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[MEGA] Cannabis Addiction & Withdrawal

usually don't wonder off into the cannabis section. but i've managed to speed read the whole thread and ive gotta say, its come a long way. good job fellow cannabis enthusiasts for taking the effort to educate yourselves to better understand how the herb affects the human psyche and the body.

truth be told, cannabis hasn't been the same since the honeymoon phase for me and it's been 6 years. nowadays if i smoke paranoia, social anxiety, and agoraphobia ensues. so i dont go out when i smoke. and sativa strains are so rare in my neck of the woods.

I think the true answer lies behind the living principle of: always keeping yourself busy. give yourself some pressure by setting deadlines, push yourself to the limit, and to try new things everyday.
 
Thank you astudentforever, I'll have to try out kava kava. So far I've been sober and I feel somewhat anxious to smoke when ever I get stressed out. I guess this is a psychological thing I need to just hang in there.
 
First post. Gotta say this is the best internet (or even roman) forum I've ever seen, but I do wonder if people struggling with paranoia/social anxieties (there have to be a few knocking around here right?) might not benefit from too much anonymous communication. Anyway, onto the eye-roll that is weed addiction..

Anybody else think weed is a genuinely valuable part of their identity, but feel that it stops them self-actualizing at the same time? As in my only real motivation at the moment is to achieve enough security so that I can keep smoking without guilt.. is this just addiction?

It seems like a catch-22 though, as I reckon I come up with genuinely valuable ideas/perceptions while stoned, but am then too crippled by paranoia, social anxiety, and general stoneover to act on them.
 
smear and foaming said:
Anybody else think weed is a genuinely valuable part of their identity, but feel that it stops them self-actualizing at the same time? As in my only real motivation at the moment is to achieve enough security so that I can keep smoking without guilt.. is this just addiction?
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I am not a professional, so I cannot say its addiction. However, defining yourself by a drug or drug use isn't usually the best idea. And I say that as someone who very much has before.

For a long long long damn time I thought of myself as "stoner", "raver", "hippie", "junkie", "tripper", "molly kid", "drinker", "party kid" etc etc etc. What I eventually found out is that while some of those labels described interests they were not "me" or my "full identity". Also, in my case describing myself as a "drug user" also meant that I was "destined to become an addict" and that isn't true either.

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Anyways, I need to take a tolerance break myself. Finished up my wax yesterday, have some OG platinum left. Going to try to keep it to before bed. Main reasons for break being: My tolerance is insane and I would like to stop smoking in the day.
 
phactor said:
I am not a professional, so I cannot say its addiction. However, defining yourself by a drug or drug use isn't usually the best idea. And I say that as someone who very much has before.

For a long long long damn time I thought of myself as "stoner", "raver", "hippie", "junkie", "tripper", "molly kid", "drinker", "party kid" etc etc etc. What I eventually found out is that while some of those labels described interests they were not "me" or my "full identity". Also, in my case describing myself as a "drug user" also meant that I was "destined to become an addict" and that isn't true either.

---

Anyways, I need to take a tolerance break myself. Finished up my wax yesterday, have some OG platinum left. Going to try to keep it to before bed. Main reasons for break being: My tolerance is insane and I would like to stop smoking in the day.
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Appreciate the response, that's definitely well said. Even as I read that back to myself it sounds messed up.. I guess I meant to say there's valuable things I learned from smoking, mostly social things to do with ignoring stigmas and just generally expressing yourself. Now its time to take those lessons and learn some new ones
 
smear and foaming said:
Appreciate the response, that's definitely well said. Even as I read that back to myself it sounds messed up.. I guess I meant to say there's valuable things I learned from smoking, mostly social things to do with ignoring stigmas and just generally expressing yourself. Now its time to take those lessons and learn some new ones
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I will say that I A: Understood what you were getting at B: Can totally empathize and C: Totally totally feel you on the "smoking to be secure" thing. Like just doing enough to allow you to smoke guilt free.

I have very much done that at various points in my life. It is actually a bad tendency of mine. Basically I accept "just enough" and never really push myself. Anyways, my break hasn't started yet, I have been sorta trying to "taper" a bit (only smoking after 5:00 and smoking less).

Still I have a tiny amount left so tonight should be the last night.
 
FnX said:
Oh man, we should just drop these useless terms "physical" and "mental" addiction..
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You have a good point, my understanding is that 'physical dependence' is a term than should be applied to a scenario where a drug user discontinues there drug and experience physical bodily or mental disturbances; I wouldn't call this 'physical addiction' (that's an outdated term). Addiction is always psychological.

I feel that there is much confusion over these terminologies, and if we were to clarify their meanings, it could perhaps help destigmatise sufferers.


  • Addiction - The user continues to use despite serious negative consequences. The drug becomes their primary focus and they may, but not necessarily take risks to sustain their habit.
  • Dependence - The user depends on the drug to function; personally, socially, in their day-to-day business or otherwise. (e.g insulin, anxiety medications, pain medications - so long as their use it legitimate. e.g. I've long been dependent on codeine but I'm able to withdraw when necessary in order to lower my tolerance and re-gain its efficacy. A codeine addict would typically increase the dose, chasing the high and disregard the consequences.)
Of course, dependence can lead to addiction, but addiction is a psychological disorder that doesn't necessarily occur in all patients. Conversely, one may begin to use a drug recreationally and become dependent, they aren't necessarily addicted at this stage - But if they continue to use the drug despite negative consequences this indicates a psychological addiction.

This is how I see it. Please let me know if you disagree. And yes I anticipate some responses saying this whole addiction/dependence distinction is outdated, being stuck in a cartesian dualistic perspective, but it's what the medical profession currently operates on, so it's here to stay for at least a while.
 
Libertin, very good points. I think that is the proper way to look at it. A lot of people say quitting weed is nothing compared to quitting say benzos or opiates. It may have a degree of truth to it but I don't think it really fair to say. It is true the physical dependence is much greater with opiates and benzos, cannabis has always been more psychologically addicting in my experience.

I've been saying I need to quit smoking weed for a while now, but it is much easier to put off than an opie or benzo habit. After a few times of forgetting/losing/running out of pills and going into physical withdraw at work it was something I couldn't put off for long. My habit still lasted several years but when I decided to quit it was much easier to get serious about if that makes sense.

I know quite a few people who smoke everyday and also say that they need to quit at least once a week, sometimes every time they smoke they say they need to quit or talk about quitting. I don't know how many ounces have been my "last ounce". It may sound silly, but part of the reason why I haven't quit yet is that it's not killing me like a pill habit was. Not to negate the side effects but you can be a daily user and besides a bad upper respiratory be pretty healthy. It's a bit like alcohol in that regard- there isn't really much harm in one hit/drink, so long as one doesn't lead to two as it so often does.
 
whenever i quit cannabis for awhile i notice my dreams are alot more vivid. im able to remember them easier as well
 
Marijuana is an easy withdrawl imo. (ive withdrawn from ssri',lyrica, alcohol, amphetamines, benzo's, weed)
You will have trouble sleeping for a week or so, then you start to sleep again and sleep like never before.
Your dreams will increase and be more lucid.
When you smoked for months and then after a week more or less get that 'real' sleeping sensation back its the best feeling ever.
At daytime you will find yourself adjusting to 'reality'.
Some anxiety and paranoia may occur, but nothing too serious.
No walk in the park, but doable and no danger at all.
 
What has worked for me is to taper off. I like to buy chocolates or brownies or anything edible and use those to taper off. I will have a little each day for up to a week and then by then going cold turkey does not get too nasty. It helps to mentally prepare you for the cold turkey. This worked well for me and I want others to know that this method helps make the mood swings much easier when cold turkey goes down. <3
 
DaLambsbread said:
What has worked for me is to taper off. I like to buy chocolates or brownies or anything edible and use those to taper off. I will have a little each day for up to a week and then by then going cold turkey does not get too nasty. It helps to mentally prepare you for the cold turkey. This worked well for me and I want others to know that this method helps make the mood swings much easier when cold turkey goes down. <3
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I have came to the conclusion that tapering is the only way to quit without driving myself insane.
 
I just quit smoking 4 days ago and I went into tachardyia today, and also have been experiencing some debilitating dizziness. I was thisclose to being worked up at the ER, but since I work for my doctor, I convinced her to just let me have an EKG and promise to head to the ER if I get chest pains. Never in my life have I experienced this, not even in my heavy opiate withdrawal...

Also, this was 5 years of smoking with no more than 2 days break.
 
Dude half the reason I just smoke weed is because I didn't want to deal with addiction/withdrawal.... That backfired on me hard. Apparently I was misled.
 
I Found thimegathres an hop someone readt thi through.snyway iv been0/ott smoker fior year. now i dude that reagular high when hagging with buddys all money gone to it. well fast yearst forwarfd i go mu own place and stat growinh my e. /i dont noe if it me justg thinkin my product was beran but akk frfeudns lik it, morethan street bud

Anywsyas few years pase and gept growin )for free weed and easy money i guesd.anywyas after this start my psuchekedic blo AND ILOVE IT. an was making pus all my money thaaat i get wroe eed imyo acid. and basiclla bayled i rork normaö but nihfs mere real "maddes" i tint his has been goin on for awhile-
> life if much morw peacwful now whith hel of threpay and in fre yeras i hopr to msintins a rfeal rork
 
I know I'm a mod in this subforum, but I'm just a garden-variety pot smoker like yourselves, so I have a quesion for those who have smoked daily and successfully reduced their use to occasional/weekly/monthly/etc.

How long did you go without smoking, and do you find it difficult to avoid using it daily? Do you feel that much better after reducing your usage? How long did you suffer withdrawals (yes,mcannabis WD's are real and quite unpleasant for some, myself most certainl included)?

I'm just having a very difficult time quitting it, or finding a good enough reason to quit.
 
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Tryptamino said:
I know I'm a mod in this subforum, but I'm just a garden-variety pot smoker like yourselves, so I have a quesion for those who have smoked daily and successfully reduced their use to occasional/weekly/monthly/etc.

How long did you go without smoking, and do you find it difficult to avoid using it daily? Do you feel that much better after reducing your usage? How long did you suffer withdrawals (yes,mcannabis WD's are real and quite unpleasant for some, myself most certainl included)?

I'm just having a very difficult time quitting it, or finding a good enough reason to quit.
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Thats hardly a question a mod should be asking regulars
 
Im 3 weeks off from smoking cannabis regulary and other drugs. 0 withdrawls symtomps, NOTHING, no axiety, no insomnia.... Just one thing, I have dreams again, very vivid dreams. Its like a second life when I sleep.

I dont find it difficult, the difficult part is only the first day. Then you roll down easy. I feel better of course. Quit is all benefits, 100%. Soon, Im looking for a volcano vape, to just vape some cannabis ocasionally because fuck it, I like cannabis, but I want to avoid smoking toxic substances anymore.
 
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