Research has shown that habitual usage of cannabis can bring pre-existing mental conditions to light in people who otherwise would have had no idea they were at risk of presenting with these conditions. That being said, it is important to make clear that extensive cannabis usage can also make people who suffer from various mental conditions feel much worse. For example, a chronic cannabis user who lives with bipolar disorder can experience heightened symptoms. Oftentimes, an individual will experience something called cannabis-induced psychosis. At face value, it seems that it would simply mean a type of mental breakdown rooted in cannabis use; however, while that is partially true, cannabis-induced psychosis is much more complicated. And with the ever-increasing potency of engineered cannabis products, the prevalence of cannabis-induced psychosis is likely to increase.
Let’s unpack this piece-by-piece like a new kitchen table that does not come pre-assembled. Psychosis is a very complicated symptom. The reason it is so complex is because the exact reason for the development of psychosis is unknown. Despite this unknown factor, many researchers believe that psychosis can be linked to biological factors such as genes, and environmental factors such as cannabis consumption. Psychosis itself is not a condition, which can be an odd notion to comprehend. It should rather be thought of and understood as a symptom associated with a number of mental health disorders.
A sample of the mental health disorders that can result in a period of psychosis include:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorder
- Schizophrenia
In addition, psychosis can also be a symptom brought on by the following external factors:
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Brain Injury
- Sleep Deprivation
Psychosis and psychotic behaviors can be a rather terrifying experience for both the individual experiencing it as well as the individual’s emotional and social support. This makes cannabis-induced psychosis treatment being available for those who need it so important.
