Wow so this video is getting way more views than I originally anticipated. To all those dropping comments, liking the vid, and subscribing I really appreciate it. Whether you agree or disagree I appreciate the interaction and I'm happy to chat in the comments with anyone who has something to add. My regular content is about Books, Jiu Jitsu, Philosophy, and honestly just whatever I find interesting. Perhaps I'll make another weed video since this seems to have struck a chord. Regardles, Thanks Folks!
NPC found. Imagine ignoring all the demonstrated and studied medicinal avenues of cannabis all because you're too irresponsible to use it maturely. Lol you're missing out too bud, but you do you!
@@HondaFan470 I am being 100% honest when I say I appreciate the support. What have I said that is immature? If you provide some genuine feedback. I'm happy to respond :)
One of the biggest realizations I had with my relationship with weed over the years was that, when I started, I had a lot of good going on already. Weed wasn't as much of an escape as it was an "experience" enhancer. Working out twice a day, full time job, sex life, massive friend circles. I didn't need weed, I just enjoyed it as an extra to my already progressive life. Then, life happened. I fell off of everything. No friends, no job, barely a sex life, no working out. Huge fall out. BUT, I STILL smoked weed daily. I was seeking the same feelings of those good times, without those good things, within weed. Then, I became addicted to it (mentally). I quit smoking weed over a month ago and have taken on drastic changes that have done nothing but move me forward and make me a happier, more productive person again, doing a LOT of those things I used to do and feeling natural and unforced about it. Weed wouldn't have let me make the effort I've made.
The pandemic did this to me. It destroyed every good aspect of my life that I had in 2019, but I still had weed. In fact, it was the only positive thing that I had left after March 2020 was through with me. Now, weed is preventing me from rebuilding a new life. The pandemic is now four years ago and I'm now 40. I love weed, but I have to stop so I can reclaim my life. >"I was seeking the same feelings of those good times, without those good things, within weed. Then, I became addicted to it (mentally)." This is exactly where I'm at. Weed is an experience enhancer. During the good times it's amazing. During the bad times, well, it amplifies the bad times. Yet, we keep going back to it because we remember what it was during the good times and long for that.
what kills me is this young generation really believes that smoking weed everyday all day is okay I'm from the I'm an 80s baby and back in my day the highest potency that you could find was no more than 3 to 4% now 35 years later the potency of marijuana could reach anywhere between 28 to 30% of even heard they have strange that a 40% can you imagine that that's 10 times more then we used to have in my day I say that to I'm pretty sure the addiction percentage has skyrocketed so young people please understand this can cause a lot of psychological especially if you're already depressed or have anxiety it will make it worse believe me and it will take away your ambitions and keep you broke you can take my advice or you can live and learn.
My thoughts exactly, I got stuck in a mindset of thinking it was normal and ok to be high most of the day. I was able to get away with it for a couple years but eventually it caught up with me and I was so deep in at that point I didn't even realize weed was the culprit.
I’ve smoked weed all day every day since 13, I’m now 47 and it’s had no ill effects t on me. Cannabis has no addictive properties so any addiction you feel is psychological, that means it’s your weak mentality, NOT the weed. You can become psychologically addicted to anything, if I get addicted to wanking do penises need to be banned? Sex addicts exist, I’m guessing the act of sex is the problem, right? Thing that I find bananas about weed, it’s proven it has no addictive properties yet it’s the only thing that gets blamed for a psychological addiction rather than the person having a weak mentality
@@Graveyard_666 still going strong I feel much better, was at a party few days ago where weed was all around me and I didn’t smoke it’s a good feeling being able to push through it
Something I realized when reading over many comments on this video, is that literally every single person who has quit weed has experienced profound, positive change in their lives. And then there are people who criticize and/or admonish them for getting clean, likely because they are addicts, though they’d never admit it. Addiction, like misery, loves company.
I smoked for years on end then quit for 6 months and felt absolutely zero difference other than waking up faster and being more clear in the morning. I started smoking again and nothing has changed for the negative. The real problem is that a lot of weed smokers will automatically assume that any and all of their problems is due to weed when in reality most peoples problem is lack of sunlight proper nutrition and intense exercise and quitting weed will only give them a pink cloud effect that will wear off sooner or later.
I think it boils down to each individual and how their body reacts to weed and the amount of weed being consumed. I agree it also had to do with other factors like diet and exercise, as well.
I’m beyond grateful that I was able to stop before I turned 22. It was my easiest escape for 7 years and weed began to define me as an adult. When I quit I finally gained control over myself, my instincts and became able to see a good future. If you’re struggling or on the fence, just realize smoking is a habit that can be broken, no matter how near and dear it may be to your soul
@@stoned_kakapo8736 I completely agree. I don’t want to deny that weed can be genuinely helpful or the least harmful escape a person can have. But that’s not the case for everyone, some of us just use it as an addictive drug and can’t differentiate the good effects from the bad. Honestly dude, I still love being around my friends that smoke, seeing them happy and able to use it to relax. But I know that for me it was all-consuming and prevented me from being accountable (I could always get high to avoid feeling consequences).
@@thorrz47 while I was 21 I started to feel the weight of adulthood more. When I turned 18 I kind of saw being an adult as an excuse to do what I want. But I wasn’t ready to accept accountability. That’s when a lot of my substance abuse got worse, and when I stopped fucking around with the worse shit I ended up still smoking on the daily. At this point I wanna figure my life out and sobriety is the best way to see things clearly. I dabbed enough the past few years 😅
I’m on my 1st week of my stopping chronic weed consumption… and I am truly looking forward for eliminating the habit 🙏🏼 It just hit me (hard) when I realized I’ve been smoking for literally 25 years!!! Thank you for the video 😊🌻
I’ve been smoking since 2003. I know the struggle. But we can do it! I recommend Louise Hay’s audiobooks here on youtube for positive affirmations. They helped me alot.
Smoked for 10 years straight, I’m only 25 and I was a heavy smoker. So heavy in fact that it’s been 45 days since I quit cold turkey and I’m still failing piss tests and I only weigh 125 at 5 foot 10 inches(no body fat whatsoever) but since I quit 45 days ago I quit my job and landed a actual career. The house has been clean every day bc I’m constantly in the mood to be productive. I’ve been waking up early every morning without an alarm clock with so much energy. Started working out again and got engaged. All in 45 days. Had to use synthetic pee to get the job but once it’s out of my system I’m gona be 100% clean with no plans to ever start back. So far has been the best decision I’ve made. Got me out of my comfort zone
I started smoking weed since my teenage. Got addicted to crack for over 18 years. Crack addiction actually destroyed my life. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my mom recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly.8 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.
Amen God bless people. Save your health save your mind. Life is better without heroin, Crack, alcohol and cigarettes. And you have more money in your pocket. God bless everyone who has rejected the devils intentions to be addicted to alcohol and cigarettes etc which can cause so much damage to health.
I wish they were readily available in my place. Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac. He's constantly talking about killing someone. He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
Psychedelics are a powerful mind altering and life changing type of drug. They have crazy potential to fix various areas of one’s life in many different ways. I’m so glad you kicked that habit and are doing way better now. No one deserves to go through that kind of addiction and be stuck in that vicious cycle. Love❤️
I work everyday, have a family, am a baseball coach and I smoke weed everyday when I am done with everything, in the evening. On weekends, I wake n bake. It’s awesome. I also love growing cannabis. I haven’t had a drink of alcohol in 16 years tho. Couldn’t be happier.
Thank you for posting this! Today after many unsuccessful attempts I've finally decided to quit for good and your reasons and story resonated with me. I don't need that shit in my life anymore
Hey that's great mate! My advice is to not pat yourself on the back on day 1. Give it a few months or even a year before saying you quit, especially since you've had unsuccessful attempts. It's a common mistake people make and it gives them a sense of accomplishment and then they relapse
I'm 29 and I quit weed one year ago. I was smoking daily for 10 years. So pretty much the same as you. Only difference is that I had a panic attack last time I smoked which just put me off it for good. Although I was anyway starting to enjoy weed less and less and it was making me paranoid and overthink too much. One year on and it's the best thing I could have done. I'm sharper in work, much better socially, fitter and stronger, and much less anxiety. I'm actually greatful for the panic attack as I think I was too addicted to stop just on the basis of finances or social life. Thanks fot the video
Thanks for watching! Congrats on one year. I agree, the anxiety and over thinking seemed to get worse, or maybe I was more aware of it the older I got.
@guitarszen Hey, appreciate the input. I think this can be true, but I'd argue that for a lot of people the imbalance is actually that they are high all the time! Cannabis is not always the main issue, but it certainly can be. I am way less anxious, way more productive, and happier overall, sober. I don't blame cannabis for my problems, I abused it, but step 1 to handling my problems was quitting cannabis. Which allowed me to take the other steps I needed to take. Hope all is well my dude.
@guitarszenno you're wrong, man. Weed affects everyone differently. No one is trying to demonize it and treat it like it's the devil. I've had the worst most debilitating anxiety I've ever had on weed long term, and several people in my life have told me as much. If you're predisposed to anxiety, weed is wonderful in the short term, but seriously detrimental after long periods of usage. Maybe it doesn't affect you that way, but don't try and tell people what they do or don't feel.
I just want to say thank you 🙏 I’ve quit for a month before and decided hey let me celebrate I can control my urges now and I’ve relapsed for the entire year. I’m 4 days clean now and actually gonna give it another try because I’ve lost all creativity and productivity and it blows my mind because I’m a creative person by nature and it’s how I make money. I’m now broke and can’t even start a family because I’m broke and it depresses me. Thanks again for this detailed video, I wish myself the best.
Congrats on deciding to stop! That's the first step. My best piece of advice is to get used to being bored... for me that's when my urges to smoke came. When you feel the boredom start to settle in, pick up a book, start a new project, exercise etc. find some activity to fill that space. Over time those will become your new go to habits. Good luck :)
@@taylor-kenny it’s been working so far, still challenging but working as I have my partner to go along on this journey with me. We are 14 days clean today and still pushing through, thank you for the tips ❤️
@@chrissy8284 wow nice! I can relate to your story. What I can recommend is to buy CBD weed (if its available) which does give some relaxation but does not give you a high. Plus its cheap.
@guitarszen I think taking responsibility for your situation is always the first step. It just so happens for some of us that first step is quitting weed. I am not asking you or anyone else to quit weed, only providing the perspective that I gained through my own experience.
Day-12 for me after almost 12 years smoking everyday. I had a period of being clean and sober (7 years) in my 20’s and started smoking again. After many years and getting sick way too often (colds that would travel from nose and head to my chest, took a good few weeks to get totally better) and feeling way too dependent on it. Lots of coughing and chest congestion. Nothing feels as good as the freedom from any kind of substance, addiction and dependency sucks! I’m through the worst of it but looking forward to being able to sleep without melatonin and also getting my energy back, which has a lot to do with the quality of sleep getting off it. I’m committed to riding it out, looking forward to seeing what I’m like (and feel) totally clean and sober!🌱
Thanks Taylor. I’ve been feeling the same for a hot min. Everything is cool but I’m slumped.. I’ve been waking baking for more than a decade. I operate normal cause my tolerance is high and sh!t. I’m to the point where it’s not making feel good. I now realize that I’m inhaling my money. I am not against ganja but I believe it’s my time to quit. I give you mad respect and I wish you well brutha. 🤙🏼
The Water Hose is an excellent metaphor for the emotional blockage and how the pressure builds up. Ive had a huge rush of emotions that at first felt random but then the realization hit that it was how much I had been suppressing with getting high. Im almost three weeks sober and still dealing with the withdrawals. But I would rather stay sober than try to get sober again.
Exactly, it is very strange how certain feelings or thoughts will just come to the surface after spending a longer period of time sober. It's been a while for me, but I'm still having these epiphanies. I really do think that there was a whole area of my consciousness that got caught in the fog of being stoned for many years.
@@jakebeckmann9372 Delusional? Not really. It may not be your personal experience but I can absolutely say without a doubt that I’ve unknowingly used marijuana to suppress bad emotions. It only became clear to me when I quit that things in my life were in fact not okay and that I had been ignoring them because marijuana helped me put blinders on. Everybody’s bodies react different, my wife smokes all day everyday and functions extremely well. I on the other hand would get CHS, sleep issues, ignore issues in my life, etc. I’m happy to hear you never had any poor effects or withdrawal but your experience isn’t the experience of others.
Thank you for making this video, I'm currently on day 4 of my 30 day break from bud but hoping to extend further especially after watching this. Your style is really down to earth and relatable and just wanted to say keep up the good work man!
Thank you! I'm glad it came across that way. I think once you get to 30 days you'll find it very easy to keep going if you want. The first two weeks are the hard part in my opinion. Just know that you're urges will start to subside.
I'm also on a "30 days" break challenge. First 2 weeks have been tough, but I already start feeling better in many ways, including motivation. I will try to keep this "break" going for longer. Thanks for sharing, we often hear from our smokers friend that weed is great, but tend to be in denial about the negative consequences.
The first two weeks are the hardest part. That was my experience as well, everyone tells us it's fine, it's no big deal... and it doesn't at first but eventually the negative side effects will catch up to you. Good luck with your break!
@@taylor-kenny - thanks for the encouragement and inspiration. It's good to have young "voices" who are relatable and share experiences like this. "Dry January" became a thing even for young people who enjoy going out. Maybe your "30 day challenge" could become the equivalent for smokers somehow.
holy moly this video is EXACTLY how ive felt, like you pulled the words out of my brain. i smoked a lot in high school, then in college i took a 6 year break from weed because of a difficult psychedelic experience. then after i started smoking again i began to really miss that clear feeling i had in college, where my sense of creativity wasnt intertwined with a drug, and actually my songwriting was better (but perhaps more infrequent). i go through waves where every now and then ill just binge for a few days, but my life is objectively better in every way when im away from weed for a long time (closer to my emotions, better with girls, more active, more productive). south park quote: “weed makes you okay with being bored” but when you’re bored is when you invent things and gain skills. my current hack: use environment to change habits. i move/travel a lot, so when im about to move to a new place, i can decide if it should be untainted by weed, or if im allowed to go off the deep end a bit.
So glad to hear this is connecting with you. I think you nailed it on the head "weed makes you okay with being bored"... I totally agree. Usually when boredom is about to hit, that's when you're primed to do something that could improve your life. Read a book, hit the gym, talk to a friend, or just sit and think by yourself. Sober boredom hits different than when your high or drunk.
@@taylor-kenny yes! there's an uncomfortable tension in being bored that's hard to muster through if you know in the back of your mind a way that you can release that tension (weed)
I sincerely appreciate you sharing your experience without shame. I just turned 28 last month and only started thinking about quitting my daily use of cannabis a few months ago. I started when I was 12 years old to better fit in with people and get away from my parents house as much as possible. My brother (adopted) is schizophrenic and growing up with him was violent and unpredictable. Weed helped me escape. At this stage I’ve just convinced myself I need it to sleep better, all while being fully aware of its effects on reducing REM. I’m still on the sauce but stories like these inspire me to make a change. Considering I’ve been using daily for 16 years now, 57% of my life, it’s time to get out. I am genuinely concerned that the wild nightmares, withdrawals, and lack of sleep I will endure in my cessation will affect my job performance and I’m the new guy. I only use once the sun is down and typically not until 8-9pm and not after 10:30 but it still affects me.
Hey! You're welcome, I'm so happy this resonated with you. Try not to think of it as a giant mountain you have to climb. It's just one foot in front of the other. Aim for 30 days and see how you feel. There will be some negative side effects but try to focus on the positive benefits that start to show themselves.
Number one thing is being self aware. I'm 60 days sober and honestly not much different than when I was smoking. Granted, I wasn't a major pothead. I would only get high at nights. I would still eat clean, go to work, school, lift weights, walk outdoors, etc. It did cause sleep issues when I tried to quit, but I'm slowly recovering from that. I might try to do it once a week now, but if I start doing it multiple days in a row I'll probably quit again. The hardest part is making it to one week sober, after that, you forget about it.
I'm the same, I'd just smoke at night and functioned normally other times. But I can't moderate. I've tried a few times to limit myself, like only using on weekends. I just can't do it. The restricting makes me crave it more. I'm really struggling now deciding if I'm willing to give it up completely though.
Hey dude, I recently subscribed for your Malazan videos but I was very pleasantly surprised to see this video show up in my feed. My experience with weed was very similar to yours: 12+ years of daily usage (aside from short periods of attempted quitting or forced soberiety from travel), now just under 2 years weed free (Jan 10th). All the negatives and positives you experienced with weed resonated with me greatly. The disruption of sleep and night sweats when quitting were so horrible, melatonin was so helpful in that period. I feel I'm much better able to regulate my emotions and maintain focus now that my day doesn't revolve around getting high each day. According to the Quit Weed app I just passed 5K saved! Your video was very reaffirming and validating, so helpful to hear someone else had a similar experience as I did. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats that's so awesome! I really appreciate your comment. I was a bit nervous about uploading this video so it's great to know it connected with you. The ability to regulate our emotions and focus is something I no longer take for granted. Haha that's crazy you saved $5k I imagine I'm somewhere around there as well.
I started smoking when I was 15. It was always with friends. Then 10 years went by, then 15. Next thing I knew I was 30 n I was working all the time n no time for friends so I was smoking alone. Which was cool. But then I started having these thoughts of death. And not self deletion, but I started going into deep thought at work and at home about how fast life is going. How I was already basically half way through my lifespan and how quick the first half went. and how I was scared to die. N I started getting panic attacks, depression, and even crying from it. Then I realized it was only happening directly after I smoked. N I would smoke like 5 times a day even at work. I dealt with that feeling for 5 more years. Once I realized it was the weed making me paranoid, I instantly said “well let me quit n see if I still have these thoughts.” So i stopped and whattaya know, the paranoia went away. I’m 36 now I don’t even know how long it’s been. Probably over a year now. I have so much more money too. N I was a hardcore smoker, people to this day still think I’m lying when I say I quit. N I wanna smoke again but I don’t want those thoughts, so I don’t. Also, I still only get 5 hours of sleep a night, but I have the craziest dreams every night. I actually reach REM sleep. I haven’t dreamt in like 20 years that’s wild. But the dreams are always creepy and full of anxiety. But at least I wake up feeling refreshed. I agree with your message. I’m still pro weed, and it helped me with anxiety and depression when I was younger, but it started having reverse affects as an adult, and as odd as it still is to say, it’s really not for me anymore.
Congrats! That's awesome you were able to make the change. I can concur, the dreams get wild haha. I also had similar thoughts happening about how fast life was going. How my 20s just seemed to go by in a flash. In reality so many good things happened but I also could have made better use of my time. That was definitely a driving force for me to quit. I have more thoughts, maybe I'll make a video about it.
I also quit weed over a year ago, I smoked a couple times this summer and overall I decided I just don't enjoy it. The reason I quit was because I was depressed and realized one time while I was high that it made me think about everything way too much and I decided right then and there I no longer enjoyed it or wanted to partake anymore.
Glad this connected Shane. I felt similarly. I used to think the deep thoughts I'd get from weed were helpful, and then one day I realized I needed to stop thinking so much and starting doing more. :)
I was smoking weed on & off for the last two years (almost every day last year) and I quit in November. I feel way different now just two months later. I think it chips away at your drive, motivation, & focus slowly over time. The dangerous thing about weed is the negatives feel so negligible.. You get stuck in a haze & don’t notice how it’s negatively affecting you in the moment. Honestly all that smoking wasn’t worth it at all. It takes away too much from your potential and I don’t think most daily smokers will see the real consequences a decade in. Let’s not even talk about what all those fumes will do to your lungs.. By the time you’ve been inhaling all that into your body, I’m sure you’ve done some type of irreversible damage. I honestly feel so lucky to have quit after just a year or two of smoking it. Most people who make it to that point continue for at least a couple more. It’s just not worth it in the end!
there are many, many potential negatives. Including heart attack, arrest, and STROKE. And who knows about cancer, that stuff you don't FIND OUT until it happens....often out of NOWHERE.
I started smoking from the age of 15, am 22 now and i had the realisation that i had to quit about 2 weeks ago. I used to do everything high, going to school high, college high, rolling high, not even only open mat i was high every lesson. I am really feeling a lot better and i feel like i am becoming a better version of myself, i did start out with the intention to take a tolerance break, but i am starting to realise that if i start smoking again, i might go down the spiral of smoking every day again, it would be great to use it responsibly and only smoke once a week, but we will see how i will deal with it after a month, if i feel like i start making it a daily habit again, i might cut it out all together, forever, great video btw.
Thanks for watching! Ahaha I've done quite a few bjj lessons stoned and looking back I don't think I learned anything doing that. What's crazy is how even after 30, 60, 90 days no weed, you'll find new benefits. You'll realize that you've done so much more in work, at jiu jitsu, and with your education.
You can't imagine how helpful your perspective has been. There are moments in my life I can't remember. I don't think i wasted my time, but I could've done things better. Weed is nothing more than a distraction.
Dude your story mirrors mine almost to the T. Thank you for uploading this video, helped me make the steps i needed to take to get my shit back on track.
your story is so familiar, i really relate. smoked from about 21 to 30, with years of it being nightly chain smoking. i quit 2 years ago (in march). i used weed to get in my 'creative zone' at night after my 9-5 and felt it was integral part to my motivation. weed stopped serving me a long time ago but i kept using. now, 2 years later, i am able to say i've felt the benefits you describe, but i'm starting to take them for granted. i've really been itching to smoke again, not from any particular trigger, but just because i miss it like an old dear friend. i'm still deciding what i want to do, but hearing your story really puts into perspective how i felt back then and maybe why it might not be such a good idea anyway, thanks for sharing. i hope the clarity of sobriety has been serving you well and wish you lots of luck in this journey !
It's been two months of not smoking and I still have these cravings. I try go to for long walks since I live nearby the park. I can actually use my lungs to my full capacity. I've noticed that I'm willing to try different things that I would have said no to just due to the weed that I was consuming. I waited till I was 21 to start smoking, but now being 25 I'm just now understanding the harm weed can have on your mental and how you interact with people.
Congrats on two months! That's awesome. I totally agree, weed can keep you entrenched in the same cyclical habits. Also I think it's much easier to confidently try new things when we aren't high 😅
I'm currently in college and I started smoking my senior year of high school. I smoked into my freshman year of college (which is this year), I decided to slow down/ quit because I've noticed my first semester I wasn't as diligent with my work or the material wasn't sticking to me. But so far all these youtube videos has shown me, only good comes from quitting but of course I would like to enjoy it here and there. The sleep factor has been the only reason why I would relapse a couple times but like you said melatonin has been helping a lot.
hey dude, If I could go back and stop smoking weed in college, I totally would. I don't regret anything per say because that's the journey I decided to go on in life... but I wish I had taken better advantage of the opportunities that were presented to me during school and in the years just afterwards. Your ability to think clearly is a much more valuable asset than you realize. That's not to say, don't have fun. Just don't get too carried away ahah
Weed is insidious. It’s perceived as benign which also makes it dangerous in comparison to drugs like heroin, cocaine and other harder drugs. It robs you of your ambition and mental faculties. Taking a 30 day break definitely puts things in perspective.
That was my experience as well. Once a month, its not so bad, but once a month can lead to everyday, and that's when you start to suffer the long term effects over time.
I am ambivalent about my weed usage. I was never a heavy smoker, and in recent years I smoke once or twice a week on average, one little nug, not even half a joint's-worth. Weed gave me so much, in terms of creativity, and in terms of connection with my partners over the years. It made me a much better musician, not just by making me be really into the music I play when I'm high, but also by showing and reminding me how music should feel. Weed taught me a lot about myself. Despite all the positive, I'm pretty sure weed has its negative effects on me, even at my fairly moderate usage. I wonder how stopping weed would affect me. I did stop for a month here and there, but I can't say I felt much of a difference. I would probably have to stop for about 3 months next. But honestly, I don't want to stop. I feel that for the time being the positive still outweighs the negative.
If you don’t wanna stop because u see no difference just remember that quitting weed is not only for a feeling but you can also prevent liver cancer, lung cancer, them bronchitis type coughs etc 👍🏾
@@ifwrainbow190 Fair point, but I doubt that smoking 3-4 puffs of weed smoke through a bong once a week is gonna increase my cancer risk in any significant way.
This is one of the better videos I’ve seen about quitting weed thanks for the upload! The most I’ve listened to and connected with and just feels real so I’m here for it thanks! I’m currently in that zone where I know I need to stop but I just keep using it. I just can’t seem to go even one day without and I have a lot of shame around using it every time I fail my goals (I’m dependant) have CPTSD so it can be very difficult but I’ll get there one day I hope. Awesome vid thanks!
I just turned 28 in August and my relationship with weed was eerily similar to yours apart from the fact that I already quit 3 times for 3 months each this year and last. But somehow I always went back and it all started with 1 joint. Its been 3 weeks and I'm off weed FOR GOOD. I'm getting my appetite back, my pumps in the gym are insane but mentally I still feel a bit depressed. I hope it will get better. Thank you
It's better to feel that depression than escape from it. It's counterintuitive but I think it's for the better if you can actually work through the tough feelings. You're not alone
I don't think anyone is saying its weeds fault or that its not a medicine if used correctly. That's pretty common and obvious knowledge. I think what he mean by "1 joint" is the scenario of "oh I will smoke this one time, and be okay" and then proceed to fall back into the habit. You don't need to defend weed. While weed CAN be beneficial, for a lot of people its objectively not compatible with their mindset, and function. @guitarszen
I've been smoking for 13 years, with brief periods of not, i stopped completely 1 year ago, and it was by far one of the best decisions i could've made in my life. What weed did for me is put a lid on my emotions, and i've been a consistent user, sometimes heavy, sometimes loose. The tricky part, once i would stop smoking, in 5 days approx. all emotions would come flowing, and sometimes if not often, in very nasty ways. Also, i've heard somewhere that smoking weed lowers the IQ by 5, do with that information what you will, so weed just might make one ''dumber''. What i exceptionally disliked about weed is that everything was revolving around it. I would neglect my relationships, my home, my hobbies regularly and put weed above it. Something i also disliked weed for is that it made me fine with being bored and doing nothing and wasting away. Also i would only hang around with other people who smoked weed, neglecting healthier people in my life. Also, i was hugely in denial, despite smoking for such a long time i didn't think i was being addicted. Also i was way more tolerant of things and behaviors that i usually wouldn't put up with, in myself and others. I was often paranoid and would have psychotic episodes, i was very paranoid and anxious. And despite all these negatives, and there is so many more i didn't name, i would keep smoking, which is arguably the worst part. Like i would light one up and my first thought would be ''you don't even like this, why are you doing this'' and next day i'd forget it and do it all over again. Like being able to think and see things clearly now for what feels like half a lifetime, is really a blessing. I think one just needs to make a list of negatives and positives, and see how much the negatives actually outweigh the positives. I could go on and on about how my life has improved but the point is- we delude ourselves that we need it, when life is better without it, by a longshot.
Hey dude, Incredible story. I relate to all of this big time. Congrats on 1 year! "It made me fine with being bored and doing nothing..." ain't that the truth.
Definitely effecting me the way it was effecting you, been saying Im going to quit for a while now. My favorite part of the vid was how you mentioned the garden hose and the kink not allowing your emotions to flow. I think just navigating crazy thoughts and emotions that fly towards you should be a video in itself. Emotions aint the easiest thing to navigate lol
Hey, I'm glad you found it helpful. Yeah I definitely have some more thoughts on the emotions section of this video. It was one of the benefits that I didn't really become aware of till months had gone by.
Decided to quit two days ago. Been ongoing for around 10 years as well. This video hitting my recommended was a sign. I will make the same pact you did. Wish me luck. Thank you
4 months here, feeling good, although I miss a joint from time to time. I know I will be back to it but not yet. Another thing I learned along all these year (50 years old) is that I know that now I can use a little once and not having no more in weeks if I want. Hope you can get what you’re looking for. Good luck
There are obviously too many comments here for you to even read, but… one more. Great vid and really resonated with my own journey. I stopped “smoking” years ago and only “vaped” dry herb and only did it beyond, say, 7 or 8pm, and I’m 53, but yet… your vid resonated. Particularly the part about the first half hour after toking being very creative and energetic and then everything tanking. And I was actually having this same experience watching TV and being social too. Anyway, I’ve only been off two weeks now (no coffee, too) and it feels great.. in the context of 7 months OMAD so it’s all coming together. Thanks for the vid, rock on!
100% - it's up to all of us to decide how to best spend our time. If my story connects with someone, that's awesome! If not, then that's no problem it's not the right message for that person.
With the availability of carts these days, and given how discreet and concealable they are, it is insanely difficult to quit. The ability to become blasted within seconds without having to roll, without any combustion, flame, smelly smoke, smelly herb, or grueling cleanup of a bong, pipe etc. Crazy high THC% and terpene profiles make the withdrawals hell. I’m currently in a damn cycle of being on weed for a few weeks and then taking 1-2 months off, then repeat. It’s a love-hate relationship for sure.
Very similar experience to me. I quit because I moved somewhere I couldn't get it anymore...... 3 years later I tried it again and it was a totally different experience..... Didn't consume for another 4 years, then went and smoked way too much in 1 go on holiday and had a crazy almost out of body experience. I then realized I actually don't like it anymore (which was sad). Feel like I grew out of it, I changed so much without it that when I smoked it, I didn't recognize myself. I think smoking weed for a long time every day makes things blurry which you don't notice , only after not smoking for some years, you realize how much clearer and fresher things are without it. BUT, all in all, 8 years later, I still have craving..... which is strange
Sounds very similar to me. I think for me a lot of it was definitely just growing up a bit... I just didn't like feeling hazy for large chunks of my day anymore. I've smoked twice in the past year with a friend of mine while watching the UFC and I did enjoy it, but I would never go back to daily consumption on my own again.
Much props to you brother! Everything you said is so spot on and yet I still find myself only lasting 3 months tops before I fall back into old habits again and again. Something I’ve found that has made it tough for me to stay on track is family members smoking but I need to be stronger and keep on the path that I know is best for me.
It's definitely much harder when the people you're around smoke as well. You have to try and set boundaries. Thanks for watching and supporting! The fact that you're taking breaks and seeing the benefits is just helping you get momentum :) keep it up.
13 years of smoking, entering my second month of being pot free!! Tired of wasting my time being high all the time, I feel deep inside of having potentials of bettering my life that smoking weed just kept on hindering
Hell yea! Keep it up. It for sure helped me too through some difficult times, but I think eventually you have to get rid of the crutch and move forward. Best of luck.
I smoke daily, 28 years old now. I just threw away all my weed, bongs, etc. Definitely want to drastically reduce my weed intake. For the remainder of the month, I won't smoke and go from there. Thanks for the inspiring video!!
Excellent video. Eerie how much I can relate on a parallel level to your story. Also good job at handling some of these naysayers and projectors in the comments. I think the reason they're coming at you so aggressively is because you're nailing truths they don't want to confront.
Thanks :) I'm glad it resonated with you! ahah thank you, people get defensive when a part of their identity is threatened. I used to feel the same way, I'd defend weed to the end of the earth in my early and mid-twenties. So, I totally understand why I'm getting some hate, I expected it.
100% this was me last year. After work the only thing I’d look forward to was smoking or popping an edible. Glad I was able to kick this habit to the curb. What’s scary is that most people are in denial about their addiction to marijuana.
My goal with this video was to hopefully reach a few people who might be in that state of denial. I certainly was for a long time. Congrats on getting things figured out!
I quit weed for over a year and it actually made my life significantly worse. I was overthinking everything and ended up losing my old job because I couldn’t stop the constant anxiety/worrying. Now I’m a contractor for a furniture company and I train at an mma gym while getting stoned quite frequently.
Thanks for sharing, appreciate the honesty of your experience and the similarity to my feelings. To me re-gaining the ability of dreaming, being creative and be able to feel naturally are the major assets and goals of this process I'm actually in these days, after having the habit for the last 20+ yrs. I've quitted a few times for short periods but always came back to it cause I thought it was not that counter productive, plus that first spliff after a while felt great like it was opening my mind again...then the daily habit kick in again and that's where it get outta control and loose meaning to me. I got this ideal of living the 2nd part of my life without it and it looks like something bright, new and exciting for new things to just rise and flow. Thanks again, have a great one
Great video, resonated with me a lot. Started smoking CBD and now Im slowly not really interested in smoking anymore (even cigarettes). 2024 is going to be a great year ❤️
I've never been for or against weed, a lot of my freinds smoked it or whatever. But personally I am a very easily addicted person who falls into a lot of dependency, due to a lot of stages in my life I have always had a desire to partake in alcohol, smoking, drugs, but I am really fearful because I personally can be quite self destructive. Not saying weed would nececarily make me fall into that, but its more so the idea that I do not want to ever develop a dependency on anything other than myself. Going to the gym, doing bouldering every week - shit I may start BJJ like you have, have really helped me through a lot of my periods in life
Exactly, I wouldn't say I'm against weed, but I am against being dependent on a substance in order to enjoy life. Definitely try BJJ it's so much fun and a great too for self development!
Thanks for this honest story about your experience. I’m in a similar boat where I know I need to quit to progress to a better stage in my life, but I’m struggling to kick it.
Thanks, I appreciate that! You got this dude, start taking small steps in the right direction. Momentum over time will help you make the change you're looking for.
I’m 13 days into quitting and I hear about the trouble sleeping part a lot but so far for me it’s been the opposite.. I can fall asleep no problem but I find myself having issues staying asleep, I actually wake up a solid 2-4 hours earlier… it can definitely be a bit frustrating because melatonin doesn’t really do anything to keep me asleep it will make me pass out sure but I think it wears off by the time I wake up… Fingers crossed this will begin to fade with time
heyo thanks for watching! I found I had to wait around 30 days for the overall physical side effects of quitting to balance out. I didn't really have any acute issues with quitting, but I don't think my body "balanced" out until around the 30 day mark. Good luck!
@@taylor-kenny thanks man. It’s been a struggle but there is for sure a level of self pride in quitting as well. I started smoke weed when I was 11 years old… I’m 29. 18 years of my life man. End of an era. Couldn’t be happier to have made the decision to quit. These videos help a lot
One thing that happened to me after 20 years of smoking weed is that it stopped helping me forget about unpleasant things, and it started amplifying them. This was actually a good thing for me, because instead of getting high and feeling good, I would get high and start feeling really guilty about it. I would think of all of the things that I should be doing, but can't do because now I'm high. High me didn't want to be high, it only sounded good when I was sober... eventually high me decided, that I love weed, but I just can't do it anymore. I hope everyone watching this can get to this point.
Supplementary to what you said about REM sleep being effected: REM sleep is the final stage of sleep before you wake up (which you do each night, very briefly). Sleep cycles follow a 90 minute rhythm where you transition from sleep onset into light sleep (NREM 1/2) > deep sleep (NREM 3) > Dreaming (REM) before it resets with a micro-awakening and then you do it again. 4-5 times is the average number of "sleep cycles" in a typical eight hour period. There's a lot of reasons why marijuana effects dreaming and sleep in general, but it seems to be linked to reduced quality of NREM (1-3) sleep, leading to a reduction in REM sleep and therefore dreaming. The way it effects memory is also linked in this, of course, because trying to remember dreams is hard enough as it is... now add the memory impairment that THC causes over time and voila, you have a dreamless sleep.
For me the hardest is that there is no addiction, there is no crawling weed after I quit smoking but its just that when I am bored I'd rather do it than not and its this desire to smoke and lack of negative things related to weed that allows me to keep smoking and I know my life would've been better if I didn't know about it
I've been seeing a lot of responses similar to this. The same was true for me. I think there are a few questions you could ask yourself... Is that the best way to solve your boredom? Why is life boring? What else could you fill that time with?
Thanks for sharing your story brother I appreciate you being vulnerable. I am expecting my first son and have been struggling with weed addiction since I was 18 and I’m trying to quit as of 1pm today !
Appreciate you watching! Hell yea dude, congrats on your expected son, that's amazing. When you feel that habitual urge come up, try to fill that time with something else. Best of luck with quitting!
Cool story, every time I quit smoking weed I have all the exact opposite symptoms you had from quitting it. But I do well at work, relationships, money, etc.
I changed the smoking for edibles last year but I was still getting lazy and not getting shit done, my last time was on December 31, so right now my 2024 is still weed free, let's see how far I can get, thank you for the motivation and greetings from Bolivia!
Exactly the same here. I’ve noticed my HRV is increasing and increasing since stopping and that’s helping me fight the urge to have some form of THC although I do agree with having one here n there won’t do any harm. I guess it’s like anything in life, balance 💪
Looks like my phone was reading my mind and recommended this video to me. I've been an everyday smoker for 15+ years, and I think Im just getting too old for it. Kinda conducive to being peak productivity form. And the longer you stay in peak form throughout the year the better imo. Everything you said in this video rang true for me. I want to quit habitual smoking in 2024 and on wards 🤞
23 years old. Smoked first time at 15. Started daily smoking at 16. I haven't went without it for more than 7 days total (for a holiday abroad) in a few years. For a number of years, I'd say it added a lot of colour to my life, brought me out of my shell...unfortunately, it maybe began to define my personality at social events, but I met a lot of people through it. Now I'm in a different stage in my life and my work where I have nothing to bandage over like maybe I had during the difficult teenage years. Yet, I still use it immediately after work as if I really enjoy it... I do sometimes.,but a lot of times I would forget I'm stoned and instead of focusing on good thoughts I would be hyper focused on negatives. I love weed. But I can't do things in moderation. Its now holding me back, and I'm using it becuase I have no control and it's my norm for last 7 years.. ..i dont want to make it to 30 and not have been anymore driven than I am now. I know I have a lot more to give in life, it's unlocking it while coping in this chaotic world that is the problem. I'll probably need to take up exercise as a coping mechanism again... I wish people the best of luck in their persuit of their sober self... You'll probably get a lot more done 😂😂❤❤✌🏻 Peace & Love ✌🏻
We literally have like the same relationship with weed. Best of luck to you. I did a 75 day break a few months ago and my mind was so sharp I felt great.
Thanks for this. I started late with weed (grew up in a super religious Jamaican household…mom was ADAMANT against weed) like around 23. Now that I’m turning 30 in 5 days it’s really put in perspective how much time I have lost and also resilience with day to day things. It worked immensely well for me at first because I have some mental health conditions but long term it exacerbated all of them. I’ve definitely reduced usage a lot (I know because withdrawal symptoms are a bitch right now) but I’m Ngl…I wish I never smoked in the first place. The things that made me actually cool and accepted I gave up for an illusion of acceptance. Glad you’re doing better and I wish the same for all in the comments!
Thanks for posting this young guy (relatively). It's your truth whether I agree with it or not, although I happen to agree with all your points. Well-said.
If you can not handle your shit than don't smoke.This only applys to some people, I am a huge stoner and very happy and doing very well in life! Going on 25 years!
I stoped because of my breathing, now I feel awesome, some of my old fiends can’t even play basketball cause they run out of breath, I said, hell no, not me. And also my mental health was getting worse.
I think the bottom line is this: if you employ discipline and you have balance then anything can work. I hate generalisations about topics like this because if youre not one of those people who smoke all day every day then what’s the issue? If you are someone who smokes after work to unwind whilst maintaining a high speed lifestyle so for example job and hobbies etc… why would this be an issue especially if it helps? I am one of them. I am 21 and work in financial services and will be going to university soon to study. I go to the gym and have as good a social life as I need what the hell exactly should I stop smoking for when it helps me so much with problems I have experienced since long before trying it for the first time?
I agree to a certain extent. What matters most is that you find the balance that's right for you. I will say I consider myself a rather disciplined individual and had a lot of success when I was smoking weed. But the improvements I felt after I quit were undeniable. I felt very similar to you in my early twenties, but things changed as I got older. That's just my experience though and I can't speak for you or anyone else.
Do what works best for you. I’m 42, and growing my own buds since I was 17. My home and cars are paid for, and I got some great income streams. I still believe mushrooms are the great motivator.
@@taylor-kennyI think of weed and substances as a tool, you can build a house with it or you can smack yourself in the bollocks with it. It’s down to the person. Many elite athletes smoke weed. So I don’t really like when people generalise, that’s all.
I quit smoking regularily back around may 2023. I now only smoke once a month if even that and man do I feel way better after quitting my daily smoking habit. I feel more motivated, more awake, clear headed, and less social anxiety.
Hey man, great vid! Next time ir would be interesting to get a bit more info about your habits. You smoked daily, but how much? At which times of the day? How long have you been smoking daily? I am an occasional smoker, and I have been smoking daily. I am considering to drop weed completely, but it doesn't have terrible side effects on me. On the other hand, smoking isn't as fun as it used to be. But still, I do enjoy a joint from time to time.
I moved from Kansas City to California two years ago. My addiction to the habit was bad in KC but worse here bc the THC% in a legal state is HIGH lol. It expedited my quitting ironically bc I saw the negative effects faster. If anyone is reading this, it’s absolutely worth stopping for 30 days and reevaluating things without THC in your system
Damn this is on point I just stopped for 3 weeks so far 30 days was the plan but can’t keep a healthy relationship with it so imma stop for good. Thanks for the video boss
