[Arcane's Box]

I finally have made an effort to quit smoking weed after 15 plus years. Tomorrow makes 2 weeks. However with my depression/anxiety, I'm having trouble coping. I feel I have no one to talk to, no one anymore... my grandmother, my rock, died 2 years ago and I have been on a downward spiral, even quitting my job, one I hated, mindyou, but it only made my situation worse. I plan to get back to work once I can pass a drug test, it's just getting there. After so many years smoking it'll likely take more than 30 days for me. I've gained weight, unhappy with my appearance. Shocked my husband hasn't left me yet. So here I am, reaching out. Can anyone help me?

[Moogieotter]

Hello,

Good for you for working on your addiction! For me years and even decades of drug abuse has taken more than a few weeks, months, or even years to recover from - it's really a lifelong process.

You have changed a major priority and pleasure/reward system in your life and depression and anxiety are very normal. If you need people to talk to, I suggest checking out an NA, AA, or specifically a Marijuana Anonymous group. The MA groups are harder to find, but they even have Skype meetings these days. You will find plenty of people to talk to who have been through or are going through the exact same set of challenges.

PM me if you need to. Educating yourself about recovery from addiction should go a long way.

Good luck,

moogs

[CosmicRose]

I smoked medical marijuana for 2 years every night and somehow (not sure how) I quit overnight. One night I just said I was done with it, not really even sure why. I think I ran out for a few days and couldn't afford another one, so that helped, but after a few days I was like whatever. Try to find a better way to spend your time doing something just as relaxing. Don't develop another habit by replacing one with another, but there are numerous things you can do to help you relax during those times you would have spent smoking. Taking a luxurious bath is just one that comes to mind right now. There are countless others. Finding new hobbies, healthier ones, is probably the best option. I'm not against marijuana but smoking anything isn't good for your lungs since they weren't designed for that. I know when I smoked I had a nasty cough. I remember seeing a bunch of leftover black reside that somehow got all over my table and it was so hard to remove that stuff that I had to throw out the entire table - and I couldn't help but think, if this stuff is extremely hard to get off my table, what the heck is it doing to the inside of my lungs?

[dvious00]

I have felt your pain, or at least some of it. I am currently like two and a half months without smoking the weed after using it pretty regularly for like 25 years. I too was sad and somewhat depressed at first. I have to say now it does get better. I would also say that I do still get urges sometimes but I just try to remind myself that we have to exchange bad habits for good ones. I wish you all the best.