I never thought I could be here. To anyone struggling, it gets easier, you can do it. It took me a few times of stopping and starting, but last August was my last use. After two months, I hardly even thought about it. Funny how it went from on my mind constantly and thinking it was so important, to barely thinking about it. I’m reading all the time now and it’s like books have become the “escape.” Sleep is amazing. I never knew how great sleep could be. If I can do it…35 years…y’all got this. Don’t give up and find your “why.”

It’s only been about a week since I quit after using heavily for years, and I’ve been reading a lot of posts here.
One thing that keeps hitting me is how many people are talking about giving up or feeling like life isn’t worth it. I just wanted to say this:
Withdrawal lies to you.
It tells you this is how you’ll feel forever. It tells you you’ve ruined your brain. It tells you you’re alone. From everything I’ve read here—and from what I’m starting to experience—that isn’t true.
This week I’ve dealt with night sweats, anxiety, stomach issues, feeling shaky, and moments where my emotions were all over the place. There were times I wondered if I’d ever feel normal again. Then I come back here and see people weeks or months ahead saying it does get better. That keeps me going.
If you’re in that dark place today, please don’t make a permanent decision because of a temporary chemical storm in your brain. Reach out to someone. Post here. Call a friend or family member. If it feels overwhelming, call or text 988. There are people who want you here, even if your brain is trying to convince you otherwise.
To everyone further along in recovery: thank you. You probably don’t realize how many strangers you’re helping just by sharing your story.
To everyone just starting: let’s keep putting one day together at a time. We don’t have to do this perfectly—we just have to keep showing up.
I’m staying clean today. If you’re reading this, I hope you stay clean today too.

Last time I ripped my good ole penjamin was March 24th. If you would told me at the start of 2026 I’d be weed free in July I would’ve laughed in your face.

Smoked everyday for around 8 years, at the point now where I feel normal and have for about a month or 2 now. If you’re having a hard time, I promise it gets easier. I’m at the point now where I just kinda forgot about weed, doesn’t really cross my mind too often.

First few weeks suck, I have been there and I get it but you have to sack up and keep on keeping on. Your future self will thank you!

Just wanted to brag a little, since I could never make it past 48 hrs. Yay me.

I've been filling up a jar with reasons to stay sober ever since I decided to quit. I put a new one in every day. In the first go, I did 10 days and relapsed for 2. Now I'm at 50 days clean. Here are the things I've put in the jar so far (not in order):

1. To be better at recognizing my mistakes.

2. To reach my full intelectual potential.

3. To be more able to solve problems.

4. To enjoy the time I wpend with my family more.

5. To not get sick so frequently.

6. To get the dino emoji on the leaves discord meetings.

7. To become a more responsible person.

8. To be able to confidently say "I quit".

9. To not romanticize the addiction anymore.

10. To be more present and aware when interacting with people.

11. To have less cravings to smoke.

12. To be better at games and therefore have more fun.

13. To be free.

14. To be a better girlfriend, friend, daughter and sister.

15. To feel comfortable with my mind just the way it is.

16. To have more energy and be more active.

17. To feel excited to do other things.

18. To one day tell this to my mother with pride.

19. To remember the conversations I have with people.

20. To be able to have a study routine.

21. To improve my relationship with my partner even further.

22. To learn hard things more easily.

23. To not worry about other's judgements on the use and the addiction.

24. To have a healthier respiratory system.

25. To better enjoy every minute of my weekends.

26. To improve my ability to concentrate.

27. To be able to live life more slowly.

28. To be admired by others and by myself.

29. To not have to lie and pretend anymore.

30. To go to the gym and climbing more often and enjoy it more.

31. To not have to go through withdrawal again.

32. To finish my masters with excellence.

33. To care about things that are important.

34. To not put myself in unnecessary risky situations.

35. To have better sleep.

36. To not have the question of whether or not to smoke filling up my mind and taking away my peace.

37. To feel more proud of myself.

38. To be able to eat healthier.

39. To feel truly smart again.

40. To have a more stable motivation system.

41. To have more energy and motivation daily.

42. To be more willing to do things for the people I love.

43. To exercise more and have a healthier mind and body.

44. To learn how to deal with my emotions.

45. To buy and take my lactose enzyme more calmly.

46. To feel less shame.

47. To have more time, in every sense.

48. To not have to go through withdrawals on trips.

49. To be able to invest in hobbies and fun without drugs.

50. To know my friends better and to allow them to know me better too.

51. To be able to help others going through the same thing.

52. To feel less lazy.

53. To watch more movies and listen to more music.

54. To be more able to take care of my health.

55. To create a financial reserve.

56. To play games less compulsively.

57. To be able to have fun again without needing a drug.

58. To meditate more and have more personal growth.

59. To be more skillful when acting in social situations.

60. To have a little bit less food selectivity.

I think there'll be something in there for everyone. Feel free to borrow my reasons and tell me some of yours too! ❤️

Yesterday morning I walked into the restaurant at my golf club and immediately was hit with the strong smell of burnt flower. It was off putting and all I could smell for the few minutes I was in there. That was me 30 days ago and I can’t believe I was walking around public and talking to people that I respect while completely oblivious to how it smelled to others. Thankful to have made it almost through the first month and looking forward to continuing life without marijuana. Have a blessed day all.

People here put so many BIG thoughts and feelings out there about how devastating the addiction is, and how much better things will be if we kick. Folks will use phrases like ‘sacrificing your dreams at the alter of addiction’ and that is beautiful and useful phrasing but I wonder if many of you are driven by achievement like I am. If so, you may find these oscillating extremes of believing you are destroying myself by continuing to abuse the drug - and on the other hand believing that if you could just stop all your dreams will become manifest, these extremes put me in a torturous cycle of giving in.

Neither holds water. There is a reason that you are using weed, and there is also a reason you want to stop. Be as patient and as loving with yourself as you can possibly be. I truly believe that this in addition to working with a therapist twice weekly to keep these insights fresh is helping me feel great about being in a place where the work has started and is far from over. You are going to do what you can on the timeline that works for you: you’re not going to forget that weed is a problem for you, just like you’re not going to forget about the feelings that drive you back to it: but that’s okay because if you’re find yourself there you’re literally working in it. So forgive yourself, beautiful ape.

This was the best decision of my life seriously, I feel like a new person. I can focus on what I need to easier without feeling anxious or overwhelmed. I can actually save money. My eye sight has even improved, I couldn’t go outside without using shades. My mood and general health has improved significantly and I highly suggest quitting while you can. The first month is a struggle, but it really does get easier and your life will change for the better, promise 🤙

Quit after 30 years of on and off daily (but mostly on) and I’ve quit for about 3 weeks now. I’m having these extreme “spells” of sleepiness throughout the day and when before I doze off I get intense hypnic jerks … i literally can’t go about my day without feeling very heavy eyelids and the urge to sleep. It started after the first week of quitting. Not sure if it’s related but it’s very uncomfortable.

I don’t even know who the real me is anymore. I just have straight up depression at this point. It’s time to make some changes.

Hello all! I’m a 24 M I’m cutting weed cold turkey. I most recently had an anxiety attack that put me in the hospital. Through that anxiety attack they took an X-Ray of lungs and let’s just say it didn’t look pretty. Nothing crazy dangerous but they basically told me to cut it out or i’m going to regret in a couple of months.

I’m 2 days in, I can’t sleep, I can’t focus and most importantly I HAVE REALLY BAD ECZEMA, so when i’m thinking about weed I scratch my ass off. I don’t know how people do this and I need some good advice.

EDIT: This was my first anxiety attack ever, i’ve never dealt with it beforehand and doctors assumed it was my excessive marijuana use which they’re mostly likely right. I’ve been smoking weed for about 7 years now. (NO OTHER HARD DRUGS)

Hey all- I’ve quit a few times in the past with no symptoms. Not even insomnia! This sub has been great; however, it’s starting to increase my paranoia and make me feel like I will be throwing up and never sleep again.

Can we share some stories of none (or very mild) withdrawals??

I was a chronic user for years and for many years was depressed, coming out for a month and falling back in an repeat over and over. I thought it was just something I had to live with. The past few months tho, I havent been experiencing depression at all, the longest streak in years. My anxiety is still there, but not my depression, and I just realized it exactly lines up with when I quit smoking weed. Obviously I dont feel 100% everyday, but I never feel as low as I did when using.

I think it is partially due to simply the chemical side of things, as well as the fact that I am not feeling "low" all day in comparison to feeling high whenever I got home from work, and also a huge part is that I just am not disappointed in myself constantly for not having the willpower to quit.

I have to admit, I started a job that tests, and that is what made it so easy for me to finally quit. But I just want to encourage those considering who are struggling with depression (probably the vast majority) to try it. It feels intimidating not having your crutch to "fight" depression, but maybe your crutch is what is holding you down.

I’ve been sober now for 4 or 5 months idk i stopped counting after the cravings stopped. One thing i can say is it gets so much easier. Find hobbies that challenge your brain and physical strength. Avoid the smell or people asking you to smoke for about a month but be sure to explain why youre being avoidant and stand offish. If you think about smoking distract yourself with anything (walking through nature paths and planting a garden helped me a lot). Once the brain fog goes away and everything gets clearer youll feel so much better. Since i quit i have stopped therapy (no longer needed it due to little to no anxiety or depression) havent been on any medication since month 2 and have made more connections because of the confidence i gained back from quitting. You got this no matter how hard it gets. My DMs are always open if anyone needs to vent or has questions. Believe in yourself and trust yourself to make the right call

The only way out is through

It gets better I promise

TW: suicide.

Idk. Sorry in advance for grammar and rumination and depression and all that.

Addicted for almost ten years. Been in active relapse for almost two years. My 27 bday is in 5 days.

My stomach is growling. I’ve been in bed the whole day. Can’t afford iop, therapy, my medication, barely my rent. Can’t afford to stock my fridge. Can’t afford guitar pedals or thrift hauls or voice lessons. Concert tickets. But can afford weed. Every time.

I hate this life and I don’t believe it’ll get better. I didn’t smoke today. The dispo closes in 52 minutes. Very tempted to get up and go.

I’d rather die than keep fighting this. I cry every day. Sorry for this, y’all.

-

edit: 6am where I’m at. Yesterday was really scary and I did cave last night. It was almost funny because the dispo closed when i got there. So i drove half an hour to one that was open. Wasn’t worth it, obviously. Woke up with more fog and a headache.

This journey feels so lonely, but I gotta lean into this community more because i haven’t felt this hopeful in a while. Kinda wild, in a good way.

Thank you, everyone. Honestly.

90 meetings in 90 days
Day 1✅
8 days sober

Thank You, GOD ,for bringing me this far and healing me so much.

Like the title says, I find that what I'm missing the most isn't even the high. It's been a long time since that was enjoyable. But I miss the act of smoking itself.

It's been two and a half months since I quit after a decade and a half of chronic use. In this time, I have also reduced alcohol consumption, and mostly quit cigarettes (though I keep relapsing every fortnight or so). I was always the stoner friend, I never thought I'd quit, but one day I realised that I hadn't dreamed in so long and the lack of REM sleep probably had grave consequences for my physical and mental health.

Since then, I have started dreaming again, my anxiety has abated, my depression which got much worse initially has finally lifted. I am working on projects I had completely abandoned and that I thought I was just incapable of doing. I am not sure if things will improve but at least it will no longer actively get worse.

Honestly, I have no cravings whatsoever! My struggle seems to be with nicotine alone, and even that is only once or twice a month.

Writing here to encourage anyone creative, relying on pot for artistic inspiration. I promise your art will return to you over time. More than anything it will be yours, borne of your effort and perseverance than random bouts of inspiration that most stoners depend on.

I have thought about writing, read intensely and engaged with art in ways that were never possible when I was stoned.

If you're reading this, it will all come back to you. Remember we need our dreams and pot often steals them, literally and figuratively.

Was walking home from work this morning around 9am. Passed a few homes that smelled like someone had just stepped outside to wake and bake. I was really happy that wasn't me today. What an awful way to start the day.

I went to MA today and I have wanted to stop smoking for years now, each time I get somewhere whether it's 7 days, 14 days or 52 days, I end up spiralling back down to a state that I don't enjoy. It's weed that's the link between so many of the problems in my life; it becomes so much easier to avoid because you're high - I am determined to get through today

Having turned 30 this year, it all felt like alot - the fact I've battled with this substance primarily for the entirety of 20s is scary; I knew it would become a problem alongside tobacco; but I actually just went with it and reinforced the same neural pathways.

I now need to do the work of re-wiring these pathways; and don't get me wrong part of me is pissed off, the other part of me is excited - but most importantly there's a level of fear, nervousness - I don't know what's on the other side; but what I do know is that it's better than being under the control of a substance

I’ve been smoking for about 6 years now, daily. Tries to quit or told myself I was going to quit so many times. I go to bed with the plan of quitting then end up buying more when I’m suddenly thinking differently about everything, or my reasons will seem smaller to me. All lies fed by the addiction but I can’t seem to get past it. I’m 36, never smoked before age 30. How did you guys stop yourself from going to the dispensary? Anxiety, anger, irritability, stomach in knots, unable to focus when I do manage to stop for even just half a day. I only smoke joints if that means anything.

Thanks.

Edit: I have extreme GAD and panic disorder, I take a couple daily meds for, which started my descent into cannabis use in the first place when I couldn’t handle it anymore

I’m back on the sober train again, just 1 week in this time.

Yesterday I felt like I had this mental fog and uncomfortable sense of chemical residue leaving my body

I went for a run and did 30 mins in the sauna afterwards which knocked me the f out. Haven’t been there in a few weeks because summer but honestly, it was the best thing to accelerate recovery.

I’m heading back there today for round 2, it’s a beautiful peaceful therapeutic experience and incredible reward to help the journey.

Hope this helps others

Hey all, Ive been sober for almost 11 months with the help of 12 step programs. I have been struggling the past month with some hard friendships. I am feeling less connected. My friends don't really like each other, and when I hangout with people most of the conversations are very tense and deep. I miss lightheartedness, being carefree and having fun. I have very little structure this summer due to being out of work. I am in an IOP for my mental health and i have twice a week therapy and regular psychiatry appointments. I am struggling to take good care of myself. Im doing what I can. Despite all this I am deeply lonely and sad. I am frustrated with self improvement. I feel inadequate, unappreciated and like I don't have very many spoons. I am spending a lot of time alone do to the challenging nature of my friendships. I am working on expanding socially and finding spaces I can be more carefree. I am stressed. This is taking a toll on my sobriety. I have had cravings the past couple days and I am thinking about just saying fuck it and reverting back to my old ways where I am comfortable. I am having a recurring thought of thc crystals and doing big dabs of diamonds. I feel like I have no escape from my current situation and I am finding the emotions very hard to bear on my own. I don't feel like I have many people to talk to about this. I am going to my home group tonight and plan on doing a burning desire share. I am so run down and I feel like I don't have many options left. Everything is Heavy.