I am new here and I hope I find people that I can lean on for support while I kick my addiction to marijuana.

There is a lot of change happening in my life right now and I am trying to take it all in stride and do the right things. I have been smoking pot for 13 years now and it has finally got to the point that I am serious about quitting.

I am tired of feeling burned out all of the time. I am tired of spending money on a futile thing. I am tired of lying to my spouse about my addiction. Unfortunately she does not understand that this can be an addiction and she is not willing to help me through this.

I just turned 30 a few weeks ago and I have had several realizations of how marijuana is affecting my life. I have had it and I am choosing to be sober.

It seems a little silly to me that I need to join a support group for this addiction but this is the first time I have felt withdrawl symptoms. It has been 7 days since I last smoked.

Post edited by: JamesH, at: 06/14/2008 03:24

I hope that you are going to continue to get sober. It is a much better way of life! You can lean on us anytime you need to.

I had a similar thing happen when I turned 30. I was drinking, gambling and taking prescription pain killers. My life was so out of control. I had something happen inside of me. I didn't want to be like that anymore. I went to treatment and started a recovery program. It saved my life!

I'm glad you are quitting and have several days clean time. What withdrawls are you going through? Have you tried anything to calm them? Relaxation techniques or something?

I'm glad you joined us! Have a great day. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.

The withdrawal symptoms I have been feeling are a little irritability, boredom, cravings...nothing too major but enough to make me feel crappy. I haven't been doing anything in specific other than not smoking and trying to keep myself busy and distancing myself from friends that smoke.

My next door neighbor was my hookup and she did not help much in the beginning. She would see me outside and tell me about the quality bud she had and show it to me. This frustrated me so I sat down with her and explained what was going on and now she is respecting my choice. That has helped a bunch. My wife does not smoke and she is trying to understand what I am going through. It sounds like I am coming off of a serious drug or something but I think it is just a matter of changing my habits.

Something inside me has changed, I don't want to continue my life in a haze. I have made a bunch of changes in my life and am finally following my passions in life. I am trying to work on my marriage...my wife feels betrayed because I lied to her about my addiction. I am focusing on repairing my life.

All in all I feel much better and I am sure it will get better the longer it goes. I think in another month or two the pot will be out of my system completely.

Thanks for the support.

Post edited by: JamesH, at: 06/22/2008 08:57

I have the exact same problem! I also can relate to having a partner that doesn't understand that it is difficult for you to quit. My fiance was a former "pot-head" but quit for a job 8 months ago. He had very little trouble quitting. I am still smoking and really want to quit. But it is so hard! It is so intertwined in my life. I have been smoking for 10 years and its hard to imagine my life without it.

I used to feel silly about my recovery from little ol marijuana too but now I see it like this ... Weed might as well be crack to me because of how it affects me and keeps me from accomplishing my goals and having successful relationships with other people. As Mr. Einstein would say, "It's all relative".

Keep up the good work everyone. I'm going to try to keep participating on this board on a regular basis. I hope you all do the same.

Post edited by: Mindful1, at: 06/29/2008 21:19

Post edited by: JamesH, at: 07/22/2008 00:16

Mostly mind shit....patterns, rituals, expectations.

Once you get into a groove that does not require the herb - it seems like some auto-pilot acceptance kicks in.

Obviously, the love affair never left....as the breaks have always been temporary.

Keep on keeping on.