Quitting marijuana after 30 years

[nmjazzman]

Well heres the truth... Im now 50 and started when I was 16.
I've been and educator, jazz saxophonist, for 25 years and have smoked marijuana since there was week for 10.00 an ounce. Been smoking all my life practically. Ive played on cruise ships when Jamaica was the pit stop for all of us musicians. Now I'm paying the price. I decided to quitsmoking and its been about 3 weeks. I have the most horrific detailed dreams,places Ive been, lots of insomnia, dizziness while in the classroom. (spacey feelings) And they are not going away... but Im trying my best to not freak out or pass out. So far so good. Some days I wake up feeling like I was in high school again, with an appetite and others I feel like Im heading for an insane asylum. Wow is the freakiest feelings Ive ever felt. I feel like Im on acid.. or something similar. The acid trips only last 3-10 seconds during the day or at gigs, if I exert myself while lecturing or playing my saxophone. Its like a distant dreamy feeling I can't really explain. Like im gona pass out. Like theres a lack of oxygen in my body/brain. SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME! Then it goes away... I 'm literally Freaking out! Im hoping and praying to god there is light at the end of this tunnel... If theres anyone who can be helpful or attest to this experience please share ur feelings, thoughts, and honesty on here.. I sure could use someone to talk to .......Im all alone, no medication, no one understands and Im trying my best to get better.. God bless everyone.....

[Cannabis Rehab Admin]

Hi nmjazzman and welcome to the forum.

What you are going through can be perfectly normal, many people experience freaky psychological symptoms as a result of using and or quitting marijuana I know I did, so try not to panic they will pass. I know it feels like you are all alone and like no one understands, but there are many people who are going through or have been through a similar thing, there’s more of us out there than you may think, so try not to feel too alone we know what you are going through. Things will get better just give it time, but in the mean time feel free to use us whenever you feel the need to talk about how you feel.

Take care and please keep us posted on how it goes.

[islandgirl]

Well heres the truth... Im now 50 and started when I was 16.
I've been and educator, jazz saxophonist, for 25 years and have smoked marijuana since there was week for 10.00 an ounce. Been smoking all my life practically. Ive played on cruise ships when Jamaica was the pit stop for all of us musicians. Now I'm paying the price. I decided to quitsmoking and its been about 3 weeks. I have the most horrific detailed dreams,places Ive been, lots of insomnia, dizziness while in the classroom. (spacey feelings) And they are not going away... but Im trying my best to not freak out or pass out. So far so good. Some days I wake up feeling like I was in high school again, with an appetite and others I feel like Im heading for an insane asylum. Wow is the freakiest feelings Ive ever felt. I feel like Im on acid.. or something similar. The acid trips only last 3-10 seconds during the day or at gigs, if I exert myself while lecturing or playing my saxophone. Its like a distant dreamy feeling I can't really explain. Like im gona pass out. Like theres a lack of oxygen in my body/brain. SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME! Then it goes away... I 'm literally Freaking out! Im hoping and praying to god there is light at the end of this tunnel... If theres anyone who can be helpful or attest to this experience please share ur feelings, thoughts, and honesty on here.. I sure could use someone to talk to .......Im all alone, no medication, no one understands and Im trying my best to get better.. God bless everyone.....

Hey, you're not alone! I am 51 and have smoked for 30 years also!! This is only Day 2 for me without the drug and I'm scared to death to go through what you are!! I didn't sleep at all last night.....this is my big problem. I can make it through the day, it's the evenings I'm so addicted. I love the way it makes me relax and laugh and sleep so well. But I'm tired of the price, the availability and having to have it. Already I'm jittery, have a headache and wonder how I'm going to get through the night since I have to work tomorrow. I really have no advice to offer you but just wanted you to know I'm in the same boat and take one day at a time...one moment at a time. I'm not making any promises but I hope to be free of this addiction!! Don't give up!!!

[Detox Me]

you are definantly not alone... there is light at the end of the tunnel. You will feel physicaly better. We can beat this. It is not easy, but we made our decision so lets stick to it. the faster we quit, the stronger we stay the faster the crapy part will pass.

[Cannabis Rehab Guest]

Colloidal Gold

Hello, I am going through the same symptoms that you are having. I did making it out of the tunnel once and for the life of me I don't know why I would of started smoking again but I did. After lots of money in medical bills, the only way that I could cure myself was with Colloidal Gold. I make my own. This time around I have not really used it yet, but I am having the same symptoms over again. I can not drink alcohol, caffeine, or do any kind of tobacco with out the dizzy spells getting even worse. The only thing that I can think of is that this is some kind of synaptic confusion in the brain going on. It is defiantly a neurological condition of some kind. So I suggest to get some CS, or learn to make your own.

Nick

[Cannabis Rehab Admin]

Hi Nick and welcome.

Colloidal gold hey, for more information on this check out this webpage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidal_gold sounds interesting, I must admit I had not heard of it, although I had heard some sort of theory about gold having healing properties.

Thanks for the tip.

[Cannabis Rehab Guest]

Another thing that I am working on for these symptoms is hemp cream. Simmer some good bud in rubbing alcohol, strain, boil down. Add Aloe Vera, simmer down to cream , mix well and apply to back of hand or base of spine.

[Cannabis Rehab Guest]

Question to all

Why or what would be the personal reason to quit? Why would somebody say "I'll never quit".

I don't smoke anything but worry about people I know.

Tnx
Elaine

[N.Charles]

Elaine,

The reasons for starting or quitting, for continuing or kicking the habit are as varied and wide-ranging as the individuals making those choices. For me, quitting was a matter of the drug having a hold on my life. I feel like I cannot move forward because it's become so central to my daily life. And the effects of using aren't worth it, or even good anymore. Weed was made legal for medical use in my state a couple of years ago and, now that there's an avenue for legal growth, the potency of the drug has increased exponentially. I used to get nice and lifted a few years ago. Now I smoke far less than I used to and get out of my mind. It's not cool anymore, it's not fun. Now I smoke and get paranoid and think I'm gonna die. That, combined with the fact that I'm 32, under-employed, and a stoner loser and finally actually realizing it, I've made the decision to quit. But that's me. Part of the withdrawal symptoms for me are anxiety, loss of appetite, nightmares, insomnia. These symptoms occur fairly quickly after not smoking, within a couple days or so. At least for me they have. Your brain wants that THC it's become accustomed to and puts you through the ringer when you don't get it. Now I have to deal with reality again and it really, really sucks. That's why someone may say they'll never quit. Because when you stop for a brief period and have to deal with life it's scary. The security blanket is gone. Some people can smoke and lead an outwardly productive life, personally, I cannot. So I gotta quit before the Reaper comes a-knockin' and I have no time to do the things I want to do, to accomplish what I want, and find that what I've done has been smoke weed and escape from what I wanna do.

Hope that helps. Hope it's a coherent thought at least. Weed's fun, it makes the mundane seem epic, but it seems to create this temporal rift in your mind, and seconds stretch to day and months and months pass in the blink of an eye and you can't accomplish life, you just accomplish getting baked.

[Cannabis Rehab Guest]

this

Hey, you're not alone! I am 51 and have smoked for 30 years also!! This is only Day 2 for me without weed and I'm scared to death to go through what you are!! I didn't sleep at all last night.....this is my big problem. I can make it through the day, it's the evenings I'm so addicted. I love the way it makes me relax and laugh and sleep so well. But I'm tired of the price, the availability and having to have it. Already I'm jittery, have a headache and wonder how I'm going to get through the night since I have to work tomorrow. I really have no advice to offer you but just wanted you to know I'm in the same boat and take one day at a time...one moment at a time. I'm not making any promises but I hope to be free of this addiction!! Don't give up!!!

I'm currently on day 3 and the same as you when it comes to evenings. I managed 1 hour and 20 minutes sleep on Tuesday night and a full 2 hours and 45 minutes last night. Surprisingly it hasn't affected my work at all as of yet, but I feel physically drained and can't seem to control my aggression in any way shape or form. Thankfully I've not had headaches or that yet, but my appetite has never been so low. I had a tiny breakfast and lunch yesterday after a full days work I played football for 2 hours so normally after that would head home for a smoke and a decent munch. I managed 1 bit of toast and egg and felt very sick and have been going from boiling hot to incredibly cold as well. It's hell on earth and much harder than I imagined. i kept thinking that i'd do this week and then reward myself at weekend before doing it gain the following week, but I actually think that I'd rather not go down that route as I really never want to have to go through this again. Anyway, felt good to type that and I wish all of you the very best in combating it as well.

[Cannabis Rehab Guest]

the lonliness and depression

I know that most people in here are older than me but id like to relate to some of you. Im 22 years old, fairly healthy and pretty intelligent. I started smoking pot 7 years ago and used it heavily, never went a day without it. I have always held a job and have never been in any legal trouble. I have decided to quit for a new career. Its been two weeks since i quit and it has not gotten a bit easier at all. I have always been so happy and carefree but now i cant find happiness in almost anything. Im so depressed all the time and will literally shed a tear for no good reason. Nothing interests me and nothing is fun. I absolutely cant be alone for too long. I cant stand it.... I dont even know what point im trying to make right now. I just feel empty and hopeless all the time... I am miserable without pot! Is anyone else having all types of mood fluctuations? I feel seriously bipolar since i put it down... Is there a success story on here? Has anyone beaten this sadness? I am so young, smart and have such a promising life ahead of me! But i just want to be successful WITH POT! But it seems impossible as my career involves so much travel. I just need a little hope if anyone can give it. And NO YOURE NOT ALONE I FEEL YOURE PAIN! I cant even believe im struggling with this so much... I know ppl who have quit heroin after 30 years and i feel like a big baby for struggling to quit smoking weed.

[Cannabis Rehab Guest]

Hey n.charles, unregistered 1 here, what you said really resonated with me. I have quit before, but always had it in the back of my mind that maybe I could pick up the habit and control it later down the line. This always led to me eventually relapsing when I started to feel slightly better or when I would achieve a slight success. This time I am 5-6 months clean and this is by far the toughest quit I've ever had because there is no going back. The danger of relapse comes when you get past the horrible paws and start to feel better. That's when the addiction starts whispering, saying you can have a hit once every few days an be just fine. Well, we all know one hit every few days is just not possible for us because we are addicted to thc.

So congrats on making a stand to everyone here who is facing the challenge of sobriety, it's probably going to be the toughest fight of your life. If it isn't that difficult to quit, you weren't that addicted. But I'm pretty sure most people posting here are, so to the I say be strong. Right now thank god I have a place to go like this where people of similar situations congregate to support each other. I tried going to a live MA meeting awhile ago but I didn't like it much. I a have pretty bad social anxiety, and so many people would just chain smoke cigs outside during breaks, I just wasn't feeling it. This is anonymous and you can pretty instantly get the support you need as long as people are willing to respond. So please please respond to my posts, I would love to know what any of my thoughts mean to you. Or if any of my words have helped anyone, I would love to know. If I can motivate anyone else to continue being weed free that would be so great!

[anonymous]

Don't ever feel like a big baby because you're having a hard time. Everyone is different and it doesn't matter what the addiction might be, it's never easy to get rid of it. Just keep trying and get as much support as you can. You CAN do it!

[Unregistered 2014 summer]

supplements to avoid withdrawal side effects

what i don't understand in some of you is why are you trying to abruptly end the use of weed? this should be done gradually. if you are a daily toker, tthen in first stage smoke only a little just before bed time, so you can sleep and so your body can heal itself the way he knows to.

after that, try to see if you can manage to use it only in weekends. and if you get to that point, you'll find yourself turning into an occasional weed smoker. and the next step, not smoking at all. or at least make good weed tinctures (google it out) and use it to ameliorate a lot of the side effects.

rhodiola rosea + colloidal gold + omega 3 supplements (optional) + a food source multivitamin supplement (check mega food, ditch the synthetic vitamins) + an appetite syrup

all these will help you more than you can imagine!!

[Cannabis Rehab Admin]

Unfortunately addiction is usually all or nothing for most, that's just the nature of the beast, once people have become hooked they have usually lost the kind of control required to taper down, that is why the advice is as it is. It's just to give you the best chance of quitting.

All the best,