Hi there, I'm someone,
I'm 28. About an hour ago I had my last smoke and I sprinkled my remaining weed around the lawn. I have decided to quit. Then I went to bed and before going to sleep turned on my laptop and attempted to find something that might help me with quitting cannabis. Its been about a year since the last time I had a hiatus from it. I know what to expect when quitting but I need something to bring me structure and grounding over the coming weeks. Everything I've seen on this site seems helpful. Also perhaps sharing my experience can be helpful to someone else even if it doesn't go well for me at least they'll know theres other people out there who don't think cannabis is good for them.
I smoke usually just one small rolled cigarette with some cannabis in it every night.
I am quitting cannabis because over the months it has accummulated in my system and made me feel lethargic and lacking motivation in my daily life. I also get paranoid around people and I get fairly intense stress pains in my stomach and I sometimes get an insanely fast heartbeat and have panic attacks. I've become physically weaker. My diet has deteriorated to fast foods and chocolate biscuits and tea. I have no meaningful relationship with anyone. I find it hard enjoy anything and am bored 90% of the time. I don't go out at all. I don't drink (and I don't wish to start) but it does mean I don't really go to the pubs or clubs much.
The same thing happened to me before and I quit and I was fine. I know that smoking cannabis over a long period does this to me the same way I know eating toast with marmalade late at night gives me heartburn. I don't really know how it got back to the stage where I've been smoking everyday again but it did and I want to end it once and for all this time.
If anyone has any thoughts or advice please let me know.
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I wrote something out, but then realized I think that if you weren't bored, you'd probably find less reason to smoke. Maybe find some non-smoking friends to hang out with at night, so you don't smoke. Perhaps purchase something that would keep your mind occupied during that time and during other downtimes. Thats why I love my PC and my Xbox - they're literally my anti-drug/alcohol... and my sanity (I tend to have panic attacks at night).
Perhaps getting rid of the boredom will help you enjoy things a little more too. Find something you truly enjoy. Art? Video Games? Rolling around outside in the grass? I find it hard to enjoy anything if I've been isolated from people for a long time, so maybe spending time with some of your friends will help a lot?
I wish you a ton of luck and hope you stick around here! (Perhaps you could making quitting your monthly challenge for April? :) )
Perhaps getting rid of the boredom will help you enjoy things a little more too. Find something you truly enjoy. Art? Video Games? Rolling around outside in the grass? I find it hard to enjoy anything if I've been isolated from people for a long time, so maybe spending time with some of your friends will help a lot?
I wish you a ton of luck and hope you stick around here! (Perhaps you could making quitting your monthly challenge for April? :) )
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Thanks Nichole, I really appreciate your reply.
I see where you are coming from when you talk about how boredom is an influential factor in my difficulties with smoking. On the flip side of the coin I also feel that smoking causes a lot of my boredom too because the last thing I want to do when I am high is get up and do things that will occupy my mind. I honestly don't need to buy anything else to keep myself occupied. My toys list at the moment is : An archos 605 wifi, a dell xps m1350 laptop, a PS3, a PSP, a Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T, a shuttle pc hooked to a 32" hdtv, a nintendo wii, a creatvie zen mp3 player, tons of books etc etc.
Perhaps I just need to find one toy that I can concentrate on. Maybe my laptop.
Also with regards to friends I don't have many friends who do smoke weed. I am the last of a dying breed it seems. I do Kung Fu once a week and I work 5 days a week so I am going to use these thing to bring more alertness and groundedness into my life. I also usually play soccer on a friday. I think I need to do more practical things with my hands and anything that demands concentration. I like to tinker with my car also so maybe a bit more of that.
Meditation in my kung fu forms and resting meditation should help also but I'd like to be able to hold on going conversations with some of you from this site too just so I can be bouncing things off of you and getting advice and yer takes on life too.
I really like the 12 habits post and am going to try to use that also.
I have made it my april challenge as you suggested and will try to report back daily on my progress.
Once again I really appreciate your reply and look forward to hearing more from you and others.
I see where you are coming from when you talk about how boredom is an influential factor in my difficulties with smoking. On the flip side of the coin I also feel that smoking causes a lot of my boredom too because the last thing I want to do when I am high is get up and do things that will occupy my mind. I honestly don't need to buy anything else to keep myself occupied. My toys list at the moment is : An archos 605 wifi, a dell xps m1350 laptop, a PS3, a PSP, a Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-T, a shuttle pc hooked to a 32" hdtv, a nintendo wii, a creatvie zen mp3 player, tons of books etc etc.
Perhaps I just need to find one toy that I can concentrate on. Maybe my laptop.
Also with regards to friends I don't have many friends who do smoke weed. I am the last of a dying breed it seems. I do Kung Fu once a week and I work 5 days a week so I am going to use these thing to bring more alertness and groundedness into my life. I also usually play soccer on a friday. I think I need to do more practical things with my hands and anything that demands concentration. I like to tinker with my car also so maybe a bit more of that.
Meditation in my kung fu forms and resting meditation should help also but I'd like to be able to hold on going conversations with some of you from this site too just so I can be bouncing things off of you and getting advice and yer takes on life too.
I really like the 12 habits post and am going to try to use that also.
I have made it my april challenge as you suggested and will try to report back daily on my progress.
Once again I really appreciate your reply and look forward to hearing more from you and others.
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I never had the experience of 'quitting' weed. I started smoking when I was seventeen and stopped about four months ago, giving a total smoking lifetime of two and a half years (with long hiatuses within).
From what I've heard, marijuana is absolutely not chemically addictive. What you need to worry about is behavioral addiction, such as a desire to feel high all the time because it's such a good feeling. Yet for me (even though I smoked as an escape from depression), this was never much of a problem.
Another factor was that I only smoked once a week or so, whereas you say you smoked every day. Plus, you're probably smoking stronger stuff than the weak sauce I was using.
Nonetheless, I'm sure you'll have a fairly easy time, once you break the routine of smoking (not to put you down).
From what I've heard, marijuana is absolutely not chemically addictive. What you need to worry about is behavioral addiction, such as a desire to feel high all the time because it's such a good feeling. Yet for me (even though I smoked as an escape from depression), this was never much of a problem.
Another factor was that I only smoked once a week or so, whereas you say you smoked every day. Plus, you're probably smoking stronger stuff than the weak sauce I was using.
Nonetheless, I'm sure you'll have a fairly easy time, once you break the routine of smoking (not to put you down).
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Hi Fekketcantenel,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes I have been smoking the strong stuff lately. I've been smoking now for the better part of nine years. I know its not a difficult thing to quit but thats half the problem. Cuz I keep thinking....meh....sher I can quit it another time.....and then I just get high and kinda forget to quit again for a while.....until I get in a ball about all the procrastination thats catching up with me. I don't really feel myself that it'll be difficult but I do need to keep tabs on myself for a while. Also I have gotten into the habit of thinking of it as my own little thing, my little quirk or comforter if you get me. So in that sense I guess I'll feel a bit raw in its absence. Whether its difficult or easy though it is certainly the most important thing I am doing in my life at the moment and also it is the most influential on my mood, level of grounding/concentration and a bunch of other stuff.
I'm off to bed now having not had a smoke all day. There were a few cagey moments but I got through it ok. I probably will have a hard night sleeping but I'm prepared for a few of those.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes I have been smoking the strong stuff lately. I've been smoking now for the better part of nine years. I know its not a difficult thing to quit but thats half the problem. Cuz I keep thinking....meh....sher I can quit it another time.....and then I just get high and kinda forget to quit again for a while.....until I get in a ball about all the procrastination thats catching up with me. I don't really feel myself that it'll be difficult but I do need to keep tabs on myself for a while. Also I have gotten into the habit of thinking of it as my own little thing, my little quirk or comforter if you get me. So in that sense I guess I'll feel a bit raw in its absence. Whether its difficult or easy though it is certainly the most important thing I am doing in my life at the moment and also it is the most influential on my mood, level of grounding/concentration and a bunch of other stuff.
I'm off to bed now having not had a smoke all day. There were a few cagey moments but I got through it ok. I probably will have a hard night sleeping but I'm prepared for a few of those.
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I know what you mean about it becoming your 'thing'. It can be sort of a lifestyle. Furthermore (in my large circle of gamer nerd friends), being the 'stoner' is a pretty cool thing. Then again, I'm a sort of 'natural stoner', always saying crazy things, so I can keep up the appearance with or without it.
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I know what you mean about gamer nerd friends...hehe. Games it seems are a gateway!
Just so we're clear anyway I don't see anything in particular wrong with smoking weed. It works for some people but for some reason it doesn't suit me. I like/need to retain information. My job demands a hell of a lot of concentration and I know from past experience that being grounded and centred brings me as much if not more pleasure and peace as being stoned off my trolley. I'd never wish to make anyone else feel bad about smoking it and I wouldn't presume to think I know how it affects other people so this is very much a personal thing. My reason for posting about it is that others who have a similar personal experience can read about mine and also it gives me the opportunity to write about how things are going for me and maybe get advice/feedback or just have nice conversations with nice people not unlike yourself FekketCantenel. :-)
Right now I am midway through day number 2 and I must say it's going fine. Trying to vary my daily experience a bit so I have things to occupy my mind and to as I say ground me. Today I have tried to adopt some of the weight training things I read about in another post on here which was quite fascinating. Also I ate a good dinner....which kinda came from advice in the same post. I still have to go to work today and I won't finish that until 6am but that should be ok. I don't actually have anything to smoke anyway so that helps too :-)
Just so we're clear anyway I don't see anything in particular wrong with smoking weed. It works for some people but for some reason it doesn't suit me. I like/need to retain information. My job demands a hell of a lot of concentration and I know from past experience that being grounded and centred brings me as much if not more pleasure and peace as being stoned off my trolley. I'd never wish to make anyone else feel bad about smoking it and I wouldn't presume to think I know how it affects other people so this is very much a personal thing. My reason for posting about it is that others who have a similar personal experience can read about mine and also it gives me the opportunity to write about how things are going for me and maybe get advice/feedback or just have nice conversations with nice people not unlike yourself FekketCantenel. :-)
Right now I am midway through day number 2 and I must say it's going fine. Trying to vary my daily experience a bit so I have things to occupy my mind and to as I say ground me. Today I have tried to adopt some of the weight training things I read about in another post on here which was quite fascinating. Also I ate a good dinner....which kinda came from advice in the same post. I still have to go to work today and I won't finish that until 6am but that should be ok. I don't actually have anything to smoke anyway so that helps too :-)
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'Games are the gateway'? What? <sarcasm class="obvious">Oh yeah, playing Halo on the weekends is what got me into weed.</sarcasm> No, I just happen to only hang out with people who play Magic: The Gathering, since it's the closest thing my town has to a social hangout (I don't play, but my brother does, which is my excuse to go there). I'm sure that if I went to a writers' club (I want to!) or hung out with jocks, I'd find the same sort of aura of mysticism built-up around smoking weed. People see Jay and Silent Bob, Jim Ignatowski, and others, and think that smoking imparts a strange wisdom, or at least strange stupidity.
Yeah, it's a lot easier not to smoke when you don't happen to have any around. I ran out a long time back, and (even on the few occasions when I'd like to get high and mess around) can't be bothered to go get more.
I wish I could get into any sort of exercise (I weigh 81lbs, and figure I could gain some weight in muscle), but seem to be averse to regularity. I can't seem to build habits and routines like normal people, which probably stems from (as good as) never going to middle and high school.
Back to reading Bare-Faced Messiah!
Yeah, it's a lot easier not to smoke when you don't happen to have any around. I ran out a long time back, and (even on the few occasions when I'd like to get high and mess around) can't be bothered to go get more.
I wish I could get into any sort of exercise (I weigh 81lbs, and figure I could gain some weight in muscle), but seem to be averse to regularity. I can't seem to build habits and routines like normal people, which probably stems from (as good as) never going to middle and high school.
Back to reading Bare-Faced Messiah!
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<sarcasm class="obvious">-"FekketCantenel"
Hahahaha that's classic!! :D
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we might be on to something Games + Weed + Friends=Gnarley time. as it goes for quiting....I most likely way i stop is not having any. went the whole summer break with out any +3 months with out any coming back to it got me soooooooo High it was ridiculous(my word of choice wile Toking up) just separate it from yourself....and if your friends ask to toke have self control and say no. one love
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Hi nathanfake,
I used to smoke weed once a week.
Even once a week was a time killer especially when I was trying to build my business at the same time.
Back in December 2007 I made a decision - a decision to be committed to Freedom Education, to contribute, to write and to coach.
I think the biggest reason I quit smoking was because I found something that was much more important than smoking weed - a replacement. Then once I found the replacement I decided to make it a bigger game by sharing it with as many people as I could so others could keep me accountable.
So here are the steps I took:
1) Find a big game you want to play (replacement for weed)
2) Stick to the game and make it bigger by sharing it with as many people as possible (some people will join you)
3) Stick to your game and play all out!
I used to smoke weed once a week.
Even once a week was a time killer especially when I was trying to build my business at the same time.
Back in December 2007 I made a decision - a decision to be committed to Freedom Education, to contribute, to write and to coach.
I think the biggest reason I quit smoking was because I found something that was much more important than smoking weed - a replacement. Then once I found the replacement I decided to make it a bigger game by sharing it with as many people as I could so others could keep me accountable.
So here are the steps I took:
1) Find a big game you want to play (replacement for weed)
2) Stick to the game and make it bigger by sharing it with as many people as possible (some people will join you)
3) Stick to your game and play all out!
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<sarcasm class="obvious">Oh yeah, playing Halo on the weekends is what got me into weed.</sarcasm>-"FekketCantenel"
The future computer engineer in me loves you.
I don't smoke, but it seems others have given plenty of suggestions. I know this is an older post, but good luck!
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You mentioned feeling physically weaker. The best solution to that is exercise. Physical activity is a great regulator of energy and sleep cycles. You and others have mentioned smoking at night, or to relax. I have found for myself that when I exercise I get better rest and am able to cope with stress in a more productive way.
The key is to have some direction and goals and not to get disappointed with it by over doing it. Exercise is a way to get out of the house and possibly meet new friends. There are many different activities that allow for social interaction even for beginners through clubs and organizations. Activities can be tennis, swimming, hiking, olympic weight lifting, dance, boxing, martial arts, track and field, horseback riding, mountaineering, yoga, shooting sports, archery, volleyball, pickleball, cycling. Or, volunteering in an organization that will take you outside and interacting with other people. There is no reason to be bored in this world. Sorry if this sounds sanctimonious, it is not the intent.
I recall a time when I took up smoking a pipe (tobacco) and found it to be very enjoyable, relaxing and somewhat addictive. At that time I had an emerging interest in cycling. The two interests were not complimentary and I gave up smoking, never to do it again.
Just some ideas for you.
Regards and good luck. I think you have the right idea to give up something that is not working for you.
The key is to have some direction and goals and not to get disappointed with it by over doing it. Exercise is a way to get out of the house and possibly meet new friends. There are many different activities that allow for social interaction even for beginners through clubs and organizations. Activities can be tennis, swimming, hiking, olympic weight lifting, dance, boxing, martial arts, track and field, horseback riding, mountaineering, yoga, shooting sports, archery, volleyball, pickleball, cycling. Or, volunteering in an organization that will take you outside and interacting with other people. There is no reason to be bored in this world. Sorry if this sounds sanctimonious, it is not the intent.
I recall a time when I took up smoking a pipe (tobacco) and found it to be very enjoyable, relaxing and somewhat addictive. At that time I had an emerging interest in cycling. The two interests were not complimentary and I gave up smoking, never to do it again.
Just some ideas for you.
Regards and good luck. I think you have the right idea to give up something that is not working for you.
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