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Jun 6, 2013
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Hi guys my name is Cody. A few a little over two months ago now I quit smoking marijuana. I had one of the hardest times of my life and I had no idea what to do about it. I was someone who had been religious but I don't think I could have actually called myself a Christian, I would have hoped to but looking back now I know I wasn't.

Thats not the point of this thread. I had some very intense withdrawal symptoms and I believed that my mental health would never return to normal. I had issues with reality, I felt like I had left my old self and jumped into a new world, one that I recognized but was one hundred precent foreign to me. For the first week and a half I couldn't eat anything because of appetite loss and forget sleeping. I could take something to help with sleep and it wouldn't even effect me. After the first two weeks things seemed to be going back to normal. My appetite came back and I began to sleep easier (during this time my mental health was some what stable I felt lost and confused but I was making it). At the beginning of week three I felt really good I thought life was going to be good from then on out as long as I didn't smoke, but mid-way through week three I began to become very depressed, I lost connection with reality, when I slept I began to have very vivid dreams and nightmares. I became so paranoid like the entire world was waiting on me. I felt that my consciousness was the only one and that everyone else was a computer program or some weird thing I could interact with but was stuck in myself. I would watch t.v. and the stories would have new meaning and it was like what the t.v. was saying was some distant memory or something that I did and couldn't remember. As I began to feel helpless I really fell on God to get me through like I never had before. I would go to forums and help sites and no one could seem to give me a very good answer. There were always people who would say very destructive things and the ones who wanted to help didn't seem to quite get it. My faith now is stronger then ever because I had no choice but to allow God to do whatever it was he wanted and two months later I am still recovering but I feel great!

THE POINT: I smoked ever day for about a year and had a bad experience that gave me the courage to quit. Im here to say that for those who are struggling I understand how real it is! It can an will be frustrating, the dreams, the thoughts, the lack of connection but it is only temporary. The things you are going through are only a stage, when you come out on the other side you'll barely remember how bad it was. For Christians, falling to God is the real factor of what got me through it. I had great family help and help from God. For Non-belivers you will get through it as well it just takes time. I saw on another forum a doctor said it can take anywhere from one month to three months to finally feel better and after six months to a year you'll be back to one hundred precent. If a person is truly worried see a doctor but I can promise you it will get better.

For me God allowed me to quit so I would truly know him. Though at the time it felt painful and uneasy it was what needed to happen.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
 

alyssadarling

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Hi Cody! I was hoping you could give me some advice? I have been smoking everyday for I don't know how long, and it is time for me to stop. I just can't do it though. I start throwing tantrums and I get really upset, sometimes I even start cutting myself. I stopped for about 4 days, I got the worst migraines. I think it is just extra hard for me is because I have no one. I only really have one friend I hang out with and that is all we ever do. I just need the motivation to stop.
 
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RuthD

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You can do it with the help of God. Pray to him for guidance constantly and take one day at a time. It is easier to get through one day than to think of a life without it. You will feel better in time. You may also want to go to a Chemical Dependency counselor and do a little treatment. Some places have outpatient which I went to years ago. It did me a lot of good. Am praying for your healing.
 
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Jun 6, 2013
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Hi there,
I'm sorry it took me awhile to get back to you. God has been doing things in my life and unfortunately had got caught up in all of that. One thing i know for sure is that you can do it. In my situation I felt that there was a divine intervention. It was beyond uncomfortable and was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through but because of it, it completely changed my mind about smoking and I don't go back to it one out obedience and two because I would never want to have the same experience again. I would say you are a lucky one. By the grace of God he has given you the desire to stop without having the experience I did. Withdrawals that can occur for the first two weeks will be hard because of the sleeplessness, irritability, and migraines. Hopefully you do not get the paranoia that I did. If you can get past that you will be doing great. By the third week you'll most likely be feeling better you'll gain your appetite back and be able to sleep again but you may have weird dream but you'll get through it. Minor symptoms may continue for a few months but WILL go away. Don't worry about permanent damage, I can assure you that you don't have any. The best thing to do is let your friends you're done and they should respect that. Pray that God will give you the power to get through it, and he will. Also pray that God will give you things to do. NOT BEING BORED is key. If you have nothing to do that makes it easy to fall into temptation to do it again. If you do don't get discouraged its okay. God will forgive you and he will help you stop.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13.
If you need anymore help let me know.
 
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