About to start quitting weed

[teklid]

I'm about to start trying to detox smoking the drug and I figured if I made a post here it might make it seem more final to me. I'm writing my whole story thing more for me to just get it out there and read it myself.

A bit about my story: I've been smoking daily for 8 years now. Before that I used to be very active, I biked daily and canoed and camped on weekends. I had a back injury and my life slowed down. I spent 6 years seeing doctors and physio trying to get back to normal and then spent 2 years waiting for surgery when that all failed. Over that time I grew to 280 pounds because it got so bad I could only walk for about 10 minutes at a time. When I had to stop doing the things I really enjoyed is when I moved from a once a month type smoker to a daily smoker.

After 8 years its at the point where I feel lost if I don't have the drug and I know its going to cause problems for me. I like to have 1 in the morning, 1 at lunch, and as many as I want at night during the week and then weekends were as I felt like it. I always have the attitude that nothing is as fun as it could be if I had a joint. If i'm playing video games I've always got to stop to have a smoke. If I do go out for a walk I need to bring one. I really think I'm ready for a change.

I had my surgery a month and a half ago and my rehabilitation is coming nicely. I'm about to start going to work part time next week and I'm hoping to get everything in my life back in order. Being home recovering has been bad because I've had no reasons not to smoke all day. Today I'm going in for lunch to have a meeting with my CEO and my manager, and I've already had a joint. I knew I shouldn't, but I did anyways. I have lots of people who depend on me at work, and I know I'm not nearly as productive as I was when I smoked the drug a lot less. I love my job and I'd hate to lose it, or lose the respect of my coworkers.

I have a problem and I need a change. I think this is going to be really difficult.

[Finding my Center]

Hi Teklid,

Welcome to the forum, you are in the right place.
Your story sounds so familiar to me. I smoked every day for 16 years. I have been sober now for 24 days and it has been the best decision that i have ever made, and it will be for you too.

You sound determined which is brilliant, you just have to try to keep yourself busy. I was the same I had a spliff before I did anything and I thought that it wouldn't be the same without it, but do you know what it is much better. At the moment my head is totally clear and the best thing for me is waking up in the morning and being fresh as a daisy, not sluggish and half asleep.

The pros far outweigh the cons but its hard to see that when you are surrounded by a smoky haze. It feels so good to have my emotions back instead of a blank expression. Be ready for a few detox symptoms... Night sweats are the worst, and really strange vivid dreams but they will pass. And mood swings!! but when they happen just try to occupy your mind.... don't cave in!! I find that if come on here and read peoples posts that really helps, also there is a site called MA Online (Marijuana Addicts) that has a chat room and there are always people who are going through the same as you who want to help and talk to you. And a tip from me is plenty of green tea it helps you to relax, and plenty hot baths as well, really calm you down when you are feeling tense.

Everyone here is very supportive of each other, were all one big family. I don't think that I would have made it this far without their support.
I wish you all the best its a long hard journey but i think that you already know that it is worth it in the end!!

I have faith in you xx

[Cannabis Rehab Admin]

Hi teklid and welcome to the forum.

A lot of us use the drug whilst doing the things we enjoy, the video games thing is very popular with a lot of people. the drug made me very unproductive too, when I was smoking I couldn’t be bothered to do too much either, other than watch the Simpsons and south park, but after a while as good as the Simpsons is I realised that doing that all the time was no life. I am sure you will feel the benefit of quitting and learn to do the things you enjoy without it, you do learn to readjust and start enjoying life sober.

Take care, thanks for posting and please keep us posted on how it goes.

[teklid]

What got people to make day 1 happen? I tried saturday, but wound up smoking the crystal i had saved up in the bottom of my grinder. Sunday was then suppose to be day one and I found a small baggie of roaches and I did them up. Tomorrow I really want to get started, but I already feel anxiety. I've already been thinking of buying a bag first thing tomorrow.

I'm having a hard time sleeping without my bedtime joint. I haven't even officially started (although yesterday and today I've smoked significantly less than usual just being roaches and crystal.) but I haven't really started and I'm already feeling weak. Just feeling how much I'm dependent and seeing how I am after not having a joint makes me want to detox that much more.

What got people started for the first week without relapsing? I honestly want to do this, but I've never felt so powerless over something. I never thought the drug was addicting at all, and that I could quit anytime. Now that I'm trying I realized I was wrong.

[Cannabis Rehab Admin]

Hi again Teklid

Ah yes, taking the plunge and getting through the first few days, it can be difficult and something people can struggle with a lot. To make it easier assuming you can stick to this and not everybody finds they can, you could slowly taper off for a good while before you quit and if you can stick to it you should hit the ground with less of a thud, in fact as far as I am aware if a doctor wants you to stop taking prescription drugs that may have addictive potential, they don’t just cut you off cold turkey but gradually reduce them first, apparently people who quit cigarettes also have more success with this method too. However opinion is divided as to which method is better, especially when it comes to drink and recreational drugs and many do favour the cold turkey approach, many people here have said that they found it to be the only way for them. Personally I did taper off quite a lot before I quit, but as I always say which is right for you probably depends on the individual.

Anyway whichever you decide is right for you is a decision only you can make, it’s just another option to consider.

Take care and please keep us posted. One way or another I am sure you can do it!

[Daisy]

Hi Teklid,

It is hard but if you're determined to detox then you can do it. CannabisRehab.org has helped me loads and given me the support to stick with quitting. I gave up 6th Feb and lasted 6 days then it was a weekend and I really wanted to smoke. My husband is still smoking so he had the drug and I had 1 joint on the Saturday and 1 on the Sunday which is a lot less than I normally would've, I then told myself I wouldn't smoke again until the next weekend but by the Wed I was in a real mood and so emotional and anrgy and ended up having another j but I have gone without since and I'm now on day 13 without any. Somedays have been really tough but mostly its not been as bad as I expected, you just have to keep yourself occupied and try not to think about it which isn't easy but you will get there, good luck

Daisy

[Sarah.7898]

Quitting

Hi all,
I'm a 24 year old woman and today is the first day I'm going to detox smokin cannabis.
I started smoking fags at the age of 12-13 altho I would say that I didn't smoke properly till I was about 15 and that's also when I started smokin the drug with my friends at weekends.
I didn't smoke all the time, just on and off, but then I met my boyfriend at 19 and he was 29. He smoked all the time so I started smoking quite heavily too. We was constantly sitting in a haze of smoke, watching rubbish telly and eating junk. Soon I was always wheezing when I lay down and walking up stairs was horrendous! I'm not overweight at all but so unhealthy. Last year I quit ciggerettes and cannabis (resin and weed) in jan 09 and did so well because my boyfriend quit too. We lasted 6 months.. We bought a house together and things were goin greAt, then he got made redundant, he ran straight to his dads and smoked a few spliffs. I was disappointed but wot could I do? I felt like bcos he had a few I wanted some too, we went to a barbeque where some friends were passing around some spliffs so I had a few puffs. This happened a few times over next fewdays and eventually we decided to buy a bag so as not to "ponce" which I hate. It was hot summer we had fantastic flat with balcony so we would sit and smoke and be hPpy in a big empty flat full of promises.. (daves job sorted) we then thought another bag wouldn't hurt.. That was 8 months ago. Haven't stopped till today! I'm just writing to share my experience.. When I gave up j read alan cars easyway and strangly I still don't smoke ciggerettes unless in spliff.
I know to stay smoke free this time, me and my bf must not have "the odd spliff" it just doesn't work. Good luck to everyone, j hope you all can do it!
Sarah x

[bongwater]

Hi and welcome to the forum. To answer your question about day 1, for me it's something I decided while I was stoned, too stoned for my own good - you know that moment of utter disgust like "what the hell am I doing?". And step one really hurts : cutting the supply chain as much as you can, getting rid of your stash, getting rid of your phone contacts, getting rid of every piece of history on your computer and all your phones that may lead you back to the supply. That's why it's easier to do this when you're charged. Even if your resolve is strong as soon as the high wears off you won't be able to trust yourself with the rest of your stash in the cupboard or even leftovers on your carpet. So please don't underestimate your addiction, you may be shocked at what you may try to do to get stoned once you've stopped. Posting here on a daily basis is also something that helped me - gotta take advantage of my unconfident self who would rather shake and scream than come back to tell the world I started all over again. But hey, once you decide to stop your mission begins and it can be exhilarating to realize you've made it past day 1,2,3 regardless of the pain. You will find rewards along the way too (you loved sports, watch your motivation resurrect, watch your dreams come back)

Whatever you decide, good luck with everything.

[Vixsin]

Welcome

I related to Bongwater's story the most. I decided when I was blasted. I was sitting alone on my couch, after my son went to bed, all the shades drawn and doors locked. Like I was hiding away my nasty little secret. The truth is, I had relapsed and didn't tell anyone that I did, so I was TRULY hiding! A friend of mine who is sober called me and I didn't answer my phone. I was ashamed. I couldn't talk to him if I was high. I was afraid that he would be disappointed in me. Once I had hit "Ignore" on my phone, I knew there was a problem that had to change.

I called him back soon after and while I was on the phone with him I flushed the rest of the drug I had down the toilet and threw out all of my pipes, papers, all of it. Tied up the trash bag and brought it out to the dumpster. After I got off the phone with him, I said a prayer for help through this time in my life.

I say that same prayer every single day when I get up. Posting on CannabisRehab.org helps so much to reassure me in my decision to be sober. It really is like Bongwater says, you find your life again. Food smells and tastes better. You find all of those interests that you used to have before pot became your main interest.

I look forward to being the best me that I can. Thank you all for your inspirational words!!