Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment—Counseling to Detox from Weed in Grand Rapids, MI

Pot, Hash Oil, Grass, Weed, Herb, Ganger, Reefer. With many states legalizing marijuana or allowing for medicinal use, people have as many opinions about it as there are names for it. Regardless of what people think, the reality is that many people use cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes. The other reality is that some people do so without forming an addiction while other lose control.

Cannabis addiction has become so widespread that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) now acknowledges Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). People may struggle with CUD if continue to use marijuana despite impairment or distress that it may cause in their lives.

Has pot negatively affected your life? Is it making your daily life harder or straining your relationships? If so, know that it is possible to quit weed, and many people have done so with a therapist’s help.

The counselors at Thriveworks Grand Rapids treat CUD and have extensive experience supporting their clients as they detox from and learn to live without weed.

Disordered Cannabis Use

Cannabis is a plant, and when it is ingested, it can have psychoactive effects. That is, it affects the mind. Cannabis’ contain Delta-9-TetraHydrocannabinol (THC) in its stem, leaves, and buds, and THC slows the brain’s communication with the body. If ingested in large quantities, it may also have a hallucinogen effect.

Many people believe that cannabis is not addictive, but this is a myth. Studies have shown that approximately 9 percent of adults and 17 percent of teens who use weed form an addiction. Furthermore, using marijuana on a daily basis increases the risk of addiction; between 25-50 percent of daily users go on to form an addiction.

DSM-5 acknowledges the addiction as Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). It gives parameters for diagnosing CUD: marijuana use for a minimum of one year wherein people experienced an increase in daily agitation and a decrease in daily functioning, manifested in at least two of these symptoms:

• Dedicating significant time to obtaining, ingesting, and recovering from marijuana use.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit or use less.
• Elevating weed over job, family, hygiene, school, and friends.
• Continued weed use despite harm to oneself, family, friends, or work.
• Using greater amounts of weed to experience the same high.
• Using weed at increasingly more frequent intervals.
• Attempting to stop or lessen cannabis use without success.
• Craving weed, even through dreams, images, smells, and obsessive thoughts.
• Mixing pot and risky behavior such as driving a car while high.

Depending upon the numbers of symptoms experienced, DSM-5 categorizes CUD as a range: from mild to severe.

1. DSM-5 (305.20 F12.10) Cannabis Use Disorder, Mild
Two to three symptoms signify Mild CUD.

2. DSM-5 (304.30 F12.20) Cannabis Use Disorder, Moderate
Four to five symptoms signify Moderate CUD.

3. DSM-5 (304.30 F12.20) Cannabis Use Disorder, Severe
Six or more symptoms signify Severe CUD.

Benefits of Treating CUD

The bodies stores THC in its fat cells, so detoxing from CUD may take a long time as the body flushes its systems. Cannabis users have reported feeling its effects for days, weeks, and even months after using weed, and many people will experience symptoms of detox.

As people cleanse their system from cannabis, they may experience insomnia, nightmares, depression, headaches, sweats, digestive problems, and more. One of the more common symptoms of detoxing is emotional ranging. People may feel euphoric one second, depressed the next moment, and then angry the next moment. Then, they may cycle through all these emotions again and again. Especially if people used weed to suppress emotional distress, those feelings may return in force.

To help them navigate the challenges of detox, many people seek out professional treatment. Therapists can guide people through the challenges of detox and equip them to handle any emotions that may surface.

There is no silver bullet for treating CUD. Healing often means walking a path with many highs and lows, but people who have successfully treated their CUD are usually glad they did. Some of the many benefits they reported after detoxing include…

• Better concentration and memory
• Renewed enjoyment of hobbies and interests
• Improved sleep
• More energy
• More money in the bank
• Better relationships
• Balanced mood

Setting up Therapy

When you read through the list of CUD’s symptoms, did you recognize any behaviors in your own life? If your cannabis use has become more consuming and complicated, then it may be time to get help.

Thriveworks Grand Rapids has appointments available for CUD treatment, and we have tried to take the hassle out of scheduling therapy: A person will be able to make your appointment. We offer weekend and evening appointments. We also accept many insurance plans.

Is it time to live without marijuana? If you are ready to treat your CUD, we are ready to help. Call today.