Symptoms of the marijuana withdrawals

marijuana isnt addictive, and neither is lsd. one may become psychologically dependent, but never physically. experiment while you are young enough to do so, but stay away from the heroine, and other highly addictive drugs, unless you know you're strong enough not to become dependent. you don't sound like a drug abuser to me, and experimentation is fine as long as you can absolutely control yourself. remember, you only live once. explore when you can.

For you to say that marijuana isn't addicting is a load of c**p!!!!
Obviously you have no idea what your talking about.
I've been smoking for 20 yrs , I know it's addicting. The addiction is as real as the withdrawls.
I'm now quitting after 20 yrs of heavy smoking, I haven't had any pot in 4 weeks.
Yesterday I was with a friend that is also a heavy smoker and she smoked right in front of me and it was really,really hard for me to sit there and smell it and not touch it and I didn't either.
Now, if it wasn't addicting then her smoking shouldn't of bothered me a bit, but it did.
And I also know about the withdrawls because I'm also going through them and it sucks bad!!!!!
But, I know it's not what I want so I will not go back ! it's straight forward into a new world without drugs, alcohol and cigs.

It's been 4 weeks now since I've smoked any pot. I wish I could say that I fel like a new person,but not a chance. My stomach and lungs are feeling better but my head, I just don't know what's wrong. I feel like I'm going crazy and that my head needs to be replaced. My head feels like it's numb on top. Is this part of the withdrawls? I read that when you smoke pot , that the resins cover your brain cells in layers and when you stop and your body starts to heal that the layers gradually disappear. Is this what's happening or could it be something serious ? I don't drink and I don't do any other drug or smoke cigarettes. so marijuana is all I was doing. Now I understand the meaning of a fried brain. Maybe that's my problem, I fried my brain , I hope not. If anyone can give me some advice. I'd love to hear it. Oh, I have no desire to smoke weed again!!!!!

I can most definately relate to that. I've been smoking for the last 5 years, very heavily on and off, in that I'll smoke for 8 months and give myself 4 months off. For the first 4 years I never experienced any negative side-effects but this last year - I last smoked 2 months ago - I had a really bad experience. I can only blame myself since on waking up at 9am, by 11am I had gotten through 4 - by no means small - joints. Of course I was feeling the usual and thinking just how incredible all the small insignificant things in life were but then something clicked. I can remember the thought and I just became extremely paranoid - partly because this had never happened - my mind was literally racing. I started to shake uncontrollably and after about an hour of hell I emptied my stomach contents, got back into bed and literally shook myself to the point of exhaustion whereby I fell asleep. I woke up 2 hours later feeling better thank god - believe me I thought I had gone permantly nuts - and vowed never to touch the stuff again. Needless to say, a few days later I was sparking up again, sceptical though I was and it didn't seem to produce any repeat hellish like experiences, though this 1 joint was small in comparison to those aforementioned. I smoked throughout that week and then decided enough was enough and stopped.

As said I haven't touched any marijuana for at least 2 months now and upon stopping I thought my troubles were over. This is where I can relate to the last post. About four weeks after I stopped I got really dizzy and started suffering both from derealisation and depersonalisation. I became somewhat of a hypocondriac and started to convince myself I had any number of awful diseases. After 5 days of having felt this, still feeling dizzy, I went to the doc and got blood tests - they all came back negative (i.e. it must be in the mind). 10 days later this cleared up and I started to feel normal again.

Another 2 and a half weeks went by and I started feeling that same disconnection with reality. This went on for 3 days and then the crescendo, I had a panic attack - this is a first as well - and anyone that has ever experienced this will know it isn't at all pleasant.

I've got to say for the last month I haven't touched a drop of alcohol so there's no reason to suspect this isn't the marijuana.

That was a week ago. I feel like I'm back to normal with regard to my mental state. I have started feeling stabbing pains in my lower abdomen from time to time but having read the posts prior to this I'm hoping it is merely a phase whereby my body's getting rid of all the c**p from smoking.

I know this is a long post but I felt I should share my experience both for reassurance that these is withdrawal symptoms and to say that, if they are - which I believe is the case - then it does get better :-)

I can't say I crave weed however, these experiences have had a profound effect on me so much so I'm paranoid about what might happen if I touch the stuff again.

"What hashish gives with one hand it takes away with the other: that is to say, it gives the power of imagination and takes away the ability to profit by it."
Charles Baudelaire

Thanks man, that's an awesome quote. I'm on Day 4 now. I wrote that on my dry erase board.

I smoked weed everyday for about 10 years, alot to begin with but towards the last year only smoking 1 or 2 small joints a day and gave up just over 4 weeks ago and I have to say its the hardest thing ive ever had to do. Ive had all the same symptons as others have posted here, major paranoia, severe headaches, irritabilty, insomnia, panic attacks (Doc put me on Propanalol) and in the early stages a racing brain that mad me think I was going mad. Its only finding this website and reading other peoples posts that I have realised that I am not going mental and that I just have withdrawals (or at least thats what I hope it is).

Ive done everything I can find on the internet to make myself more comfortable, I excersise hard 4 - 5 days a week as I teach kickboxing and ive been drinking loads of cranberry juice cause ive heard that it detox's the body but still my head is just not right.Alot of the severe systems like panic attacks have fissled out (and I now longer take the Propanalol). I know alot of people say it takes time but I just keep getting headaches (although not as bad as at the beginning) and pressure on the top of my head and felling like I am just not with it. I just keep telling my self to just push through it and that its my bodies way of getting used to life without cannabis but it just seems to be going on and on and its getting me down.

I dont feel the need to smoke anymore but I just want to feel normal so I can just get on with life, will it get better with time because I feel like at the moment I will always have a brain and head that feels like it is fried???

Just another guy googling for marijuana withdrawls that stumbled upon this thread... Thanks everyone for contributing! It's helped me. I've been smoking for about 12 years, probably somewhere in the middle of everyone that's reading this, I was 14 when I first started smoking. Its funny because now that I think about when I started, I stopped lifting weights. Anyway, I didn't smoke much at all when I was younger, maybe once a month or so, but gradually it increased.. I hung out with friend who smoked all the time and it was easier to just hit it than to say 'no' and listen to them say 'oh come on just hit it'... Sounds like an afterschool special, huh? Anyway, IIRC I didn't really start smoking heavily until I was about 21... Meaning pretty much every day, at least a bowl or two. Sometimes I remember taking a week or a month off just to "prove to myself" that I didn't need it...but it seemed like after that time was finished I'd go back harder than before. That happened about 3 times... I'm 26 now, married to a girl I've been in love with since I was 20, and just now wondering about other peoples' experiences with withdrawls. Here's my opinion on all of that... Mental or physical addiction is very much different. Mental addiction requires very strong minds to break. I consider myself a very mentally strong person and I still feel weed takes control of my mood and attitude if I don't smoke it. Right now I'm about 5 days without smoking at all, and I didn't really realise that until I started thinking about all the irritability I've been having, arguing and constant tension between my chick and I. If its not the kitten tearing up the apartment its the cable TV brainwashing us, or traffic congestion, or just plain dealing with "stupid people", or Pres. Bush and the war in Iraq, or how completely stupid money is and how everyone revolves around it, or being in an apartment complex where you can hear your neighbors through the walls, or (mostly) the complete and utter lack of money and ability to live comfortably with our income... At this point, after just 5 days I'm not sure if its been the weed that's masked all of this to me or if its been the cause of all of these irritants... But I think I'm going to taper off. I don't think cold-turkey quitting is good at all, it just doesn't seem right to completely, all of the sudden deprive your body and mind of a substance that it's been given for such a long time, even if it's really bad for you (mentally and physically). It just seems much better to gradually get yourself used to not having as much, and eventually none at all. Anyway, that's my take on all of this. Thank you all again for your posts, they have all been very helpful in understanding and relating myself to what's going on in my head and body... I hope many more people read this and at the very least understand what's going on with themselves by smoking weed and then make a personal decision to either quit, slow down, or whatever. That's the most important thing... You have to decide for yourself what is best for you instead of listening to other people try to make decisions for you, no matter what it is.

i am 30 years old. I have been smoking since 16 years old and dont remember taking any sort of substantial break. I have not smoked for 2 days and i already cant eat, i have anxiety, i feel dizzy, i also feel like i want to snap at times. I am worried about what is to come next. I realize i have had anxiety for a long time now and sometimes go through stages when i smoke and dont even like the high. I get paranoid. Great. Anyways, I am realizing this is no joke. I am wondering, ' have i caused my mental brain complete chaos and didn't know it?' i think so. Normal to me is being high. Right now i dont feel normal. I am going to try to kick it. This is crazy. 8-|

Ok well reading the last post on the thread, I have decided not to quit cold turkey. I am a heavy smoker. I have smoked every day from the time I woke up, to the time I went to bed, for at least a year or two. I know a lot of people have smoked for longer, and I'm not doubting that it's harder for them to quit than me... but I just don't have the will power to go cold turkey. This is my second day not smoking, and I am already sick. I don't know if the two things relate but I really feel like sh*t... and I'll tell you what, I'd rather be high right now than suffering anymore than I already am. I'm going to cut down my smoking to only two bowls a day max... always once before sleep and one during the day if i need it.... but no chain smoking. I like that idea, it's very appealing to a mind that wants to keep smoking and a mind that wants clear thoughts. Seriously though, I hate nothing more than this foggy head sh*t. I really do want to get rid of it.... but cold turkey is just going to make it worse.

To ween or not to ween? That is the question. The answer is yes, and I suggest anyone quitting not try cold turkey, no one should have to suffer like that.... just make sure you can keep control.

Being 21 and having smoked on and off since 16 and a real habit from 18... Today being the 3rd of Sep, the last day I smoked weed was the 12th of Aug an last cig was the 21st of Aug.

People keep telling me how much better life is off them, ie: feeling more energetic, clearer head, better food taste etc, i'm not experiencing them. Nothing seems to be any better except for waking up less hazy in the morning...

I can't wait to get over these quick-paced and lively dreams or nightmares i've been having (as a result of withdrawal). I wake up feeling like i've spent the night using all my energy.

BTW - in regards to coming off cold turkey, I think half of the problem is that if you believe you can't do it, then you won't do it. Constantly thinking about going cold turkey is of course going to make it worse. You just gotta stop thinking about the day that's coming up where you've decided to quit, and majorly distract yourself for the first week or so. I went on a holiday for the first week after I quit, and barely thought about it. I must admit I did stop smoking cigs on the 12th too, but lit up on the 21nd when I was having fun at a few pubs and bevvies. Several days left on holiday - and coming back home, the feelings began to come back somewhat, but I just made myself feel proud for making it that far without either. So here I am.

I have been smoking pot for almost 19yrs sad to say but more then half of my life time. I will be celebrating my 32 bday in just days. Anyway I am on my third day of quiting pot and butts, I have been taking zoloft for one year I have experienced deppression after I had my daughter 8 yrs ago. I have alot of ups and downs and right now I have been doing nothing but crying and right now this is one of the worst moments in my life. Im a homeowner, have a great guy and an awesome kid a stupid job why am I so down???? there are alot of others out there that should feel this way, I should be happy and greatful, I feel lost, confussed, no apitite, insomnia, just sad and I really feel like there is something in my life thats missing.... what I do not know, I hope my man can be strong and stick this moment in my life out with me, if not man I dont know what I'd do

Well, I certainly feel like the "grandpa" here.
I am now 45 years old and have been smoking HEAVILY for 30 years.
Yep, you heard right.
30 years.
Anyway, I have quit cold turkey before (I am now on my 4th day of quitting PERMANANTLY) and do not remember having these nasty withdrawal symptoms that seem to be the norm:

The anxiety, sense of hopelessness, night sweats, stomach pain, cold chills during the day (even though it is 90 degrees outside!), the lightheadedness/diziness, feelings of doom & gloom, strange dreams, irritability.....and on and on and on.......

I just got to the point where I wasn't smoking to get high, but to STAY high. I was only smoking at home, rarely around my longtime weed-friends. My motto was "Wake & Bake". At 7am was the initial bong hits....3 to 5 DEEP "skunk" hits every morning for the last 7-8 years was the way to start the day. I guess I don't need to go into FULL details as I'm sure you are all familiar with the routines (smoking during morning breaks, lunch, afternoon breaks, on the way home, when I got home, after dinner, before bed, etc.....).

So I have decided that I just cannot continue on this way. And I stopped.

I hope the symptoms get better soon...........

I've been smoking marijuana everyday for 8 years.
I've quit twice only for a month each time. I'm not saying
I'm quiting this time, but it a dry season where I live
because the highway patrol is on their toes this year.
Anyway I'm used to smoking about a quarter a day,
alone and with friends. In my house it's usualy
around in large quanties. Any time I'm home alone,
bored, anytime my boyfriend comes home, and everyday
as soon as we wake up. I perfer blunts over anything and
I believe the cigar paper is part of the addiction. I crave a
blunt after eating, sleeping or sex. Marijuana addiction is a real
thing, and when supplies stop with out you wanting makes it even
harder. I don't have any other vices. I don't drink, or
smoke cigaretts. I have no use for any other drugs, although
I haved tried a few others. All I want is my blunts. I haven't
smoked for two weeks and I'm going mad. I can't sleep.
I can't eat without throwing up. I'm irritibal, anxious, and just in a
24 hour bad mood. At first I thought I was just crazy. But now I'm
really gonna go crazy. What Can I do?

My boyfriend was smoking week for about 5 years. Ill be honest he went through some not nice stuff coming off it, sweating, loss of weight, paranoia ect. it lasted about a month obviously getting easier as time went on. it was the best thing he ever did though because he is back to his old self now, he has more motivation and is alot happier.
i wish you well, just remeber its well worth it in the end