Hey y’all, would like to share my recent experiences with trying out SMART meetings.

If you’re not aware SMART is an addiction recovery organization that is built on scientific evidence, and cognitive behavioral therapy and rational emotion behavior therapy.

It’s basically the secular counterpart to 12 step/ Alcoholics Anonymous, and can help people who suffer from any addiction or any addictive behavior.

I’ve been to about 6 or 7 meetings now, and I’m glad I’ve found a group that I really like.

I’m very hard on myself, and Listening to other addicts talk about the same stuff I’ve been through makes me feel more compassion for myself, and empathy towards others.

Just being vulnerable and talking about our sustance use feel very refreshing, and I really “feel something” after every meeting I go to.

The meetings have a segment on tools to help you work towards your goals, but honestly I’ve found the check-ins and the discussions I’ve had with other members to be the best part.

I would reccomend people to give it a try, especially if your substance use leads to a lot of mental turmoil for you.

On day 3 of using a cbd pen that’s 21:1 to stop. nearly has 2% thc. It’s definitely a roller coaster dealing with a breakup 3 weeks ago now that I’m sober it’s all hitting again. I’m 24 and finally waking up from a 7 year habit.

Last weekend with 4/20, I consumed a lot of weed. I enjoyed every minute of it and never had a bad experience during this time or any previous time smoking weed over the past 8 months. The next day, I had this high/cloudy feeling and it hasnt gone away since. Its been about a week and its gotten slightly better but not amazing. Is there something wrong, do I need to stop smoking weed?

I’ve been smoking every day for the past 6 months. I take small hits of flower throughout the day when not working, usually go through 1 gram in ~3 days, so I feel like it’s on the low side consumption wise. The problem is even with the low consumption I’m still facing bad withdrawals when trying to cut back.

Usually by the time my coffee and meds kick in, I am energetic and ready to go about my day. About 6 months ago, I added smoking to that mix because of stress and heartbreak, but also because it really gets me in the zone with training for my sport or other things I do like writing for work or leisure or even just chores. I’ve been through a period of using for this reason about 7 years ago. All three chemicals combined put me in a really good spot mentally and physically, aside from it significantly increasing my OCD/intrusive thoughts or just producing thoughts in me that I don’t want and don’t think I would have when sober.

Anyways I’m really conflicted on my usage and would like to cut back, as I feel guilty and don’t want to need it to be successful at things or to just feel good through the day/night. The problem is now, when I wake up and the coffee and meds kick in but I don’t smoke, my physical anxiety is almost unbearable. It feels like all this pent up nervous energy throughout my body to the point I feel paralyzed and can’t even do anything, and I also get that nervousness pit in your stomach feeling that doesn’t go away until I take at least a small hit. This never happened to me before I started smoking everyday. Has anyone else had this issue and did it get better?

On a side note I also can’t sleep without it now as I get super restless legs and my body just won’t shut down. This also never happened before I started smoking.

Thanks for everyone’s input. God bless

Hey guys

So as I'm getting ready to commit to a sober summer for the first time in 4 years, I want to make sure I'm set up for success. Music is a HUGE part of my life and I rely on it for a lot of emotional support. I was curious how those who have quit smoking tolerate songs that sing positively about smoking weed? I'm nervous it will trigger me.

For example, the reason I even thought of this post was because 'What I Got' by Sublime came on this morning and I was casually jamming then when the lyric "I can still get high" came on. My energy shifted since I most certainly can not 'still get high' :3

Am I going to have to unlike all songs that praise weed for a little? :( maybe that's dramatic, just curious if other people relate and how they may have approached this!

12 days ago I suddenly stopped smoking. No particular reason as it has felt the same the last year. I've been controlling rate of consuption every 2 months, and I haven't escalated much since I first started (0,2g). I never smoke and drive (so I was almost never high when the sun was up) Weird part is I don't feel like toking, the only thing pulling me towards it at this point is routine.. I have everything ready to go but have not been needing to discipline myself, hide it, or make any efforts besides not lighting it up. On day 6 or so I picked up the container and smelled it and put it away as there was no drive to smoke it. I have no deadline to aim towards, no plan, just taking each day for what it is. I was a daily (nightly) smoker for 4+ years.

I haven't been able to keep to my earlier t-breaks for more than a week or two, cause I saw no point. Now I don't see the point of smoking.

I'm still doing exactly the same stuff as when smoking, cause to me smoking was just elevating the evening-activeties. I used to think the smoking was keeping me up at night, but it seems more like it's just who I am. I simply don't want to sleep. This just me airing out, as I don't want pressure or expectations from people around me.

I'm reading The Art of Making Memories by Meik Working and the chapter where he talks about how memories from the ages of 15-30 tend be most strongly recollected. Reading him describe his own memories has brought up deep anxiety and regret about how passively I've lived. Stuck deeply in avoidance with my head in clouds of smoke. My memories feel scrambled and hazy, hard to grasp and feel them deeply.

I let myself smoke extra days after 420 and it confirmed that smoking more than two days in a row is not the path I want to walk. Tomorrow we're visiting some old smoking buddies overnight, I haven't seen them since I quit smoking daily. I'm honestly nervous about it all, especially my sleep routine. I know I'll be tempted to smoke but I just know I don't want to, and reading this chapter bolsters me, I want vivid memories of this happy visit.

This new chapter I'm in feels so much better for my self esteem, I feel good about the memories I'm making. I'm really excited to build up my library of happy vivid clearheaded memories. Yet It's still challenging but important to really face the consequences of how I spent the last decade, especially realizing how important vivid happy memories are for life satisfaction, mental health, and long term joy. I need to start working through some of the shame I have attached to these happy hazy memories. I can't just let myself taint an entire decade of memories. I'm allowed to enjoy remembering happy times from eras with big regrets.

So, here’s my problem. Me and all my boys are weed smokers, runs in our veins seemingly. We all mix weed and tobacco in our bongs, we call that ‘chop’(maybe it’s just a central valley Ca thing idk). Anyway, i’m trying to stop, for health reasons and for other mental health reasons as well. I honestly just feel healthier without it. I can run again, workout, eat healthier and more. Now, here’s the problems with me boys and boyettes. I am ADDICTED to the feeling i get it. Like yeah the physical addiction to tobacco is a bitch but it’s easier for me to just stop on that front. Yet when i’m around my friends, im so tempted for that amazing headrush. I’ve never felt anything like it in my life. 10 seconds of just empty brain, manual breathing, and full body buzz. Gives me goosies. And i CRAVE that feeling so bad, not like i necessarily need it, i just want it so bad. I’ve been good of all smoking for a month and then relapsed a bit took a few bowls with my friends. I just want to know if anyone could tell me if they know the health effects of this tobacco+weed bong mix. Sometimes i used to spit out like black specks in my phlegm, and i just did that this morning cause i did it yesterday and the day before. I know I can stop especially if i just don’t hang out with my friends cause then im not tempted. But I just want others more elder advice from some adults. Appreciate anyone who responds🫡☝🏽

Hi guys

I smoke twice a week, 0,3 g of weed each time. I’m pretty high on that dose currently, however I crave smoking a little more often.

I’m wondering: will I raise my tolerance by using his technique, when it’s as low as it is already?

Or will I simply “activate” my receptors so that I will be able to get a lil buzz more than twice a week?

I don’t need to be stoned AF each time, however I will by any means rather stick to a few real hitting smoke days than more mediocore sessions.

For some reason I literally cannot quit. I have been having the feeling and conscious thought to quit for 5 years straight. Even when low on money I find a way to fit weed into my schedule the whole day.

I smoke 1.5 g a day. 2 - 3 times a day .5 g

I got back into a program that I randomly quit 2 times because of uninterest in computers. Also feelings of fatigue from smoking in the morning. I feel like I had that mind change or switch because I was smoking weed.

I'm more focus n stable when sober. I remember skating alot more when fully sober but ever since i started smoking its just been weed. I've been smoking for 10 years with occasional breaks.

Sometimes I have the inability to feel pleasure, apathy, n fatigue. I know the fatigue is from smoking specifically cause when I had a dry herb vape I felt way better but somehow it went missing.

Everytime I say I'm going to stop, it never happens. I even copped some weed today :(

I said I was gonna stop for a year straight. I was able to take a 5 day break, then 1 week of only smoking in the night then I went back to 2 - 3 times a day. my mind changes n tells me its okay, then its like I'm convinced its okay. When buying weed i think if I should buy it or not but always buy.

There have been alot of mishaps in my life in terms crazy decisions that lead no where n I feel like it happens cause I'm smoking weed.

Is weed the problem ? Or is it just me ? I have heard stories about people quitting and life getting easier which did happen for me also but I literally can't stop projecting the experience of smoking weed. And I have only quit for 5 days recently so I really don't know.

So the about 5 days ago I smoked and got really high and I enjoyed the high. Ever since then, I have this permanent high feeling but without the euphoria and Im seeing the world differently. Will this ever go away, and when it does is it safe to smoke again? Thanks!

Hi all,

I need some outside perspective. I'm 18 and in my last year of school. I have my final exams coming up in a couple months, these alone will dictate whether I get into university or not.

I smoke every night, I use a dry herb vape and I dont even finish a bowl. Most of the time, a 0.15g bowl lasts 2 nights. I definitely have a very low tolerance, but I also don't want to get too high.

I've been smoking nightly since last September, with a couple short breaks along the way. I have ASD and ADHD, which makes schoolwork, studying and homework incredibly taxing for me. I've been very burnt out, anxious and depressed cthis past school year, but now that spring is arriving and I got myself on antidepressants about a month ago, I'm feeling much better. Still, school and life in general is absolutely exhausting, and my only escape from my racing mind and constant overstimulation is those ~2 hours in the evening where I can smoke and watch a show, or play some music.

I do worry that my habit is causing me harm, especially to my memory and motivation. I have always had a horrible memory (probably related to my disorders), but I worry weed makes it worse. I also worry my motivation is taking a hit, as I already struggle with the classic hopelessness/ lack of motivation from my depression.

So, in essence, I don't want to stop, at least not for now. In the future I'd like to limit myself to the weekends so a good smoke becomes more of a treat, but right now smoking at the end of each day is the only way I can relax. But if the habit is doing more harm than good, I want to try and stop it, however hard it'll be.

Any outside perspective and advice would be great :)

I've been an every day smoker for about 6 years. In January I tried to bite the bullet and quit cold turkey, and did so for one month. In that time, my depression came back with a vengeance, and I started having vivid dreams again, only they were always nightmares.

I picked it up again, only smoking a small bit at night, but my nightmares haven't gone away this time. I feel tired no matter how much sleep I've gotten and I wake up miserable and sad, even if I don't remember what happened in the nightmare.

Any idea why this has happened, and any advice on what to do about it? Thanks

I took a 52 day t break which the whole time I was treating mentally as a permanent end to using weed at all. but then the day after my bday (when i drank) i totally just caved and was easily able to get myself some stuff and told myself even tho ik this isn’t great for me, i can at least not let it totally control me like before and use it at totally inappropriate times and let it ruin my productivity. it’s been ~2 weeks since i started using and totally just decided to not go to my classes today and get bkfast then drive round til my family member left for work and come home and get rly high. i know it’s bad but it feels so good to isolate myself like this ik im in a bad place i gotta stop again and throw all my stuff away. just wanted to share guys 🤦‍♂️

I'm trying to understand why I seem to like to catch a buzz when I'm doing outdoor activities. Most of my life, I've been getting high when I go skiing. Even when I stop for a long time, when I go skiing, I start and then stop afterwards. Now that I took up mountain biking, I'm finding I'm doing the same thing. Something about being outdoors in nature and getting high appeals to me.

I made my rules, said I was only going to smoke Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays. It's Wednesday night. I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. Everyone had drinks, I can't drink bc I'm depressed. I didn't bring an edible since I was running late and since I just recently got off my tolerance break my tolerance is still low and idk when and how long it would hit and wouldn't feel comfortable driving after. SO. I'm gonna allow myself a smoke with my dab vape, just one smoke no other consuming tonight and my fat bowl will have to wait until tomorrow. Accepting me breaking the rule tonight given the circumstances. Guess I'm just becoming more aware of the habit. 💚

Hello.

I am coming to realize that weed isnt rly serving me or my life at this stage anymore. The ways it drains my life outweigh the ways in which it adds fulfillment to my life. However, I've been stuck in my ways for so long, I cant seem to make a change. Idk if its because I am ambivalent, or because I have unresolved trauma, or terrible coping skills, or a combo of all of that, but anyways I just wanted to write this all out to get it out of my head!

How weed makes my life worse:

• makes me paranoid

• increases anxiety

• worsens anhedonia

• intensifies negative thoughts

• worsens binge eating episodes

• intensifies the urge to drink alcohol

• makes me further from my ideal version of myself

• makes me more disorganized

• worsens brain fog

• Burns a hole in my pocket

How weed benefits my life:

• itches a scratch/soothes the craving in the moment, which I will admit is pretty major because my cravings make my SKIN CRAWL and my coping skills are awful

• its fun

• music sounds better

• dopamine

• food tastes better

So basically, what I am up against is hedonism and impulsivity vs my sanity and discipline. The problem is, my coping skills SUCK. I just get so overwhelmed I completely shut down and just avoid or escape. That is something I really need to work on and I really want to work on. My mental health also sucks and I have some stuff going on with that and my addictions therapist is also gonna leave me cuz I havent been making enough changes.

I am going through some major transitions in my life right now and really want to take this opportunity to work on myself. So any advice is appreciated.

26F

I see a lot of people on here with stories like mine, good job and education, healthy working out regularly…. Recently I decided to see a therapist and I mentioned my weed use to her too. She basically said everyone has some sort of vice or addiction (like coffee) and I shouldn’t worry so much. Yes I do struggle with anxiety and my other doc said the same thing to me once- something along the lines of, I’m so worried about my use that it probably will never really get out of hand.

I have a great job, I lost 30lbs in the last year, I’m in grad school., own property. But I hit my cart a lot, like too much for comfort. Sometimes I feel like I’m strict on myself in other ways, so this is my one vice. It’s just kinda shocking how fast the carts go. I’ve taken breaks here and there but mostly just don’t want to. For a while I was keeping it down to 10 hits a day. Lately I’m closer to 15-20. I try to buy low THC carts but they are always so mf high percentages.

I never wanted to go over using more than 1g a week. A 0.5g will last me like 2-3 days. It’s hard to moderate! Like I hate waking up in the morning but wake & bake makes it sooo much better. And if I just let myself go nuts I’ll hit like over 30x in a day if I’m just chillin at home. I try to keep busy so I don’t do that!!

I did try just using flower for a bit but vapes are nice. Ugggg

Ultimately I just don’t feel like I have a real reason to stop. My therapist told me if it makes me happy I should just do it. But whyyy do I worry about it then?! I have even asked my friends if they think my usage is a lot and they say no. I guess maybe I’m worried about health effects later in life. I wish I felt more motivated by the money I spend but honestly idccc bout that.

My biggest motivator would just be to take a break so I can lower my tolerance. But I struggle to do that too :(

Is it possible to never highten your tolerance and still get the same high every time? By only smoking once or twice a week for example?

My dreams should be picking up again soon. During t-breaks my dreams are pretty good.

When smoking I can't remember shit.

I'm definitely a lighter user considering the tolerance and time committed to smoking . Basically I started smoking daily 2 months ago, 1-3 blunts per day (mixed with tobacco). So only 3g consumed in total during that 2 months.

But still, it's definitely hurting me since I'm increasingly dependent on it for the mental + physical pain relief. I'm a full-time worker, and it obersably affected my overall productivity and displine.

I'm trying to cut it down to 1-2 times only in the weekends, and possibly to lower the amount. Any advice on the methods and recommended amount/consumption frequency? Thank you! It's nice to know of a group like this, like we are all in this together!

Hey all, so I'm cutting back from daily use to 2 days a week. When I don't take unisom, I won't sleep a wink, but I'm nervous that if I keep using unisom, I'll just be dependent on that to sleep.

I just don't know what to do. I'm managing every single part of the t-break well, but when I don't sleep it affects my job, and my thoughts get dark. I really don't have issues with cravings or missing weed, I just want to sleep and I'm terrified right now since insomnia makes me feel crazy. I exercise often and have a really good screen free night routine. Pls help :( I'm really struggling with this

I used to smoke every night for about 5 years. Today I reached my 1 year goal of not smoking. My cravings started to get bad around 10 months in and I started counting down the days until I reached the 1 year mark. My mind is much more stable and my anxiety is much better after abstaining for a year. I recognize all the positive effects from not smoking, but I still want to smoke weed 1x every 1-2 weeks. I’m one of those people that can really trip out, get paranoid, and anxious from weed. But when I’m not paranoid or anxious, I really enjoy it. I love the creativity and fascination you get from being high. I know weed is bad for me and my health but I still want to do it. I can’t tell if it’s reasonable or irresponsible of me to try to smoke weed again, knowing it has negative effects on my mind.

22M, I have been smoking hash mixed with tobbaco for the past 7 years currently 16 days clean and was wondering how long cravings will last. I quit due to my asthma getting worse due to the smoke, but the cravings have been very hard to deal with. I have thought of replacing the smoking with edibles but the problem is there is no edibles being sold in my country and making them myself is not a option as I have family living with me. Another problem is that basically everyone around me smokes and it makes it even harder to stop. I have been avoiding these people since i quit but I feel like i will relapse very soon and not sure what to do

I'm on my journey to moderation and I'll share some of my thoughts about it here. Hopefully it helps someone in the same boat as me.

Yesterday I rolled a joint with the full intention of smoking it and then doing chores around the house. I reminded myself of my rule of no smoking alone during the week and although it was very difficult to resist, the craving passed and I didn't give in. That's a huge step for me - having a joint ready to go and resisting the temptation.

I spent today thinking about the joint lurking in my bag and was very close to smoking it during my lunch break. Again, I resisted even though it was very difficult.

Then tonight I finally sparked it up. Took a few puffs, felt high and so I told myself here is where I stop. I feel high and relaxed, that's what I wanted, so no need to smoke the whole thing in one sitting. I left space for myself to finish the joint before the day was up. But then I didn't feel the need to. And this is a very huge achievement for me - not only have I resisted the urge several times now, but I was able to smoke just a few puffs instead of several joints like I used to.

I'm starting to see that moderation really is the way to go. I love marijuana, but when I'm (ab)using it a lot it loses its charm. With moderation and mindfulness I can be able to enjoy it more, make it more meaningful and keep it as an enhancing substance, not as a crutch during daily life. Using it this way also means that I use it up way slower and therefore am saving money. It also makes my mind at ease knowing I have a stash that's there for me for special occasions.

My goal is to have sobriety become my new normal. I don't drink much alcohol and would much rather have a few puffs than sip on a beer like some of my friends. I've started to compare weed to alcohol - what if my whole-day sessions included vodka and not marijuana? I'd be a full blown alcoholic. So I'm trying to rewire my brain to see weed in the same light - it's okay to get high when I'm with friends who are drinking, it's even okay to smoke a few puffs at night after a tiring day at work; it's not okay to smoke 1g in a day by myself.

Overall I am feeling great about this. I hope that things will not unravel and that I won't slip back into constant daily usage. But I feel that this time it's different, this time it's based in awareness and self-care.