I figured I might as well make a timeline since I’m still early enough into the process to remember each day (currently on Day 8.) Timelines have actually helped me out numerous times thus far and also with quitting nicotine earlier this year, just being able to compare my path with another person’s has helped me to not go crazy.
If you’re like me, here ya go. I’ll continue to update this every so often (weekly, or when I reach a milestone) through my recovery!
[The Night Before Quitting] Had trouble going to sleep. Had a Delta 8 Cart and got high enough to fall asleep. (By now I’ve had multiple uses for it) My sleep tracker says I slept for 5 hours and 5 minutes, well below my average of 8ish hours.
[Day One] Woke up before work, had trouble breathing, which sent me into a panic attack, later subsided a while after. Made the decision to quit. Gathered all my weed related items and tossed them in a random trash bin at the gas station so I wouldn’t get the urge to go digging them back out.
No real syptoms the first day but had difficulty falling asleep. My tracker says 4 hours, 46 minutes total sleep with Deep and REM sleep normal.
[Day Two] Woke up, lungs and throat still in recovery mode, so coughing up phlegm every so often. Definitely more anxious and restless till about 10AM (I wake up at 6.) Was fine until about 2PM in which I started experiencing hot flashes, heavy sweating, a mild migraine, and confusion. Not sure if it was all wihtdrawal symptoms or this heat wave or a combination of the two.
Had extreme difficutly falling asleep. Night sweats, racing thoughts, and restlessness. My sleep tracker said I slept for 4 hours and 8 minutes with normal REM level, but terrible deep sleep (on 34 minutes.) The sleep quality was so bad, it felt like I was awake the entire time. I woke up on 5 seperate instances and only achieved 34 total minutes of deep sleep.
[Day Three] A lot of the same symptoms as day two but the intensity was a lot worse, especially anxiety. The lack of sleep has really worsened the symptoms. Rather than crave weed again, I began blaming it for what I was going through. Purchased PharmaGABA to help with anxiety and that surprisingly calmed me down and I was fine after about 4PM.
Had difficulty falling asleep, same symptoms, but not as bad as day two. However, my sleep quality was almost nonexistent. My sleep tracker says I slept for 5 hours and 19 minutes, with normal REM cycle, and only 29 minutes of deep sleep. If I could just get a good night’s rest, I think the symptoms would be much more bearable.
[Day Four] Felt very weak upon waking. No real anxiety until I left the house, but that went away within a couple of hours. Felt restless at times, throughout the morning, but nothing too crazy.
Defintely felt like I had trouble controlling my body heat, I felt either really hot or really cold (but never had any fever or low body temperature.) The high heat didn’t help either and by the end of the day I was both mentally and physically exhausted.
Left work early. Was able to cool off and actually nap some. Woke up anxious and discovered this website and forum. Found that reading about and expressing my own thought have really helped ease my mind. So much so, that I missed the mark in getting to bed on time. Only 4 hours and 16 minutes of total sleep, but with high percentage of that being from deep sleep.
[Day Five] My biggest issue is still sleep, and I feel that it compounds my symptoms. Felt a little groggy waking up but got going fairly easily. Definitely felt more restless in the morning. Had the same with body heat issues, but much smaller ones (maybe for a total of 20ish total minutes compared to what felt like the entire day yesterday.)
Felt anxious from 8 to about 10AM, like I had a lump in my throat. Humming a song actually helped make that feeling dissipate. After about 3PM had a little bit of irritablitly for the first time (that I’ve at least noticed) Was anxious about getting to sleep on time, and purchased a sleep aid to help, which actually alleviated that anxiety, I just hope it works, I could kill for eight hours.
Rewarded myself for making it through my first work week by picking up nice meal for my lunch break. Surprisingly my appetite has increased. Which I should note, I’ve lost over 40 pounds during the three years I was a daily user, so maybe not too surprising.
Also, today was the first time since quitting that a major positive thing happened to me. I acutally felt motivated to play and make some music and I spent a good two hours enjoying that.
On top of all of that! I actually got a regular night’s sleep! 7 hours, 52 minutes, with 1 Hour 36 minutes of Deep Sleep and 2 Hours 8 minutes of REM sleep.
[Day Six] OK, so I got my first good night’s sleep in a week, but I feel groggy. I’m not sure if it’s the sleep aid I took (which contained Melatonin, L-Theanine, & Ashwaganda) or that my body is craving sleep since it’s been so deprived of it.
Had some anxiety this morning before breakfast. Felt like I had a lump in my throat, but also kind of feels like bloating near my upper stomach? Nauseated? Went away shortly after breakfast, but still kind of lingers and comes and goes from time to time. I have a job later today which is outside in the heat, and I’ve already had two heat issues earlier this week, so may be anxious over that. I have no idea why I decided to start quitting during the summer but can’t turn back now!
For the first time that I’ve noticed, had a little bit of brain fog. Just kind of stared at the floor for what seemed like five minutes. Probably had that before, just didn’t know what it was.
Just got back from my job that was entirely outside in the heat. And… I smashed it! Quitting and heat have been an awful combo thus far, but not today! Felt like I managed the heat perfectly fine, and had extra energy to even go above and beyond today! I still feel like I can run through a brick wall!
Felt slightly nauseated when I got back home but was fine after I took a shower.
I feel like my appetite has skyrocketed, which is good, cause to be honest, I’ve been a little malnourished, and when I really think about it, probably had an eating disorder when I was getting high all the time.
I got to sleep a little bit later, but I was trying to finish something and felt very sleepy, which is a good thing. Fell right asleep for 6 hours 46 minutes with very regular Deep and REM.
[Day Seven] OK, so last day of Hell Week. Woke up mild headache and a little bit of anxiety. Felt a little groggy too, but plan on going to bed a much earlier hour tonight.
Stomach felt nauseated before breakfast. Also, a little beat, but nothing overwhelming.
The last couple of days my symptoms have been a lot less mild, but I’m also starting to experience a little craving now, nothing overwhelming. It disgusts me that those thought crept into my thoughts though. My days returning are way past gone, but 'm glad I threw everything out, just in case. Have to remind myself that my addiction is the reason that I’m here.
Never mind, Day 7 is worse than Day 6, but better than first five. Felt pretty nauseated all day. Taking some ginger, hope it helps.
Got another wonderful 7 hours worth of sleep! Ready for the work week!
I can’t believe it’s been a week. Even though it’s only been a weekl I feel a lot more alert and connected to reality. More motivated to do things. I’m not coughing up phlegm, I don’t feel out of breath. One thing I forgot to mention is I was grinding my teeth really bad the first six days, but that’s essentially gone now. It’s only been a week. I’ve paid my dues to be feeling this way and I’m already experiencing in bits and pieces of what my future is like.
More motived than ever, ready for week 2!
