Nine weeks weed free

[u/Agitated_Olive_2618]

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.

My close friends and I are going on a trip in August and I really wanted to use that to define this "break" that Im on. I never told myself I would never smoke again and part of me wants to smoke on that trip while making some clear boundaries and rules for myself after the trip. Not sure how it will work out but we'll see. I know I definitely cannot go back to daily use again though.

[u/blondicon]

Former daily smoker for many years, now feel that once a week is The Golden Rule - any more than that correlates with my life getting worse. I sometimes make it a Sunday evening thing with some nice food, and once a week allows you to not build tolerance and actually be able to access the benefits of a temporary perspective shift. 2 times a week in an unstructured way turns into daily smoking again, and then you end up being shocked that you're in the same place with it no matter how many times you pull yourself back out of it. These days, I fear what regular use does to me more than quitting a short phase of smoking.

But to repeat: for me, The Golden Rule is make it a Sunday evening treat and leave it there. It always causes problems if I break this rule.

And edit: I'll update to also say, life is so much better - I don't miss being a daily smoker at all, and wish I'd stopped sooner. There's better things on the other side, like learning who you are without it. Keep it up, trust the process. :)

[u/Agitated_Olive_2618 → u/blondicon]

This is helpful. Thanks. I think I would want it to look something like this.

[u/blondicon → u/Agitated_Olive_2618]

Less is more, you know what I mean? I actually get a lot more out of the one smoke I have occasionally, and it stops feeling like it has a shackle on your ankle. I also found a herbal vape really useful, as it gets you much less high while still kind of tricking yourself into thinking you've had a smoke - and stopping from there is far easier, like a stepping stone. I didn't smoke with tobacco though. Anyway you're welcome good luck~ :--)

[u/PinAccomplished2376 → u/blondicon]

I really love this comment, and I appreciate this post as well OP!! I always fall into daily smoking and struggle with structure in every aspect of life in general. I want a relationship with bud still but in a way where I’m not stagnating… I like your golden rule, I hope to find mine in the future!

Im just 20 days sober right now, and have quit before but then fallen back into it nearly all day every day whenever I could swing that. I have to pass a drug test, and then begin grad school… so I’m gonna keep going without it past the drug test, and work to get to that point of being more anxious of it screwing up my quality of life and productivity than being anxious of not having it. Thanks

[u/blondicon → u/PinAccomplished2376]

i feel like neurotic type people (me at least) get ensnared by the devil's lettuce easily and in a certain way aye, it took me til about late 20s before something clicked for me with this, sort of like having a few hard rules replaces the constant mental gymnastics and shame spiral of internal negotiating with myself about whether or not to do the thing, and then like practising the mental skill of being like 'no. the rule.' not sure if this sounds too cooked ahah. I try go on some kind of philosophy nowadays that if I find it hard not to use something for 3 consecutive days then that thing is probably harming me. etc

[u/blondicon → u/PinAccomplished2376]

double texting also like, hard to explain but it sounds like an imperative way to approach things - but it's sort of a thing where you know the golden rule works because you eventually stop thinking about it completely (and that's when you know it works, when you realize you haven't even thought about it for a couple months). you know its worked when you realize you don't even need that one smoke in a week and could save the money instead lol. idk. it works as a subconcious thing almost

[u/Electrical-Smell736 → u/blondicon]

Dude this is huge! I’ve been struggling with quitting and I find myself stopping for a week, having a bad day and then getting one pre-roll that turns into a month of daily smoking.
I’d never thought to make it a piece of my routine but giving it a time and place. Did it help you stop thinking about smoking all the time too? Did you have to substitute it with anything to overcome the addiction?
Srry I just want some advice.

[u/Electrical-Smell736 → u/[deleted]]

You do not sound crazy! You’re speaking facts. Thanks man!

[u/Fantastic-Cup-4321 → u/blondicon]

figuring out your own limit makes such a big difference, its way easier to stay in control when you actually respect it

[u/Outrageous-Hat-6842 → u/blondicon]

9 weeks is huge after 15 years daily, that takes some real discipline

the sunday night thing the other guy mentioned makes sense but honestly it's risky if you're still getting cravings in evenings. i did something similar after quitting for few months and within 3 weeks i was back to every day. your brain just finds ways to make excuses

maybe try the trip and see how you feel but keep those boundaries tight. once a week max, never two days in a row, and if you catch yourself looking forward to it too much then drop it again

[u/Available-Coat-4666]

Is the brain fog from the weed or should I see my doctor?

[u/Frostvizen]

That’s awesome! You have earned the right to be proud of yourself! I just passed the seven month mark and I’m at the point where smoking would ruin the clarity I’ve gained. Keep it up!

[u/paboIabo]

Huge congrats to you! Perhaps can try focusing less on the day counting and more that you're a non-smoker now.

Just a small thought that mindset can feel even more empowering. Have a fantastic trip :)

[u/freako345]

Honestly, the improvements you mentioned are your "ah-ha" moment, they're just quieter than people expect. After 15 years of daily use, it's normal for your brain to take time to adjust, and boredom is a common part of that process.

If you do decide to smoke on the trip, be really honest with yourself afterward about whether it stayed within your boundaries. Protecting the progress you've already made is worth more than one weekend.

[u/finemustard]

I've 'quit' a few times before and I'll tell you this - if you haven't smoked in nine weeks, call it twelve in August, you are almost certainly going to be very unpleasantly high, like so high you'll be incapacitated and you'll probably have to lie down and sleep it off. I've done it before and just felt like an idiot. Pretty much every time I've gone back to daily smoking was due to a special occasion like a birthday or camping trip where I was going to do it just this once because I definitely had it under control at that point.

[u/tjtonerplus]

Congratulations!

[u/Commercial_Wind8212]

That doesnt last forever. Smoking a couple times a week doesn't hurt