Also, quitting weed and cigarrettes at the
same time is a good idea, but IT IS A VERY
DIFFICULT TASK. Your best bet is one at a
time.
I quit weed first successfully a few times
but as of recent it hasn't worked too well
that way. Before, I would quit smoking
weed and then shortly thereafter I would
get tired of cigarrettes and throw them
out. Nowadays, I would quit weed and then
SMOKING SOOOOO MANY CIGARRETTES would
serve me no good but to give me severe
headaches and make me want to smoke weed
again. You may have to experiment with
quitting to make it work for you.
All in all, a task for anyone who wants to
quit...... PRAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!! I don't
care if your an atheist (you liar, who do
you shout to when things are F'd up?
thought so). If you request this from
existance (the universe, or God [the
beginning and the end], it's all the same)
for long enough, it/he will give it to
you. YOU WILL HAVE IT! Just keep an open
ear. He who has an ear, let him hear!
You will know when it is time, it will be
whispered in your ear. If you take that
opportunity and don't pass it up, YOU WILL
SUCCEED!
Weed isn't necessarily killing you, but it
does hinder your performance. If you feel
that there is something missing, in your
heart of hearts you know what it is.
TAKE WHAT IS YOURS! Your true potential
is just around that bend.
When you make your move it will seem as if
it is all under control. It is.... for
now. Soon enough you will question your
own decision. You will ask, "Was that
really the right choice? Was I better off
using the smokables?" Just remember, you
were of sound mind when you made that
decision.... just remember.... speed
bumps. They are there, they are part of
the journey.... they are NO BIG DEAL.
PLEASE BELIEVE ME! If you don't believe
me, you are lying to yourself. DON'T BE
FOOLED! Your kingdom is at hand.
Now get out there and MAKE $#!+ HAPPEN!
Let the world know that IT IS YOUR TURN TO
LIVE!
I wish you the best,
Matt
P.S.
NickVellios
wrote:
Potheads are idiots, you
are one step closer to having a
brain.
I was a pothead for years and could
outsmart just about anyone. In all
reality, potheads are actually just
lazyasses (yup, I was too). If they were
idiots, no one would ever quit. Any
pothead reading this would just get
offended and leave and would also write
you off as "high and mighty". Comments
like these are very discouraging. Please
be supportive of your fellow participants
in this game we call life and we will all
bear more fruit. (ugh, hope you don't take
"game" seriously)
|
ciceron
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Nov 2007 Posts: 8
Hi Posted: 11-19-07 17:25pm
Hi, one thimg you must know is that weed
can stay in your brain for several months.
The fact that oyu don't feel well might be
because you stopped other hard drugs. Weed
alon ecan lead you to anxiaty and beeing
paranoid for weeks. What you are feeling
now is not beeing a different person but
beeing yourself again so just keep up the
good work annd don't stay home for God
sake!!! I don't know: Walk the dog, play
Baseball, Soccer, try photos or try to
find a girl..... But don't stay home
because that is the worst solution. Why
not try to find a 25 hours a week job?
That's going to give you some money to
invite a girl to a nice meal.....
With love from France
Arnaud
|
CarolDiane
Moderator
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2390 Location: ,
Thanks: 110
Thanked:156
Just Hang In There Posted: 11-21-07 12:51pm
You will get through this. This is the
only bad part about stopping any street
drug or any drug for that matter.
Withdrawl really stinks but, once you have
passed that stage, it is over and you will
start feeling better. But whatever you do,
don't light up! The miserable days you've
already gone through will be a waste of
you time.
Carrie
|
Marianne0558
Supporter
Joined: 10 Sep 2007 Posts: 1689 Location: Charleston, SC USA
Thanks: 44
Thanked:6
Posted: 11-21-07 13:00pm
Yeah.... really.
Smoking pot doesn't make you an fool.
People can be idiots on their own!!!!
|
Shaman Omaha
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 2
Starting Day Four Posted: 11-29-07 14:31pm
Hello! I joined this forum back in late
August. I gave a little history at the
time. I smoked 24/7/365 for 23 years,
then I did 15 years completely sober (it
was cocaine that I thought brought me to
my knees, but in fact it was alcohol and
pot as well). I started smoking herb and
drinking wine 2 years ago and told myself
I was fine because I didn't drink hard
liquor or go back to cocaine. I was not
fine. I only made it a couple of days
after I joined the list. I'd planted some
seeds, and ended up with three sweet
little plants, and of course I had to
smoke that up. Now I'm entering into a
new internship in the mental health field,
and I cannot legally or ethically smoke.
So, Sunday night (11/25) I smoked my last
GT and disassembled my gravity bong and
sipped my last glass of Zinfandel.
What I'm observing is that my thought
processes and emotional processes are
returning to what they were during the 15
years of abstinence. This is
uncomfortable, because herb had slowed
them down so much. Yeah, I got a lot
done, but it was like pushing against a
HUGE obstacle to do anything. The herb
was so good that I found myself in an
empty-headed zone be the end of the day.
I was avoiding life. I felt detached from
myself. Day one I felt anxious and
disorganized and disoriented. I practiced
thought-stopping and made myself do
something, anything (but call the dealer,
my home-grown was all gone) to keep
occupied. Sleep sucked, but it is evening
out. My lungs are better already (no
longer have to use Albuterol to open up
the air passages). I slept though the
night last night.
I am working a program too, meaning that I
am connecting with friends from NA/AA (I'd
always been in touch, I just didn't share
that I was smoking again) and sharing what
I'm going through. Phone calls and emails
are enough for me. My friends have been
very accepting. I'm finding I must be
vigilant so that the thoughts don't
resurface and end up with my calling the
grower. If I get to that point I am lost,
so I am very careful not to let an urge
develop. I also use this forum, and it
helps to read everyone else's stories. It
is immaterial to me if herb is addictive
or not, either physically or
psychologically or emotionally. It became
a problem for me again, and now I am back
in the abstinence mode. I feel certain
that it will get easier every day to stay
here, but I fear the first week or so,
because I could get blind-sided. I am
also usiing my spiritual program, so I
express my gratitude every day to the
Mystery of which I am a part.
One more comment, the moment I made the
commitment, my life began to change, my
career began to pick up, my financial
situation improved, and my friends came
back into my life.
|
mamadeo
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 1
It's All True, It's All Good Posted: 12-05-07 13:56pm
I've smoked virtually every day for the
past 25 years. There IS mj physical
addiction and withdrawal, it's just not
nearly on a par with heroin and the like.
But, it is real. Nausea, loss of appetite,
chills, and insomnia are the most common
side effects of withdrawal. The times I've
been w/o weed for one reason or another,
all of these have shown their ugly head.
But, they all go away, always within a
week. If you know what to expect, it's no
big deal. Definitely not bad enough to
give it up!
|
ashodd
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 7
Posted: 12-07-07 08:23am
i hav'nt read all the posts here because
im at work, i quit weed after smoking
everyday for 2 years and had to quit
because i moved to the channel islands
where i knew no dealers - however from
that time ive gone from weed everyday to
being an alcoholic, well if you can call
drinking everyday and im now getting to
the point where its effecting my health
quite a bit so i knw i should stop.
I didnt have any problems at all when i
stoped the weed but i am not sure if that
was becuase of the alcoholic or not. I do
not feel every confident about stoping
though.
even though i stop smoking weed 6 months
ago i do crave it most days, is that a
sideeffect ?
|
bigjimmy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 5
Posted: 12-10-07 15:10pm
i don't understand how people get addicted
on weed...i smoked weed for years and quit
without no problems whatsoever.
And i use to smoke a lot..What's the deal
with the so called" addicts"???
Try to see heroin addiction then call
yourself an addict
|
DiscoDickTease
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 2
Posted: 12-12-07 23:52pm
I have only smoked 3 times and it was the
last time that really [removed] me up. I
am having all these symptoms (upset
stomach, no sleep, anxiety, some shaking
the other day)
Any help for me? I want to have a nice
Christmas!!
|
meowphine
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 1 Location: ,
Posted: 12-31-07 04:38am
I made a bet with my old room mates that I
could quit smoking marijuana for 7 days. I
did it,But I felt awful after the first
full day of not smoking,I had sweaty
palms,hot flashes,irritability,no apatite
whatsoever,head ache,And not feeling like
myself at all,I do want to quit due to
health issues,such has waking up gasping
for breath and it hurting so bad that I
have to get up. The breathing issues
started when I started smoking cigarettes
a month or so ago. Obviously has something
to do with it.
yeah it could last a while 4
yrs is a long time its not overnight bud.
Sweat it out at the gym, its stored in
your fat
cells.
Stored in the fat cells. Good info.
I'm 56 and have been a daily smoker since
I was 12. I usually do a half oz a week.
I quit a few times in my life for a month
here and a month there, but mostly its
been a wake and bake life. Now, after two
days without I'm irritable as hell.
Mental withdrawal symptoms mostly, though
listlessness and sore muscles have reared
their ugly heads.
I had a severe addiction to percodans 25
years ago [15 - 20 a day]. Went cold
turkey and spent 2 weeks in bed with
physical withdrawal, but no mental stuff.
Strange that mj is just the opposite.
Guess its time to hit the exercise
equipment.
Thanks for the good info.
|
its gotta go
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Location: newcastle, australia
Its Gotta Go Posted: 01-06-08 07:40am
i have been smokin 24/7 for about seven
yrs and i have not smoked now for 5 days
and i really feel like caca and to go
ontop of all the withdrawals my nan passed
away yesterday and im really trying to
find the strength within myself not to
pick up a bong and smoke it and it so hard
smoking pot was always my hideaway
everytimke i have been happy sad angry or
i have felt anything i have always had a
bong to go with it so trying to deal with
depression of my nan and not just getting
stoned and forgetting about it is hard i
have always just got stoned and missed
things forgot about things that where
going on and now i have nothin to turn to
i feel like i have lost my best friend i
have lost a part of me i just eel so lost
i dont know where to go what to do all i
know is get stoned i have stopped talking
to my my friends cause they all smoke so i
just feel like my world is just crashing
down around me.
But i know im doing the rite thing smoking
pot is one of the worst things i have done
in my life i have always put it first i
have missed so many oppurtunitys and done
so many stupid things cause i just dont
think rite just read the caca im writing i
have no idea what im on about people say
everyday gets easier but it just seems to
be getting harder the pains are worse my
head is getting more and more scattred i
cant handle any noise it just stresses me
out i feel like i should just be isolated
cause the anger im feeling no-one needs to
put up with it i just so confused im
quitting to be a better person but at the
moment i feel ten times worse of a person
when i was smokin and never got angry now
im just an angry crazy sour cow
|
vermonter123
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 12
Re: Its Gotta Go Posted: 01-06-08 09:38am
its gotta go
wrote:
i have been smokin 24/7 for
about seven yrs and i have not smoked now
for 5 days and i really feel like caca and
to go ontop of all the withdrawals my nan
passed away yesterday and im really trying
to find the strength within myself not to
pick up a bong and smoke it and it so hard
smoking pot was always my hideaway
everytimke i have been happy sad angry or
i have felt anything i have always had a
bong to go with it so trying to deal with
depression of my nan and not just getting
stoned and forgetting about it is hard i
have always just got stoned and missed
things forgot about things that where
going on and now i have nothin to turn to
i feel like i have lost my best friend i
have lost a part of me i just eel so lost
i dont know where to go what to do all i
know is get stoned i have stopped talking
to my my friends cause they all smoke so i
just feel like my world is just crashing
down around me.
But i know im doing the rite thing smoking
pot is one of the worst things i have done
in my life i have always put it first i
have missed so many oppurtunitys and done
so many stupid things cause i just dont
think rite just read the caca im writing i
have no idea what im on about people say
everyday gets easier but it just seems to
be getting harder the pains are worse my
head is getting more and more scattred i
cant handle any noise it just stresses me
out i feel like i should just be isolated
cause the anger im feeling no-one needs to
put up with it i just so confused im
quitting to be a better person but at the
moment i feel ten times worse of a person
when i was smokin and never got angry now
im just an angry crazy sour cow
Hang in there. Losing your nan is a huge
loss. Maybe you can gain a different
perspective if you think of quitting mj in
honor of her memory.
I quit smoking cigarettes about 25 years
ago and the only method I found that
worked was to think of quitting only one
cig at a time. Don't think of going the
rest of your life without mj - just think
of not smoking that next bong. The urge
will pass within 30 minutes or so - less
if you distract yourself. Can you quit
for 30 minutes? YOU BET!
I'm now on day 6. Yesterday was half
good, half bad. Its the afternoons that
get to me. Also, any kind of
disappointment or forced deviation from my
own plans get me frustrated.
To top my situation off my wife is
quitting with me. I wouldn't be able to
do it if she didn't stop too. We counter
support each other now after years of
being co-dependent users.
I know what you mean about having to
change friends. Those old friends will
laugh at you and suggest that mj is better
than beer, better than cigs, better than
any other vice. But remember - it is
still a vice and a seriously addictive
one. We have left all our mj friends
behind - just stopped seeing them as they
always want to hit the pipe as a social
activity. Yes, we do feel somewhat
isolated, but we're taking steps to build
new friendships. We have begun to
actively seek out 'straight' people and
get to know them, ask them over for
dinner, etc.
I was reading the other day that detox
takes only a few days but withdrawl can
last a lot longer. I've found that
avoiding hunger, and drinking lots and
lots of water help. There is a
psychological 'hole' that mj used to fill
in my life. Now I try to look for other
activities to fill that void - like
chatting on this board with others who are
in the same boat I am.
I'd be happy to have regular posts back
and forth with you to help both of us
manage our symptoms and to cross-support
one another.
Gary
|
tryn2quit
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
We Need Professional Help Posted: 01-08-08 04:09am
I have been smoking for 13 years. for the
past 5 I now smoke 2 grams a day. I buy a
1/2 ounce a week and smoke it by myself. I
even bought a scale so I can measure a
gram in the day; and a gram at night for
myself. Now Iam trying to quit. I started
by first smoking only at night. I felt
Awesome during the day for one week. I was
so positive I could do kick the habit.
Then I tried to stop at night and that is
where the panic attacks started. Nasty
tremors, my jaw trembles, my palms
sweat---I feel like tearing my skin
off-----Even when I smoke. I smoke only .6
a day now just to some what quell this but
it wont stop. I couldnt even go 36hours
without smoking before this stuff started
and now smoking isnt making it stop. WHAT
IS GOING ON WITH ME!!!!!!! Do I need
Professional Help??? Was I really self
medicating myself for social anxiety?? At
least though I have cut down from 2 grams
to .6 but I want to stop. This is
Personal. I Am Going To Beat This. I just
need some help
|
vermonter123
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 12
Re: We Need Professional Help Posted: 01-08-08 08:59am
tryn2quit
wrote:
I have been smoking for 13
years. for the past 5 I now smoke 2 grams
a day. I buy a 1/2 ounce a week and smoke
it by myself. I even bought a scale so I
can measure a gram in the day; and a gram
at night for myself. Now Iam trying to
quit. I started by first smoking only at
night. I felt Awesome during the day for
one week. I was so positive I could do
kick the habit. Then I tried to stop at
night and that is where the panic attacks
started. Nasty tremors, my jaw trembles,
my palms sweat---I feel like tearing my
skin off-----Even when I smoke. I smoke
only .6 a day now just to some what quell
this but it wont stop. I couldnt even go
36hours without smoking before this stuff
started and now smoking isnt making it
stop. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME!!!!!!! Do
I need Professional Help??? Was I really
self medicating myself for social
anxiety?? At least though I have cut down
from 2 grams to .6 but I want to stop.
This is Personal. I Am Going To Beat This.
I just need some
help
If tapering off works for you maybe you
should go back to 1g a day for a week to
relieve your symptoms, then halve that,
etc. I know that when I quit I ground
stems for the last few days as part of
tapering off. I found it a lot easier
than going cold turkey.
I'm now on day 8 and no longer want mj all
the time and have no more attitude
problems or physical discomfort. I do
have my moments of desire but if I can
resist those moments one-by-one I'll have
it beat for good. I'll have to watch for
the signs of relapse for a few years I
think as I smoked for 44 years.
Once you drop it completely DO NOT go back
as you will return to square one and have
to go thru it all again.
|
phresholdtunk
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
Re: Pot Withdrawal Posted: 01-11-08 11:16am
gabi13
wrote:
I have been without it for 3
weeks and was getting sicker and sicker.
I actually got the flu, had pain in my
bones, terrible headaches, insomnia, low
energy.....I smoked a few times since and
my flu and aches disappeared almost
immediately. My husband got it for me
because he saw how sick I was and he likes
me better when I smoke. I am smoking very
little now compared to before, but am
scared to quit completely. It takes more
than 3 weeks to get better, and I feel
like I am a better and more productive
person on it. Without it i am slow,
humorless and unmotivated to do anything.
I am not the typical pothead people think
most smokers are. I am very active, go to
the gym, educate myself, raise a 2 year
old, and keep the house clean. I know
many people like that, even lawyers. I
just hate needing it, that's why I am
trying to quit. And I only smoke the good
organic stuff and it is so good, I feel
like my body feels better when I have it.
Am I just an addict or is it my solution
to being a normal-functioning human
being?
I found this site when Scroogling
(scroogle.org) "pot withdrawal". I have
been a daily (four or more times/day)
smoker for about 3 years. I smoke at
least a quarter a week; basically what I
can afford. The financial end, along with
the legal end to a certain extent have
become factors in my decision to try
quitting. I don't like depending on
anything. I find myself driving to pick
up a bag when I can't afford it, don't
have the time, or have reached the point
(again) where I just can't really get
HIGH. Smoking 4 bowls of dank should make
one stumble around a bit, feel the center
of their head rising--but it makes me feel
lethargic and takes away my concentration,
rather than enchancing my perception like
it used to. Oh, sure, I still get 'high'
to a certain extent, but nothing like I do
if I take so much as a day off (which is
so hard for me to do I can't tell ya).
As someone who digs Knowledge, I found
myself reading up on every drug there was
before I was probably 13 or so. This is
because I made a deliberate, premeditated
choice to experience certain substances,
at a young age, and years before I
followed through. I did not grow up
around drugs. I had experienced at that
point an 'out-of-body' experience that
changed my perspective on existence; on
reality.
When I was 16, my ex-boyfriend (who I had
dumped 3 days before) told a teacher of
mine I had pot (less than a gram) on me.
He was in the same class, and must have
really been able to smell it. I was
kicked out of school (had not even gotten
detention at that point) and began a
tumultous journey through the legal
system. The courts threatened my parents
into having me "voluntarily" sign myself
into Youth Drug Court, though at that
point, I had literally smoked pot less
than 10 times. At the time they said that
I would be put into juvenile prison until
I was 18, and my parents being the
trusting, upstanding citizens they are,
did not think it was necessary to hire a
lawyer. I was told at that time it would
take 9-12 mos. to complete Drug Court.
It took 4 years, and I never completed it.
They put me in two different group homes,
drug treatment(!) for THIRTEEN MONTHS,
etc. I have spent so much time in jail I
honestly don't know how many times I have
been in. Also, because I had not
"successfully completed" the Program by
the time I was 18, they extended my case
until my 25th birthday (state of Montana),
then kicked me out of Drug Court (just as
they do with MORE THAN HALF of all kids
who enter) but kept me in Youth Court. A
few months ago, I ran into one of the
ladies who had been on the "Drug Court
Team". She had quit specifically because
of what they were doing to kids. She gave
me a statistic I have written down
somewhere that shows the rate of
IMPRISONMENT (juveniles growing up in the
system, then turning 18 and being put in
adult prison) to be OVER THREE TIMES the
rate of imprisonment for juveniles growing
up in the system, but on regular probation
rather that Drug Court.
You can make your own judgments about the
blanks I'm not filling in, but let me say
very clearly that, while I did "mess up"
while in Drug Court (so much as being late
to school resulted in jail; a late fine or
missed urine test did the same), I never
used a single drug besides mushies and
pot. Never got caught with mushies, or
charged with any felonies.
Long story short (maybe a little late), I
am now 21. I have not been on formal or
informal probation since last year, or
drug tested since I was 19.
I need to point out, that during all my
years dealing with this crap, I made it my
goal to learn about and actively protest
the "War on Drugs". I was adamant for
years that pot is not physically
addictive. While it may not exhibit many
of the same traits as opiates or crazy
prescriptions, the body adapts, and in
time 'expects' a certain level of
cannabinols in the blood. Call this
whatever you want, but people who take a
crap at the same time everyday find
themselves needing to at that time
everyday (gross example). Besides
becoming accustomed to the high, the body
makes certain concessions to adapt to the
'negative' effects of the herb (like
increased heart rate). From direct
experience, the couple of times I have
taken a break in the last couple of years
have always resulted in uniform symptoms.
Cold sweats, insomnia, nausea, and
decreased appetite are what I tend to go
through.
I don't think it's appropriate to make
blanket statements regarding, uh, much of
anything. Especially this.
As if this post, which may very well be my
only one, weren't long enough, I just
realized I should respond to Gabi13. I am
not your typical idea of a smoker either,
as I am a knowledge junky who has been a
bookseller for 3 years as well. My peers
tend to be older than I. I spend most of
my time when I'm not at my job doing
foreign news research (not as boring as it
sounds).
Oh, yeah, it should also be noted, that as
a hypoglycemic, pot takes away the nausea
I experience basically daily, after my
blood sugar reaches a certain point. Pot
was actually recommended to me by my
doctor as treatment. I eat 2500+
calories/day, but still weigh just over
100 lbs (5'4''). I initially was
Recommended pot (at 1 because I had gone
in to find out why I was underweight.
This fact contributes heavily to how hard
it is to be without it, at least
initially. I find that even if my stomach
is growling and I try to put some food in
my mouth, the amount of effort it takes
simply to swallow the damn bite gets a
little scary. The longest I have gone
without in the last 3 years was one week.
Once. I lost 5 pounds that week alone.
Blah, blah, blah. Drugs are complex, yo.
I'll sum this up by blaming the system.
Wish me luck.
|
vermonter123
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 12
Re: Pot Withdrawal Posted: 01-11-08 11:56am
phresholdtunk
wrote:
gabi13
wrote:
I have been without it for 3
weeks and was getting sicker and sicker.
I actually got the flu, had pain in my
bones, terrible headaches, insomnia, low
energy.....I smoked a few times since and
my flu and aches disappeared almost
immediately. My husband got it for me
because he saw how sick I was and he likes
me better when I smoke. I am smoking very
little now compared to before, but am
scared to quit completely. It takes more
than 3 weeks to get better, and I feel
like I am a better and more productive
person on it. Without it i am slow,
humorless and unmotivated to do anything.
I am not the typical pothead people think
most smokers are. I am very active, go to
the gym, educate myself, raise a 2 year
old, and keep the house clean. I know
many people like that, even lawyers. I
just hate needing it, that's why I am
trying to quit. And I only smoke the good
organic stuff and it is so good, I feel
like my body feels better when I have it.
Am I just an addict or is it my solution
to being a normal-functioning human
being?
Definitely sounds like an over-reactive
legal system to me. But it sounds like
you also still use. What would be the
result if you were to get caught again?
Is it worth the use? There have to be
other ways to stimulate your appetite.
I just came back from the Dr yesterday
and, due to my years of heavy use I have
the lungs of a 75 year old in a 56 year
old body. Pot is just as bad as cigs in
terms of lung health. Forewarned is
forearmed with Knowledge.
JMHO.
I found this site when Scroogling
(scroogle.org) "pot withdrawal". I have
been a daily (four or more times/day)
smoker for about 3 years. I smoke at
least a quarter a week; basically what I
can afford. The financial end, along with
the legal end to a certain extent have
become factors in my decision to try
quitting. I don't like depending on
anything. I find myself driving to pick
up a bag when I can't afford it, don't
have the time, or have reached the point
(again) where I just can't really get
HIGH. Smoking 4 bowls of dank should make
one stumble around a bit, feel the center
of their head rising--but it makes me feel
lethargic and takes away my concentration,
rather than enchancing my perception like
it used to. Oh, sure, I still get 'high'
to a certain extent, but nothing like I do
if I take so much as a day off (which is
so hard for me to do I can't tell ya).
As someone who digs Knowledge, I found
myself reading up on every drug there was
before I was probably 13 or so. This is
because I made a deliberate, premeditated
choice to experience certain substances,
at a young age, and years before I
followed through. I did not grow up
around drugs. I had experienced at that
point an 'out-of-body' experience that
changed my perspective on existence; on
reality.
When I was 16, my ex-boyfriend (who I had
dumped 3 days before) told a teacher of
mine I had pot (less than a gram) on me.
He was in the same class, and must have
really been able to smell it. I was
kicked out of school (had not even gotten
detention at that point) and began a
tumultous journey through the legal
system. The courts threatened my parents
into having me "voluntarily" sign myself
into Youth Drug Court, though at that
point, I had literally smoked pot less
than 10 times. At the time they said that
I would be put into juvenile prison until
I was 18, and my parents being the
trusting, upstanding citizens they are,
did not think it was necessary to hire a
lawyer. I was told at that time it would
take 9-12 mos. to complete Drug Court.
It took 4 years, and I never completed it.
They put me in two different group homes,
drug treatment(!) for THIRTEEN MONTHS,
etc. I have spent so much time in jail I
honestly don't know how many times I have
been in. Also, because I had not
"successfully completed" the Program by
the time I was 18, they extended my case
until my 25th birthday (state of Montana),
then kicked me out of Drug Court (just as
they do with MORE THAN HALF of all kids
who enter) but kept me in Youth Court. A
few months ago, I ran into one of the
ladies who had been on the "Drug Court
Team". She had quit specifically because
of what they were doing to kids. She gave
me a statistic I have written down
somewhere that shows the rate of
IMPRISONMENT (juveniles growing up in the
system, then turning 18 and being put in
adult prison) to be OVER THREE TIMES the
rate of imprisonment for juveniles growing
up in the system, but on regular probation
rather that Drug Court.
You can make your own judgments about the
blanks I'm not filling in, but let me say
very clearly that, while I did "mess up"
while in Drug Court (so much as being late
to school resulted in jail; a late fine or
missed urine test did the same), I never
used a single drug besides mushies and
pot. Never got caught with mushies, or
charged with any felonies.
Long story short (maybe a little late), I
am now 21. I have not been on formal or
informal probation since last year, or
drug tested since I was 19.
I need to point out, that during all my
years dealing with this crap, I made it my
goal to learn about and actively protest
the "War on Drugs". I was adamant for
years that pot is not physically
addictive. While it may not exhibit many
of the same traits as opiates or crazy
prescriptions, the body adapts, and in
time 'expects' a certain level of
cannabinols in the blood. Call this
whatever you want, but people who take a
caca at the same time everyday find
themselves needing to at that time
everyday (gross example). Besides
becoming accustomed to the high, the body
makes certain concessions to adapt to the
'negative' effects of the herb (like
increased heart rate). From direct
experience, the couple of times I have
taken a break in the last couple of years
have always resulted in uniform symptoms.
Cold sweats, insomnia, nausea, and
decreased appetite are what I tend to go
through.
I don't think it's appropriate to make
blanket statements regarding, uh, much of
anything. Especially this.
As if this post, which may very well be my
only one, weren't long enough, I just
realized I should respond to Gabi13. I am
not your typical idea of a smoker either,
as I am a knowledge junky who has been a
bookseller for 3 years as well. My peers
tend to be older than I. I spend most of
my time when I'm not at my job doing
foreign news research (not as boring as it
sounds).
Oh, yeah, it should also be noted, that as
a hypoglycemic, pot takes away the nausea
I experience basically daily, after my
blood sugar reaches a certain point. Pot
was actually recommended to me by my
doctor as treatment. I eat 2500+
calories/day, but still weigh just over
100 lbs (5'4''). I initially was
Recommended pot (at 1 because I had gone
in to find out why I was underweight.
This fact contributes heavily to how hard
it is to be without it, at least
initially. I find that even if my stomach
is growling and I try to put some food in
my mouth, the amount of effort it takes
simply to swallow the damn bite gets a
little scary. The longest I have gone
without in the last 3 years was one week.
Once. I lost 5 pounds that week alone.
Blah, blah, blah. Drugs are complex, yo.
I'll sum this up by blaming the system.
Wish me luck.
|
Cool Mom in ATL
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
Happy Birthday to Me Posted: 01-14-08 15:12pm
Hi All,
Brand new to this forum - but already its
been helpful. I turned 43 yesterday and
just coincidentally - had to quit pot for
the day before.
My supplier/brother-in-law was busted and
at 43 and living a bland suburban life - I
don't exactly have alternative resources.
So - my husband and I decided now's a good
a time as any to quit!
I have been very edgy and last night
couldn't sleep and sweated all night -
even though the thermostat was at 60 F. I
was so relieved to read that the sweats
are part of the quitting deal!
This morning I made the stupid mistake of
drinking 3 big cups of coffee (instead of
my usual 1 cup and a joint to start my
day). Now I feel super crappy! No
appetite, my stomach is doing flips and I
would KILL for a smoke!
I've been smoking steadily for about 15
years - about 5-6 j's a day for the past
couple of years. I was toying with the
idea of quitting but with a steady supply
- it wasn't really a necessity. In a way,
I guess I'm relieved - but then again, I
have to wonder if the medicinal properties
of pot have been keeping me healthy all
these years. Before I started smoking, I
suffered from awful depression and
probably had some kind of eating disorder.
(Can you say - self-medication?)
Anyway, I have found a lot of useful
advice (amidst the naiive judgementalism)
in this forum.
Thanks, all! And if anyone has further
advice for sleeping and increasing my
appetite, please share.
|
CBTEX
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
Posted: 01-18-08 15:24pm
I was a daily pot user for 6 years. I'm 22
yrs. old now. I originally began smoking
to relax...near the end, it was having the
opposite effect. It would make my blood
pressure rise and I would feel paranoid.
Once when mixed with tequilla and some
anxiety, I had severe heart palpitations.
I believe I used marijuana for many years
because it released serotonin in my brain
which helped with my predisposition
towards anxiety...possibly depression.
For whatever reason, it no longer had the
same desired effect that it once had...in
fact, quite the opposite. I have been
basically very uncomfortable when high, so
about a week and a half ago I quit the
weed along with a severe nicotine habit. I
believe I have experienced some nasty
withdraw symptoms.
To start with, I have had some high blood
pressure lately (high being 140-150/75-90
). This has been marked by ringing in my
ears. I began running last week and after
several days seemed to have the pressure
beat back (115-125/65-75). Then had a few
days where I didn't exercise, drank a bit,
and didn't eat very well. The high
pressure came back...I'm currently back on
track having run the last 4 out of 5 days
and eating well although, thus far the
pressure has yet to drop again. I'm not
sure how or if the BP is tied into to
withdraw. I also have a generally low
resting heart rate of between 45 and 55
which would indicate a healthy
ticker...although the higher pressure kind
of contradicts. I've always been an
athlete so I don't think the low heart
rate is anything to worry about, in fact I
think its good. I'm wondering if these BP
problems aren't related to anxiety as I no
longer have the weed as a crutch for that.
Could just be that I was out of shape as I
had been on a 4 month fast food / NO
WORKOUT binge. Prior to that I had been in
good shape. If anyone has an opinion or
experience regarding this...please let me
know.
There are some things I do relate pretty
strongly and definitely to the weed
deprivation. The first is muscle
twitching. My muscles twitch rather
randomly...the strongest being under my
right eye. It seems to be going away very
slowly. I've had some mild problems
sleeping, although not horrible. Had some
bad headaches that come and go...and some
problems with vision; not necessarily
blurry, but kind of disconnected and not
feeling like I'm not seeing very straight.
I also don't feel my concentration is up
to par. I'm having trouble sitting through
class and sometimes feel very anxious
while in public. The anxiety seems to
especially be a problem...I think because
I have GAD to start with. My digestion has
also been a little off...I think I have
had some mild reflux and times where I
didn't feel well after I ate. Also LOTS of
BURPING lol.
I have confidence these things will get
better for me in time. I turn my faith
toward Jesus Christ in my times of
need...something I wish I would have
adhered to earlier on in life. I can't
advocate enough the benefits of exercise
and proper nutrition. Drink lots of juice
to help detoxify your body! To all those
going through this struggle, you are not
alone and since finding this site I am
dedicated to praying for you when I am
reminded of my own pain in this situation.
I never used to think THC was
addictive...which was foolish. It's a
chemical you put into your body...because
your body likes the effect. Taking this
away from your body is going to have its
consequences!
because I had gone
in to find out why I was underweight.
This fact contributes heavily to how hard
it is to be without it, at least
initially. I find that even if my stomach
is growling and I try to put some food in
my mouth, the amount of effort it takes
simply to swallow the damn bite gets a
little scary. The longest I have gone
without in the last 3 years was one week.
Once. I lost 5 pounds that week alone.
