Addiction, Recovery Forum - Withdrawal From Smoking Small Amount of Pot...

Hello All,

It's nice to find other people who've gone through what I'm going through now.

I've been smoking almost daily for the past year and a half, with occasional breaks (one of which lasted a month). The first time I tried to quit, the withdrawals were hellish, even though I smoke maybe the equivalent of one normal-sized joint at night. About a month ago, after several months of daily smoking, I decided to quit and found that the withdrawals were strangely absent -- or at least not nearly as bad as I'd expected. So, foolishly, I returned to smoking, thinking that it was much easier to kick than I'd thought. This time, though, I can't make it for more than a day before becoming so irritable that I'm beside myself with rage, anxiety, you name it.

I also take benzos, and have recently reduced my dosage because I found that I was taking more than prescribed (sometimes up to 50% more).

Has anyone else had similar experiences -- withdrawals from smoking fairly small amounts (a quarter will usually last me a month), or trying to quit/cut down while also cutting down on benzos?

Any response would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Replies(12)

young Girl

replied on August 26th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

hello!!!!

well as the gf of a boyfreind who used to smoke ALOT and now only smokes a little bit ($20 can last him a few weeks) i must say that there are definately withdrawls from quiting. cutting back not so much.

its all in your head you have to remember that. there is no chemical dependancy from pot so therfor its a mental dependancy that makes you angry or stressed out.

have you ever tried sheesha? if not i recommend you look into it and maybe try it
its very cheap and it does not harm the body in ANY way. nor is it addicting at all! it cost about $6 a box which will last you atleast 2 weeks if you smoke a little a day by yourself. and its what my bf has recently started to smoke to help cut back!

hope this helps!

BullZye

replied on August 26th, 2007

Experienced User

I used to smoke pot very heavily... I was the type of person to wake up high, stay high for the day, then even sleep high.

I can pretty much say I was dependant on it, because I needed it before I wanted to do basically anything including eating, sleeping, going out with friends/family, pretty much anything I used to do sober before I started smoking pot.

I started to have a lot of unexplained anxiety attacks, very violent ones. I felt like I was going insane after smoking so much. I was in denial though and didn't blame the pot for my problem.

I didn't wean off the drug to be honest... I went from smoking 5 times a day to just waking up one morning and saying "i'm done". During this time, I can say the only withdrawal effects were lack of appetite and increased boredom. I also had some trouble sleeping.

Its been about 3 months without pot so far and I feel amazing. My appetite is back to 100% and I can eat like a champ. I can sleep better without pot too. I owe it to my girlfriend who helped me kick the habit, I just realized I have a much higher priority (pun not intended).

Garlok

replied on August 26th, 2007

New User

Thanks

Thanks for the info about sheesha. I'd never heard of it, but I admit I feel a little nervous about adding another drug (no matter how mild) into the mix.

Did your bf quit cold turkey before he resumed moderate smoking, or did he try to taper down? I'm just trying to figure out the best -- that is, least stressful -- way of getting off the weed for awhile.

Thanks again for your reply.

young Girl

replied on August 26th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Re: Thanks

Garlok wrote:

ha ha yeah i understand
sheesha isnt a drug hun! its legal in the US everywhere! it contains 0.5% of nicotenen and NO tar!
so its basiacaly like smoking a cigarette expcept without the tar and gross horrible things they put into them Sad

its 100% legal and you can buy it at any hedge shop and even smoke it in public like cigarettes!

mrsbuzski

replied on August 26th, 2007

Experienced User

Habit

Don't replace one bad habit with another!

Reread, Bullzeye's post, good advice!

Habits are easy to come by but very hard to break!

Diet, exercise, sleep patterns and your day to day attitude....

You would be surprised after one or two weeks of "watching yourself", you can literally get "high" of off life!

That's the goal because than YOUR in control!

Garlok

replied on August 27th, 2007

New User

Re: Habit

mrsbuzski wrote:

Don't replace one bad habit with another!

Yeah, I have more than enough bad habits as it is, smoking pot being one of the more recent additions. Cigarettes are another main concern, but I'm not going to attack that problem until the weed is under control. At least I quit drinking a couple years ago. As bad as the marijuana withdrawals can be, nothing (in my experience) can quite match the horror of detoxing from alcohol...

Thanks very much for your reply.

BullZye

replied on August 28th, 2007

Experienced User

Re: Habit

mrsbuzski wrote:

The natural high you gain from things in life is the best... No addiction, side effects, nothing. You can feel very good from other things besides just drugs.

young Girl

replied on August 28th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Re: Habit

Garlok wrote:

mrsbuzski wrote:

Don't replace one bad habit with another!

ooh you quit drinking! then of course you can stop smokeing pot!
good luck!!!! and im here if you ever need anything

Fairy Godmother

replied on August 28th, 2007

Supporter

OK, been there and done that........my suggestions, quit smoking EVERYTHING...its alot easier this way....trust me. I have been quit smoking cigarettes 15 years this Jnuary. Hardest damned thing I ever did. I'd rather have 6 kids throught the anus than try to quit smoking again...cigarettes that is. As for pot, I do not smoke daily, but if offered one will hit if I damned well choose. Its all about who has hte control. Are you gonna allow those damned cigarettes to control your life, or....are you gonna take the bull by the you know what and toss them. Its not gonna be easy, but it will be the best things you ever did. You not only prolong your life, you cut cancer chances, plus if you keep smoking and your gum lines receed you are facing gum surgery to replace the loss of gum.oh yeah, aks a dentist. It AIN"T FUN.....but as I said, you can do it.....you just have to be hte one in control! Got faith in you!!!!!!!!!!!! Cool

BullZye

replied on August 28th, 2007

Experienced User

Re: Habit

the_girlfreind wrote:

Garlok wrote:

mrsbuzski wrote:

Don't replace one bad habit with another!

ooh you quit drinking! then of course you can stop smokeing pot!
good luck!!!! and im here if you ever need anything

I agree completely.

I quit smoking weed no problem... But I know I can't stop drinking for some reason, I just feel like its something that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

mrsbuzski

replied on August 29th, 2007

Experienced User

In Moderation

As in anything we do, I guess, we just have to remember to do it in moderation. Of couse that's easy to say, right? And a lot harder to practice what we preach!

mrsbuzski

replied on August 29th, 2007

Experienced User

Kicking the Habit!

Hard but worth it!

It's true what they say about "reformed smokers", "they are the worst critics!"

It's like Alcoholics Anonymous in comparison though. You can never have just "one", because you will have, as I say.

"One too many"!

God Bless You in your Venture!

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