Benefits of quitting cannabis

Hello everyone.

About myself...M/25 FL. I have a son who will be turning seven soon also. I live at home with my mother. My son and his mom live down the street with my sons mothers grandmother. I am unemployed because I recently just quit my job. I quit because I felt like it wasn't the right position for me, but I think my weed addiction had something to do with it also. I am pretty much blaming my addiction to marijuana for the lack of things I want in my life.

Almost all of my social circle drink alcohol excessively and smoke pot. Almost all of them smoke cigarettes as well. I have been tobacco free for about four months now! I have also quit many times in the past with my longest stretch being nine months. The only time I quit smoking pot was while on a stint of probation as a juvenile. Take a guess what I was on probation for...

I have one close friend who is also feeling the same way about MJ. In his situation it is causing a lot of problems for him and his new wife. I know he would most likely be a good friend to try to quit with. I was also very relieved when I found others posting their feelings and thoughts about marijuana addictions online. Some of the comments read as though they were written from my inner dialogues at time.

I may be crazy, but I have this feeling that my life will change for the better if I leave this part of my life behind me. I have never not smoked weed as an adult. It has been a huge part of my life for so many years now. When I do not have weed or money to buy it, I know which friends house to stop by. Using people to get high...

I want to go the whole day tomorrow without smoking. If I can quit smoking cigs, I know I can do this!

CommonSense - glad you found us here.  You are certainly among people who can relate to what you are feeling - we've all been there - over and over again.  It is difficult to redefine your life, after relying on

pot for so many years.  It takes a while to realize that life can suck, with or without pot - and life can also be wonderful.  Difficult situations will still arise that need to be dealt with - and the way we have al 'dealt with' it in the past, is to go light up a joint. 

Quitting with a friend sounds a great idea.  And you have several friends here who will coach you along, as well.

If you can quit the cigs, I have no doubt that you can do this too.

Keep us posted - ONE DAY AT A TIME.  If you can just get yourself past the first couple of days, it really does get easier~

HUGs

Grandma

Grandma,

Thank you for the kind words.

I almost went the full day without smoking yesterday. I was in the garage and noticed a roach from a few days earlier. Just seeing it set something off in my mind. I felt like I had to smoke it! I rationalized to myself that it was just a small roach and I would start over again the next day.

Well that next day is today. I have not smoked anything today. I don't think I will be either. I almost feel like I don't need the weed at all. Quite a different experience from the last time I tried quitting.

Here is something that I think might help others. I learned this from listening to Tony Robbins Get the Edge II audio tapes. He explains how people hate to "give something up". We don't want to feel like we are losing something. I have been trying to focus on all the things I will GAIN from quitting.

I will update this post pretty frequently, stay tuned!

Commonsense, i'm in the same boat as you man, same age - different continent is all - all of my friends take drugs, drink etc.

Everyone has their ways of relaxing, but at some point or another, when you begin to smoke dope you forget all other avenues of relaxation, and thats when it takes over. I'm not preaching because i have only not smoked for like 12 weeks out of the last 3 years, but the best thing to concentrate on is the things you will be doing now you're not living in a fog - or even better, the things you have always wanted to do but have been too afraid or self conscious to try when you're in possession.

Give yourself a week off to start with, no big targets - you will be itching to find other activities as an alternative. I got a second hand heavy punch bag, to do some boxing, it really helped with the sleeplessness and gives you something to think about while you're craving.

I wish you the  best of luck man, you really sound like an intelligent guy, and you will really benefit from giving yourself a chance.

Hi CommonSense, welcome to the forum.  It's good to hear you're moving towards quitting.

It's a good decision, read some of the accounts elsewhere of how it can be so beneficial.  I've posted a pretty exhaustive list in the 'success stories' as I've been off it since last October (apart from 2 days).

I don't miss it one bit, and quitting has only been beneficial for me.  Quite simply I now recognise that it does nothing for me, and has been nothing but a burden for most of the ten years I been smoking.

Like you say - " I almost feel like I don't need the weed at all", that is probably the case, and quitting is all about what you will gain, it is, in my opinion, a win/win situation.

It can be hard to quit when everyone you know is doing it, so it is good if you could find a friend to quit with you.

It's like in the Alcoholic Anonymous, I think you're always paired up with another addict, so if one of you has a weak day, then the other can be supportive.

That can help, although it has it's risks, as if your friend wavers in his commitment to not smoking, then that can make it more likely to drag you down as well.  So it can be helpful, but you must be cautious.

Anyway, good luck, remmber the benefits, and even if you're not immediately successful, do keep coming back and posting.

James

I went the whole day without smoking yesterday. I have been drinking beer though. I normally drink beer. Not everday and not always until I am good and drunk. I don't want to sound like an alcoholic in denial!

I am going to not smoke for the entire day again today. I will limit myself to four beers today also! It is my sons birthday party today and I know there will be drinking.

I started reading your post James. Very interesting...I will finish reading it later today.

Thanks for the support everyone!

Hi CommonSense

Just wanted to say welcome - you have come to the right place. The first time I quit I did it alone and was miserable the whole time. I took up drinking quite deliberately (having not been a particularly big drinker before) to take my mind off the weed and ended up a right mess. I just say this so you are aware and dont replace one drug with another. Needless to say, I ended up smoking again and it was YEARS before I built up the courage to quit again. Luckily, when that time came I discovered a quit board similar to this one and met some likeminded people who totally  understood my situation and could sympathise with everything I was going through. It was a revelation to me that there were others out there - all my stoner friends were in complete denial about their addiction (they still are) and just didn't understand my reasons for not wanting to do it anymore. Well, here you have new friends and it makes all the difference, trust me.

I think your attitude is just right - make a list of all the benefits of quitting and keep it on you so you can refer to it whenever you have a weak moment. However strong you feel now, the time will come when you start to doubt your decision to quit (this has happened a few times for me, I am on quit number 4) and unless you have some compelling reason (or list of them!!) it is all too easy to fall off the wagon!

Well done for taking the first step. It is the hardest part. Once you get past the first week it gets much easier, until you hit a trigger moment or have a bad day or bump in to an old stoner friend who offers you smoke and catches you off guard... then it can get hard again. But generally speaking it gets easier. And we are all behind you!! You can do this. Post regularly and let us know how you are getting on ok?

love Weedless xx

I ended up smoking on Saturday. I have been since then. I even bought $20 bag last night. My will power started off good on Saturday afternoon. I watched two friends smoke for about an hour without joining in. I also consumed the four 16 oz beers I said I would have. After the beers I intercepted a joint being passed in front of me. I smoked and drank heavier that night also.

I basically just kept it going Sunday. I had weed left over this morning so I figured I have to smoke today also. My plan is to go back to my quit tomorrow. I am not as strong as I thought I was when I posted the other day. It felt bad to tell my friends I gave in. It feels bad to have to type this to you all as well.

Hi CommonSense

Thanks for coming back, despite the slip up, and being upfront. When I first quit using the Board I was so strong and positive in the early days (I forced myself to be) and when I fell off the wagon I could not bring myself to confess as I thought I would look like an idiot. The fact is we are all here for the same reason - because we are addicted to weed - so if there is anybody out there that understands why you did what you did, it is us. So do not feel bad.

I am on my 4th attempt in the past year. It isn't easy. You just have to brush yourself off, forgive yourself, and move on.  Quitting isn't just something you do one day and that is that. It is a process, one that can take a long time. The important thing is to take the learning points from this. Last week I fell off the wagon for 2 days after 3 weeks clean, and I made a little list of what I had learnt from it (it is on the "oops I did it again" thread). This really helped to clarify things in my mind so that I would not make the same mistakes again. Whatever you do, dont start thinking that you cant do this, because you can - we all can.

Whatever you do, dont be tempted to buy more when the bag runs out. Just proceed with the quit. It is easy to think "one more smoke" or "one more bag" but one always leads to another, so focus all your energy and willpower on NOT calling your dealer. If you are anything like me you will get that panic feeling when you are about to run out and call the dealer just in case, before the bag is even finished. Don't do it - you will just end up with self loathing and regret and be stuck smoking for another day or 2. NOW is the time.

Please, please, please keep posting - however it is going, good or bad. We are here for you.

love Weedless x

So I smoked what weed I had left on Monday. I went to the beach with friends yesterday. I drank WAY TOO MUCH beer for a Tuesday afternoon. On the way home I got into a huge fight with my girlfriend. I created a huge scene in front of my house and was out of control.

One of my friends eventually got me to cool off. My mom saw me acting like a raging drunk and is convinced I am an alcoholic. I decided I would smoke because I had already screwed up the day so well.

My girlfriend came back over that night and I fell asleep right after she got here. I said sorry this morning and told her I think I need to stop drinking also.

Now I wander my house aimlessly. I have already tried to talk with two of my smoking friends to see what they were doing. I was going to go there and smoke. Neither of them are available at the moment so I am forced into not smoking. I could go buy weed if I really wanted to, but I do not want to waste the money.

I am hungry but can not eat at the moment. I feel like all I want to do is smoke right now. I have not even taken a shower yet from the beach. I don't seem to care about anything right now.

This is really depressing...

I am feeling much better than when I posted last. I took a shower and went about my day. I have not smoked and do not plan on doing so. I have not had a drink either, nor do I want one.

I feel like I don't know what to do with myself at times. I feel like I need to be doing something, but lack the desire to do so. Is this the restlessness that is associated with quitting?

I think I will take WW's advice and create a wallet sized list of all the reasons I want to quit smoking pot and all the benefits I shall reap for doing so. This is pretty similar to the last method I used for quitting cigs. I had pictures of disgusting smokers teeth and lungs. Anytime I felt like having a cig I would pull out my wallet and look at the pictures. I will post the reasons I come up with once my list is completed.

CommonSense - I hope you'll keep checking in .  We've all the "yo-do" dance you're doing now.  Sometimes it feels like the more we think about quitting, the more we want to smoke - that addiction isn't going to give up without a fight.  For me it took just getting so SICK of the self loathing that

came with each 'failure' that I either had to kick it or submit

to it for the rest of my life.   

Listing the 'pro's' and 'con's' was also significant for me -  the 'con's' list was HUGE - and the 'pro's' had become less and less over the years.  

Don't get discouraged.  We're all pulling for you.

I went the whole day yesterday without smoking. I even watched as a friend and my girlfriend smoked in front of me that night while we played cards.

This morning I watched another friend smoke as he helped me tow my broke down car home. I did not join in, even though I kind of wanted to at one point.

I then went over to a friends house to meet his brother. This friend in particular is one of the marjuana relationships I have devloped. This relationship was born out of somking pot and has pretty much stayed there. This friend smokes heavily and laughs at me when I tell him I want to stop smoking.

Before I went to his house I wrote down five reasons why I didn't want to smoke anymore.

1. I don't want to feel paranoid.

2. I don't want to feel ashamed.

3. I don't want to be a bad father.

4. I don't want to have to lie.

5. I don't want to be arrested.

I folded the paper and stuck it in my pocket before I left the house. I don't believe I was fully convinced I wasn't going to smoke when I got there. I totally gave up once I got there and smoked a bowl with him.

I rationalized it by saying to myself that I will not smoke again the rest of the day. I meant that. These setbacks are quite disappointing. I am mainly disappointed with myself.

Hi CommonSense

I wish I could wave a magic wand and just get rid of all your cravings. If only it were that simple. I think you have it really hard because you cannot escape from it. It is tough when all your friends smoke. Most of my friends smoke and over the past few years I have (quite deliberately) been 'stockpiling' non-smoker friends that I see more and more of now, and see less and less of my stoner friends; I know that seems harsh on these folks I have known for years and years but like you, I just can't be around it and not do it. Even now, when I KNOW I don't want it, don't need it, don't get anything out of it and my cons list by far outweighs the pros... even now, I toke up when I am with stoners. The fact that you have managed even just some of the time to not smoke when you are in the company of smokers, shows how strong you really are mate. So don't be so down on yourself.

I do feel like you need to be a bit selfish and totally remove yourself from these situations; believe me it is a million times easier when you don't have to look at or smell the marijuana. I sympathise with that restlessness and apathy you talk about - feeling bored and like you want to do something but can't be bothered. I countered this by joining a gym. Sounds lame perhaps but is actually great for many reasons; the gym is surprisingly addictive and can actually effectively kill much of the time you would have spent smoking (whilst doing something positive too); it will also give you a lot of thinking and reflective time - to work through some of your psychological issues around the addiction; and best of all it will speed up the detox. The sooner you get all the THC out of your body, the better. It takes effort at first, but you will soon get in to it. Just an idea.

Just keep on keeping on - the thing I love about your story CommonSense is that despite all these knockbacks you have never said "to hell with the quit,  I'll do it next week" or whatever - you have tried again. Just keep doing this, no matter how many knockbacks you have. Never give up giving up - and one day you will beat this. You will get so fed up of feeling guilty and ashamed for falling off the wagon and something will click in your head; that it is smoking marijuana that is giving you all those negative feelings. You know this already, but one day it will hit you, and from then on it will be easier to say no. Put yourself before the plant.

Good luck and keep posting

Weedless xxx

Weedless,

I think you are right. I need to just not see anyone that I know will be smoking. This is hard for me because like I said previously all my friends smoke! So it leaves me stuck at home alone for the most part. I get so restless while at home by myself.

I have been smoking the past few days. I haven't bought any reefer though. (nor do I plan on it) I still plan on stopping completely. I haven't smoked at all today so far.

What is really giving me grief right now is my ex-girlfriend. I just had to break up with her because she had been lying to me about using/selling drugs, roxyconton to be specific. I have broken up with her twice already for different reasons...I was just ready to move on, or so I thought. I took her back twice. This was the last straw though. I can not stand being lyed to by someone who is supposed to love and care for me so much.

I want to take her back again...WHY?? My choices seem to make no sense at times. I will not be taking her back this time. It is not healthy for me and we really weren't that compatiable. I am just so use to being with her that it feels like a part of me is missing.

The whole break up situation of course made me say "Oh man I need to smoke!" So I went to a friends and did the deed. The next day I passed up a smoking opportunity in the morning only to end up smoking later that night.

I am going to strive to stay at home for a full week and avoid friends that smoke, which is just about all of them.

I wish everyone else strength in their quits, we can do this!

Thanks for the support everyone.

Hi CommonSense

It sounds like you are having quite an emotional time. Breaking up with someone is painful enough whether you know that it is the right thing to do or not. I haven't managed to have a functional relationship for virtually the whole time I have been smoking and for the past 6 years or so have stayed single deliberately so I could be selfish with my money and time (so I could spend it on weed obviously - that and the fact my libido goes through the floor when I am indulging in smoking. It sounds like you made the decision to break up on sound principles and for that reason dont torture yourself by ever doubting those decisions. Of course you will feel like something is missing at first, this is natural and you will come to terms with it all soon enough.

I think it is a double blow to be going through this and trying to quit at the same time - it is a lot for your brain and body to cope with as your serotonin levels will be in chaos. Make sure you are looking after yourself, eating properly and getting enough sleep. Just go easy on yourself and remember it is not the end of the world if you relapse on the quit, it is just a process of adjustment and you will get there in time. The fact that you keep trying is a testament to your strength and resolve to beat this. When you are going through periods of intense stress, like you are with your ex sometimes your reasons for quitting just go out the window and you find yourself smoking again - this has just happened to me. We all do it. It isn't a sign of weakness that we falter, it is a sign of strength when we put that to one side and keep moving forwards.

love Weedless x

Hi commonsense,

Sounds like you're having a bad time with it, or life in general.  Sorry to hear that.  It must be making quitting a lot harder, yet you are passing up on smoking opportunities, so you are taking action against smoking, keep at it!

I reckon one of the big problems with weed is that it becomes so deeply a part of life.  For many it dominates our friendships with others, we lose track of those who don't smoke (because we can't smoke in front of them, and we can't go that long without smoking, or have a non-smoking night), so it ends up in a situation in which everyone we know smokes.

So quitting becomes not just about quitting the drug, but also about loosing friendships because all too often you end up realising that the only thing you have in common with the people you call friends is that you both smoke.

I know how that's a huge problem.  It seems harsh but sometimes the only thing you can do is cut yourself off from others like that, maybe in the short term at least.  While some of them will be good friends with or without weed, with a clear head you might find there are others that you can do without who'll just drag you down.

Be selfish.  It has to be done.

I can relate to what you say about being restless.  Ironically I think that it actually a good sign.  I found I wasn't restless when smoking because I had no energy to do anything, and my time was full up with hours of smoking and watching TV.

When I quit, suddenly I have lots of free time that I don't know what to do with.  The good thing about this restlessness is that it shows you've broken this energy sapping enertia, that you're no longer wasting your life away in a drug induced haze, you're clear headed and able to do stuff, so try and find some new things to fill that time.

Common Sense - You're getting advice above from the best and brightest among us - I hope some of it helps you through

your difficulties.   Please don't give up - 

Greetings,

                    I have read the posts on this site and have decided to join. I have been smoking since I was 15 (12 years ago) and although it has not caused me any major problems, I feel now is the time to knock it on the head. I started, like many of you, as a result of everyone else doing it and to fit in. When you are a teenager experimentation and rebellion are a right of passage and despite getting caught by my parents, I continued. When I was 16, I was with friends camping near a loch (it was one of my friends birthday) and something happened which I attribute as the catalyst for my continued use as an adult. We had made a tree swing out of rope beside a stream but decided to move it due to the unsafe location. My other friends went to do something else leaving me and my mate to move the swing. My mate went up the tree to untie the rope so we could move it. Whilst up the tree he lost his grip and landed head first onto large rocks below and fell into the stream. I pulled him out and he was in a bad way. We phoned for an ambulance and he was air lifted to the nearest hospital. He died a week later. After this happened, I experienced frequent and very vivid flashbacks which occupied my dreams. To combat this I started to smoke on a daily basis to ensure that no dreams would come. My use has been fairly constant since then but as I stated earlier, I have not experienced and major problems. I have attained a University degree and currently work with people who have learning difficulties. I have two sons aged 7 and 4. My use has never been excessive and over the last year, I have been smoking a quarter a month (mainly hash). I ran out a week ago and have not smoked any since then, the temptation will arise when I get paid at the end of the month and will have money available to buy more. In preparation of this, I have deleted the number of the guy I usually get some from and although it would still be easy to get some I'm determined to give it up for some of the many reasons others have listed on here. I have nothing to lose and lots to gain.

Hi Placid Casual

Welcome to the Board! I am glad to hear it hasn't totally taken over your life and you have managed to do your degree and have a family. For some people, weed stops them functioning at all. I would say I am somewhere in between - I semi function normally but I know I am not at my best when I am indulging. Well done for already quitting and making the decision not to smoke again. Definitely a good thing getting rid of dealer's numbers. I have not managed this but mostly because I am still friends with my dealers! Or am I making excuses?

Sorry to hear what  happened to your friend. I know it was a long time ago, but I think if you have been blocking this tragedy for all these years, I expect feelings and thoughts about it will come back in full force now. I do not say this to scare you, but so you are prepared. From my experience of quitting after the first week or so the weird, vivid dreams tend to start for me and they can range from just bizarre to downright scary. But this is a phase that will pass.

Keep posting and let us know how you are getting on. It will probably help if you set up a new thread and write it like a journal. I certainly think it helps to get it all out on here, it is a safe environment after all.

love and hugs

Weedless x