My quitting marijuana journey and a few questions

[eazyduzit]

Hey guys, im an aussie here, i'm really happy to find this forum and read other peoples stories and journeys which is really insipirng me and helping me to quit my marijuana problem.

Im 22 years old, and i know that i haven't been smoking long like other people have (10 years etc) but i started noticing a few months ago that it is having a negative effect on my life, relationships, studying, brains, ANXIEXTY (Anxiety attacks - also thinking too much) etc. A few years ago i used to be witty, smart (I'd like to think), strong willed person who didnt always change his mind. But recently i found that i lack those aspects and also that i am alot more impressionable then i used to be, for example, i change my mind a lot, or my decisions are influenced alot more by friends, this never used to be the case.

All my friends smoke pot, almost everyone! i have a wide circle of friends, different groups, slowly but surely they all started smoking pot, i've gotten people to start smoking weed (only by hanging with me) now i look at them as junkies that are smoking their lives away worse than me, i feel sorry for them and i know its time to stop.

I've smoked daily for about 2 years, on and off for 2.5 years.

Today is day 5, its 3am, i have flu like symptoms, can't sleep, but other then that i actually feel pretty good. Every single day i have been around my mates who are smoking and i have refused every single time to smoke, even when the bong is right infront of me with a bowl full of chronic! I feel like im a bit of a ray of hope for my friends as they are looking at me in awe as im usually the one smoking away, so they are begininning to ask me questions (privatley ofcourse because no one actually wants to admit they have a problem) and want to know how i do it and how im going.

This is an even bigger motivation for me because if i fail, i won't be failing myself, i will be failing my friends whom which i care for dearly and don't want to see them get dragged down by weed either.

I already feel better about myself, i'm beginning to slowly see the light at the end of the tunnel although it's just the beginning, but hopefully i will pass this stage and get to the point where weed isn't the main thing in life and start enjoying life for what it is!

I have been training 4 days a week at the gym, eating healthy for a while, i take multivitamins, Omega 3 capsules, extra vitamins/minerals daily. Do you guys think that weed would have had a impact on my performance in the gym, as i take it seriously and will be competing in 2 months time.

I also have a log book that i write down all my thoughts and experiences that i'm going through, this also has proved to help.

Now i have a few questions if you guys would be so kind to answer,

To the people who gave up after a few years



1. How long does this sleep deprivation last?
2. My short term memory has taken a bit of a hit, does this come back?
3. Stringing sentences together became a bit of an issue sometimes, does this come back?
4. Some of my older friends are heavy smokers and i'm actually worried about them, do you guys have any advice or tips on how i can motivate them to quit smoking weed? (Even if they don't think that quitting is important).

Thanks alot peeps, look forward to some feedback

[BFB]

Hi eazyduzit and welcome,

I am just about to eat so I will keep this brief. Based on what I have seen I would say the following although individual experiences can really vary.

1. Can vary, but most people tend to find in passes within a few weeks.
2. Usually yes, most people do find they get back to their old selves but again it can take a few weeks sometimes even months.
3. Same as last answer.
4. This is the hardest thing of all to try and achieve as you can’t really do it for them and they can only really get there by themselves, but you can always try and give them a nudge in the right direction, just remember you will often lose them if you come across as too hardcore. Maybe try and refer them here so they can see you aren’t just making it all up and there are others who find it has caused them problems too, if there is one thing groups like ours are good for its showing that there are many who have had these sort of experiences.

Good luck with quitting, take care and please keep us posted.

All the best,

[eazyduzit]

Thanks for the reply BFB!

Today is 10 days that i havent smoked the good stuff! I feel really good about myself, about 9 out of 10 of the days i had been around weed and have politley refused offers to smoke up! It feels really good not to be in my own cloud of confusion all the time!

I just have another question, tomrow me and a few friends are going to watch that new movie, the dictator, with borat in it.. usually we watch funny movies together after smoking a few cones. Tonight my friends go to me that were going to smoke before the movie bla bla, and i said yeh maybe. They go we will roll up a joint and go in (does sound very tempting) do you think in all honesty, if one puff would kill the whole phase? im thinking one puff just isnt worth it, what do you guys think?

say yes and give in, or no and soldier on without smoking?

eazy

[names dont matter]

i too have the same situation ad i would say dont give in! today is day 3 for me not smoking- ive smoked basically every to every other day for the past 8 years with a few months of quitting in between. i too thought that i could just do it casually and not want to smoke, but im telling you, that one hit will turn into two, and two to three, and three to dailly again. you know your self better than anyone else, but the fact that you are questioning if you shoulddo it in the first place is most likely a sign that you should not! i am currently dealing with the same thing -a ll my friends smoke weed and a lot of them, i was there when they started . im 24 and smoked on and off from 17-20.. 21-now is when its been very very frequently.. im talking like 4-5 blunts a day (shared with others, but very frequently none the less). i give you much credit for even being around it without giving in.. i used to think of myself as a strong person too, and it honestly saddens me when i think that this stupid green plant is getting the best of me. i say dont do it - but only you can make that choice. 10 days is a long time and i have to say htough i dont know you i give you a LOT of credit for not only quitting up till now, but also not giving in while being around it. i know i said that already but for real... thats awesome. youre already showing that you are still that strong person that you thought you lost.

[bossoffoss]

Thanks for the reply BFB!

Today is 10 days that i havent smoked the good stuff! I feel really good about myself, about 9 out of 10 of the days i had been around weed and have politley refused offers to smoke up! It feels really good not to be in my own cloud of confusion all the time!

I just have another question, tomrow me and a few friends are going to watch that new movie, the dictator, with borat in it.. usually we watch funny movies together after smoking a few cones. Tonight my friends go to me that were going to smoke before the movie bla bla, and i said yeh maybe. They go we will roll up a joint and go in (does sound very tempting) do you think in all honesty, if one puff would kill the whole phase? im thinking one puff just isnt worth it, what do you guys think?

say yes and give in, or no and soldier on without smoking?

eazy

------------
I have had marginal success with this I have been smoking off and on for 12 years. Ive voluntarily quit around nine times from anywhere between five weeks and over a year. Each time a came back to it, I'd say "this time im only going to smoke sometimes." That'd work for the first few weeks until I was back to smoking every night. At this point atleast for myself I try not to smoke at all. This is not to say I haven't relapsed smoked for a day and then convinced myself to quit again. I just think that they are two different thought processes. Today I have been off for 38 days.

[eazyduzit]

i too have the same situation ad i would say dont give in! today is day 3 for me not smoking- ive smoked basically every to every other day for the past 8 years with a few months of quitting in between. i too thought that i could just do it casually and not want to smoke, but im telling you, that one hit will turn into two, and two to three, and three to dailly again. you know your self better than anyone else, but the fact that you are questioning if you shoulddo it in the first place is most likely a sign that you should not! i am currently dealing with the same thing -a ll my friends smoke weed and a lot of them, i was there when they started . im 24 and smoked on and off from 17-20.. 21-now is when its been very very frequently.. im talking like 4-5 blunts a day (shared with others, but very frequently none the less). i give you much credit for even being around it without giving in.. i used to think of myself as a strong person too, and it honestly saddens me when i think that this stupid green plant is getting the best of me. i say dont do it - but only you can make that choice. 10 days is a long time and i have to say htough i dont know you i give you a LOT of credit for not only quitting up till now, but also not giving in while being around it. i know i said that already but for real... thats awesome. youre already showing that you are still that strong person that you thought you lost.

Hey man, i had planned on going and having that smoke and watching the movie.... but about half an hour before i left home i logged on here and checked my thread n read your reply, then and there i decided i wasnt going to smoke that night, and i didnt. Today is day 38 that i haven't smoked weed man, and im actually greatful for ur reply cause if i didnt read that, i probably (no, i definitley would have) gone back onto my regular routine. I dont know u dude, but thanks so much. I feel amazing right now, and i don't think about it anymore, i havent been wasting time, i've been progressing in life feeling great and having fun. Again, if u ever read this, thanks again man i really owe you one.. And i hope that u have sorted urself out too!

@Bossoffoss

Thanks for ur reply man I still havent given in and im up to day 38 as well! How are u feeling now? You must be up in the 50s or 60s? I've also stopped hanging around the people i used to smoke with, its been about 2 weeks since i've seen them...(due to studies too) but i feel better knowing im at home acheiving something while they are out (most likely at this moment) smoking up. After my exams in a week and a half my mate said we would have a smoke ( he rarely evers smokes, and knows about my quitting) I agreed to a joint for celebration but im being a bit skeptical now thinking that its not really worth it? I dont really need it so whats the point ? Do u guys think its okay just this one time then back to no smoking? OR just say no and go out have a few beers?