cannbis withdrawal

[potchick]

am in the very early stages of giving up smoking cannabis. Have smoked daily for 16 years. Have been reducing first but this has not been without its side effects thankfully i cut down first and didnt just abruptly stop. Am feeling anxious but the panic feelings have reduced, loss of apeptie not good when you only 8 stone but the acidfeeling in my stomach and nausea has reduced and of course insomnia which is why i am on this webite at 1.30am. Any advice please

[beso]

The insomnia does eventually pass. Part of the problem is coming of the dope releases a lot of mental activity that keeps you awake. Dealing with the stuff in the thoughts puts some of it away.

You also don't need as much sleep without the dope. Need other ways to make you tired that don't stimulate the brain.

Exercise helps a lot. I found yoga and meditation evening classes were good becuase they tired the body and calmed the mind.

[4getmenot]

I cant help that much as have never been on it but I know a few friends that have and I just wanted to say Well done you xx

[ChuckFickens]

well you might want to change you username for a start :)

well done for stopping though, just bear in mind that it is not physically addictive, it is purely physiologically addictive, the insomnia will go fairly quickly and the appetite will come back, probably with a vengeance! the feeling of anxiousness (sp?) will also disappear fairly quickly.

I found that all of the side effects went after about 2 weeks and after that felt a whole lot better and more alert in general, which was actually a really nice feeling and far better than smoking yourself into a stupor every night.

also bear in mind as it is not physically addictive if you do have a slight relapse, such as you out somewhere and somebody offers you a joint and you have some it doesn't reverse everything, you've done the hard part by stopping smoking everyday, a little every now and then isn't going to hurt (I'll probably get slated now for that bit:))

Well done and you will feel better for it.

[Whoever]

Well done for doing something really difficult which will probably give you your life back.
Giving up any addiction is never easy and you will inevitably have bad days. Some regular daily gentle walking or other light exercise may help reduce your anxiety levels, especially if you try and regulate your breathing patterns.
Take a day at a time, remembering that gradually the good days will get more frequent, and the bad days less so. You might find that keeping a daily diary of you feelings will help, so that you can look back over time and chart how you are progressing.

[BillySugger]

Well done potchick (although maybe a name change might help ) I've been there myself & it ain't easy . As others have said try to get some exercise . Drink plenty of fruit juice , cranberry in particular is recommended . I was living on frozen pizzas & the like for months at a time so juice & vitamin pills will help your body adjust . Good luck & an important thing for me - don't beat yourself up if you do have a wee slip . good luck

[potchick]

am not on my own then in the middle of the night when your mind is doing overtime you feel so alone ended up writing lists and lists of things i want to do that helped never thought of exercising think thats because i am so slim and don't want to lose any more weight but a gentle walk am sure won't burn off the very little calories i am taking in at the moment. Am not aiming to completely come off it would love to smoke one joint every six months and laugh like i used to when i was twenty. I deffinately need to think of other ways to relax or a way of relaxing that doesn't involve smoking have never thought of meditation or yoga have been given plenty to think about its very hard to think of a username at 1.00am in the morning with no cannabis ha-ha am sure i will not always be a pot chick many thanks my eyes are stinging i am so tired was awake for nearly 20 hours yesterday am looking forward to insomnia subsiding
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[BRAVO1]

Hang in there !.

Well done for taking the courage to take these decisions.

Be strong and be focused.

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Let this also be a lesson to all those thinking about taking these so called soft drugs...Pot, to Crack everything has a high and a very big low..

[BillySugger]

Potchick, how's it going ? This might help http://www.ma-online.org/ .There's a chatroom link after 'for the newcomer' > Hope it helps

[GEEMAC]

I really enjoy doing Tai chi for that 'natural high'. Although I do still smoke on and off, I can go for several months without a puff and then fall into old habits again and to be perfectly honest sometimes I can't really tell whether I'm stoned or not, which begs the inevitable question...The answer to which is that it is a crutch and something I see as part of my personality. The downside to coming off really doesn't last that long and believe me you will enjoy waking up and spending the day with a clear head, by the very nature, you will feel sharper, wittier and be more productive. And if you're a 'creative' person, I find it doesn't effect that too much either. And it's quite weird having dreams again when you finally do get to sleep.

Good luck (ex)potchick and keep us posted

G

[potchick]

bit of a relapse alot going on in life should have adopted more suitable ways of managing stress 20 years ago not gunna beat myself up about it just gunna get back on track and be thankful that i have recognised it . It was weeend so does that mean I can let myself off a bit, sleeping better eating better less nauseous can go much longer periods without it going out and about is helping so I guess some exercise will benefit me am going to google tai'chi and see if I can teach myself it
this website is good and i supose documenting helps as looking back i can notice progression. website m a v good many thanks deffo on the way to ex potchick