Why does quitting feel so bad???

I'm on day 18. I've smoked for around 20 years. The first month is going to be tough but each week you are going to see improvement so don't let your brain tell you that what your feeling is how your going to feel forever.
Tips I've used is get to bed early as sleep will be disrupted which leads to fatigue and depression during the day.
If you feel tired, rest. Don't try to do too much. Slowly you will feel your energy levels improve.
Accept you will have good and bad days and don't stress about it.
I have cut caffeine down to one cup in the morning and it Def helps with anxiety you may feel.
Appetite may go down but just make sure to get your calories in as you don't want to under eat and affect your energy levels .
Just get through each day at a time and push through. That's a few tips. Hope that helps.

Thank you, SB! I'm just glad someone cares and I wish you a safe and speedy recovery.
It's night 2 now and the day was surprisingly easy. But I kept myself busy, I had to force it. Now it's almost 7pm and I'm in bed early. This is when it gets bad. The idle time is the hardest.
One day at a time is my mantra at this point. Before you know it, I'll make it to day 18 too.

Thanks again!

Hi,
I smoked daily for 35 years and weed was my life, my motivation, my inspiration. Focus on the small positives you will get, such as not having that taste at the back of your throat in the morning. The lack of sluggishness and the anxiety when you were running out and couldn't score easy. This is a fundamental change you have made. In your original statement you mentioned being alone, but also missing having all your friends around you... reconnect with that life as you leave this one. I was never lonely with weed because it was part of me, what more did I need. I lived in my head so felt fine. I endorse going to bed early over sitting there riding out the cravings... read, engage your brain in things you miss. Ask yourself what are you missing by not burning a plant and inhaling the fumes, because that's what we do... just accept you will feel different for some time. It's what you do with that time that will make the difference.
Best wishes

Some people experience depression for months after quitting weed, while others experience it for a day or two. You may experience it as a feeling of discontentment, sadness, or lack of motivation to do anything. The reason this happens is that the brain is accustomed to having heightened serotonin and dopamine levels.

I smoked for 20 years, so for me it's been a hell of a ride. I'm now 6 months and 9 days clean. I had nausea, and still do from time to time, for about 4 months after quitting. I even got shingles and other ailments. My body was in shock. Once I got over the main physical symptoms I was left with the lethargy and lack of desire or motivation. I stopped enjoying what I once enjoyed. I played video games from time to time, worked on music regularly, and worked out 3-4 times a week. I stopped all of that for about 3 months. Then I slowly started working out again. It was off and on, and I still haven't gotten in my rhythm yet. I noticed that I would let things just slide instead of taking care of them because of the lack of motivation and energy. I'd have a pile of clean clothes in my closet for weeks at a time instead of putting them away. I'd leave dishes in the sink for days until I couldn't take looking at them any longer. I installed a boxing bag in my garage with the little energy I had, but ended up leaving all my tools and the dust I made there for 2 weeks while my car sat outside instead of cleaning everything and putting the tools away. The only thing I could do after work is sit and watch YouTube videos.

The improvements have been very slow, and most of the days I felt like sh**, to be honest. I kept thinking "what is the point of quitting if I feel worse now?" I had cravings, or at least day-dreams (including actual dreams) of using weed again. I thought back to walks in the park, or road trips, or fun get-togethers with friends while smoking, but then I realized that those moments were far and few, and the majority of the time I was high out of my mind, paranoid, and afraid to go anywhere. Now it's not so much that I'm paranoid or afraid to go anywhere, it's just that my energy or will to do anything is diminished. Weed gave me that push, that dopamine surge to get me creative and get my juices flowing. Without that artificial surge of dopamine, my mind is left wondering what to do with itself.

I feel good that I no longer depend on a drug, and I am seeing improvements here and there. The drive is coming back. Last night I played some games on my PC and had a good time. I am starting to get the urge to go back in the studio and make some music. I have been working out a few days a week and have gone on a few walks. I am starting to clean my house again, to get things organized. My depression comes and goes but seems to be less severe and last less than when I was using. Weed didn't really help with my depression, I just thought it did. The 30 minutes or so after smoking was more so a distraction from my problems than a relief. I still need to remind myself why I quit from time to time. I did it for 20 years and it didn't work, in fact, it probably held me back in some ways. I am 35 and want to reach my full potential, or close to it. I don't want to have the excuse that "well I smoked weed everyday" when I'm 50. I want to say that I tried my best. If weed comes back into my life because life is just too unbearable and I have some psychological issues that benefit from consumption, so be it. I will give it my best this year and see where life takes me and how I feel. I hope this perspective helps, from a life-long weed user. Good luck!

Good luck to you too