Can Marijuana Cause Depersonalization

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Aanchal Rao
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Can Marijuana Cause Depersonalization- DATOS

Just like drugs like ketamine, salvia, LSD, and ecstasy, marijuana can make you feel disconnected from yourself. This mostly happens to teenagers and young adults under 28, and it’s not common in older people.

Keep reading to learn about the signs of marijuana-related depersonalization and how to deal with it by yourself or with the help of a therapist.

What is Marijuana Depersonalization

Depersonalization is a condition where people feel disconnected from reality and enter a world that seems unreal. It can make them think they’re going crazy and believe that everything around them isn’t real.

Depersonalization from using marijuana can occur while someone is actively using it. Scientists say this dream-like state is a natural response that helps protect people from stress or trauma.

For some marijuana users, depersonalization goes away by itself. But for others, it can last for days or even months. The reassuring part is that this disconnected feeling is not permanent.

What Are the Signs of Depersonalization

Depersonalization can show up in various ways, such as memory problems and trouble keeping thoughts in order. Even though it varies from person to person, most folks with this condition experience these signs:

  • Feeling disconnected from who they are, what’s around them, and their thoughts.
  • Feeling like they’re watching themselves from the outside.
  • Having problems with friends and family.
  • Feeling really sad, anxious, or down.
  • Struggling to remember things.
  • Finding it hard to control their speech and coordination.
  • Thinking their body parts, like hands and legs, look strange.
  • Having trouble focusing on tasks.

Dealing with Marijuana Depersonalization

Even though it can be tough, you can handle short moments of depersonalization on your own using self-care methods. If you experience severe and frequent episodes of depersonalization, it’s a good idea to seek help from trained therapists.

Self-Help Tips for Depersonalization

Enjoy Your Favorite Music

Listening to music you love can be a helpful way to deal with short bouts of depersonalization. It can make depersonalization feel less severe by shifting your focus away from stressful thoughts, like worrying about losing your mind or blaming yourself.

Not only does music distract your mind, but it also boosts your confidence, helps you handle things better, and eases tense muscles. Experts suggest that listening to music for at least 45 minutes is a great way to relax when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Reading a Book Out Loud

If you like to read, reading a book out loud can help you deal with the confusion and feeling overwhelmed that come with the condition. Just like music, reading a good book can take your mind off intrusive thoughts that can make the condition worse.

In addition to helping with intrusive thoughts, reading for about six minutes can make your heart rate slower, reduce stress, make you more aware of yourself, and relax your muscles. Therapists have been using reading to help with different mental issues for a long time, and it works well.

Stay Away from Marijuana and Other Drugs

Some people who use marijuana and experience depersonalization may believe that using more marijuana will help them relax and feel better. After all, many depersonalization patients have used marijuana in the past to ease anxiety and sadness.

However, experts say that using marijuana and other drugs can actually make depersonalization symptoms worse instead of making them better. So, it’s important to avoid using any recreational drugs while trying to recover from this condition.

Keep Busy with Hobbies and Activities

Depersonalization can get worse when you’re not doing anything. So, it’s a good idea to use your free time for things like exercising at the gym, playing games with friends, gardening, or doing hobbies you enjoy.

Staying active can help you take a break from the worry, stress, and anxiety that come with this condition. It also helps use up extra energy, which can improve your sleep.

Don’t Worry About Going Crazy

One of the main reasons people with depersonalization from marijuana feel stressed, anxious, and sad is because they fear they’re going crazy. They spend a lot of time blaming themselves for using the drug and worrying about their future.

But therapists say that worrying about going crazy is not something these patients should focus on. Why? Because this condition is a natural and temporary response to stress or trauma. With the right treatment, the symptoms will go away, and people can go back to living a normal life.

Be Patient

Getting better from depersonalization can take a while, and even experts can’t predict exactly how long it will take. However, with the right treatment, people do improve over time. So, it’s important to be patient and focus on your treatment.

Being impatient can make you more anxious, stressed, and sad, which can make depersonalization from marijuana worse. Remember, impatience can slow down your recovery.

Professional Help for Depersonalization

If you keep experiencing depersonalization episodes due to marijuana use, it’s best to seek help from therapists who specialize in therapy. Self-help may not be enough for depersonalization.

Therapists use a combination of counselling and therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy to manage addiction and depersonalization. The specific treatment used depends on the individual’s condition.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a very effective way to help with mental problems. It has been used by professionals to successfully treat depression, addiction, issues in relationships, depersonalization, and other mental problems.

In CBT, a therapist works with patients to make their thoughts more normal, improve their problem-solving, and find and fix any wrong or distorted thoughts. After successful therapy, patients usually feel more hopeful, confident, and able to think clearly.

Meditation Therapy

Meditation therapy is all about helping patients stay calm and aware when they feel overwhelmed by depression, stress, or anxiety. This therapy also helps with problems like pain and trouble sleeping that are linked to depersonalization.

Therapists can use different methods in meditation therapy depending on the person’s condition. They might use things like repeating calming words, focusing on kindness, or scanning the body for tension.

For example, they can teach diaphragmatic breathing, where you sit comfortably and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Meditation therapy can lower your heart rate, ease muscle tension, and help you feel better.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is when experts use the power of music to help patients feel calmer and reduce stress and anxiety. This therapy can involve listening to your favorite songs, playing a musical instrument, or even making your own music.

You don’t need to be a professional musician to benefit from music therapy. It can help improve how you handle things, communicate with others, and be social.

Music therapy can also make your memory better, help you relax, and give you more motivation.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is when specialists use creative activities like making collages, finger painting, taking photos, drawing, and painting to help with anxiety and depression. It can also be used to manage anxiety and problems with using substances.

When art therapy is done the right way, it can help patients feel their emotions just like they did before they started feeling depersonalized. It can also bring back self-awareness, improve thinking, and help with how you handle things.

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