I I quit smoking weed 6 weeks ago This Friday, and thought I was out. I’m an old hippie, who smoked for fifty years, not continually, long periods without, raising kids, 5-6 years off at a time, and was never an all day smoker until about 10 years ago, when I retired, and it became habit, just because I could. But I almost quit getting high, as my tolerance increased, and, of course the weed is so much better, and I vapes mostly the last 10 years. I ’d try to quit other times, and get to 4-5 weeks, with all the usual symptoms, insomnia, vivid dreams, anxiety, etc. With me, those seemed to peak at about week 3-4, then level out, and I’d feel GOOD! All it took was one toke, and I’d be back into the old habit. This time feels different, as its about my 5th try, and my longest, and my commitment level is higher than ever, I NEVER want to go through this again!
My problem is, I’ll have a few great days, then horrific nightmares, waking up with that sense of doom, headache, all day anxiety, waves of racing thoughts, some visual disturbances, light headed ness, some days it goes away in a few hours, others, like today, it lasts all day. The night sweats are gone, I have no desire at all to smoke ever again, but I’ve never been this far into it, and it’s scary! Past attempts, I’d feel great at 4 weeks. This time, the really bad anxiety, brain fog, headaches, dizziness, panic attacks, crazy dreams, where I’d wake up still dreaming almost, hit like a freight train about two weeks ago(4 weeks without weed) and lasted for about 10 days, now they’ve tapered off, until yesterday and today. Three or four days were absolute hell, like I couldn’t stop my thoughts racing, and that horrible sense of impending doom. I thought I was done with symptoms a week ago, then, boom a bad day again.
I’ve read a bunch, sounds like raging PAWS, but scary still. I’m pretty healthy, never stopped working out, eat pretty well, don’t drink much, and just trying to keep my body healthy while I go through this.
A question may be, when do I seek professional help? I haven’t yet, nor even told anyone, except my toking buddies, that I’ve quit. I don’t feel depressed, just anxious and panicky when it hits. Everywhere I read assures me PAWS isn’t life threatening, it only feels like it! I recently had my annual physical, all was excellent, blood pressure was up some, but I was already three weeks without cannabis. Is that a normal symptom, too?
The only thing I take to sleep is an occasional Tylenol PM, and Chamomile tea, which does seem to help. It’s just so frustrating because I don’t know when a bad night is going to be! I’ll have a great day, little or no symptoms, then wham! One or two days where I almost feel crazy. Unless I’m too exhausted, I just plow on through them, as it takes my mind off the symptoms.
Any of this sound familiar? Does it get keep getting better?!! Just looking for some real time moral support. Thanks much.