Can mental health problems make cannabis use worse?

Mental health problems and cannabis use often go together, and this works in both directions. People under strain sometimes reach for cannabis to ease tension or worry for a moment. Conversely, heavy cannabis use can increase the risk of depression, according to cannabispraevention.de. This article explains the link, names the risks described by the BIÖG and shows where you can find help.

How use and the psyche interact

Many people reach for cannabis when they feel bad. This can bring short-term relief, but the cause of the strain remains. Anyone who regularly helps themselves this way grows used to this way out, and the underlying problems are addressed less often. An online survey of over 800 people with cannabis experience found that stressful life events are linked to cannabis-related problems, especially where there are difficulties in dealing with feelings. Whether use is cause or consequence remains open.

In addition, use itself can influence mood, drive and sleep. Changes that then appear are easily attributed to everyday life or to the use itself. It therefore helps to note these changes and discuss them with a professional.

The risk of psychosis

One of the most serious consequences is described by the BIÖG on its page about long-term risks. According to it, people who use cannabis develop psychosis more often than people who do not. This statistical link, however, does not prove that cannabis actually causes psychosis. According to cannabispraevention.de, even small amounts can be enough if there is an inborn tendency.

A psychosis can change perception, thinking and feelings sharply. Such symptoms belong in medical hands, and as early as possible. If your perception, thinking or feelings change clearly, see a doctor immediately. Anyone who has had a psychosis before should talk with specialists about their use.

Anxiety, depression and use

According to the drugcom drug encyclopedia, depression or anxiety symptoms increase the risk of misusing cannabis for self-medication. The real problem then often lies in the underlying psychological issue. In the other direction, cannabispraevention.de notes that heavy cannabis use can increase the risk of depression, and that people who use cannabis with a high THC content are probably more likely to suffer from an anxiety disorder.

More on this link is explained in the article Does cannabis increase depression and anxiety? It gives an overview of the effects that experts describe.

Pre-existing conditions and risk factors

Which pre-existing conditions raise the risk of psychological consequences cannot be said in general. It depends on the person, how often they use and other factors. A doctor can assess this in individual cases, especially if mental illnesses are already known.

An overview of risk factors is given in the article Which pre-existing conditions increase the risk of psychosis? It does not replace a medical assessment. It does, however, show what you can pay attention to.

Self-medication is risky

Anyone who uses cannabis to ease sleep problems, tension or worry is self-medicating. This can provide relief in the moment, but it leaves the problem in place. The article Is using cannabis to treat problems risky? explains this dynamic in more detail.

For persistent complaints, treatment that addresses the cause helps. A doctor can check which therapy is an option. This is a better path than a use that only covers up the complaints.

The cycle of strain and use

The link often becomes a cycle. A bad day leads to use, use postpones the problem, and the next day the strain is back. Once you have recognised this cycle, you can intervene at its points. It often helps simply to notice the moment between strain and use consciously.

Within the cycle, expectations of use also change. What was relieving at first can become routine over time. An early conversation helps to recognise this sequence.

Sleep, mood and use

According to drugcom, sleep problems count among the possible withdrawal symptoms. Whether sleep problems are cause or consequence of use is hard to say in individual cases. The article Does cannabis disturb sleep? explains this link in more detail.

Mood swings are also hard to classify. A low can come from use or be intensified by it. Anyone who notes the pattern over several weeks often sees whether use comes before the mood or after it.

When stress is the trigger

Stress is a common trigger for use, for example after work, during exam periods or in conflicts. The relief is then usually short-lived, and the stress remains. Anyone who recognises this can look for other ways to ease tension, such as exercise, conversations or breaks without any substance.

The article Does using cannabis to relieve stress become a problem? shows how this mechanism becomes entrenched. Anyone who wants support with this can also talk with counsellors about alternatives.

What relatives can observe

Relatives often notice withdrawal, irritability or changes in sleep patterns. These observations are valuable when they are raised calmly. A sentence such as “I have noticed that you have been sleeping less for a few weeks” opens a conversation more readily than an accusation.

If you are a relative and are yourself affected, counselling for relatives can help. There you can clarify how you can support someone without taking on responsibility for their use.

It is also important to keep an eye on sleep, eating and exercise. They influence mood and resilience considerably, and changes there often show early that something is getting out of balance. A doctor can help you classify such observations.

How to check the link in your own case

A simple note is helpful: when do you use, and how do you feel before and after? Look for patterns, for example whether use follows bad days or whether it becomes routine. Such notes are a good basis for a conversation with a professional.

The article Which questions help with a self-assessment? puts together questions for your own assessment. The article Does using cannabis to relieve stress become a problem? fits with this.

Take early signals seriously

Many people wait until the strain is great. Then it becomes harder to separate the causes. Early signals include sleep problems, irritability, withdrawal and the feeling of being unable to cope without use. Anyone who takes such signals seriously early can seek help at a stage when it is more likely to work.

This also applies to people with a pre-existing condition. A doctor can discuss which treatment suits your situation and how use affects it. This coordination matters so that the treatment fits your circumstances.

Where people with strain can find help

For mental strain, a doctor can be the first point of contact. Psychotherapists also work on the problems that lie behind use. Addiction counselling services advise in addition when use and strain come together.

If you are unsure where to turn, the article When is professional help for cannabis use worthwhile? helps. Acute emergencies require immediate help via the emergency number or the emergency department.