Just me, or can weed really ruin your life?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 306
Originally Posted by FT 
Okay, I see this thread going south as nobody seems to be able to stay on point about how the OP's life was ruined by pot, and no it isn't just him.
I was hoping to see more posts about "life after weed," how did recovery go, how long did it take to start feeling normal again (if ever); in other words, not whether weed should be legal or not, but HOW TO QUIT. And, what then?
My loved-one's symptoms since quitting weed have been extreme worry, fear of something bad happening, inability to see future happiness for himself, weight gain and GI distress, and extreme sadness to the point of sobbing for hours. In addition, extreme isolation due to the above. Yet he functions at work, so he has not become unable to care for himself.
This is all very distressing to him, as he thought the isolation surrounding weed would lift, and the apathy he felt while on weed would give way to more motivation. However, he has only been quit for three months, maybe a little longer, with one slip-up (which involved a few days of smoking, but he's quit again).
Dee, thank you for that link. It was useful. Yes, I have access to medical journals, but few of the studies deal with long term recovery, if any. I feel like we are a study in process. That's why I started reading here, to get real life weed recovery stories. Just like I did with opiate recovery.
I did find an article in Psychology today that described my loved-one's recovery symptoms EXACTLY, right down to the sobbing for hours, every day, and extreme depression. It just did not delve into how long it would last, just saying it could take "a long time" to get over that.
I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings about their posts, but please can we stick to weed recovery here and forget the legality stuff for just a minute?
Thanks everyone for their input. As usual, I imagine there are a lot of people reading who never post, who might really benefit from this discussion.
I was hoping to see more posts about "life after weed," how did recovery go, how long did it take to start feeling normal again (if ever); in other words, not whether weed should be legal or not, but HOW TO QUIT. And, what then?
My loved-one's symptoms since quitting weed have been extreme worry, fear of something bad happening, inability to see future happiness for himself, weight gain and GI distress, and extreme sadness to the point of sobbing for hours. In addition, extreme isolation due to the above. Yet he functions at work, so he has not become unable to care for himself.
This is all very distressing to him, as he thought the isolation surrounding weed would lift, and the apathy he felt while on weed would give way to more motivation. However, he has only been quit for three months, maybe a little longer, with one slip-up (which involved a few days of smoking, but he's quit again).
Dee, thank you for that link. It was useful. Yes, I have access to medical journals, but few of the studies deal with long term recovery, if any. I feel like we are a study in process. That's why I started reading here, to get real life weed recovery stories. Just like I did with opiate recovery.
I did find an article in Psychology today that described my loved-one's recovery symptoms EXACTLY, right down to the sobbing for hours, every day, and extreme depression. It just did not delve into how long it would last, just saying it could take "a long time" to get over that.
I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings about their posts, but please can we stick to weed recovery here and forget the legality stuff for just a minute?
Thanks everyone for their input. As usual, I imagine there are a lot of people reading who never post, who might really benefit from this discussion.
Everything you describe is completely normal for your loved one. This book may provide some comfort to him/her by helping them understand what has happened to their brain and that it will take time to heal.
Cannabis is not necessarily an easy natural substance and it certainly is not interpreted as such by the brain. The withdrawal from cannabis MAY be much more difficult as it takes longer and can be more profound than alcohol. This depends on level and frequency of use, potency of product and individual response.
Speaking for myself, I smoked regularly from the age of 23. High potency product and often. Supply never an issue and quality never an issue. I never really enjoyed getting high by itself (tried the marijuana maintenance plan and it was a dismal failure) so alcohol was really my DOC. Smoked right up until I quit drinking.....at the end I was smoking daily and had been for years.
I didn't feel much immediate withdrawal from quitting cannabis. I was too busy dealing with the withdrawal symptoms from the alcohol. However, I believe that some of the lingering problems I am having may be tied to cannabis withdrawal. (In addition to the obvious brain changes that occur with marijuana abuse.)
The withdrawal from marijuana often takes longer because the drug is stored in the subcutaneous tissues of the body. Depending on the potency, frequency of use, percentage of body fat, etc often it will take 30-60 days for the last of the drug to be eliminated from the system. So the withdrawal doesn't even start until then. At 90 days out your loved one is smack in the middle of it.
It seems as though your loved one may be one of the unlucky ones. I hope he/she is getting the treatment they need for the depression?
Best Wishes
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,677
[QUOTE=Sasha4;4824962] Okay. I'm done. Not my thread. Goodbye.
Originally Posted by FT
Okay, I see this thread going south as nobody seems to be able to stay on point about how the OP's life was ruined by pot, and no it isn't just him.
I was hoping to see more posts about "life after weed," how did recovery go, how long did it take to start feeling normal again (if ever); in other words, not whether weed should be legal or not, but HOW TO QUIT. And, what then?
Excuse me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How rude of you!
I am stunned.
Where did you get that attitude from?
The patients I see are all post weed. People have posted good and bad from their real life experiences.
Sorry I and others cannot sugar coat it for you.
You sound incredibly bossy.
I hope this is not how you treat your 'loved one'.
In terms of how to quit, why not show your loved one the section on recovery methods and you perhaps look over how involved you need to get. I am presuming the loved one is an adult?
I am incredibly offended that you seem to see fit to come here and dish out insults left, right and centre.
I was hoping to see more posts about "life after weed," how did recovery go, how long did it take to start feeling normal again (if ever); in other words, not whether weed should be legal or not, but HOW TO QUIT. And, what then?
Excuse me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How rude of you!
I am stunned.
Where did you get that attitude from?
The patients I see are all post weed. People have posted good and bad from their real life experiences.
Sorry I and others cannot sugar coat it for you.
You sound incredibly bossy.
I hope this is not how you treat your 'loved one'.
In terms of how to quit, why not show your loved one the section on recovery methods and you perhaps look over how involved you need to get. I am presuming the loved one is an adult?
I am incredibly offended that you seem to see fit to come here and dish out insults left, right and centre.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
Originally Posted by Raider
My point was not to defend my weed smoking, but to illustrate it is not all that different from alcohol. Some are normies, some are not.
I would then hazard a guess anyone coming here asking or concerned about their weed smoking is probably already over the threshold of "normie" also!!
Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 88
No, to say that marijuana is a dangerous drug is not crazy. Many people have "mellowed out" toward marijuana use and do not think it as bad as alcohol is. It is a schedule I drug according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
I had problems with marijuana soon after I started smoking it when I was in high school. My commitment to schoolwork diminished, my grades fell, I lost friends, I slept more, I had concentration problems, and was caught and ended up in drug rehabilitation. I recovered from it only to go back to it a year and a half later. After then, it gave me the same problems as before, but that time around, things were even worse. I was able to quit on my own once I noticed I was having problems again because of the marijuana.
I may have been addicted to it when I was on it, or it may have just been a social thing for me. Either way, using marijuana set me back in life and I thank God that I was able to quit.
I had problems with marijuana soon after I started smoking it when I was in high school. My commitment to schoolwork diminished, my grades fell, I lost friends, I slept more, I had concentration problems, and was caught and ended up in drug rehabilitation. I recovered from it only to go back to it a year and a half later. After then, it gave me the same problems as before, but that time around, things were even worse. I was able to quit on my own once I noticed I was having problems again because of the marijuana.
I may have been addicted to it when I was on it, or it may have just been a social thing for me. Either way, using marijuana set me back in life and I thank God that I was able to quit.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 109
Pot varies from person to person. For some it's a help,.for some it's a take it or leave it thing-for others it can ruin their life. I have one friend who cannot let her brother know where she lives because her brother steals from her for pot. He's the only person I've ever known to have this serious a compulsion for weed-but I'm sure he's not the only one out there who just needs to stay away from the stuff!
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