The answer to this question is controversial. Opinions vary on the subject of cannabis and mental disorders, but it seems that there are some correlations between cannabis use and severe mental disorder. We’ll take a look at what the research says about the effects of marijuana on mental health, as well as how you can mitigate these side effects with other treatments. I am not a medical professional and I don’t pretend to be one. But when it comes down to the argument of cannabis leading to severe mental disorder, no better person than me can give you an answer. In this blog post, I will outline the possible side effects that may come from using too much cannabis in your life.
The Correlation Between Cannabis and Mental Disorders
It’s no secret that cannabis is one of the most widely-used stimulant drugs available. More than 22 million Americans use marijuana at least once a month. But how does cannabis affect mental health? Some studies claim that it can actually help to treat certain mental disorder symptoms. However, this belief is highly controversial. Some studies claim that marijuana use can lead to mental disorders. Survey data from the National Comorbidity Study of over 8,000 participants found that cannabis dependence is linked to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia or other psychoses later in life. It’s also widely known that schizophrenia sufferers are associated with increased cannabis use. A recent study found that schizophrenic patients who used cannabis were 2.5 times more likely to relapse than those who do not. Other studies suggest that marijuana could make your symptoms worse, especially if you smoke it frequently or at higher doses. But the reasons behind these correlations are not well understood. In other words, the cannabis-use effects on mental health aren’t as simple as they might seem. However, the study authors concluded that evidence from studies is not enough to prove marijuana causes severe mental disorders or psychosis. In fact, there are some theories supporting both sides in this argument. Some believe that it may be the person’s genetic make-up that could predispose them to psychosis. Others believe it is the THC in cannabis that may trigger a psychotic episode, especially if a person already has a vulnerability or family history of mental illness.
How Cannabis Affects your Mental Health
Cannabis is a complex drug that interacts with many different neurotransmitter systems in our brain and body. While we have a lot more to learn, we know it can affect some of the following neurotransmitter systems:
Dopamine
This neurotransmitter regulates a wide range of mental and physical functions, including motivation, pain perception, mood, and pleasure. It is also responsible for controlling muscle movement throughout your body. Since cannabis contains psychoactive compounds that trigger dopamine release in your brain, it’s thought that this could help to control movement-related symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome. It is responsible for inhibiting the activity of various neurons and nerve cells throughout your brain. It has an inhibitory or calming effect on other parts of your brain and nervous system. Additionally, the neurotransmitter regulates your sleep, emotions, and muscle contractions. While it’s not fully understood how it affects mood, some studies suggest that serotonin could play a role in depression.
Glutamate
This is one of the most common neurotransmitters and is responsible for helping to convey messages between nerve cells. It’s also involved in memory formation and learning. Dopamine – You can’t discuss cannabis without talking about dopamine. Some studies suggest that cannabinoids can help to control the loss of dopamine release in people with Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. It’s clear that cannabis affects our neurotransmitter systems, but we don’t know enough about how its different components including CBD and THC – affect each system specifically. And we’re still trying to determine if it’s the compounds in the cannabis or other external factors like lifestyle and environment – that play a role as well.
Bottom-line
Regardless of the unknowns, there is no doubt that cannabis can affect mood and mental function, which is why those with mental health issues should approach marijuana use with caution. When thinking about how weed affects your head, it’s important to consider that our brains are also constantly learning and adapting to new stimuli. And since cannabis can affect these functions, especially for those who partake regularly, it makes sense that weed has the potential to alter your thinking over time, too. If you are looking to recover from cannabis addiction, feel free to contact us today for professional help. Call us at 424-499-2603.
