How to Sober Up From Weed: Safe Ways to Detox from Marijuana

Have you ever panicked, gotten paranoid, or “freaked out” after smoking too much weed? You’re not alone. A common side effect of heavy marijuana use is anxiety, paranoia, and fear. Some people even experience panic attacks and difficulty breathing. When symptoms like these occur, you may find yourself wondering how to sober up from weed quickly.

Unfortunately, there is no way to make the effects of marijuana stop except to let your body metabolize the drugs until the effects wear off. The good news is that marijuana highs are relatively short-lived, usually lasting less than 3-4 hours. Also, there are steps you can take to treat anxiety symptoms and reduce your paranoia.

How to Know if You’ve Smoked Too Much Weed

If you use too much marijuana, you’ll realize it fairly quickly. This usually happens when people smoke more weed than they are used to, smoke for the first time, or use marijuana in more potent forms, such as edibles or concentrates.

Some distressing symptoms of getting too high include:

• Anxiety
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Fear
• Distrust of others
• Hallucinations
• Impaired judgment
• Poor coordination
• Feeling like you aren’t yourself or don’t recognize yourself

These negative side effects are more likely when using marijuana in high doses or when mixing marijuana with alcohol or other drugs.

Sobering Up from Weed if You’ve Used Too Much

You can’t flush marijuana out of your system using fluids or detox supplements–you just have to let the drugs run their course. However, there are things you can do to bring yourself back to reality and reduce your anxieties. Whether you ate an edible that was a little too strong or smoked too much weed, here are several useful steps you can take to calm yourself down.

Get hydrated

The more water you drink, the faster it can metabolize drugs and eliminate toxins from your bloodstream. The average person should drink around eight glasses of water per day, but if you’re sweating a lot because you’re too high, you should consider drinking an extra glass or two.

Take a warm bath or a cold shower

Warm baths can be calming and relaxing, but they can also get too hot if you’re anxious from smoking too much weed. If a warm bath doesn’t work, try a cold shower. The cold water may shock your body into a state where you forget why you were anxious or afraid in the first place. This can reduce the way you perceive the intoxicating effects of cannabis.

Practice relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises can make you feel calm and more in control of your situation. You may also find it helpful to listen to soothing music or go outside in nature.

Call a trusted friend or mental health professional

If self-soothing techniques don’t work, you may have to ask for help. Calling a trusted friend, counselor, or mental health specialist gives you an opportunity to discuss what you’re feeling. They can talk you through your emotions and help pass the time until you sober up from marijuana.

Be patient

When you’ve used too much marijuana, you may be in a hurry to sober up. However, you must stay patient and remind yourself that the effects will pass–they are not permanent. Even if you are paranoid or afraid, focus on the fact that these feelings won’t last forever.

Detoxing from Marijuana When You’re Addicted

Contrary to popular belief, you can get physically and mentally addicted to marijuana. Up to one-third of regular cannabis users have a cannabis use disorder, and nearly 50% of them experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using.[2,3]

Common symptoms of marijuana withdrawal include:

• Irritability
• Decreased appetite
• Shakiness
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Sweating
• Restlessness
• Chills
• Cravings
• Anxiety
• Depression

Marijuana withdrawal is typically not life-threatening, but it can be so uncomfortable that you decide to continue using cannabis to avoid withdrawal. Unfortunately, this is what traps people into a cycle of addiction.

The best way to detox from marijuana safely is to seek professional help. A trusted drug detox center can evaluate your needs, prescribe medications for symptom relief, and offer the support you need to endure withdrawal and stay sober.

Get Help for Marijuana Abuse and Addiction Today

If you find that you can’t stop using marijuana, it causes negative effects on your life, and is harming your well-being, it’s time to get help. At Charlotte Detox Center, we can help you detox safely and get started with a comprehensive treatment program that will address the underlying causes of your marijuana abuse. Seeking treatment will help prevent you from abusing stronger drugs or experiencing mental distress in the future.

Don’t wait any longer for the help you deserve. Call now to speak with a specialist at Charlotte Detox Center.

References:

1. https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/mental-health.html
2. https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/addiction.html
3. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2764234
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9110555/