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Why do I feel depressed when I'm not smoking weed?

97 Answers
Last Updated: 08/05/2023 at 3:26am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Psychologist

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Top Rated Answers
Keyshawn82
- Expert in Alcohol/Drug Abuse
June 29th, 2018 10:36pm
I've dealt with this. I guess, I've built a mental dependence, and I think weed is the only thing that makes me happy. When I'm not high, I just want to get high to feel the stresses of my life being temporarily removed.
Pandette
- Expert in Alcohol/Drug Abuse
August 3rd, 2015 12:08am
I can give you an answer based on my point of view. When I was going through depression, I used other sources to keep myself to not feel so depressed and even happy at times. Those would include a variety of drugs, one of them being marijuana. I was so accustomed to associating smoking pot with my happiness that whenever I wasn't smoking weed everything just went back to a depressive state. Through time, I eventually conducted "psychological experiments" on myself (Classical Conditioning). I was so conditioned to believe smoking pot was my source of happiness. Eventually, the desire faded and happiness comes naturally. Hope this helps! Sending lots of love and hugs your way!
Brittneym101
- Expert in Alcohol/Drug Abuse
February 25th, 2017 12:35am
You feel depressed when you're not smoking weed because you are too reliant on this substance. You think you need it, but you don't. If you miss is that much you have to be consuming it a h3ck of a lot. You feel depressed because you feel like it's the only thing there to support you and something to make you feel better when you're down.
electricHug43
- Expert in Alcohol/Drug Abuse
February 7th, 2016 11:25pm
These are the few reason why you may feel that way: 1. You're an occasional smoker, when you're bored you smoke and you tend to smoke whenever you think you could doesn't matter if you need it or not. This can cause your dopamine level to differ. 2. You feel like you have nothing to do when you're off smoking because you're so used to smoking it ( like how people smoke cigarettes) . Don't worry all these are just temporary. You can try taking primrose vitamin pill to level your hormones again and hink of the times when you feel that you need to stop weed because it's causing you problems like weight problems, headaches, etc. It'll help to motivate you to not be depress :)
HelpWisely
- Expert in Alcohol/Drug Abuse
December 9th, 2016 5:57am
That is natural, weed makes you forget your depression, it brings your mind into a different kind of state where you feel relaxed, calm and in the present moment. This is just a temporary chemical effect which will never last and when the effect goes away it brings back your original state of mind.
reliableApricot2503
- Expert in Alcohol/Drug Abuse
June 29th, 2018 12:48pm
So glad i found a site like this. I definitely was able to gain a new outlook on my addiction to weed by just reading you guys posts. Its easier said than done when it comes to smoking. I really feel like my mind cant resort to latching onto anything positive for long without out. 😩 . Ive been thinking of being more proactive and trying to kick the habit. But i find its more hard to kick depression 😩
Adesa
June 10th, 2015 8:09am
Depending if you a boy or girl and your family medical history, boys are more effected if they smoke weed before 21. A boys brain is at its most crucial developmental stage between 16 and 21! This is the years boys play with weed and too much alters the chemical balance in your brain . If there is a family history of bipolar or depression, it can bring on depression. It s known to contribute to schizophrenia in some as well. If depression is in your family, weed will leave you feeling low when you NOT HIGH on the drug. Too much weed, makes you feel tired taking away enthusiasm hence the lack of energy etc which contributes to feeling depressed. It causes more problems than just mental sadly, you tend to be physically less active in all areas of life eg personal regarding relationships and sport. If you have a family history of depression, Bipolar and or schizophrenia stay off weed as weed today is hydroponic which means it's more potent with chemicals added to it. It also stays in your DNA for 7 years.
Anonymous
February 9th, 2016 10:45am
Weed can provide you with an escape, or distraction. It can give a calming effect or a sense of euphoria.
TheTripleS719
September 17th, 2016 7:12am
Weed releases endorphins and makes your metabolism faster. It naturally brings you up, and makes things seem less heavy.
Anonymous
December 1st, 2017 12:01am
Weed is a drug, and it alters your brain chemistry. In particular, the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters are blocked so your neurons are constantly being stimulated. Which is why smoking weed can be very awesome. However, lets take a step back and frame our thinking in another way. Pain killers have many different structures and thusly many different functions. Some pain killers act in the very same way weed does, blocking the reuptake of certain chemicals to reduce pain, inflammation and many other things. The claim I am trying to make is that doing a mind-altering drug takes you out of a sober view of the world. Relative to your feelings when sober, your feelings when altered are without a doubt going to be better. This lack of heightedned emotions/feelings could be why you feel depressed when not smoking. Be sure to be mindful that what your doing is arbitrary, doesn't matter if its drugs, gambling, sex addiction, or even drinking a glass of water at 3 AM it will bring feelings of elation, it is up to you know your body and find a sustainable path in this life.
Anonymous
June 18th, 2015 3:27am
You might have simply developed a psychological dependence to it. Kind of like a security blanket or a teddy bear.
katieee1234
May 3rd, 2019 4:52am
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. For many years, marijuana has been considered a soft drug, exempt from the usual concerns about addiction. However, recent research has shown that cannabis withdrawal can and does occur when heavy pot smokers discontinue its use. If you have been smoking pot heavily for at least a few months—whether as a regular pattern, in binges, or if you have become addicted—you may experience cannabis withdrawal if you abruptly stop smoking. Although cannabis withdrawal typically lasts one to two weeks, some marijuana users experience several weeks or months of withdrawal symptoms, known as post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).One person's experience of cannabis withdrawal might be quite different from another person's, and the severity depends on a whole host of factors. However, there are certain common symptoms that usually occur within 24 to 72 hours of stopping heavy use. Some symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and weight changes. Depression, or feeling an excessively unhappy mood accompanied by several other symptoms—like decreased interest in daily activities and difficulty concentrating—is another possibility of cannabis withdrawal. You should try and keep your feelings in perspective: Occasional depressed feelings are natural, but it is not unusual for people coming off cannabis to also become more aware of some of the negative consequences of their drug use, which can be quite depressing themselves. For example, many people who cease marijuana after using for several years can feel they have wasted a considerable part of their life. These feelings are normal and can often be used to bring about positive changes you want to make in your life. If the feelings of depression don't lift after a week, or if making changes in your life seems overwhelming, seek help from your doctor or a drug counselor. As with other mood changes, depression can be substance-induced or pre-existing to your cannabis use, and is treatable. Making life changes is always challenging, but with the right support, can be transformative.
Anonymous
February 16th, 2015 3:29pm
Weed is a anti-depressant it helps people relax but in no way shape or form is it good for you. So that's the reason
LatteJoy
January 28th, 2015 1:27pm
I would say that you've become dependent on the weed to feel good. And therefore when you're not smoking, it's your brain craving that feeling that. Also, if you already have depression, you rely on weed when you're depressed, but now you're also needing it. It may have acted as an anti-depressant for you at first, but now it's doing the exact opposite. I hope you feel better very soon. Take care. ^_^
gracefulWorld
May 26th, 2018 3:34pm
You may feel depressed but you’re not. You’re mind is probably telling you that so you give in. And you’re body is relying on that high for happiness but it’s not real. You can find you’re happiness without it.
Kayaondra02
May 5th, 2018 1:08am
Weed alters your mind. It gives you a sense of numbness. It just makes things better to be around and to control. When you don’t smoke, you feel how you normally do. But when you do smoke, you feel different. Better.
Nadeschat
November 10th, 2016 2:27pm
Drugs can be used as a distraction, something to numb the physical and mental pain of certain situations. Feeling high can give you a sense of comfort falsifying the feeling of relief
TheIrrationalBuddhist20
October 28th, 2016 4:14am
When you smoke weed, your brain releases a lot of dopamine. It can end up exhausted the next day and have to have time before giving you more "happy" chemicals. St. John's Wart helped balance this for me!
friendlyDeer
December 3rd, 2017 5:25pm
If it's not your first time smoking weed, your probably experiencing a small "amotivational syndrome". Amotivational syndrome is a psychological condition caused by cannabis, associated with diminished inspiration to participate in activities. Cannabis tends to produce a downregulation of dopamine receptors a chemical produced by the brain which plays an important role in executive functions, motor control, motivation, arousal, reinforcement, and reward, which is why you might be experiencing depression. Smoking weed causes the exact opposite in excess which is why you experience the exact opposite when the effect leaves your body.
Licomysterious
November 9th, 2017 6:03pm
Because you are trying to solve your depression by taking weed which is not a permanent solution. First solve why you are depressed.
hibiscusbreeze
November 2nd, 2015 9:58am
I think a lot of people rely on various substances to make you feel better, but in my experience it is only ever a costly and temporary experience. When we go without any substances that our bodies and minds have become used of having we are going to feel withdrawal symptoms. The big trick is to learn to get happiness from doing safer and healthier things instead.
MyNameIsAustin
November 22nd, 2017 1:57pm
Cannabis affects everyone differently, and the way it affects you can change over time. Cannabis, like any other euphoric substance, can give us a false immediate satisfaction, that leaves us unsatisfied when we are sober. It's important to remember that using cannabis to self-medicate our mental health is a very bad idea; Depending on hundreds of different factors, you could very well end up making your mental health issues worse.
Game0ver
October 12th, 2016 4:10am
You may be suffering from chronic depression. There are a number of reasons you may be feeling this way. The best thing would be to explore reasons you might be feeling sad or depressed, perhaps by talking with a 7 Cups listener. Alternatively, if you cannot identify any reasons, or you begin to feel worse, you might consider seeing a therapist or psychiatrist.
pluckycoconut2
February 10th, 2018 2:15pm
I have the same issue I do not feel happy unless I am using because it takes my mind off of everything else but in all honestly you are still depressed while you are high but it does not effect you because you are under the influence.
Akira2
May 11th, 2015 7:28am
simple answer. you wont like to hear this but your probably addicted ( and yes, you can get addicted to weed !)
Izak99
November 4th, 2016 7:27pm
Being depressed isn't only the side effect of weed. You can be depressed without taking any substances, and it's completely normal for everyone to sometimes feel depressed. It might be due to issues in life you have and that you have a hard time dealing with, or it might be due to loss of a friend or basically almost anything can trigger a depression. The important thing is not to give up, and if you find yourself being depressed all the time, try talking to someone about it.
minstaccato
May 4th, 2018 7:28am
It's due to the sudden decrease in Endorphins and certain hormones that may cause depressed feeling.
Anonymous
October 20th, 2018 10:41pm
Smoking can give you a break from reality, the way you think is changed. Going without this break can be overwhelming when you begin to rely on smoking weed to give your mind a chance to be calm. If you don’t get the break you are used to then depression can set in and can make everything feel darker, at this point you know you are no longer using weed recreationally and need to think carefully about whether it’s really benefiting you. Maybe try other methods to give your mind and body a chance to relax, for exmaple meditation or mindfulness.
Lilhelpy
April 6th, 2018 6:38pm
Simply because weed makes us feel better and when person is not smoking they can feel sad because they dont make themselfs feel happy.
thantophobiaxo
July 13th, 2015 1:31am
It's a drug that calms the mind and makes things feel unreal and better. That's why most people find comfort in ut.