Benefits of quitting cannabis

I have recently given up,one week today.

Does anyone know how long these nasty dreams/nightmares last?

Hi T ,

I gave up 3 weeks ago tomorrow, and my nasty dreams have only just got going . I guess it's different for us all . Hopefully someone will answer your question for you better than I have soon .  I'm hoping and praying that they subside anytime now  , for both of us , as they are driving me crazy !

Well done on a week , and good to have you here .

Keep up the good work

CAT

Hello, 

The nasty dreams are the worse part, you don't sleep well so you then wake up tired, irritated and with no patience.

Feeling rather emotional too!

I wish i was on my third week, i have given up for 2 months before but because my partner is also a smoker it makes it twice as hard to stay clean.

This time round, i got to the stage where i actually don't enjoy being stoned or the way it affect so much more ie. skin, hair etc..  

THREE WEEKS, WELL DONE! 

Thank You and Good Luck

T

T. - welcome!   and congrats on the 1 week!  I was 5 weeks yesterday!!!  The dreams are less every week.  My internet is down, so I'm having to post on the run (HI CAT & EVERYONE ELSE) - but I would encourage you to read through some of the journals and other information here.  For those of us that have had success with this quit (after MANY failed attempts) sharing the experience here has truly made all the difference.  Please don't be discouraged by the dreams - they will go away - and the emotional benefits of success far outweigh the self loathing that comes with giving up.  We've all been there..

Keep posting - I get permanent internet back on Friday -

Grandma

Hello Grandma,

Hello Everyone,

Congratulations on your week 5, it can only get easier! 

Thank You for your support, its great to have you here.

I have been reading all journals, they are a great help.

I can relate to every one of them, this is a great site for everyone who wants to change their lives.

My first week hasn't been too bad apart from the vicious nightmares, i have had the flu which in a way has helped as i have slept a lot and haven't been at work  but some nice dreams or no dreams would have been nice!

I'm in the UK and  it is 5.50am.

I was up at 3.30 to make my fiancée a nice cup of tea before he went to work, i don't think i would have done that a week ago but  now i need to get some sleep.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me, wish you all the luck in the world, we all need it! 

Speak soon 

T x

Hi T ,   I'm in the UK too, I wish i'd checked these boards before I finally went to bed at 6am this morning !  I would have seen your post, I was going to come on and have a look , but I'm used to no one posting around that hour, Grandma usually posts a bit earlier  but she's 'on the run ' at the moment . ( not literally sorry grandma Incidentally , can't wait to have you back 'full time ')

T You have done so well , sleeping problems ( bad dreams ) aside, have you started experiencing any of the benefits to the quit . I found it really helpful to note these down , hence my posts in the benefits of quitting ' section . It kind of reminded me how many more reasons there are to quit than smoke .

I hope you are happy today  and that you found a peaceful night/days sleep.

Keep it up , we're all here for you , keep posting and we will keep reading . 

XXX CAT 

Hi Cat,

I actually wrote to you about that sort of time but my internet went mad and i lost everything i had written and as it was so late/early i didn't have the energy to write it again. 

No, i still haven't had a decent night sleep but i have had some positive benefits to keep me going.

My head is a lot clearer, skin is looking healthy and i can wake up at any time of the night or morning,  its just a shame i have had the flu!

I'm back at work tomorrow so I will know how I am really feeling in a normal environment!

No patience no doubt but as i work with my boss in a tiny little shop i have to keep myself under control!

I have read your post in the benefits section and its inspiring and it certainly help to motivate us all.

I have to say i am smoking rolling tobacco at home which in a way tricks the mind and helps me when my partner and everyone else is smoking near me!

You are doing brilliant on day 20, i can't wait to get there!

Feels like that's a long way away!

Its nice to know there's someone else here at normal hours.

Well done on your week 3.

T x

Hi T .....

Your partner and friends smoke around you !!! what a lady you are, resistnig temptation with it literally under your nose. And I thought I had it bad that my neighbours smoke , thats a huge testament to your will power , well done !!!!

Believe me , after the first 10 days or so are through , the time starts to fly , I stopped counting days at around day 10 , and only checked back the other day to see where I was up to .

Iknow exactly what you mean about having to keep your temper at bay , It's one of the most difficult aspects of the quit for me . I find myself being really nasty to people, and then it's almost like i wasn't nasty enough , so I go back to get my final point over . It's not good.  Lately however, I've beenm in more control of it, and don't break out in a sweat and start shaking with anger . ( never a good look ! lol )

If you like I can move this thread to the journal section ...... although it's fine where it is if you prefer .

Keep it up  , keep posting too .

XXX cat

Hi Cat,

Threat is fine here but if you wish to move it please do so. I am a bit new to this. 

YES, everyone smokes around me, partner, some members of family and some friends!

Brother gave up as of yesterday too!

My partner  smoking doesn't bother me, (I will be working on him giving up too) but not at the same time!

It's when everyone is here smoking, giggling away that I just want a little toke!

That's how it was last time i tried to give up!

Temptation hasn't really been a problem, yet anyway, on the second day i wanted to but the thought of having droopy eyes and not being able to have a conversation with non-smokers is enough to stop me! 

Constantly being told " you look tired today"!

Do you know what I mean?!

I'm glad I am not the only one who feeling like strangling people (that may be a bit strong) but that is how it feels, especially when people are being plain stupid.

It feels like they are winding you up on purpose! 

Did you feel like love/sad songs make you very emotional?

Terrible for me! 

I look forward to the day I stop counting the days!:D

Thanks for all your posts

T x

Hi T ,   I can relate to your increased emotions too , I find songs trigger tears for me, but usually songs I relate to a certain time in my life , rather than the type of song,but still, I can be driving along and hear one on the radio and burst into tears .  Great news that your bro has quit, it will be motivation for you to stay clean too .  I wish I wasn't tempted, I have been a lot since my chest infection got better , all I want to do is relax with a j , but for exactly * the same reasons as you , I've been put off .   Losing the lively look in my eye , and becoming withdrawn etc , as I know it will happen v quickly .

Stay strong .

CAT XXX

T & Cat - I get my internet back tomorrow,  so WILL be back full time - and also have plenty of time at 2 in the morning - and 4 in the morning and 6 in the morning.  Not sleeping really well either.    Recently someone recommended something called

5-HTP - it's available at health stores  and is supposed to help your body naturally produce seratonin, which controls sleep, mood and appetite.  Since I could use help with all three of those I went and got some.  - I used it for a few days and it did help me sleep, but I woke up kind of foggy headed.   I may try it again though. 

It will certainly help to be able to get online and at least be productive if I'm awake!   Since it should be early morning there now, I hope you are both soundly asleep and having a great Friday.  

I am at the point where I have moments when I would REALLY love a toke - the BIG difference (and it really is HUGE, if I think about it) is that I don't HAVE to sm  I truly never thought I'd be able to say that.  I hope things go well for you T. Cat is the reason I've made it this far - stick with us - we'll get you through this.

HUGS -

Grandma

Aww ty Grandma .... Don't know about T , But I am still very awake , and it's 3am now , eeek !  I am going to try and atleast rest a little now though .

That sleep stuff sounds interesting grandma , but the foggy head in the morning does not lol .

I tried some herbal sleeping stuff a few years ago and every time I took it , i would sleep walk , and have awful dreams ( worse than the ones im having now ! )

So that put me off... keep us posted how you get on with that stuff , I would be very interested to hear about it ... I have encountered problems with insomnia, long before cannabis addiction , so am always up for hearing about new solutions , especially natural ones !

Hope you're not dreaming bad T , I'll send you good dream vibes.

Night all 

CAT X

Hello Grandma,

Hello Cat,

Hope you are both feeling better, been reading your posts and grandma you sound like you are going through a tough time but still no MJ which shows your determination.

I really do feel for you cause unlike most of us you have been using for pain relief.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Have you got a back up plan yet?

Cat, you sound like you are also going through a bit of a rough time too, isn't the sleeping getting any better?

I used to have a tea spoon of honey before bed or a glass of warm milk with honey, it was great.

Slept like a baby, now it doesn't work for me but it may help you to relax and fall asleep before 3/4 am.

Don't give up, remember the lovely lively look you will loose and the paranoia which would kick in, in seconds!

For me it's 13 Days today... still going strong.

Falling asleep isn't really a problem for me, just have to think of nice things like my wedding next year!

My problem is still the dreaming but i am very happy to say 'they are no longer nightmares' they are now just vivid dreams.

Bad ones at times but NO SWEATS!

Now, i have a funny little story to tell you...

As i have say before I smoke roll up cigarettes(with filters) and my partner still smokes MJ and on Saturday night we were both watching TV on the sofa, i lit my cigarette and had a nice toke when i suddenly realized it smelt nice and then it also tasted nice!

It wasn't my cigarette it was his J!

Jealous anyone... don't be!

It was horrible, the taste was nice but that was it.

I felt like i had cheated and i felt disappointed with myself, luckily i had my partner to cheer me up and tell me it wasn't a problem.

We now have our own ashtrays so there's no mix up.   

I was going to come and tell you all about it that night but i felt slightly stoned so i went to bed and sulked instead!

I thought it may make me want more but It only made me more determinate not to smoke again. 

The daytime is still very much a challenge.

One day in a great mood, lots to say, full of energy.:D

The next very down, not much to say and no energy for anything or anyone.

Today was one of them.

It's so hard to keep going when you don't know how you are going to wake up feeling, poor partner is having to put up with a lot of moans!

I'm very lucky he is a patient guy!

It will 'hopefully' be my turn to do the same for him one day.   

I'm sure I have lots more to say about how I am feeling but I don't want to bore anyone too much, it's still early days!

Tank You for 'listening' and taking the time to write to me.

T x

T - please don't worry about boring anyone - that's why we are all here - but I know a few of us would have been very happy to have made your 'mistake' in the past few days:D!!

I'm happy that you are still doing well.  Thanks for the concern about my pain - I am trying to work on different skills to cope with it and just make it part of my life - some days that means I have to stay in bed - others it's better to get up and just work through it.  I'm just giving myself permission to do whatever it takes to get through the day - and some days it works better than others.  Going back to MJ is not an option - and I'm glad to hear that it isn't for you either. 

I'm in awe of you for having it around all the time and still staying clean.  The ups and downs seem to be pretty consistent for all of us - but then again, if we could really remember what life was like before MJ I'm pretty sure it must

have been a roller coaster as well .  The cannabis just kept everything more even.   So I guess we just need to learn to enjoy the ride again!

Congrats on your nuptuals!  WAHOO - I love weddings (done it 3 times myself!!!:wink:

Rant all you want to here - you're among friends -

Hugs

Grandma

Thank You,

It's nice to know I can go on an on and on...!

I read you have taken xanax, my 'grandma' used to take them for her arthritis but got told by the doctor to stop taking it as it is highly addictive and had MANY horrible side affects.

It can't be easy for you so you need to be pampered and spoilt .

I suffer with a condition called Lupus,i don't have medication as such but it's a condition with many, many side affects and no cure.

One of the side affects is joint aches and pains others being depression which comes and goes on a daily basis and many others.

This makes it difficult to work out whether its the lupus or withdrawal symptoms, I do hope they are mainly the second option but it is certainly confusing!

In respect to having it around me and being able to not smoke it I think it has helped psychologically cause i know that if I do need/want it is still around me. 

Although I don't want it I do think that is how my brain is automatically thinking.

We will get there, we all need to stay focussed on why we made the decision to give up and concentrate on the positive things which we are and will gain from doing so.

T x

Hi T, Good to hear from you , and even better to hear you are still going strong .

Sorry to hear about your pain and misery your condition brings   You and grandma are amazing , quitting cannabis through your physical pain is really something amazing to me , my healthy body has struggled so much to quit, I can't imagine what it must be like for you guys .

I understand your frustration trying to pinpoint the side effects to either your condition or withdrawing, I guess time will tell .

Good job so far T  , keep up the good work , and keep us updated.

Good vibes and luck your way  

CAT x

T - getting off xanax was breeze compared to cannabis! - And i know a little about Lupus - I have a friend who has it -  debilitating pain for her.  My problem is a paralyzed bladder and hereditary kidney disease that stops me in my tracks with pain and nausea, complicated by a bleeding disorder.  

After spending years seeking answers from doctors, I took things into my own hands with MJ - smoking it worked great for me for probably 8 years, then, like any long term drug - it stopped working well and I could no longer tolerate the expense ($600 - $800 A MONTH!), the problems of addiction and guilt - and increased difficulties with my lungs.   On days like today I really have to remind myself why I quit.  I really don't think I could manage if it were anywhere around me - you really amaze me.  I've spent two years seriously trying to quit.And I'm still convinced it was the right thing to do - 6 weeks yesterday!!!

Keep going - you inspire me!

Hugs

Grandma

T-  How did you feel the morning after the toke ? was it just the one toke off the J ?  asking out of curiosity .... did the circles etc under your eyes come back .... lol

I'm not planning on using your answers to rationalise a smoke, but more to remind myself why it's a bad idea.

Hope you are still going strong , get back here and post to us , we don't find it boring ! we love it !!!!

CAT x

Hello Grandma,

CONGRATULATIONS on your 6 weeks and 4 days.

Going back can't be an option, its so easy to get hooked on it and ssoooo hard to give it up.

I can't believe how much you are going though.

My lupus is nothing compared to your problems. 

Are you the only smoker in your home?

Just out of interest how much does it cost over there?

Sounds like you were a heavy smoker.

Myself and my partner together only spent about £200

roughly $350 per month

Keep it up, it is always the right  thing to do.

I am sure I speak for everyone when I say you inspire everyone on here

I am still doing well, no temptations so far.

Just the usual ups and downs on a daily basis and the restless nights which really takes it out of me.

They are getting better but I didn't expect to wake up just as tired as when I smoked.

The vivid dreams are so strange, it's unbelievable what mj can do to us.

Have you heard what scientists have been saying about it?

They are trying to prove to the government that alcohol and cigarettes are worse than mj.

Some of them have even been sacked for saying it.

Look forward to receiving your posts.

Stay strong.

T x

T - so glad you checked in and that things are good with you.   Your kindness has been a great strength to me.   I'm feeling a bit better myself. 

I WAS a pretty heavy smoker - all day every day and sometimes in the middle of the night.   An ounce here is around $300 - and I smoked 2 a month.  My conversion chart

says that's about 56 grams.  Does that make sense - anyway it was a LOT -  and prices sometimes went up to $350 an ounce.   If I add that up over 10 years - oh, that would probably be too painful!:D  Anyway, it seems it was about double what you and your partner were smoking together!!!

I'm also still having very vivid dreams and night sweats - but I guess I had built up a pretty hefty amount of THC in my body - and it would be interesting to do a drug test and just see how it checks out.  - Cat posted that she still tested positive after 3 months!  So it might take me a while. 

As far as government goes - ours is moving more and more toward complete legalization for medical use.   A prescription is very easy to get for almost any complaint - and it is in many ways less toxic to society than alcohol - if you ever drive under the influence you know that going really slow can be biggest hazard!    If I thought it were something I could pick up occasionally for pain relief, I probably wouldn't even think

about quitting.  But once I get started there's just no stopping me! -  And I've heard to many people say they smoke MORE after starting again - can you imagine?  I'd have to start robbing banks!  So I'm sticking with it.

Thanks again for quitting - every success strengthens me.  Post when you feel you have nothing better to do with your life:D.   I HOPE THE PEOPLE THAT STARTED THIS SITE KNOW HOW MUCH GOOD THEY HAVE DONE - AND HOW MANY LIVES THEY HAVE CHANGED!!!!!!!:wink:

Love -

Grandma