I’m new here… and I normally don’t post anything (more of a spectator), but I thought I’d give it a try. Today I decided to stop smoking marijuana… after 2 years of convincing myself that it wasn’t “that bad”, I reflected and realized that my life has gone down hill since I started smoking. Lack of energy, problems at work, loss of appetite (when not high), loss of interest in simple pleasures, etc. I’ve lost so much over the last couple of years and it has ruined my self confidence. I feel guilt and shame daily for how this has impacted my family. I wanted to blame my downward spiral on any and everything else, except for my addiction. Don’t get me wrong, my life has been very stressful… but being high to mask the pain has done nothing but worsen the blow. I love seeing how everyone supports each other on this platform and it’s very encouraging… 1 day down, another on its way!
@TaylorMychelle congrats on getting real with yourself and i’m with you - just now starting to get sober off weed too after like 15 years of smoking. i just wanna know who i am and how my mind actually is. i wanna be clear and lucid not wonky and anxious. i bet this is gonna feel amazing for us even if it’s tough to turn down sometimes, it’ll be worth it.
Proud of you! I’m a few years in to that journey and man it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I had no idea how much it clouded everything and really held me back. Glad you’re here.
@JuliaLuna Thank you! It’s good to hear that you are making that change. It will be an exciting journey getting to know yourself again. To be honest, I missed who I was before I started smoking. The smallest things made me happy and that slowly started to die. I’m currently on a antidepressant, and I think that it’s helping with my withdrawals because as of right now, I feel great. Everytime I want to smoke again, I think about how anxious and depressed it made me and that alone keeps me from acting. It’s only day 2 but fingers crossed!
@MandiH thanks for your kind words❤️ 2 years! Im very proud of you. I’m sure that it was a journey. What kept you grounded and motivated to stay sober? It definitely clouds our judgement and personally, I felt pretty drained after the initial high wore off.
Congratulations! I used to smoke weed (mostly hash or my own plants ) allday long, plus alcohol when it wasn’t enough.
You’ve made the best choice. Not the easiest right now, but in the end it’s really the easiest choice. No more addiction behaviour, no more worries about having drugs in order to think and function, no more paranoia, panic attacks when you don’t have drugs, energy, better relationships, memories (I forgot years of my life), health etc
But it’s hard in the beginning. Stay focus on your goals, know that those overwhelming feelings are normal, emotions are back on track and you got to deal with them. I wish you strength. Oh, and come here when it’s too hard, share, talk, read, whatever
I started observing and being curious. When I noticed the same things as you did-lack of energy, loss of intetest, loss of appetite unless I smoked, being in this cloud of smoke and unable to remember things, isolating myself, feeling just totally out of alignment with myself when I smoked and totally losing that inner fire-I was like this clearly isn’t benefitting me. My lungs hurt, I hated smelling like smoke, having my son see it, and even the fact that it made the things in life I detested bearable-which always lead me to accepting things I never should have in my life from myself and others.
That was pretty good motivation! When I said goodbye, I really said goodbye. I got rid of everything. I envisioned myself as a non-smoker. I began doing breathing exercises and meditation instead of lighting up. I found a healthier way to live and I’m MUCH happier. You can see that spark in my eyes again instead of that clouded over haze I had when I smoked and I am SO grateful.
@Pat_m Thanks! The last 2 years of my life a kind of a blur too! Initially I would just smoke every other night, then it became every night… soon enough it was throughout the day. I knew it was becoming a problem but I no longer knew how to handle my problems without it. I think this platform is going to make it easier in those moments. Very grateful for you all!
@MandiH it’s very inspirational to hear you story! I too felt extreme guilt when I was around my kids after smoking. The thought of being a bad influence really made me feel guilty, especially when it came to my eldest, he is a middle schooler and he knows what weed is! I know what you mean by feeling out of alignment with yourself… I often felt anxious right after smoking and would have racing thoughts. That alone should have been a sign lol.
It takes what it takes! When you see it and you’re ready, you can change everything. For me, showing my son what real recovery looks like is something I’m grateful for. I wasn’t a perfect mom and I wish he hadn’t seen me in my addictions as much as he did-but he gets to also see what recovery looks like and I’m really grateful for that.
@MandiH you’re right, it’s never to late to change it. I sometimes struggle with forgiveness and often associate my behaviors with my core beliefs (that’s another story lol). I’m on day 4 and I’m starting to notice that I’m a little more irritable than normal. Everything my partner does drives me CRAZY! I’m wondering if it’s been this way and the weed just suppressed it or if it’s just withdrawals. I’ve been very fatigued as well. Daily naps are a must! Either way, the withdrawals are not bad enough to where I’m considering smoking again, so that is a blessing❤️
That’s totally normal, for sure! For me, it was how I coped with things in life so EVERYTHING drove me nuts for a bit. I found getting out in nature more, meditating, journaling and mindfully breathing more to be helpful. Sleep was really important too. If you find you sweat at night or have really lucid dreams know that’s normal too.
For me those exact things you mention around forgiveness I truly only ever found relief in by working a recovery program. It helped me soooo much to clear out my own clutter and find lasting relief in my life. Instead of trying to find it in a bottle or smoking it away, I let sooooo much go and continue to do so to this day. Some days are hard but I’ve got different, healthier & more useful tools in my toolbox now.
You are really doing great! 4 days is pretty incredible! Keep it up and keep doing whatever it takes to end each day sober. You’re worth it and you CAN do this!
You have made a very good decision. Despite the changes in social attitudes towards marijuana over the last generation it is still an addictive drug with both short and long term side effects. The changes in attitudes towards it have given people a false narrative about what science has always revealed it to be. This also gives rise to people who smoke pot all the time parading themselves around as ‘sober’. We are all worth more than being potheads…
I just hit 1y today & this is the longest ever I have ever gone. I am still having cravings, triggers, finding myself getting more frustrated , really wanting too speak what’s ON my mind, BUT with the therapy I am going through (EMDR) and deciding to go back too get a therapist for my drug addiction and groups I am using my safe place A LOT more, also learning too step back and look at the entire situation and if I am wrong I will go back and admit it and make it right. Working on getting a better morning routine along with more exercise routine too.
Is there any advice anyone can give me with having one year into recovery.
Congratulations on your one year !
It’s a lot. I don’t have any specific advice for your recovery, sounds like you got it ! I guess that one day the cravings will fade away. I had cravings for a long time, the smell of weed was the worst. Now I kind of like it, or just don’t really care. I remember spending a week in NYC two years ago, that smell was everywhere, it was crazy. I just dealt with it.
I wish you strength on your way to your second year !
Alcohol was my worst enemy, my mister Hyde. I dont have cravings at all after more than two years of sobriety. As I am the son and brother of winemakers, alcohol is everywhere in my family: I simply don’t care at all !
Lots of wisdom here. Explore the threads and you’ll find lots of wise words (and funny ones too). Welcome to Talking Sober! 
) allday long, plus alcohol when it wasn’t enough.
, really wanting too speak 
what’s ON my mind, BUT with the therapy I am going through (EMDR) and deciding to go back too get a therapist for my drug addiction and groups I am using my safe place A LOT more, also learning too step back and look at the entire situation and if I am wrong I will go back and admit it and make it right. Working on getting a better morning routine along with more exercise routine too.