If you are a regular, heavy pot smoker, perhaps it is time to admit that certain things in your life are miserable because of weed, things that could almost instantly change if you just stop smoking.
If you have lied to yourself for long enough about your smoking habit and how it affects you, and you’re finally ready to try quitting, here is what you can expect.
The Negative First…
You may have heard you will experience some side effects after quitting-things like depression, irritability, sleep difficulties, etc-and you probably will, but these symptoms are temporary and manageable. There are even a few tricks to avoid most of them. Believe me, with time you will get over it. Whatever you do, don’t let a few side effects get in the way of your health and well-being.
The 5 Instant Health Benefits of Quitting Marijuana
Breathe. In just a few short weeks after quitting marijuana entirely, your lung function will begin to improve and you’ll have more energy and stamina. Not quitting could mean a number of bronchial and respiratory illnesses, including bronchitis, emphysema and even cancer.
Sleep. Proper sleep is extremely vital to your overall health, and studies have shown that marijuana use has a negative impact on your sleep cycles and the quality of your sleep. Most marijuana users report the absence of dreams and restless sleep when using, largely because the drug interrupts the REM cycle which is necessary for both dreams and complete rest. However, in just a few short days after quitting marijuana, your body will return to its normal patterns and you’ll finally get the sleep you need.
Mood. Smoking weed affects your mood whether you’re high or not. When using, your mood may be lethargic and apathetic, and you may feel like you’ve not a care in the world. But when you’re not high, you become irritable and anxious. This kind of stress and anxiety can play havoc on a number of different organ systems in the body, including your heart. Once you quit smoking marijuana, however, your mood will eventually stabilize and you will not experience so many highs and lows.
Memory and Learning. Researchers have proven that regular marijuana use affects both your memory and your ability to learn, and long-term use may impact these two areas permanently. The sooner you rid yourself of your pot habit, the sooner your memory and ability to learn will return to normal.
Sex. Thinking about having kids? Not only does smoking marijuana decrease your sex drive and performance, it may also cause infertility. In a number of independent studies, people smoking marijuana were far less interested in sex than peers from the same age group. Moreover, THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, has been proven to cause infertility in men and women alike, mostly due to the way the chemical affects the sperm. Don’t worry, though, shortly after quitting marijuana your sex drive will return to normal, and with marijuana completely expelled from your body your fertility will improve dramatically.
Despite what pro-legalization advocates want you to believe, marijuana is a drug, and as with any drug there are certain dangers involved. Fortunately, it’s not too late. If you quit marijuana today, most of these symptoms will disappear and you will be on the road to health and happiness.