THIS EXPERIENCE IS AWEFUL, AWEFUL, AWEFUL!!!

What my body and mind are going through is really “weird”, intense, and exhausting to say the least. Really, really exhausting. I’ve had serious withdrawals from alcohol in the past, and that’s just as TERRIBLE!!! But this is different. Completely different, it’s more psychological in nature, and how the body moves and flows naturally, it doesn’t work. I walk like I’m drinking, looking at the wall, and walk right into it. My brain says go this way, but there’s a disconnect, and it doesn’t work out. Smack your hand while walking past something, same thing. It’s crazy, totally crazy, and I can’t control it. But that’s ok.

I can’t eat or sleep. I’m up late/early, writing this right now. (2:00am) And the INTENSE HEADACHES.…ALL DAY!!! My head just throbs and throbs and throbs. My mind, it doesn’t work right now. It’s like mush. It’s a really uncomfortable, foggy feeling to say the least. The twitches, I can’t stop, my arms, my head, and my legs. It’s nonstop all day, all day. My vision is blurry. As I type this, the letters are blurry, dancing on the screen. My mouth doesn’t really work, can’t talk right. My jaw hurts so bad from clenching my teeth. I don’t know what to say; my body is having a “weird” time right now physically. My mind is just all over the place; it comes and goes whenever it wants. I feel like I'm walking in a fog and there’s low, low energy. I have short bouts of anger and depression, just undulating back and forth like a terrible nightmare in my head. One rolls in as the other rolls out like a storm.

I didn’t know exactly what the underlying cause of all this was, so I did some research on the THC withdrawal timeline. The intensity depends on factors including usage. My usage was in excess, of course. I went from 0 to 100 overnight in usage, spawned from a trauma response. This was a month ago. From my history, my response would have been to drink more and more alcohol. Until I passed out and the problem was gone…But the problem comes back naturally, even worse than before.

Initially, I thought I used cannabis as an aid just to get by. I mean, it’s harmless, right….??? What I eventually realized was, if I’m gonna achieve my goals this year and be the healthiest I can be, I gotta quit, period. I have to give cannabis the same respect I give alcohol, because I’m an all-in or nothing person. I’m all-in for a healthy, productive life.

These are some coping strategies I use that I’ve found help me:

Write, Hike/Run, Meditation, Buddhist Philosophy, Talking to a Friend, Mindfulness, Intentionalism, Standing in the Sun, Fresh Air, The River, Photography, Hunting…. All these are effective for me; however, Cognitive Reframing is the most powerful for me. If I don’t challenge my thoughts, they’ll challenge me.

Common Psychological Symptoms

These are often the most noticeable and usually the primary reason people find it difficult to stay away from THC during the first week.

• Irritability and Anger: Feeling "on edge," impatient, or prone to sudden outbursts.

• Anxiety and Restlessness: A general sense of unease or being unable to sit still.

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep is one of the most persistent symptoms.

• Vivid Dreams or Nightmares: As your brain exits "REM suppression" (which THC causes), you may experience intense, sometimes disturbing dreams.

• Depressed Mood: Feeling "flat" or losing interest in activities you usually enjoy.

Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms are usually milder than the psychological ones, but can still be quite uncomfortable.

• Decreased Appetite: A loss of interest in food, which may lead to temporary weight loss.

• Night Sweats and Chills: Your body’s temperature regulation might feel a bit haywire for a few days.

• Headaches: Often described as a dull tension headache.

• Gastrointestinal Issues: Mild nausea or abdominal pain.

• Shakiness or Tremors: Less common, but some heavy users report a slight trembling in the hands.

The Withdrawal Timeline

While everybody is different, most people follow this general recovery curve:

What’s Happening

Days 1–3: Symptoms begin. Peak irritability, anxiety, and sleep issues.

Days 4–7: Symptoms usually peak in intensity. Physical discomfort starts to fade.

Weeks 2–3: Most symptoms subside significantly. Sleep begins to normalize.

1 Month+: Residual symptoms like occasional cravings or vivid dreams may linger.