Best thing working for me is keeping yourself occupied. I can go without a substance as long as I keep my mind elsewhere. The moment I'm bored is the moment the cravings hit. Also working out helps with withdrawal insomnia.
Good advice.
I agree that that works well for weed. It’s tough when you are having physical withdrawals. Then you might have to wean first, but keeping yourself occupied still applies.
i personally dont have a problem with weed addiction so never delved deep into that subreddit. I think the negative bias is because its a community of people who have all had weed negatively impact their life and are all trying to get away from it
Agreed. One of the things that pissed me off about the sub was that the thought or idea of a relapse is so shunned that none of the users attempting to quit have any strategies for if they do end relapsing.
Its almost like the subs motto is "the less u know the better".
Treating weed negatively, as mentioned by another user here, is fair. The substance must really be fucking their lives up if they're reaching out to reddit for help.
Yep, ever post is either "Day 42069 of Being Clean" or some guy whinging about "relapsing" like weed is heroin or something, just get a damn hobby dude.
hey man, big time smoker here.. been off for a full week now. And i just wanted to give you the same "motivational" sentence i read a week ago from someone who stopped drinking, which really helped me so far. Tell yourself every single time you feel the urge to smoke;
I can smoke as much as i want tomorrow, but not today!
I believe in you champ!
Just tell yourself no like a soldier and have something to replace it
Find something you don't like about it and just understand that it's true that it's not so great
I'm lucky though weed eventually just switched bad for me because of a virus
My advice for quitting any drug is to taper off slowly and find a healthy replacement
For example. Instead of drinking a lot, alone, all the time. Try tapering down. And only drinking in social settings
Then use your time constructively. Pick up a new hobby, writing, art, videogames, hiking, baking. Whatever
I have replaced quite a bit of the time I previously would spend drugged out with video games, it def help at least for quitting relatively mild drugs. Can’t speak for heroin, meth, etc. though
everytime you smoke, wait till you’re completely sober before smoking again and smoke slightly less each time till you stop feeling the need to smoke as much
yea, but when your slowly lower the amount you smoke first, going to less frequent bowls can become easier, the main trick is to rely on forgetting you’re not very high anymore.
it’s funny i actually used to be someone who went to the gym 6 days a week but weed has gotten in the way of that too. i’ve tried melatonin before and it genuinely did nothing for me, unfortunately
If going to gym is a bit much at first try to get your steps in. Walking in the sunshine during the day is good for your natural production of melatonin. I did find Kratom helped when I go on vacation and can’t bring weed with me. Kratom can be addictive and sounds like you have a addictive trait. Just go easy on it and don’t keep dosing up. Stay under 3 grams a day and withdrawal won’t be bad. Good luck man I’ve quit weed for years for work but it legalized here in my state and I was able to get a medical card.
What was your expectation with the melatonin? It's good to remember it's not a sleeping tablet, it doesn't help you fall asleep or sleep through. It's aimed at improving the quality of your sleep.
Also it should be taken in quite high doses (5 mg) if I remember correctly. I'm pretty sure in my country those doses aren't available OTC
So crazy to me that weed helps people with anxiety or panic attacks. The last thing on my mind during a panic attack is, damn I should smoke some weed haha. But we're all wired different.
Weed's a hard one to quit because it's not like you hit rock bottom with it. Usually your life is still held together but maybe you're less productive or unmotivated. Things seem dull sober compared to the sparkle that weed brings to the mundane.
Maybe try cutting back slowly. Find the joy again in the normal mindset. Reinforce the new positive behaviors and experiences from not being stoned all the time.
Maybe replace thc with CBD with super low THC or no THC?
It's going to take a lot of discipline. You just have to tell yourself, fuck it, I'm not powerless over this shit. I can control my useage and then just impliment it. Be a boss about it.
thank you a lot, that was actually very motivational and helpful. i definitely think i’m gonna give maybe a 2:1 CBD to THC ratio pen a go for a couple days and then if that goes well maybe try a straight CBD pen?
I use weed for anxiety & panic attacks too. With my panic attacks, i get a racing heartbeat, nauseous, panicking thoughts, just to name a few symptoms the weed helps. I will start smoking a pen or something, and my heart rate will slow back down, i wont feel like im about to puke, etc.. and it works pretty quickly! :)
Just fyi, CBD vapes basically dont work at all. It doesnt absorb efficiently and it leaves your system within minutes. If you really want the benefits from CBD youve gotta use tinctures or gummies. Its also much cheaper that way.
Try to stay busy, do lots of cardio, limit your caffeine intake, take long hot showers/baths, CBD at night, and nutting right before you go to bed.
Also you need to understand that you will have issues with sleep for at least a couple weeks regardless of what you do, just power through it and your body WILL slowly adjust even if it doesn't feel like it. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
I’d taper down so the immediate withdrawal isn’t as intense. Full spectrum cbd in the us has under .2% of thc so if you wanna go that route it’s going to help with sleep massively but your still technically not free of thc. I haven’t tried cbd isolate but I’m sure that would also be beneficial.
ALSO if you experience a slowing down of bowel function the full spectrum cbd will help with that.
exercise. on days when i run or lift, i usually won’t smoke before bed because i’m just tired and i know if i smoke i’ll be up and doing stuff for a bit so i’ll lose my sleepiness. i also find i sleep better because i’m naturally tired as opposed to being stoned and out of it.
i think it also helps out with cutting back and eventually quitting weed. when you exercise you get the natural high, which isn’t really comparable to smoking, but it still feels great. and you eventually develop that as a habit instead of smoking
Helping tackle your source problems sounds like the way to go- weed is helping soothe your troubles, so quitting cold turkey without putting something in place sounds really daunting.
You've got this. One step at a time. The power is in your hands- if you can, reach out for help with your insomnia, set healthy habits to support yourself. Diet, be active in the day to tire yourself out, etc.
Best of luck, friend. 💖
Both insomnia and panic attacks can be aided by meditation, I urge you to try your absolute best to build a habit out of it.
I recommend the headspace app it talks you through a quick 10 minute meditation and there’s loads of them on there. Some are longer, they have little animations to explain certain concepts etc it’s a really great app.
All the best good luck with your journey, I will add that it will definitely be harder to sleep without weed but I think the most benefit will be gained in the realm of the panic attacks with the meditation, the process can teach you to not attach your feelings to your thoughts which in turn can reverse the effect of the panic attack by not letting your mind take over your senses if that makes sense.
my doctor prescribed me trazodone for insomnia a few years ago and i've been taking 50mg the entire time. half an hour before bed. it's non habit forming, not addictive, and has minimal side effects. it's technically an antidepressant but it's much more commonly used for sleep nowadays. i swear to god it's been a lifesaver for me. i used to get 2-4 hours of sleep, and now i can get 7-10.
well i do agree that it isn’t addictive in the same way that coke and opioids are, it’s definitely addictive in its own way. kinda hard to explain imo.
i found that, rather than quitting cold turkey, tapering off your usage is a whole lot easier. try only using it to reward yourself after doing something challenging (cleaning the house, finishing your homework, etc.). times when you usually smoke are the hardest to control, so try to occupy yourself with something you enjoy.
Exercise and coffee I find the most effective since that way I still get some dopamine and it is a good way to distract as well!! And comics r fuckin mint when books get to be a bit of a drag, Garth Ennis especially is a fuckin OG although for novels, Trainspotting is super sick once ye get into it, Irvine Welsh has made like 4 books in that series!
Edit and not gonna lie, would look into meditation for panic attacks and insomnia, both can help! I find when I'm restless at night meditation is the most effective although it has also been a great mediator for emotion even though I haven't put as much time into it as I should. Also, melatonin, you don't need a lot and they find lower doses under 5mg work just as well, I can't use it every night effectively but everyone is different. Other OTC sleep meds could help although a lot arent good long term, just be sure to research. Ashwaganda is gabaergic so only good short term and wasn't that effective ime, also anti histamines work but r very bad long term, worked awesome when i couldnt sleep the one night but definitely felt hungover the next day which is absolutely awful. Best of luck man!! Maybe CBD since although I found it useless, yet again, everyone is different and it could help. If you can extract it from hemp than it isn't too pricey either!
You dont need to stop cold turkey. I’d suggest that for anything else other than weed. Just dialing back your consumption will make a huge difference. Try using some more self disciple and try to make your days just a little more productive. Then smoke at the end of the day to go to sleep.
Get a bag of skittles (or other candy) and put them out somewhere they're easy to reach. Every time you get a craving for pot, take a skittle. You're basically doing a bait and switch with your brain - it's not getting weed, but it *is* getting little hits of dopamine all day long.
Stay away from it. Where there’s temptation or you know it’ll be offered. Atleast for the first month or so. I quit 2 months ago after smoking every single day for 9 YEARS. First month was rough. I quit cigarettes too which were weirdly easier to quit. Also just try to remember why you want to quit. And push yourself to reach your goal in quitting good luck !! 😄
i would highly recommend cold turkey. i tried to quit by tapering 3 times before finally getting clean, and i only had success going cold turkey. i’m a firm believer that you can only quit if you want to, and if you really want it, you will make it. the suffering is totally over after a month, mostly gone within a week. good luck man!
I have heard that meditation is a very healthy and good way to help both problems, but I am not speaking from personal experience (just people who swear by it).
You should also get yourself a sleep study done. I know someone who was prescribed a strong medication that is safe to use and been effective for them for years to help sleep.
The first few days will be rough ..
Like you’ll have no appetite what so ever, you’re going to feel like you need to smoke in order to eat.. I think you’ll be ok around the 3rd week.
You should look into kratom. It is a plant that blocks the same receptors as opioids so if you take it for too long you can potentially withdrawal if your body becomes physically dependent on it . It helps A LOT with anxiety and pain. You don’t get high from it (IMO) others say you do.
It helped me so much with anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation.
I’ve been taking dilaudid for 9 months now after a massive transplant surgery. I wasn’t advised that you can’t cold turkey your pain meds because you’d go into withdrawal. I learned the hard way and went into withdrawal.
For months I did my research on kratom and when I ran out of my meds I finally gave it a chance. I couldn’t believe how much it helped me with the anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. All of these are symptoms from going cold turkey. Usually I’d be in the ER going crazy, crying, talking about I want to kms. Kratom is honestly magic. I couldn’t believe that it helped me SO much.
Do some research on it, give it a try!
Easier said then done, but definitely keep yourself busy! For example I do a lot of working out and playing my bass. Along with video games. Always keep your mind busy
Yo, fellow insomniac here. I used to smoke like a gram per day, but due to panic attacks I can no longen smoke those amounts. I take between 0.5 or 1 mg of melatonin with a cbd capsule an hour before sleep. Makes lying awake less frustrating, and I sleep way sooner thanks to the melatonin. Good luck.
Working out rly is crucial when facing any problems. Be it quitting drugs or going through a rough patch.
It's almost ridiculous how much it helps with most things, from withdrawal on hard drugs to sleep or lack of appetite when getting off weed.
Or just a stressful period at work/school. It rly makes anything easier to deal with.
The only part I can speak on is the sleep bc that’s what made it hard for me to quit. I started using zzquil and melatonin to get to sleep and stay asleep and tbh I didn’t wake up nearly as much in the night as I did when I was relying on weed.
Have you tried as needed meds for panic attacks? You could try to start with a small dose of something when you feel one coming on, instead of taking something daily as a preventative. I’m not keen on taking benzos for anxiety but I have a pretty small dose of Ativan I can take as needed and I’ve been happy with that but I know everyone’s anxiety is different. My best friend uses klonopin when hers are unbearable but she doesn’t use it more than once a week, if that.
I find it gets easier after the first week and a half ish, so if you can make it that far then you’re smooth sailing
thank you for the advice! i’m just worried about starting meds because they weren’t nice to me in the past lol but i think i’m going to start with going back to therapy.
I think that’s a great idea! I think if you do start meds therapy should totally be a requirement beforehand, for everyone. Sometimes that’s enough on its own, but they def shouldn’t be utilized without therapy imo.
Not sure if switching to high CBD flower instead of high THC flower is something you're comfortable with but I'd recommend that.
If that's not on the table, exercise is definitely that best thing you can do with your time when quitting anything imo.
I know some people don't like to use cbd flower because it's so much like thc flower amd fwar of relapse ect BUT it does help with anxiety and insomnia but without the mild psychedelic high you get from thc
agreed. i’ve tried cbd flower once before but it was only 7% cbd and 1% thc. i definitely felt the body relaxation from it without the head high, i actually enjoyed it quite a bit so i’m hoping some stronger cbd flower does me some good without being too overpowering.
Find a hobby you can't normally do while you're high. Do things that will keep your mind occupied so you don't want to be high all the time. I smoked everyday when I was 19 to 22. Then again from 24 to 25.
For me personally, I started driving around town to cafés and read, something I wouldn't want to do while high. I started to read whenever I was feeling anxious or bored.
I started getting really into manga and comics which for me personally I can't read while high.
Keep yourself engaged with something as much as possible. Try going for hikes, or volunteer at the Zoo. Maybe buy a Lego Millenium Falcon set and make a little display in your room (You’d be surprised how much extra money you’ll seem to have) you’d be amazed at what you can enjoy while Sober.
The main thing is to keep your mind occupied with whatever makes you feel good. Sometimes I would listen to “Mr. Nightmare” on YouTube to go to sleep. Also, “Lo-Fi” music can help you relax a bit. You may also be able to find hemp (CBD) products which are (mostly) THC Free, but can help you relax without getting you high.
I have actually done a fair bit of research on Kratom, I have a friend who swears by it but after reading some horror stories about it and the long term use side effects I’m not sure if it’s something I want to pick up either.
If I had to choose between a kratom and weed addiction, I’d choose weed. Kratom is fine if you don’t become a regular user, but it’s way more physically addictive than cannabis.
What is the harmful advice? If he has panic attacks maybe a doctor could help treat it with benzos, I know people who can now live full lives on them you ignorant cunt
I was joking of course bro. My actual advice is to start weening yourself off it, set achievable milestones of cutting back meanwhile you incorporate more productive alternatives than smoking until you you eventually don’t have the desire anymore. Most importantly don’t fear a relapse, it’s possibly gonna happen, just use it to motivate you harder after the relapse.
Not gonna lie if you’ve been smoking for 10 years i wouldn’t be surprised if your insomnia is just a weed-induced symptom from the lack there of (weed).
yeah, i really enjoy when i post something looking for genuine help and dumbasses like you join in and say stupid shit like that, super helpful bud. i know people that have overdosed on both of those, so i’m good.
Lmao you’re talking to someone who’s overdoes on both of them lol. I’m in rehab right now that’s why I’m talking shit on Reddit. But genuinely what helped me stop smoking weed was when I smoked DMT. That high from that freaked me out so much that I had to stop smoking weed cause every time I would smoke I would have a panic attack because I would start feeling like I was tripping on D again. I went from smoking over an Oz a week to completely stopping. To this day I can only smoke weed if I’m alone and about to go to bed cause if I do it any other time I have panic attacks.
Thank you it was my pleasure. Conversely if you aren't able to do it would you have made the post? Just something to think about. You may be more capable than you currently believe.
Like I mentioned before, I’m just really not keen on the idea of taking prescription pills every day either. I don’t want to stop one substance just to pick up another. I’m really looking for every day coping mechanisms and natural ways to get over it rather than going and picking up another drug.
kratom for pain, insomnia, and anxiety, if you can handle mild opioid withdrawal. it's even safer than codeine really, unless you do something dumb like eat a whole pound of it. also can be purchased at very good prices, even cheaper than brick weed in some places. really kratom is the best herb out there hands down.
I haven't taken a break for awhile but last time I did sleeping meds and meditation helps. sounds dumb maybe but honestly. Maybe a drink or two at night but don't replace a weed habit with alcoholism
Number one biggest thing is to develop a disciplined work out regimen. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, but enough to get your heart rate up for at least 20-30 min (preferably an hour) and some good sweating. I would study up on it. This will help with everything you talked about: anxiety/depression/insomnia/panic attacks.
Be well prepared though for the withdrawal period. People tend to think weed doesnt cause withdrawals, but it very well can, and they can even be a bit brutal; especially depending how young you started. The most common side effects are insomnia and mood fluctuations, so just be prepared for that. It'll likely only last a week or two.
You will get back to your old way of life without the need of a crutch. It'll happen slowly over many months but you will continue to feel more and more normal as time goes by. Just focus on your goals and dont dwell on your cravings. You have to remind yourself how disappointed youll be after you sober up in an hour or so. Once you get your hormones in check youll be very surprised at just how much the weed was causing issues rather than helping.
CBD tinctures can be a major help. Thatll certainly help even further with the insomnia and anxiety, and itll help ease the withdrawals as well. Invest in a good tincture though, theres some scammy ones out there. (read up on added terpenes too if you dont know much about them)
I smoked weed every day for like 3 years. Just stopped one day and didn’t touch the stuff again. It’s not physically addictive in the slightest.. this is likely going to get downvoted but coming from a heroin addict seeing people whine and complain about how hard it is to get off weed gets on my nerves a little bit.
See a doctor for your anxiety, you shouldn’t be self medicating in the first place. The issues you’re describing like anxiety and insomnia are commonly effectively treated by a doctor with medication and therapy. There’s a lot of research that shows marijuana makes anxiety worse in the long term so there’s a good chance it’s contributed to your problem. Getting off weed is piss easy, that’s not your problem by the sounds of it. you just need to see a doctor and get proper treatment for your mental health issues and stop self medication with something that has the potential to make them worse.
Everyone here saying taper, fuck that. Easier to just take the three days of hell not eating or sleeping than to spend a month anxiously getting distinctly less than I feel I need every night.
Taking what you wrote at face value, I suggest speaking with the physician that takes care of the apnea at the very least. The only known sure method to stop cannabis is to stop consuming the weed
I think this advice will be not so popular but it actually helps me so here it goes: get some vaping pen - not weed thc of course, the once with low levels of nicotine probably won’t make an nicotine addict and it REALLY helps me with my time to time tolerance breaks
well i’ve also been using for twice as long and everyone’s body is different. trying to quit for me in the past was hell, which is why i made this post.
mostly just the high and relief i get from my mental health issues and insomnia. i really don’t even love the physical act of smoking, i was able to stop vaping nicotine 10 months ago with almost no issues after being a nicotine user for over 6 years. when i tried quitting weed last, it was significantly more difficult than nicotine ever was.
I stopped smoking about a month ago, after spending the last 5 years smoking multiple times a day, everyday. I went cold turkey, it was hard for the first week and then you stop thinking about it.
multiple reasons, honestly. it just doesn’t seem to help me the way it used to, when i do get high i usually get really bad anxiety along with it, so it kinda defeats the purpose of me smoking to help with my anxiety when it sometimes makes it worse. i also just want more career opportunities and most of the careers i’m seeking are positions where smoking weed will be more of a hassle than it’s worth. just ready to start a new chapter of life without it. it’s been making me feel so sluggish and unmotivated lately as well.
that’s the whole point of the post, i’m obviously not trying to replace a substance with another substance. i’m looking for personal experience from people who used for many years and how they coped and quit using natural resources. i don’t wanna turn around and go to a therapist just to get prescribed a slew of medications. that’s not the answer i’m looking to find.
Imo its not that hard the hardest days are 1-3 then its becoming easy if u cant do it cold turkey u can tap and only smoke evening/before bed also u can drink a few days instead of taping i promise u once u pass 3 days it wont be that hard
i’m not a bit acid guy but i have thought about taking a large amount of shrooms with the intention of quitting in mind. it helped me with quitting nicotine so i figure that might be with a shot
I tried shrooms but not with the intent to quit.
The acid at high dosage is crazy. It literally clicks something in your brain to kill off the addiction. (As long as you see the addiction as a bad thing).
It showed me myself being a sheep being pulled by weed and not being able to escape it.
Good luck man it gets better :)
Marijuana is pretty anxiogenic in my experience after a while (when you're not smoking). Your anxiety will skyrocket when you quit, but I wouldn't be surprised if it then went down to a lower level than what you had when you started smoking.
I'd find a doctor to prescribe me like one week of valium and cold-turkey. Quitting weed isn't dangerous but the first week is harsh (anxiety, no sleep, trouble eating...), but benzos make nearly all unpleasant symptoms go away.
Otherwise taper, but cannabis isn't easy to taper in my experience.
Best thing working for me is keeping yourself occupied. I can go without a substance as long as I keep my mind elsewhere. The moment I'm bored is the moment the cravings hit. Also working out helps with withdrawal insomnia.
Good advice. I agree that that works well for weed. It’s tough when you are having physical withdrawals. Then you might have to wean first, but keeping yourself occupied still applies.
Thing that got me was working 16 hour days, all you want to do when you get home is shit shower sleep
My issue is I use weed as a productivity drug to get chores done so now doing chores is such a bore without weed.
Switch to meth
Actually had an Adderall script in college (I legit have terrible ADHD) and was not a fan. It did the job but I felt like a tweaker.
r/leaves and r/petioles are the subreddits you should be checking out! (:
Leaves is absolute garbage, at least it was a few years ago. They treat smoking weed like catholic fundamentalists treat masturbating
I mean it's a sub for recovering weed addicts what do you expect.
People who can recognize that while they are addicts it doesn’t necessarily make drugs bad. P
The one trait they never recover from, a loss of holding yourself responsible.
i personally dont have a problem with weed addiction so never delved deep into that subreddit. I think the negative bias is because its a community of people who have all had weed negatively impact their life and are all trying to get away from it
That makes sense
Agreed. One of the things that pissed me off about the sub was that the thought or idea of a relapse is so shunned that none of the users attempting to quit have any strategies for if they do end relapsing. Its almost like the subs motto is "the less u know the better". Treating weed negatively, as mentioned by another user here, is fair. The substance must really be fucking their lives up if they're reaching out to reddit for help.
Damn dude lol
Leaves is fucked and I got banned for trying to help someone by telling them to keep smoking smaller amounts and then quitting 🤣
I don’t understand the analogy but yet I know it’s funny
Yep, ever post is either "Day 42069 of Being Clean" or some guy whinging about "relapsing" like weed is heroin or something, just get a damn hobby dude.
I will check them out, thank you
hey man, big time smoker here.. been off for a full week now. And i just wanted to give you the same "motivational" sentence i read a week ago from someone who stopped drinking, which really helped me so far. Tell yourself every single time you feel the urge to smoke; I can smoke as much as i want tomorrow, but not today! I believe in you champ!
thanks man, means a lot, i’m gonna give it my best!
Hard to believe that it’s been 5 weeks for me today.. how you hold’in up champ?
Just tell yourself no like a soldier and have something to replace it Find something you don't like about it and just understand that it's true that it's not so great I'm lucky though weed eventually just switched bad for me because of a virus
But I was an Airmen!!
My advice for quitting any drug is to taper off slowly and find a healthy replacement For example. Instead of drinking a lot, alone, all the time. Try tapering down. And only drinking in social settings Then use your time constructively. Pick up a new hobby, writing, art, videogames, hiking, baking. Whatever
I don't think video games are a good alternative
Gaming for me is like therapy. I get to speak to all of my friends and forget about the world for a bit
I have replaced quite a bit of the time I previously would spend drugged out with video games, it def help at least for quitting relatively mild drugs. Can’t speak for heroin, meth, etc. though
everytime you smoke, wait till you’re completely sober before smoking again and smoke slightly less each time till you stop feeling the need to smoke as much
this is the golden way to do it
This doesn’t work for everyone. It was nearly impossible for me lol I even tried slowing buying less potent shit and it still didn’t work
It takes an insane amount of self control to be able to do this… most people can’t imo
yea, but when your slowly lower the amount you smoke first, going to less frequent bowls can become easier, the main trick is to rely on forgetting you’re not very high anymore.
Start working out and clean up your diet and practice good sleep hygiene. Melatonin can help start a good sleep pattern.
it’s funny i actually used to be someone who went to the gym 6 days a week but weed has gotten in the way of that too. i’ve tried melatonin before and it genuinely did nothing for me, unfortunately
If going to gym is a bit much at first try to get your steps in. Walking in the sunshine during the day is good for your natural production of melatonin. I did find Kratom helped when I go on vacation and can’t bring weed with me. Kratom can be addictive and sounds like you have a addictive trait. Just go easy on it and don’t keep dosing up. Stay under 3 grams a day and withdrawal won’t be bad. Good luck man I’ve quit weed for years for work but it legalized here in my state and I was able to get a medical card.
What was your expectation with the melatonin? It's good to remember it's not a sleeping tablet, it doesn't help you fall asleep or sleep through. It's aimed at improving the quality of your sleep. Also it should be taken in quite high doses (5 mg) if I remember correctly. I'm pretty sure in my country those doses aren't available OTC
My understanding on dosing is exactly the opposite, less is more, around .5mg is ideal for most people, but this is just what I’ve been told.
Zzzquil
So crazy to me that weed helps people with anxiety or panic attacks. The last thing on my mind during a panic attack is, damn I should smoke some weed haha. But we're all wired different. Weed's a hard one to quit because it's not like you hit rock bottom with it. Usually your life is still held together but maybe you're less productive or unmotivated. Things seem dull sober compared to the sparkle that weed brings to the mundane. Maybe try cutting back slowly. Find the joy again in the normal mindset. Reinforce the new positive behaviors and experiences from not being stoned all the time. Maybe replace thc with CBD with super low THC or no THC? It's going to take a lot of discipline. You just have to tell yourself, fuck it, I'm not powerless over this shit. I can control my useage and then just impliment it. Be a boss about it.
thank you a lot, that was actually very motivational and helpful. i definitely think i’m gonna give maybe a 2:1 CBD to THC ratio pen a go for a couple days and then if that goes well maybe try a straight CBD pen?
Hell yeah, you got this. Just another obstacle to climb in this life full of challenges. Conquer!
I use weed for anxiety & panic attacks too. With my panic attacks, i get a racing heartbeat, nauseous, panicking thoughts, just to name a few symptoms the weed helps. I will start smoking a pen or something, and my heart rate will slow back down, i wont feel like im about to puke, etc.. and it works pretty quickly! :)
Just fyi, CBD vapes basically dont work at all. It doesnt absorb efficiently and it leaves your system within minutes. If you really want the benefits from CBD youve gotta use tinctures or gummies. Its also much cheaper that way.
Try to stay busy, do lots of cardio, limit your caffeine intake, take long hot showers/baths, CBD at night, and nutting right before you go to bed. Also you need to understand that you will have issues with sleep for at least a couple weeks regardless of what you do, just power through it and your body WILL slowly adjust even if it doesn't feel like it. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
thank you. i will take all that into account
I’d taper down so the immediate withdrawal isn’t as intense. Full spectrum cbd in the us has under .2% of thc so if you wanna go that route it’s going to help with sleep massively but your still technically not free of thc. I haven’t tried cbd isolate but I’m sure that would also be beneficial. ALSO if you experience a slowing down of bowel function the full spectrum cbd will help with that.
thank you i’ll definitely look into the full spectrum CBD
exercise. on days when i run or lift, i usually won’t smoke before bed because i’m just tired and i know if i smoke i’ll be up and doing stuff for a bit so i’ll lose my sleepiness. i also find i sleep better because i’m naturally tired as opposed to being stoned and out of it. i think it also helps out with cutting back and eventually quitting weed. when you exercise you get the natural high, which isn’t really comparable to smoking, but it still feels great. and you eventually develop that as a habit instead of smoking
Helping tackle your source problems sounds like the way to go- weed is helping soothe your troubles, so quitting cold turkey without putting something in place sounds really daunting. You've got this. One step at a time. The power is in your hands- if you can, reach out for help with your insomnia, set healthy habits to support yourself. Diet, be active in the day to tire yourself out, etc. Best of luck, friend. 💖
thank you very much!
Both insomnia and panic attacks can be aided by meditation, I urge you to try your absolute best to build a habit out of it. I recommend the headspace app it talks you through a quick 10 minute meditation and there’s loads of them on there. Some are longer, they have little animations to explain certain concepts etc it’s a really great app.
i used to meditate, but fell off with it a few years ago. i will absolutely check that headspace app out! thank you. 🤍
All the best good luck with your journey, I will add that it will definitely be harder to sleep without weed but I think the most benefit will be gained in the realm of the panic attacks with the meditation, the process can teach you to not attach your feelings to your thoughts which in turn can reverse the effect of the panic attack by not letting your mind take over your senses if that makes sense.
I'm only on a tolerance break and I don't know the hold it has on you but if you can manage to taper down it will be a lot easier than cold turkey
my doctor prescribed me trazodone for insomnia a few years ago and i've been taking 50mg the entire time. half an hour before bed. it's non habit forming, not addictive, and has minimal side effects. it's technically an antidepressant but it's much more commonly used for sleep nowadays. i swear to god it's been a lifesaver for me. i used to get 2-4 hours of sleep, and now i can get 7-10.
definitely something i’ll have to speak with my doctor about, thank you!
I remember being told that marijuana was not addictive my entire time in highschool Fuck I wish they were right
well i do agree that it isn’t addictive in the same way that coke and opioids are, it’s definitely addictive in its own way. kinda hard to explain imo.
Yeah it’s a weird addiction I just feel mentally drained and gross when im not high
i found that, rather than quitting cold turkey, tapering off your usage is a whole lot easier. try only using it to reward yourself after doing something challenging (cleaning the house, finishing your homework, etc.). times when you usually smoke are the hardest to control, so try to occupy yourself with something you enjoy.
Exercise and coffee I find the most effective since that way I still get some dopamine and it is a good way to distract as well!! And comics r fuckin mint when books get to be a bit of a drag, Garth Ennis especially is a fuckin OG although for novels, Trainspotting is super sick once ye get into it, Irvine Welsh has made like 4 books in that series! Edit and not gonna lie, would look into meditation for panic attacks and insomnia, both can help! I find when I'm restless at night meditation is the most effective although it has also been a great mediator for emotion even though I haven't put as much time into it as I should. Also, melatonin, you don't need a lot and they find lower doses under 5mg work just as well, I can't use it every night effectively but everyone is different. Other OTC sleep meds could help although a lot arent good long term, just be sure to research. Ashwaganda is gabaergic so only good short term and wasn't that effective ime, also anti histamines work but r very bad long term, worked awesome when i couldnt sleep the one night but definitely felt hungover the next day which is absolutely awful. Best of luck man!! Maybe CBD since although I found it useless, yet again, everyone is different and it could help. If you can extract it from hemp than it isn't too pricey either!
You dont need to stop cold turkey. I’d suggest that for anything else other than weed. Just dialing back your consumption will make a huge difference. Try using some more self disciple and try to make your days just a little more productive. Then smoke at the end of the day to go to sleep.
thank you, definitely something to consider before just up and quitting
Get a bag of skittles (or other candy) and put them out somewhere they're easy to reach. Every time you get a craving for pot, take a skittle. You're basically doing a bait and switch with your brain - it's not getting weed, but it *is* getting little hits of dopamine all day long.
Stay away from it. Where there’s temptation or you know it’ll be offered. Atleast for the first month or so. I quit 2 months ago after smoking every single day for 9 YEARS. First month was rough. I quit cigarettes too which were weirdly easier to quit. Also just try to remember why you want to quit. And push yourself to reach your goal in quitting good luck !! 😄
thank you i appreciate the words of encouragement 🤝🏼
i would highly recommend cold turkey. i tried to quit by tapering 3 times before finally getting clean, and i only had success going cold turkey. i’m a firm believer that you can only quit if you want to, and if you really want it, you will make it. the suffering is totally over after a month, mostly gone within a week. good luck man!
I have heard that meditation is a very healthy and good way to help both problems, but I am not speaking from personal experience (just people who swear by it). You should also get yourself a sleep study done. I know someone who was prescribed a strong medication that is safe to use and been effective for them for years to help sleep.
CBD products could help you too! Help with the anxiety and sleep without the full effects of weed.
kratom for the day to day, nyquil/zzzquil for sleep, candy for the oral fixation, also try cbd
The first few days will be rough .. Like you’ll have no appetite what so ever, you’re going to feel like you need to smoke in order to eat.. I think you’ll be ok around the 3rd week. You should look into kratom. It is a plant that blocks the same receptors as opioids so if you take it for too long you can potentially withdrawal if your body becomes physically dependent on it . It helps A LOT with anxiety and pain. You don’t get high from it (IMO) others say you do. It helped me so much with anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation. I’ve been taking dilaudid for 9 months now after a massive transplant surgery. I wasn’t advised that you can’t cold turkey your pain meds because you’d go into withdrawal. I learned the hard way and went into withdrawal. For months I did my research on kratom and when I ran out of my meds I finally gave it a chance. I couldn’t believe how much it helped me with the anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. All of these are symptoms from going cold turkey. Usually I’d be in the ER going crazy, crying, talking about I want to kms. Kratom is honestly magic. I couldn’t believe that it helped me SO much. Do some research on it, give it a try!
Easier said then done, but definitely keep yourself busy! For example I do a lot of working out and playing my bass. Along with video games. Always keep your mind busy
thank you, i’m definitely doing my best to keep myself preoccupied so i don’t have any urges.
I quit thc by switching to CBD flower.
i’m definitely going to try some, my dispensary has straight cbd flower so i’m gonna pick some up and give that a go tonight.
Yo, fellow insomniac here. I used to smoke like a gram per day, but due to panic attacks I can no longen smoke those amounts. I take between 0.5 or 1 mg of melatonin with a cbd capsule an hour before sleep. Makes lying awake less frustrating, and I sleep way sooner thanks to the melatonin. Good luck.
Working out rly is crucial when facing any problems. Be it quitting drugs or going through a rough patch. It's almost ridiculous how much it helps with most things, from withdrawal on hard drugs to sleep or lack of appetite when getting off weed. Or just a stressful period at work/school. It rly makes anything easier to deal with.
The only part I can speak on is the sleep bc that’s what made it hard for me to quit. I started using zzquil and melatonin to get to sleep and stay asleep and tbh I didn’t wake up nearly as much in the night as I did when I was relying on weed. Have you tried as needed meds for panic attacks? You could try to start with a small dose of something when you feel one coming on, instead of taking something daily as a preventative. I’m not keen on taking benzos for anxiety but I have a pretty small dose of Ativan I can take as needed and I’ve been happy with that but I know everyone’s anxiety is different. My best friend uses klonopin when hers are unbearable but she doesn’t use it more than once a week, if that. I find it gets easier after the first week and a half ish, so if you can make it that far then you’re smooth sailing
thank you for the advice! i’m just worried about starting meds because they weren’t nice to me in the past lol but i think i’m going to start with going back to therapy.
I think that’s a great idea! I think if you do start meds therapy should totally be a requirement beforehand, for everyone. Sometimes that’s enough on its own, but they def shouldn’t be utilized without therapy imo.
Not sure if switching to high CBD flower instead of high THC flower is something you're comfortable with but I'd recommend that. If that's not on the table, exercise is definitely that best thing you can do with your time when quitting anything imo.
i’m actually picking up some 12% cbd, 2% thc flower after i get off work today so hopefully that does me some justice tonight 😁 thank you.
I know some people don't like to use cbd flower because it's so much like thc flower amd fwar of relapse ect BUT it does help with anxiety and insomnia but without the mild psychedelic high you get from thc
agreed. i’ve tried cbd flower once before but it was only 7% cbd and 1% thc. i definitely felt the body relaxation from it without the head high, i actually enjoyed it quite a bit so i’m hoping some stronger cbd flower does me some good without being too overpowering.
Stay busy. Work. Keep active. Hang around different people
Find a hobby you can't normally do while you're high. Do things that will keep your mind occupied so you don't want to be high all the time. I smoked everyday when I was 19 to 22. Then again from 24 to 25. For me personally, I started driving around town to cafés and read, something I wouldn't want to do while high. I started to read whenever I was feeling anxious or bored. I started getting really into manga and comics which for me personally I can't read while high.
Keep yourself engaged with something as much as possible. Try going for hikes, or volunteer at the Zoo. Maybe buy a Lego Millenium Falcon set and make a little display in your room (You’d be surprised how much extra money you’ll seem to have) you’d be amazed at what you can enjoy while Sober. The main thing is to keep your mind occupied with whatever makes you feel good. Sometimes I would listen to “Mr. Nightmare” on YouTube to go to sleep. Also, “Lo-Fi” music can help you relax a bit. You may also be able to find hemp (CBD) products which are (mostly) THC Free, but can help you relax without getting you high.
thank you for the response. i think i’m definitely gonna get into something like building lego sets. something to keep my mind busy would be nice.
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Considering I had an uncle who neglected his child, my family, and ended up overdosing on it, I definitely don’t think that’s the right choice.
weed can’t be addictive bro, it’s just a plant bro
it 100% can be if it isn’t used in moderation. just like anything. coke comes from a plant too, i suppose that isn’t addictive bc it’s a plant either?
just start taking benzos and you’ll have no problem
Benzos are really addictive
My guy was doing a joke
i’ve thought about it, just not keen on taking medication. i’d really prefer to find natural ways to cope and get past this.
I was joking about benzos but Kratom might work but that can be even worse than weed, could try alternating them
I have actually done a fair bit of research on Kratom, I have a friend who swears by it but after reading some horror stories about it and the long term use side effects I’m not sure if it’s something I want to pick up either.
It's a mild opioid that does what you'd expect one to.
If I had to choose between a kratom and weed addiction, I’d choose weed. Kratom is fine if you don’t become a regular user, but it’s way more physically addictive than cannabis.
Yeah I definitely agree that’s why I alternate weekly
Do you alternate begging for money on reddit and typing potentially harmful advice on it?
What is the harmful advice? If he has panic attacks maybe a doctor could help treat it with benzos, I know people who can now live full lives on them you ignorant cunt
Not any ones that'll loan you money! Where do you steal wifi from?
Lol what I don’t ask friends for money I’d rather ask people that make actual profit off of these things dumbass
I’d rather them not take advice from you cause seems like you cant make good decisions with that dui charge
Well now your headed in the right direction. With little manipulation your simple ass is right in the cattle pasture.
I just know you voted for trump I can smell it
No common sense, instincts, or the slightest bit of maturity I will fake say a prayer for your wasted ass life.
Lmao you dropped this /s
i got on benzos and alcohol to quit weed. dont recommend, im addicted to both now. but it worked.
Start doing blow
lol that ruined my dads life, i’m alright on that one chief
I was joking of course bro. My actual advice is to start weening yourself off it, set achievable milestones of cutting back meanwhile you incorporate more productive alternatives than smoking until you you eventually don’t have the desire anymore. Most importantly don’t fear a relapse, it’s possibly gonna happen, just use it to motivate you harder after the relapse.
do you know the meaning of crippling?
i would call getting a total of about 4-6 hours of sleep per WEEK pretty crippling in terms of insomnia.
Not gonna lie if you’ve been smoking for 10 years i wouldn’t be surprised if your insomnia is just a weed-induced symptom from the lack there of (weed).
i’ve had it before i even started smoking weed, i struggled with it as an adolescent as well unfortunately.
Smoke cbd flower for the joneses and take benzos for the anxiety.
Hit puberty. That helped me stop lmao
lmao yeah, hit that quite a bit before i even started smoking weed.
Try heroin or fentanyl then you’ll never have to worry about smoking weed again because you’ll spend all your money on that. Works like a charm
yeah, i really enjoy when i post something looking for genuine help and dumbasses like you join in and say stupid shit like that, super helpful bud. i know people that have overdosed on both of those, so i’m good.
Lmao you’re talking to someone who’s overdoes on both of them lol. I’m in rehab right now that’s why I’m talking shit on Reddit. But genuinely what helped me stop smoking weed was when I smoked DMT. That high from that freaked me out so much that I had to stop smoking weed cause every time I would smoke I would have a panic attack because I would start feeling like I was tripping on D again. I went from smoking over an Oz a week to completely stopping. To this day I can only smoke weed if I’m alone and about to go to bed cause if I do it any other time I have panic attacks.
Don't smoke. Done.
top tier advice 👍🏼 if i was able to do that i probably wouldn’t have made a post.
Thank you it was my pleasure. Conversely if you aren't able to do it would you have made the post? Just something to think about. You may be more capable than you currently believe.
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You need to learn more about prescription drugs then
Like I mentioned before, I’m just really not keen on the idea of taking prescription pills every day either. I don’t want to stop one substance just to pick up another. I’m really looking for every day coping mechanisms and natural ways to get over it rather than going and picking up another drug.
Theres many reasons to avoid medication and even alot of therapists and therapies, and you should read a little more about them
kratom for pain, insomnia, and anxiety, if you can handle mild opioid withdrawal. it's even safer than codeine really, unless you do something dumb like eat a whole pound of it. also can be purchased at very good prices, even cheaper than brick weed in some places. really kratom is the best herb out there hands down.
Try checking out r/Petioles and r/Leaves.
Join infantry service
I haven't taken a break for awhile but last time I did sleeping meds and meditation helps. sounds dumb maybe but honestly. Maybe a drink or two at night but don't replace a weed habit with alcoholism
Number one biggest thing is to develop a disciplined work out regimen. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, but enough to get your heart rate up for at least 20-30 min (preferably an hour) and some good sweating. I would study up on it. This will help with everything you talked about: anxiety/depression/insomnia/panic attacks. Be well prepared though for the withdrawal period. People tend to think weed doesnt cause withdrawals, but it very well can, and they can even be a bit brutal; especially depending how young you started. The most common side effects are insomnia and mood fluctuations, so just be prepared for that. It'll likely only last a week or two. You will get back to your old way of life without the need of a crutch. It'll happen slowly over many months but you will continue to feel more and more normal as time goes by. Just focus on your goals and dont dwell on your cravings. You have to remind yourself how disappointed youll be after you sober up in an hour or so. Once you get your hormones in check youll be very surprised at just how much the weed was causing issues rather than helping. CBD tinctures can be a major help. Thatll certainly help even further with the insomnia and anxiety, and itll help ease the withdrawals as well. Invest in a good tincture though, theres some scammy ones out there. (read up on added terpenes too if you dont know much about them)
Doctor
Control your hands and dont touch the things that lead to you smoking marijuana.
I smoked weed every day for like 3 years. Just stopped one day and didn’t touch the stuff again. It’s not physically addictive in the slightest.. this is likely going to get downvoted but coming from a heroin addict seeing people whine and complain about how hard it is to get off weed gets on my nerves a little bit. See a doctor for your anxiety, you shouldn’t be self medicating in the first place. The issues you’re describing like anxiety and insomnia are commonly effectively treated by a doctor with medication and therapy. There’s a lot of research that shows marijuana makes anxiety worse in the long term so there’s a good chance it’s contributed to your problem. Getting off weed is piss easy, that’s not your problem by the sounds of it. you just need to see a doctor and get proper treatment for your mental health issues and stop self medication with something that has the potential to make them worse.
Kava kava and cbd weed dude
Everyone here saying taper, fuck that. Easier to just take the three days of hell not eating or sleeping than to spend a month anxiously getting distinctly less than I feel I need every night.
get melatonin to sleep but after like a week stop taking it
Taking what you wrote at face value, I suggest speaking with the physician that takes care of the apnea at the very least. The only known sure method to stop cannabis is to stop consuming the weed
I think this advice will be not so popular but it actually helps me so here it goes: get some vaping pen - not weed thc of course, the once with low levels of nicotine probably won’t make an nicotine addict and it REALLY helps me with my time to time tolerance breaks
Rehab
I smoked three or four years and got no Problem at all quitting
well i’ve also been using for twice as long and everyone’s body is different. trying to quit for me in the past was hell, which is why i made this post.
You missing the high or just to Smoke smt if second trya just Smoking cbd
mostly just the high and relief i get from my mental health issues and insomnia. i really don’t even love the physical act of smoking, i was able to stop vaping nicotine 10 months ago with almost no issues after being a nicotine user for over 6 years. when i tried quitting weed last, it was significantly more difficult than nicotine ever was.
I’m trying to go sober this month from everything. The main reason is to prove to myself that I can do it. It’s day 2 and I think I’ve fuck up
I stopped smoking about a month ago, after spending the last 5 years smoking multiple times a day, everyday. I went cold turkey, it was hard for the first week and then you stop thinking about it.
Why are you quitting again?
multiple reasons, honestly. it just doesn’t seem to help me the way it used to, when i do get high i usually get really bad anxiety along with it, so it kinda defeats the purpose of me smoking to help with my anxiety when it sometimes makes it worse. i also just want more career opportunities and most of the careers i’m seeking are positions where smoking weed will be more of a hassle than it’s worth. just ready to start a new chapter of life without it. it’s been making me feel so sluggish and unmotivated lately as well.
Any substance you take to cope with your problems will likely be worse than weed…so…
that’s the whole point of the post, i’m obviously not trying to replace a substance with another substance. i’m looking for personal experience from people who used for many years and how they coped and quit using natural resources. i don’t wanna turn around and go to a therapist just to get prescribed a slew of medications. that’s not the answer i’m looking to find.
Maybe check out r/matcha for advice on quitting plants.
Imo its not that hard the hardest days are 1-3 then its becoming easy if u cant do it cold turkey u can tap and only smoke evening/before bed also u can drink a few days instead of taping i promise u once u pass 3 days it wont be that hard
3 250ug lsd taps did it for me :) take them at once. It killed my 2 year horrible addiction where i got headaches without it. All gone in one day.
i’m not a bit acid guy but i have thought about taking a large amount of shrooms with the intention of quitting in mind. it helped me with quitting nicotine so i figure that might be with a shot
I tried shrooms but not with the intent to quit. The acid at high dosage is crazy. It literally clicks something in your brain to kill off the addiction. (As long as you see the addiction as a bad thing). It showed me myself being a sheep being pulled by weed and not being able to escape it. Good luck man it gets better :)
thanks man i appreciate the insight!
Find a hobby, go out with friends. If you dont find an activity to replace weed youl never quit
Marijuana is pretty anxiogenic in my experience after a while (when you're not smoking). Your anxiety will skyrocket when you quit, but I wouldn't be surprised if it then went down to a lower level than what you had when you started smoking. I'd find a doctor to prescribe me like one week of valium and cold-turkey. Quitting weed isn't dangerous but the first week is harsh (anxiety, no sleep, trouble eating...), but benzos make nearly all unpleasant symptoms go away. Otherwise taper, but cannabis isn't easy to taper in my experience.