Looking for positivity/success stories
After 14 years of pretty heavy use (half my life!) I’ve reached a point where I am ready to quit. I used weed to manage undiagnosed ADHD and until recently it was a net-benefit. I managed to get a Master’s degree, start a successful business, stay active, save money, all the stuff you’re “supposed” to do. Although it’s interesting browsing this sub and having the mirror held up. I definitely have not been as connected to my loved ones as I could have been and would shift plans around being able to come home and smoke. I’m pretty excited to come back to my friends and family, my hobbies and my health, for the first time as an adult.
Anyway, after a lot of systemic failures and self-advocacy, I finallyyyy received a proper diagnosis and began prescription medication which has been a fucking gamechanger for me. This massively reduced my weed cravings but during titration I still had a bowl on a night to help me sleep, and smoked on the weekends without my meds. Four times now I’ve had significant panic attacks after smoking. I have health-related OCD and the increase in heart rate (and possibly too much dopamine) made me spiral to the point I thought I was dying. Other times I smoked, I just wasn’t enjoying it and wished I had the clear headed and motivated feeling my meds brought. So I’m officially done. Weed was a good friend to me when I had no other options but now I can manage my ADHD and have a ton of other healthy coping mechanisms and ambitions to keep me going. I feel I’m just having difficulty with the detox and changing up my habits and routines.
It’s early days. My last smoke was Saturday afternoon and writing this it is Monday midday. My sleep has been so poor and I have a cold but other than that I’m fine. The insomnia and weird dreams are the biggest struggle. I worry about my mood being low and irritable because I have a very sociable job and don’t want to be snappy with anyone in my personal life. I feel ready to ride it out but apprehensive.
All of this to say, I know what I need to do to manage in the meantime and I have great support around me. I’d just like to hear from people weeks, months, years down the line because it really inspires me. How has quitting benefitted you and your life? How is it to feel more connected relationally, physically, spiritually? When did you start having healthy sleep again? Let’s create a supportive and positive thread that myself and others can visit when times are tough.
Thanks for reading and I am keeping my prescriber up to date re: the panic attacks and my detoxing 😊