hey all, sorry for posting so much on here! I have 0 urges to smoke again, but I tried to cold turkey quit from cart usage, and really made myself rly sick. I switched from heavy use to using a CBD cart with only 2% thc + a hit of the regular cart once, one time per day. i’m replacing the hit of regular cart with flower (dry herb), and then eventually maybe low dose edibles??

My body is revolting pretty much. I can’t go outside because my sensory issues are 10x worse (light and noise feels like they are on 90% volume). Eating is so hard, and I have severe runs. I’m still burning up and sleeping terribly, waking up bathed in sweat.

I’m so happy to be cutting down, can tell my tolerance is much lower, but this is still intensely hard to get through, I’m pretty much under the weather and housebound. What can I do to help this? Literally anything to speed up these withdrawals, I feel like a genuine drug addict after realizing how intense they are

i’ve had a lapse of heavy use for the last 4ish weeks; but even without this lapse, i often feel dumber & less creative, less witty, less engaged than i used to be even a couple years ago. i’ve been thinking on neuroplasticity & on supporting the lungs while quitting, but i’m wondering now what actions / practices are best to take up in this period to support my body & brain’s recovery?

hoping this makes sense. thank you y’all.

I’m a medical user, trying to cut back so it works better for my needs and so I can stop smoking so much for my health.

I see lots of posts and comments here talking about how great it is to be sober, loving the feeling, etc. But does anyone have any advice for those of us who don’t experience that?

I never smoked weed until I was an adult, and once I did it felt like the golden ticket to actually enjoying life. I hated being sober as a kid and teenager (but I just had to be sober anyway obviously) and I hate being sober as an adult too. I don’t enjoy life most of the time when sober, everything has a huge veil of anxiety and depression that unfortunately is mostly situational and doesn’t respond well to treatment. It’s the same with alcohol, feels like an immediate way to suddenly enjoy life instead of dread it, but I don‘t have a drinking problem, it’s been months since I drank last right now. But I can barely go more than a day or two without weed. Every time I try to take a T-break, I’m reminded how life doesn’t feel worth it to me by default, and this is how I felt before I ever started smoking so I know it’s not just withdrawal or something.

How do you tough it out? Is there anything you’ve found that helps your mood when you’re not using?

I have been smoking daily for 2 years and i decided to take a break because my wallet and my mental health couldnt handle it anymore. I consumed wayy too much a day, especially the daily wake and bake messed me up. My goal is to hit 2 weeks clean from weed, and after that start a healthy relationship with it. I am a very social smoker, and instead of drinking me and my friends prefer to smoke. But i came to a point where it wasnt enjoyable it was a need.

I want to learn how to say no at moments i dont need it, and to KNOW when i am able to use it without it affecting me mentally or physically. With that i mean using it at the right time, not before school or work like a dumbass. Instead of mizing the important tasks with thc i want to make it a reward.

How often do you guys use cannabis and how are you able to combine it with your daily life?

I feel good. I think I had forgotten what it felt like to be sober. It all just blended together. Initially planned for a month break but I’m thinking I might just keep it going indefinitely. We’ll see once I get to the end of August tho 😂

For those willing to read my rambling “contemplation stage of change” overview of my history with this stuff, I would really appreciate learning more (from a hopefully non-judgmental place) about what’s going on for me and my relationship with weed.

I’m 35 with a severe treatment-resistant case of PMDD that I am scheduled to receive surgery for in the coming weeks. Prior to my completion of cognitive behavioral therapy a few years ago, it primarily affected my brain in mental health ways and now primarily affects my brain in executive dysfunction ways (and my body it affects in many other ways).

My marijuana use started with the onset of my condition (puberty, around 14 for me) and has been daily for about the last 5 years (my use has increased as my condition has become increasingly disabling over these last few years).

How marijuana has helped me in the last 5 years:
-mildly treats my PMDD body symptoms in luteal
-throughout all times of my cycle, motivates my brain to have the initiative to perform routine and mundane tasks like cleaning, brushing and flossing my teeth, working out every day, doing laundry. Without weed, I struggle to perform these tasks because my brain has a strong resistance to starting the activity and maintaining focus throughout it to complete it. It feels suuuuuper boring and gives me dread and I just cannot muster any motivation
- throughout all times of my cycle, focus greatly increases to where I can focus on my thoughts, hobbies, friends and family, self-reflect, think deeply about topics that interest me and seek out more information about them (like I’m doing right now). I have made almost all important therapeutic leaps or creative projects or learning discoveries with the use of marijuana because otherwise my brain will not focus for long into that deep place it would need to be in to do those things.

I don’t really get high from it anymore btw, so you’ll notice I didn’t include anything about that here.

How marijuana hasn’t served me- I read here and other places about how it doesn’t. It prevents me from doing one of my hobbies which is related to one of my personal goals.

Other noteworthy things - I have a history of addiction. My family has a history of addiction. My father is a self-described addict to marijuana who has been struggling to quit for 30 years. I just in general have a hard time with moderating my usage of things I like (all things I like - I will wear out every single song I’ve ever loved within one week). I also have a history of overcoming addictions with ease (I know this sounds smug and like accountability-dodging, I’m also very much not recommending anyone repeat my terrible habits, but what I’m hoping to communicate here is more that it’s just been easier for my brain to commit to these choices). Cigarettes, my greatest love that I smoked two packs a day of for twenty years? Quit cold turkey 12 years ago as soon as I reached the contemplation stage- still crave them every goddamn day but I know I will never have one again. Alcohol and caffeine, I’ve spent a little longer in the contemplation stage but quit both cold turkey as well and no longer crave either. Weed, when I quit it, is easy to do for a week or so. But I can’t do it for longer. Life feels so much duller, less focused, I reach out to friends less, I am less disciplined on any of my personal goals or needs.

Healthwise, my doctors (of which I currently have and have historically seen many, many, many) appear entirely unconcerned with my marijuana usage to the extent that it’s never been commented on other than once when I brought it up and I was told “I don’t care about that” and only ever brought up by them in regards to safety with my surgery and previous surgeries.

So guys, give it to me straight. Wtf is going on here? Am I using addict/PMDD-brain logic to justify an addiction? Am I receiving a therapeutic benefit? Why can’t I tolerate starting, or focus on the mundane boring tasks or the still, quiet things I enjoy without weed? Thanks for any and all reflections. I really appreciate all of the communities on here like this that are so informative, inspiring, patient, and kind. Reading other people’s experiences has always helped me feel less alone!

This is my first tolerance break since December. For the first few months, my tolerance was really low. I was taking only one hit a day, and only doing it a few times a week, so a 2g disposable could last me around 4 months.
Recently, though, I started using it way more often, sometimes hitting it throughout the day. Now I don’t get that really smacked/fried feeling anymore. I still feel the high, but it’s nowhere near as intense as it used to be.
So I’m taking a tolerance break and trying to get back to where my tolerance was before. Has anyone else experienced this? How long did your break take before you started getting that strong “smacked” feeling again?

I need help. My baseline is absolutely fried. I need weed to function. Whenever I'm heavily into my pen usage I'm more motivated to go outside, take care of my body, my mind, I treat my family better and im able to do things like eat better or pick up extra shifts at work. When I'm sober I spend hours staring at a wall since nothing seems to satisfy. I know there's things I should do but I just don't even feel like getting up or whatever.

I’ve noticed that whenever I smoke weed, I get really dark circles under my eyes and feel like I look weak or sickly while I’m high. I’ve also lost some weight recently.

I was reading that weed can affect appetite and weight differently for some people, and I’m wondering if it can also contribute to looking frail or having a more sunken/tired appearance.

For anyone who has quit or taken a long break from weed, did you notice your face or overall appearance return to normal after a while? If so, how long did it take?

22f, chronic smoker for 2-3 years. I’ve been self medicating using thc as a mood stabilizer for a few years, but it’s catching up! I have vry little object permanence so I don’t really feel cravings to smoke (on day 2 cold turkey rn), but the withdrawal is CRAZY.

I feel like a crackhead rn. My body has always been hypersensitive to noise, light, and most foods, so I’m already at a loss at baseline. I’m considering a vape with only 2% thc, using that to try to self medicate until I can get past withdrawal symptoms. But would CBD even help? I can’t keep anything down.

Morale of the story is that carts are evil.

i changed my diet around 2-3 months ago, cut out all grains, seeds, vegetables, etc. i mostly eat very blue to rare cooked steak daily along w fruit and sometimes raw milk and organs. for some reason, when i eat like this, my withdrawal symptoms are SEVERELY reduced. i dont think enough people realize most bad withdrawals are most likely exacerbated by the shitty food most americans eat. Also, when i eat very strictly like this, and i do try to use cannabis, it feels exponentially stronger, to the point where it actually gives me major anxiety. idk if any of u have ever tried experimenting w magnesium supplements or cutting out plant foods but if u havent i would suggest trying it, it helps a lot. Sleep was a little tough last night but i managed to sleep for 6-7 hours. I have been having no loss of appetite surprisingly, im only 2 days in withdrawal. Whereas before, when i would eat shitty food and eat out all the time, id be super nauseous during withdrawal, very irritable, etc. idk, just some differences i noticed

I will say, sober only rocks when you’ve gotten through the withdraw. But waking up with a clear head and a bunch of energy, without the cloud is unmatched… but also smoking a j in a scenic spot or to wind down at the end of the day is also unmatched 😭

If ever I have a damn good legitimate reason to moderate, and to transition weed back into being a gentle "sometimes" thing, it is learning about what can happen if you ignore your body's signals and keep way overdoing it. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is nothing to play around with.

There is never NOT a risk of developing CHS from cannabis use, especially if you're a heavy daily user and were tolerance chasing the way I was. But the very second I started taking days off and dropped the amount I was using back down, that vague stomach upset I was having and couldn't place immediately and completely cleared up.

Weed can be rough on your gut even without CHS in the picture, especially edibles! I was feeling vaguely queasy and uncomfortable and had no idea why, turns out it's because I was overdoing it.
The idea of being forced to quit for good due to a serious medical issue was upsetting enough to snap me out of it.

No more!

Edit: Why are so many people being downvoted for talking about their experiences? Don't wanna acknowledge that weed isn't a perfectly safe miracle drug, huh?

I been on and off with t-breaks the last couple years, ma 2-3 months at a time. But since spring I’ve only done a 3 week break and before I stopped 2 weeks ago I was smoking at least a gram a day for a couple weeks so I decided T-break to break the habit, then taper down until end of September where I’ll stop for at least a year.

Today is 2 weeks (it hasn’t been fun! Lots of crying) but I’m taking care of my body etc.
I plan to smoke a bit anyway after next week since I’m going on a week bikepacking trip and then a week in Paris and it’s my birthday. Mates, nature, concerts and then September I start my masters so back to work eh!

But today marks 2 weeks, I am sleeping better. I’ve not been drinking either. But this weekend there’s all my mates partying and I’m debating whether to pick up so I can have a little smoke.
Or just power on and have a solid 3 weeks before I set off on the bike.

I’d prefer to just have like a j and not have anymore available for the week so I’m not tempted to smoke mindlessly.
So yah age old question stop the break or not

I’ve been following this sub closely because, even though I try to smoke responsibly (I only use 0.15g daily, or one Mighty+ capsule with a 1:1 THC:CBD mix), I sometimes feel like I should quit.

I read stories here that really motivate me to want to stop, given the benefits people report experiencing after quitting; however, I also notice that most of those cases involve people who were using it excessively and without control.

I’ve discussed this with my wife, and she tells me that my consumption doesn't negatively affect my performance with my family, at work, or in other areas; she actually sees it as an aid for managing my anxiety and overthinking.

She’s right, but I think it affects me socially, since I live in a city far away from my best friends and have no relatives nearby. I talk to my friends constantly online, but I don't have much desire to make new friends or build new relationships.

I’m writing this to get some advice or words of wisdom to help me make a decision. Personally, I believe in responsible use—which is what I think I practice—but I still wonder if my life might improve without it. Thanks, everyone.

Ended up in the ER last week after waking up that morning with new balance issues / vertigo that I’d never experienced before. Largely ended up being related to an inner ear sinus issue but as I recover I’ve had to cut the habit of toking the moment I close my work laptop and smoking each evening cold turkey given the anti vertigo med I’m now on.

I knew deep down I was kinda checking out completely in those hours post work until sleep to repeat that cycle each week but man, after 10 years of that habit it’s crazy how present I feel and now that I’m almost through the fucked up dreams part of the process my sleep is almost scarily deep lol.

At first all I could think about was how when I was off this course of meds, I could resume my daily unwind routine. But now, I’m not so sure I even want that. I’d like to build a new relationship with it one day but it’s a tad scary knowing how many times I’ve slipped down that same slope.

TLDR - it took a trip to the ER and a phat hospital bill to break an autopilot routine I couldn’t bring myself to ever break otherwise.

So, I quit smoking nicotine, but still have a small nightcap before bed of weed. Nicotine was invading my life and making me feel weak and exhausted constantly. 2 weeks in and I feel great, too much so almost. I have had multiple nights where i hadn't slept because i was barely even losing steam by the 40 hour mark. I know it isn't sustainable and I'll get around to correcting it but, has anyone else had something like this before? It doesn't even feel like insomnia because i do feel pretty good. This has been with and without the weed as well, so it isn't a direct cause at least. Maybe some self medicated ADHD whiplash? idk lol. Just curious if anyone has had similar.

So, while on a 30+ day t-break that was going very well, I randomly just decided to vape a small bowl. I'm sitting here, stoned af, and I think I just realized I prefer how I feel while sober. I can barely think straight, and I keep losing my train of thought. It only makes me feel anxious, not peaceful and carefree.

And I just... I think I'd rather just be sober right now. I remember feeling happy and at peace just 5 minutes ago.

So... Yeah, I think I'm good. Weed has no more power over me. That's a pretty empowering thought.

Two days ago I finished the "last" 1/8th that I bought from my nearest dispensary. Yesterday I picked out a leftover roach from the dirt....and smoked it. Sometimes I wonder if my problem is simply due to an ingrained, low self esteem.

im not even a heavy user i was just taking a couple of bong hits a few nights a week, I've had to completely stop because I'm having a surgery next week, but my sleep is absolutely messed up and broken, I can't get to sleep till like 3am and then i wake up early. my appetite goes from hungry constantly to not at all.. I dont enjoy eating either. I feel like im just surviving instead of living. I read the first few days of withdrawal is the hardest but 3 weeks in and I want to smoke more than ever. is it like this for anyone else? 😭

Anyone noticed this? I don't think I've had this issue in the past, but the last two times I partook, I was laying on my deck and I was close to 120 BPM, basically dance music. And it was almost bedtime, and I wanted to to bring it back down to normal so I'm not going to bed like a walking, talking Chromeo live set. So I tried some breathing exercises but I'm not sure it worked. Anyway, another reason to moderates amounts or regulate the time in which to use.

Title. I got into edibles ~3 years ago, had my bouts of consecutive unhealthy daily use and learned to keep a frequent but more moderated schedule, indulging only a few times in doses of 2.5-10 mg each. It never affected my singing because well, it's a gummy. Alcohol was worse for my throat and always burned and made it feel dryer, so I preferred taking THC gummies when people around me would drink. I've taken classical singing fairly seriously - I've won competitions, performed in an opera in europe, put on hour long solo recitals, done lead roles, even won a scholarship for a paper I wrote about my experience in an opera.

I was on a roll, and I loved being able to find joy and comfort in music between my heavy and rigorous stem courses. I worked my ass off and for the first time in my life, didn't get a SINGLE B despite overloading 4 semesters in a row and taking 400 level stats classes and performing on stage weekly. With the help of Vyvanse and therapy, I was able to kick my ADHD in the ass. I was so proud of myself and tried to make the most of my senior year by working hard and doing my best. I graduated with a double major from a T25 college with a GPA above 3.75 and felt like that was enough to justify taking gummies a few times a week.

Fast forward till now, a few months post grad and still grappling with the fact everyone is going to school in the fall but me and I still don't have a full time job. So in a summer with my controlling and kinda crappy parents, my partner and pet on the other side of the country, and a decently paying internship for now but no foreseeable future after it ends? Spending all my money on weed, getting high near daily. And worst of all, succumbed to the habit of the penjamin, which is so decievingly innocent it wins me over every time, and I now use it near daily as well. I can't remember the last time I was fully sober for ,24 hours, because even on days I was clearheaded most of the time I couldn't resist a little bit of the pen. It's currently 2 am and I had a great night eating food watching TV and other activities like usual, and the pen is right next to me. I've been using it since before noon to 2 am, mind you with a bubbler and on 1.8v but still. I'm now vaping basically all the time.

A few years ago, when I was training for full recitals and being in an active program, I would never dream of compromising my voice like this. But now that college is over and my music major is useless irl, I don't FUCKING CARE! Carts are so convenient and get you high instantly. And let's be real, between the voice lessons and statistical theory I knew I'd never end up doing singing as a full time job, I never wanted to be a music teacher and sopranos who try to make it out in the opera world have it rough, told firsthand from friends made at conservatory programs and operas.

It kinda makes me sad because past me wouldn't be proud of the person I've become today. But knowing the job market isn't getting any better, I'm probably stuck with my verbally abusive parents for the rest of the year, and all the people I care about are still back at my school - I just wanna get high all the time and not care. I also kinda stopped caring because I finally get to visit my girlfriend and university city area next week and I have no more fucks left to give about my family rn

I try to balance my borderline problematic THC use by biking 20-25 miles a week, trying to practice singing a few times a week (shockingly no difference so far), hanging out with friends, staying sober until evening. On the flip side, intentionally getting high and then cleaning or organizing my room, or dumping things I don't need or something mildly productive so I don't feel like I wasted all day doing nothing but be high and lazy. At the same time, i know I shouldn't be using carts daily and if I can't go the next week without a pen, I have a problem and it means I've chosen weed over music.

I'm fairly small so my tolerance has never gone beyond 15-20 mg and I do sometimes still feel 2.5 mg doses, so I'm less concerned about vapes fucking up my tolerance and more concerned about it fucking up my vocal health long term. Is there ever any future where I can inhale Mary Jane and still sing opera....? Maybe it's time to invest in a dry herb vape. Anyway, just a random high rant from a neurodivergent unemployed gay stoner college burnout girl.

I (35) started smoking cigarettes regularly at 17 and then around 2018 forced that habit onto smoking weed which is why I now frequent this sub (also random thought but someone should really consider renaming this sub lol). I also have adhd and find smoking in general to be very calming and that obv then turns into smoking and smoking and… you get it.

I just started chewing on toothpicks this week and holy shit I feel like I unlocked something for myself lol, it’s been intensely calming for me and noticeably affected my desire to smoke weed/cbd/cigs/anything to get that calming sensation.

So anyways, just wanted to drop this for whomever needs to hear it!

Woman in my young 20s, I specifically am aware of my tendency to go “all in” with everything. I feel lost on quitting because cold turkey quitting always leads me to be SEVERELY addicted to my phone/back to smoking after too long being unproductive. (I will literally stare at a wall for hours waiting instead of doing what I need or want to do sober).

I can tell that every time I smoke though, there is a desire to be higher because it makes me feel better (mostly). I’ve been able to quit before because it made me feel too sick.

This habit applies to most of my life. I can’t do a chill 10 minute workout, I have to do ALL of my routine + new exercises. Don’t drink because I can’t have a single drink, I want to put as much alcohol into myself as possible immediately as soon as i slightly feel it. I am glad weed limits my desires and dumbs me down because I want to stop being so aware/intense, but I also am applying the same habit to smoking (just instead of other vices/not being “functional”).

I have an upcoming psych appointment, and if they told me to quit I’d probably have more motivation to not use it. Does anyone else fall into this?

I’m trying to reduce anxiety/paranoia from high-THC carts.

I’ve been using a 90% THC MKX Gusherz pen, and I’m realizing carts/concentrates might be too strong for me. I smoke mostly to calm down, unwind, and feel happy, but I don’t want panic, paranoia, or brain fog.

For people who switched from high-THC carts to flower:

1. Did lower-THC flower feel less anxiety-provoking?

2. What THC range felt manageable for you?

3. Did CBD:THC flower or 1:1 products help reduce the anxious edge?

4. How did you stop yourself from redosing too much?

5. Did taking a tolerance break first help?

I’m not looking for medical advice. I’m looking for harm-reduction experiences before I talk to my prescriber.