Recreational marijuana use has increased significantly in recent years. Perhaps, this comes from a desire to “get high” for fun. However, what if the increase in marijuana use could be attributed to stress?

The increase in stress

As people grow, their responsibilities increase. This results in the appearance of new stressors and a decrease in free time. Between work, loved ones and other life responsibilities, the average person is living with twice as much stress now than ever before.

Technology is becoming more and more a part of daily life. This results in less time for relaxation, self-care, and time away from the things that cause us stress. Instead, many people will spend their time thinking about every aspect of their lives without taking time to live in the moment and focus on their own health.

Marijuana as a form of self-medication

With all this stress, it is no surprise that individuals are turning to bandaging their problems with drugs and alcohol. One of the most commonly used drugs for this purpose is marijuana. Marijuana can cause a person to feel more relaxed. It can also increase their appetite and enhance the way they experience tactile, visual, and auditory stimulation. A person’s mood can change, and their sense of time and space can become distorted. These effects allow them to forget their stress for a short time. But it is only a temporary fix.

Regulating stress with Equine-Assisted Learning

Rather than turning to controlled substances, individuals need to learn to change their thought patterns and regulate their own stress. Constantly overthinking causes stress. If the overthinking could be changed for the better, then using marijuana to relax would not be the issue that it is.

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) sessions encourage people to use the reactions of horses during various exercises to pinpoint the patterns, emotions and behaviors that have gotten them to where they are today. Overthinking and worrying leads to a constant state of anxiety. Learning to live in the moment, like the horse, and to focus on an end result, gives a person a clear direction that can significantly reduce anxiousness. Once someone has discovered those negative patterns and habits during an EAL session, and replaces them with positive ones, regulating stress becomes easy. The temporary fix that is marijuana is not needed because the individual’s entire way of thinking changes, allowing them to successfully manage their own stress.

Are you stuck in a never-ending pattern of overthinking, stress or using temporary bandages to manage your stress? Contact Yarcort today to see how we can work together to help you find a permanent way of thinking that will last a lifetime.

Written by Crystal Lynn

Edited by Judy Conti

Graphics by Apple Perez