You may have heard that marijuana is harmless—or even helpful—for conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression. And while it’s true that cannabis can provide temporary relief for some, it can also lead to increased symptoms or hidden harm for others.
Like so many things in mental health, the impact of cannabis is complex. Let’s take a look at what the experts say and how you can find real relief.
The Connection Between Marijuana Use and Your Mental Health
The active ingredient in cannabis that gets you “high” is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Another major compound, CBD (cannabidiol), is non-psychoactive and has been explored for its therapeutic potential. But cannabis isn’t one-size-fits-all.
The short-term effects of marijuana use include:
- Relief or relaxation. Some users feel temporary ease from anxiety or depressive thoughts.
- Altered perception. While it may feel like an escape, this can worsen dissociation or paranoia.
- Increased heart rate and sensory sensitivity. These can trigger panic attacks in those prone to anxiety.
The long-term risks of marijuana use include:
- Increased risk of psychosis. All long-term users are at risk, but the risk is highest in individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- Higher rates of depression and suicidality. Research shows that frequent cannabis use is linked to increased depression, especially in teens and young adults.
- Dependency. Using cannabis regularly as a coping mechanism can lead to emotional dependence and potentially a substance use disorder.
When Cannabis Becomes a Coping Tool
For many people struggling with their mental health, cannabis use begins as relief. Maybe you took a few hits to quiet your racing thoughts, help you fall asleep, or feel less numb. Maybe it seemed like the only thing that made your body relax after a panic attack or allowed you to function in social settings.
You’re not alone in that.
Using substances to ease emotional pain is known as self-medication, and it’s one of the most common reasons people begin using regularly. At first, it might seem like a harmless solution. But here’s what often happens beneath the surface:
- Relief becomes routine. What began as occasional use can quietly evolve into part of a daily routine. Your brain starts depending on marijuana to feel normal.
- The original problem doesn’t go away. Cannabis can dull emotions or distract you, but it doesn’t resolve trauma, treat depression, or teach coping skills. In many cases, symptoms worsen over time. That racing mind? It’s still there when the high fades. That unresolved grief or burnout? It still lives in your nervous system.
- Your tolerance builds up. Over time, your brain adjusts to THC, meaning you may need more to feel the same effects. This can make emotional crashes between uses feel even more intense, leading to a cycle of chasing relief that never quite lasts.
- It can isolate you from real support. When cannabis becomes your main way of coping, you may start pulling away from friends, skipping therapy, or avoiding conversations about how you’re truly feeling. Isolation can creep in without you realizing it.
Mental illness doesn’t cause addiction, but the two can definitely fuel each other.
How to Tell If Cannabis Is Hurting More Than Helping
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I using cannabis more often than I used to?
- Do I feel anxious, paranoid, or withdrawn after using it?
- Am I skipping social events, responsibilities, or therapy because I feel numb or unmotivated?
- Is cannabis the first thing I turn to when I’m overwhelmed?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these, it may be time to reconsider your relationship with cannabis.
Treating a Dual Diagnosis
When someone experiences both a mental health disorder and a substance use issue—such as using cannabis to cope with anxiety, depression, or trauma—this is known as a dual diagnosis, or a co-occurring disorder. It’s far more common than many realize. In fact, nearly 1 in 2 people living with a mental illness will also face substance use challenges at some point in their lives.
This doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your brain has been searching for relief. When pain feels unbearable or exhausting, cannabis might seem like the only thing that helps. But what begins as a coping strategy can eventually deepen the very distress it was meant to soothe.
Effective treatment for a dual diagnosis must address both the mental health condition and the substance use together. That’s because they influence each other. Ignoring one side of the equation often leads to relapse or stalled healing.
At Eagle View Behavioral Health in Bettendorf, Iowa, dual diagnosis treatment is built on:
- Integrated care. Therapy, support groups, and medication management work together to treat the whole person.
- Nonjudgmental teams. Providers meet you exactly where you are, offering support without shame or pressure.
- Trauma-informed therapy. This approach recognizes that many people use substances to cope with pain they haven’t yet felt safe enough to process.
- Peer support. Connection and understanding from others who have navigated similar struggles can help you face challenges with confidence.
- Healthy lifestyle choices. Treatment includes guidance on sleep, nutrition, and daily routines that support long-term mental and emotional stability.
Recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about making space for your pain while learning healthier, more sustainable ways to manage it.
Whether you’re exploring sobriety, feeling unsure about next steps, or simply need a place to be heard, we’re here for you. Contact us today for a free, confidential assessment or to learn more about the programs available at our Bettendorf, Iowa facility.
