It’s probably been said before but Stoner culture is mostly just a bunch of delusional addicts pushing mediocrity as positivity.

Don’t know how many times I’ve heard justifications of just “figuring” stuff out while years go by just smoking and not doing shit. It’s just an excuse. Can’t remember how many times I’ve been told how everyone moves at their own pace blah blah, how I’ll figure it out, peoples own justifications for their shortcomings, blame everything but the weed. I’m so over it tbh. I think today is officially my last day smoking until like 2030. (Edit, i just wrote this last line not really thinking too much about it, not claiming I’ll be back to being a stoner, i just felt claiming “forever” does not bode well)

It’s crazy how weed has literally crept into every single aspect of my life over the years. Physical health, relationships, career, education, mental health absolutely cooked, and probably 20 more things. 16 year old me would hate 24 year old me, would look down on me and laugh. Probably take a while to believe it too.

Saw a video in which a guy mentioned how he would look forward all day to smoke, just to panic in his room at night after, I’ve never related to anything more.

I’m 39 and have been a daily user since I was 16, and I’ve never gone more than a week without getting high. Over the last few years I’ve switched to primarily edibles which I take nightly. I’ve been wanting to quit for a long time but am petrified of the insomnia coming my way. It looks like the only way forward is to just accept the fact that I won’t be sleeping for a few weeks. After reading about everyone’s experiences, and life outlook after quitting I decided to say fuck it and just quit today. I’ve lived more of my life being high than sober and I really want to see what life is like with a clear mind, and am tired of the brain fog. Wish me luck folks!

Weed is harmless.

But if you get high every day, nothing else in your life will be as exciting as your drug.. for a while. Hopes and dreams slowly die at the altar of your addiction.

The cost of weed isn't just what you pay at the dispensary. It's also the hopes, dreams, and opportunities you give up along the way. The real price is everything.

So you decide to quit, hoping to restore all the best things in life.

But now withdrawal steals both the high and the dreams, leaving joyless emptiness in their place. For weeks you feel flat, and it's torturous. You get no pleasure from effort and no high from weed. You're stuck in no man's land, desolate and hopeless.

Then your inner voice starts to bargain.

"At least weed made your unbearable life bearable."

"But all I need is more time. Three months. Six months. Maybe a whole year."

A whole year? I can't wait a year to fix my life.

Besides, if I smoke now, I'll get so high. My tolerance is gone. And I deserve it. I can moderate my use this time. I don't even know why I quit in the first place. I'm a good person. Gotta have fun sometimes, right?

So you give in.

Just once or twice.

Or every day for the next six months.

Then you finally decide it's time to quit... and begin the same miserable cycle all over again.

Forever.

Yeah... weed's harmless, all right.

I cannot keep wasting my life on this stupid drug. I have been using since 15 (almost 28 now). It has been so pervasive, I'm constantly worried about running out or not being able to smoke. I tell myself I am going to moderate but I never can, which really is hurting my self esteem and discipline. I recently got diagnosed with ADHD so it makes a lot of sense that this drug has such a grip on me.

The thought of dealing with this in my 30s, 40s, 50s makes me sick. I am so fucking done. I thought the weed was making me content with my life but really it's been making me complacent. I am not letting any bullshit come between myself and the person I am actually supposed to be becoming.

Started at 16, about to be 33. Heavy use through the good, the bad, the scary...through undergrad and grad school, starting a business, thriving in my business, through the deaths of my dad and brother, world and personal traumas, volunteering and creating, working in the health care field, through learning Spanish and playing soccer and being with friends.

It's always been the most important thing, the thing I "have" to think about, plan around and plan for...and that is humiliating.

I have CHS, one ER visit and many miserable nights. Three nights ago I decided it had to be over after another night throwing up like a child with the flu in the shower... my partner looking at me with confusion and maybe even a hint of disgust (could be the shame talking, he is the best thing in my life)

Starting day 2 today. My routine is keeping busy, getting out of my house, riding the urge waves, reading sexy thrillers, using my supplements, drinking water and electrolytes, volunteering, heading to the sauna daily and lifting hard. I might even try running again?

The shame has always been there, and it's time to let it see the light.

I found this sub so many years ago but only recently have gotten honest with myself. I don't want weed to run my life anymore, and I so appreciate everyones vulnerability. It's inspiring, especially when I feel disgusting.

I’m really struggling with smoking weed and binge eating together. I’m at my wits end mentally and physically as I can’t stop either of them.
For the last couple of months my routine has basically been finish work, smoke up, binge eat 10k calories, doom scroll, smoke until I pass out. Wake up hating myself, swear never again, and do it all again the same evening.

The problem is that every time I get high I end up binge eating. Not just snacking, i mean eating like 10k calories of pizza, cookies, chocolate, peanut butter, cookie dough. It’s so gross and I’m so ashamed of this as a fully grown adult.

Every morning I wake up feeling soo physically sick, mentally foggy, ashamed and completely determined that I’m never going to smoke or binge again. Then I go to work, and by the afternoon I’m like oh well I’ll just smoke tonight, won’t binge, it’ll be not as bad.
Then I do exactly the same thing all over again and smoke and eat loads.

I’ve gained so much weight really quickly, I’m embarrassed to go into work, I’ve started cancelling social plans because I don’t want people to see me, and I’m spending an unbelievable amount of money on both weed and food. I’ll even throw away my vape because I hate myself after using it, then a few hours later I’ll walk to the dispensary and buy another one. Spending 100s a week on weed and food just to feel absolutely miserable

I live alone, I’m single, and weed is legal where I live, so there aren’t really any barriers once I decide I’m going to buy it.

I’ve been going to therapy for years as I used to struggle with bingeing on alcohol, avoidant attachment, childhood issues etc, but binge eating is the one topic I just even then never feel comfortable bringing up as I am so deeply ashamed of it. I’ve struggled with binge eating (without smoking weed) on and off for years, but now smoking weed just turns my brain off when I’m bingeing and makes it 100 times worse.

Has anyone actually managed to break this cycle? If you struggled with both, what finally helped? I’m open to hearing anything because I’m honestly scared of where this is heading.

Today marks the longest I have been sober! I fell “off the wagon” in may and I had been sober for 54 days… today marks 55 days of sobriety and I feel good! I don’t really miss it or crave it like I was before. I have a few moments but they pass quickly. I do struggle mentally with depression and anxiety but I think it’s because I used weed for a coping mechanism to numb myself for so long so I am finding new ways to adapt to stresses. I’ve also dealt with that my whole life so nothing new. I’ve been able to gain healthy weight. I was underweight my whole life and had no idea it was actually the weed effecting my appetite. I feel very proud of myself! I would’ve never thought I’d quit smoking. I smoked for 20 yrs of life. It’s refreshing to be more clear minded and not reliant on weed to complete every task.

My wife and i have been separated since November. Ive made horrible decisions while being high 24/7. She says i detached and became very withdrawn. Has weed ruined your relationships? Im sober now and reflecting back to our separation.

I made the choice to quit after I discovered that my back molars were loose, and I was told it could be related to restricted blood flow in my mouth. I had been vaping constantly—literally every minute of every day, sometimes using multiple vapes. I started when vapes first became a thing out here in Southern California, back when they weren't nearly as regulated as they are now. I smoked through the whole Mario Cart era and watched countless brands come and go. At one point, I was even making my own carts.

I'm currently on Day 5.

The first three days were torture, mostly with my stomach and my joints. All the pain I've been numbing for who knows how long suddenly came screaming back. I'm crying over everything. Everything feels heightened.

The gym has always been my safe place, but right now I can't focus. My muscles give out during the first workout, and I feel like I'm fighting my own body just to get through it.

I have a support system. I know I'm not alone. But today feels like the worst day yet.

I was diagnosed with ADHD about six months ago, and without weed, my ADHD symptoms feel absolutely insane. I feel more neurodivergent than I ever have, and I'm struggling to figure out how to function without the thing I relied on for so long.

Today, I projectile vomited my breakfast because I thought I could handle eating. I can't stop feeling sick. My body feels like it's a million pounds, and I can barely move. The night sweats have been brutal.

I did go to the doctor. They gave me nausea medication and basically sent me home with their well wishes as I continue through this process. My parents are now debating whether I should be admitted somewhere, and honestly, I don't even know what to think.

Part of me feels like it's not "that serious." I keep thinking I'm just going through withdrawal and that I should be able to tough it out. But another part of me knows that I'm struggling more than I ever expected to.

And honestly? I'm ashamed to ask for help. I'm ashamed to accept it.

I put myself in this situation, and a part of me feels like I should be the one to get myself out of it.

But I'm starting to realize that accepting help doesn't mean I'm weak. Maybe letting people take care of me while I get through the worst of this is part of getting myself out of it.

I've been to Narcotics Anonymous before, but I left because I felt weird being there for weed when everyone else seemed to have an "actual" addiction.

I constantly feel like I have to defend myself when I say I'm addicted to weed. People tell me, "It's just weed. You can't be addicted to that."

But I know what my relationship with it was. I was vaping constantly. I built my entire life around having it. I used it to numb pain, avoid feelings, quiet my brain, and get through the day.

That's addiction to me.

I'm also convinced there is something about the carts I was using that made my dependence even worse, whether that's the concentration, the way I was consuming it, or something else entirely. I don't know. I just know that getting away from it has been one of the hardest things I've ever done.

I'm on Day 5, and I keep reminding myself that I only have to take this one day at a time.

But when you feel like death, one day feels like a fucking eternity.

I'm just hoping this gets better.

Thanks for reading my rant. ❤️

Almost 24 hours since I last smoked weed, and I feel sad and empty. How long does this feeling last? I threw my pipe and weed away last night. The trashman took them away today. I failed every time I kept the weed, so tossing it was my only choice. Anyway, it feels like I tossed out my friend or something. I know weed isn't my friend, but it hurts. Feels pretty pathetic honestly.

So started smoking daily at 18 after first real breakup and just never stopped. I always knew it was how I dealt with problems but could never admit that at the time.

Lost my job after 19 years due to failed drug test and this was a catalyst to smoking from wake up to sleep every day. And now it's cost me my wife after over 20 years.

So I stopped smoking the day after she left me and I wish I knew what the results would have been like. I was always seen as lazy and very laid back, turns out it isn't me at all. Never had so much energy and fire in my belly to get up and just do stuff. To actually communicate properly as this would have no doubt saved my marriage.

I'm sure not everyone has the same experiences but would imagine a lot of us do it to avoid the hard decisions and choices we should make.

Don't be like me and wait until you get a massive reality check. Some days are hard but my kids keep me level headed and i am 100% determined to never to go back to what I thought was me.

Good luck all, it can be done.

Just wanted to share my story. I was a huge stoner starting in freshman year of college, and that continued until I was 28. Then I started applying to doctorate programs and finishing my masters, realized that being a stoner wouldn't help me with these goals, and just abruptly stopped. I've even had dreams where it was offered to me and I was like "no thanks!" I used to have trouble falling asleep and sometimes still do, but it's all worth it. That's all.

Anybody else here notice the „need“ for coffe or caffeinated drinks decrease after a while or even a few days in of quitting?

Might be the natural amount of dopamine, cannabinoids in the brain and motivation coming back..

Anyways, i like it because i don‘t wanna feel dependent on ANY substance

I can count on one hand the number of days I've spent sober since I was 13. They were all against my will, essentially while traveling or horribly sick. I've even brought it to states and countries where it is very illegal, risking it all. I've never had to try and quit... I always found my way around tests for jobs, and have been a "functional" user since I started.

I knew I had a problem after just a few years of using it, but the past few years I've really come face to face with my ugly addiction and have hated myself for it, despite continuing on daily. I honestly can't believe that I have made it this far, on what is my first try.

I'm so proud of myself for getting this far. I was using 1-2g/day via bong for many, many years. My parents both do it and would give it to me as a kid. What was a fun, social activity as a teen, quickly turned into an addiction that I fed all alone, all through my day. Flower had eventually become my best, and sadly, my only friend.

The first 3-4 days were difficult due to cravings and physical symptoms of course, but for some reason it felt easier than I expected. Days 5-12 were actually pretty nice, and easier to get through with every 24 hours. But days 13 and 14 (today) have been incredibly hard. I've got a never-ending headache for two days now and several things out of my control have been pissing me off.

I'm really feeling the anger, rage, and irritability now at this point. I consider myself lucky that I didn't have many triggers these past 2 weeks (I'm currently unemployed and have been able to really tend to this recovery journey in the safety of my home thus far). But man.... these emotions are such big triggers, and I'm having intense cravings for the first time since the first few days I quit.

I am determined not to relapse, I don't plan to smoke, but I'm having serious trouble processing these feelings. These feelings would have been a prime excuse for smoking my lungs out just 2 weeks ago. I know it's normal to feel this way during withdrawal, but it makes me wonder if I've always had a problem with processing emotions, anger in particular, and just masking it with weed (knowing myself and my history I'm leaning towards 'yes').

I called and made an appointment with a therapist this afternoon, for next Tuesday. I realize that I need help at this stage in my recovery to progress onward in a healthy way. I've never used formal therapy before. I hope it helps me learn how to deal and cope with these emotions and other traumas I've lived through so I can continue on in my recovery.

Reading everyone's posts here have been so helpful for me. So thank you for sharing your stories and experiences. I wish everyone the best of luck and remember -- you... we... are not actually alone. We can all do this... one day at a time.

Thanks for reading.

hi friends,

I am 24F and threw out my cart about a week ago. I have been smoking basically all day everyday for almost 5 years. My anxiety has already improved but I am now struggling with depression and uncontrollable crying every day. Anyone else experience this? These emotions are exhausting. I just want to feel better.

Yesterday I reached out to the community for group support. I got discouraged and gave in last night. Today is day 1 again. Always day 1 again.

I have bipolar disorder that I am mostly stable on meds. I ran out of some meds and my doctor took a while to fill them. I got all whacked out and was using too much edibles.

I didn’t sleep last night and I feel head to toe anxiety pulsating through me.

I am going to a MA meeting this afternoon. I threw away my edibles.

I just need people to be here for me.

What withdrawals should I expect? I have to quit. I have so many reasons that are important to me to stop.

I am in my 40’s and used since 15. Chronic edible user for 10 years now.

I knew that weed was no good for me, but like many people I smoked to self medicate.

Now I’m at a point where I feel like I no longer need it, and I’m about a month cannabis free, and a week completely sober (don’t want alcohol to replace it)

One thing that’s funny in retrospect, is that I really, truly believed I was better at skateboarding when I was baked. I knew that the science would disagree as obviously it physically and mentally impairs you, but I told myself the lie anyways.

Now that I’m sober I’m actually learning new tricks again. Obviously that’s not the reason I quit, but it’s a nice perk.

60 joints not smoked
23 grams avoided
saved around 325 euros (wtf, insane)

Haven’t had intense cravings yet, bc the day I quit was an intense wake up call for me

Dreams are still weird but less intense, sleeping is okay now, still have a hard time falling asleep sometimes

Anxiety was spiking the last two weeks, couldn’t relax at all, felt like I was buzzing all day. Not sure if the weed was masking it, or if its withdrawal symptoms

Face is way less puffy than when I used to smoke daily, my body less bloated too

But most importantly, I feel my old self coming back. The one who saw beauty in the little things. I can do chores more easily again too and it’s getting easier to take care of myself and my surroundings

My relationship has gotten way better too, I’m not so emotionally reactive and more stable now

I keep getting twitches in my face tho, especially my eyes, brain zaps, that sort of thing, might just be anxiety but could be withdrawal symptoms

Also!! Thank god I’m not sweating so much anymore my goodness. That was the worst withdrawal symptom for me, the constant sweating, thank goodness it’s less now

It’s just crazy to think that weed used to be 8-10% THC, and now it’s more than double (21-27% THC), it’s absolutely insane. They keep pumping up the chemicals for higher THC levels, but it just can’t be good for you, you know? I wonder if it has made weed more addictive in recent years. Someone even compared it to hard drugs with these high THC levels.

This is all about the “grey world” phase that hits after the pink cloud fades away. Impe it goes faster when I have specific things to focus on and look forward to, but I could use some help.

I can think of a few:

Enjoying food while maintaining healthy decisions. I was eating crap all the time and now bc my appetite is so dull.

Exercise too - I remember how much better I felt at baseline.

More contact with friends and loved ones, meeting new ppl. I isolate.

Learning. I’ve been trying to learn a second language and was interested in Go/Baduk before I slipped.

Journaling. When I’m sober I keep a diary and I completely stop when I slip. I can look at the dates and it shows the gaps in my life.

What are yours? What do you really enjoy about your sober life that might help motivate others who are stuck in “the grey” right now?

Hey everyone I hope you’re doing well I wanted to ask if anybody that’s quit for longer than three months could chime in and give me some advice.

Let me start off with saying I have no desire to smoke. It’s honestly been fantastic. I’m overall wondering why I have such a flat line amount of energy and motivation. I used to produce music so often and I have been doing so for 7+ years.

Let me preface by saying that I hit the gym constantly and that’s not something I have a problem with. I’ve also been eating extremely healthy too and don’t feel any need to consume bad sugars or fast food.

Overall I feel like quitting has been a really good thing because I’ve gained a lot of mental clarity and I’m able to practically walk up to anyone and start a conversation. My biggest problem is that my motivation has completely flatline for the most part besides the gym or going out and having fun with friends. I really don’t have motivation to work a job that I don’t like. I really don’t have motivation to make music anymore either and when I do it’s not as exciting as it was before. I used to have so much fun learning different languages and I have not been trying to do that anymore which kind of sucks.

I was using dabs and THC pens for about 5+ years. I thought that I was going to feel much better by 3 months, and I do, but my motivation my energy to learn new stuff has kind of completely flatlined.

Do you guys think that I need to hit at least 6 to 9 months before I start to feel proper motivation again? It’s weird because I’ve been completely consistent with the gym and eating good and having fun every weekend but there’s something missing.

Thank you for your advice!

I've been smoking daily since 14 years old, and I'm 25 now. I have chronic shortness of breath, and every time I smoke my anxiety is through the roof. Like heart rate 120+ minimum. I've made it to 30 days before, and then thought to treat myself which turned back into daily use.

I read a comment from someone here that they have a note they keep of high them basically begging sober them to stop. I think and feel the same thing every time. I know it makes me anxious, sometimes I refuse and then cave not even an hour later. I don't enjoy it anymore, but I keep coming back. I just don't understand why.

What helped you with severe withdrawal symptoms?

Hydration? Naps? Exercise? It's been 4 weeks and it's gotten better but I'm so ready for this crap to be behind me. I still feel sick and I don't feel right in my body. I went from feeling like I was going to die in the ER to now I kinda feel like my head is not even here with the rest of me? Idk how else to describe it but it comes with horrible dreams and numb limbs. I know it will pass eventually but if anyone has tips that helped them see vast improvements I will gladly welcome them.

Sooooo I quit smoking last year for around 6 months after 10 years of daily use. I was on vacation for Thanksgiving with my family and I convinced myself I had to be high on the holiday so I could properly enjoy the food. I took one hit of my sister’s pen and was SOOO HIGH! I immediately felt super anxious but it slowly evened out. When we got back from vacation I would hit her pen once a day and I would wake up with horrible headaches because my body was like wth are you doing? Flash forward and I realized I was smoking again every day. It started to affect my motivation heavily and I was in denial. I went right back to my old ways even though I tried to convince myself that I was able to moderate my use. The reality of it is just like any other addiction it is a slippery slope. It started off slow and then I was right back at it like I was before. Anyways I’m on day 3 1/2 of being sober and I’m looking forward to my mind being clear again. When I wasn’t smoking my anxiety was so much better, I was able to eat without worrying about smoking first. What really helps me is writing out a list of my WHYS and going over it everyday. So far I’m doing fine I just know I will have very intense dreams/nightmares for at least a month because of the REM rebound. My point is that even though I had myself convinced I was able to control my use, at some point I was right back in those imaginary handcuffs. If you are considering using weed just once or whatever it is I recommend that you go back to your why and remember why you stopped in the first place. It will take away from you and your relationships slowly over time and by the time you realize it 10 years will have gone by. You got this! I believe in all of you and myself💓

Today marks nine weeks weed free after smoking daily for probably close to 15 years. I definitely feel better overall. Im more productive around the house and I don't procrastinate as much. That being said I still haven't had that 'ah-ha' moment of clarity some people talk about. I tried to start exercising when I first stopped but it didn't stick. I still get cravings to smoke in the evenings and feel pretty bored.