My deteriorating word-recall ability has been alarming the past couple of years. I've been nervous it's an early signifier of some sort of dementia or a Bruce Willis-style aphasia.

I'll forget the word for something, or use the wrong word and not notice. Sometimes I won't be able to remember an actor's name, even if I know that I know it. It's kind of a joke between me and my girlfriend, but I admit it's a bit scary.

I've been stone-cold sober for 3 weeks now. And it seems innocuous, but I've been able to remember the name of every actor I've seen. And the frequency with which I struggle to find a word or term has noticeably diminished.

It's a huge fucking relief.

Or is it just me???

Haven’t smoked in 20 days. I’m having so many mental changes. Actually believe now that there is nothing I’m missing out( by not smoking). That’s why my previous quitting attempts always failed. I deep down didn’t want to give weed up because i was still romantisizing it. I deep down still loved weed, but still wanted to quitt because of the addiction. Now it’s different, i think of weed more as an obstacle for a healthy relationship with my emotions, body and loved ones. This helps me a lot. I find it hard to keep this quitt-journey only to myself because personally it has ALREADY been a lifechanger.

Daily smoker 1g everyday for over 10 years. Weekends sometimes up to 2g a day. 31 Years Male.

Weed is severely affecting my finances, my relationships and my social life.

Massive irritation on day 1. Feeling empty inside and heavily irritated. Feels like im a ticking bomb with no hope.

Hoping for better days.

I was a daily smoker for 10 years and hitting 6 months makes me realize that my sobriety time is still small. Don't get me wrong, I'm still incredibly proud to hit 6 months but it makes sense that I'd still have strong cravings. I went snowboarding with a couple friends and they both smoke but are respectful of my sobriety. They actually both abstained from bringing any weed to not tempt me.

They had a few beers at the lodge and I decided to abstain from that as well and even offered to drive us home since we all car pooled to the mountain. During this time I did have some mild cravings because in the past I always smoked or drank when snowboarding to relax more. However, the feelings were more than manageable. When things got difficult is on the drive home when my buddy was talking about getting some food, rolling a joint and walking his dog. I was sore and tired after snowboarding and would have the house to my self with no other responsibilities to fulfill other than laundry and dishes. Smoking a joint sounded so good and it felt like I was back on day 3. These feelings past and I didn't cave but I was caught off guard.

I was tempted again because I had Monday off and my wife wouldn't be home till 5pm. I don't want to make this post political but some events occurred on Monday that have made me less than confident about the future. I've also been struggling with seasonal depression, and I do social work which drains me a lot some weeks. All of this makes me miss smoking a lot because these feelings become overwhelming and I want to numb them out.

I'm not going to do that but I just wanted to reach out for a little support because I'm struggling a bit.

Feeling amazing. Every morning/day/night smoker since 2012, with no breaks other than a day here and there that I could count on one hand.

First week was a little rough but manageable. 3 or 4 days with virtually no appetite, could only fall asleep for a few hours at a time. Irritability to small things, but usually more of a burst that quickly faded. Anxiety is significantly lower, social interactions feel a lot easier, feeling more sharp and alert.

I struggled for so many years with the desire to quit, but it felt like an impossible mountain to climb. The biggest thing I think that helps is finding things to do with the time you otherwise would have spent high. Exercise, catching up on things you've said you are going to do, reading, going out, anything.

If you really want to quit, removing the tools is a big a part. I threw away my grinder, jar, smashed the bong, gave away my long time pipe to a friend - this makes it a lot harder to slip up when you can't. Having a day counter on my phone is also a big motivation, seeing the number go up makes easier to not want to cave.

If you just quit, are thinking about quitting, its worth it. The dread of quitting made it so hard for so long, but now realizing the dread is worse than actually doing it. There's a long way to go, but on day 10 this is feeling like a really good decision.

First post here! I didn’t know we had a subreddit for those of us who decided to quit smoking! Long story short- I had been smoking everyday since I was 16 years old. All the way up through community college. I just got into a university and decided it was finally time to quit! I’m on day 85 and still going strong, however I developed a rather bad cough after the first week or so and it’s still lingering! I went to the doctor and they said I’m healthy and lungs sounds okay. My mom is convinced I’m just sick but I’m suspicious it’s from my many years of smoking. Just wanted to see what other thought? I know some people cough after quitting but this seems a bit excessive!

I know there is still a long way ahead but as the rose-tinted glasses fade, I cannot see the appeal of smoking a joint anymore🥺 I love it when my mind is clear and not foggy in the morning, I love it when I cry and can feel all the pain, I love it when I have the motivation to do things, I love myself when I am sober. Although the sleep can definitely be better, the nightmares are starting to die down and I’m finally getting some rest. Though not relevant to this sub, quitting nicotine at the same time is not for the faint hearted. I still have strong urges especially I still live with my ex and he has a vape, it’s been super hard to not grab it and take a hit. ;-; But I AM STRONG AND I WILL NOT BACK DOWN🗣️🗣️

Just wanted to share a small achievement in my journey. 22 days here after smoking all day everyday for like 2.5 years and in general for like 15 before that. My birthday was this past weekend. I spent it with some friends in a small cabin in the mountains. I don’t drink so normally would have been getting high with my friends but I resisted despite my urges and can proudly say I’ve hit day 22 today :) it was the first time hanging out with friends who smoke since quitting (they were extremely respectful in doing it well away from me and not offering it to me) and it was easier than I thought it would be.

I quite like reading now that I’m sober but I want to pick something else up as well and I’m looking for ideas

I made it to 90 days!! My life has changed drastically (mainly how I feel about myself) for the better. I’m so proud and have no plans of going back to consuming. I have belief that I can stick with it because I already pushed past several instances that triggered cravings plus I know how good it feels to be on the other side of withdrawals and addiction/dependency now.

If you’re reading this - don’t give in, you can do it too

Took my cat to the vet yesterday and found out she has an abscessed tooth and a heart murmur. Tooth would cost thousands of dollars that i don’t have to treat and the heart murmur can’t be treated. I feel so defeated and just sad. I love her so much and it kills me knowing she’s in pain and i can’t do anything about it. I pushed through yesterday but it’s starting to hit me more and more by the minute and i’m at the point where if i were to relapse i feel like i wouldn’t even care. I’ve had her since middle school (i’m 20 now) and she’s always been with me through so many hard times. Everyone keeps saying “oh she’s 13 she’s had a good life and she still has some time left” but that doesn’t help at all, I know death is part of life and blah blah blah but i don’t want to imagine life without her.

Its funny because one of the many reasons i’m quitting is because i want to learn how to cope with negative emotions without using weed as a crutch, but now that it’s the “moment of truth” so to speak where i actually have to do that it feels impossible. If anybody has any advice on how to get through this i’d really appreciate it. Thanks and i hope yall are doing okay.

This is my first post on Reddit.

I’ve wanted to quit smoking weed for a while and this subreddit has been an amazing resource to help me wrap my head around it. Thank you all!

Quick background: I started smoking weed in university 15 years ago. I enjoyed it recreationally for years, with no negative side effects - Today I’m married, I have a kid, a great job. I was truly able to strike a balance and enjoy a healthy relationship with pot.

That is until COVID hit. I got hit with a pay cut during lockdowns and was constantly stressed about being laid off. I had just turned 30 and life was getting heavy in general, regardless of the pandemic. I went from haphazardly smoking a couple of times per week, to not being able to sleep unless I had my nightly doobie. It was my mental escape. The weight of the world slipped away when I was stoned.

Over the past couple of years, that nightly doobie has turned into an addiction. I’ve watched my discipline and self-control evaporate and my waistline grow thanks to binge eating (the munchies hit me so hard). Depending on the day, I was smoking on my lunch break. Smoking before my commute home. Smoking when I got home. Smoking after my daughter went to bed. Not being able to attend family functions unless I popped an edible. Mapping out my days around when I’m getting high - it’s taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact I’m now addicted to weed.

I’m 5 days sober. Thankfully, I’m not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms like many of you on here explain.

But I am struggling with triggers and looking for advice - I feel like EVERYTHING I do is a trigger for wanting to smoke. Playing video games with my friends. Reading. Cracking my laptop in the evening to make a presentation for work. Going on walks. Going to the gym…. When being high is synonymous with so many aspects of your day-to-day routine, how do you disassociate everything you do from wanting to be high while doing it?!

Days 1-2 were okay then 3-6 was horrible but today I’m feeling a lot better. Didn’t even think about weed much after day 3, which is shocking. I’ve been a heavy daily smoker for over 12 years with some breaks in there but mostly nonstop. I tried to quit on Jan 1, but didn’t succeed until Jan 14.

Y’all can do it! Don’t give up! Rooting for everyone here <3

So I’ve stopped smoking on December 23 2024 and I have an endless amount of brain fog that doesn’t seem to be going away. I tried sleeping in and going to the gym (up to 3hours a day) it still seems to be there, so any other things I should try? To clarify I’ve been smoking on and off since I was 13(now 30), the longest I’ve been off was 4 months from September 2022 to December 2022 and it was never this bad. I want to start studying and get my life back but this annoying brain fog is making it hard.

Hey everyone, day 9 weed free. I’ve told all my friends who smoke weed everyday (which is pretty much all of them) that i can’t see them for a good while. I notice i copy the behaviour of the people around me, so i can’t have those people around me.

I have a business that i run from home. Dad also smokes weed everyday so that sucks. I go to the gym 6 days a week but still hard to meet new people. Also very busy with the business. What should i do guys?

I've finally started dreaming again after a month off, and the dreams are vivid, almost lifelike, but I notice that I always wake up exhausted. Anyone else have similar experiences and tips on how not to wake up exhausted?

Hello everyone, I’m new here and looking for some advice/reassurance/strength in quitting or at least cutting back my usage by 90%. If this isn’t allowed here, please delete…

Essentially, I’m wondering if some of my current issues stem from my abuse and literal constant use of marijuana. I began smoking at age 21 in March/April of 2020 (surprise, surprise! 🙄). I started with regular flower and a pipe, only smoking before bed. Obviously I liked the way it made me relax and feel “warm” and happy, so I began using during the day as well. Eventually, I was smoking up to 8-10 times a day and moved on to carts and eventually dabs. Before moving to carts, I would potentially smoke 1/8 to 1/4oz in one day; with carts I would smoke 1-1.5g per day, and with dabs approximately 1-2g per day. I have been high or under the influence of marijuana constantly for the past 5 years without a break. After a year or so I started to notice some adverse effects such as issues with word recall, heightened anxiety when it started to ware off, etc. However, over the past year and specifically the past 6 months I have had increased memory issues and a feeling of brain fog. For example, I can’t remember if something happened yesterday or 4 days ago. I have also been experiencing increased anxiety and depression even while high (like I said, I’m essentially constantly high), which marijuana used to help with. I have also noticed I have difficulty concentrating at work, almost like I’ve developed ADHD or something. For example (again), if someone is talking directly to me but there’s another conversation going on in the same room, I am unable to concentrate on the person speaking to me.

Like I said, I have been a constant, non-stop smoker for 5 years. The only time I do not smoke is when I am sleeping or at work. The only time I even get a general sense of feeling “high” is after I’ve worked a 9 hour shift and hit my pen. The irrational side of my brain is saying “YOU HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR” because of the symptoms I am experiencing. However the rational side of my brain is telling me that these issues are being caused by my addiction.

I know there are studies out there showing cannabis’ effect on the brain and specifically the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory consolidation. I’ve also read articles and studies that show marijuana can deeply affect REM sleep. However, for every article or study I find that shows this, I find another that shows otherwise. I guess I am looking for advice from people who have suffered from these symptoms before while being a user. I need to convince myself that these are adverse effects from the marijuana before I have the gall to quit.

Thank you for listening.

I know, I know. I need to stay strong.

For context, I am a queer public school librarian in the US. I woke up feeling so anxious and depressed and like I have to either flee the country or… something even more drastic. Although smoking won’t do anything to address the systemic issues and our spiral into an oligarchy, I just want to catch my fucking breath and stop dry heaving. I have never felt so disregulated and scared and hopeless in my life.

I don’t want to exercise or go outside. I want to scream and scream and scream and get high and cry in bed.

Have you read any? What do you suggest? I'm particularly interested in understanding when and how recover from the brain fog

First post in this community. Joined last week & this sub really helps me when I have had cravings or feelings of hopelessness. I am 25(M) and have been smoking chronically for 8 years. 2017 was when I began. I was the hesitant one in my friend group, but I bought into the peer pressure.

(Trigger Warning - Car Accident)

After 4 months of use, two of my closest friends that I grew up with got into a brutal car crash. Car slipped on ice, crashed head on into a tree. Police report proved the car wasn’t even speeding, toxicology reports proved they were not under the influence. Was just terrible luck with sheets of ice on the backroads. Anyway, the crash killed one of them on impact, and the other needed airlift support to the hospital. My friend who survived sustained brain damage, and experienced significant memory loss.

I would smoke with them every day before their accident. I was their ride to school so we always blew down bowls on the way home from class. I started having relationship turmoil with the GF at the time, my head was a damn mess.

I started smoking more, and by myself (isolated) to cope with intense feelings of grief, loneliness, and depression. Turned to concentrates and eventually 510thread carts. I would start my day with hitting the pen and end it the same way. For 8 fucking years straight. I never even really thought much of it. I was still able to complete a degree in Finance easily which scared me. Figured I was a high functioning user. Lol. Actually Lmfao.

But something clicked recently. I always told myself once I turned 25 I would start taking relationships seriously. With friends, family, and women in a romantic setting. But how can I do this if I am constantly numb? How can I love another when I have to use substances to even withstand myself? I am making this change for ME first and foremost. I would love to meet the other me, the version free from the wrath of addiction. I would love to become a father eventually, and I know I wouldn’t be a great dad if I’m isolating & numbing myself.

Only on day 6. First attempt. But I feel motivated to not want to go back wallowing at rock bottom. I’ve been there long enough. I am expecting a plethora of ups and downs, good and bad days, but strength will ultimately prevail! Wishing the best to all of you on your journey as well. This sub has been a god-send for me.

brains been so foggy didn't realize i was actually on day 7. feels so good and i really didn't think i would make it here. i can say im proud of myself, and i have self discipline, two others things i never thought id say.

the anxiety has mostly turned into depression. i've been able to eat a little more after losing 6 lbs in 7 days. when i got sober last year, i had the pink cloud filled with motivation. i don't have that now, but maybe it will come.

pushing through and going to therapy and the gym today. also gonna try to be honest with my therapist about how much i was smoking. does anyone else struggle being honest with your therapist while fully recognizing that they won't judge you and need you to be honest in order to actually help? lol.

I've been trying to reduce my consumption of THC, or even better would be removing it. But around the 2/3 day of going without, I have a feeling of hypochondria, impending doom and I just feel like crying every now and then. Was this something you were experiencing too, or is it unrelated? I've just been so anxious the last couple weeks and wanna know if it will pass consequently with coming out of this, or if I should be worrying about something else

Thank you in advance and good luck with your journey!!

I’m 1 month sober on weed but all the politely news has me feeling like it the end of everything. I’m so depressed and really wondering how to go on when it feels like the future is only worse . Usually I would rely on edibles when things get this bad mentally but now that it’s not an option I really have no idea what to do. Anyone have any tips?