[INTRO] I’m on day four of the rest of my life and I couldn’t be more miserable/happy! Where to begin? I’m a male on the back half of my thirties. I have a job, girlfriend, friends, and family and not a single one of them knows of my addiction/use. I guess you could say that I’m a… That I was a highly functional user. I could be with family and friends, high as all Hell, and you’d never be able to tell. Being in this position is a little difficult as I don’t intend to use support from people I know (personal reason.) But, anyways, this is my formal way of saying that I’ve quit. And it may just be in an online forum, a proclamation to complete strangers, but it feels great!
[SIDENOTE] After reading through the Weedless website, I’ve felt compelled to add my own story to help keep me honest, but also for ANYONE ELSE going through a similar situation. In other words, we’re all each other’s support system.
[HOW IT STARTED] Growing up I was way into sports and always against drugs. Once my athletic days were behind me, I guess curiosity really got the best of me. I’ve been on and off again (sometimes going years between hits) since my mid-twenties, but over the past three years have only missed a handful of days. I should point out that by the time Covid hit, I switched to using Delta 8 Carts as they were convenient for when I couldn’t get the real deal (pretty much just D8 carts recently) and that’s kind of where this whole thing took off. It started off as something to help with a couple of aches and pains, sleep, and boredom, but has since took off exponentially. They say weed isn’t addictive, but I’d beg to differ.
[MY REASON FOR QUITTING] I have multiple reasons. One would be that I want to be more “present.” Things like my parents are getting older and my brother just had a daughter. I want to clearly remember those moments before time takes that opportunity away.
Next would be my health. I’ve had trouble paying attention. Things I used to love, no longer felt the same or even felt like an obligation. A lot of mental stuff. Sometimes I feel that I’m out of breath or that I’m not getting enough air into my lungs. I’m over it and honestly, I’d like to start running again. I’ve had two really bad instances where it sent me into a panic, not fun. After my most recent, this past Sunday. I’ve come to the conclusion that my bad habit will eventually kill me and made the decision to just quit.
It’s just time. I’ve quit other things cold turkey (Dip as well as nicotine vapes.} I’m an experienced quitter. I know what withdrawal from substances and what quitting an addiction is like. It’s not fun, it hard, and it’s a marathon. But I also know what it’s like when that quitting process is done (and it’s better than any high I’ve had.) I’m more than ready to smash through the withdrawal symptoms to get to a better life. I’ve been wanting to quit for a while. It was a stupid mistake I made in my younger years that I let get out of control, and really, it’s just time for me to grow the eff up.
[WHAT’S REALLY HELPED ME THUS FAR] Honestly, this website has. The “Weedless Guide” is an amazing resource and reminds me of a similar thing I used for quitting nicotine. The other would be this forum. I know it’s incredibly new, but I read about a guy that’s been 400 plus days sober. I know it’s just a statement from a random guy on the internet, but just reading that truly made me feel inspired! Also, having an outlet where I can put my thoughts into words for myself and others has been very therapeutic and writing this has kept my mind occupied. Maybe I’ll start writing a journal? After all, I do need a new hobby.
One weird thing that’s worked for me when I quit nicotine is to basically declare your habit your number one enemy and make a “Hate List.” I don’t like the word hate, I know “hate” is a strong word, but it’s time to get serious. Just find as many reasons to hate it as you can, seriously, make a hate list and refer to it when you feel the urge. It helped me so much in the past and it’s already helped me with this. I had really bad urges days 1-2, but I’ve now come up with enough reasons to hate weed, that now it disgusts me to even think about it. I know it’s all phycological, but for me, it just works. I’m quitting for good and there’s no way in hell we’ll ever be together again.
One more recommendation, especially if you’re experiencing anxiety and insomnia. Look into the supplement PharmaGABA. It basically works by telling your brain to shut up and relax. I had a really bad panic attack my second day, racing thoughts, shortness of breath, extreme anxiety. I don’t really believe in miracle cures, but this surprisingly worked and within 20 minutes to boot. It also somewhat helped with falling asleep. I don’t think I slept my first two days, but definitely did for a few hours on my third (although it took a while to fall asleep.) But, as with anything, don’t take my word for it, do your own research! I am the opposite of a doctor.
[CLOSING] As of right now, I’ve already experienced all the classic symptoms and I’ve already found ways in which I can combat them. I do intend to post a little about my journey to recovery. I’m so proud of what I’ve already accomplished, seriously making it four consecutive days was something I doubted, and here I am! If you’re going through it, you’re not alone, and I hope and pray that your journey goes well. Best of luck, stay strong!
Congratulations on your one month of freedom, and remember, if temptation ever knocks, feel free to check in here. We’ve got your back and will do our best to keep you on track.