Which warning signs show that use is becoming too much?

Warning signs rarely appear at one big moment. Usually everyday life changes step by step: you use more often, plan less time without cannabis and notice that things are left undone. The most important warning signs are a rising use, loss of control, neglected obligations and an environment that is worried. This article shows what you can watch for in your own everyday life.

Why warning signs often go unnoticed late

Cannabis use often seems inconspicuous in everyday life, so many people notice changes late. The habit becomes normal, and your own explanations sound plausible. An outside view helps, because friends or family often notice changes earlier.

The problem rarely begins with a bang. Even people who use only occasionally can see their use change over months. A regular self-check, for example once a month, is therefore worthwhile, in which you look at the points below.

Warning signs of amount and frequency

The first warning sign is often a gradual increase. You need more to feel the way you used to, or you use more often than at the start. If you constantly think about your next use, that is a signal you should take seriously.

Also watch whether you plan your use or decide on it spontaneously. Anyone who builds use firmly into the daily routine should look more closely. According to the drugcom drug encyclopedia, psychological dependence can develop with continued use. Among the features that drugcom names for dependence are tolerance development and strong cravings. More on this is shown in How can you recognise cannabis dependence?

Warning signs in everyday life

In everyday life, warning signs often show up at school, in training, at university or at work. Performance falls, appointments are forgotten, tasks are left undone. Anyone who notices this should look at the consequences as well as at the use itself.

Health and sleep also sometimes change. Problems with concentration, tiredness or mood swings can be a sign. Concentration problems can have many causes, so a visit to the doctor helps to rule out other reasons. More on this is explained in Does cannabis affect concentration when learning?

Warning signs in the social environment

The prevention website cannabispraevention.de names withdrawal as a warning sign, and also a closed attitude and loss of drive. It also names lies or excuses to conceal use. Friends, partners or family often notice such changes earlier than you do. Anyone who hides their use from others should also pay attention. Concealment can be a warning sign.

The article Why do people hide their use? describes these patterns in more detail. Taking the questions of relatives seriously is a first step, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Loss of control as a clear signal

Loss of control means that you resolve to use less and do not manage it. That is one of the clearest signals. Often there is also the feeling that use determines the course of the day.

The background is explained in What does loss of control in cannabis use mean? Anyone who recognises this in themselves should seek support soon, before the habit becomes entrenched.

Thought patterns that hide warning signs

Often it is thoughts that play down warning signs. “I have everything under control” is a common sentence, and so is “I only use at weekends”. Such sentences are fine if they are true. Check them against your diary, though, because memories can be inaccurate.

The thought that cannabis is legal and therefore harmless also hides warning signs. A legal regulation does not make cannabis risk-free. The law regulates possession, cultivation and use, but it says nothing about how strongly use affects your everyday life.

Warning signs over a longer period

A warning sign only becomes meaningful when it recurs. A stressful month with more use may be an exception. If the same patterns recur over months, it is a course, and you should take it seriously.

A fixed date helps, for example the first Sunday of the month. Then go through the questions in this article and compare them with the previous month. This way a change becomes visible before it turns into a habit. Anyone who does this regularly usually recognises developments much earlier.

Warning signs when driving

Anyone who drives after using should treat this as a warning sign of its own. Under section 24a(1a) of the Road Traffic Act (StVG), anyone who drives a motor vehicle with 3.5 ng/ml or more of THC in their blood serum commits a regulatory offence. If a fine is imposed for this, a driving ban generally has to be imposed as well (section 25(1) StVG). A simple rule helps: if you have used, do not drive.

In everyday life this often shows in small decisions. You are already late, but you feel fit, and the thought about the drive only comes afterwards. Such moments are worth noting as a pointer to review your routine.

Raise warning signs early, before they become established. A short, honest conversation with a person you trust is often enough to check your own view. It does not have to be a big step. What matters is that you give yourself time and do not expect an immediate decision.

What you can do about warning signs

• Keep a use diary for two weeks and look for patterns.
• Take breaks of several days and observe how you feel.
• Talk with a trusted person about your own view.
• Contact an addiction counselling service if warning signs accumulate.

The way to self-assessment is shown in How can you tell for yourself whether you are dependent? If you are struggling with feelings of guilt, you will find notes in the article How do I deal with feelings of guilt about cannabis use?

Limits of warning signs

Warning signs are indications only, and a professional makes any diagnosis. A single observation says little. Only when several signs appear over weeks is a closer look worthwhile. How personal limits become visible is explained in What signs show that you are crossing your own limits?

Warning signs in young people

In young people, changes often run faster, because everyday life, school and the circle of friends are still taking shape. The BIÖG describes that the young brain is in an important developmental phase. Warning signs such as declining performance or withdrawal from friendships should therefore be taken especially seriously. Parents, teachers and young people themselves can name such signs early. The article Until what age does the brain develop? explains the background.

When to seek help

Help makes sense when warning signs increase, when you can no longer control your use or when others are seriously worried. The points of contact are in the article How do I find an addiction counselling service near me? Do not wait until the consequences grow. The Sucht & Drogen Hotline offers a telephone starting point on 01806 313031 (daily from 8:00 to 24:00, charged).