Scared to quit marijuana

[maab]

You have a terrific site, my compliments.
I have been a regular marijuana smoker for approximately 5 years. I am now 27, professional and have just started graduate school. I never used to think that my addiction affected me in negative ways, and never really saw a reason to stop.
However, since school started, I have realized that I an succesful in most aspects of my adult life, except for quality interpersonal relationships. I believe my introversive nature has been magnifying by the drugs. I know that I want to be more affectionate and meet interesting people my age, but I sabotage it with the desire to go home and smoke alone. Lately, I have had a couple of sober nights, and it has made me very emotional, dare I say depressed?
I am so scared of quitting. My stash is almost empty, and I really don't want to get more. But I feel like I will be bored, and turn to other vices like cigarette or alcohol. Is it true that one becomes even more depressed after quitting?
Is it realistic to think I can quit alone? Can cold-turkey work?
If not, can you recommend a therapist or resource in West LA?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Its realistic to stop cold turkey if you are willing and confident that you can deal with the temporary depressed feelings, which are basically loneliness.  It is these feelings that drive people to do the work of relating , and that is why it is so  important to have them and master them through relating,rather than through avoiding.  As for a therapist you can try calling ucla outpatient clincic for a referral or go online to psychologytoday.com where they have a directory of therapists in California.   YOu can also get some online help at my site, www.masteringstress.com.  If you ask for a professional consultation after going through a solution session, I will respond.

[Mastergasfitter]

I gave it all up and it was the best thing I ever did.
It was like being let out of Jail. If you continue to use you may end up in jail. I suggest that you look for a support group like NA Narcatics Anonymous. There you will find other people going through the same thing your going through
Good Luck  on setting yourself free

[rizmo]

i can sympathize with how you are afraid to quit.  I quit smoking about 3 months ago.  Now i had been diagnosed with depression in fourth grade, and eigth grade again when i got in trouble for multiple robberies.  But anyway, i quit and didntrealize i was depressed until i started to feel like **** all the time and then i saw this video on lewis and clark, and it said how lewis was really depressed, and as they were naming the symptoms i realized i had it.  Then my g/f dumped me, it really sucked.  I just got in trouble for more robberys so now im on zoloft.  It hasnt kicked in yet, but going to talk to the social worker at school is really cool.  So basically i would say that you should quit, because self-medication will lead to a disaster, go to a phyciatrist, get some medication, and see what happens from their.  Also get a g/f, and one that is nice for god sake, beauty is only skin deep.

[carpentermuff]

i am a 30yr old kickass carpenter and have been since 16.
my father had so called bi-polar dis order. now my whole life till he died i lived w/him and the condition. the way i grew up and  the hardcore carpenter life style i adapted to alowed me to be me. have always been a little crazy like atitude like.
recently i left my wife and kid(3), totally stressed i got arested in va and locked up for apx.2.2 GRAMS of pot.
needless to say. ive smoked since 7th grade and it kept me level or so i think.when arested w/out that leveler i went totally off.
being an avid smoker i truly belive it was my best form of never felling too down in the dumps example slight stress smoke a bone
boss yelled at me smoke a bone, stress at home smoke a bone.

[aweet t]

Im on 20 mg prozac and adderol I smoke about for times week very little amounts Because its only reason i still have a sex life Prozaic effects my sex life and marijuna breaks threw the that side effect

[aweet t]

Im on 20 mg prozac and adderol I smoke about for times week very little amounts Because its only reason i still have a sex life Prozaic effects my sex life and marijuna breaks threw the that side effect