Anxiety! Eeps! Any thoughts?

[basspirate]

Hi folks! I figured this might be the right area for this train of thought I am on.

I am 25 and a seven year every day smoker. Usually I smoke about 1/2 to 1 gram per day. I don't know if that's a light, moderate or (i doubt?) heavy smoker.

Over the years, I have had my one to two month breaks here and there but very sporadically. In the past few years though, however, I have noticed that it's harder to take these breaks.

Before I go farther, I think any psychological addiction I might have is really just a desire to smoke some bud. I don't drink or do drugs and marijuana just so fucking grooves with my existential be that it makes me giggle inside just to think of the plant. I love the infinite variety of flavors and effects that I can feel from this gift God gave us. Some of the threads on here where people claim to have a wild addiction to pot are either fucking crazy or really a part of a slimmity slimster minority.

In my conscious mind, I see the good part of taking some breaks from smoking; especially now as I just finished off the fruits of my first outdoor grow and have my little seedling friends popping soil in my basement. I am tired of paying and waiting on space-case pot dealers who sell me overpriced slack bags that I have to jump thru hoops to get a hold of. It took my first couple grows to really believe it-this shit grows out of the fucking ground! Praise God on the highest mountain-top with your shiniest trumpet!

Most of my immediate family is prescribed medicine for anxiety and depression. Those who are not should be on meds. Seriously. My awesome brother and closest genetic representation here on Earth is at times a total nut due to his anxiety and has nearly had to be taken out of my folks place by the white coats.

When I stop smoking now, I start getting all the tell-tale symptoms of (a silly term) "pot withdrawal". As a matter of fact, my pacing around the house and personal pity-party drives the wife (a fellow avid smoker) nuts. She and I have come to the conclusion though that I, like the rest of my family, need some fucking help when it comes to chilling out. No matter what, without my green my mind races non-stop, life seems less interesting, aggravating and pointless. Without my wife, I would have taken a long jump off a short bridge long ago.

Living in this misinformed, unfortunate country (in regards to cannabis, otherwise the USA fuckin rocks imo) it's just going to happen every once in a while that I need to take a break from smoking; primarily due to availability and financial reasons.

What do you folks do to help accept life without the ability to smoke some pot throughout/at the end of the day? I don't consider myself an addict to pot, but I do feel like I am just wired a little "hot". hehe.

I guess more than anything, I could just use some thoughts from you folks. I love this forum and have never been disappointed by the library of information available here regarding all things cannabis. More than anything, it's hard to be away from an element of my life that is there 95% percent of the time that I have such fierce opinions about, love to consume (from a connoisseurs perspective) with a firey passion and that helps me consistently thwart my super anxious/depressive tendencies.

When are we gonna get medical in PA? Geeeeez.

Thanks for reading, my friends.

By the way, I should mention that I am on day four of not smoking...aside from some resin hits. Maybe that's a source of my anxiety too...but then again, my last break during April and May lasted two months and I missed it as much on day 50 as on day 1.

I'll shut up now.

 

[fyahfohigha]

Hey buddahy, I feel your pain. You have balls for taking breaks for more than a week or two. I can't really deal with the BS past that point. I have about the same situation, other than the location, and honestly the only thing that works for me is a healthy diet, and working out. Also, activities, and growing are always nice ways to keep my self sain during what I call "Crunch Time". Probably seems like an obvious solution, but then again K.I.S.S. Non- Caff. Herbal teas at night help my sleep a little better also. Keep your head up broseff!

 

[HerbGlaze]

I have some very good information to help you, im in the same boat so don't worry some of us actaully do understand..

Excerise whether that is cardio or lifting do both you need some form of actitivy at least three days a week, you will not only look better but think more clearly and happily.
Having sex is even better!

Eat healthy, organic food, fruits, veggies, chicken, fish, rice, and sweet potatoes. <--- Those are some very healthy foods!


Most importantly..
I would find a strain that fits your needs for your medical problems.. sounds like anxiety so what I recommend is a sativa dominant strain because it will make you think more openly and creatively. No heart racing strains like really sativa strain 120+ day girls you know.
No edibles and avoid indica dominant strains they give you a down high more so then a sativa which has an UP high.

Hope that helps!
PM me if it really gets bad man, im here for you.

 

[hippie_lettuce]

Withdrawal will occur whenever you stop any habit. This can happen with physical and mental "addictions," from being around someone for a long time and then suddenly not; to drinking lots of pop and then stopping.

People will experience this "withdrawal" (from stopping smoking pot) in a variety of ways. Some people's bodies will not be affected as much as others', and may only feel a slight discomfort. Personally, I do not feel many negative effects, aside from the occasional bursts of frustration and whatnot. To deal with these effects, I usually try to find something else to do with my time. When my mind doesn't think about smoking, I don't feel anxious.

At other times, I'll listen to soothing music or I'll exercise. Drinking lots of water helps, too. I agree that sex is a great way to release all of that stress...It's also a great idea to let that anxiety out by trying to pinpoint the cause of it. Sometimes, cannabis will mask the anxieties that exist even with/without cannabis. Write about it, talk about it - just get that stress out!

I think I know how you feel when you say that you just want to smoke it for the celebration of its existence. Does that make sense? I am in no way addicted to cannabis...I can go without it but I would rather go with it Sometimes I go on voluntary breaks, a couple of weeks at a time, to help me clear my head. Then, when I return to smoking, it's like seeing my lover for the first time again...These breaks are good, they get your mind and body grounded again. Then...it's off to the sky!

 

[Cargo]

I'm right along with you bro. 1 or 2 grams a day isnt that bad at all(i'd say moderate), as at one point i was smoking about 3 times that (almost a q/o a day). But I've always taken breaks, and I always detox and and chill out. Im actually in the midst of a cannabis fast now. Its been 3 weeks and I don't plan on smoking til my current grow is harvested(tentative date is Dec. 22).
When I've gone a couple days/weeks not smoking, i dont really have withdrawal symptoms but im just more like a lil kid who wants his favorite toy. I am a bit more irritable, but it usually isnt too bad and it subsides after a while.
Books are also a great way to get your self through your fast too.
As the guy above stated, eating healthier during your breaks really helps with the cravings. My personal secret is green tea, and chamomille(sp?) tea. The day i know im taking a break i brew one of those two at least once a day and it really helps me. It also makes it hella sweet when i start smoking again, my first week of smoking again after a fast, and i swear to you 2 pulls of brick weed and im stuck watching ceiling fans in my bedroom.
Stay strong bro. I like that you're striving to add structure and discipline to your cannabis consumption.

 

[basspirate]

Hey folks, in general, I just wanted to extend my thanks to you for your encouragement, thoughts and support. It definitely helps me to feel less isolated and more understood.

fayah; it takes more balls than i thought it would! going to make the switch to decaf, too; you're onto something there. i'm a crazy coffee addict and i think it makes me even more antsy

herb; thank you for the encouragement. i am going to look into some good sativas for my grow in the future. i bet the boutique has a little something for me. i also will definitely pm ya if i go too nutso. i am working at getting my 50 posts up-for as much as i read on here i can't believe how few posts i have!!

Ms. HippieLettuce; you are right, these breaks make the cannabis experience fresh again. i get tired, esp. with all the shitty mid-grade around here with the lack of buzz i get. it's hard to get stoned after a while even after taking a massive gravity rip. by the way, i enjoyed reading your grow threads!!

Cargo; the wife and i both had to chuckle about staring at the ceiling fans!! fucking classic. i'm excited for you with your current grow; just in time to leave a fat fuckin bowl out for santa! Thanks for your encouragement- it gives me some momentum to see that you've obviously been strong in taking some time from smoking too. it's hard and it helps so to talk with others who are in the same situation.

i should add, overall that today is about one week with nothing but a couple resin hits here and there. i do feel a lot better as far as the cravings and my anxiety has dropped maybe 15%. boy, oh boy, do i miss it though. i'm taking the time to really get busy with my grow cab and trying to connect with the world without the aid of my green lens.

cheers to all.

 

[guest123]

Personally I frequently use cannabis to treat anxiety. Find a good strain, for instance I find some chem to have zero anxiety and despite the fact that chem is not free of tachycardia, the strong medicinal effect is extremely relaxing since it is not racy at all.

I would not want to go nor would I try to go a day without it. If I could not smoke I would eat at least a half gram of activated hash a day.

Availability I would move to find it to a medical state or a hash producing country.

Financial? I've gone far into debt to afford, spent my rent money on it, traveled across the world for it. My advice is to up your dedication level to the plant.

Smoking makes all negative health effects associated with it worse IMO! Try to vape it or eat it.

 

[basspirate]

hey movado, thanks for the advice. i would like to move to a medical state/go into debt to afford/spend rent money on my meds, but truth is i can't find a steady supply where i am. i'm glued to my current surroundings/situation though as i am a college student, poor and the big catch 22 is that my anxiety makes it very unfavorable for me to go out and make connections to get some bud. I agree that not smoking exacerbates the symptoms of anxiety, but I suppose that I am lucky that I can deal for short periods of time. not that it's not so fucking hard at times though. as far as my dedication to the plant, i am doing what i can, starting a small grow, etc. i have traveled far and wide for it, overseas and all over the us, but having a family at this point has to take some precedence over my own mental stability, if that makes sense. i suppose as long as i can wake up in the morning, work, study and live i'll manage till my next harvest. thanks for your advice tho friend!

 

[guest123]

Hey thanks, sorry I gave you a hard time. I'm happy to be able to have plenty, I lived many years with unsteady supply. Best of luck to you brethren.

 

[hashcraver]

Smoking makes all negative health effects associated with it worse IMO! Try to vape it or eat it.

Eating it is the best way possible. It takes the longest to get the effects. It last the longest with its effects. You can make butter outta trash and make it stash.

I do eat some every day in some way shape or form. I have not had the flu, sickness or other viral infections like most are getting. I broke my body up real good and now finding that my self medicating has be a real + for me.

I love eating hash anyway. And it can be baked into a pumpkin pie if you bake it at 300 degrees or so.

 

[basspirate]

Hashy pumpkin pie...oh my, oh my. Yes, when the supply is around again I will resume eating. I used to always make a firecracker with natural peanut butter in the mornings. Made the day go nice and smooth...

Except the time I ate two before getting on a plane, thought I was having a heart attack during take off, farted EXTREMELY loudly moments later, then had the best buzz I had in ages! Ha!

 

[labscission]

I've culled "excellent" strains due to the immense amount of anxiety that they caused. Keep searching for the strain that suits YOUR needs.

 

[Truthman]

Get you some L-theanine(suntheanine brand and take at east 200mg) and vitamin C(500mgs) from whole foods or the internet, take daily and this should lower your anxiety which comes from oxidative stress. If you take the pills with some metamucil(psyllium husk) and aloe vera the pills will stay in your system up to 24 hours because the fiber slows down the absorption but also keeps in in the blood stream longer and this is important because the theanine and vitamin c are water soluble and will get excreted out after two hours.

http://www.suntheanine.com/

Vitamin C to reduce oxidative stress, more evidence
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Vitamin-C-to-reduce-oxidative-stress-more-evidence

Evidence that oxidative stress is linked to anxiety-related behaviour in mice
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=20766263

 

[texsativa]

Thank you for talking about your anxiety. Great suggestions to start with diet and exercise. Let us know your plan and how it goes.

 

[texsativa]

Update?