As an occasional pot smoker, I always pondered what might occur if I decided to drop the joint altogether. This is my story of the changes I witnessed in a year after I stopped consuming cannabis.
My Habit of Marijuana
I wasn't a habitual user, I did indulge in a smoke session with friends every now and then and sometimes eat a marijuana-infused cookie.
Why I Decided to Quit Weed
Even though I wasn't a regular user, I experienced sleep issues, like hard to fall asleep or wake up middle of the night. And I started noticing how my social demeanor changed when I was high. My conversations would become muddled, and my eyes would turn red, causing me to appear foolish. This made me think about improving my quality of life by avoiding weed.
Potential Risks Associated with Marijuana Use
Neurological Impact: Regular cannabis use can hinder short-term memory, attention span, and coordination. This can lead to a decline in cognitive abilities and learning.
Mental Health: Though many use marijuana for relaxation, it can induce anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations, particularly in higher doses or susceptible individuals. Long-term consumption can escalate the risk of mental health disorders, including depression and psychosis.
Physical Health: Similar to tobacco, smoking marijuana can irritate your lungs and cause bronchitis. However, alternative consumption methods, like edibles or vaporizers, can mitigate these respiratory issues.
Addiction: Although marijuana addiction risk is generally lower compared to substances like tobacco or alcohol, some people can develop a dependence. This can result in withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not used.
Impaired Coordination and Reaction Time: Marijuana can affect coordination and reaction time, which can be troublesome when driving or operating machinery.
Life After Quitting Marijuana
In the year of my marijuana-free life, I embarked on a new career as a flexible freelancer and explored side hustles like dropshipping and SMMA. (Even though these side hustles didn't go as well, I learned valuable lessons from the experiences.) I also started reading books and completed 23 books since the beginning of the year. (Before that, I hated reading and rarely picked up a book). Then I hiked mountains more than ever, took up bouldering, and most importantly I started writing this blog.
Emotional Changes
I feel much better, especially after eight months of quitting weed. I now rarely experience anxiety and depression, though it could be influenced by other aspects, as I started to see another layer of purpose in life around this time
Physical Transformation
After quitting weed, I've noticed a significant improvement in my workouts. I feel stronger during workouts, gained muscle mass, and dropped fat. Again, these changes could be influenced by other factors like diet and the time I dedicate to fitness. However, since I quit marijuana, I find myself capable of performing intense exercises like one-arm pull-ups and muscle-ups on rings that I couldn't do before.
Is It Worth Quitting Weed?
Without a doubt, absolutely yes. Despite some beliefs that it's not as harmful as other drugs or alcohol, it definitely affects both physical and mental health. Weed consumption can cause cognitive issues and make people appear foolish after smoking. So why spend money on something like this? It's undoubtedly better not to smoke weed.
Alcohol Abstinence
Along with quitting marijuana, I also stayed away from alcohol for over a year. Even though alcohol is not my liking, sometimes, I drink during social drinking occasions or when offered exotic alcoholic beverages, but I completely refrain from drinking. This decision might have its own set of benefits.
How to Quit Smoking Weed
If you're a regular smoker and thinking about quitting smoking weed, the urge to smoke is likely strong and hard to resist. In some cases, resisting the urge can be irritating, just like the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. However, to break any bad habit, we absolutely need willpower. Our ability to resist improves as we confront and overcome temptations over an extended period. Also, when we consistently resist a behavior, it becomes ingrained in our routine. So, if you're considering quitting smoking, challenge yourself to resist for several weeks, and you'll notice a shift in your mindset, making it easier to persist in resisting marijuana use.
Dealing with the Pressure from Your Friends
The significant obstacle to quitting smoking is the pressure from friends who encourage you to smoke when you hang out with them. You may need the courage to say no to them. And they might think like 'What's wrong with you? You've been smoking with us for a long time and now you don't want to smoke with us?.' But if they shame or condemn you, they're not true friends anyway. However, if they respect your decisions and support you, they are true friends. By showing them the improvements in your life, you could inspire them to quit their harmful habits too.
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