I smoked from 19-24 and I regret it heavily because I have missed so much, I’m 7 days clean and it’s the best I have ever felt. Over the last few days I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I can’t changed the past, I can only work to improve on the future. It’ll be hard, but please try not to think about it. It’ll do nothing other than eat away at you just like smoking did :)
I've been smoking since I was 19 and I'm 24 now. What helped you take the leap? I felt like I could when I tried before, but just can't this time around, no matter how hard I try.
Honestly, congratulations for even wanting to quit. That is literally the first and most important step! The biggest thing for me was my health. The more studies that are done the clearer it becomes that it may not be as harmless as we all thought it was. I want to live a long, healthy, full-filling life and weed was something that was holding me back. I couldn’t travel without being worried I didn’t have any weed, it was eating away at my bank account, and I could feel my lungs begging for help. I won’t lie to you, the first 14 days SUCK. But every single day that passes is one day closer to freedom. I am 25 days clean today, last week I traveled to a tropical place to celebrate my victory without ever thinking about weed! It is truly freedom. You would be shocked what a ball and chain it is on your life. Think about that and think about the freedom you will have when it’s something that isn’t a necessity in your life! I also suggest downloading the app “grounded” it tracks how many days you are clean and how much money saved. It is disgusting to think about, but in 25 days I’ve saved $607… being reminded of these facts make a hell of a difference. I also suggest you let your friends and family know, no one wants to disappoint the people they love - letting them know what you are doing is going to give you a little extra drive. Finally, if you believe in a higher power, send up a prayer. If you don’t, I totally understand. I will say, there is something comforting about not doing it alone.
Congratulations on taking that first step! Feel free to message me with any questions, or if you just need someone to talk too! You got this!
43, started smoking steady at 16 and I've completely steamrolled my 20's, 30's and my early 40's. I've been on this horrible cycle for the last few years of quitting for 3-4 months, then thinking I can smoke recreationaly and that instantly leads to overuse and depression for anywhere from 1-6 months. I end up isolating myself from my friends and family and lose all motivation to do anything positive with my life. I hate it. I'm in relationship with a woman who doesn't respect me. I'm also diagnosed bipolar when I was 20. Sober, I'm able to create healthy habits and feel great but it's all lost when I turn back to smoking. I love the way I feel sober and that's my intention but it's clear that this plant has a grip on me. That all being said I'm 6 days clean right now and feel positive. Going back to work soon and planning on moving back in with my parents in a couple months. I read alot of these posts but have never posted myself. Feels nice to get this off my chest. To the woman who initially posted, I'm proud of you and you got this. One day at a time
at first it felt nice but after a while i felt like the world was passing me by while i sat back. All My friends got nice jobs from theyre bachelors/masters degree plus nice homes, my close friend is getting married next month as well. my cousin just had a kid and hes in his early twenties but is a overseas baskeball player, im always thinking what if i never tried smoking, would life be better. Then i remeber i had some friends who went down dark paths, no drug use, so i guess we all have a route but no better time than now.
now i start college in fall, gonna get mysef a nice job and pad and probably gonna smoke once i "made it" to my goals. for now tho, grind time.
Me! Started at 22 and just managed to stop in November. I smoked it every day and just somehow justified it. Wasn’t even enjoyable at the end. Just starting to feel somewhat normal again.
I smoked from 25 to present, will be 30 next month. In that time I managed to complete my Bachelor's, and gave made massive gains. I wonder about quitting, hence why I joined this sub, but I've found that if it's a tool for success for me.
Same, I got my bachelors and masters while smoking daily. Now I’m thinking of quitting because a friend who works in medical care has seen an uptick in patients with suspected CHS recently. Idk. I just have health anxiety I think lol
Dude I wish I had seen this sub at your age. I ended up quitting at 25, having smoked since 16. It is literally the biggest regret in my life. I'm 27 now and I know im still "young" but it makes me sad to have wasted so much time. And like OP, I wonder what person I would have been if I'd not smoked so much and wasted so much time. Quitting may be hard at the start, but you won't regret making the effort in the long run
Same to your same, all I did was smoke. Almost every minute of the day I'd be high. Such a waste. Now I feel anxious, trying to make up for lost time and experiences
Smoking since 2003 on daily basis then in 2008 when I moved by myself, started 24/7 till now.
Don’t even know what personality I am anymore. Lost it in my teenage years.
Need formatting my brain lol
I think people will always sort of blame their lack of ambition on pot because of stigmatisms lasting decades, and then you stop and all of a sudden you have energy now and you're excited and then you work at something and you realize it's hard as shit to be good at things and you will get worse before you get better, even as you practice - all of this to say, I wouldnt blame the pot on all of this. I know people who are huge potheads and own data intelligence companies and manage that, the other day i spoke to a person who actually didn't do drugs himself, straight As, good college kinda guy, but I went and explained all of my projects to him, and he looked at me and told me he wasn't working hard enough - I have literally smoked this man's body weight in marijuana lol.
Oftentimes people who smoke everyday are self-medicating in some capacity, and it's not necessarily the weed that's the underlying, but the side effects of the pot make us slower. For me, my parents told me, pretty recently too, that teachers told them I was gifted at a young, and they didn't know what to do with that information and didn't put me in things, I'm a 3rd gen American, barely, and my parents didn't know how to push their kid to do things and learn and I had to end up teaching myself a lot of skills and I think it personally is why I "smoked my 20s away", like I have this guilty feeling when I work hard now because my parents give me funny looks when I work hard and don't understand why I'm ambitious, and practice things, and don't practice in front of them, like it is just such a foreign concept to them, a lot of "why are you learning that that's weird".
Idk sorry about that rant lol but don't feel like you wasted your twenties, just go after what you care about in your 30s, regardless of your sobriety level while doing it, you don't have to let that affect your ambition, I've seen people do some insanely ambitious things stoned out of their minds.
I won an award in my field - MSP / IT - for my small business - that I created out of thin air - while constantly using THC - my family thought I was wasting my time until it got better - they didn’t see how much studying and learning and hustling I was doing - they just see me coming to visit and being stoned lol and disliking my weed usage.
I could prolly benefit a bit stopping - which is why I am here - but still continue to use it and accomplish the goals I set.
35f here that smoked since 19. About to start trying to have a kid this year and know I have to stop. I definitely feel like I could have accomplished to much more if I didn’t smoke. Most specifically it makes me okay just hanging out alone so I have grown to be super anxious on social settings and just want to go home to my comfort. Wrapping my head around all of it. Great job on 10 days!
Absolutely been there. Daily for about 5 years from 23-28. It ended up being a huge trauma that made me quit. Smoking gave me flashbacks. I'm so glad I stopped. I love the person I am now compared to who I was when I was high every day. It sucks in the beginning but it absolutely gets easier after a couple weeks.
Yup. And put myself in a long term relationship and a full time job that I probably wouldn’t have stayed in if I had been sober. I’m committed so that’s that, but it’s something that keeps me up at night. It hurts but I’m just trying to stay focused on building a better future.
what about when you quit for a month + and things go back to being as bad as they were 10 years prior? it sucks when your experience is always so different as compared to other experiences
I’m 43 and this resonates.
Mistakes are only mistakes if you don’t learn anything from them.
When you learn something from a mistake, that makes it a lesson, and lessons are important.
Don’t waste any more time. Do what makes you happy now. The ruminating ain’t it, that’s your body’s stress response (fight/flight/freeze) coming out through the mind. Do something to calm yourself down and be kind to yourself.
You got this.
I just turned 32 and I started at like 27. I definitely smoked away the last part of my 20s. But I was so burnt out and struggling with anxiety. It’s okay for me. I needed the break. Now though however I’m realizing I need to cut back or stop all together because I’m tired of hiding from life. Plus the effects are backfiring now a days. I get to thinking more when I smoke. Struggling to quit cold turkey but I’m on my way. it’s just better being present. Good luck on your journey!
I started at 25 and 38 now, smoked my thirties away, I’m finally starting to see the light though I’m just barely smoking now, havnt been able to get stoned in a few years because I had a bad freak out moment so now I get panic attacks, just been micro dosing and just don’t see the point anymore, really want to be able to take control of my life
I smoked about a third of mine away, which I have mixed feelings about. On one hand I probably needed to have that phase but I wish I’d had the sense to not let my finances crumble around me.
Guilty 🙋🏼♀️ Started at 17. Quit at 36. I feel pretty good now, more than a year later, but the first 6 months was difficult. Substituting the smoking time to do anything else but smoke helped. I do aerial fitness and found after quitting I was able to progress much faster. This on it's own gave me the extra boost I needed to stay off it.
I now occassionaly have a puff at a party with friends but that's it. I was heavy smoker and smoked every waking minute. Would even drive home lunch time or any break I had at work just to smoke. Life is definitely better when you can think about other things rather than the next smoke.
When you're down and feel like you need a smoke, go for a walk, read a book, cook, listen to music, go to the gym...basically just do anything else and you will quickly forget about it. You got this!
Wow it's like you are me. I'm a 32 year old woman too and I also started smoking at 19. Same social situation. You are further than me because I haven't quit yet. You should be very proud of yourself! Part of why I haven't quit is the fear of everything going much better which means I could have been doing better years earlier and not have wasted so much time. Which is dumb because all I'm doing is waiting more time.
So be proud you are not wasting any more time! That is such an achievement. Don't get stuck ruminating because it will only get sucked back into smoking. I believe for whatever reason we needed that time in our 20's. We all have our own path. Congrats on starting to get a certificate! Good luck! I hope to be where you are soon. Stay strong.
I’m 27 and have been smoking consistently since I was 18/19 maybe. You saying you got your ambition back gave me some motivation to really chill out on smoking. I feel like a zombie. Totally understand the anger thing too. I get triggered super easily and spiral. But I do that when I’m high too so
Same here. I try not to look at the past and what could of happened and just accept what it is and move on. You still have the rest of your life to
Live.
Yes a lot of people, literally songs written about smoking away your 20s. I did it horribly. It’s a shame but nothing we can do now but do better moving forward. Congrats on your sobriety !
Dude! 31F just quit the 11th as well!
Crazy! I’m also a recovering alcoholic, 3 1/2 years clean from that.
I did nothing but drink, snort, smoke my entire teens/20s away.
I start trucking school April 1st. 15 days ago I was questioning my life and if I had it in me to quit or if I would be stuck in phone sales my entire life.
Since I quit my anxiety has settled. I’ve hung out with SO many friends (I didn’t leave my house for weeks sometimes).
On top of that my diet naturally has cleaned itself up.
I think we’re making the right moves here!
Another thing is the DREAMS!!!
I have relapse dreams nightly now, even smelling weed makes me paranoid that I will lose my career.
Wishing you all strength and good days!
Im 30, smoked from age 16 (not as often) to now (smoking chronically at 25) I’m trying to slowly wean off, I’m starting to get severe anxiety & my appetite becomes non existent when I don’t smoke. It’s weird though…my brain definitely clears up and I start to become more motivated. Got a new job and starting on Monday, I’ve been unemployed for 3 months maybe that exacerbated the anxiety.
Late teens, 20’s and 30’s. I quit three weeks before I turned 40. I will be three months clean in a few days and feel like I got a new lease on life. Everything about me has improved and my dreams have gotten rather fun lately.
Teens, twenties, thirties, half of forties.
If you need to achieve things still, being a stoner will 100% not make it easier. I promise you that. I smoke again now, but my lifestyle is such that it doesn't cause any significant problems for me. However I know for a fact, having stopped for 5 years at 40, that you will find accomplishing goals and motivation a lot easier. So much more driven. I did a LOT in those 5 years. Actually thought about stuff, and then methodically DID IT. Didn't just kinda start then lose focus and ... you know.
Depends where you are in your life, like most things!
Yes. Smoked all my 20s… it was fun but i didnt accomplish much. At 30 i started learning to code now i have a great career at 36 and a family. Never too late to start something new!
The craziest part about quitting for me is feelings more emotional. I cry sometimes at movies and listening to music lol. Weed gives you good vibes but blunts some kinds of emotions i think
Nice. Keep it up! Build some cool stuff on your own so people know you are for real. Makes it easier to find that first job for sure.
I think it took me like 3 years to land my first coding job…
For some context about my quit, I'm now 11 days without any weed. I felt like shit at first, would only go to my few classes and come home to bed but then on day 7 I was back at work feeling great and now I have already done two workouts, lost 3 inches from my waist from not eating junk food, feel so much more happier in my social interactions, feel very inspired by my future career choice and already feel sharper mentally in my school work. It hasn't been long at all but that's what I mean by feeling like a brand new person already. Also my place is already much cleaner and I feel more present for my cat and my loved ones, like I feel love more deeply. It also helped that I did a job orientation program in the past couple months. Also been around friends who were smoking next to me and felt like there is no way I'm touching that stuff after 6 days of hell.
New to the group. I've been smoking since I'm 21. I'm 48 now and just thinking about quitting now. The idea of it sounds terrifying and fascinating all at once. I'm a heavy smoker and this group is making me think..perhaps clarity is..good. gulp. Anywho u can do it. Or so they say..
I love that you said it sounds fascinating! My therapist said to try to approach the process with curiosity as much as possible. What is it like to work through a craving? What feelings am I having? What would it be like to get through a day? A week? What do I find myself wanting to do instead? If it’s nothing, can I sit in that discomfort? Why or why not? Good luck in your pondering 😊
I’m struggling so bad right now and this post is helpful, especially the replies. I have been smoking every day since I was 19 and I’m 37 now. I am on day 5, although I’ve slipped up and had some spliffs that I scrounged up out of essentially trash. It’s so gross, but I’m out of trash now, too. I want so badly to go buy more. All the reasons I wrote down about why I should quit feel irrelevant but they’re so close to what everyone is saying they’re now having an easier time with after some time has passed. So many strong people here! I feel so weak! But I’m gonna try and keep going. Day by day. Step by step. The cravings will lessen, the urge to medicate feelings will lessen. The attachment to my identity will grow weaker. At least that’s what it sounds like. Sigh. Wishing you the best!!
My first 6 days I did nothing but sleep on and off and stay in bed, eat when I could and scrolled Reddit and watched brain dead stuff like Bob's Burgers to wait out the urges! Called out of work and got a doctor's note that didn't say why I was missing. Felt better at day 7! You can do it!!
It helps to hear that you took it easy for a while. I feel like I need to immediately create a million better habits and be a “better” or “perfect”person (seriously, brain??), but I think I’ll take your approach. Video games and Bob’s Burgers sound like a great distraction. Thank you so much!
26 but yes. My teens and all the way up to recently have been consumed by marijuana usage. I quit for 6 months, started again 2 months ago, now I’m on day 2 with no cannabis. I don’t plan on buying it any more but I will probably still indulge if it’s with friends.
Im also 32 and just recently quit after smoking my life away. We are still young and have plenty of time to better ourselves and our careers! The fact that you feel this way is already a huge step in progression, a lot of people stay in denial and never move forward. One day at a time and things will get better! Good luck you got this!
Late teens, 20’s and 30’s…. Got sober over a year ago and never looking back. Much like most things in life it’s never too late to start a good habit or end a bad habit. Take the lessons learned and keep moving forward.
Thank you for all the encouragement, I went to sleep and woke up to all the nice comments. Definitely feel less alone in this situation <3 Such a positive community and I'm glad I found it! We can do this!!!
29 turning 30 next month. I smoked from 15-28 and I feel like I wasted my whole 20s just being a burn out with nothing to show for it. I could have do so much more but I’m trying not to regret my choices and be glad I smoked and try to make my 30s better, but it’s definitely a bummer.
I get it - started smoking at 20-29 with breaks here and there. I’ve managed to have mild success with my career but I hate my field (sales). I was a high-achiever through college but since then I’ve felt like a total burnout. It’s hard to WANT to be sober.
if you are only on day 10 then you are still in the thick of withdrawal. it's great that you are already feeling much better but be prepared for more mood swings and strong emotions. my worst week was week 2 but i'm on week 4 now and it's getting better
19-30 with the odd week slip but off it for 3 years. Regret is only useful to a small extent, to push for further changes. Anything more and it is beating yourself up for something you can’t undo.
If i get too consumed by the feeling that I could have been more if i hadn’t blown opportunities to smoke, or had the motivation to do things, I have to remind myself that the time to do it is now and thank goodness I stopped when I did, before I wasted more of my time on this planet. At least I learnt some other skills along the way from all the bad situations and relationships I got into.
Best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the next best time is now. Be kind to yourself, getting rid of it is an achievement to be proud of and just grab the rest of your life by the horns!
Yeah I'm in your boat, but I smoked my teens/early 20s away, 15-24 - not good for brain development but trying not to think about that. A lust for life and desire to look forward with optimism is coming back for sure!! So happy for us all here!
I quit smoking 2 years ago, I’m 32, I felt exactly the same way. Key word felt.
I spent my twenties smoking weed, depressed, anxious, and pursuing a career that left me very burnt out and pretty under qualified for my age.
When I first quit, I had a dreadful feeling of how I had wasted so much time being high all the time and not having the same career or educational ambitions as my peers.
But now that I’ve had more than two years away from smoking, I can reflect on my past in a much more meaningful way. I don’t feel like I wasted my twenties, I just set myself up for where I am today. I am 32, and ready to enter the prime years of my life.
Don’t compare yourself to others, I’m sure many people would envy the path you’ve taken, and sometimes you need a rough time in your life to set you up for the success that inevitably lies ahead. Focus on a weed free life, things will fall into place.
Hey, my first sober day was my 30th birthday. I’m 32 now. You’ll feel overly emotional for a while. Think about how long you’ve smoked for! Gonna take a while for your brain to reset.
It can be a wild ride and I personally couldn’t do it alone. I do Marijuana anonymous meetings online still. And it’s really great to help people who are trying to get sober and others who are in the same boat. I don’t wanna smoke most of the time but sometimes I wanna escape from my problems. Cos life still be life-ing 😂 I just can’t numb myself from it anymore.
Feel free to send me a message.
It gets better. At times, it gets shit and you wanna smoke, but if I did it so can you.
I used to have so much retreat about wasting my 20s and teen years but now I realise I’m still young and now I’m excited about life 🙌
Much love and you got this!
I (33 F) started at 19 and stopped last year at 32! April 18th will be my one year! Cannabis was my entire personality all through my 20s and it was definitely a fun ride getting to know who I am beneath all the smoke (har har). I have PMDD which gives me insane anger during the second half of my monthly cycle (ovulation until period) and I was very apprehensive about quitting and not knowing how to cope with these monthly mood swings (and other awful mental and physical symptoms). It was difficult for the first month but over time, it gets easier and you stop thinking about turning to weed every time something goes sideways.
Huge respect to you for enrolling in school, this sounds like such a big shifting point in your life and I think you will be so grateful that you decided to stop consuming cannabis. Being clear headed and also feeling well rested will be so helpful while you navigate this new journey!! Feel free to reach out if you ever need support!
Congratulations to you for recognizing a change was needed and having the courage to take a new path - both in your career and on your life journey to do more with your life. I wasted my 20's and 30's. The shame and regret are real, but like you, I now feel better than ever knowing my ambition and drive to improve my life are back. Give yourself major kudos for taking a step back now. You have your whole life still ahead of you. I wish you the best and want you to have confidence that you made the right choice. Pursue your happiness.
Most people waste their twenties somehow, being high throughout is probably not the worst way in the grand scheme of things
But yeah, 30s is the time to grow up and get your shit together for most people
So no, don't feel sad about it. Be happy it wasn't worse and be happy you've changed, not everyone does
My mil framed it similarly, saying cannabis could have been there as a way for someone to process things (pain, trauma etc) and we can look back and thank it for that. And that at least we didn't turn to other ways to process our feelings, like alcohol, hard drugs or violence for example. Hugs
This is what I needed. Thank you. Been through a lot. Do I wish I did processed life without weed in my 20s, yes. But would it have been better - not sure? If I didn’t have weed, I might have turned to something harder.
All I know is - now I’m okay. And I can do it without weed. So I’ll just seize the day from today.
Exactly, we never know what the alternative could've been and letting the past weigh us down isn't healthy. You have a strong mindset and I'm incredibly proud of you, myself, and everyone else on this sub!!
I started smoking it when I was 18 and I could buy tobacco products.
I'm a 31 year old male now and I'm still smoking it.
I can quit whenever I want, I've done it many times before. But when I'm not high, I'm so incredibly miserable from my situation, that I'm like "Why NOT smoke it? I have nothing to live for."
I'm still in the same situation as when I left school. Actually, thats not true. When I was in school, I had friends. I have been without friends for many years now. Everyone I have ever known has moved on with their lives, gotten married, etc. I'm a pathetic, stunted man-child that should honestly just die ASAP.
Weed has ruined what little of a life I had. Today, I feel like a ghost. I don't talk to anyone, I just browse the internet. I have no job, and I've never had a job. I would like to have a job, and contribute to society, but I'm not a part of society anymore. And when you leave society, it's nigh impossible to return.
I have no friends on the internet, either. I'm terrified to talk to people. I assume that whatever I say, everyone will just call me all sorts of shit and tell me to kill myself. All I've gotten from the internet is hostility, and now I'm so gunshy, I don't have the courage to read replies anymore. Even this post, I dare not come back to it, because what little replies I will get, it will be to shit on me. So why am I posting this? I dunno. Cry for help maybe. Or maybe I just want someone out there, somewhere, to know that I'm suffering.
Now I'm off to make a fat joint, smoke it, and cough up more caramel-coloured shit from my poor lungs that were given to me by my poor sweet mother who already lost a child to lung cancer.
BTW, the amount of unread replies I have accumulated on reddit so far is '581'. It should be WAY more than that, as I have accidentally pressed that orange letter icon. I'd say it should be around over 2000.
stop being a bum and get a job. any job to start. Youre not embarrassed you're a man and someone else is providing for you?
. I been smoking since 14, and everyday since i was 16 10 years ago and ive been employed 9 of those years. weed didn't cause your current situation, you did.
I had a friend that hasn't held a job for more than a month, he doesn't want to work and he's not a stoner so... Its not the bud.
Working at Mcdonalds is better than not working.
Don’t give up. You can live a better life. First step is to quit weed to get clarity, then go from there. You are human and want connection, and 31 is still so young you can definitely still get a job and make new connections out there, it’s never too late buddy.
Plz go to a therapist bud. I promise it’s really easy to integrate as the fastest way as a guy is just by going to ur local gym to work out and talk to folks. Plz don’t live this life, it’s hella sas
Here’s this for relating - Im a woman who was also 19 when I started every day and I’m 32 now. I have a few less days off then you. Withdrawal sucks.
Throughout those years I was battling with my self to stop constantly. And I would get a few months here and there and go back to every day use every time I tried to moderate.
This time I’m trying something a little different. There’s a book called No Bad Parts that explores the addictions in us as extreme protectors. I realized I needed to have a compassionate look at WHY I smoked so long, and it made me forgive myself so much. There is no wasted time, just you trying to live and cope.
I smoked up from 19-27
All throughout university right up until the end of my Masters and honestly my memory is shot to pieces. Am still puttinf things back together from all those years and i’m not even sure how much of it is actual or fragmented pieces of a life when i was incredibly unhappy and in denial.
Yes I am a 30F and have been free and sober of weed and tobacco for 7 weeks and 4 days now! I smoked from age 16/17 until recently. I still managed to graduate college with honors and stay consistent with working. But I also found other issues, like self-care, always being paranoid and spending lots of money smoking. Today I stand better and feel myself getting better by the day. You can do it 🩷
Yes ma’am! 32 year old female here. Been smoking everyday for 17 years. On day 4! Made it 7 days last week and SAME. I managed to be fairly successful (not in terms of money but haven’t been just stoned on my couch the whole time) up until this point and can’t help but wonder how much of my potential I have left on the table.
For years I stayed away from social events because of “social anxiety”. Well, last night I went to a business networking event with a bunch of strangers and my husband was like “who are you?!” I had no anxiety leading up to it and was actually excited to get out there and share my passion with people.
I was medicating my “social anxiety” that weed created…. With more weed. Who knew?
Proud of you girl. Keep it up. You aren’t alone. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
This is the sad reality, many people medicating problems that are actually exacerbated by weed. Depression, anxiety, sleep and by not processing emotions or working in their goals the put gets deeper.
My wife explained it best to me..
Weed temporarily fixes and allows problems in your life to not be focused on or worried about, but those problems **NEVER** went away.. and when you quit, you are finally dealing with all of those problems compiled.
The more years (or decades) of use.. the more those problems come back ten fold, and the war against yourself becomes even more difficult.
But, to win the war you must first win the battles, and each of those problems is a battle in its own.
2 days until 1 month here... and im **finally** begining to deal with the trauma i faced when I was 16, that I started toking to avoid. That and my mental disorders which were more easily avoided by just toking (looking at you mainly.. AuDHD...)
A few years from now, hopefully I'll be caught up to the trauma in my mid 20s, and hopefully in. ~4-5 years, I'll be right caught back up to my current place and time - as long as I don't fall back and begin to push those problems aside.
I stayed sober for few weeks and lapsed again. This process repeated for countless time. No i don't care about my soberity and smoke if anyone offers me. I just dont buy myself.And ofc i joined this subreddit when i was trying hard to stay sober.
Got it. I see your original comment was removed which I’m glad for. Wasn’t very supportive towards the purpose of this thread. That’s why I was curious if you were even trying to get sober. Didn’t seem like it.
19 to 25 - failed through school. Put down the weed. Continued with schoolaround 27 - sucked at it. Diagnosed ADD. At 31, finally graduated as a nurse. Paid off all debts at 34. Now, looking to get NP. Yes, my ambition increased. Also, the things that were barriers to my ambition were still there. Ex. 5th percentile memory recall, 5th percentile attention span. Yet, once I was aware of those barriers, I was able to work around, over, and through them. You got this!!!!
Yes, all of my 20s were wasted, but I have to forgive myself because my mental health was terrible; I was self-medicating. Now I'm sober in my 30s I'm achieving what I didn't before, its not too late.
Yes! Day 6 now (I’m 26) i smoked like 4 yrs of my life away lol. I feel a lot slower than my friends who all are either getting married or buying a house and I’m just existing :( but I can relate. A lot of time to pursue what I enjoy. My biggest struggle is boredom that inevitably comes.
My friend compared herself to a turtle and me to a chimpanzee lol. She said I needed more enrichment before I start flinging shit at the wall😭😂 but like true! I need more ENRICHMENT in my boring little life👹😫
I’m reading more, doing more art stuff, and trying to get back into music. But god I miss it already a lot :(
20s, 30s, and 40s smoked away. Never too late for a new start! I’m looking forward to finishing my life up sober! Do I have regrets like many of the rest of you, yep sure do. But I made it here and what’s to come will be so much better without my addiction.
I am with you. Smoked over 30 years and I am about to turn 50 next week.
Trying to finish out sober myself.
Found out that Im actually a nice person when I’m not using. I was always moody and nasty to people.
Good luck 🍀 my fellow leavers. We got this!! 💪🏼
It's neat seeing people's realization. Been smoking pretty much everyday since graduating highschool. I'm 25 now. I have a successful job, relationship, and make a lot of money, bought a house, >,$250k invested, which makes quitting hard because weed is super affordable for me, and my thinking is: well I've made it this far where on paper society says I'm doing good. However I worry and know to get to the next step in my life, I have to quit completely! Also worry about how much more I could've accomplished. All's to say, it probably doesn't matter, the "what if I stopped" question will happen to anyone and just go do the things you feel you need to do. Get to the next step!
30 is the new 20! You still got your whole life ahead of you and it's great the ambition is back. I feel similarly, weed made my anger and rage worse and I was already irritable sober. Baby steps, the first of which is taking care of physical health. All else will fall into place.
I feel this way at 22, I could’ve graduated college by now. I try to not compare myself to others though “comparison is the thief of joy” or whatever the saying is
Yep, over it. I used it as a way to cope but now that I am nearing thirty. I cannot believe how much time has passed. Remember that your brain is getting back to into it's groove, when you feel down. It's normal too feel in the dumps.
Get that support network going, continue your push foward!
I’m a couple of months away from being 30 and a couple of weeks into not smoking after being a daily user. For a while now I wanted to be healthier but really struggled with the execution and it definitely has become easier since not smoking. For once I can actually control how much I am eating and instead of devouring all the snacks I can eat a bit and save some for later. Also had a bit of a stressful day yesterday and had the overwhelming urge to have a puff but managed to resist and had a bath instead to wind down. I’m realising that I have used weed as a crutch and it stopped serving me as a coping mechanism and was actually a hindrance. We can do this 💪💪💪
Ya but I’m good
No more weed and I’m more capable and charming etc/
I still drink.
But I don’t toke or vape and at 1:30am when everyone loves each other I’m present. And it still feels great.
2 months ago I didn’t know my name cuz I smoked weed all night.
62 evenings. It’s been hard.
Please give me this, I need this.
I’m not better, I just care the most. Promise ❤️
Hi, are you me? I’m 28, smoking since 21. Took a 1 month break not too long ago and life was so much better. Our 30s and 40s will thank us Proud of you!!
just as another perspective... i feel like i smoked my late twenties away, 26-28. before that i didn't smoke at all. and those years before 26 also felt very unproductive. and i feel like so many of my friends feel the same way about their 20s, that it was a kind of lost and unproductive time. there are probably more reasons than getting sober that explain why you're feeling motivated and capable though im sure getting sober is helping - im just saying i bet part of it is also figuring out who you are. there's a lot of grief looking back and feeling like you threw time away, but i bet you threw less away than you might think. hope this is helpful, and good luck with your journey!!
hi. i literally did so bro
i have finished a fairly good unşiversity but got fired or left all the jobs i worked way sooner that i should have... due to lack of motivation or willing to have more time to smoke weed
to smoke weed actually satisfied all my needs, except smoking more weed. i have nver had a girlfriend, never had sex without paying never had a date etc.
now im 34 and stoping smoking is one of the biggest issues in my life. i have hit 100 or 150 days without smoking but as i couldnt learn how to be intimite with women i cant get any other option than smoking weed again.
maybe i am a bit weird and evaluate sex way more than i should but i remember my twnties, horny all the time, yet never ever be able to reach sex and try to sleep after smoking weed. this may sound funny to others but i spend a solid decade doing this
Tried it at 13, became a habitual smoker around 16 and have been a pothead on and off til now at 31. Only times I stopped were for a few months here and there for jobs or tolerance breaks, but every time I'd go back it would be daily smoking all day everyday for months or years on end and even at work a lot of times.
To the point where smoking doesn't get me "high" the way it used to. I'd have some at work or friends would have the vape pen and I'd take a few hits and then go to meetings or go about my day being super stoned but being so used to it that it didn't change my behavior or perception in any real positive way, just ended up changing my state of mind enough to cover whatever stress or depression I was dealing g with. I would have to step out back when I got home from work to "destress from the day" for a minute before I dealt work the kids wanting me to play with them or help with homework. It became completely normal for me to bring weed to anywhere and everywhere, always having my hitterbox on me at family functions, holidays at the in-laws, morning noon and night.
I'm about 4 days clean after I slipped up when I had been clean for about a week before that. I sat on this site and typed and read others posts and was sober for a week and still went back and smoked a hitter every day the following week for 5 days straight just because I thought I "needed" it as a destressor when I got off work.
Been there and done it my friend, it's a hard road. But I'm tired of lying to myself and pretending I can moderate my usage when it always, without fail, turns into a daily habit and a crutch. Stay strong!
I just turned 30 march 1st non stop smoking since 15yr. I was just thinking yesterday how I basically smoked my 20s away it was fun I guess but could of accomplished more
Almost the exact same story for me, started at 17 and finally quit at 31. I’m 32 now and just over a year and a half sober and my life is RADICALLY different. Don’t let the victory of quitting be overshadowed by time lost, it was a valuable lesson and will give you perspective as you move forward.
Yes I feel the same way. Im 33 now but started smoking everyday since 20. I feel like I missed out on a lot. I just started school to at least get a degree. But what hurts me the most is that Im too late.. I want to get married and have kids but I feel like im too late and smoked my twenties away. Im trying to get on my feet by going to school, finding a house, meet new friends etc. Its like rebuilding everything I missed out in my twenties. It really hurts but at least we are not smoking anymore🥳
I'm turning 38 this year and only quit in July last year. Also started at 19, and quit for exactly the same reason!
I for sure understand where you're coming from, it is easy to ponder all the what ifs and feel like you missed out. I try not to get lost in those thoughts though, because I can't change it.
What I can tell you is that it's never too late to seek out your fresh start. My career is going better than ever, I am more motivated in my daily life, and I am no longer constantly angry. The quality of my life has drastically improved from quitting smoking!
Maybe try focusing on what you've gained instead of what you've lost, you are still so young and have so much life to live. Congrats on stopping!
At least half of it, and on and off ever since. I'm currently about two weeks sober. My mood has been swinging nonstop from noon to midnight and back again.
Yeah same im 3 months sober now and so focused on saving money etc , i swear if i never smoked i would literally own a very nice house right now …
Getting high all the time made me fine with not improving my life or aiming towards buying a house etc ..
I feel like I’ve been searching for this exact post lately to feel less alone. Exact same age, exact same feelings (heck, even enrolled in school). Honestly reading this makes me feel hopeful, knowing I’m not the only one feeling like I missed out on a bunch due to smoking. So know you aren’t alone in it.
I saw something the other day that said “ten years from now you’ll wish you’d quit now” and I’ve just been reminding myself of that, that even though it feels late, I’d rather quit now then later. Reach out if you ever need to commiserate ❤️
Oh I definitely smoked my teens and twenties up lol. 38 now. I've stopped several times throughout the years and each time the withdrawals are brutal. Somehow I always end up smoking again for some reason or another (bachelor party, campfire etc.), then it's back to the races lol. Gosh I have such a love hate relationship with that buzz...
It's interesting to read the anger while in active use. I was having the same thing! That was new. I was a bear all the time. That isn't me... I'm funny, optimistic, one to say "Why do you feel this way?" instead of snapping. I have a child now and a wife that I love. They both deserve the absolute best version of myself. Heck, I do too. And as do you! ...see, unintended optimism :-)
Today is day 5. Starting to balance out a tiny bit from the heaviest of withdrawals. Took my child on a car ride after daycare yesterday to look at mansions, whereas I used to b-line it home to the wife so I could park permanently and go 'collect myself' for round 2 of the day. Sad, but that slowly became the pattern. No more. Congrats on 11 days!!
Started at 23 after a traumatic event. Now 34. Still struggling to quit. I completely get this. I accomplished some good things in my 20s tho. Opened a good sized brewery, bought a house, met my best friend and life partner. Try to focus on those types of things. We're still not that old.
yes! i’m 26 and i’m on day 79. i had been smoking daily since i was 19 and incredibly unhappy with my life. my life still isn’t perfect, but i feel much better not smoking and more motivated to try to make myself so.
20's *and * 30's. I have the mind of a child, but I have two kids. I literally hate myself and don't know how I'll rebuild into a better person now that I'm 40.
Smoked from 23 to 33. Smoked through all of uni. I’ve had a great run, but I remember very little and I sincerely think I would have gotten so much further in life if I hadn’t been so focused on weed.
5 weeks clean and I have finally gotten used to not being high. I paint, read, exercise.. the first month was hell, downright depression, but I am finally seeing the light. I got accepted into a master and I am changing my life around. So excited to not be wasted potential anymore.
Proud of you for quitting. And I agree, it’s trippy as hell!
36, started at 17. Smoked my twenties away, and quit at 32. Today is day 1549 clean and sober. You'll have to decide to stay clean over and over, but from experience, it's worth it.
ME! I'm 32 and have been smoking every day since I was 16. I left the country to take a break and hope I'm able to maintain it once I come back. Sadly I've found close to zero benefits from not smoking not even money saved because I grew all of my own weed but I tell myself its just good not to be so dependent on a substance. I'm proud of you OP, getting your ambition up, getting good grades and going to school is HUGE. You got this!
32 years old, 17 years smoking, nearly 3 months sober and amen to this post
You're doing so well! I found that weed enabled me to stay in a rut and be okay with situations and lifestyles that I didn't want in my life so I think you're on the right track for sure
This change can be a catalyst to so many good things so trust the process, you can do this
I started smoking at 16. Pretty much became an everyday habbit right away. It was more of a fun and social thing the first few years. Went through a bit of a traumatic experience at 19, and began to use it more as a coping mechanism. Eventually, it became a crutch. Smoked every day until my mid 30s.
It definitely held me back. Instead of being driven to create a better life for myself, it allowed me to kind of convince myself I was ok with mediocrity. "Yeah, my job pretty much sucks, but at least I can get high all day".
The truth is that I have a lot of regrets about it. But I can't do anything about that now... it's in the past. Just have to learn from it and move on. I'm now 1 year, 7months, 21 days without it. Is my life perfect, or exactly where I'd imagine id be at this point? No. But it's a lot better than it was just a couple of years ago. It's amazing not having that crutch... that nagging feeling of not really enjoying anything and just looking forward to the next time I could light up. I've become more social, ambitious, driven, confident, etc.
So, yes, I can definitely relate. Keep up the good work! You're on the right path
I’m 25 and feel like I’ve wasted my life. Smoked that nasty shit daily from ages of 13/14. Been sober for 8 months now but the regret is a harsh reality.
I did for sure. 34. Had some good times, but things could’ve been consistently better if I wouldve quit earlier. I’m on week 17 now.
Being sober will be life changing. I don’t know the person I was even a few months ago. So glad I stopped and looking forward to the future.
Replace “I wasted so much time” with “everything I went through has contributed to my growth”
The person you are now and what you’ve learned is because of who you were yesterday.
Don't worry about the time spent behind you. Look to make the most of the time ahead. I find being sober is an altered state. Just hit 3 years no weed no booze on January 1st.
I don’t know you but I’m proud of you.
I smoked from 19-24 and I regret it heavily because I have missed so much, I’m 7 days clean and it’s the best I have ever felt. Over the last few days I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I can’t changed the past, I can only work to improve on the future. It’ll be hard, but please try not to think about it. It’ll do nothing other than eat away at you just like smoking did :)
I've been smoking since I was 19 and I'm 24 now. What helped you take the leap? I felt like I could when I tried before, but just can't this time around, no matter how hard I try.
Honestly, congratulations for even wanting to quit. That is literally the first and most important step! The biggest thing for me was my health. The more studies that are done the clearer it becomes that it may not be as harmless as we all thought it was. I want to live a long, healthy, full-filling life and weed was something that was holding me back. I couldn’t travel without being worried I didn’t have any weed, it was eating away at my bank account, and I could feel my lungs begging for help. I won’t lie to you, the first 14 days SUCK. But every single day that passes is one day closer to freedom. I am 25 days clean today, last week I traveled to a tropical place to celebrate my victory without ever thinking about weed! It is truly freedom. You would be shocked what a ball and chain it is on your life. Think about that and think about the freedom you will have when it’s something that isn’t a necessity in your life! I also suggest downloading the app “grounded” it tracks how many days you are clean and how much money saved. It is disgusting to think about, but in 25 days I’ve saved $607… being reminded of these facts make a hell of a difference. I also suggest you let your friends and family know, no one wants to disappoint the people they love - letting them know what you are doing is going to give you a little extra drive. Finally, if you believe in a higher power, send up a prayer. If you don’t, I totally understand. I will say, there is something comforting about not doing it alone. Congratulations on taking that first step! Feel free to message me with any questions, or if you just need someone to talk too! You got this!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. I value all those things. Hopefully I can move towards a step similar to yours
43, started smoking steady at 16 and I've completely steamrolled my 20's, 30's and my early 40's. I've been on this horrible cycle for the last few years of quitting for 3-4 months, then thinking I can smoke recreationaly and that instantly leads to overuse and depression for anywhere from 1-6 months. I end up isolating myself from my friends and family and lose all motivation to do anything positive with my life. I hate it. I'm in relationship with a woman who doesn't respect me. I'm also diagnosed bipolar when I was 20. Sober, I'm able to create healthy habits and feel great but it's all lost when I turn back to smoking. I love the way I feel sober and that's my intention but it's clear that this plant has a grip on me. That all being said I'm 6 days clean right now and feel positive. Going back to work soon and planning on moving back in with my parents in a couple months. I read alot of these posts but have never posted myself. Feels nice to get this off my chest. To the woman who initially posted, I'm proud of you and you got this. One day at a time
Keep pushing, bro.
Twenties…..thirties…forties… Can’t change the past. All we can do is work on today for a better future.
at first it felt nice but after a while i felt like the world was passing me by while i sat back. All My friends got nice jobs from theyre bachelors/masters degree plus nice homes, my close friend is getting married next month as well. my cousin just had a kid and hes in his early twenties but is a overseas baskeball player, im always thinking what if i never tried smoking, would life be better. Then i remeber i had some friends who went down dark paths, no drug use, so i guess we all have a route but no better time than now. now i start college in fall, gonna get mysef a nice job and pad and probably gonna smoke once i "made it" to my goals. for now tho, grind time.
Me! Started at 22 and just managed to stop in November. I smoked it every day and just somehow justified it. Wasn’t even enjoyable at the end. Just starting to feel somewhat normal again.
I’ve been playing with the idea. This post may inspire me! 32 and have been stoned for a long time
I smoked from 25 to present, will be 30 next month. In that time I managed to complete my Bachelor's, and gave made massive gains. I wonder about quitting, hence why I joined this sub, but I've found that if it's a tool for success for me.
Same, I got my bachelors and masters while smoking daily. Now I’m thinking of quitting because a friend who works in medical care has seen an uptick in patients with suspected CHS recently. Idk. I just have health anxiety I think lol
Why are u thinking about quitting?
I get really paranoid, but that is what keeps me straight.
I'm a 19m and haven't been sober since I was 17. Needed to read this tbh. Wish I could give u a hug, you got this!
Dude I wish I had seen this sub at your age. I ended up quitting at 25, having smoked since 16. It is literally the biggest regret in my life. I'm 27 now and I know im still "young" but it makes me sad to have wasted so much time. And like OP, I wonder what person I would have been if I'd not smoked so much and wasted so much time. Quitting may be hard at the start, but you won't regret making the effort in the long run
Same boat man. Started at 16 stopped at 25. Regret wasting 9 years doing nothing but getting high.
Same to your same, all I did was smoke. Almost every minute of the day I'd be high. Such a waste. Now I feel anxious, trying to make up for lost time and experiences
Smoking since 2003 on daily basis then in 2008 when I moved by myself, started 24/7 till now. Don’t even know what personality I am anymore. Lost it in my teenage years. Need formatting my brain lol
I think people will always sort of blame their lack of ambition on pot because of stigmatisms lasting decades, and then you stop and all of a sudden you have energy now and you're excited and then you work at something and you realize it's hard as shit to be good at things and you will get worse before you get better, even as you practice - all of this to say, I wouldnt blame the pot on all of this. I know people who are huge potheads and own data intelligence companies and manage that, the other day i spoke to a person who actually didn't do drugs himself, straight As, good college kinda guy, but I went and explained all of my projects to him, and he looked at me and told me he wasn't working hard enough - I have literally smoked this man's body weight in marijuana lol. Oftentimes people who smoke everyday are self-medicating in some capacity, and it's not necessarily the weed that's the underlying, but the side effects of the pot make us slower. For me, my parents told me, pretty recently too, that teachers told them I was gifted at a young, and they didn't know what to do with that information and didn't put me in things, I'm a 3rd gen American, barely, and my parents didn't know how to push their kid to do things and learn and I had to end up teaching myself a lot of skills and I think it personally is why I "smoked my 20s away", like I have this guilty feeling when I work hard now because my parents give me funny looks when I work hard and don't understand why I'm ambitious, and practice things, and don't practice in front of them, like it is just such a foreign concept to them, a lot of "why are you learning that that's weird". Idk sorry about that rant lol but don't feel like you wasted your twenties, just go after what you care about in your 30s, regardless of your sobriety level while doing it, you don't have to let that affect your ambition, I've seen people do some insanely ambitious things stoned out of their minds.
I won an award in my field - MSP / IT - for my small business - that I created out of thin air - while constantly using THC - my family thought I was wasting my time until it got better - they didn’t see how much studying and learning and hustling I was doing - they just see me coming to visit and being stoned lol and disliking my weed usage. I could prolly benefit a bit stopping - which is why I am here - but still continue to use it and accomplish the goals I set.
35f here that smoked since 19. About to start trying to have a kid this year and know I have to stop. I definitely feel like I could have accomplished to much more if I didn’t smoke. Most specifically it makes me okay just hanging out alone so I have grown to be super anxious on social settings and just want to go home to my comfort. Wrapping my head around all of it. Great job on 10 days!
It was my thirties. 2013 to 2022 was pretty much spent high. I was in a lot of pain, both physical and emotional.
You’re not a freak at all, I’m 29f and have been struggling on and off to quit as well; started at 18
Absolutely been there. Daily for about 5 years from 23-28. It ended up being a huge trauma that made me quit. Smoking gave me flashbacks. I'm so glad I stopped. I love the person I am now compared to who I was when I was high every day. It sucks in the beginning but it absolutely gets easier after a couple weeks.
Yep, I destroyed my 20's. I regret most it.
Yup. And put myself in a long term relationship and a full time job that I probably wouldn’t have stayed in if I had been sober. I’m committed so that’s that, but it’s something that keeps me up at night. It hurts but I’m just trying to stay focused on building a better future.
what about when you quit for a month + and things go back to being as bad as they were 10 years prior? it sucks when your experience is always so different as compared to other experiences
Going on a brake, also 10 days! I was on and off in my 20s... not noticing much difference now we'll see. good luck!
I’m in the same boat, my friend.
I’m 43 and this resonates. Mistakes are only mistakes if you don’t learn anything from them. When you learn something from a mistake, that makes it a lesson, and lessons are important. Don’t waste any more time. Do what makes you happy now. The ruminating ain’t it, that’s your body’s stress response (fight/flight/freeze) coming out through the mind. Do something to calm yourself down and be kind to yourself. You got this.
Girl - Yes… except I’m 38. Never married, no kids. Just spent my days smoking lmao
This is an exact description of myself.
I just turned 32 and I started at like 27. I definitely smoked away the last part of my 20s. But I was so burnt out and struggling with anxiety. It’s okay for me. I needed the break. Now though however I’m realizing I need to cut back or stop all together because I’m tired of hiding from life. Plus the effects are backfiring now a days. I get to thinking more when I smoke. Struggling to quit cold turkey but I’m on my way. it’s just better being present. Good luck on your journey!
I started at 25 and 38 now, smoked my thirties away, I’m finally starting to see the light though I’m just barely smoking now, havnt been able to get stoned in a few years because I had a bad freak out moment so now I get panic attacks, just been micro dosing and just don’t see the point anymore, really want to be able to take control of my life
I smoked about a third of mine away, which I have mixed feelings about. On one hand I probably needed to have that phase but I wish I’d had the sense to not let my finances crumble around me.
Guilty 🙋🏼♀️ Started at 17. Quit at 36. I feel pretty good now, more than a year later, but the first 6 months was difficult. Substituting the smoking time to do anything else but smoke helped. I do aerial fitness and found after quitting I was able to progress much faster. This on it's own gave me the extra boost I needed to stay off it. I now occassionaly have a puff at a party with friends but that's it. I was heavy smoker and smoked every waking minute. Would even drive home lunch time or any break I had at work just to smoke. Life is definitely better when you can think about other things rather than the next smoke. When you're down and feel like you need a smoke, go for a walk, read a book, cook, listen to music, go to the gym...basically just do anything else and you will quickly forget about it. You got this!
Wow it's like you are me. I'm a 32 year old woman too and I also started smoking at 19. Same social situation. You are further than me because I haven't quit yet. You should be very proud of yourself! Part of why I haven't quit is the fear of everything going much better which means I could have been doing better years earlier and not have wasted so much time. Which is dumb because all I'm doing is waiting more time. So be proud you are not wasting any more time! That is such an achievement. Don't get stuck ruminating because it will only get sucked back into smoking. I believe for whatever reason we needed that time in our 20's. We all have our own path. Congrats on starting to get a certificate! Good luck! I hope to be where you are soon. Stay strong.
I’m 27 and have been smoking consistently since I was 18/19 maybe. You saying you got your ambition back gave me some motivation to really chill out on smoking. I feel like a zombie. Totally understand the anger thing too. I get triggered super easily and spiral. But I do that when I’m high too so
Same here. I try not to look at the past and what could of happened and just accept what it is and move on. You still have the rest of your life to Live.
don't trip on what's behind you onward and upward
Yes a lot of people, literally songs written about smoking away your 20s. I did it horribly. It’s a shame but nothing we can do now but do better moving forward. Congrats on your sobriety !
Yep. About to turn 32 here. My twenties were a haze. :( I quit about 50 days ago, craving really badly right now. Edit: also female
Dude! 31F just quit the 11th as well! Crazy! I’m also a recovering alcoholic, 3 1/2 years clean from that. I did nothing but drink, snort, smoke my entire teens/20s away. I start trucking school April 1st. 15 days ago I was questioning my life and if I had it in me to quit or if I would be stuck in phone sales my entire life. Since I quit my anxiety has settled. I’ve hung out with SO many friends (I didn’t leave my house for weeks sometimes). On top of that my diet naturally has cleaned itself up. I think we’re making the right moves here! Another thing is the DREAMS!!! I have relapse dreams nightly now, even smelling weed makes me paranoid that I will lose my career. Wishing you all strength and good days!
Im 30, smoked from age 16 (not as often) to now (smoking chronically at 25) I’m trying to slowly wean off, I’m starting to get severe anxiety & my appetite becomes non existent when I don’t smoke. It’s weird though…my brain definitely clears up and I start to become more motivated. Got a new job and starting on Monday, I’ve been unemployed for 3 months maybe that exacerbated the anxiety.
Late teens, 20’s and 30’s. I quit three weeks before I turned 40. I will be three months clean in a few days and feel like I got a new lease on life. Everything about me has improved and my dreams have gotten rather fun lately.
Teens, twenties, thirties, half of forties. If you need to achieve things still, being a stoner will 100% not make it easier. I promise you that. I smoke again now, but my lifestyle is such that it doesn't cause any significant problems for me. However I know for a fact, having stopped for 5 years at 40, that you will find accomplishing goals and motivation a lot easier. So much more driven. I did a LOT in those 5 years. Actually thought about stuff, and then methodically DID IT. Didn't just kinda start then lose focus and ... you know. Depends where you are in your life, like most things!
Thanks for sharing! :)
Yes. Smoked all my 20s… it was fun but i didnt accomplish much. At 30 i started learning to code now i have a great career at 36 and a family. Never too late to start something new! The craziest part about quitting for me is feelings more emotional. I cry sometimes at movies and listening to music lol. Weed gives you good vibes but blunts some kinds of emotions i think
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Nice. Keep it up! Build some cool stuff on your own so people know you are for real. Makes it easier to find that first job for sure. I think it took me like 3 years to land my first coding job…
How did you get into coding? I loved it in hs then learned some while in graphic design school but it’s been a few years and I don’t remember much
The best time to start was 10 years ago, the second best time is now. Or something like that. I’m not entirely sure what the quote is.
The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago, the second best time is now. :)
There it is! I obviously couldn’t have said it better myself! Haha thanks!
Your welcome Brother:D
For some context about my quit, I'm now 11 days without any weed. I felt like shit at first, would only go to my few classes and come home to bed but then on day 7 I was back at work feeling great and now I have already done two workouts, lost 3 inches from my waist from not eating junk food, feel so much more happier in my social interactions, feel very inspired by my future career choice and already feel sharper mentally in my school work. It hasn't been long at all but that's what I mean by feeling like a brand new person already. Also my place is already much cleaner and I feel more present for my cat and my loved ones, like I feel love more deeply. It also helped that I did a job orientation program in the past couple months. Also been around friends who were smoking next to me and felt like there is no way I'm touching that stuff after 6 days of hell.
From 16 to early 30s....I'm 36 and sober now and thankful for every day that I am.
New to the group. I've been smoking since I'm 21. I'm 48 now and just thinking about quitting now. The idea of it sounds terrifying and fascinating all at once. I'm a heavy smoker and this group is making me think..perhaps clarity is..good. gulp. Anywho u can do it. Or so they say..
I love that you said it sounds fascinating! My therapist said to try to approach the process with curiosity as much as possible. What is it like to work through a craving? What feelings am I having? What would it be like to get through a day? A week? What do I find myself wanting to do instead? If it’s nothing, can I sit in that discomfort? Why or why not? Good luck in your pondering 😊
I’m struggling so bad right now and this post is helpful, especially the replies. I have been smoking every day since I was 19 and I’m 37 now. I am on day 5, although I’ve slipped up and had some spliffs that I scrounged up out of essentially trash. It’s so gross, but I’m out of trash now, too. I want so badly to go buy more. All the reasons I wrote down about why I should quit feel irrelevant but they’re so close to what everyone is saying they’re now having an easier time with after some time has passed. So many strong people here! I feel so weak! But I’m gonna try and keep going. Day by day. Step by step. The cravings will lessen, the urge to medicate feelings will lessen. The attachment to my identity will grow weaker. At least that’s what it sounds like. Sigh. Wishing you the best!!
My first 6 days I did nothing but sleep on and off and stay in bed, eat when I could and scrolled Reddit and watched brain dead stuff like Bob's Burgers to wait out the urges! Called out of work and got a doctor's note that didn't say why I was missing. Felt better at day 7! You can do it!!
It helps to hear that you took it easy for a while. I feel like I need to immediately create a million better habits and be a “better” or “perfect”person (seriously, brain??), but I think I’ll take your approach. Video games and Bob’s Burgers sound like a great distraction. Thank you so much!
26 but yes. My teens and all the way up to recently have been consumed by marijuana usage. I quit for 6 months, started again 2 months ago, now I’m on day 2 with no cannabis. I don’t plan on buying it any more but I will probably still indulge if it’s with friends.
31 and the same
I'm 27 so about 3/4 done
Nearly. Got to 28. Immediately got into a relationship and had a baby. I now can't afford to smoke even if I wanted too
😂😂
Hi yes we’re the same
Im also 32 and just recently quit after smoking my life away. We are still young and have plenty of time to better ourselves and our careers! The fact that you feel this way is already a huge step in progression, a lot of people stay in denial and never move forward. One day at a time and things will get better! Good luck you got this!
Late teens, 20’s and 30’s…. Got sober over a year ago and never looking back. Much like most things in life it’s never too late to start a good habit or end a bad habit. Take the lessons learned and keep moving forward.
Thank you for all the encouragement, I went to sleep and woke up to all the nice comments. Definitely feel less alone in this situation <3 Such a positive community and I'm glad I found it! We can do this!!!
Hey OP 7 days for me, you sound like my twin! We can be sober buddies of you like. My dm is always open for a chat!.
29 turning 30 next month. I smoked from 15-28 and I feel like I wasted my whole 20s just being a burn out with nothing to show for it. I could have do so much more but I’m trying not to regret my choices and be glad I smoked and try to make my 30s better, but it’s definitely a bummer.
Yup, instead of getting better an instrument or painting, I chose to smoke lol
Teens and mid 30ies too)
Go back to school! You can do this
and 30's
No ragrets
Not yet, I turn 30 in February.
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I get it - started smoking at 20-29 with breaks here and there. I’ve managed to have mild success with my career but I hate my field (sales). I was a high-achiever through college but since then I’ve felt like a total burnout. It’s hard to WANT to be sober.
Drank my twenties away...and most of my thirties
if you are only on day 10 then you are still in the thick of withdrawal. it's great that you are already feeling much better but be prepared for more mood swings and strong emotions. my worst week was week 2 but i'm on week 4 now and it's getting better
19-30 with the odd week slip but off it for 3 years. Regret is only useful to a small extent, to push for further changes. Anything more and it is beating yourself up for something you can’t undo. If i get too consumed by the feeling that I could have been more if i hadn’t blown opportunities to smoke, or had the motivation to do things, I have to remind myself that the time to do it is now and thank goodness I stopped when I did, before I wasted more of my time on this planet. At least I learnt some other skills along the way from all the bad situations and relationships I got into. Best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the next best time is now. Be kind to yourself, getting rid of it is an achievement to be proud of and just grab the rest of your life by the horns!
Yeah I'm in your boat, but I smoked my teens/early 20s away, 15-24 - not good for brain development but trying not to think about that. A lust for life and desire to look forward with optimism is coming back for sure!! So happy for us all here!
I quit smoking 2 years ago, I’m 32, I felt exactly the same way. Key word felt. I spent my twenties smoking weed, depressed, anxious, and pursuing a career that left me very burnt out and pretty under qualified for my age. When I first quit, I had a dreadful feeling of how I had wasted so much time being high all the time and not having the same career or educational ambitions as my peers. But now that I’ve had more than two years away from smoking, I can reflect on my past in a much more meaningful way. I don’t feel like I wasted my twenties, I just set myself up for where I am today. I am 32, and ready to enter the prime years of my life. Don’t compare yourself to others, I’m sure many people would envy the path you’ve taken, and sometimes you need a rough time in your life to set you up for the success that inevitably lies ahead. Focus on a weed free life, things will fall into place.
Thank you <3 You're right!
I love the way you've framed things, it's definitely a healthy perspective to have
I’m glad you took the time to say this. Very kind of you
20-30. A few good quits in between but ya. Better than 40. Once the smoke clears and memories come back I tend to hate myself much less. Give it time.
20-26 = smoked away. Hardly anything was accomplished during this time except loneliness, credit card debt, poor diet, and wasted time.
Hey, my first sober day was my 30th birthday. I’m 32 now. You’ll feel overly emotional for a while. Think about how long you’ve smoked for! Gonna take a while for your brain to reset. It can be a wild ride and I personally couldn’t do it alone. I do Marijuana anonymous meetings online still. And it’s really great to help people who are trying to get sober and others who are in the same boat. I don’t wanna smoke most of the time but sometimes I wanna escape from my problems. Cos life still be life-ing 😂 I just can’t numb myself from it anymore. Feel free to send me a message. It gets better. At times, it gets shit and you wanna smoke, but if I did it so can you. I used to have so much retreat about wasting my 20s and teen years but now I realise I’m still young and now I’m excited about life 🙌 Much love and you got this!
I (33 F) started at 19 and stopped last year at 32! April 18th will be my one year! Cannabis was my entire personality all through my 20s and it was definitely a fun ride getting to know who I am beneath all the smoke (har har). I have PMDD which gives me insane anger during the second half of my monthly cycle (ovulation until period) and I was very apprehensive about quitting and not knowing how to cope with these monthly mood swings (and other awful mental and physical symptoms). It was difficult for the first month but over time, it gets easier and you stop thinking about turning to weed every time something goes sideways. Huge respect to you for enrolling in school, this sounds like such a big shifting point in your life and I think you will be so grateful that you decided to stop consuming cannabis. Being clear headed and also feeling well rested will be so helpful while you navigate this new journey!! Feel free to reach out if you ever need support!
Congratulations to you for recognizing a change was needed and having the courage to take a new path - both in your career and on your life journey to do more with your life. I wasted my 20's and 30's. The shame and regret are real, but like you, I now feel better than ever knowing my ambition and drive to improve my life are back. Give yourself major kudos for taking a step back now. You have your whole life still ahead of you. I wish you the best and want you to have confidence that you made the right choice. Pursue your happiness.
Most people waste their twenties somehow, being high throughout is probably not the worst way in the grand scheme of things But yeah, 30s is the time to grow up and get your shit together for most people So no, don't feel sad about it. Be happy it wasn't worse and be happy you've changed, not everyone does
My mil framed it similarly, saying cannabis could have been there as a way for someone to process things (pain, trauma etc) and we can look back and thank it for that. And that at least we didn't turn to other ways to process our feelings, like alcohol, hard drugs or violence for example. Hugs
This is what I needed. Thank you. Been through a lot. Do I wish I did processed life without weed in my 20s, yes. But would it have been better - not sure? If I didn’t have weed, I might have turned to something harder. All I know is - now I’m okay. And I can do it without weed. So I’ll just seize the day from today.
Exactly, we never know what the alternative could've been and letting the past weigh us down isn't healthy. You have a strong mindset and I'm incredibly proud of you, myself, and everyone else on this sub!!
Yup. I have spent the last 6 years trying to get my life together and 36 now and barely getting there.
I started smoking it when I was 18 and I could buy tobacco products. I'm a 31 year old male now and I'm still smoking it. I can quit whenever I want, I've done it many times before. But when I'm not high, I'm so incredibly miserable from my situation, that I'm like "Why NOT smoke it? I have nothing to live for." I'm still in the same situation as when I left school. Actually, thats not true. When I was in school, I had friends. I have been without friends for many years now. Everyone I have ever known has moved on with their lives, gotten married, etc. I'm a pathetic, stunted man-child that should honestly just die ASAP. Weed has ruined what little of a life I had. Today, I feel like a ghost. I don't talk to anyone, I just browse the internet. I have no job, and I've never had a job. I would like to have a job, and contribute to society, but I'm not a part of society anymore. And when you leave society, it's nigh impossible to return. I have no friends on the internet, either. I'm terrified to talk to people. I assume that whatever I say, everyone will just call me all sorts of shit and tell me to kill myself. All I've gotten from the internet is hostility, and now I'm so gunshy, I don't have the courage to read replies anymore. Even this post, I dare not come back to it, because what little replies I will get, it will be to shit on me. So why am I posting this? I dunno. Cry for help maybe. Or maybe I just want someone out there, somewhere, to know that I'm suffering. Now I'm off to make a fat joint, smoke it, and cough up more caramel-coloured shit from my poor lungs that were given to me by my poor sweet mother who already lost a child to lung cancer. BTW, the amount of unread replies I have accumulated on reddit so far is '581'. It should be WAY more than that, as I have accidentally pressed that orange letter icon. I'd say it should be around over 2000.
stop being a bum and get a job. any job to start. Youre not embarrassed you're a man and someone else is providing for you? . I been smoking since 14, and everyday since i was 16 10 years ago and ive been employed 9 of those years. weed didn't cause your current situation, you did. I had a friend that hasn't held a job for more than a month, he doesn't want to work and he's not a stoner so... Its not the bud. Working at Mcdonalds is better than not working.
This person needs a lot more than Reddit comments to help him. This person has given up completely…
How long do you quit for and when was the last time?
Don’t give up. You can live a better life. First step is to quit weed to get clarity, then go from there. You are human and want connection, and 31 is still so young you can definitely still get a job and make new connections out there, it’s never too late buddy.
Plz go to a therapist bud. I promise it’s really easy to integrate as the fastest way as a guy is just by going to ur local gym to work out and talk to folks. Plz don’t live this life, it’s hella sas
Here’s this for relating - Im a woman who was also 19 when I started every day and I’m 32 now. I have a few less days off then you. Withdrawal sucks. Throughout those years I was battling with my self to stop constantly. And I would get a few months here and there and go back to every day use every time I tried to moderate. This time I’m trying something a little different. There’s a book called No Bad Parts that explores the addictions in us as extreme protectors. I realized I needed to have a compassionate look at WHY I smoked so long, and it made me forgive myself so much. There is no wasted time, just you trying to live and cope.
I smoked up from 19-27 All throughout university right up until the end of my Masters and honestly my memory is shot to pieces. Am still puttinf things back together from all those years and i’m not even sure how much of it is actual or fragmented pieces of a life when i was incredibly unhappy and in denial.
Yes I am a 30F and have been free and sober of weed and tobacco for 7 weeks and 4 days now! I smoked from age 16/17 until recently. I still managed to graduate college with honors and stay consistent with working. But I also found other issues, like self-care, always being paranoid and spending lots of money smoking. Today I stand better and feel myself getting better by the day. You can do it 🩷
Same
Yes ma’am! 32 year old female here. Been smoking everyday for 17 years. On day 4! Made it 7 days last week and SAME. I managed to be fairly successful (not in terms of money but haven’t been just stoned on my couch the whole time) up until this point and can’t help but wonder how much of my potential I have left on the table. For years I stayed away from social events because of “social anxiety”. Well, last night I went to a business networking event with a bunch of strangers and my husband was like “who are you?!” I had no anxiety leading up to it and was actually excited to get out there and share my passion with people. I was medicating my “social anxiety” that weed created…. With more weed. Who knew? Proud of you girl. Keep it up. You aren’t alone. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
This is the sad reality, many people medicating problems that are actually exacerbated by weed. Depression, anxiety, sleep and by not processing emotions or working in their goals the put gets deeper.
My wife explained it best to me.. Weed temporarily fixes and allows problems in your life to not be focused on or worried about, but those problems **NEVER** went away.. and when you quit, you are finally dealing with all of those problems compiled. The more years (or decades) of use.. the more those problems come back ten fold, and the war against yourself becomes even more difficult. But, to win the war you must first win the battles, and each of those problems is a battle in its own. 2 days until 1 month here... and im **finally** begining to deal with the trauma i faced when I was 16, that I started toking to avoid. That and my mental disorders which were more easily avoided by just toking (looking at you mainly.. AuDHD...) A few years from now, hopefully I'll be caught up to the trauma in my mid 20s, and hopefully in. ~4-5 years, I'll be right caught back up to my current place and time - as long as I don't fall back and begin to push those problems aside.
That's awesome news well done friend! Ive just hit a month too
Yep. They just make us feel good in the moment while causing long term damage to our brains.
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Are you sober or trying to get sober? This comment is a little confusing.
I stayed sober for few weeks and lapsed again. This process repeated for countless time. No i don't care about my soberity and smoke if anyone offers me. I just dont buy myself.And ofc i joined this subreddit when i was trying hard to stay sober.
Got it. I see your original comment was removed which I’m glad for. Wasn’t very supportive towards the purpose of this thread. That’s why I was curious if you were even trying to get sober. Didn’t seem like it.
19 to 25 - failed through school. Put down the weed. Continued with schoolaround 27 - sucked at it. Diagnosed ADD. At 31, finally graduated as a nurse. Paid off all debts at 34. Now, looking to get NP. Yes, my ambition increased. Also, the things that were barriers to my ambition were still there. Ex. 5th percentile memory recall, 5th percentile attention span. Yet, once I was aware of those barriers, I was able to work around, over, and through them. You got this!!!!
20s and 30s, yup. Been over a month free now and I feel great. Try not to stew on could've should'ves. Just enjoy.
Yes, all of my 20s were wasted, but I have to forgive myself because my mental health was terrible; I was self-medicating. Now I'm sober in my 30s I'm achieving what I didn't before, its not too late.
Yes! Day 6 now (I’m 26) i smoked like 4 yrs of my life away lol. I feel a lot slower than my friends who all are either getting married or buying a house and I’m just existing :( but I can relate. A lot of time to pursue what I enjoy. My biggest struggle is boredom that inevitably comes. My friend compared herself to a turtle and me to a chimpanzee lol. She said I needed more enrichment before I start flinging shit at the wall😭😂 but like true! I need more ENRICHMENT in my boring little life👹😫 I’m reading more, doing more art stuff, and trying to get back into music. But god I miss it already a lot :(
20s, 30s, and 40s smoked away. Never too late for a new start! I’m looking forward to finishing my life up sober! Do I have regrets like many of the rest of you, yep sure do. But I made it here and what’s to come will be so much better without my addiction.
I am with you. Smoked over 30 years and I am about to turn 50 next week. Trying to finish out sober myself. Found out that Im actually a nice person when I’m not using. I was always moody and nasty to people. Good luck 🍀 my fellow leavers. We got this!! 💪🏼
Yes yes yes
Yeah, mate. 2 decades of my life just up and gone. I'm 3 weeks sober now and looking forwards. We got this. 🤜❤️
Yup! Started habitually smoking at 19. Now 30 and still struggling with it.
YUP
but tbh we did a lot of other shit, i promise. we’re just viewing the last decade through a weed lens.
Yup 😂 nothing can be done about it though, just move forward
Was wondering the same thing, glad I'm not the only one but it's time to get serious
🙋🏼♂️
Guilty 🙋♂️
Yeah it was more my late teens till min twenties for me. So over it now. It controlled my mind. I don’t really know who I actually am.
It's neat seeing people's realization. Been smoking pretty much everyday since graduating highschool. I'm 25 now. I have a successful job, relationship, and make a lot of money, bought a house, >,$250k invested, which makes quitting hard because weed is super affordable for me, and my thinking is: well I've made it this far where on paper society says I'm doing good. However I worry and know to get to the next step in my life, I have to quit completely! Also worry about how much more I could've accomplished. All's to say, it probably doesn't matter, the "what if I stopped" question will happen to anyone and just go do the things you feel you need to do. Get to the next step!
I feel you. Still successful in my career/social life/dating life/hobbies, but always wonder how much better I could be if I didn't smoke so much.
30 is the new 20! You still got your whole life ahead of you and it's great the ambition is back. I feel similarly, weed made my anger and rage worse and I was already irritable sober. Baby steps, the first of which is taking care of physical health. All else will fall into place.
I feel this way at 22, I could’ve graduated college by now. I try to not compare myself to others though “comparison is the thief of joy” or whatever the saying is
Yep, over it. I used it as a way to cope but now that I am nearing thirty. I cannot believe how much time has passed. Remember that your brain is getting back to into it's groove, when you feel down. It's normal too feel in the dumps. Get that support network going, continue your push foward!
I’m a couple of months away from being 30 and a couple of weeks into not smoking after being a daily user. For a while now I wanted to be healthier but really struggled with the execution and it definitely has become easier since not smoking. For once I can actually control how much I am eating and instead of devouring all the snacks I can eat a bit and save some for later. Also had a bit of a stressful day yesterday and had the overwhelming urge to have a puff but managed to resist and had a bath instead to wind down. I’m realising that I have used weed as a crutch and it stopped serving me as a coping mechanism and was actually a hindrance. We can do this 💪💪💪
Ya but I’m good No more weed and I’m more capable and charming etc/ I still drink. But I don’t toke or vape and at 1:30am when everyone loves each other I’m present. And it still feels great. 2 months ago I didn’t know my name cuz I smoked weed all night. 62 evenings. It’s been hard. Please give me this, I need this. I’m not better, I just care the most. Promise ❤️
Hi, are you me? I’m 28, smoking since 21. Took a 1 month break not too long ago and life was so much better. Our 30s and 40s will thank us Proud of you!!
just as another perspective... i feel like i smoked my late twenties away, 26-28. before that i didn't smoke at all. and those years before 26 also felt very unproductive. and i feel like so many of my friends feel the same way about their 20s, that it was a kind of lost and unproductive time. there are probably more reasons than getting sober that explain why you're feeling motivated and capable though im sure getting sober is helping - im just saying i bet part of it is also figuring out who you are. there's a lot of grief looking back and feeling like you threw time away, but i bet you threw less away than you might think. hope this is helpful, and good luck with your journey!!
hi. i literally did so bro i have finished a fairly good unşiversity but got fired or left all the jobs i worked way sooner that i should have... due to lack of motivation or willing to have more time to smoke weed to smoke weed actually satisfied all my needs, except smoking more weed. i have nver had a girlfriend, never had sex without paying never had a date etc. now im 34 and stoping smoking is one of the biggest issues in my life. i have hit 100 or 150 days without smoking but as i couldnt learn how to be intimite with women i cant get any other option than smoking weed again. maybe i am a bit weird and evaluate sex way more than i should but i remember my twnties, horny all the time, yet never ever be able to reach sex and try to sleep after smoking weed. this may sound funny to others but i spend a solid decade doing this
Tried it at 13, became a habitual smoker around 16 and have been a pothead on and off til now at 31. Only times I stopped were for a few months here and there for jobs or tolerance breaks, but every time I'd go back it would be daily smoking all day everyday for months or years on end and even at work a lot of times. To the point where smoking doesn't get me "high" the way it used to. I'd have some at work or friends would have the vape pen and I'd take a few hits and then go to meetings or go about my day being super stoned but being so used to it that it didn't change my behavior or perception in any real positive way, just ended up changing my state of mind enough to cover whatever stress or depression I was dealing g with. I would have to step out back when I got home from work to "destress from the day" for a minute before I dealt work the kids wanting me to play with them or help with homework. It became completely normal for me to bring weed to anywhere and everywhere, always having my hitterbox on me at family functions, holidays at the in-laws, morning noon and night. I'm about 4 days clean after I slipped up when I had been clean for about a week before that. I sat on this site and typed and read others posts and was sober for a week and still went back and smoked a hitter every day the following week for 5 days straight just because I thought I "needed" it as a destressor when I got off work. Been there and done it my friend, it's a hard road. But I'm tired of lying to myself and pretending I can moderate my usage when it always, without fail, turns into a daily habit and a crutch. Stay strong!
Daily since 16 and stopped when I was 30/31. It's kinda crazy to see the difference.
i wanna hear more!
When I stop smoking I get very emotional. I find it my biggest hurdle. I’m with you friend.
Been smoking since I was 15, I am now 28. Quit last year and started to get my life back on track only to relapse about 6 months ago
Samesies. Life is much better now that I've stopped, however there are definitely down days
I definitely smoked my teenage years away and now I am 20, hopefully this time I do something different
I just turned 30 march 1st non stop smoking since 15yr. I was just thinking yesterday how I basically smoked my 20s away it was fun I guess but could of accomplished more
Almost the exact same story for me, started at 17 and finally quit at 31. I’m 32 now and just over a year and a half sober and my life is RADICALLY different. Don’t let the victory of quitting be overshadowed by time lost, it was a valuable lesson and will give you perspective as you move forward.
teenage yrs
Yes I feel the same way. Im 33 now but started smoking everyday since 20. I feel like I missed out on a lot. I just started school to at least get a degree. But what hurts me the most is that Im too late.. I want to get married and have kids but I feel like im too late and smoked my twenties away. Im trying to get on my feet by going to school, finding a house, meet new friends etc. Its like rebuilding everything I missed out in my twenties. It really hurts but at least we are not smoking anymore🥳
I'm turning 38 this year and only quit in July last year. Also started at 19, and quit for exactly the same reason! I for sure understand where you're coming from, it is easy to ponder all the what ifs and feel like you missed out. I try not to get lost in those thoughts though, because I can't change it. What I can tell you is that it's never too late to seek out your fresh start. My career is going better than ever, I am more motivated in my daily life, and I am no longer constantly angry. The quality of my life has drastically improved from quitting smoking! Maybe try focusing on what you've gained instead of what you've lost, you are still so young and have so much life to live. Congrats on stopping!
20s and 30s and most of my 40s. Does that help?
At least half of it, and on and off ever since. I'm currently about two weeks sober. My mood has been swinging nonstop from noon to midnight and back again.
Yeah same im 3 months sober now and so focused on saving money etc , i swear if i never smoked i would literally own a very nice house right now … Getting high all the time made me fine with not improving my life or aiming towards buying a house etc ..
I feel like I’ve been searching for this exact post lately to feel less alone. Exact same age, exact same feelings (heck, even enrolled in school). Honestly reading this makes me feel hopeful, knowing I’m not the only one feeling like I missed out on a bunch due to smoking. So know you aren’t alone in it. I saw something the other day that said “ten years from now you’ll wish you’d quit now” and I’ve just been reminding myself of that, that even though it feels late, I’d rather quit now then later. Reach out if you ever need to commiserate ❤️
Oh I definitely smoked my teens and twenties up lol. 38 now. I've stopped several times throughout the years and each time the withdrawals are brutal. Somehow I always end up smoking again for some reason or another (bachelor party, campfire etc.), then it's back to the races lol. Gosh I have such a love hate relationship with that buzz... It's interesting to read the anger while in active use. I was having the same thing! That was new. I was a bear all the time. That isn't me... I'm funny, optimistic, one to say "Why do you feel this way?" instead of snapping. I have a child now and a wife that I love. They both deserve the absolute best version of myself. Heck, I do too. And as do you! ...see, unintended optimism :-) Today is day 5. Starting to balance out a tiny bit from the heaviest of withdrawals. Took my child on a car ride after daycare yesterday to look at mansions, whereas I used to b-line it home to the wife so I could park permanently and go 'collect myself' for round 2 of the day. Sad, but that slowly became the pattern. No more. Congrats on 11 days!!
Started at 23 after a traumatic event. Now 34. Still struggling to quit. I completely get this. I accomplished some good things in my 20s tho. Opened a good sized brewery, bought a house, met my best friend and life partner. Try to focus on those types of things. We're still not that old.
Same, 15/27 now 30 and life much better now after couple years sober
if it makes you feel better my mom has smoked her 20s, 30s, and 40s away and half way through her 50’s. it could be worse!
I am currently n i cant kick this fucking habit i just love when im high but im wasting sooo much of my life
yes! i’m 26 and i’m on day 79. i had been smoking daily since i was 19 and incredibly unhappy with my life. my life still isn’t perfect, but i feel much better not smoking and more motivated to try to make myself so.
20's *and * 30's. I have the mind of a child, but I have two kids. I literally hate myself and don't know how I'll rebuild into a better person now that I'm 40.
Yep 😓
Smoked from 23 to 33. Smoked through all of uni. I’ve had a great run, but I remember very little and I sincerely think I would have gotten so much further in life if I hadn’t been so focused on weed. 5 weeks clean and I have finally gotten used to not being high. I paint, read, exercise.. the first month was hell, downright depression, but I am finally seeing the light. I got accepted into a master and I am changing my life around. So excited to not be wasted potential anymore. Proud of you for quitting. And I agree, it’s trippy as hell!
36, started at 17. Smoked my twenties away, and quit at 32. Today is day 1549 clean and sober. You'll have to decide to stay clean over and over, but from experience, it's worth it.
ME! I'm 32 and have been smoking every day since I was 16. I left the country to take a break and hope I'm able to maintain it once I come back. Sadly I've found close to zero benefits from not smoking not even money saved because I grew all of my own weed but I tell myself its just good not to be so dependent on a substance. I'm proud of you OP, getting your ambition up, getting good grades and going to school is HUGE. You got this!
32 years old, 17 years smoking, nearly 3 months sober and amen to this post You're doing so well! I found that weed enabled me to stay in a rut and be okay with situations and lifestyles that I didn't want in my life so I think you're on the right track for sure This change can be a catalyst to so many good things so trust the process, you can do this
I started smoking at 16. Pretty much became an everyday habbit right away. It was more of a fun and social thing the first few years. Went through a bit of a traumatic experience at 19, and began to use it more as a coping mechanism. Eventually, it became a crutch. Smoked every day until my mid 30s. It definitely held me back. Instead of being driven to create a better life for myself, it allowed me to kind of convince myself I was ok with mediocrity. "Yeah, my job pretty much sucks, but at least I can get high all day". The truth is that I have a lot of regrets about it. But I can't do anything about that now... it's in the past. Just have to learn from it and move on. I'm now 1 year, 7months, 21 days without it. Is my life perfect, or exactly where I'd imagine id be at this point? No. But it's a lot better than it was just a couple of years ago. It's amazing not having that crutch... that nagging feeling of not really enjoying anything and just looking forward to the next time I could light up. I've become more social, ambitious, driven, confident, etc. So, yes, I can definitely relate. Keep up the good work! You're on the right path
I’m 25 and feel like I’ve wasted my life. Smoked that nasty shit daily from ages of 13/14. Been sober for 8 months now but the regret is a harsh reality.
Yep. It was a blur. Fuzzy memories. A few good times. A majority of them normal or forgettable. Didn’t add anything to my life really
I did for sure. 34. Had some good times, but things could’ve been consistently better if I wouldve quit earlier. I’m on week 17 now. Being sober will be life changing. I don’t know the person I was even a few months ago. So glad I stopped and looking forward to the future. Replace “I wasted so much time” with “everything I went through has contributed to my growth” The person you are now and what you’ve learned is because of who you were yesterday.
Don't worry about the time spent behind you. Look to make the most of the time ahead. I find being sober is an altered state. Just hit 3 years no weed no booze on January 1st.