Today is the day I decided to quit smoking marijuana

[gladaki]

You are doing good..Keep it up

[Sliver]

I didn't realize it would be so challenging to quit. Seems like you have a great attitude going into this, and it sounds like you have the resolve to make it happen. Stay the course, dude, you can do it.

[woob]

Good for you, Bluck. It takes a strong person to realize when they need a change. I'm sure it'll be tough for the next little bit, but by making the choice you've already taken a huge step. Stay strong!

[ranchlandsselling]

Good luck! I'll keep rooting for ya and hope we see this thread bumped helping you keep course!

You can do it!

[1stLand]

I am paranoid and lazy enough as it is.
I would be in a lot of trouble if I smoked Weed.

Good on yah for quitting. With all the money you are saving, you can take up other hobbies and activities. Maybe meet a nice girl, Settle down and get married.
Sincerely
- Your Parents

[rain_e]

Just take it day by day like you said. Once you are 3-4 days in it gets easier. It's like breaking any habit. Good luck!

[flamesfever]

It takes great strength of character to do what you are doing. My best wishes to you.

[DuffMan]

These days I only smoke if a few conditions are met, the big one being that I am either not driving or if I haven't had any alcohol. This would be the golfing scenario as I know a lot of people who golf that smoke. 99% of the time I am golfing I am drinking beer, so that rules that out.
Usually I only do it either ,,, 1. going for a long bicycle ride, 2. watching movie(s) and 3, my favorite, out in my backyard having a fire and drinking lots of beer on top of it.
If I went camping or something anymore I'd probably be doing it then also, but otherwise I hardly ever do it, any more.
But what I gather from most of you is your realized how much it controls your life. I felt that way about smoking tobacco(cigarillos) in my case.
There was the social stigma, I never smoked with people or in front of people I knew, actually, my 15 year old kid has never seen me smoke. I haven't smoked in front of my parents for about 20 years, and as far as they know I don't smoke any more. So doing it like that, you feel like you have to schedule your life around how and when are you going to get you next smoke in.
That's the main reason why I wanted to quit tobacco, not for the health or the money, but getting control of your life back. The other things are great too, but the main one was being a slave to smoking. tobacco makes me lazy too, so there was that.
I see that's why you guys want to quit smoking weed also.
Luckily I can do it whenever, go for months without, so it is really a once in awhile indulgence for me.
I can empathize with what you're going through, and wish you luck.
You should download the quit smoking app, and see if it motivates you more.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by bluck

Thank you all for the support and advice. It really does mean a lot and I appreciate it. Last night was extremely hard for me. I had tremendous cravings to smoke especially during the Flames game and for SOA. I just revisited this thread and it definitely helped me avoid the temptation. Falling asleep was very difficult. I don't think I slept for more than a couple hours and even then I kept waking up extremely sweaty and had to change my clothes a few times as a poster mentioned. I'm assuming it's my body reacting to the lack of THC. I was able to power through it and successfully completed my first day of being smoke free. I think it's best to take it one day at a time but I've never been so determined to do this. Thank you all once again. Here comes day 2

Stay the course.

My favourite piece of advice that I ever got seems to fit for you:

Nothing lasts forever

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by bluck

Thank you all for the support and advice. It really does mean a lot and I appreciate it. Last night was extremely hard for me. I had tremendous cravings to smoke especially during the Flames game and for SOA. I just revisited this thread and it definitely helped me avoid the temptation. Falling asleep was very difficult. I don't think I slept for more than a couple hours and even then I kept waking up extremely sweaty and had to change my clothes a few times as a poster mentioned. I'm assuming it's my body reacting to the lack of THC. I was able to power through it and successfully completed my first day of being smoke free. I think it's best to take it one day at a time but I've never been so determined to do this. Thank you all once again. Here comes day 2

Unlikely a reaction to the lack of THC as the compounds are not physically addictive, likely that you are reacting to the psychological addiction developed through habit. Addiction has several aspects; tolerance, physical addiction, psychological addiction, physical withdrawals and psychological withdrawals. Be thankful you weren't addicted to alcohol or heroin, you'd be sick as a dog vomiting and hallucinating thanks to the physical withdrawals. Your situation is like if someone was severely addicted to porn or video games, the first day quitting they'll be thinking about it non stop, that will fade with time.

[ernie]

I believe it is incorrect to say that it is not addictive. There seems to be increasing evidence while not as addictive as other things that there is known physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addiction may be increasing as the THC content has increased significantly over the years.

[AcGold]

I never said it's not addictive, I said it's not physically addictive. The withdrawal symptoms are psychological withdrawals due to the habit forming nature involved. Physical withdrawals have physical symptoms; fever like symptoms, aching bones, blurred vision, sweating, clammy skin, vomiting, hallucinations. That doesn't happen with marijuana.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I never said it's not addictive, I said it's not physically addictive. The withdrawal symptoms are psychological withdrawals due to the habit forming nature involved. Physical withdrawals have physical symptoms; fever like symptoms, aching bones, blurred vision, sweating, clammy skin, vomiting, hallucinations. That doesn't happen with marijuana.

and that is what some recent studies are showing...both physical and psychological symptoms. There is growing evidence that this isn't just about habit breaking but there is in many habitual users very much a physical addiction to THC and other components.

I know it's often promoted and repeated that it isn't the case but science is showing otherwise. The thought is because THC levels are far higher than they were a couple decades ago.

However, as I said it is also no doubt that it is not as addictive as alcohol or cocaine or other drugs. But for frequent users I've seen numbers of 10-15% addiction rates.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by ernie

and that is what the recent studies are showing...both physical and psychological symptoms. There is growing evidence that this isn't just about habit breaking but there is in many habitual users very much a physical addiction to THC and other components.

I know it's often promoted and repeated that it isn't the case but science is showing otherwise. The thought is because THC levels are far higher than they were a couple decades ago.

However, as I said it is also no doubt that it is not as addictive as alcohol or cocaine or other drugs. But for frequent users I've seen numbers of 10-15% addiction rates.

What is this growing evidence?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Wonder if we can get the initial post to 420 thanks....

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by bluck

Let me preface this by saying, by making this thread in no way am I looking for any sympathies; however, if others have or are going through what I am perhaps you can offer some advice.

I've been smoking pot for about 5-6 years now. It started off recreationally with a few friends in university and it slowly has been getting worse and worse to the point where I am dependent on it. I'll wake up and smoke a joint, after work I'll smoke, after dinner I'll smoke again and then of course right before bed to help me sleep. Sometimes I'll even wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning, have a hit and go back to bed.

Well enough is enough. Today is the day I finally take back that control and get my life back. I'm tired of being reliant on a single substance that has been affecting my life for all these years. Marijuana has affected my personal life, my health, my mood and of course my interactions with others. I spend on average $200 a month, I'm constantly paranoid as to whether or not my eyes are red or if I smell, I have decreased memory, always feel lazy, avoid social situations, I'm constantly lying to my family and friends about my habit as well as always having to "clear" my throat thanks to all the build up from smoking to name a few symptoms.

I feel that with the support of CP and of course my friends that I will be able to break this habit before I'm 30 years old, single, alone and constantly thinking about when I can smoke next. It took a lot to admit to myself that I have a problem and no matter what anyone says you can get addicted to marijuana.

Hopefully this will be the stepping stone I need to rid myself of this disease and move on with my life. I know the next few months or going to be super hard but to quote a famous saying "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger"

Cheers

My suggestion is that if you're going to be making lifestyle changes, use some of the funds you would normally spend on marijuana to start seeing a registered therapist to help with underlying issues of anxiety, depression and social anxiety.

There's a causational relationship here, maybe. Generally, substance abuse is symptomatic of something else, it's not generally a stand alone issue.

If you're going to be addressing things, it might be very helpful to see someone as well.

[SHOGUN]

Try eating healthier and exercising on a regular basis before quitting completely.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I didn't realize it would be so challenging to quit. Seems like you have a great attitude going into this, and it sounds like you have the resolve to make it happen. Stay the course, dude, you can do it.

From what I've observed in others, the challenge to quitting is that it also requires a lifestyle change. Going home and getting baked isn't an option, so you have to find something to fill the time. You have to get back into the rythm of being social, exercising, focusing on school, etc...and it can be really challenging to build a new social structure. Sitting on the couch and staring at the walls really isn't an option anymore.

[#22]

Stay strong, man, it will get easier. I have gone through what you're going through. I was what you would call a fully functional enhancement smoker. Everything I did, I did while high, because it made everything better. For 12 or so years, I was literally high every day, all day long. At work, at home, and anywhere in between. Then one day I found out the guy I was working with was an alcoholic who had to drink a 26 of Whiskey every day @ work, just to get through. I thought to myself: "Holy crap, this guy has a problem." Then I realized that I had just as much of a problem. The weed had become a crutch, a way for me to get through life.

That was the moment for me, and I started weening myself off. For me, cold turkey never worked. I just set limits for myself, and kept decreasing the limits over time (did the same with cigarettes).

Now I'm at a point where I don't want it anymore. I sleep way better and I have more energy, which means I get out and do things like ride my bike, go kayaking and skiing instead of sitting at home playing video games.

Like Duffman said, the best part is that I no longer have to plan my life around getting high. No more quick pulls in the parkade 5 minutes before the movie starts, no more standing on the toilet blowing the smoke into the running fan of the bathroom at the parents house during family gatherings. I never thought I could live without it, but it turns out life is way better now.

You can do this

PS - Sorry for the long post. I have never really talked to anyone about this, and it kind of all came out

[FireFly]

How's day 3 going?