How does cannabis affect mood and mental health?
Cannabis affects mood and mental health, and the effect varies from person to person. Drugcom describes calm and well-being as pleasant effects, but also lists low mood as an unpleasant effect. The BIÖG notes that psychoses occur more often among people who use cannabis. This article covers both sides and shows when you should seek help.
The pleasant side of the effect
Drugcom describes a lift in mood, along with a feeling of calm and well-being, as pleasant effects. This is only part of the picture. How someone responds can vary, and an effect that once felt pleasant may feel different another time.
The unpleasant side of the effect
Drugcom lists low mood among the effects that people experience as unpleasant. Cannabispraevention.de names anxiety and panic as short-term risks. If you feel sadder, more anxious or more restless after using cannabis, this is a warning sign.
Psychosis and mood
The BIÖG page on long-term risks states that people who use cannabis develop psychosis more often than people who do not. Drugcom adds that the risk of psychosis rises with how intensively cannabis is used. Drugcom writes that cannabis does not cause a psychosis of its own, and that it can trigger schizophrenia that was previously hidden. This is not yet proven beyond doubt, though the evidence is growing.
Psychosis is a serious condition. Warning signs such as severe confusion, hearing voices or clear changes in thinking should prompt you to see a doctor immediately. The article What warning signs point to psychosis? describes them in more detail.
Dependence and mental strain
Long-term use can lead to psychological dependence. According to the BIÖG, roughly one in eight people who use cannabis become dependent.
The link with mental health works in two directions. Mental health problems such as depression or anxiety can increase the risk of using cannabis for self-medication. The article Is using cannabis to self-medicate risky? explains this cycle.
When mood and use are linked
Pay attention to whether your mood gets better or worse after using. Also notice whether you use more often when you feel bad. Patterns like these are important signals. The article Does cannabis worsen depression and anxiety? looks at this link.
To do this, note for one to two weeks when you use and how you feel before and after. A consumption diary makes patterns visible. The article Can a consumption diary help with self-control? explains the method.
When to seek help
If you feel low, anxious or empty inside for weeks, see a doctor. This applies in particular if cannabis is shaping your everyday life more than it used to. Counselling services can also help you make sense of your situation. Many services work confidentially, and you decide what you share.
If the situation becomes acute, for example with severe panic, confusion or thoughts of self-harm, call the emergency number 112. The article Can mental health problems increase cannabis use? shows how counselling can help.
Prevention for mood and mental health
Prevention means paying early attention to changes. If you notice that mood and use affect each other, do not wait until a crisis develops. Conversations with people you trust, a regular daily routine and early counselling are important building blocks.
Noticing changes in everyday life
Changes in mood often show first in everyday life. You are less keen to go out, lose interest in hobbies or withdraw from friends. A changed sleep pattern or persistent irritability can also be signs. Write such changes down over a few weeks so that you can describe them precisely at a doctor's appointment.
What can give you support in daily life
A regular daily routine, conversations with people you trust and early counselling are building blocks you can discuss with a specialist. They do not replace treatment.
If you open up to friends, family or relatives, you can say what helps you. The article on how your circle of friends affects your own use shows how your surroundings influence cannabis use.
What you can do now
- Observe for one week how your mood changes after using cannabis.
- Speak with a doctor if low mood or anxiety lasts longer.
- Use a counselling service or an online service to make sense of your situation.
- In an acute emergency, call 112 immediately.
For a first conversation by phone, you can reach the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031.
Frequently asked questions
Does cannabis make mental health problems worse?
This can happen. The BIÖG reports that people who use cannabis develop psychosis more often. Drugcom describes that cannabis can bring on low mood, and with long-term use psychological dependence can develop. If you live with depression or anxiety, speak with a doctor and seek counselling.