Marijuana addiction continues to grow, not only has the potency of the drug become more powerful over the years, but it is almost as easily available as alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana addiction manifests similar symptoms as in the case of any other addiction. The harmful effects on the body worsen over time. But, patience and effort can help you quit marijuana.

Will power is crucial. You have to decide to stick to your decision to quit marijuana addiction. This is not as difficult to do as you may feel. First, you must be kind to yourself. Also, do not analyze how you got into the addiction but simply make a promise to get over the addiction no matter what.

Turn to family, friends: No matter how guilty and embarrassed you feel about the situation, it is family and friends who will finally stand by you in your mission to get over marijuana addiction. Don’t worry about being rejected or reprimanded. Bear it and convince your family and friends that you genuinely wish to get over your problem. Love, support and emotional bonding will work wonders. Whenever your confidence dips, your loved ones will help you pull through.

Expert help: Professional help at a rehabilitation centre is sometimes needed when quitting marijuana. You may not be able to quit your addiction by staying at home, you may need a complete change of environment. The experts at the rehabilitation clinic will be able to monitor your health, use the right kinds of medications and support system. You must cut off completely with friends and acquaintances who were party to your addiction. Also, identify other triggers like places and people. Just try to avoid them.

Support group: Find other people who have a addiction and are trying to get rid of it. Look for support groups in your area, if you have any friends who also have the same addiction problem, try and cajole them into quitting marijuana and getting help along with you. However, ensure that they do not function as triggers and prevent you from getting over your addiction.

If the whole face to face support group thing is not for you, or you don’t agree with their religious philosophy, which is sometimes the case with narcotics and marijuana anonymous, then at least find an online support group, you can remain completely anonymous and support from others who are going through the same thing, is often an essential part of an addicts recovery.

Other options: Explore all options for creative and entertaining fulfilment. Take up hobbies and start enjoying yourself with physical activities like joining the gym or swimming. Make a list of all the hobbies and fun activities you used to be involved in before your addiction started. You can also try New Age help with subliminal message tapes and hypnosis.

No withdrawal symptoms can hold you back if you are determined to give up marijuana addiction. Reclaim your life with confidence and joy.

Really understanding and getting to the root of the causes of alcoholism and drug addiction isn’t straightforward - because they are complex illnesses by nature.

Genetic factors and the fact that alcoholism and addiction is hereditary in many cases, certainly does play a role. But that only explains part of the story because ultimately we’re all shaped by our environmental influences - parents, family, peers, experiences, media etc.

Now when looking at the role psychology plays in alcoholism and drug addiction - a large part of our psychological makeup is formed in our early childhood years. Primarily through our parents and family environment.

Generally speaking - if we come from a generally loving, stable and supportive family environment (especially in our early childhood years) - it usually means we grow up with better self confidence and are more comfortable with ourselves and who we are.

Or if when we’re young we, we have a more traumatic childhood - which could mean anything from losing a parent, having one of our parents addicted to drugs or alcohol, our parents divorcing, or anything that really effects us emotionally - it could result in us developing various ways to cope with that, which can then manifest in our lives in all sorts of different ways.

This could mean you find yourself developing a whole bunch of stuff - which could be anything from depression to anger, anxiety, different kinds of eating disorders and naturally various forms of addiction, including drugs and alcohol.

Chances are - speak to an alcoholic or drug addict - that there will be a significant trauma or event that affected them, most likely when they were young. In my case it was having an alcoholic parent and the strain that put on our family.

Naturally it doesn’t always happen that way. You’ll find many cases, I’m sure, of alcoholics and drug addicts that were brought up in a loving, stable and supportive environment. But hopefully when considering alcoholism and psychology and trying to understand the psychology of addiction - everything will make a lot more sense for you.