Okay, we’ve all experienced it. (Well, okay, those of us who have been high have experienced it.) Marijuana is more legal than it’s ever been and odds are you’ve used it in one form or another. But what do you do when you need to come down from a high? You may have gotten too high or higher than you expected. This can happen for a few reasons. You may have only smoked marijuana a few times. Maybe you tried a higher THC strain than you’re used to or you’ve had edibles that were more potent than what you’ve had in the past. Either way, it hit you harder than expected. Not everyone likes the feeling of being too high. Some people want to try to come down before the effects wear off naturally. While you can’t sober up with the snap of your fingers, here are our eight pro tips on how to chill out until you naturally come down.
1. Breathe deeply
If you’re reading an article on how to come down from a high, chances are you’re a little anxious – and that’s perfectly okay. Taking some deep breaths is going to help you come back and feel a little more centered. Concentrate as much as you can on what you’re doing, taking these breaths while putting your hand on your stomach is helpful. Sit or lie down somewhere you feel comfortable and close your eyes. Put your hand on your stomach and inhale through your nose, feeling the pressure against your hand as your stomach pushes it outwards. Exhale slowly through your mouth and repeat as many times as you need.
2. Drink some water
Did you know that if you’re dehydrated or feel thirsty your high can feel more intense? (Not a tip on how to make your high more intense, being dehydrated is a bad thing, kids). Stick to water to rehydrate yourself in this situation as other drinks such as pop, alcohol, or energy drinks can dehydrate you even more. Get a glass of cold water, and sip it slowly until it’s gone. If you still feel thirsty after you’ve finished it, have some more water. Drinking a glass of cold water can also be relaxing and therapeutic so it will aid in the act of calming you down.
3. Have a cold shower
Yes, the thought of having a cold shower is usually unpleasant but it can help you come down from your high quickly. Splashing cold water on your face will work in a pinch, too. The reason why this works is quite interesting. Cold water actually triggers what’s known as the “mammalian diving reflex.” Your heart rate decreases as your body’s natural means of survival. Your body temperature also drops and you preserve excess oxygen, lessening the effect of THC.
4. Take a cat nap
Sometimes there is just no avoiding a nap when you’re too high. However, you should definitely set an alarm or two (or three). You don’t want to sleep too long or you’ll feel just as tired and groggy when you wake up again. Try not to let yourself sleep for more than 30 minutes to take the edge off.
5. Exercise
We know it sounds ridiculous and is probably be the last thing you want to do when you’re high but if you really want to come down quickly, you have to at least give it a shot. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious due to your high, the natural endorphins that exercise releases into your brain can help calm you down instantly. Endorphins act as a sort of numbing agent to temporarily block signs of pain or stress which will also work for any anxiety you may be feeling over your high.
6. Keep some black peppercorns on hand
It may seem crazy but sniffing or chewing on black peppercorns can help you come down from your high more quickly. If you’re not keen on chewing black peppercorns, sniffing is actually more effective and will provide relief in seconds. Chewing peppercorns will take much longer, providing relief within an hour or so. Surprisingly, this method does have some science to back it up. To make it short, cannabis and pepper have similar chemical traits. Pepper has a phytocannabinoid-terpenoid effect which can help with general anxiety. When you combine the terpenoids that are in pepper with the tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis, they bind to the same receptors in the brain, which ends up creating a therapeutic, anxiety-reducing effect. This really isn’t just an old wives’ tale.
7. Distract yourself
Concentrate on something you know calms you, whether it’s watching a funny movie or listening to some soothing music. Definitely don’t venture into unknown territory and risk watching or listening to something that could stress you out. Choose a classic go-to and let yourself get distracted from your high anxiety.
8. Have a cup of coffee
Keep in mind, this is not a wise choice if your goal is to reduce your anxiety about your high. It will increase your heart rate and likely make you feel more anxious as a result. However, if you want to come out of your fog and feel a little more focused, sipping on a cup of coffee can definitely help.
Most of these pro tips should work pretty well for anyone who wants to come down a little bit from their marijuana high. It’s always best to know your limits and not let yourself get to the point where your high is causing you anxiety; however, we know that’s not always a possibility when trying something new. You have to get to know your limits somehow, right? Keep these eight tips in mind for the next time you need to come down from your high quickly and safely.