[ZeroSymbion]

My contact went legit recently which killed my access to the drug. I've been psychologically dependent for a long time and had been self medicating with it to ease my anxiety, depression, and to regain an appetite that suffers when I'm stressed/extremely anxious. I feel like this has happened at the worst possible time with my disability review court date approaching and discovering that I have gallstones that while not immediately a problem will eventually need to be removed.

I'm not sure how to deal with this. My mind wants me to find a new contact but logic tells me I need to lay off. I feel so lost. I'm really struggling with wrapping my mind around everything that's going on. I need ideas on how to get my mind OFF the idea that I "need" weed because the "need" only adds on to my stress which at this point is absolutely massive. Anyone got some ideas? :/

[Travelinglady]

Is weed a psychological addiction only? Can you think of some behaviors that are sort of like it? (I don't know about smoking regular cigarettes. Does that pretend cigarette that creates fake smoke work?)

I know this sounds child-like, but maybe suckers--or hard candy-- or gum.

I hope this info helps a bit. Maybe somebody will post later who knows more about it.

[Sivol]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Is weed a psychological addiction only? Can you think of some behaviors that are sort of like it? (I don't know about smoking regular cigarettes. Does that pretend cigarette that creates fake smoke work?)

I know this sounds child-like, but maybe suckers--or hard candy-- or gum.

I hope this info helps a bit. Maybe somebody will post later who knows more about it.

Weed is a purely psychological addiction. There are no physical withdrawals from it, no physical dependency, and absolutely no legitimate research to indicate that marijuana has any kind of physically addictive properties. That being said, it is definitely psychologically addictive and it is completely possible to become dependent on it mentally and emotionally.

[thickntired]

The problem that most miss us how dang STRONG the weed of today has become - pharmaceutical with very high thc counts. It was easier for me to get off cigs & alcohol combined than pot.

I've smoked it for 20 yrs and today what they sell blows away smoke from 1970's-90's. I do believe it was physically addictive for me bc I had insomnia for 3 weeks. The psych addiction took a minimum of 30 days to overcome. It stays in your system for around 6-8 weeks.

I had to lose friends & contacts, join AA, get a sponsor - the whole deal.

People who have not smoked recently have no idea how strong it is and therefore very, very hard to quit. I've got 30 days clean and it was very difficult but not impossible!!

PM me anytime, and google marijuana addiction for more Information.
I will add that the fog is lifting, my meds work much better, and my overall quality of life improved.

Peace & Hugs,

TnT

[Alter Ego]

Originally Posted by ZeroSymbion

My contact went legit recently which killed my access to the drug. I've been psychologically dependent for a long time and had been self medicating with it to ease my anxiety, depression, and to regain an appetite that suffers when I'm stressed/extremely anxious. I feel like this has happened at the worst possible time with my disability review court date approaching and discovering that I have gallstones that while not immediately a problem will eventually need to be removed.

I'm not sure how to deal with this. My mind wants me to find a new contact but logic tells me I need to lay off. I feel so lost. I'm really struggling with wrapping my mind around everything that's going on.

I've been smoking the last, almost, 4 years of my life. The last 8 months daily. Yesterday i smoked my the last joint with the guy's and am going cold turkey as they say. I'm not giving up on pot but i just don't have the cash for it anymore really. It is the only thing that helped me go through a lot of stuff up untill now.

I need ideas on how to get my mind OFF the idea that I "need" weed because the "need" only adds on to my stress which at this point is absolutely massive. Anyone got some ideas? :/

I've seen guys shake by the evening if they didn't smoke a joint even if they did it just the night before. Its all psychological. My advice to you would be to try and find other ways of easing your anxiety and deppression if you made the decision to quit pot. Perhaps trying a session with a therapist ?

To me it was always more about the people and the different situations that would originate then about weed itself. Myself i read, watch tons of tv-series, chain smoke (even though that stopped a while ago too, due to lack of money) and try to be around at least several people at least a couple of times a day. The more time you spend alone thinking about it (or more precisely breaking your head and heart over it ) the harder it will be letting go.
Now i don't know what your surroundings are like, but over here everyone i know is a user so perhaps my perception differs yours as i don't have that much trouble getting a good night spliff. Perhaps it would be positive for you to stop smoking for a period of time if you are becoming, or have become so dependent on it. You just have to find something to concentrate your mind on..

[Alter Ego]

Originally Posted by ZeroSymbion

My contact went legit recently which killed my access to the drug. I've been psychologically dependent for a long time and had been self medicating with it to ease my anxiety, depression, and to regain an appetite that suffers when I'm stressed/extremely anxious. I feel like this has happened at the worst possible time with my disability review court date approaching and discovering that I have gallstones that while not immediately a problem will eventually need to be removed.

I've been smoking marijuana for 4 years now, the last 8 months daily. A couple of days ago for financial reasons i went cold turkey so to speak even though marijuana was the only substance that helped me get through a lot of bad things.
If you have become so psyhcologically dependent on it i would suggest you take a little time off to cool down. I've ben around pot since early childhood and i have seen friends shaking because they didn't smoke a spliff even though they had 3-4-5 the night before. Heck even in the morning. For me personally it was never about weed itself it was more about the people and the situations that would evolve after and even during smoking.

I know it is impossible to substitute the feeling with anything else however you need to convince yourself that you can live to fight another day even without the green ballistic missile mate.

I'm not sure how to deal with this. My mind wants me to find a new contact but logic tells me I need to lay off. I feel so lost. I'm really struggling with wrapping my mind around everything that's going on. I need ideas on how to get my mind OFF the idea that I "need" weed because the "need" only adds on to my stress which at this point is absolutely massive. Anyone got some ideas? :/

My recipe is simple: coffee, chain smoking and seeing someone at least once a day helps..a lot, company always helps.
I also do a fair bit of reading or wathcing movies, tv-series even gaming.
Find something that you like to do that will occupy your mind and prevent from thinking about rolling a joint.

If all else fails go out and run or work out until you are too tired to think about it and sleep takes care of the rest.

Keep us posted how you are doing mate and hang in there !

[madisgram]

I feel so lost.

in many ways you have the same feelings i did before i got clean and sober. i'd recommend AA or NA for help and support. ppl there have learned how to stay clean and they'll tell you how they did so. also there will be ppl like you seeking support there. it is a far better life than self medicating. i had panic attacks, etc.beore and when i stopped those symptoms dissapeared. addiction dictates how we live and tricks us that it is the better solution. NOT. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publication...uana-addictive
i'm so glad you posted and realize making a new contact is not the answer. and post here as often as you want to. we understand your struggle and can offer you support.
you've realized you have a problem and that is the first step to recovery.

Drinking coffee and chain smoking aren't solutions that are healthy. Chain smoking
can cause cancer and drinking coffee that has caffeine in it has been known to affect the frontal lobes of the brain, damaging them, and mimicing the effects of
bipolar illness for some who are addicted to caffeine and are sensitive to it.

ThicknTired has been through recovery and she has the right knowledge to help you if you will give her a chance.

Marijuana that causes people to be psychologically or chemically dependent on it
is a form of addiction. When you see someone shaking because he/she hasn't had the usual "weed" for the day, you can be sure that's an addiction of one type--chemical, to be exact.

When you use a substance and feel fine with it, then stop it and have bad reactions
only to be satisfied when taking more of the same substance, that's addiction in the view of doctors.

Don't kid yourself. An Attorney General's Report hasn't been published on marijuana to my knowledge, but it was known years ago that it is a drug that can lead to hard drug use. It was also suspected years ago that it might cause alteration of DNA.
The fact that it makes one shake after being abstinent for a short while is evidence
enough to let it go but good.

Please talk to Thickntired about this. She has communicated with me regarding her efforts and she did it successfully. You can, too, if you want to be strong about taking care of yourself well for the long run. Madisgram is giving you good advice, too.

Get the help you need to overcome something that has yet to be identified as a fully safe substance. You can believe that there will be eventaully a report of some type that identifies the harm of addictive use of marijuana.

[Alter Ego]

Originally Posted by genetic

Drinking coffee and chain smoking aren't solutions that are healthy. Chain smoking
can cause cancer and drinking coffee that has caffeine in it has been known to affect the frontal lobes of the brain, damaging them, and mimicing the effects of
bipolar illness for some who are addicted to caffeine and are sensitive to it.

I am aware of these facts. For me not smoking marijuana isn't a problem my addictions are as you have pointed out of another nature. Taking it a step at a time though.

ThicknTired has been through recovery and she has the right knowledge to help you if you will give her a chance.

Marijuana that causes people to be psychologically or chemically dependent on it
is a form of addiction. When you see someone shaking because he/she hasn't had the usual "weed" for the day, you can be sure that's an addiction of one type--chemical, to be exact.

When you use a substance and feel fine with it, then stop it and have bad reactions
only to be satisfied when taking more of the same substance, that's addiction in the view of doctors.

Don't kid yourself. An Attorney General's Report hasn't been published on marijuana to my knowledge, but it was known years ago that it is a drug that can lead to hard drug use. It was also suspected years ago that it might cause alteration of DNA.
The fact that it makes one shake after being abstinent for a short while is evidence
enough to let it go but good.

Please talk to Thickntired about this. She has communicated with me regarding her efforts and she did it successfully. You can, too, if you want to be strong about taking care of yourself well for the long run. Madisgram Gram is giving you good advice, too.

Get the help you need to overcome something that has yet to be identified as a fully safe substance. You can believe that there will be eventaully a report of some type that identifies the harm of addictive use of marijuana.

Spot on !

[thickntired]

Hey AE,

How are you doing?

[Alter Ego]

Originally Posted by thickntired

Hey AE,

How are you doing?

Quite irritated. I burst at the smallest trivial alterations in my enviroment, even if its just the sun coming out of the clouds. Between these brunts i'm quite abstracted most of the time.

Not sleeping much either.

[thickntired]

Yes, AE.

I couldn't sleep for what I thought was going to be an eternity, and I had dreams of smoking. It gets better with time. This I will promise you! Irritation is very common, and I don't want to repeat prior posts, but if you could cut back a little on the cigs and drink herbal tea some in place of coffee it will help to calm rather than irritate.

All the AA mtgs I go to ppl drink gallons of coffee and chain smoke, but I
Didn't want to substitute weed for other addictive, harmful habits. When I was clean the first time I substituted with food & cigs, and became very unhappy & irritated. It ultimately led to my relapse.

The CDC tobacco free page was great inspiration and you can like them on Facebook for daily posts.

Congrats on kicking the weed. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done and I want this to be a permanent lifestyle change. Today, I'm trying to get healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Peace,

TnT

[Alter Ego]

Originally Posted by thickntired

Yes, AE.

I couldn't sleep for what I thought was going to be an eternity, and I had dreams of smoking. It gets better with time. This I will promise you! Irritation is very common, and I don't want to repeat prior posts, but if you could cut back a little on the cigs and drink herbal tea some in place of coffee it will help to calm rather than irritate.

All the AA mtgs I go to ppl drink gallons of coffee and chain smoke, but I
Didn't want to substitute weed for other addictive, harmful habits. When I was clean the first time I substituted with food & cigs, and became very unhappy & irritated. It ultimately led to my relapse.

Haven't smoked tobacco either for 4 days now, and haven't drank coffee for two weeks, only the occasional instant cappuccino
Heck this isn't the first time i've been withouth marijuana and i don't feel bad about it, at all..that's what scares me a little because i've been acting irrationaly and acrimoniously the entire past week and i can't put a finger on a single source.

The CDC tobacco free page was great inspiration and you can like them on Facebook for daily posts.

Congrats on kicking the weed. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done and I want this to be a permanent lifestyle change. Today, I'm trying to get healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Peace,

TnT

You already paved the way for others to follow! Good luck and godspeed

[roads]

(((((((( Alter Ego )))))))
my thoughts and best wishes go out to you
t'n't is so smart & experienced & generous
hang on to all who offer support
roadie