I Need Advice

[recluse]

I've been smokin dope for about 6 years and after growing up and needing a job I desperately need to quit. I have felt antisocial, paranoid, reclusive, inadequate, and all in all i feel weird when im not smoking. Its almost like i think too much about the things that aren't going right in my life. And sometimes I feel like I am no longer the same person. I used to be athletic and 'cool' in high school and have a ton of friends. Its almost that I dont know how to act when Im not stoned outta my gord. Instead of running or working out and feeling good about myself or hanging out with friends..I concientously stay at home glued to the TV..

I just need someone to finally relate to me and what Im going through. Any advice or comments that you could give me would be great. Thanks

[bud free]

howdy,
first of all give yourself a break! it is easy to feel like a failure but understand that you can have a really happy and productive life without pot. what ever sport you enjoyed before, start it up again. find a volunteer job that puts you in touch with other people who can see you as a positive influence and you will start to see that in yourself. just remember that you really only have one life and you have had enough pot experience, now its time to move on. if you need help, try a 12 step and see if that works for you. if it doesn't just keep on working. it will take time but getting out of your own head will help! i know it sounds like a cliche but we are so lucky to be alive and it will be over WAY TOO SOON not to enjoy it!

[lovedrug]

I've been smokin dope for about 6 years and after growing up and needing a job I desperately need to quit. I have felt antisocial, paranoid, reclusive, inadequate, and all in all i feel weird when im not smoking. Its almost like i think too much about the things that aren't going right in my life. And sometimes I feel like I am no longer the same person. I used to be athletic and 'cool' in high school and have a ton of friends. Its almost that I dont know how to act when Im not stoned outta my gord. Instead of running or working out and feeling good about myself or hanging out with friends..I concientously stay at home glued to the TV..

I just need someone to finally relate to me and what Im going through. Any advice or comments that you could give me would be great. Thanks

Hi there Recluse.

I can't help but feel all tingly after reading this, because I am going through the exact same thing. I'm a writer and was also an athlete in high school, I played soccer and that's when I started smoking pot. I've never stopped. I also used to have many many friends, but for the past 6 months I feel as if they think that I'm a joke. I don't know but I can't get past the feeling of awkwardness and uneasiness when I'm around them. I think it's maybe because I always think about what they're gonna say about me. I didn't care before, but when I started to spiral down because of other drug problems, everything fell apart. not only most of my friendships, I had to drop out of college too. The worst thing is, i seem to have lost most of my creative vision and I got so depressed. I was two months away from my graduation but I just cracked under the pressure.

I also spent months and months of just laying on my bed, watching stuff from youtube and old dvds and felt a lot worse. I also lost the energy to hang out with my close friends. I'd rather sit at home and think about the way my life should have been if I graduated.

But I started to write again and I feel good.

As for you, just start to feel good about yourself again. If you still don't have the urge to move around and stuff, you could start by fixing your room, cleaning your car, fixing your cds. little activities lead to larger ones. that's how I did it. :)

I hope you're feeling better. believe me when I say I know what you're going through, because I really do. take care, :p http://www.addictionsearch.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif
;)

[erbalibera]

I just happened on this site because I have been wanting to quit weed for years and yet don't know how to start. Other websites I've seen insist that pot heads can't make it alone without professional help. I can't afford a therapist and besides, it is a lot about will power, isn't it? Anyway, reading here I get the idea that a lot of you are young, much younger than me and yet we are all in the grip of this drug. I started back in the 60s and have taken very few breaks. Tomorrow I will go back to school to finally finish college. I am secretly terrified that I will have significantly damaged my memory with my pot use. I have all those weird things, think too much, worry, life planned around the next bowl. I'm sick of being an idiot and a slave. Any cleansing herbs or calming things you all can advise? I wish you luck and peace.

[bud free]

i'm not that young. 50 last nov. and i'm into my 5th month quitting. i've had 2 hits on a pipe since dec. and its getting easier and i started 35 years ago! memory loss may be permanent but it is a price i paid. just keep trying! the 12 step thing did not work for me but you may want to give it a shot, since you get support and re-enforcement. good luck! forgive youself!

[erbalibera]

So Budfree, how did you finally quit and what were the first few days like? ( if I may ask ). I have actually taken a few weeks off in the past and found what led me back was boredom. But I think I am ready to get too busy to think about being bored, that may be my way out. Thanks for the message

[bud free]

well, the first month was hard as i was irritable and bitchy. it helped that i was having some health issues to distract me. i had to quit smoking cigarettes also as my blood pressure was soaring after a house robbery. pot was not relaxing anymore and i just stopped. after about a month i started dreaming again which i didn't realize i had stopped and that was been the most difficult thing to handle. emotionally it takes some getting used to how much anger i was stuffing down and the 12 step program i went to for a time helped with that but mostly i just stopped enjoying it. i didn't give up my smoking friends and when the smoke gets too thick in the air i just leave, they understand. not saying that on stressful days i don't want it but i just keep working at it.

[erbalibera]

So do you feel that it is essentially a matter of will power? That is, once decided there is no going back, etc. Any other advice? I believe I am addicted because I am easily bored and want to be entertained. I have seen others talk about boredom issues. Wish I could be more decisive...

[bud free]

i'm not so cut and dried about it. i give myself permission to have a toke and still continue to stop smoking. calling a matter of will means (to me at least) that sliding back on occasion is failure. give yourself a goal. 3 months and save the money you would spend on pot. then treat yourself to a present with the money! you'll be surprised how much you can save just this way. start a simple flower garden and tend it daily, getting on your hands and knees and watching the life on the ground can really help with boredom. just a suggestion. i've had 3 tokes in 5 months. i still fight the urge at times. it ain't easy but i'm still at it!

[erbalibera]

Thanks for the tip! That's what they tell you to do ( save $ and then treat yourself ) when you quit smoking cigarettes. I quit those about 5 1/2 years ago. The thing that helped me there was this statement:" the cravings will go away whether you smoke or not" so somehow that helped. I know that if I could get back to that mind frame I could probably quit. Your advice about having a goal of time seems good too. I think I will try starting with a week. Thanks again for your responses! You have been an inspiration so far...