Marijuana withdrawal

Guest · Guest

I've been smoking marijuana since late 2000. For the past 5 years i would consider myself 'chronic' marijuana smoker. Last week i was smoking about 4 grams dried every day.

However, i am just starting a new job, and decided to quit for a while. I havent had any since Friday, it is now Tuesday...

The first day: I 'craved' it, but it was not dissimilar to my craving for salt+vinigar chips. The following morning i woke up feeling unrested and in need of more sleep, but i couldnt go back to sleep.

Second day: still thought about it occasionally, but it didn't bother me anymore. Still the same sleeplessness.

I should point out that before i even considered touching marijuana, i had been diagnosed with insomnia and given some pills for it. Once i started on marijuana i noticed i no longer needed the pills to get sleep. I assume im getting these symptoms again because i no longer smoke marijuana, and not from withdrawal.

Now today is Tuesday, I've practically forgotten about it. I think I'll start again in a month or two once i feel comfortable at my new job, though maybe not as much.

I have known friends who have had hard times quitting marijuana, and known friends who drop it overnight without a single problem. One friend who is a heavy pot smoker even will quit for 3 months and then smoke again to get what he calls a "virgin high".

I think it is more of a personal issue, with people using marijuana as an escape, and when you take that escape away you are left with all of the troubles again.

Guest · Guest

i started around 18 years old and im now 34....have tried to quite here and there over the years but this time --its over..ive had enough...i threw my pipe away and cried my f@#$^&* eyes out. i feel cold inside but thats ok....i feel a little scared, but that too is ok...the reason i stoped..it just doesnt work anymore..i cant eat unless im stoned, cant sleep unless im stoned and lost my sex drive for many years..i quite cause i want ME back..
love and blessings to all.

Guest · Guest

I read all the posts. I am going through severe weed withdrawl right now. And not by choice. I gp through withdrawl regurlary 'casue I don't have any money to but any weed with. I don't wanna quit. All of you people gave advice for people that wanna quit. What about dealing with withdrawl? Just ride out & stay positive? What a bunch of crap. F all of you. I can't stay positive when I don't have weed. I hate evrything. Weed actually let's me feel some compassion & love 4 ppl. U guys r right when u say that weed masks your feelings. When I'm sober I realize that i'mn a really angry person. I've had a shitty life & I deserve to smoke weed to calm my stress.. I wish I wasn't addicted but I feel as if I'm f****d. I don't have the wiilpower to do it.

Guest · Guest

Hey all you brothers of the leaf out there.

I've decided to recently quit. Back in February, I got hold of this medium potency herb that the guy called "Fire". Started to smoke it, and noticed a bit of strange, slightly limited vision during the next day. No biggie.

Kept smoking, and 2 weeks later... BAM. I was in traffic, and I got MEGA dizzy all of a sudden without warning. Thought I was genuinely going to lose consciousness. Tingling lips, tingling neck, hands and feet late in the afternoon. Made my neck muscles a bit sore, and legs feel real heavy and weak. I'd been smoking herb then pretty much only nightly just before bed, just whatever I could get, be it hydro or schwag.

Nothing for about 4 or 5 days, and then BAM, more dizzy spells. Not constant dizziness, but just waves, anxiety like I was going to soon lose control or really flip out and be incoherent. Terror. "My God - the doctors don't know what's wrong with me! I'm going to get sicker and pass out or go insane or get the shakes or something!" - (my brain.)

Well - anxiety, dizziness (but no room spinning or vomitting, just nausea) - look it up on the Net, labyrinthitis? Could it be? Go to the hospital, feeling like absolute crap for hours at a time, and the doc says it's a virus that could hang around a while. Labyrinthitis is viral, right? Could be.

So throughout the next 4 weeks or so, the dizzy spells decrease in intensity a little and duration a lot. They lasted only 15 seconds or so, and eventually went down to not being any big deal.

A month and change later, I'm feeling pretty close to normal. Perhaps my labyrinthitis (suspected) was gone? So I took a hit off my pipe, just one small one, in case I got sick. HOH-HOH. Boy, did I get sick again, dizzy and faint-feeling just like before, same magnitude. I seem to have gone back to square one at that point.

Now, it's almost 3 weeks later since that one small dizzying hit. I get dizzy spells for about a few minutes at a time now, and anxiety has been afflicting me too for the duration.

Is it a reaction to the new strain, or weed reacting with labyrinthitis... what the hell's goin on?

mr straight · Newbie Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 2

Im very glad to have stumbled across this site! Its 3:10am and im still up, as today is the 7th day i havent smoked weed. Ive been smoking for 9 years, up to about 5 grams a day, of hydro. I was using a bong if that makes any difference. Recently i have cut down to about a gram a day, then i went cold turkey from that point.
I was feeling ok mentally, but experiencing bad temperature fluctuations, i'd be really hot and start to sweat then i take off my jumper and im almost instantly freezing again. It stabilizes for a while but then happens again.
I have much clearer memory, both short term and long, and i felt better until this evening. I had just got off the bus on the way home, and i began walking towards the supermarket to get dinner with my girlfriend, when suddenly it felt like the gound was undulating under me, and i almost fell over. Not wanting to show something was wrong (i was walking past strangers sitting on a bench and there was people around in the carpark) i kept walking but it was hard to stay on my feet. My vision became somewhat blurry, and i felt like i was on acid. My hands became incredibly sweaty, and i realized there was no damn way i was going into the supermarket. I told my girlfriend and asked her to walk with me back home, as i had to cross lanes of traffic and i was genuinely concerned i was going to pass out or something whilst doing so!
My heart rate felt fast, but i could hardly feel it beating, and there was a weird sensation throughout my whole body. It was all i could do to walk home.
Once home I tried to lay down but it made the dizziness (for want of a better word to describe it - like the coach was moving around like it was floating in the ocean) worse, so i tried sitting outside and smoked a cigarette. I felt somewhat better, but still off the planet. I tried to have some wine, but i couldnt just sit there and drink it, i was so fidgety. I got up and did the washing up, and movement made me feel better but i didnt feel in control of my movements fully, and i was worried i was going to drop things, although i didnt.
After this, i went upstairs and layed down, this time it made me feel a little better. I almost went to sleep, but i knew i had to get food and make dinner. After an hour or so i got up, and forced myself to go to the supermarket - i still felt weird there but i just did what i had to do and go out of there. I cooked and made dinner and had a beer, and ive slowly pulled back up to normal now at 3am.
Ive been smoking the occasional tobacco cone to alleviate the hand mouth compulsion, but ive been trying to focus on reading stuff online, hence finding this site.
Ive been trying to do exercise with weights but im weak in comparison to normal and im all achy.
I also end up sitting in these uncomfortable positions and i dont realize till my arm or leg goes to sleep! I also cannot sleep very well, and im dreaming for the first time since i started smoking, which is weird too.
I was quite worried about my 'episode' this afeternoon. Has anyone had similar feelings or experiences?
Ive enjoyed reading this thread and Its great to know im not alone in this temporary hell.

mr straight · Newbie Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 2

hey mate (who posted above me as a guest) i have also been experiencing the dizziness and weird feelings you described.
i was almos at the point of saying 'take me to hospital' but i hate hospitals and the last thing id want is doctors probing me and taking blood and asking questions in that state.
i was sure i wasnt gonna die, so i went home, but i felt litertally like i was gonna drop to the ground and have a fit or something, i was almost incoherent and i had to focus 100% to walk home without falling over.
im withdrawing from pretty heavy weed use though, and i hadnt smoked in 7 days when the 'episode' happened.
i have no idea what the herb called 'fire' is but if i were you i wouldnt smoke it anymore man, just stick to the weed if you have to smoke something but honestly it sounds like you need a break from it all.
i have smoked salvia divinorum (indian sage) before, and i tripped out like youre supposed to on it. Then a2 days later after not smoking it again (just smoked weed) i had this massive hallucinatory experience at my friends house. i felt dizzy, i couldnt hear properly, it was like i was in a soundproof booth with no roof and peoples voices were coming in through the roof not at me, if that makes sense. These golden orbs of light were flying out of the ceiling light at me and i got really nauseous and i went to the bathroom to puke but i didnt. It could be something like that maybe.
I hope you pull up ok bro.
Try to stay off everything and do plenty of exercise and eat well, and drink some alcohol to calm your nerves if you need it but dont get pissed. Also having a cone or 2 of tobacco has helped me deal with the craving to use the bong.
You will get through it mate.

Im feeling better today, i took the day off work cos i didnt trust myself alone in public after yesterday, but i think im gonna be fine and it was just a spell. I have read of others having massive dizzy spells too and i think its just our bodies coming off the weed.

Anxio · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Hey, just thought I would relate my experiences, if only to try and deflect my thoughts from the anxiety.

I am 20 yrs old and have been smoking pot every day for roughly the past 3 years. In the past 6 months or so it has escalated to 1/8th a day, however a few weeks ago i decided to cut back and stop buying, but not quit smoking.

At the same time i quit smoking cigarettes and felt much better, physically and mentally. However I still smoked the occasional bowl or 6, depending which one of my neighbours decided to smoke me out.

So you could say that the THC was still in my system. However about 4/5 days ago i smoked my last joint and haven't smoked since. It might be worth mentioning that i quit finally due to the fact that my heart would start beating irregularly fast for the duration of my high.

So up until yesterday I had no physical or mental symptoms of withdrawal. However, on Friday night a friend of mine had a birthday party down in LA, which i went to with some friends. I got quite drunk, and smoked the first cigarette I had smoked in a month (a clove). The next morning, about 20 minutes into the car ride back to Santa Barbara (my home), the hangover started to wear off, and i noticed my heart beating irregularly quickly. I became very worried, and was stressed out of my mind for the whole car trip.

When i returned to Santa Barbara on Saturday i had my friends drop me off at my house, and i drove to the ER. After the short wait (ha!), a doctor saw me, and i had an EKG. Nothing wrong. he told me that my heart palpitations were actually something that had recently been observed as quite common in heavy pot smokers who had quit cold turkey.

So i went home, somewhat mollified. But nervous for the rest of the day. Now its Sunday and i'm still anxious as hell, although my heart rate for all intents and purposes is normal.
However here is a list of the symptoms i am experiencing. If anyone can relate to this, don't hesitate to answer, as it would do wonders for my anxiety, which may be the problem in the first place. Anyway, the list:
sweaty palms and face
tight chest
pains in the solar plexus area
frequent bowel movements
burping with some acid reflux (although I'm not sure if this is a attempt to relieve chest pressure, although the acid reflux i had earlier makes even my nervous mind doubt the burping is really self inflicted).

Anyway, thanks for reading, if you did. And to all those going through the same thing or trying to: Ultimately its WAY worth it, i feel much more lucid than i did when i was high, and am much happier (barring this BS).

jester8886 · Newbie Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Hello,

It has been so helpful to read all your posts. I'd like to share me experience, so hopefully what I have to say will help someone else, as well as me for writing it!

I have smoked pot for the past 10 years, usually every day, although there have been times when I didn't do it as much. I am 30, and have spent the last 4 years either with a heavy roommate/pot smoker or by myself in grad school (with the weed flowing through me like water). 2 years ago, I went through a hard breakup and at the same time took a ten day vacation with my dad. I was smoking everyday before I left, and about the 3rd day of the trip, I started waking up very early in the morning with intense discontent, feeling anxious and alone even though my dad was in the next bed over in the hotel room. I didn't know I was going through withdrawal, because I had quit before (but it was only after 2 years of smoking the first time) and I had not felt withdrawals before. So, I attributed the feelings to the heartbreak I was feeling over the girl. Around the 7th-8th day I began to feel better and slept better (I was in Las Vegas and drinking pretty heavily as well) and so I never really made the association with marijuana withdrawal.

When I got back home, I fell back into smoking, although it was not as heavy. I was feeling depressed and I made a conscious choice not to medicate myself into feeling better. So, I wouldn't smoke until I felt better. Well, what happened is that I would have a horrible cycle of withdrawal (stomach pain, loss of appetite, insomnia, anxiety/depression) that would subside as I would not smoke, and then start all over again when I would. This continued for eight months as I started seeing a therapist about my emotional distress. The cycle was continuing and I was considering going on antidepressants. I didn't want conflicting mood regulators in my body so I decided to quit smoking in order to prepare myself for other medication. During the six weeks that followed, I noticed the pain going away, and I no longer felt the need for prescription meds. As I felt better (not really understanding what I had been through, I though it was all emotional) I started smoking again. This time, my body wasn't dependant, and I was able to handle the transition back in to marijuana-land. I had no idea the effect it was having on my body, however.

About 20 days ago, I had to say goodbye to my awesome girlfriend as she went away for the summer. I had spent 8 days with her, and I didn't smoke during that time, and as soon as I left her, I started feeling intense anxiety about being apart from her. I didn't realize that while the feelings of missing her were real, they were feeding the negative thought machine of marijuana withdrawal. I started smoking again with my friends, and the feelings didn't go away. I would smoke every 2 days, and once again, I was unwittingly sending my body through hell by choice.

7 days ago, I decided that I needed to quit once and for all. I was not emotionally healthy, and it was taking a tax on my long distance relationship. I was so dependant on my girlfriend to make me happy, and I decided I needed to get healthy. I was awake in the middle of the night, and on a whim, got up and flushed my entire stash of weed. It was so damned liberating to watch the marijuana spiral down the porcelain drain.

I decided to take a vacation with my brother's family, and I have spent the last week away from all my weed associations and paraphernalia. It has been rough, and I have spent as much time as I could afford reading posts on this forum, doing research about withdrawal and trying to understand what was happening in my body.

The intense anxiety has subsided, and now I am left with sleeplessness, crazy dreams, mild depression, and I am started to feel a headache on the right side of my head.

I haven't had vivid dreams in years, and I'm finding them a little unsettling. I don't sleep much, and when I do it is only for a couple of hours at a time.

The negative thoughts are starting to go away, and I'm beginning to see life through a new set of eyes. The world is starting to seem more optimistic, and time is passing more quickly for me. It's only been seven days of soberiety, although I really didn't smoke too much in the ten days before that.

I guess I'll conclude with the following:

The symptoms you are feeling are quite natural and they will go away. Already I'm handling the anxiety better, my mood is lifting, and I'm feeling better now that I have for the past 20 days. Life is starting to seem good again, and I no longer feel trapped in this bubble of anxiety.

It WILL get better. My appetite has increased, and I expect that I will soon find the slumber I'm so eagerly awaiting.

I wish you all luck. And a little luck for myself as well.

Best!
Marc

soon2bfree · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

This post has helped put my mind at ease about my withdrawals.

Doubt many will read this far but I figure I'll throw in my two cents anyways. I've read all the posts and have received a lot of good information. The one thing I noticed is that everyone's withdrawals are different, some lucky bastards don't get any apparently. Quick background, 10 years smoking daily 18-28, was smoking quarter oz a week of good stuff, self desire to quit no outside forces (not getting anything positive out of it anymore). I had smoked cigarettes for 5 years 18-23 and also quit those cold turkey. I've decided to post my symptoms of the past 4 days, this is my 5th day (morning) without. You may or may not experience this but this is what I've gone through.

Day 0 - Final day of smoking
Had decided to quit a week ago and have been mentally preparing myself for it, enjoyed my smoking friends company and told them I can't hang around them for a while, they understood (if they don't get new friends). Cold turkey, no herbal supplements, no beer, no sleeping aids.

Day 1
Woke up at a normal time, throughout the day I became moody, had a short fuse, very lethargic, slightly depressed, appetite decreased a little, difficult to fall asleep.

Day 2
Woke up early, very hot short time later very cold, temperature stabilized after nap, moody, had diarrhea, stomach had dull pain, no appetite, lethargic, difficult to fall asleep, temperature fluctuated at night before going to bed, trying to go to bed at a decent time.
Started drinking more water.

Day 3
Woke up early, very hot short time later very cold, stable temp after a short while, moody, diarrhea is worse, stomach still has dull pain, no appetite, body feels a little tired but mentally I feel a little more active/aware, temperature fluctuated at night before going to bed, still trying to go to bed earlier.
Became more physically active doing stuff to take my mind off of it, drinking lots of water.

Day 4
Woke up early, moody, diarrhea persists, dull pain in stomach, slight appetite midday, had trouble sleeping.
Drinking lots of water, went for a walk at night after not feeling tired. Exercise felt great! (and this coming from someone who despises sweat)

Day 5 (midday)
Woke up early, residue of dreams in my head (been a while since I had that), less moody, diarrhea is terrible, dull pain in stomach, slight appetite.
Went on long walk in the morning, shower afterwards was like being reborn, drinking vitamin/fruit juices, purchased bran cereal to hopefully combat diarrhea.

So it's not much but it's my experiences I hope it may help someone else going through the same thing. Hopefully I'll remember to update this to my full week and maybe the one month mark. I can say that it is getting easier with time. Based on some research I read and some of the posts it seems like the worst of it is over in the first week to ten days and is mostly out of the system after a month. So be strong and avoid people that may pull you back in. I already feel much better and have a much better outlook on life.

Monster Island · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

My Anxiety and Marijuana Withdrawal

Well, I can say that coming upon this board has been probably the most positive thing for me as far as quitting marijuana.

To sum up my marijuana usage, I began when I was 15 smoking on weekends/every other weekend. When I turned 17 I began to smoke every day and function perfectly fine in daily life (an average of 2-3 single bongrips a day, relatively not that much for most everyday smokers). Graduated fine with excellent grades, and I am currently 21 years old, and attending my senior year of college, along with almost practically straight A's. It is absolutely possible to be a smoker and function well in your personal life. I used to experience some anxiety prior to attending events such as parties/gatherings, but they would normally subside almost instantly upon my arrival at the party. I certainly associate this with my marijuana usage, as I never experienced such a feeling until about 6 months into daily smoking. But this really wasn't much of my problem, and wouldn't quit because of it.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I experienced a panic attack while simply eating dinner with a friend. Typical panic attack symptoms occured: sweaty palms, heart beating fast, loss of appetite, feeling like i'm about to throw up/die! It sucked basically, but I didnt associate it with weed. The following day I took a mighty bong rip at a friends house and instantly felt the same feelings again. These were so intense and uncomfortable that I even considered quitting marijuana at that moment if it would end these feelings. Later that night (about 5 hours after smoking) I was attacked yet again with a panic attack (while riding on a 2 hour train no less...I had to ask to conductor to make sure I was conscious when we arrived at the station).

The following day I didn't touch any pot until late at night around 11 PM. I figured that if I took the tiniest hit possible out of my bowl (and I mean TINY, about the size of a tic-tac), I couldn't possibly get the anxiety again. Low and behold, I did. I was barely high, but I felt the panic coming on. At that moment I promised myself that I would quit because the feelings were absolutely torturous and I couldn't live happily alongside them.

So here I am exactly 2 weeks after quitting cold turkey. I am experiencing a handful of the symptoms that we are all talking about here. Specifically, my appetite has become less immediately upon quitting, which didn't bother me too much as I could still consume regularly. I can sleep and wake up fine (wake up easier actually), and after 3 days I no longer had any strong desire to spark up. I felt like I was basically past the toughest part after only 5 days, that is, until the last 3 days.

3 days ago, out of the blue, I experienced a pretty bad panic attack while simply sitting in a movie theater, in the afternoon (seeing the Dark Knight, none the less). After the attack I retained a feeling of anxiety that would not go away, and has not gone away since (total of 3 days). When I awake, throughout the day, and even as I sit here typing, I have a sense of anxiety inside me that won't quite go away. When I think about it, the feelings begin to snowball until I feel like I am on the brim of another attack, and I have to remind myself to remain calm, breathe, and remember why I feel this way. It's like I constantly feel as if I'm about to go on a stage in front of a crowd without my pants on.

I would say that all other symptoms have subsided except for this damned anxiety that won't go away. The fear of another attack is overwhelming and frightening, but it makes me feel better to know that this is COMMON AMONGST US QUITTERS! When I really think about it, a panic attack is caused by the brain and nothing else, and such an attack can just as easily be calmed (well, not quite as easy, but just as possible), as it is caused.

I don't think there is anything more effective then coming to the realization that you are not the only one experiencing these withdrawals, that they are temporary, and to just remind yourself in your head that you are simply experiencing symptoms of no longer smoking a natural herb. The drug is natural, the withdrawals are natural, and your feelings right now are natural. As marijuana quitters, we are often lucky enough to only face symptoms that make us sick, but at the same time does not make us feel as though we insanely need the drug to relieve our present symptoms (trust me sparking up won't instantly relieve you). It will all be over and done in time (and trust me, us pot smokers have it 1000x easier then a recovering cocaine/heroine/meth/alcohol addict who feverishly fiends for another hit).

Educating yourself about what your taking on is the most powerful medicine.

Your not crazy! Your not going to die or feel like this forever! Your simply paying for those years of enjoyment; every action has a reaction, ying yang, etc.

It's strange but I feel as though writing this/researching about it/understanding it has helped me to feel a lot better as of right this moment. If your like me and your mind needs to be occupied because you find it hard to focus on anything except for the possibility of another panic attack, I suggest you write about your experiences here (you dont even have to sign up), trust me, its very therapeutic and will get your mind off of your present negative feelings.

One more thing for those of us coping with anxiety and panic attacks due to withdrawal:

http://panicdisorder.about.com/od/panicdisorderselfhelp/ht/pacoping.htm

10 FANTASTIC tips to help calm you down before/during/after a panic attack.

Booyah. Feel better everyone.

Marijuana withdrawal

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