Recovering from Substance Abuse?

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Okay, so I'm going to be really honest about this even though I'm really scared - but I hope that someone else has had similar experiences and can talk me through this

I'm an undiagnosed Aspie and have zero social contact - not even with my family (long story, but let's just say that I have been much better off without them and my dad died 10 years ago). Still, for quite some time, I smoked marijuana daily. I stopped last year when I started working freelance, and things were fine for about four months until I had a bad experience with working online... whatever, that's just an excuse - the point is I started smoking daily again.

Starting from January, however, I did a lot of research on quitting and relapse prevention, and made numerous attempts to quit. Finally I have been successful, but that's largely because I fell on my motorbike the other day and the little gear pedal came off - in essence, I have no transport to go and get any. It's been two days so far and I feel REALLY miserable.

It just feels like this is highlighting what a miserable experience I am having here on my own and that is making me feel really sad and apathetic most of the time. I don't want to go back to smoking again because I remember how much better my life was without it (but I'm not knocking people who choose to keep smoking - it's my personal feeling) but I'm not sure what to do... anyone been through this and have any advice?

Yes, I have had addiction issues with marijuana in the past, still can't believe people say it is not addictive. I used it to help in social situations but it rapidly got out of control. So glad I haven't smoked in nearly a year and a half now. I found this website/chatroom immensely helpful when I first quit http://www.ma-online.org/chat.php you can chat to people online who are going through the same without having the pressure of going to a physical meeting. A good idea would be to find a new hobby or revisit an old one, it can help to keep your mind on something else.

Chiastic_slide - thanks for the chatroom link, I have a feeling this will be very helpful. Well done for not smoking for a year and a half, I can't wait until I am there!

Yes, actually I find that marijuana use gives you something in common with other people, which can make it easier to join a group - but the problem is that the only thing you have in common is usually your marijuana use! Yes, it certainly is addictive - I think people just don't like to think that because they want to feel like they are in control. I am tired of trying to escape my problems - I actually want to deal with them now, so I'm taking the required steps.

Thanks again.

I've smoked daily for the past ten years with a handful of 6-9 months sober quitting attempts. I'm now totally done for good, on Day 6.

I also don't have any friends, have always kept my habit a secret and have a hard time staying quit due to getting easily frustrated, bored, agitated, etc.

This worksheet helps a lot: Quitting Print it out and fill it in.

Remember that you MUST replace your habit with something else that you enjoy, you can't draw from an empty well, as they say! Exercise, lots of water and fruit juice, aspirin (or whatever you prefer), and whatever other things that make you comfortable are key to staying quit. Remember to get rid of everything that reminds you of it, clean your space very thoroughly, you don't want to come across a pot stem while vacuuming and go 'aawwwhhh, I miss it. ' and make yourself feel bad. Also your smell will come back and you want to make sure (if you're sensitive to smells like me) that your space is clean.

I'm done for good this time. I don't need weed to make me happy even though my brain says so. Depression is a common symptom of marijuana withdrawal as the body readjusts natural levels of endocannibinoids. Niacin can help flush toxins from your body (not a high dose, just a little more than a daily dose). Omega 3's will also help you, like fish oil if you can stand it, Krill oil is a bit better (or just have a tin of sardines ! if you like them). Don't eat anything fatty for the first couple of weeks as your digestive system can't handle it. Stick to soups, fruit, steamed veggies, easy to digest grains like rice, lean protein and low sugar snacks.

Okay that's all I can think of atm. HTH

@Kirayng - thanks - this is great advice! I hadn't even thought about things like fatty foods or taking supplements - and actually I have a whole heap of Omega 3 supplements and B vitamins that I can start taking daily now for a damn good reason! Well done for quitting - you're on Day 6 and I'm only Day 2...

Yeah - I also kept it a big secret from anyone around me - that's what made it so hard to get and stay sober... I knew I had the motivation to quit, but I couldn't keep tabs on myself well enough. But I can feel the positive differences now that it is gone again - I am committed to staying quit this time though but hearing from other ADS suffers who have gone through this is already making it a lot easier. I'm a LOT more motivated.

Well, I've started reading again - something I had pretty much stopped doing when high (required too much concentration for too long) and I am surprised at how much more I enjoy it. Socialising on these forums is also providing something new in my day, so that's always great.

Actually really surprised at how little I feel hungry without getting high - it's pretty cool - my food budget will plummet and that's just what I need right now! I made sure I cleaned out the house, but I know exactly what you mean and will do a good once over of the place again tomorrow to make sure there are no nibs lying around!

it's been my experience...that marijuana makes you anxious and bored when you try to quit. You begin to rely on it for your happiness or enjoyment...because it can make mundane things not so boring.

Depending on how long you have been smoking it can make the "withdrawl" if you want to call it that worse...just like any drug.

I think abstaining from cigarrets as well as marijuana have to be cut together...at least in my world their are kind of synonymous.

Though not everyone who smokes cigs smokes weed...well...maybe not...their definately more likely to though in my experience.

Anyways...umm...abstaining from some activities that might trigger your need or want for weed is a good idea....and not being around it if possible.

@legomyego
Ah yes, cigarettes - I smoked for about six years, and also quit last year when I went freelance (because I ran out of money at one stage and couldn't buy) Fortunately, however, I had been to the doctor during one of my quit attempts and I had patches and oral sprays and loads of things to help get me through it... in fact, I contemplated whether there was something similar for weed!

Withdrawl is not too bad at the moment, but it really helps that I don't have to deal with people - they are my largest source of stress, and a HUGE trigger. I'll think about the other triggers and see what I can come up with...

Thanks for your advice!!

I have no experience with marijuana but I do go through periods of drinking alcohol everyday and quitting for a while, only to return to drinking everyday. I never drink a huge amount so it hasn't posed a serious problem in the rest of my life, but it is enough to cause problems like weight gain (from eating badly when I am less than sober and from the lack of exercise)

One problem i have with alcohol is that it blurs my thinking. I find that when I go off the sauce, it takes as much as a couple of months before my mind gets back fully functional. Usually it's only the first week or so that I don't feel quite normal if I don't have a drink. After that, going without alcohol is fairly easy. Unfortunately, for me, it only takes having a stressful day and buying a bottle of wine to get me back to drinking on a daily basis. I'm once again, trying to stop drinking. I don't think it will last forever. But I do want to keep the problem within some kind of manageable scope.

By the way, I really liked your video that you put in the "post a video of yourself" thread.. The way you talk and your gestures remind me a lot of myself when I video tape myself. You seem like a really nice person.

Yes, alcohol is definitely a tricky one - it is relatively cheap and so easily accessible that it almost seems like you're being asked to drink! Plus, it is completely socially acceptable as well... it must be difficult!

I think you're doing great just by realising what effects it has on your body and trying to change - change is bloody hard! I went through numerous tries before this quit... in fact, I remember vividly giving up the idea of wanting to quit a couple of times. The problem is usually that I feel so disappointed with myself for not being in control that it always bugged me back into action.

What are you doing to cope with stress? I'm finding that better coping mechanisms do help, but you have to practice them quite consistently - and that can also be a bit of a stress inducing factor in itself!

Thanks for the compliment! Based on your good judgement of character, you must be pretty cool too!!

I used to smoke daily for a couple years. The hardest part about quitting was boredom, stress, and sleeplessness.

You need a distraction such as when you worked freelance. What do you do now for money?

Exercise helps, especially if you have a sport you like to do you should try picking it up again. Otherwise just go for a walk or jog.

Isolation makes it a lot harder to deal with stress.

The best way to quit is to cut off your access to drugs which is where you are now. After a few weeks it will be a lot easier, just keep that in mind.

I like your blog BTW>

Thanks - indeed, exercise has become much more important for me over the past 16 months and I see it as a great coping mechanism. It's morning here and I'm actually about to go for a nice 4km walk but I lift weights as well, which also really helps when having acute cravings. To be honest, though - the cravings are mostly gone now - I barely have time to think about them because I get so much interaction here (wasn't expecting that, but SO welcome)

I still work freelance, but I was worried that having smoked at home would make it harder to quit - that hasn't been the case.

Access to weed is definitely cut off for now so am going to purposefully keep things like this for a while to learn to "get into the habit" of my new life.

Ha ha - thanks - glad you enjoy the blog! Am actually going to consider what to write about today during my walk!!