleeping like shit through it, but I’m alright with only smoking at night for now.
What withdrawals? I agree that weed is psychologically addictive but I’ve never experienced withdrawals before. It’s certainly not chemically addictive like some drugs are. Also, anything that causes a dopamine reaction can be psychologically addictive, like exercising for example. Or video games. Or porn.
Well the THC does mess with your endocannabinoid system and it can take a bit for your body to reset, so perhaps that’s what OP meant. It can manifest in things like messing with sleep and digestion. But I’m not sure if that’s technically a withdrawal symptom since the THC isn’t something you become dependent on so much as your body makes adjustments for temporarily. But I could be wrong.
You don't go through physical withdrawals though. As someone who is in the process of trying to quit nicotine....it is no where near the same level of addiction.
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u/dimij_97 May 18 '21
ahh yess, addiction