Well here we go again.
After a period of smoking marijuana for about 10 years from 18-28 I decided enough was enough and that the time to quit had to happen immediately. Like a lot of people I thought that weed was absolutely harmless in large quantities but like anything that is abused, it got the best of me and I could feel myself changing into this mess of a person. Anxiety and paranoia through the roof, major weight gain from overeating, loss of social life, depression spells that would last month and absolutely no ambition or drive.
Those two years of marijuana cessation were very difficult and exhausting but with the confidence gained from reading this forum, I knew that I would eventually heal and the PAWS symptoms, would eventually disappear. Amazingly this was the case as I actually became a lot better. Anxiety and depression faded away slowly but surely, and I was able to hold down a job and I was able to repair my social life. The majority of my days were very good and I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome because I thought I was completely brain fried from the years of consistent pot use. This all changed again about 6 months ago.
Weed became legal in Canada not long ago and I became extremely tempted to use. Pot shops starting popping up everywhere and the social stigma is fading away. I was doing pretty well with life at that point and figured I would eventually try pot again, what could possibly be the harm? Big mistake. I was between jobs and bored and somewhat dissatisfied with life in June and this began a downward spiral of getting back on the pot. By August, I broke my two year clean stint. At first I thought I was all healed up and that I wouldn’t get addicted. My curiousity to try pot again after so much time was worth it and it wasn’t horrible to use the substance once in a while as long as I didn’t abuse it. This was the starting point for being addicted to pot again, as I tarted to use every other day then eventually everyday multiple times smoking. Before too long I was back in my same old ways, and the Same old symptoms of abuse came back. I started a new job and I suppose my energy was off and I acted strange and got thielabel of weird and could feel anxiety and paranoia setting in. On Sunday I quit again and this time I want to make sure it sticks. It’s day 5 of no weed and PAWS has come back in full force, with only 1 of the 5 days being normal for me. I’m kicking myself for falling into the trap again, and desperately want to be back to normal. Again I know this will take some time and getting used to but my message to everyone is do not get tempted and start using again. It’s absolutely not worth getting high again even for one day. The way I see now my marijuana card has been pulled and am absolutely not allowed to use it again. It’s scary going through this same bs again and I warn everyone not to fall into old habits. Be strong and take care of yourselves as I am going to learn to do again.