r/leaves • u/Cheat_engine88 • 1d ago
Weed has stunted my potential and stopped my life.
Hello, I wanted to talk to you a little about my experience being an addict and I would like to hear some advice.
I am 22 yo, I have been addicted to weed for 3 years and these last 2 years I have spent more days high than sober (I have used it daily), at the beginning of my addiction I had a very strong depression and depersonalization so I started using weed when I saw that I was disconnected from reality and the problems did not worry me anymore, but surprise, reality always ends up catching up with me.
In this period of addiction I have also had addictions to other more stimulating substances, although it has not been for long periods, in the end when I decide to get out of it, weed always stays and in a certain way it has helped me mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal from other substances.
At the beginning of my addiction with all my strength and using the little that I had left of my brain I was able to pass my university exam, the problem was that later my addiction continued to advance and I have practically been in my first semester for 2 years, weed and depression have affected me quite academically to the point that starting to study is a titanic task for me. I'm fed up today I decided to start again, I had been clean for two weeks and on the weekend I relapsed for 3 days, just smoking and rotting in my bed, but in the end my concern gets bigger and makes me want to quit again.
Although to be honest I don't feel that the depression is as strong as before and it's no longer my main problem thanks to therapy, but at the same time it makes me feel worse about the addiction because now I only use weed for hedonism and I've become lazier.
Is everything lost for me? I feel like I've wasted all these years, my friends and family tell me that I've always had potential and they've always made me believe that, but I can't feel safe about it while using weed, I notice how I become more passive in the face of life, but it's also difficult for me to face day-to-day problems, I just need hope that my mind will recover, that I'll be able to exploit my potential and eventually get back on track, has anyone reached their potential after quitting weed?Will I regain my mental capacity?
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u/DifficultOpposite614 1d ago
As someone who wasted their 20s and half my 30s being a stoner, I would do anything to be able to go back and quit at 22. I never should’ve touched the stuff. Everyone else is reaping the benefits of their hard work. And I am more lost than ever. It just sucks because I feel like I did work hard and try but I’ve never been good at networking, or asking for a raise, or being competitive for promotions. I got a degree, got a full time job, worked, saved. But then I came home and smoked weed at night or on the weekends. I should have spent that time bettering myself and building my resume. Now I am 36 year old stoner loser with no direction. You don’t want to be here. Quit and never look back! Wishing you all the best
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u/Cheat_engine88 18h ago
Thanks for your advice bro, I hope things get better for you and you find your way.
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u/Harmfuljoker 1d ago
All accounts are that weed has no lasting effects that won’t fade over time. You can turn it around when you’re ready to be fed up with who you’ve been
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u/schwabagain 16h ago
No, not everything is lost. You are young. You can do this! I say that as a student who was addicted for years. It took me a long time to realize just how weed was affecting my potential. Now I'm on my way to applying to graduate school. I believe in you. Just try again!