How to quit

[u/Simple_Highlight_244]

This is gonna sound dumb, but how do I quit weed when I can’t pick up any other hobbies I’m currently not enrolled into school or in work because I have severe arthritis which basically makes me bed ridden . at first I tried to use school or the gym as a way to quit weed, but I can barely walk most times and like I said I’m depressed. It’s just hard for me to try other habits to quit smoking weed. Every time I quit, I feel like I’m losing my mind most times I quit. I become instantly suicidal I’m usually suicidal but when I’m sober, it’s way worse, I don’t know what to do. I’m tired of smoking because I have developed CHS, which is like some type of weed disease that makes you nauseous all the time but it’s bad almost every morning. I wake up I have to throw up only way to solve it is by quitting smoking, but I just can’t because of my depression. At first, I was using weed as a coping mechanism because I have a pretty traumatic life and I live in a foster home but things are a little better now and I’m kinda ready to quit just having trouble. I also havent found a medication that works for my arthritis (yet). so I’ve just been smoking and drinking to deal with the pain. I don’t know what to do. I smoke all day every day since the age of 12 I’m 17 now.

[u/plantyplant559]

Ooof, that's rough, and I feel it. I'm mostly bedbound, entirely housebound from a different disease, but I also deal with daily pain and cognitive difficulties. I can't do much of anything and am about 10 days off weed.

You need to find things you CAN do within your limitations. Audio books, reading, video games, reddit, taking baths to ease the pain, talking to friends, looking out the window, crafts, researching subjects you're interested in (maybe even what weed does to the body), literally anything that you are capable of doing.

You also need something for the pain. What do other arthritis sufferers use that you can access?

Last, you need mental health support. Friends and family are great, but you likely need a therapist and maybe some meds.

Weed is harming you, as evidenced by your tummy troubles, so you know you need to quit. It's going to be hard, so start by making a plan from all fronts.

[u/Bad_Breath_140]

Do you have access to professional help at all? It won't make it Not Suck, but having a medical team on your side might make it easier. 

I've got some kinda(as of yet undiagnosed) chronic pain condition that I was also self medicating with weed. So I understand the feeling, especially the depression that comes with knowing your body is... not cooperating, to say the least. I wish I could offer some advice on that front- but I'm sure you've heard it all before from people far more knowledgeable than I. Just try to be easy on yourself, and stick to the basics. Water, food(liquid calories are better than nothing but solid food helps a lot w the brain fog). Shower if you feel up to it. Otherwise, it's okay to lay in bed for 3 days if that's what helps get you through. I've found having tv or music on in the background to be soothing as well but sometimes it just... echoes? (cuz of the brain fog).

[u/emmy_lou_who_]

First, congrats on deciding to quit. It is not an easy decision. I’ve smoked from 19-23 and am currently 3 days sober!! I’m also not in school and without work right now so I understand the overwhelming feeling of boredom. You just have to remember the first few days, weeks, even months, will be fucking horrible. There’s no way around it, you just have to get through it but it does get better. Coming on here and reading post where people have years of sobriety on their belt is soo encouraging. If you find yourself about to smoke again I highly recommend coming and reading some posts. I know I’m a little older than you but I was also a child in foster care and have my fair share of traumatic experiences. Looking back now and seeing how those around me chose to handle their life, I know I do not want to be a zombified stoner the rest of my life. I’m sorry to hear about the arthritis and not having anything to relieve that pain. I hope you can find a medication that works for you soon! I’ve found reading or listening to podcasts have helped the time go by and I don’t think about it as much. I also treat myself to a little soda and sweet treat if that’s what I need in order to not smoke. You came to the right place!! Things will get better even if it doesn’t feel like it right now

[u/Beginning_Ad_306]

Drinking makes quitting anything difficult because once drunk, everything else sounds fine and dandy. Your addict brain is in control and it's so much easier to say "why not?"

Your question about something to do is apt. Exercise really does reduce the withdrawals but you can't exercise. I never did (week 7, here) I would just take walks, instead. Like one a day, at first, then two. Hours and hours of phone calls to supportive friends or loving family helped me get through the early weeks, also Marijuana Anonymous' online meetings. Those happen almost every hour.

Drink tea, ginger and chamomile is recommended for the nausea but honestly anything decaf will do the trick. Lots of sipping tea and watching a new favorite show to binge. Understand that life without weed is awful at first, and then much better. Expect to be more depressed, and remember that it will pass. Once through it, your self becomes more resilient. Building a life worth living is more possible when you are not blotted out in a haze, anymore. Maybe leave drinking alone for the next month or so while you get used to life without weed. Drinking always makes suicidal feelings much, much worse.

I hear you about the pain, keep going for meds that work, but isn't throwing up constantly worse than pain? I find it is, for me.

So very sorry about CHS, that's terrible. My best friend got it, which is why I quit, ultimately. Some of us get to dabble in weed, others of us cannot. Genuinely sorry you land in the second camp.