Cant stop smoking marijuana

[dakota297]

I have been sober from alcohol for exactly two months. I am an alcoholic and also have a problem with smoking marijuana. I have been smoking weed daily for the past 7 years and I am only 20. I have no idea how to live without smoking marijuana. I cant leave my house unless I have some. When I try to stop for a day I have intense emotional mood swings and I usually end up crying the whole day and having an emotional breakdown. Since I havent been drinking the last little while (which is so hard on its own) now Ive been smoking more and realizing how much of a problem it is. I have to smoke pretty much every hour or I start to feel bad. And the thing is im so depressed all the time. It also gives me anxiety so horribly when I smoke, yet I cant stop. I have been diagnosed with many mental health disorders and I know for me to even have a chance at dealing with them I have to stop smoking weed but I just cant. Ive tried everything, treatment centres, everything and I just want so badly to stop. Im also scared if I stop smoking weed then I will start drinking again and that would be really bad because I go crazy when I drink so I just dont know what to do. Sorry if i have been rambling, I'm not very good at explaining things

[worried878]

not many here have experienced pot wd..or at least not many mention it...i do not believe there is a true physical wd to quitting pot..but mentally/any habit is hard to let go..so alot of the same rules as narcotics would apply...making up ur mind to do this..picking a day to quit, and sticking to it...and cutting off supply so u r not tempted are all important

how do u feel when u dont smoke for a day or 2?

Oh..i just re-read..u were an alcoholic..or u r an alcoholic cos stuff like that doesnt really go away just cos u stop..and u seem to know how easy people can relapse and is probably why u r hanging onto the pot..but now the pot is causing u issues as well??

Sounds as if u still havnt gotten down to the true reasons u feel the need to use...did u do any type of aftercare when u quit drinking?  People do this with narc wd as well...they sub alcohol or another drug to help satisfy the need for the old drug..it is not uncommon..in fact it is very common..letting go is hard..even cigs are very hard to let go...u can  even miss a headache if u have had it long enuf!  LOL

Do u have a Dr or a counseler/someone u can talk to about this?  u may need an anti-depressant..and there r drugs to help alcoholics like antabuse curb cravings to drink..have u tried any aftercare like AA or counseling?

[ZJILLIAN]

I'm so sorry you have been having such serious problems at this point in your life. Yes you need help but it sounds like earlier treatment has not been useful. Am I wrong? How old were you when you were in a treatment center? Past failures might have to do with age. You have been using during the time of life when people start learning about their feelings and how to interpret them and control them. At 20 I am not surprised that this hard thing, getting clean, is even harder for you. You might find that now is the right time to try again.

You have been sober 2months!!!!!!!!!!! That's GREAT a big accomplishment. Hold on to that, it is very precious! Start to think about what you think might help. What would you need to get away from. Where are your supports. And also what made it difficult in the past. Take your time and plan this like a war against a very tough, smart, and cunning enemy. Think of yourself as going into battle, which takes serious planning.

You are older now and much stronger, more rational, and can set goals for yourself that really feel like your own goals and not someone else's.

It is great that you posted on this site. Keep posting, stay sober, and you have not been rambling. The people are wonderful here and help is available here from people who have experienced what you are going through . Take a deep breath and see what other people reply to your post.

[salsinator]

Hi Dakota,

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your clean time from alcohol.  I have been in your shoes before.  I smoked pot daily for well over 10 years and I am here to tell you that you can stop if you want to.  You menioned that it gives you anxiety when you smoke.  It also did that to me and once I realized that the pot was causing more problems than it was helping, it was fairly easy to stop.  Pot is 100% mental, it is not physically addictive, so there are no physical withdrawal symptoms once you quit.  It really is much more the action of smoking that turns more into the habit.  The best suggestion that I can give you is to keep yourself occupied - keep your mind busy.  I found that smoking pot consumed time and of course while I was stoned, I did not do much and time tended to slow down.  It only takes a few days to quit the habit.  Sure, you may be moody for a couple of days, but this passes quickly and you will start to feel much more alert and clear headed.  Try to not think about how you are feeling every moment.  Watch a good movie, read a book.  Do some things on your computer, take a walk - anything to keep your mind off using.  I am happy to share with you more - keep posting.  You can quit.

[worried878]

I forgot to tell u how positive 2 mths clean from alcohol is!  Tough..so u r a strong person..alcohol is everywhere...hard to steer clear of..please keep posting with us..we all know how u feel..staying clean is tough..substance abuse is tough however u slice it...keep thinking positive..and moving forward..it gets easier as time goes by..it really does..it is not the first thing u think of when ur feet hit the floor..then one day u dont think about it at all..then very seldom will i think about it...u can do this