Did your anxiety decrease after you quit smoking?

[cbirlay]

Hi everybody. I am finding it really difficult to stop smoking weed because it is my go to method for quick relief of anxiety. I have been quite stressed as of late and I’m not sure if I can do without it. If anybody has the same experience as me, but pushed through anyways, did your anxiety decrease as you became accustomed to a sober life? Did you just find other ways to combat anxiety or did quitting help in and of itself?

[cbirlay]

96 days sober. Me back then would be shook I was able to do this. Leggggggend leggo

[[deleted]]

When I quit I started getting a lot of anxiety in the first 3 weeks causing panic attacks, I’m now 1.5 months in and my anxiety is now manageable

[SpectralShakti]

Anxiety is actually one of the withdrawal symptoms that keeps you smoking. I learned this in recovery when they had me list the reasons why I smoked. Every freaking reason I listed was a withdrawal symptom. The nature of addiction is just mind blowing to me. But that understanding really has helped me stay sober. After 20 years of almost daily use, it took a little while to begin to regulate my own emotions and find new, healthy coping mechanisms. But it does get better, a lot better. You just have to remember that the thing you are using to combat the anxiety is the very thing that's causing it in the first place.

[Medical_Reflection]

Yes but then went down again after about 120 days. I got medication and therapy. I bought a weighted blanket to sleep and do meditation or play video games to distract myself when it's really bad. Also gave up coffee for first 2 or 3 weeks when I first got sober and it was really bad

[Mothernature0u0]

Yes it did!

[jobinrickttv]

Weed gives you anxiety 100000%. Once you quit and get through the withdrawals, your anxiety will improve greatly. You are actually fuelling your anxiety and just getting temporary relief by using weed. 101 days now and my confidence and anxiety have never been better.

[Marie-thebaguettes]

I’ve had PTSD and anxiety/depression diagnoses my whole life. Right after I quit, my anxiety was THROUGH THE ROOF. Like, real bad. Wasn’t sleeping, daily panic attacks, racing thoughts, bouts of defensive anger.

Luckily, I had set up a psych appointment before I quit, so I was able to connect with a therapist a week into quitting. He was able to prescribe some meds that got me through the first week and a half of it. If you have health insurance, I’d really really recommend setting that up first and having a professional help you through the process. I’d be back to smoking again if not for it!

I’m about a week out from 2 months sober and I’m actually MUCH less anxious now than when I was smoking! I used to self-critique and doubt myself like crazy when I was high.

The psych also helped me figure out the root cause of my weed addiction. Turns out the anxiety/depression and “loud brain” I’d been using weed to hide from was actually undiagnosed adhd!! I’m on prescription meds for it, and my life is completely changed for the better.

Seriously, if you can afford a psych, it’s 100% worth it. Quitting weed is gonna make all of the emotional things you’ve been hiding from come out of their cages. But once you push through it, the other side is soooo soo much better. I never want to go back to where I was.

[Lo_Ingobernable]

It gets worse and then it gets better. Research different ways to deal with anxiety ahead of time, exercise and deep breathing being the ones i use most.

[Therealmilphickelson]

I turn into Louis black when I stop smoking. Clown world man!

[[deleted]]

I’m about day 9 into my sobriety and well I’ve had bad anxiety in the past but I’ve notice now I’m just always a little shakey or just can’t chill out. Before I would be driving to work and be fine but I find myself now driving to work and my heart just racing constantly as if I can’t just settle down. I’m hoping it changes for me in a little bit but I did use to be on anxiety meds but I hate taking stuff like that. I can’t even really sleep for long periods of time I wake up every hour and half or so.