Hi everyone

Just wanted to post my experiences about 20 years of weed smoking and helpful advice when trying to quit.I am now 36 and started smoking at around 17. it was so appealing to me at first because it was a great way to de-stress after work, i didn't want to become an alcoholic like the rest of my family and drink every night. although alcoholism did creep into my life i will keep this post mainly about pot. cannot remember in my life how many times i have stopped cold turkey without a problem to pass drug tests etc but now in my thirties it is all catching up with me. i am now on day 7 cold turkey and all the symptoms of smoking way too much are still with me. i have become to expect the panic attacks but the scary part like i mentioned is i'm still waking up late at night with severe panic attacks, i deal with these by 1, have an asthma puffer handy i don't need this for asthma but during the panic attack it helps my mind think i am doing something to help similar to taking an unknown sugar pill. 2- focus on little things one at a time, calm breathing, go outside on the wet cold grass barefoot is a great help,3 go for a walk i can't say how much this helps even just around the block( i have a german shepherd so i do understand this may be a dangerous idea) 4 don't be to hard on yourself! everything that is planned for the next day can wait( dependants excepted) nothing is more important than you getting your health back on track right now 5 exercise is MUST, sweat that stuff out but please be careful if you have overdone the alcohol like i have, you can find yourself halfway through a workout and have an attack or feel lightheaded these are huge signs to quit your body is telling you loud and clear, this i have read can be fatal. if your similar to me bring your fitness back up gradually but please don't stop trying it is essential 6 start throwing everything away especially during the panic attacks, eventually the cost alone will make you stop, don't beat yourself up if you do buy more money is a tool for us humans to use, instead just try again and again your health will always be more important money can be made again. 7 don't reward or substitute with alcohol the panic attacks combined with a dehydrating hangover is freaking scary & i'm sure can be fatal, daily alcohol is your enemy and you will not repair all your life mistakes by switching to alcohol, believe me i have been down to the bottom of every bottle & the answer isn't there 8 i promise you it will get better give it at least 2 weeks your memory will be better, can smell cooking etc again, can breathe better, you will actually want to leave the couch and start seeing friends/family again, and most importantly your mind will strengthen to the point where having a panic attack will become laughable to you ( i am desperately waiting for this stage and being day 7 i can feel i'm close) 9 if you cannot go cold turkey try using a pipe with a cigarette filter and only once twice daily, you want that filter to stop nearly all thc and just give you a slight buzz, enough to trick your mind. but this won't work if you keep doing it for weeks it must come down to zero smokes and no relapses i am convinced of that.10 admit to close friends family you need help & understanding, anyone who doesn't understand try & stay away from them ( i live alone no friends close by ) being around fun people who don't smoke i am sure will help 11 don't rush onto meds unless drastically needed. back in 2010 doctor put me on paroxetine along with valium for the panic attacks, this did get rid of the panic attacks but the side affects to my body and employment were huge, weight gain++, vomiting blood from to much valium, very very sore bones, constantly seemed to pick up every flu, getting of those meds was also very scary. 12 for some of us be prepared for the extreme anger for about first 3 days, this is the part where your life can be changed forever, especially if alcohol is being used as a substitute, your anger can be massive over stuff all, don't do business, avoid complicating tasks, try be around someone that you know you will listen to if your anger is getting out of control, keep telling yourself this extreme anger is only for a very short time. Hope this helps somewhat, time permitting i will try and post again   good luck fellow tokers