[RockyRoad007]

Hi,
I am a heavy (daily) user of marijuana. I am also bipolar. The two don't mix well.

I haven't indulged in two days now and have my fingers crossed that I can stay away from the stuff. I have a love hate relationship with it.

[MrsA]

I didn't know it was addictive. I haven't tried it, but sometimes I wonder if it would work for my anxiety and stress.

[bizi]

I hear that CBD is good for anxiety.
bizi

[splitimage]

RockyRoad, Just want to offer my support. It's not a substance I've ever used but I'm a heavy duty alcoholic so I know how hard quitting something can be. Just take it a day at a time. You can do it.
splitimage

[RockyRoad007]

Thank you for the replies and support. It means a lot.
Today is the 6th day free of mj.

Technically, it is not physically addicting, but the pull to get stoned is very very strong for me. I believe it is considered psychologically addicting.

I have also battled alcoholism, but haven't drank in 25 years now.

I was isolating myself, because getting stoned took precedence over everything else in my life.

Unfortunately, I am now having trouble sleeping. Slept like a baby when I went to bed stoned. Finally fell asleep at 6:00am this morning. Was awake all last night.

Went to the health food store to see what they had for a natural solution for sleeping. Picked something up. Will see how it works tonight.

I do have ativan and ambien, but due to my history of abuse, am reluctant to rely on them too much.

[Misterpain]

Originally Posted by RockyRoad007

Thank you for the replies and support. It means a lot.
Today is the 6th day free of mj.

Technically, it is not physically addicting, but the pull to get stoned is very very strong for me. I believe it is considered psychologically addicting.

I have also battled alcoholism, but haven't drank in 25 years now.

I was isolating myself, because getting stoned took precedence over everything else in my life.

Unfortunately, I am now having trouble sleeping. Slept like a baby when I went to bed stoned. Finally fell asleep at 6:00am this morning. Was awake all last night.

Went to the health food store to see what they had for a natural solution for sleeping. Picked something up. Will see how it works tonight.

I do have ativan and ambien, but due to my history of abuse, am reluctant to rely on them too much.

Try a low dose of Melatonin ,Melatonin can be helpfull but beware moderation is key ,in small amounts it helps sleep in large amounts it will destroy your sleep ,the last insomnia drug that came out is a synthetic hyped up version of Melatonin.

[RockyRoad007]

I took melatonin for probably ten years. Worked like a charm until it didn't. Now when I take my usual 3 mg I get the jitters, anxiety, and do anything but sleep. Don't know what made that switch, but I do wish it still worked for me!

[bizi]

I take 2 different kinds of melatonin.
20mg of delayed/long acting and 3 mg of fast/short acting.
Along with ear plugs and 100mg of atarax or visteri....prescription dose of anti histamine.
sleep is so precious.
bizi

[simplex]

Good for you on stopping if you identified it as a problem. I had gotten into a pattern of daily use with it myself and decided that it had become too much of my life a few days ago. My wife was a daily smoker and I got into the habbit with her. But we too isolate ourselves too much like you said, and I believe I was getting a building resentment about it. I have a history of alcohol abuse but haven't had a drink in almost 5 years this May. Think I was justifying my Cannabis use because there were no negative consequences (though I would argue it makes us lethargic long-term, and can be psychologically addictive as an escape and unhealthy coping mechanism) and I wasn't boozing.

Like you have sleep issues at the moment but it's only been 3 days. I already see improvement. I take two 5 MG melatonin gummies. I've also started Chantix to quit smoking cigarettes so not sure if that's impacting things. I would be careful of the Ativan and Ambian. I don't have direct experience with them but have known people that started off fine and got to a place of abuse with them. But again, congrats. I hope you keep posting updates about your progress with it and good luck to you!

[simplex]

@ Bizi that sounds smart! I didn't know they had extended release.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by simplex

Good for you on stopping if you identified it as a problem. I had gotten into a pattern of daily use with it myself and decided that it had become too much of my life a few days ago. My wife was a daily smoker and I got into the habbit with her. But we too isolate ourselves too much like you said, and I believe I was getting a building resentment about it. I have a history of alcohol abuse but haven't had a drink in almost 5 years this May. Think I was justifying my Cannabis use because there were no negative consequences (though I would argue it makes us lethargic long-term, and can be psychologically addictive as an escape and unhealthy coping mechanism) and I wasn't boozing.

Like you have sleep issues at the moment but it's only been 3 days. I already see improvement. I take two 5 MG melatonin gummies. I've also started Chantix to quit smoking cigarettes so not sure if that's impacting things. I would be careful of the Ativan and Ambian. I don't have direct experience with them but have known people that started off fine and got to a place of abuse with them. But again, congrats. I hope you keep posting updates about your progress with it and good luck to you!

Good for you. Chantix can be a miracle drug, if you can tolerate it. Have several friends who got off nicotine successfully with it.

Ambien is a potentially extremely dangerous drug in my opinion. People can become totally disinhibited on it, in that particular sense, a bit like being manic. People also can sleep walk, sleep travel, sleep drive, and what I did that ultimately made me quit it--sleep cooking. Potentially, super dangerous.

[RockyRoad007]

Hi Simplex,

I wish you all the best on quitting cigarettes. I quit about 20 years ago, and it was one of the hardest things I ever did. Used the nicotine patch, gum, and whatever I could find at the health food store. I started smoking at 13, so it was very ingrained into me by the time I quit at 40 years old. I have done a lot of damage to my lungs due to starting so young.

I am now 10 days free of imbibing in mj and feel pretty darn good. I'm beginning to wonder if my bipolar meds are actually able to do what they are meant to do without the interference of being stoned all the time.

[bizi]

Originally Posted by RockyRoad007

Hi Simplex,

I wish you all the best on quitting cigarettes. I quit about 20 years ago, and it was one of the hardest things I ever did. Used the nicotine patch, gum, and whatever I could find at the health food store. I started smoking at 13, so it was very ingrained into me by the time I quit at 40 years old. I have done a lot of damage to my lungs due to starting so young.

I am now 10 days free of imbibing in mj and feel pretty darn good. I'm beginning to wonder if my bipolar meds are actually able to do what they are meant to do without the interference of being stoned all the time.

Day at a time....that is all we can do.
bizi

[Hobbit House]

RockyRoad, I smoked chronically since middle school. Until about 10 years I smoked every night and managed to go to work every day. Marijuana ruled my life. At first it was a way to self medicate, then after I was finally diagnosed it was habit.
Marijuana is indeed habit forming and psychologically addictive, but not physically addictive. The first week you are off it is the worst. After that is easier but the first week sucks.
I smoked a bit over (30) thirty years. The best of luck to you.

[Misterpain]

Chantix is just a repackaged antidepressant called bullion or it's trade name is Wellbutrin some people can take it and some people are certifiable beyond anxiety to agitation from the stuff .i have seen people hospitalized until that stuff gets out of there system .

[simplex]

I tried Wellbutrin before for cigs and was able to cut down from a pack a day to half pack, and then got down to about 5 per day which for me was amazing. But wasn't fully ready. Currently at 2 weeks with Chantix and nothing else. Down to 7 avg. per day Do feel some agitation, but I have attributed that to changing my addiction with nicotine mostly. It takes the craving away but I still have the behavioral habits, and associations with like driving, and time of day, thing to do for boredom etc. It's very difficult. I'll smoke now and don't get that satisfaction feeling. But still doing it. I have a quit date set. I think I'm close to kicking it.

[mary2020]

I don't smoke (cigs, tho!). Tried it in my 20s but it never 'took'. Alcohol took tho and still does. I did a fair bit of research on the CBD oil and am glad I never smoked and wouldn't touch CBD oil with a ten foot pole. If you consider what a miracle prescription CBD oil it is for people with serious physical illnesses, what does unregulated CBD oil do to someone without a serious illness? A local student recently accidentally ODd on CBD oil purchased online and really almost didn't survive. Turned out to be basically 'bath-tub' CBD oil. I suspect that smoking marijuana is much, much safer than taking unregulated CBD oil. However, watch me eat my words, if it's PROVEN to be a safe sleep aid!!

[GearZero57]

Hey try seeing if the weed doesn't heighten bipolar symptoms. Withdrawal tends to both think you need, and also struggles bearing with existing problems. It best to not drink if your thinking of it as a substitute. Pick up a new hobby and exercise.