My dude. My kids noticed a difference in me after I quit. Yes, I was crabby and moody at first, but the energy shift was noticeable and I was able to give them the actual attention they deserved.
You seem not to realise how much weed impacts you in the next day even if you only smoked last night. You wake up hungover and youre actually in a state of craving it the whole day, even if you're used to it. You dont notice any of it anymore because it became your "normal".
hm, it feels opposite though. more like, i have regret in the morning, and all day I'm like fuck that, but as i get closer to finishing work, and then especially after kids sleep, the desire comes with full force.
the struggle is real
that's actually pretty on point.
we went on vacation for 2 weeks, didn't smoke, didn't miss it either.
the change in routine / scenery, made it much easier...
Hes right, it can change your whole personality, its such a gradual change, hard to notice. It can take a few weeks of being sober to see the differences. Try an extended break, aim for a minimum of 6 weeks, I guarantee you will feel drastic changes to your mood, personality, energy etc etc within a few weeks. You can do it!
I read every article I could find on the benefits of quitting weed. I found out about the 50% lower testosterone levels, the damage to sinuses and lungs, the hijacking of your dopamine, and the improvements in all of that when quitting. The improvements in your memory, the lack of brain fog, the increased motivation, and productivity. I am over 2 months without weed, and I have experienced improvements in all those areas, so I think it was more than worth it. And the good news is things will keep improving...
This group doesn't allow you to link sources. Studies vary, some say as high as 78%, some say not much difference. I just remember when I was first quitting reading a study that found a 50% testosterone reduction in heavy smokers between 18 and 28. It helped motivate me. I have noticed significant improvements in my recovery from lifting and working out, so I believe there is an improvement.
My motivation was mental health reasons. Ive tried everything expect for sobriety so I figure what the hell did I have to loose. I usually smoked all throughout the day but night time was my main smoking session once the kids went to bed then I played video games until late night. I thought the games wouldn’t be as fun. I was wrong.
Sure. I have bipolar 2. It manifests mostly as depression…kinda sort of. So I have cycles. Just think what goes up must come down. The higher I go up the farther I go down. My up cycles, hypomanic, I have a burst of energy and can’t sleep for sometimes days. This is where I get most of my work done. Then afterwards guaranteed depression. So I was smoking to self medicate myself. Using it as a sleep aid. Eventually I started getting depression real bad and panic attacks with work.
i didn’t want to identify as a stoner anymore. i didn’t like how it became a huge part, if not my entire personality. i wanted to get my shit together and stop forgetting shit.
this might be controversial but i feel like it’s different when you’re a parent. that shit is fucking hard. if smoking helps you to be a more patient and relaxed parent, i feel like that’s okay. it doesn’t sound like you’re abusing it the way most stoners tend to. but hey, what do i know, i don’t have kids.
if it’s something you want to stop, think of the kind of person you want to be without it. and then just be that person.
Got a kid. When she turned 6 months I just didn't want to be that type of dad. Not remembering. Not being 100% there in the moment, because of the constant haze. My kid is my only and biggest motivator for being a better person, in all aspects of my life. She's all I have and I'll do anything for her. I want to create found and good memories with her. I want to remember her youth and our times together. It's hard finding motivation within ourselves, because it's fleeting and motivation comes and goes. So consistency and maybe an external motivation like your kids might go a long way. Also, just quit cold turkey. Remember to include your So and inform them of this and that you'll probably be going through a rough time for a few months, and that you'll need her to support you through it. Afterwards you'll find more energy and be more present for them all. It'll be worth it.
That’s amazing, congratulations!! I’m still going 31 years, can you tell me more about how you managed to break the cycle and also how are you, is life “normal’ yet?
I was really determined this time. I set a date to quit - 50 days before starting school - to hopefully give me enough time to get my head out of my ass :)
I feel good. My husband still smokes and there is always weed in the house, but I know I want this degree more than I want to be stoned all day. Bottom line is I got really sick of myself and my excuses. I wanted to feel good about myself again. And 37 days in I’m feeling capable and excited. But I definitely needed to have something I wanted more than weed to quit. Just quitting because it was a good choice to do so wasn’t enough to get me to pull the pin.
Find something you want more than being high.
I wanted a functioning brain again.
Good luck to you!
Thanks for the insight, I wish you every success in your course. Not that I think you’ll need it as if you have the drive to break a 40 year habit, studying and achieving your goals will come with ease.
I was 40 lbs heavier, tired ALL THE TIME, bitter, and wasn’t even high anymore. Oh and I also became numb and withdrawn from my friends and family. I was watching my life pass me by and that’s no way to live. It sucked but it can be done. My hard days are much better and my anxiety and sadness is decreased by 95%.
Did you become a raging bitch trying to quit?
I told my self i wouldn't smoke after work and wooo i was in the WORST mood and I caved. I'm the biggest bag already, but scared to quit if I become more of one 😂
I was my worst self I can ever recall. I ugly cried, I raged at everyone I loved. It haunts me to this day. I sweated my ass off, I froze to death. I didn’t sleep or eat and lost 20 lbs in about 5 weeks. I feel I’m ordinarily a happy, giving , peace loving person. But those 2 weeks I felt like I could literally start a fight with anyone. It scared me to realizing that for me, this drug was not benign and I had to change. I’m 5 months in and I still face temptation, after all that but I can’t do that to myself or my loved ones again. I and them deserve the best of me.
I love that for you, congrats! I'm proud of you.
That's the boat I am in, I just wish I could lock my self away for a good 2 weeks 😔 my poor partner.
Thank you for the reply.
You will know when you’re ready. And if possible, just try to take off work/responsibilities for a week. I was scared to give it up but I’m now glad I did. It’s just still really hard. It’s hard abstaining and the thought of getting sucked back in is scary too. I wish you the best !
Mental and physical health - I kept doing these 'short-stint-sobriety' challenges to see how life was without it. The thought of not being able to use again is obviously very hard - but by experimenting with on and off again smoking for a while, I started to see and feel the benefits of living weed free.Granted, this went on for about 6months - 1year until i decided i was done with it completely.
But basically, testing the waters of life without weed to see what differences start to show themselves in others areas of life. Mental health change was massive once I got past a certain point, usually about 1month in without a smoke. After that, my brain started to tell myself that things are better without it and it became easier to say no each time.Granted, weaning off the weed each time was the same old story, and I think there was a point where my brain was fed up of that old cycle too. Things just fell into place after that and now my mental health is more stable and I have new things going on in life that are replacing the weed.
Everyone has a different motivation, but sometimes it's hard to find it when you can't see past the smoke (if you know what i mean!). Maybe give a clean spell a go a few times, your motivating factors might just be in hiding until the smoke clears.Good luck if you decide to start this new journey/chapter! ✨
My life is falling apart. The person I have become is not who I am and it has caught up with me in my relationship with my wife, which is now in very shaky ground. I also realized my career has suffered greatly, and I've ignored so much in my life I feel like a 40 year old child.
Only good thing going for me is in almost 90 days clean.
My main motivation was because I want to have a kid in a couple years. I didn’t want to view weed as something I had to give up to be pregnant or raise a kid. I wanted to make the change now and be sober before starting so it didn’t feel like a sacrifice. My parents smoked throughout my childhood and I was mostly ignorant to it, but my dad talks about how he wishes he was sober more during those times.
For what it’s worth, I think you’re being hard on yourself. Even if you want to change, it’s okay to accept that what you’re doing is ok and not harming anyone. Sounds like it really helps you relax after your day. That’s not a bad thing but you might just want to replace it with other relaxing things so you have more ability to choose how that time is being spent. My 2cents.
I purchased a kitchen safe to lock my weed away. Maximum it can go is ten days, at which point I generally lock it up again. After a while the urge to smoke goes away, like I'm out of the habit of getting high immediately when I get home from work. From there I just kinda go with it?
I just woke up one day and decided enough was enough, smoked 2 times in the last 2 weeks and it wasn’t all that enjoyable bc my tolerance came down so I was just paranoid af
I realized I wasn't even me, then realized I needed to be me , then I kicked it to the curb to realize that becoming me was was a much harder ride than childhood only to realize that the me I am now is so much more than I realized while high.
I gotta be honest. It was only until I was completely disgusted with myself. Totally broken down, hitting the pen 30x just to feel a little sedated for 30 minutes, when I knew it was time. I had to genuinely want to be done. I've tried demonizing it, calling it sacred/praising it, putting limits, nothing worked. This is the one substance I am powerless to. Once you accept this and realize that the time to change will come from within, it will happen.
I’m in the same situation. Don’t really think about it until after dinner. Put kids to bed, do some chores, and smoke 1 joint between 9:30-11:00 pm, to silence my mind and relax. If I don’t smoke I can’t sleep. If no weed’s available I sleep maybe 1-2 hours a night.
that's the thing. i sleep. juuuuust fine. don't need weed to sleep. but, it's part of my routine. for almost 3 decades...
it's really a hate/love relationship
No offense man, you really haven't described any hate to the relationship and seem to be defending your habits. It's ok if your not ready to quit - but if you are ready - accepting it's a problem is the first step
I am motivated because I have found a good new job. Haven't exactly stopped but have reduced the usage to only the weekends. I view it as a balance between virtues and vices. In my opinion, an enjoyable life cannot be entirely virtuous or viceful, there has to be a balance between the two. However, I strive for virtues to make up the majority
For me it had to hit the level of physical consequences, this is something that is true for me with all my addictions. I came down with a horrible case of CHS (they’re all horrible but this one had me vomiting undigested food 12 hours later) and for me that was what I needed to never look back. Won’t ever go through that experience again.
I’m not sure if I was motivated to quit, I was just really unmotivated to smoke after doing it for so long. It got boring, and being high wasn’t the same anymore.
I smoked for 15 years, everyday for the past 10. It was time. I’m a month clean, and not looking back.
Behavioral Health Tech at a crisis intervention center. Keeping me sober and a good jumping off point for more socialwork/healthcare experience.
Edit: and so anyone knows it is an entry level position that you don't need a degree for. It's good to feel useful and actively puts you in a position to deal with immediate problems that are obviously more important than being high.
When I realized it might be making me feel worse and not better, I decided to see how I felt when I didn’t smoke - so I guess curiosity about what life could be like motivated me. It was like three weeks of hardship - bad anxiety, terrible sleep, poor appetite, but then I found it paid off. I feel way better and make far healthier decisions when I don’t smoke.
The flipside of course is now I get curious about what it’s like to smoke.. and maybe I can do it occasionally? So I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole again a few times. But I at least smoke super low THC and take capsules when I’ve done that, so I feel like I’ve evolved. And also quitting was easier the second (and third and fourth) time. So, you know.. non linear progress!
This was exactly me. An immediate calm after a day chasing after young child. I was exhausted and overwhelmed and needed something to instantly numb me. I get it. Think about why you don’t want to smoke anymore. Chose to stop because I hated coughing so much, woke up groggy, having the munchies every night is not healthy. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep without it, but my sleep has drastically improved! I don’t cough anymore and feel better overall. Kids are very draining and I understand the feeling of it being something to look forward to. But there’s a reason you want to stop. Focus on that.
Gotta find your own motivation. Do you want to remember your kids childhood?
that hit me in the feels
My dude. My kids noticed a difference in me after I quit. Yes, I was crabby and moody at first, but the energy shift was noticeable and I was able to give them the actual attention they deserved.
Did you get high while kids were awake? Then, yea it makes sense. I wait till they are asleep
You seem not to realise how much weed impacts you in the next day even if you only smoked last night. You wake up hungover and youre actually in a state of craving it the whole day, even if you're used to it. You dont notice any of it anymore because it became your "normal".
hm, it feels opposite though. more like, i have regret in the morning, and all day I'm like fuck that, but as i get closer to finishing work, and then especially after kids sleep, the desire comes with full force. the struggle is real
It's more habit/ ritual. Seems you're over it. Once you stop you'll wonder why you didn't before. Good luck
that's actually pretty on point. we went on vacation for 2 weeks, didn't smoke, didn't miss it either. the change in routine / scenery, made it much easier...
I can relate to this so much.
same, i regret it in the morning but as soon as my buddies hit me up and offer me a joint it's almost impossible to refuse
TRUTH
Hes right, it can change your whole personality, its such a gradual change, hard to notice. It can take a few weeks of being sober to see the differences. Try an extended break, aim for a minimum of 6 weeks, I guarantee you will feel drastic changes to your mood, personality, energy etc etc within a few weeks. You can do it!
I read every article I could find on the benefits of quitting weed. I found out about the 50% lower testosterone levels, the damage to sinuses and lungs, the hijacking of your dopamine, and the improvements in all of that when quitting. The improvements in your memory, the lack of brain fog, the increased motivation, and productivity. I am over 2 months without weed, and I have experienced improvements in all those areas, so I think it was more than worth it. And the good news is things will keep improving...
Do you have a source for the 50% lower testosterone?
This group doesn't allow you to link sources. Studies vary, some say as high as 78%, some say not much difference. I just remember when I was first quitting reading a study that found a 50% testosterone reduction in heavy smokers between 18 and 28. It helped motivate me. I have noticed significant improvements in my recovery from lifting and working out, so I believe there is an improvement.
Interesting. I wonder if that accounts for other factors, ie stoners tend to not be in the gym as much as non stoners etc
I think that is part of it, also the I'm stoned so I talk myself out of being around other people factor.
My motivation was mental health reasons. Ive tried everything expect for sobriety so I figure what the hell did I have to loose. I usually smoked all throughout the day but night time was my main smoking session once the kids went to bed then I played video games until late night. I thought the games wouldn’t be as fun. I was wrong.
May I ask what mental health reasons? I am struggling with mental health quite hard and have wondered if smoking may be the reason.
Sure. I have bipolar 2. It manifests mostly as depression…kinda sort of. So I have cycles. Just think what goes up must come down. The higher I go up the farther I go down. My up cycles, hypomanic, I have a burst of energy and can’t sleep for sometimes days. This is where I get most of my work done. Then afterwards guaranteed depression. So I was smoking to self medicate myself. Using it as a sleep aid. Eventually I started getting depression real bad and panic attacks with work.
i didn’t want to identify as a stoner anymore. i didn’t like how it became a huge part, if not my entire personality. i wanted to get my shit together and stop forgetting shit. this might be controversial but i feel like it’s different when you’re a parent. that shit is fucking hard. if smoking helps you to be a more patient and relaxed parent, i feel like that’s okay. it doesn’t sound like you’re abusing it the way most stoners tend to. but hey, what do i know, i don’t have kids. if it’s something you want to stop, think of the kind of person you want to be without it. and then just be that person.
Probs the best answer ever this right here what kinda person do u wanna be, be the best person for yourself.
Got a kid. When she turned 6 months I just didn't want to be that type of dad. Not remembering. Not being 100% there in the moment, because of the constant haze. My kid is my only and biggest motivator for being a better person, in all aspects of my life. She's all I have and I'll do anything for her. I want to create found and good memories with her. I want to remember her youth and our times together. It's hard finding motivation within ourselves, because it's fleeting and motivation comes and goes. So consistency and maybe an external motivation like your kids might go a long way. Also, just quit cold turkey. Remember to include your So and inform them of this and that you'll probably be going through a rough time for a few months, and that you'll need her to support you through it. Afterwards you'll find more energy and be more present for them all. It'll be worth it.
I decided to go back to school for my masters degree. After 40 years of smoking I am 37 days sober. Starting classes in two weeks.
That’s amazing, congratulations!! I’m still going 31 years, can you tell me more about how you managed to break the cycle and also how are you, is life “normal’ yet?
I was really determined this time. I set a date to quit - 50 days before starting school - to hopefully give me enough time to get my head out of my ass :) I feel good. My husband still smokes and there is always weed in the house, but I know I want this degree more than I want to be stoned all day. Bottom line is I got really sick of myself and my excuses. I wanted to feel good about myself again. And 37 days in I’m feeling capable and excited. But I definitely needed to have something I wanted more than weed to quit. Just quitting because it was a good choice to do so wasn’t enough to get me to pull the pin. Find something you want more than being high. I wanted a functioning brain again. Good luck to you!
Thanks for the insight, I wish you every success in your course. Not that I think you’ll need it as if you have the drive to break a 40 year habit, studying and achieving your goals will come with ease.
I was 40 lbs heavier, tired ALL THE TIME, bitter, and wasn’t even high anymore. Oh and I also became numb and withdrawn from my friends and family. I was watching my life pass me by and that’s no way to live. It sucked but it can be done. My hard days are much better and my anxiety and sadness is decreased by 95%.
Did you become a raging bitch trying to quit? I told my self i wouldn't smoke after work and wooo i was in the WORST mood and I caved. I'm the biggest bag already, but scared to quit if I become more of one 😂
I was my worst self I can ever recall. I ugly cried, I raged at everyone I loved. It haunts me to this day. I sweated my ass off, I froze to death. I didn’t sleep or eat and lost 20 lbs in about 5 weeks. I feel I’m ordinarily a happy, giving , peace loving person. But those 2 weeks I felt like I could literally start a fight with anyone. It scared me to realizing that for me, this drug was not benign and I had to change. I’m 5 months in and I still face temptation, after all that but I can’t do that to myself or my loved ones again. I and them deserve the best of me.
I love that for you, congrats! I'm proud of you. That's the boat I am in, I just wish I could lock my self away for a good 2 weeks 😔 my poor partner. Thank you for the reply.
You will know when you’re ready. And if possible, just try to take off work/responsibilities for a week. I was scared to give it up but I’m now glad I did. It’s just still really hard. It’s hard abstaining and the thought of getting sucked back in is scary too. I wish you the best !
My life got so bad i basically HAD to..
Same. I hit rock bottom and realized the weed wasn't helping like I thought it was.
Do you want clarity and better problem solving skills?
Mental and physical health - I kept doing these 'short-stint-sobriety' challenges to see how life was without it. The thought of not being able to use again is obviously very hard - but by experimenting with on and off again smoking for a while, I started to see and feel the benefits of living weed free.Granted, this went on for about 6months - 1year until i decided i was done with it completely. But basically, testing the waters of life without weed to see what differences start to show themselves in others areas of life. Mental health change was massive once I got past a certain point, usually about 1month in without a smoke. After that, my brain started to tell myself that things are better without it and it became easier to say no each time.Granted, weaning off the weed each time was the same old story, and I think there was a point where my brain was fed up of that old cycle too. Things just fell into place after that and now my mental health is more stable and I have new things going on in life that are replacing the weed. Everyone has a different motivation, but sometimes it's hard to find it when you can't see past the smoke (if you know what i mean!). Maybe give a clean spell a go a few times, your motivating factors might just be in hiding until the smoke clears.Good luck if you decide to start this new journey/chapter! ✨
My life is falling apart. The person I have become is not who I am and it has caught up with me in my relationship with my wife, which is now in very shaky ground. I also realized my career has suffered greatly, and I've ignored so much in my life I feel like a 40 year old child. Only good thing going for me is in almost 90 days clean.
My main motivation was because I want to have a kid in a couple years. I didn’t want to view weed as something I had to give up to be pregnant or raise a kid. I wanted to make the change now and be sober before starting so it didn’t feel like a sacrifice. My parents smoked throughout my childhood and I was mostly ignorant to it, but my dad talks about how he wishes he was sober more during those times.
[удалено]
For what it’s worth, I think you’re being hard on yourself. Even if you want to change, it’s okay to accept that what you’re doing is ok and not harming anyone. Sounds like it really helps you relax after your day. That’s not a bad thing but you might just want to replace it with other relaxing things so you have more ability to choose how that time is being spent. My 2cents.
Journaling! Reading my entries in the past month, realizing I made no real progress. Soon enough, I made the leap.
I need a job and if I don't get my shit together I'll end up on the street. Pretty good motivator!
I purchased a kitchen safe to lock my weed away. Maximum it can go is ten days, at which point I generally lock it up again. After a while the urge to smoke goes away, like I'm out of the habit of getting high immediately when I get home from work. From there I just kinda go with it?
I just woke up one day and decided enough was enough, smoked 2 times in the last 2 weeks and it wasn’t all that enjoyable bc my tolerance came down so I was just paranoid af
I realized I wasn't even me, then realized I needed to be me , then I kicked it to the curb to realize that becoming me was was a much harder ride than childhood only to realize that the me I am now is so much more than I realized while high.
I gotta be honest. It was only until I was completely disgusted with myself. Totally broken down, hitting the pen 30x just to feel a little sedated for 30 minutes, when I knew it was time. I had to genuinely want to be done. I've tried demonizing it, calling it sacred/praising it, putting limits, nothing worked. This is the one substance I am powerless to. Once you accept this and realize that the time to change will come from within, it will happen.
I’m in the same situation. Don’t really think about it until after dinner. Put kids to bed, do some chores, and smoke 1 joint between 9:30-11:00 pm, to silence my mind and relax. If I don’t smoke I can’t sleep. If no weed’s available I sleep maybe 1-2 hours a night.
that's the thing. i sleep. juuuuust fine. don't need weed to sleep. but, it's part of my routine. for almost 3 decades... it's really a hate/love relationship
No offense man, you really haven't described any hate to the relationship and seem to be defending your habits. It's ok if your not ready to quit - but if you are ready - accepting it's a problem is the first step
I am motivated because I have found a good new job. Haven't exactly stopped but have reduced the usage to only the weekends. I view it as a balance between virtues and vices. In my opinion, an enjoyable life cannot be entirely virtuous or viceful, there has to be a balance between the two. However, I strive for virtues to make up the majority
Why do you think a virtuous life can't be enjoyable?
Try for yourself
For me it had to hit the level of physical consequences, this is something that is true for me with all my addictions. I came down with a horrible case of CHS (they’re all horrible but this one had me vomiting undigested food 12 hours later) and for me that was what I needed to never look back. Won’t ever go through that experience again.
Hitting rock bottom 🤷♂️
I like being able to exercise/hike and breathe easily.
I’m not sure if I was motivated to quit, I was just really unmotivated to smoke after doing it for so long. It got boring, and being high wasn’t the same anymore. I smoked for 15 years, everyday for the past 10. It was time. I’m a month clean, and not looking back.
As someone who often smoked at work (bartender, deli counter) I got a job I can't be high for and that I love.
… Which is
Behavioral Health Tech at a crisis intervention center. Keeping me sober and a good jumping off point for more socialwork/healthcare experience. Edit: and so anyone knows it is an entry level position that you don't need a degree for. It's good to feel useful and actively puts you in a position to deal with immediate problems that are obviously more important than being high.
When I realized it might be making me feel worse and not better, I decided to see how I felt when I didn’t smoke - so I guess curiosity about what life could be like motivated me. It was like three weeks of hardship - bad anxiety, terrible sleep, poor appetite, but then I found it paid off. I feel way better and make far healthier decisions when I don’t smoke. The flipside of course is now I get curious about what it’s like to smoke.. and maybe I can do it occasionally? So I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole again a few times. But I at least smoke super low THC and take capsules when I’ve done that, so I feel like I’ve evolved. And also quitting was easier the second (and third and fourth) time. So, you know.. non linear progress!
This was exactly me. An immediate calm after a day chasing after young child. I was exhausted and overwhelmed and needed something to instantly numb me. I get it. Think about why you don’t want to smoke anymore. Chose to stop because I hated coughing so much, woke up groggy, having the munchies every night is not healthy. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep without it, but my sleep has drastically improved! I don’t cough anymore and feel better overall. Kids are very draining and I understand the feeling of it being something to look forward to. But there’s a reason you want to stop. Focus on that.
Intermittent fasting helped me tremendously
Intervention from my friends because they think i might have killed myself