Marijuana Addiction - Beat it!

[siglerja]

Hey all,

I just thought I'd share some actual good addiction news. After smoking marijuana on a daily basis for the last two years, I have been clean for two months and finally out of the miserable withdrawl period.

I started smoking on a semi-regular basis for stress and anxiety, then on a daily basis when I started stimulant medication for ADHD. It started out pretty great but after a while, I found myself pretty fried and unable to deal with day to day life. Adderall allowed me to function through the haze at work for a while, and the two drugs sort of complimented eachother - Increased anxiety from Adderall was cured by marijuana, increased lethargy from marijuana was cured by Adderall. I wasn't smoking ditchweed, either - Some of the strongest stuff you can get on the East Coast, and a lot of it. Unfortunately, as I grew more accustom to both, I found myself in a pretty deep depression and couldn't get myself out. I was dependant on it and the feelings of low self-worth that it generated were keeping me from getting back on my feet.

Zoloft helped me get off of marijuana, in part because it did help my anxiety and in part because smoking on Zoloft is an awful experience - Headaches, freaking out, panic, nausea, etc. The withdrawal period was completely miserable - Food tasted awful, television was boring, video games were boring, everything was boring. I didn't want to do anything but sit and stare blankly ahead and ruminate about how awful I felt. The anxiety was also very intense, and the removal of the "green-colored glasses" revealed that my life wasn't really how I had pictured it. That alone was hard enough to deal with, realizing I had somehow tricked myself into thinking my life was fun and normal when I was really just burning myself out - Throw in being so low and out of it that I could barely function and you really don't know what to do with yourself.

I weathered it as best I could through therapy and antidepressant meds. I eventually added Wellbutrin to deal with the complete lack of energy or motivation I had post-weed and it seems to have helped. It took about two months for me to finally feel like a human being again, and I still feel pretty apathetic and robotic, but I'm hoping this will fade as I get back into doing positive things and get some momentum going.

My advice to ADHDers dealing with an addiction would be to stay confident and seriously examine the reasons WHY they're using. All substance abuse is, really, is a band-aid. It doesn't cure the problem, you have to do what you need to do to heal the cause or you're just putting it off. Don't be afraid to try an antidepressant, it's the only way I was able to get off of pot and it might end up making you feel better than you did while you were using.

I may smoke again at some point, but my days of regular use are over. Life isn't as cool as it was, but that's okay. Now I have to figure out a way to make friends and be social without pot, which should be a real trip.

[BeachBum]

Originally Posted by siglerja

Hey all,

I just thought I'd share some actual good addiction news. After smoking marijuana on a daily basis for the last two years, I have been clean for two months and finally out of the miserable withdrawl period.

I started smoking on a semi-regular basis for stress and anxiety, then on a daily basis when I started stimulant medication for ADHD. It started out pretty great but after a while, I found myself pretty fried and unable to deal with day to day life. Adderall allowed me to function through the haze at work for a while, and the two drugs sort of complimented eachother - Increased anxiety from Adderall was cured by marijuana, increased lethargy from marijuana was cured by Adderall. I wasn't smoking ditchweed, either - Some of the strongest stuff you can get on the East Coast, and a lot of it. Unfortunately, as I grew more accustom to both, I found myself in a pretty deep depression and couldn't get myself out. I was dependant on it and the feelings of low self-worth that it generated were keeping me from getting back on my feet.

Zoloft helped me get off of marijuana, in part because it did help my anxiety and in part because smoking on Zoloft is an awful experience - Headaches, freaking out, panic, nausea, etc. The withdrawal period was completely miserable - Food tasted awful, television was boring, video games were boring, everything was boring. I didn't want to do anything but sit and stare blankly ahead and ruminate about how awful I felt. The anxiety was also very intense, and the removal of the "green-colored glasses" revealed that my life wasn't really how I had pictured it. That alone was hard enough to deal with, realizing I had somehow tricked myself into thinking my life was fun and normal when I was really just burning myself out - Throw in being so low and out of it that I could barely function and you really don't know what to do with yourself.

I weathered it as best I could through therapy and antidepressant meds. I eventually added Wellbutrin to deal with the complete lack of energy or motivation I had post-weed and it seems to have helped. It took about two months for me to finally feel like a human being again, and I still feel pretty apathetic and robotic, but I'm hoping this will fade as I get back into doing positive things and get some momentum going.

My advice to ADHDers dealing with an addiction would be to stay confident and seriously examine the reasons WHY they're using. All substance abuse is, really, is a band-aid. It doesn't cure the problem, you have to do what you need to do to heal the cause or you're just putting it off. Don't be afraid to try an antidepressant, it's the only way I was able to get off of pot and it might end up making you feel better than you did while you were using.

I may smoke again at some point, but my days of regular use are over. Life isn't as cool as it was, but that's okay. Now I have to figure out a way to make friends and be social without pot, which should be a real trip.

Congrats on giving up the weed! Especially since you were using it along with your add meds. That is harder to do than some may think.

A couple of years after I stopped smoking weed I had a moment of weakness and bought a small bag of smoke and after I lit up and got high I felt so stupid, like I was taking a step backwards. Now I steer clear of it all together and I am much better off because of it. I wish you the best.

[WhatNow]

Originally Posted by siglerja

Hey all,

I just thought I'd share some actual good addiction news. After smoking marijuana on a daily basis for the last two years, I have been clean for two months and finally out of the miserable withdrawl period.

I started smoking on a semi-regular basis for stress and anxiety, then on a daily basis when I started stimulant medication for ADHD. It started out pretty great but after a while, I found myself pretty fried and unable to deal with day to day life. Adderall allowed me to function through the haze at work for a while, and the two drugs sort of complimented eachother - Increased anxiety from Adderall was cured by marijuana, increased lethargy from marijuana was cured by Adderall. I wasn't smoking ditchweed, either - Some of the strongest stuff you can get on the East Coast, and a lot of it. Unfortunately, as I grew more accustom to both, I found myself in a pretty deep depression and couldn't get myself out. I was dependant on it and the feelings of low self-worth that it generated were keeping me from getting back on my feet.

Zoloft helped me get off of marijuana, in part because it did help my anxiety and in part because smoking on Zoloft is an awful experience - Headaches, freaking out, panic, nausea, etc. The withdrawal period was completely miserable - Food tasted awful, television was boring, video games were boring, everything was boring. I didn't want to do anything but sit and stare blankly ahead and ruminate about how awful I felt. The anxiety was also very intense, and the removal of the "green-colored glasses" revealed that my life wasn't really how I had pictured it. That alone was hard enough to deal with, realizing I had somehow tricked myself into thinking my life was fun and normal when I was really just burning myself out - Throw in being so low and out of it that I could barely function and you really don't know what to do with yourself.

I weathered it as best I could through therapy and antidepressant meds. I eventually added Wellbutrin to deal with the complete lack of energy or motivation I had post-weed and it seems to have helped. It took about two months for me to finally feel like a human being again, and I still feel pretty apathetic and robotic, but I'm hoping this will fade as I get back into doing positive things and get some momentum going.

My advice to ADHDers dealing with an addiction would be to stay confident and seriously examine the reasons WHY they're using. All substance abuse is, really, is a band-aid. It doesn't cure the problem, you have to do what you need to do to heal the cause or you're just putting it off. Don't be afraid to try an antidepressant, it's the only way I was able to get off of pot and it might end up making you feel better than you did while you were using.

I may smoke again at some point, but my days of regular use are over. Life isn't as cool as it was, but that's okay. Now I have to figure out a way to make friends and be social without pot, which should be a real trip.

If you dont mind me asking, Just what is in it that leads you to believe that pot is addictive ?
I too smoked it for many years, the best skunk that the ozark mts of arkansas had to offer,
Even years in NA (meth addiction), and all the people i knew that smoked weed, i never have met anyone that had physical withdraws before
Not trying to be rude, just courious.
But congrats on overcoming,, addiction sucks for sure....

[freakofthewest]

Originally Posted by WhatNow

If you dont mind me asking, Just what is in it that leads you to believe that pot is addictive ?
I too smoked it for many years, the best skunk that the ozark mts of arkansas had to offer,
Even years in NA (meth addiction), and all the people i knew that smoked weed, i never have met anyone that had physical withdraws before
Not trying to be rude, just courious.
But congrats on overcoming,, addiction sucks for sure....

Fist off to op I understand just how humiliating or even just down right emasculating it feels admitting you have a problem with weed. People expect you to have problems with hard drugs... but weed?

The hardest part of having a real problem with weed is the perception that you can't become physically dependent on it. If you go far enough it is, now you have to hammer it pretty hard but it is real. I didn't believe either, until I was there. Of course that fades in 72 hours, but if being high and the whole culture of it has become part of your life you have a long way to go after the purely physical part.

The first time I stopped it was very unsettling just how vapid and empty my interests and friends were, not a direct effect of the drug more the life. It was enough to cause a major depression of its own. And its kind of hard to get on with your life when all your friends are stoners too.

The most obvious symptoms are full body cramps, loss of appetite, and this "rats running though your guts" digestive crap. Think the opposite of getting high.

I stopped and started again until I got my add meds. Cause I didn't feel any more productive high or not high until I had some adderall in me. Before I was always a mess high or not. Just one week in to meds its quite clear that I'm much more together sober.

Lets not say weed is addictive... though people do get addicted to it.

The actual withdrawal from nicotine is almost imperceptible. The effect of being denied your crutch... massive.

[StoicNate]

I take Medical Marijuana as my medicine and I don't find it emasculating at all.
I don't feel addicted to it what so ever. No withdrawal or anything if I don't want to take it.

Don't spread lies about marijuana. The Government is doing a great job already.

I've tried a lot of medications for my ADHD/Anxiety, but Medical Marijuana is the best for me.
I don't get any side effects other than getting a good appetite, which keeps me at a healthy weight.

[soccerboy]

Originally Posted by freakofthewest

I stopped and started again until I got my add meds. Cause I didn't feel any more productive high or not high until I had some adderall in me. Before I was always a mess high or not. Just one week in to meds its quite clear that I'm much more together sober.

Im still waiting on meds but I also don't feel more or less production on or off the marijuana.

I actually had my greatest thinking period right after I smoke. For the next 30-45 minutes my brain would be racing with ideas and I would jump on the idea that made the most sense to me. But anytime after this I just get tired and want to play a game or do something fun.

Marijuana is just too strong and has too many other side effects for me, but can be a great alternative to those who don't react well to pharmaceuticals. I think baking it and tinkering with the potency would yield better results, but I use it recreationally as I don't want to be high all day long.

[cread408]

yea. its addictive. i smoked it everyday for half my life. so did my wife, we're high school sweethearts, and still are hahahaha

im going on 26 shes going on 25. we both go *****y when we quit. its a crutch and its addictive. i'm not lettling anyone tell me otherwise because 12 years of expirience is good enough for you too be your own therapist for that. not saying it should be illeagle. its a plant. but so are coca and opium... just my .2's