Cannabis Offers a Path to Emotional Awareness Amid Modern Overload
Cannabis may help individuals reconnect with their emotions by facilitating introspection, though it should complement, not replace, emotional regulation strategies
Key Points
- 1Modern life leads to emotional detachment due to digital overload
- 2Cannabis can aid in emotional awareness by modulating the endocannabinoid system
- 3Low doses of cannabis may help reduce hypervigilance and mental chatter
- 4Cannabis should complement, not replace, emotional regulation
- 5Introspective practices are crucial for emotional reconnection
In an era marked by constant digital engagement and relentless multitasking, many individuals find themselves emotionally detached. The overwhelming influx of sensory stimuli from screens and societal demands for hyperproductivity have led to a disconnection from basic emotions. According to High Times, this emotional numbness is exacerbated by the brain's reliance on external stimuli for dopamine spikes, which shifts focus outward and suppresses introspection
Dr. Ángeles García Vara, a psychiatrist with expertise in medicinal cannabis, highlights the silent accumulation of emotional avoidance. This avoidance, she explains, manifests in various physical and psychological symptoms such as insomnia, chronic tension, and emotional dullness. The societal pressure to maintain performance often leads to a suppression of emotions, resulting in a cycle where avoided emotions return with greater intensity, affecting mental health and relationships
Cannabis, according to García Vara, can play a role in facilitating emotional awareness by modulating the endocannabinoid system. This modulation helps reduce hypervigilance and mental chatter, allowing individuals to pause and introspect. However, the effectiveness of cannabis in this regard is highly individual and depends on dosage, method of administration, and user intentions. García Vara advises low doses or microdosing to tailor cannabis use to each person's needs
Despite its potential benefits, cannabis is not a one-size-fits-all solution. García Vara warns against its use in individuals already numbed by digital overstimulation, as it may further decrease dopamine levels and reinforce emotional disconnection. She emphasizes that cannabis should complement emotional regulation rather than replace it, and warns of the risk of psychological dependence if used as a primary coping mechanism for difficult emotions
The path to emotional reconnection involves more than just cannabis. It requires a conscious effort to engage with emotions, supported by other introspective practices like therapy, journaling, and breathing exercises. García Vara suggests that in microdoses, cannabis can help decrease alertness and facilitate introspection, but it should be part of a broader strategy to reclaim emotional vitality and presence