I could really use some help! I am 30 years old and smoked pot heavily since I was 14. I was using it initially as a social mechanism but steadily started smoking everyday and by myself. For the past 12 years I have been smoking about an 1/8th a day. I quit 7 days ago and am having some issues dealing with the lost years. My memory seems to be coming back and I have severe regrets. I feel like I have flushed 12years down the toilet and don't know how to cope because normally I would get high. Any suggestions on how to deal with the regrets? I did not realise how many thing I had screwed up. I never thought these kinds of issues were associated with pot. Thought it was only harder drugs?
I am struggling!
I am struggling!
Congratulations on quitting and on a recovery!
A lot of people have this reaction to any kind of drug, including tobacco. I suggest you find yourself some form of counseling specializing in drug recovery. There are probably support groups in your area. Look them up in your phone book. You could probably also call an addiction/recovery hotline and they would probably have information on who to contact.
A lot of people have this reaction to any kind of drug, including tobacco. I suggest you find yourself some form of counseling specializing in drug recovery. There are probably support groups in your area. Look them up in your phone book. You could probably also call an addiction/recovery hotline and they would probably have information on who to contact.
First of all - congratulations. If you did it for the right reasons.
I'm a smoker myself, and although I haven't smoked for as many years as you (or lived as many!), I can add two cents from someone who's been "addicted", and then had to quit cold turkey. A few times. That's right.
Coping is the hardest part, because nobody really understands what's going on. But one universal solution is this: get really, really busy. So busy, that when your head hits the pillow, you fall asleep. It takes willpower (which I doubt pot develops), perseverence, and time. Quitting from such an outstanding habit is no small feat. I've had weeks when I simply couldn't be myself - everything seemed less pleasurable, and I still can't force myself to wolf down a full meal unless I'm starving.
I don't care what anyone says, it should be known: pot, cannabis, marijuana stimulate appetite, but when your brain associates eating with smoking pot (and associations is a large part of the brain's work), then you won't want to eat as much if you don't smoke.
That can apply to anything...so you have quite a way to go. It's tough, but in the end, you've accomplished something that few people have dared, many have condemned, and almost nobody will really believe.
So if you changed up your routines, kept busy, and avoided anything that was previously heavily influenced by pot (say, watching TV), then you'll find there's alot of enjoyment to be had.
Yes, going to therapy is one of the solutions. But I wouldn't trust anyone who hasn't gone through what I have. Because there's protocol, procedure, and method - that's what doctors and others do for a living.
But actual useful wisdom - is priceless. And it can't be taught through textbooks.
So if you find a compassionate therapist...that might be your best bet.
But I would quit right away if they revealed to me they were against marijuana, drugs and addiction, and they felt empowered for helping someone "lower" than them. It's not something you take a stand for or against - it's something you try to understand.
Because in the end - you want to say that you did it yourself. Because nobody else can help you but you.
I'm a smoker myself, and although I haven't smoked for as many years as you (or lived as many!), I can add two cents from someone who's been "addicted", and then had to quit cold turkey. A few times. That's right.
Coping is the hardest part, because nobody really understands what's going on. But one universal solution is this: get really, really busy. So busy, that when your head hits the pillow, you fall asleep. It takes willpower (which I doubt pot develops), perseverence, and time. Quitting from such an outstanding habit is no small feat. I've had weeks when I simply couldn't be myself - everything seemed less pleasurable, and I still can't force myself to wolf down a full meal unless I'm starving.
I don't care what anyone says, it should be known: pot, cannabis, marijuana stimulate appetite, but when your brain associates eating with smoking pot (and associations is a large part of the brain's work), then you won't want to eat as much if you don't smoke.
That can apply to anything...so you have quite a way to go. It's tough, but in the end, you've accomplished something that few people have dared, many have condemned, and almost nobody will really believe.
So if you changed up your routines, kept busy, and avoided anything that was previously heavily influenced by pot (say, watching TV), then you'll find there's alot of enjoyment to be had.
Yes, going to therapy is one of the solutions. But I wouldn't trust anyone who hasn't gone through what I have. Because there's protocol, procedure, and method - that's what doctors and others do for a living.
But actual useful wisdom - is priceless. And it can't be taught through textbooks.
So if you find a compassionate therapist...that might be your best bet.
But I would quit right away if they revealed to me they were against marijuana, drugs and addiction, and they felt empowered for helping someone "lower" than them. It's not something you take a stand for or against - it's something you try to understand.
Because in the end - you want to say that you did it yourself. Because nobody else can help you but you.
I know where you're at. I feel the exact same way. How do I get those six years back? Actually, it's more like 32 years back. I can't get them back. You can't get your years back either. You know that. What you can do though, is focus on the years ahead. So, what are we going to do, waste more time dwelling on the past? No, we're not. Don't let pot rob your future too. Don't you see...it's also the pot that's making you look at the negative. In my mind I feel like at least I quit and haven't wasted more time on it. Let's face it, we really didn't waste all that time. I had some great times with my family and friends but ya...wasted in the sense that I was stoned and probably wasn't the brother I could have been. But, please look at it this way...you cared enough to quit it. You made that decision to live the rest of your life in the real.
There are many regrets we can have in life that doesn't have anything to do with pot. How do you handle those? The same way. We made a mistake and we've paid for it. Only good things to come.
So, my great words of wisdom...look ahead not back. DO NOT let pot rob you of you're future because you're worrying about the past. Do not let it do that to you. Quitting pot was the smartest thing you and I have done. Just think of how many more years we could have wasted!!
Live your life. Do the things that are healthy for you.
My family missed the real me so much they were going to do an intervention after New Year's this year. Fortunately, I beat them to the punch. All people want is for you to be better.
It's okay...it's the drugs that have robbed us of everything.
WE will not let it rob us anymore. :-S
There are many regrets we can have in life that doesn't have anything to do with pot. How do you handle those? The same way. We made a mistake and we've paid for it. Only good things to come.
So, my great words of wisdom...look ahead not back. DO NOT let pot rob you of you're future because you're worrying about the past. Do not let it do that to you. Quitting pot was the smartest thing you and I have done. Just think of how many more years we could have wasted!!
Live your life. Do the things that are healthy for you.
My family missed the real me so much they were going to do an intervention after New Year's this year. Fortunately, I beat them to the punch. All people want is for you to be better.
It's okay...it's the drugs that have robbed us of everything.
WE will not let it rob us anymore. :-S
Hi
I think Hug0669 makes a good point about focusing on the future, however, I also understand the feeling of wasted time and how it is not that easy just to focus on the future because regrets don't just go away like that.
What can sometimes be helpful is looking at that past and seeing what you learned from it. The other day I was wishing I could go back to a certain age and do things differently and skipped certain parts of my life that I regret, than it dawned on me that if I skipped a certain aspect that I was fantasizing about skipping, something great in my life never would have happen because it needed that aspect that I wanted to skipped all together to make that good thing happen.
I think our pasts are there for us to learn from and to lead to certain things in the future. You could look at it that you realized how wonderful it is to quit pot and now you realized what a difference it makes in your life without it. That is a positive in itself, and maybe the future will entail you helping someone struggle that can't quit as easily as you did.
WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU HAVE MADE, WAY TO GO!!!
I think Hug0669 makes a good point about focusing on the future, however, I also understand the feeling of wasted time and how it is not that easy just to focus on the future because regrets don't just go away like that.
What can sometimes be helpful is looking at that past and seeing what you learned from it. The other day I was wishing I could go back to a certain age and do things differently and skipped certain parts of my life that I regret, than it dawned on me that if I skipped a certain aspect that I was fantasizing about skipping, something great in my life never would have happen because it needed that aspect that I wanted to skipped all together to make that good thing happen.
I think our pasts are there for us to learn from and to lead to certain things in the future. You could look at it that you realized how wonderful it is to quit pot and now you realized what a difference it makes in your life without it. That is a positive in itself, and maybe the future will entail you helping someone struggle that can't quit as easily as you did.
WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU HAVE MADE, WAY TO GO!!!
What made you give up in the end? Someone tell me?
I've been smoking pot everyday for 12 years now (i'm only 28). I have always beaten myself up for smoking it and have felt very depressed over it for many years now. I never feel truly happy, I think it has slowly destoryed my confidence in life.
I have tried to give up but when i do it's all i think about and i always end up smoking it again. I am desperate to give up.
I went to see a hypnotherapist and gave up for a few months once and i have never felt happiness like it, every small good thing that happened in those few months, i felt such happiness about nothing, happinesss that i dont remember feeling, even the smell of the air or the look of the sky.
I have been numb for years and am very unhappy all the time. I have seen drugs councils for years, nothing has helped.
Has anyone got any advice for me please? I need some help to free myself from the weed.
I've been smoking pot everyday for 12 years now (i'm only 28). I have always beaten myself up for smoking it and have felt very depressed over it for many years now. I never feel truly happy, I think it has slowly destoryed my confidence in life.
I have tried to give up but when i do it's all i think about and i always end up smoking it again. I am desperate to give up.
I went to see a hypnotherapist and gave up for a few months once and i have never felt happiness like it, every small good thing that happened in those few months, i felt such happiness about nothing, happinesss that i dont remember feeling, even the smell of the air or the look of the sky.
I have been numb for years and am very unhappy all the time. I have seen drugs councils for years, nothing has helped.
Has anyone got any advice for me please? I need some help to free myself from the weed.
We all have underlying sub-conscious problems that we need to face at some point in our life. You are not alone. Everyone has different coping mechanisms whether it be drinking or something more natural like exercise, in your case it was marijuana. You may feel stuck in life and start feeling like everything is finally "catching up"to you, but you should be thankful this is happening sooner than later. I used to be a heavy marijuana user as well, people used to ask me why I had a drug problem and I would always respond with "I don't have a drug problem, I have a problem with reality". It was a long and arduous personal journey but it the long run it ended up pretty well, I got my priorities straight and have never been happier. If I could go back I wouldn't have smoked so damn much, but then again if I didn't who knows what other hard core sh*t I would get myself into. Face your problems and fix them, it's what you here for.