I Quit Smoking Weed. How I Feel After 3 Months of Sobriety

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their personal journey of quitting smoking weed after being a regular user since 16. They discuss the reasons behind their decision, including increased anxiety and a realization that weed had become a coping mechanism rather than a creative tool. The creator details their experience with withdrawal symptoms and the 'pink cloud' of clarity post-quitting, emphasizing that while quitting weed didn't solve all their problems, it allowed them to acknowledge and address underlying issues. They also share how they replaced smoking with healthier habits like exercising and meditation, ultimately leading to a more present and fulfilling lifestyle.

Takeaways

• 🚭 The speaker quit smoking weed after being a regular user since the age of 16.
• 🌿 The decision to quit was personal and came after experiencing negative effects like panic attacks and increased anxiety.
• 🔄 The speaker acknowledges that weed can be a useful tool for some, but for them, it became a coping mechanism that hindered personal growth.
• 🌱 The withdrawal symptoms were real and included disrupted sleep patterns, anxiety, and physical discomfort.
• 💪 The speaker replaced weed with healthier habits like exercising, which helped in managing withdrawal and improving overall well-being.
• 🧘 The journey included rebuilding self-trust by making and keeping small commitments to oneself, like daily workouts.
• 🌈 The 'pink cloud' phase post-quitting was a period of increased clarity and motivation, which eventually faded, requiring ongoing commitment.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The home gym expansion and regular exercise became key substitutes for the previous evening routine of smoking and gaming.
• 📸 The speaker still explores creativity through photography and video-making, indicating a continued pursuit of personal interests.
• 🌟 The experience of quitting weed has been transformative, leading to a desire to be the best version of oneself and live more fully.

Q & A

How long has the speaker been quitting smoking weed?

The speaker has been quitting smoking weed for 12 weeks.

What was the speaker's longest break from smoking weed before this quit?

The speaker's longest break from smoking weed before this quit was six months.

Why did the speaker decide to quit smoking weed?

The speaker decided to quit because weed stopped being a useful creative tool and became a coping mechanism and avoidance of problems and responsibilities.

What physical symptoms did the speaker experience after quitting weed?

The speaker experienced disrupted sleep patterns, increased anxiety, night sweats, and a general physical discomfort after quitting weed.

What is the 'pink cloud' mentioned in the script?

The 'pink cloud' refers to a period of heightened clarity and positive feelings that can follow the cessation of drug use, where the individual feels more present and excited about life.

How has the speaker been substituting bad habits with good ones?

The speaker has been substituting bad habits with good ones by committing to a fitness routine, expanding their home gym, and engaging in outdoor activities like walks.

What is the speaker's stance on the use of psychedelics?

The speaker still uses psychedelics occasionally but responsibly, finding value in them for personal growth and believes they are anti-addictive.

How has quitting weed impacted the speaker's life?

Quitting weed has allowed the speaker to acknowledge problems they were previously unaware of or avoiding, and it has led to a commitment to self-improvement and a healthier lifestyle.

What is the speaker's advice for those considering quitting weed?

The speaker advises that if someone feels in their soul that they should stop using weed, they probably should, but also acknowledges that it's not for everyone and some people can use it responsibly.

What has the speaker been doing to rebuild trust in themselves?

The speaker has been making and keeping small promises to themselves, such as committing to daily workouts and other healthy habits, to rebuild trust and maintain their commitment to sobriety.

How does the speaker feel about their current state of health and fitness?

The speaker feels they are in the best shape they've been in the last two years, although they acknowledge there is still room for improvement and they are actively working on it.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Quitting Weed: A Personal Journey

The speaker begins by announcing their decision to quit smoking weed, a habit they've had since the age of 16. They express surprise at how easy it has been, especially considering they never intended to quit before. The speaker details their past experiences with taking breaks from weed, their longest being six months. They discuss the negative effects of weed on their mental health, leading to anxiety and panic attacks, and how it transitioned from a creative tool to a coping mechanism. The speaker also acknowledges the benefits of marijuana for others while recognizing their own inability to use it responsibly.

05:03

🌱 Physical and Mental Changes After Quitting

The speaker describes the physical and mental withdrawal symptoms they experienced after quitting weed, such as disrupted sleep patterns, increased anxiety, and night sweats. They explain that while weed is not as physically addictive as other drugs, it still affects the body and requires time to readjust. The speaker also talks about the 'pink cloud' phase, a period of increased clarity and well-being following the cessation of drug use. They emphasize the importance of commitment to oneself and the process of rebuilding trust within oneself to maintain sobriety.

10:05

💪 Substituting Bad Habits with Good Ones

The speaker shares their commitment to fitness and self-care as a way to replace the habit of smoking weed. They discuss their increased physical activity, including home workouts and going to the gym, and how it has helped them stay active and healthy. The speaker also talks about the importance of building trust in oneself through small commitments and the process of integrating creativity and meditation into their daily life. They mention their occasional use of psychedelics in a responsible manner to aid in personal growth.

15:07

🌟 Embracing Sobriety and Personal Growth

In the final paragraph, the speaker reflects on the significance of quitting weed at their current stage in life, focusing on becoming the best version of themselves. They express a desire to face life's challenges directly rather than numbing themselves with weed. The speaker acknowledges their personal power and the importance of living a present and fulfilling life. They conclude by encouraging others who may be considering quitting weed, emphasizing that while it may not be the right choice for everyone, it has been a positive and necessary change for them.

Keywords

💡Sobriety

Sobriety refers to a state of not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, particularly after a period of addiction. In the video, the speaker discusses their journey towards sobriety by quitting smoking weed, which was affecting their mental health and daily life. The concept is central to the video's theme as it represents a personal commitment to self-improvement and health.

💡Tolerance Breaks

Tolerance breaks are periods of abstinence from a substance to allow one's tolerance to decrease, making the substance's effects more potent upon reintroduction. The speaker mentions taking tolerance breaks from weed, indicating a pattern of use and an attempt to manage their relationship with the substance, which is a key aspect of their narrative about controlling substance use.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. The video describes how the speaker experienced increased anxiety and panic attacks, which were negative side effects of their marijuana use. This keyword is significant as it illustrates the转折点 that led the speaker to reconsider their relationship with weed.

💡Creative Tool

A creative tool refers to something that aids in the generation of new ideas or artistic expression. The speaker initially viewed weed as a creative tool but later realized it had become a crutch, preventing them from facing their problems directly. This shift in perception is crucial to understanding their decision to quit.

💡Coping Mechanism

A coping mechanism is a strategy used to manage stress or avoid dealing with problems. In the script, the speaker acknowledges that weed had turned into a coping mechanism, allowing them to avoid confronting their responsibilities. This realization is a pivotal moment in their decision to quit, as it signifies a move towards healthier ways of dealing with life's challenges.

💡Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms refer to the bodily responses or discomforts experienced due to a condition or substance withdrawal. The speaker discusses the physical symptoms they experienced after quitting weed, such as sleep disturbances and night sweats. These symptoms are highlighted to emphasize the reality of the withdrawal process and the body's need to readjust.

💡Pink Cloud

The 'pink cloud' is a term used to describe the initial period of euphoria and heightened clarity experienced after quitting a substance. The speaker mentions entering a 'sober high' or 'pink cloud' phase, where they felt a sense of accomplishment and clarity. This phase is significant as it represents a temporary state that can either motivate or deceive individuals about the持续性 of their sobriety.

💡Relapse

Relapse refers to a return to a previous pattern of behavior, especially the use of a substance after a period of abstinence. The video discusses the potential for relapse once the 'pink cloud' fades and the realities of daily life set in. The concept is important as it underscores the ongoing challenge of maintaining sobriety and the need for vigilance.

💡Commitment

Commitment in this context means a strong sense of dedication or loyalty to a course of action. The speaker emphasizes the importance of making a personal commitment to quit smoking weed, which is a central theme of the video. This commitment is portrayed as a key factor in successfully navigating the challenges of sobriety.

💡Substitute Habits

Substitute habits involve replacing a negative behavior with a positive one. The speaker talks about substituting the habit of smoking weed with healthier activities like working out and meditation. This concept is significant as it illustrates a strategy for managing cravings and maintaining a new lifestyle.

💡Meditation

Meditation is a practice of focusing the mind and achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. The speaker mentions returning to daily meditation as part of their journey towards self-improvement. Meditation is highlighted as a tool for enhancing mental well-being and is part of the broader narrative of personal growth and health.

Highlights

The speaker quit smoking weed after using it since the age of 16.

It has been 12 weeks without smoking weed, which was easier than expected.

The speaker never tried to quit before but took tolerance breaks, with the longest being six months.

Weed stopped being a useful tool and became a coping mechanism, leading to the decision to quit.

The speaker still supports responsible use of weed for those who can manage it.

The speaker's infrequent use of weed was still every night, leading to a decision to quit.

Quitting weed has allowed the speaker to acknowledge problems they were previously avoiding.

The speaker experienced physical symptoms like disrupted sleep and anxiety after quitting weed.

The 'pink cloud' phase after quitting involves increased clarity and presence.

The pink cloud effect fades, and the speaker had to deal with the reality of daily life.

Commitment to quitting was solidified by giving away smoking utensils.

The speaker replaced bad habits with good ones, such as exercising and improving fitness.

Working from home led to the expansion of a home gym to avoid the lack of motivation to go to a public gym.

The speaker now experiences a runner's or biker's high instead of relying on weed.

Small commitments to self-improvement, like daily workouts, have helped rebuild self-trust.

The speaker still uses psychedelics occasionally but in a responsible manner.

Meditation has been reintroduced into the speaker's routine to maintain sobriety.

Quitting weed has been a commitment to personal growth and being the best version of oneself.

The speaker encourages those who feel they should quit weed to listen to that inner voice.

The decision to quit weed should be supported by a community and environment.

Transcripts

hey everybody and uh welcome welcome to

my channel uh this is a video that I've

actually been kind of wanting to make

for a little bit but I also wanted to

get a little further out from uh the

process of what you've probably already

seen in the title uh I quit smoking weed

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which is for people who know me is crazy

for people who know me and you like know

how long I've been smoking weed since I

was 16. uh this is probably like you

don't believe it and that is totally

fair to not believe it however it's true

I stopped smoking weed and it will be 12

weeks without smoking weed and I gotta

say

way easier than I thought it would be

like way easier I'm like preface this by

saying I never tried to actually quit

smoking weed I would just take tolerance

breaks I would take breaks where I was

like dude I've been smoking too much I

need to like slow down and and give

myself a reset and my longest break I

ever took uh was actually like six

months but that was a few years ago so

that was before I even moved to Chicago

I don't know the the last several times

I had smoked before I decided to quit I

was just getting like panic attacks and

just a lot of anxiety and it really just

stopped doing what it used to do for me

it stopped being a useful creative tool

and it became this coping mechanism this

avoidance of my problems and my

responsibilities and I know that like

weed is not the [ __ ] Devil's lettuce

I still support people smoking weed I

think people who can responsibly use

wheat should totally still be able to do

it uh as long as you're old enough I've

proven to myself time and time again

that I cannot responsibly use marijuana

like I

I at my like most infrequent use of it

in terms of being a regular smoker

would still do it every night I wouldn't

do it during the day I wasn't like

smoking all day or anything like that

but I was somebody who and at the

evening at the end at the end of the day

I would unwind and I would smoke and I

would play video games or I'd watch

YouTube or Netflix or whatever

uh and

I just found that it was getting in the

way it was it was stopping me from doing

what I needed to do it is not the sole

thing and in fact that's something I've

learned in my journey of sobriety here I

started realizing different things that

I was not doing or ways that I was

getting in the way of myself from doing

things that I want to do or at least

that I say that I want to do and uh

breaking promises to myself you know and

when you start to lose that trust within

yourself and you stop believing yourself

when you make a commitment I mean that's

that's something you got to work on and

that's something that we we can't allow

to continue but I actually quit before I

ran out of weed I ended up giving it

away but uh but it is kind of funny like

I I really made a commitment in my head

of like I'm really gonna do this and I'm

really not gonna smoke and after that it

was easy and I know that that's strange

and that is not the usual experience I

think for most people it's pretty hard

but I've taken so many periodic breaks

where I recognize that I certainly was

healthier when I was was not smoking and

I was like I was better about regulating

what I was eating and I was just taking

care of myself better when I didn't

smoke uh but I kept telling myself that

like oh but like it's not the weed and

it's true it's not it's not just the

weed

uh there's a lot of things that would

get in my way me specifically getting in

my own way that is not just the weed and

quitting weed did not solve all of my

problems and I want to make that very

clear but it has allowed me to begin to

acknowledge the problems that maybe I

was unaware of or ignorant of or

choosing to not see

um and it has brought me to a present

moment where

I now am

much healthier just like much health I

can't say I'm the healthiest I've ever

been because the the truth is I've been

in much better shape than I'm in

although I am actually working on it uh

and I'm probably in the best shape I've

been in

in the last like two years but that bar

is kind of low because that's that's how

I got to this point I wanted to quit

wheat I kind of want to break into that

uh and and try to break down what has

happened with me in my process what have

I done in in order to change my habits

and to get myself out of the uh the

pattern of smoking and getting out of

the situations that I would put myself

in that would make me very likely to

smoke weed in the very beginning phases

when I first quit and I first was like

okay I'm done

um it was hard okay it wasn't hard to

not want to smoke that was the easy part

right like I knew I didn't want to smoke

I really did not have a craving to do it

however the withdrawal symptoms are real

man uh it's not a physically addictive

uh drug in the same way that like heroin

is or cocaine or whatever but it still

is it still is a drug that it has its

fangs on you and it does have a physical

effect when you quit

so one of the things that I notice right

away was my sleep pattern was completely

[ __ ] up uh because I used to go to

sleep you know I was tired from being

stoned and it would be easier for me to

fall asleep right away however in the

first few weeks of quitting like falling

asleep was way harder and I certainly

started dealing with more anxiety and I

would get like racy thoughts at the end

of the night

and it was it was not an easy time I had

night sweats

um there definitely is a physical

discomfort and if you are unaware of the

physical symptoms of uh of quitting weed

you know not nearly as Extreme as any

other actually like physically addictive

drug but it is still there and I want I

want to make people aware that there is

a process of coming from that you have

to allow your body to be able to

re-regulate its dopamine system you know

and that that's going to take a little

bit of time it's used to the rewards of

of you get the hit and you get the quick

high and you have to learn how to

produce those chemicals on your own

again without that assistance and so in

that process it is going to disregulate

you and sometimes it's going to put you

in a state of feeling like lethargic or

tired or you're not going to get as well

rested at first and that is because it

takes time for your body to readjust to

a world where it is not getting high all

the time

um so for me that was something that I

noticed right away it was like damn like

there are some real physical symptoms

um however when you push past that you

then get to the next phase and the next

phase for me was what some people call

the pink Cloud it's referred to as

this like Clarity that you get after

being in a drug-induced stupor you know

this is usually referred to for like

people who are addicted to like pills

and stuff but I think it definitely

applies here

and so for then the next like month I

was in like a sober High where I felt so

present and so like excited and like

proud of myself for doing what I was

doing and it creates this High effect

where you're you're so clear-headed and

you're so there that you feel amazing

and you feel like you're on top of the

world right however the thing about the

pink cloud is is that it will fade and

the reality of your day-to-day life is

going to come back

and so what typically trips people up is

when the pink Cloud Fades away and life

gets hard again or you know just becomes

mundane uh that people become less

cautious of their potential for a

relapse or you know to uh trip up and

get back into their habit but for me I

think I just I got to a point where it's

like okay I'm so done with this and I'm

so committed that I'm literally willing

to like give away my pieces and I I

don't I don't want any utensils that I

can smoke out of anymore uh

and I think that level of commitment

that I made to myself and that promise

that I made to myself it started out as

just like just make it to the end of the

year and see how you feel but really

like I was still trying to commit long

term I just didn't want to make a

commitment that I was going to then not

live up to

um But as time has gone on actually I've

gotten more

like more solid in my feeling on that

like no I'm done I smoked enough for a

lifetime I don't need to smoke anymore

but one of the things that I committed

to myself this year was that I wanted to

work out and take care of myself I have

like stepped up my fitness game a lot

and so I've substituted some bad habits

with some good ones

um I also work from home and so when you

work from home you gotta make an effort

to get up and move and so while the

weather was still good this summer I

made sure to go out on walks I wanted to

experience nature I wanted to feel the

Sunshine the breeze and that was

actually super helpful for me to avoid

getting stir crazy and as well as just

enjoy the world around me you know I

worked out at home we actually expanded

our home gym which had helped a lot

because sometimes I didn't want to I

didn't want to go to the gym like

physically

um not that I didn't want to work out

but I didn't want to like drive there

the the place where I live the parking

is annoying like just there's just no

spots the idea of even moving the car

was just like oh do I want to move the

car and then have to walk three blocks

you know just to just to get back to my

apartment you know so I was just a lot

of times I found myself skipping the gym

and I would just do some home workout

stuff but since we've gotten a bench

we've gotten an indoor bike we have a

treadmill and when you combine those

with our dumbbells and our kettlebells

and stuff we actually have enough where

I can do almost everything and I still

go to the gym on the weekends I I'm now

burning like 1500 calories a day you

know and I'm going hard and I'm making

sure I'm watching my portions of eating

I'm making sure I'm watching what I'm

snacking on because the snacking has

always been kind of my sneaky wave

eating too much in a day so I now get

you know a runner's high or a Biker's

High uh from the bike instead than from

weed and it's way healthier for me it

keeps me active it allows my body to be

more fit uh while I'm otherwise sitting

at my desk on my computer all day

and one thing I learned in the process

of making these new uh commitments to

myself was I was building back trust at

a layer by layer level so I was in Small

ways making small promises so you know a

promise to make sure I work out that day

I promise to make sure I get on the bike

you know those little promises me

following through on that is slowly

rebuilding the trust that I need to have

Within Myself in order to maintain my

commitments as well as my creativity my

next step in this process for me of

leveling up to

I think a better version of myself that

I know I can be now uh the next small

commitments I have to make is just doing

something creative

um so sometimes it's taking photos and

I've certainly been enjoying that

um and sometimes it might just be making

a video like this I do still do

psychedelics

um not very frequently but I do still do

them I find Value in them they're

anti-addictive and in fact they've

actually been super helpful in my

process of growing I only trip once in a

while anyway and I occasionally micro

dose um but even that I don't do with

any sort of like super regularity or

anything like that I am mostly sober

right like most of my time is now spent

sober I actually have in uh increased my

meditation time I I used to be a daily

meditator way back in the day and I am

again now and I have had not been for a

while I had been kind of out of out of

my cycle ever since covet it kind of

just ruined everything to be honest so I

would be remiss to say that I you know

did this all completely sober and I've

I've never touched anything since it's

like that's not true

um although I have not drank

yeah I've not drank at all since uh

since I quit weed but I have done some

micro doses of mushrooms here and there

and I did do a trip I don't feel like

those things

um especially when used responsibly and

at this point it's like I I've done them

for so long it's not it's not like I'm

not in that phase where I was in the

beginning where it's just it was so

exciting to be in that state of mind and

to think about the universe and some of

these spacely ideas and whatnot like

those are awesome things and I think

that everybody should go through a phase

where they explore that if they're going

to go through psychedelics like you're

gonna inevitably just it's just part of

the game okay but you get to a certain

point where you know you become more

responsible you realize like the value

of them on a very down to earth level of

like well how does this affect me and my

life personally rather than these big

ideas of like we are all God and

everybody is the universe and we are all

the same thing of the part of the cosmic

weave like dude we've all been there

okay and I get it and I do have that

right I do I do feel this sense of

interconnectedness however it is so much

more helpful to be grounded on this

Earth and to integrate it into your life

uh in a tangible way because at the end

of the day it's like you can think about

all these spacely things and all these

Cosmic ideas but if you're not grounded

in reality and using that unique

perspective in your day-to-day life with

your human connection to other people

then you're kind of you're missing the

point while you're on this planet what

can you do that you can share with other

people and that you can

um help people on their Journeys and

provide something for someone else while

also providing for yourself and

fulfilling your soul so this journey of

quitting weed has been so magical for me

it's been so

important and was so necessary at this

time in my life I'm 28 years old I'm

gonna be 29 next year you know I I'm at

this point where I'm I'm way more

interested

in being the best version of myself and

really being present and really enjoying

my time here than being in a high stupor

where I'm numbing myself every evening

because life is hard you know it's like

I want to deal with life being hard and

I want to handle it uh like a capable

person could and I am capable and I am a

powerful person and I have to

acknowledge my power within myself that

I can do this and I believe in myself

and so for me quitting weed has been a

commitment to me and and what I want to

be in this world and it's not right for

everybody some people weed is great for

and it helps them but for me it stopped

doing that so uh thank you for listening

to me ramble I've already talked way too

long on this but uh this was an

important story that I felt like I

needed to tell and I hope that other

people who maybe are thinking about

quitting or have felt in their soul that

like I should stop like you probably

should if that's how you feel if you

don't feel that way if you feel like you

use it responsibly you only do it here

and there dude we just totally fine in

fact it is way better to be addicted to

that than alcohol so given the two you

know pick your poison it is important to

have an environment in a community

around you that can help support you

through this decision and who are

supportive and in fact several of my

friends have also quit weed

um kind of around the same time not

because I convinced them but I think

just we we all kind of got to the same

point where we were feeling similarly

about it uh but anyway thanks for

listening I appreciate you all thank you

so much uh like subscribe all that other

stuff and maybe more videos soon

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thank you

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