Doing what I should have done ages ago

I've ***finally*** admitted to myself that despite the fact I am hopelessly addicted to it, smoking dope is holding me back, and potentially(?) ruining my life. As from yesterday, after we got the festivities out of the way, I decided to knock it on the head completely. It is my first day off today...

Not really sure what to expect over the coming weeks. I've had periods of abstincence before, but I guess with my brain knowing I would smoke it again, its never been too bad and I've never gone more than a week without it in the last few years. Last night, it felt like I had lost a friend, such is the influence its had on my life so far.

I'm also combining this with cutting back on the drink - I'm not giving that up, but I am seriously considering not drinking at all in the house, unless its a weekend and I've got nothing better to do. Then I will see it as more of a treat, because being honest, along with the weed habit, it is just that, a habit.

All of the enjoyment has gone, and I'm not really liking who I have become, someone who is going nowhere anymore and not really giving a toss. I realised life is going to lead nowhere if I keep this up.

Anyway, a little advice needed. I KNOW that there will be times when my brain thinks "I want some", and one of the key benefits of smoking is boredom is not an issue. I am going to be very bored at times then. What do I do to overcome the boredom? Has anyone else gone through anything like this?

I'm hoping anyway that doing these two things will make a big difference to my life. I'm hoping to be more involved. I'm hoping to be able to be happy without it, something which almost seems an impossibility at the moment. I'm hoping to save money and hopefully, lose a little weight (beer is no good for diets and neither is a case of the munchies).

I'm writing a "diary" on my feelings to remind myself why I am doing it. I cant moderate my usage, because I am totally and utterly addicted. Its all or nothing.

I'm not even sure why I posted this, except that I wished to get it off my chest, but also to thank those who responded to my previous threads on getting my life back on track. I know I tried to deny that it was having any effect on me, but I know that it must be. I can feel the real me trying to escape the farce my life has become...

 

how about taking up gardening and home brewing :MILD:

 

:lol:

 

Get off the dope but not the beer, I would imagine its would be impossible to get off the beer at the same time.

It must be hard, on a smaller scale I have been trying to get off cola-cola for years with no sucess, now I don't drink any more than 1 can a day.

The dentist is enough fear to stay off it. Imagine how you would feel in 10 years time if you became very ill due to the dope.

 

Mind over matter mate, you can do it. As for things to do - cinema - total escapism for a couple of hours. Computer games, but then that can lead to a different kind of addiction! But the good thing with this is that its there instantly whenever you feel your resolve might be weakening.

How bout some sport - and not the gym. Sport with a point, football or whatever floats yer boat. The exercise is good too i guess as well as it being a distraction. But even something like pool/snooker is good fun.

Also avoiding places (and maybe people if necessary) where you might have indulged in the past can help.

 

I hope Sid and Coke reads this.

 

How about..... listening to music?

Do you still have dope in your house? If you do, give it away or throw it in the bin/toilet. That way you can't give in.

Computer games are good. I have been playing Need for Speed Underground recently. It is kinda crap so I never play for more than an hour but it is alright for a bit of entertainment. Mafia is an excellent game you could get in to.

 

You need hobbies!

And music!

And porn!

Lots of porn!

 

Aw c'mon, he's a man with internet access, he's already got lots of porn

 

Just summat else to get addicted to! :tempted:

 

Thanks for your suggestion. This particular comment is one I'd like to respond to - this might be a slight problem - my best mate is a dopehead, and I dont really feel like I can just stop going to see him, so it will really be a test of my resolve, but I am determined!

I'm not going to spout off against cannabis - I still believe it probably does most people no harm as long as they can moderate their use. That is what I could NOT do.

I dont have any in the house, so I cant be tempted. When I did have it there, I was ALWAYS tempted. If I had it in the house, I think I'd be too weak to resist. That is why I know I have to stop.

As for computer games, I used to be into them, but lost interest. Dunno if I can get back into them, my PC isnt really up to spec at the moment anyway...

 

I you are honest to yourself and really want to do this, the natural side effect might be loss of friends that joined you in your habit, right now you will think I am a bastard but its something you will need to consider once you are really underway.

My step brother got really badly into dope at one point, he was on the bongs until one day his doctor told him he had Bronchitis, and at 19 that was not acceptable. It made him very ill and since then he has not touched it.

Remember if you slip, you get straight back up and continue giving up.

If I can suggest one hobby which gets me out of the house. Get yourself a little digital camera and get into the countryside, take photos, catalog them and rate them. You are right it is anal but it gets you out, keeps your mind active and develops your skills.

What ever you do, best of luck.

 

Thanks Gary, tempted to do the photography thing anyway, as I've got a camera now, but for some reason, I am more liking the idea of urban photography.....

 

Gary is right. You may have to stay away from friends who 'smoke' for a while.

Same as when I'm on a diet I have to avoid my fat friends who will keep offering puddings, sweets, crisps and generally fattening foods. It's hard to resist so you have to stay away. They say the best way to lose weight is to surround yourself with thin friends.

 

good for you paul. it's not easy to give up any addictive behaviour however the biggest thing is to be bloody minded and selfish about it. if 'mates' keep on passing the joint in your direction when they know you're off the weed then tell them in no uncertain terms that they are being a bunch of c*nts and if they want to keep you as a friend they should knock it off. keep track of how long you've 'quit' for, know this number intimately, then if your tempted, think about how long you've stopped for and how you'd just be p*ssing that time up against the wall if you gave in to a stupid craving for something that's not doing you any good at all.
i'll echo the 'find a hobby' advice however i'd suggest something physical like swimming, the gym, football, cycling, etc. instead of something sedentry. that way your body will swap it's dependancy on dope for natural endorphins which are much better for you
good luck with your choice but don;t bite off more than you can chew.
cheers


julian

 

Good luck mate - been there and found it pretty hard, that was 10 years ago and every now and again I get a yearning..
What I did was get a bike and ride about places - got out into the country as suggested - it really helped the fitness and the boredom. What really helps is to give up smoking - not the drink, it's too hard, that one ;-). The physical similarity / closeness of the smoking experience and the dope one makes the connection in your brain (imo) and is a pretty powerful trigger, especially after the first few weeks.
I could say more but just - good luck mate - I felt 100% better for just leaving it.

Neil

 

Good look with your endeavour fella - i've got to echo the 'exercise' comments - get out there - town or country and get some air in your lungs - if urban photography is your bag then fine - just get out there and do it!

One, potentially silly suggestion but hey - turn the camera on yourself - aim to put the photo to one side for say 3 months then have a look at it again for a then / now comaprisson - if you can tough it out i think you'll see one heck of a change for the better...and that cant be a bad thing...

Chris

 

learn fly-fishing, its great.

 

I do still partake myself - <=2 times a week, but I felt like crap on new year's day (mainly alcohol admittedly!) and I too am considering a total give up.

I managed to abstain yesterday (although the one thing that really pees me off is that my mate expects me to "build" for him (he's blind) every time he comes round. He's a lifelong friend and I'm not about to ditch him, and don't honestly mind doing the deed, but I bet there'll come a time soon when I WILL mind.

Cigarettes are the REAL challenge for me though - I can go without, then hit the pints in the pub and that's that. Total sucker. I think giving up both PROPERLY is the only solution.

I've pretty well given up ALL really *really* bad stuff though, so that's a good start!

As for bronchitis, had it twice as a kid - long before taking up ciggy smoking. It's NASTY, but got me two lots of fortnights off of school

 

Indeed!

Check out this site and scroll down for before/after pic's.... http://www.johnstonefitness.com/

Perhaps a bit extreme, but shows you what CAN BE DONE!

Boredom will be a real ****ter. I was speaking about this recently. SMOking kills off some of the need to do something, you're happy to just MOng out, so getting something else to occupy yourself is a must I'd say. And make it something outdoors, or at least somewhere you've not got gear close to hand.