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I smoked when I was younger, every day for about 3 to 4 years. I stopped cold and and had the symptoms then, but didnt recognize them as withdrawal. I was always told that it wasnt addictive, so there was no relation for me between what I was going thru and why. I just got thru it, took up running and it passed.
I stopped for about 10 years. I started smoking again 3 years ago, and it again became an every day thing. I would smoke in the afternoon then all night until I fell asleep. My job requires me to travel to very remote places for weeks at a time. Last fall I had to go to Africa. On the second day, I started to feel very worried, anxious, and nervous. Also, had a general feeling of doom. I was in a very hard area of Africa, (Congo). I was pretty much in a war zone, so I related my feelings to being in that area. I still never imagined that it could be from detox from THC. Flash forward 8 months later, about 2.5 months ago and I have to go to the Caribbean to work for 2 weeks. On the second day, I have bad anxiety, worry, and morbid thoughts. I truly thought that I had some sort of Post Traumatic Stress disorder from africa, because I had the same feelings I had in Africa... but I was in a safe area, so how could this be?
Amazingly, I was brushing my teeth on the third day and noticed that I had mistakingly left a small amount of the drug in my shaving kit... I couldnt believe it because I got it thru the airport.. I should have been in jail... Anyway. I smoked it, and felt better. That is when I started to think...
I only smoked that one night, and left 3 days later. I was on the plane back to the states, and the same feeling came over me again. Constant anxiety, nervousness, and doom. I really began to worry because it felt like there was no reason for it. It would just come out of no where and whatever thought I had, thats what would cause the anxiety.
Finally, the day after I returned, it all clicked. Finally I realized what was happening. So I stopped smoking that day (June 10th) and right on schedule, the same symptoms returned. I started to read and read about the symptoms and they were identical to what I was going through.
I would be fine most of the day, but around 4 or 5 my symptoms would come. It felt physical, like a wave coming over me. Then it would suddenly go away around 9 or 10 and I would feel fine. I was dreaming like crazy and not sleeping well. And generally I had this feeling of doom.
I would worry about people in my family dying, or me dying, and just felt like something was wrong. Like at any moment something bad was going to happen.
Slowly I got better and more clear. The 3rd to 4th week it came back stronger again, but then let back up. I felt really normal from then to a few days ago. And now at about 2 months, I still get mild anxiety and nervousness and that feeling that something is just wrong. At least I know what is happening and I can power through it. I have read that it can come and go for months until you completely overcome and your body levels back out. I hope this is true, because this is getting old....
Was has helped me the most:
Running, Hot Yoga, reading other stories to gain clarity over your symptoms, eating really well (sugar levels seem to be a problem with marijuana), walking, and talking with friends. Also, be as social as you can, and I know that it can be the opposite of what you want to do, but you need to get out there and be with people.
THIS WILL PASS, EVERYTHING DOES. THE FEELING OF DOOM IS NOT REAL, its your body sending panic messages to get back a substance that its used to having.
I hope this helps.
I stopped for about 10 years. I started smoking again 3 years ago, and it again became an every day thing. I would smoke in the afternoon then all night until I fell asleep. My job requires me to travel to very remote places for weeks at a time. Last fall I had to go to Africa. On the second day, I started to feel very worried, anxious, and nervous. Also, had a general feeling of doom. I was in a very hard area of Africa, (Congo). I was pretty much in a war zone, so I related my feelings to being in that area. I still never imagined that it could be from detox from THC. Flash forward 8 months later, about 2.5 months ago and I have to go to the Caribbean to work for 2 weeks. On the second day, I have bad anxiety, worry, and morbid thoughts. I truly thought that I had some sort of Post Traumatic Stress disorder from africa, because I had the same feelings I had in Africa... but I was in a safe area, so how could this be?
Amazingly, I was brushing my teeth on the third day and noticed that I had mistakingly left a small amount of the drug in my shaving kit... I couldnt believe it because I got it thru the airport.. I should have been in jail... Anyway. I smoked it, and felt better. That is when I started to think...
I only smoked that one night, and left 3 days later. I was on the plane back to the states, and the same feeling came over me again. Constant anxiety, nervousness, and doom. I really began to worry because it felt like there was no reason for it. It would just come out of no where and whatever thought I had, thats what would cause the anxiety.
Finally, the day after I returned, it all clicked. Finally I realized what was happening. So I stopped smoking that day (June 10th) and right on schedule, the same symptoms returned. I started to read and read about the symptoms and they were identical to what I was going through.
I would be fine most of the day, but around 4 or 5 my symptoms would come. It felt physical, like a wave coming over me. Then it would suddenly go away around 9 or 10 and I would feel fine. I was dreaming like crazy and not sleeping well. And generally I had this feeling of doom.
I would worry about people in my family dying, or me dying, and just felt like something was wrong. Like at any moment something bad was going to happen.
Slowly I got better and more clear. The 3rd to 4th week it came back stronger again, but then let back up. I felt really normal from then to a few days ago. And now at about 2 months, I still get mild anxiety and nervousness and that feeling that something is just wrong. At least I know what is happening and I can power through it. I have read that it can come and go for months until you completely overcome and your body levels back out. I hope this is true, because this is getting old....
Was has helped me the most:
Running, Hot Yoga, reading other stories to gain clarity over your symptoms, eating really well (sugar levels seem to be a problem with marijuana), walking, and talking with friends. Also, be as social as you can, and I know that it can be the opposite of what you want to do, but you need to get out there and be with people.
THIS WILL PASS, EVERYTHING DOES. THE FEELING OF DOOM IS NOT REAL, its your body sending panic messages to get back a substance that its used to having.
I hope this helps.
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