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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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Lisa Groesz, PhD

Psychologist

With evidenced based therapies, we find the root of the problem together to implement solutions. We all face crises, transitions, or disorders at some time.

Top Rated Answers
heartofgold2001
April 21st, 2018 11:43pm
Using weed often makes you numb to your problem and your feelings which can give you temporary happiness but using it long term can cause you more problems.
Stormbending
January 21st, 2018 5:14pm
Marijuana helps 'cloud' your mind and suppresses thoughts or feelings that we may have that we don't want to face or deal with just yet. However, hiding behind a joint wont deal with any of the problems you're facing. It may feel like a good resolution in the short term, however, in the long term, it's not going to help you overcome the issues that are causing the depression in the first place. Please consider refraining from smoking marijuana for a short period of time and seeing how you feel after a while away from it. If you feel you cannot cope with your life without marijuana, please consider seeking out professional help to help you come to terms with your depression and how best to deal with it.
Anonymous
April 12th, 2018 2:30pm
Smoking weed Releases certain chemicals in the brain that are associated with feeling good. When your not smoking weed your not enhancing those feel good feelings. My advice would be leave it alone and focus on something positive for yourself
Anonymous
July 27th, 2018 12:19am
Marijuana is a drug, and drugs are addictive, because of the state that marijuana leaves you in when you’re under the influence (peaceful and tranquility) when you’re not under the drug, the normal behaviours that you’ll experience could be more extreme because of the use of the drug.
Anonymous
October 27th, 2019 10:23pm
You may feel this way because you naturally enjoy smoking weed and the feeling of sadness comes from not doing the thing you enjoy. Maybe find alternate enjoyable habits and you will be on the road to happiness and light. Please consider your health when searching for enjoyable mediums. You are valuable. Smoking weed may not be the real issue or even your path from depression, it may just be an enjoyable past time. You are valuable and you don’t have to be depressed. Please seek out the help you need for wholeness and clarity.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2019 3:24am
Weed is an antidepressant so when you're on a down come you will feel worse than normal. When you smoke it again it will make you more relaxed so you rely on it making you feel the need to smoke more and it will make the down come worse. The reason your down come makes you feel depressed is because weed is secretly an anti-depressant. Ever heard the phrase what goes up must come down. If weed makes you feel high then once it's effected you and wearing off then you're on your down come which is why you feel so low. Hope this helped.
Mem14
June 2nd, 2018 7:23pm
Everybody has things they enjoy to relieve stress, and pick them up throughout the day. Sometimes when we experience challenging emotions, we might want to hold a bit tighter to our coping outlets - whether it be weed, coffee, etc. On another note, there is scientific evidence that weed can have psychologically addictive properties, and there is also emerging evidence of physically addictive properties. While it can be tempting to think of weed as harmless or non-addictive, it’s important to be aware of this, especially if weed is among your coping outlets of choice.
politeMagic1163
September 27th, 2019 2:11pm
I’m not an expert, but from what I learned in health, I know that weed is a depressant, much like alcohol. When you are on a depressant, and it’s not a prescribed pill by a doctor or psychiatrist(you don’t need it because your brain is releasing excess amounts of dopamine), often, the depressant will do just what the name implies, make you depressed. Until the depressant has worked it’s way all the way through your system, your brain will not release the correct doses of dopamine required to prevent depression. On the flip side, anti depressants are obviously for the opposite purpose. To force your brain to release more dopamine so that you can function normally. It's why, when people take depressants who don’t need it, or it’s the wrong dosage, they get all wonky. I’m not suggesting you go on antidepressants, as, again, while I’m taking health and psychology classes, they’re 11th grade levels, and I’m not an expert, but we have learned that certain things react very badly with certain medications. Antidepressants, when taken at the same time as there is alcohol or other depressants can actually have the opposite affect of what the antidepressant is for. In shorter words, make you more depressed than you were before.
Will22
November 7th, 2017 6:08am
When you are doing something that you really enjoy, you get a dose of chemicals that make you feel happy. When you are not doing it, your brain wants it and recognizes another chemical which causes a negative feeling as a side effect.
StephanieKatie
January 4th, 2020 4:12am
Hi there! A lot of times, when one is addicted to something, you feel sort of down when you're not doing it. You're used to the dopamine, or "happiness chemical" hit you get when you smoke, or do anything else that you are addicted to. It has also become a part of your daily habit/routine, and you're used to doing it. Being thrown off one's usual routine can be depressing and confusing! However, you're on the right track! Keep going strong. This depression is temporary, and I can tell you're definitely much stronger than the depression. Good luck to you!
Anonymous
November 29th, 2019 12:29am
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.
justjack2001
August 5th, 2023 3:26am
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.
Fairy33
January 16th, 2020 11:33am
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.
Anonymous
September 11th, 2019 3:14am
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.
enigmaticForever38
August 11th, 2018 5:57am
You might suffer from clinical depression, or you might think you need to smoke to be happy. Were you happy before you starting smoking?
gigantMoon31
July 16th, 2018 12:23am
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.
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2017 5:52am
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.
StephanieCarr
November 30th, 2020 10:50pm
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!
krishna9762
January 18th, 2018 6:28pm
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...
Anonymous
October 12th, 2020 11:59pm
Let's start with the fact that I don't use marijuana but I think marijuana brings all the same benefits. This is the replenishment of state resources, as well as the benefit to people. The price after legalization also fell and became cheaper than the cost of the same cigarettes.However, you can save even more money if you buy plant and grow it on your own. Just following the instructions will do the thing, so in fact you can establish your own illegal business( I'm kidding actually), this source actually helped me to learn how to maintain my plants. However, I guess, that feeling depressed when not smoking weed may be because of the addiction
Anonymous
August 9th, 2020 9:34am
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.
Anonymous
March 25th, 2021 9:17pm
Weed has chemicals in it that reduces feelings like anxiety or depression. As a person smokes weed on a semi-regular basis, their system gets used to having the chemical. When you stop smoking for a period of time, your system has become accustomed to the chemicals so it has a withdrawal-like effect, making it more likely for you to feel depressed. It's likely a side-effect from smoking weed and then stopping. From what I've read, this can last from anywhere from a few days to a few months depending upon how much weed you smoke. Hope that this information is helpful!
anita61
July 10th, 2020 5:47am
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.
bouncyWatermelon6770
April 8th, 2021 4:42pm
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.
Yourstruly14
May 2nd, 2021 12:35am
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.
Anonymous
July 28th, 2021 1:03pm
It's likely because you are unhappy of the TRUE state of your life. You know something has to change but you either can't change it yet or don't know what it is that needs to change. So you find something that would help you cope with that reality--i.e. smoking weed. It's a form of escape. And it's very normal. People have different coping mechanisms. Some are destructive. Some are constructive. Some are just in the middle of both. Once your weed smoking becomes destructive, I suggest you tone it down a notch. And I suggest that you find a better coping mechanism that wouldn't pose a risk to your being and how you function within your own life. Also don't forget to know its effect with the people around you (and the people you care for the most).
Anonymous
April 20th, 2022 9:27pm
Weed is not an upper. Meaning that it is not something that brings you happiness. It may bring you some joy by removing you from your otherwise depressing thoughts. Therefore, you are probably using it as an escape mechanism to distract you from thinking about how you are depressed on a regular basis. Distractions and outlets are good if they are healthy for you mind and body, however, they are bad if they are destructive. you should search for a more healthy outlet, and probably seriously consider ways to pull you out of your depression.
Kaitlyn24
March 25th, 2020 9:06pm
It sounds like you are too reliant on it. You may think you need it, but you don't. Whether you do it to have fun, or to forget problems, it is not the right thing to do. It may seem great at the moment, but once it's gone, what happens? You start to feel as if you need it. Like you can't live without it. But that is very much false. Even if someone is peer pressuring you, it is not good to give in. Being independent is good. Surround yourself with inspiring or fun things. Friends and family can help with this issue.
LyricallyMe
March 4th, 2020 10:37am
In a practical sense, weed temporarily elevates your serotonin and dopamine levels, but leaves a diminished supply afterwards. A person will build up to whatever level they're comfortable with to maintain. When I used to be a weed smoker, I had often felt like I needed it to mitigate stress and anxiety from situations people couldn't help me with. I was abusing it though, and thankfully it is not the hardest drug to leave behind. When the desire was gone, I was able to walk away from the habit.
Gracey
February 9th, 2018 8:58am
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.