Hey Yall
Im a 24 year old pot smoker....
and its time for me to stop....
My history with lovely Mary Jane started with my dad's death 7 years ago. A lot of weird things started around that time. And after getting suspended from my first semester of college, despite being told in one of my classes in fort of everyone that i was the smartest person in class and yet i received an "F".
That should have been my wake up call, but for six more years I continued to smoke. Sometimes everyday. Other times I had tried stopping cold turkey, about three of four times, but they only lasted anywhere from three-six months.
Anyhow
Smoking weed has lead me to spend outrageous amounts of money, and hike incredible distances. And tonight I went waaayyyy out of my element, and ventured for two hours in the f*****g cold of Philly.
So tonight Im gonna burn the evidence
and quit once again cold turkey
Im writing on this site, cause it helped me before back in aug, to finalize my feelings on quitting, and letting everyone out there know, that yes we might be "quitters" but everyone has to be good at something, lets make it this.....
keep jiv'n
keep liv'n
keep clean
Hey DWL - I just joined the site myself trying to kick an opiate habit, and the good news for you is that you don't have to deal with all the nasty, brutal withdrawal symptoms us H users get (flu-like symptoms, nausea, GI problems, cold sweats, all this stuff making it near impossible to sleep or eat, etc.).
But...as you know addiction is addiction. I'm sure there is some comfort you get from pot use (I actually used to smoke every day all through high school and college but rarely anymore in case I change jobs, although that's pretty ridiculous considering I'm using HEROIN haha). It probably helps with anxiety, mood, and sleep, but I think the #1 factor in successfully stopping is to WANT TO QUIT.
So by coming on / back to this board, you definitely have shown you're ready to make a change. I don't know if you would want to join a group / support group, but that would be all the more evidence you're ready. Even though the user can feel that pot can help with the issues I described above (and depending on the person other things...e.g. "music is better" "sex is better" whatever it is), I think when it comes to pot and other "non-physically addictive substances" (there's some debate but regardless you won't die or get crazy WD symptoms from stopping pot like someone WD'ing from H, crack / cocaine, etc)., the main thing is the FEAR that anxiety, sleeplessness, and mood symptoms will become overwhelming.
The best thing to do is to substitute things that might be less addictive, like tylenol PM or better yet melatonin for sleep, some herbal (no not THAT herbal hehe) products for mood and anxiety, etc., and also do other things like exercise to substitute the time that you might otherwise spark up and watch some TV.
I'm 100% with you on the $ thing; believe it or not; if $ weren't an issue, I feel like I could use H forever and not have any issues (I'm a pretty 'high functioning' addict). I'm ready to move on to at least suboxone or something like that, which IS an opiate on its own, but it is safer and wayyyy cheaper by about at least $1000 / month.
So for example if you consider psychiatric drugs & therapy to address issues you could be self-medicating w the pot, like Xanax for anxiety or anti-depressants for mood (and we all know people who say those are way worse than pot / more addictive especially Xanax), the pro's involved could be (1) saving lots of money, (2) they are specifically designed to address psychiatric symptoms along with therapy or support groups, (3) you won't have to go out in the freezing cold or meet some guy in a parking lot at 4AM to get them, (4) with a prescription you wouldn't worry about those meds on a drug test (for a new job, for example, and I'm sure you know how unfairly long THC stays in your system) or depending on which state you live in you wouldn't have to worry about having them in your car.
Those are just some thoughts, and you wouldn't jump into medications of course, although you would want to jump into therapy and / or group meetings, as well as making sure that your support group of friends & family is aware (if you want) that you are trying to quit so they can help.
Anyway just remember you've done it before and you can do it again, and also keep in mind that your perception / fear of certain things like anxiety going out of control are likely to be exaggerated.
Keep us posted on how this goes. Sounds like you are ready to take this on brother!!!
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"When I was younger my mother would say, 'Remember Artie: Hugs, not drugs!' And I believed her - until the first time I got high at a party. After a while I realized, 'gee I've never waited around at 4AM at a shady parking lot in the Bronx to get a hug!'" -Artie Lange