The Official CannaBreak Thread

[AlphaDeltaF1]

Day 346 without weed.
Feels much better than it used to be 100-200 days ago

Nice! I’m 246 days without-motivating to hear you feel better than you did around where I am now…but I’m thinking about getting some type 2 or 3 hemp to enjoy but that seems like a slippery slope (especially the type 2 flower). It’s just sad to see all my vape gear collecting dust when I used to enjoy it so much (maybe too much)

 

[GoldenBud]

Nice! I’m 246 days without-motivating to hear you feel better than you did around where I am now…but I’m thinking about getting some type 2 or 3 hemp to enjoy but that seems like a slippery slope (especially the type 2 flower). It’s just sad to see all my vape gear collecting dust when I used to enjoy it so much (maybe too much)

I sold all my vapes because I knew I don't wanna use weed for years, or maybe forever.
it just cost too much where I live. I don't have any medical reason to use it..

 

[ontopofclouds]

Nice! I’m 246 days without-motivating to hear you feel better than you did around where I am now…but I’m thinking about getting some type 2 or 3 hemp to enjoy but that seems like a slippery slope (especially the type 2 flower). It’s just sad to see all my vape gear collecting dust when I used to enjoy it so much (maybe too much)

what were some of your motivations behind your break if you don't mind me asking

 

[AlphaDeltaF1]

what were some of your motivations behind your break if you don't mind me asking

I was a habitual user, vaping all day and using concentrates when I had them on hand as well. It got to the point where I needed it to feel normal.

Problems arose in my life because of it.

What finally made me take a break was some travel plans I had. I figured it would be best to get sober at least a couple months before to avoid withdrawal on an epic holiday. I wanted to enjoy my time abroad and not long to get back to my bong. The plan was to take a break then eventually back into it in a moderate manner once I got back. But I figured I’d go as long as possible and learn how to live and grow sober and build healthy habits first.

Just ordered some type 2 & 3 hemp. I plan on using it as often as I’d like as long as it’s never consecutive days and at least 3 days have passed since I last consumed it.

 

[biohacker]

I don't have any medical reason to use it..

But you have medical reasons to use SSRI's for the past 5 years?

 

[EverythingsHazy]

But you have medical reasons to use SSRI's for the past 5 years?

To be fair, SSRIs are used for things for which Cannabis use is possibly counterproductive (depression/anxiety).
It'll be interesting to see more data come out on these topics, over the next few years.

 

[chillAtGVC]

To be fair, SSRIs are used for things for which Cannabis use is possibly counterproductive (depression/anxiety).

As a counterpoint, Cannabis use has been extremely productive for my depression and anxiety (panic).

 

[Radwin Bodnic]

As a counterpoint, Cannabis use has been extremely productive for my depression and anxiety (panic).

Although it doesn't help me getting out of a depressing state, it definitely act like an anxiolytic to me.

Edit : it does makes depression more comfortable.

 

[vapoorirzzler]

3 years and counting and even longer for alcohol. Gonna break it soon tho after I get the minivap
Feel conflicted tho or bitter sweet.
Hopefully it feels like the first high (just wondering if I should start with dispensary dank or small with outdoor mids).

 

[EverythingsHazy]

As a counterpoint, Cannabis use has been extremely productive for my depression and anxiety (panic).

That's great.

As a counter-counterpoint, though, I'd bring up that it can be the case that one's anxiety/depression gets worse between highs, as a result of the dopamine spikes caused by said highs (be it cannabis, alcohol, benzos, etc.), and that they are made to feel some relief from the self-inflicted mood issues, by continuing to get high, when overall, they'd feel better if they never used at all.

I'm not saying that that is your case, or that that's even the norm with Cannabis, but that it is a possibility.

That's the whole "I don't smoke to get high, I smoke to get even" effect. At a certain point, the smoking itself (or vaping, etc.) can be the reason one is not "even" in the first place.

If it works for you, though, and I don't really doubt that that's the case, that's awesome. Glad to hear it. I'd much rather it be the case that it works well for most people.

Although it doesn't help me getting out of a depressing state, it definitely act like an anxiolytic to me.

Edit : it does makes depression more comfortable.

Do you think that the added comfort makes it easier to do things that can help pull you out of depression, or that it makes it tolerable enough that you don't feel the need to do those things, leading you to get stuck in the depression for longer?

3 years and counting and even longer for alcohol. Gonna break it soon tho after I get the minivap
Feel conflicted tho or bitter sweet.
Hopefully it feels like the first high (just wondering if I should start with dispensary dank or small with outdoor mids).

Why'd you go on such a long break?
I'd think that if you have been sober that whole time, it should feel, intensity wise, very very close to the first time. You may miss out on some of the novelty aspect, but I'd expect that to be minimal. The fun effects, like things being funnier/more interesting, music sounding better, food tasting better, etc., should be just as strong.

 

[florduh]

Do you think that the added comfort makes it easier to do things that can help pull you out of depression, or that it makes it tolerable enough that you don't feel the need to do those things, leading you to get stuck in the depression for longer?

You're assuming depression is always caused by some behavior one is either doing or not doing. That's not always the case. Our brains simply were not made for the world we now live in.

I regularly use cannabis as sort of a "spiritual"/meditative tool. It's why I personally love racy or anxiety inducing "sativas". When anxious or fear inducing thoughts arise, I sit with them for a while. If I do this I break through to the other side where I realize those thoughts are not "real" in any tangible way. They're ephemera. Neurons twitching. There's no good reason for me to identify with them or let them bother me. I release them and go about my life.

Not medical advice and your mileage may vary. Just wanted to share my perspective

 

[Knewt]

You're assuming depression is always caused by some behavior one is either doing or not doing. That's not always the case. Our brains simply were not made for the world we now live in.

I regularly use cannabis as sort of a "spiritual"/meditative tool. It's why I personally love racy or anxiety inducing "sativas". When anxious or fear inducing thoughts arise, I sit with them for a while. If I do this I break through to the other side where I realize those thoughts are not "real" in any tangible way. They're ephemera. Neurons twitching. There's no good reason for me to identify with them or let them bother me. I release them and go about my life.

Not medical advice and your mileage may vary. Just wanted to share my perspective

 

[EverythingsHazy]

You're assuming depression is always caused by some behavior one is either doing or not doing. That's not always the case. Our brains simply were not made for the world we now live in.

I regularly use cannabis as sort of a "spiritual"/meditative tool. It's why I personally love racy or anxiety inducing "sativas". When anxious or fear inducing thoughts arise, I sit with them for a while. If I do this I break through to the other side where I realize those thoughts are not "real" in any tangible way. They're ephemera. Neurons twitching. There's no good reason for me to identify with them or let them bother me. I release them and go about my life.

Not medical advice and your mileage may vary. Just wanted to share my perspective

I'm not assuming that. I know that depression is not fully understood, and that sometimes, it may very well be caused by the brain/body in individuals who have lives that would not lead to depression in most others. That said, I do think that depression can often be cured using CBT techniques, and I am curious if cannabis use tends to make it tolerable enough that one doesn't feel the necessary push to do something to finally fix the problem.

If it made the negative feelings fully go away, then it wouldn't really matter, but if it just mitigates them enough to keep one from doing what is required to finally make them go away fully, or to greater degree, it's counterproductive.

All in all, I'm not anti-cannabis, and I don't think that it has the same effects on everyone's depression/anxiety. I think it can be a very useful tool, and quite the enjoyable and probably reasonably safe recreational drug, if used responsibly (not that it's without risk, but comparatively, it seems to be ok, to me. At the same time, however, I think that it also has potential to be a significant hindrance to progress.

 

[Radwin Bodnic]

Do you think that the added comfort makes it easier to do things that can help pull you out of depression, or that it makes it tolerable enough that you don't feel the need to do those things, leading you to get stuck in the depression for longer?

The added comfort helps me doing things I wouldn't do when in a depressive state (like socializing or even just deep cleaning the house, etc...)
But I think it somehow maintain the depressive state. It doesn't prevent me to go to therapy but it prevents me from dreaming. And dreams are the only way to access some parts of our psyche that could potentially explain the depressive state. Dreams also allow your brain to engram what you've experienced during the day. Dreaming is a vital necessity. So yes, cannabis can be counter productive.

Our brains simply were not made for the world we now live in.

Definitely. I've had the most peaceful years of my life living outdoor, in the wild.

I regularly use cannabis as sort of a "spiritual"/meditative tool. It's why I personally love racy or anxiety inducing "sativas". When anxious or fear inducing thoughts arise, I sit with them for a while.

I also use cannabis as a spiritual / meditative tool (along with a creative, medicinal and recreative tool). I've never experienced anxiety nor paranoia when using cannabis in my life. And I've (ab)used more than I should have more than once...

 

[chillAtGVC]

I will add some of my own two cents.

First, I absolutely agree that everyone's depression and anxiety is different and our perception of the effects of them can differ too. I think mine is mostly genetic. My parents both had it, my sisters both had it, and my nieces do too. My mother and I had the worst of it, her more than I. Looking at my life now, I can't see a single thing to be depressed or anxious about.

For me, it is definitely an anxiolytic. That is the first effect that I notice when I start a session. I've tried CBD weed too for this and while it has some effect it is much less pronounced. However, it only works while I am high and I don't want to be high all the time. At least now I have 2-3 hours before bed when I can step away from it. Interestingly, twenty years ago cannabis made me very paranoid and anxious. It was only pleasant when I was not in a group of people.

For the depression, my best guess on why it helped me is neuroplasticity. I had treatment resistant depression from 2018 to 2023. I think that my brain just "forgot" what happy felt like. After a daily lesson for a month, it started to remember. And it felt good! The other side of this is probably repeating happy statements to myself while I was high (you made it, you are free now, etc). I will also mention that I have done CBT, therapy, "forced daily time" in my shop or garden (both of which are things I greatly enjoy) and none of that had the slightest effect.

Thank you to everyone for the interesting discussion!

 

[Radwin Bodnic]

My parents both had it, my sisters both had it, and my nieces do too. My mother and I had the worst of it, her more than I.

You might want to learn about psychogenealogy and transgeneretional psychoanalysis.
It has been proven that pasts generations traumas can be transferred to descendants via genetic disorders (issues with histones methylations that influence how the genes are duplicated). Higher magnitude of effects being seen at the second generation after the one who has been traumatized.
Good news is that if you find the right therapist it can be cured and it will preserve your mental health and your children's too.

For me, it is definitely an anxiolytic.

Me too. Very effective.

 

[vapoorirzzler]

Why'd you go on such a long break?
I'd think that if you have been sober that whole time, it should feel, intensity wise, very very close to the first time. You may miss out on some of the novelty aspect, but I'd expect that to be minimal. The fun effects, like things being funnier/more interesting, music sounding better, food tasting better, etc., should be just as strong

Had a bunch of stuff going on mentally and was seeking another job. Started getting more depressed and not enjoying the plant and wasn't motivated to do stuff. Started exercising and changed eating habits (vegan) and then soon after I started a streak and before you know it I'm hear. Did still check the forums and randomly certain things about the plant and culture crossed my mind. Started following growers and feeling that passion for the community, but totally forgot the "high" feeling (or couldn't related as much to user description as I did under the influence). Promised myself if I ever got back on the stuff, I would try to do it the healthier way for the longterm (I'm someone who loved bong hits but was disciplined to only wake and bake once a week and usually smoked in the evenings, other ppl around me do it day and night, I always wondered how they felt the high ). I'm currently on adderall (prescribed medicine, dropped antidepressants , weed help alot with appetite when I was on them then I cold turkey it as it killed the weed high and felt that weed atleast did the job better without making me cold and ).
So much more that could be said but weed is the only thing in life that actual your best friend, it won't betray, hurt you, keeps your spirit up, at peak it make you realize your potential and makes you feel peak happiness.
I think this is best used when you are financial stable in life or somewhere where you don't have to worry about progression or finances.
In regards to the novel effect, if its anything close to the first set of highs then I'm in for a treat, those early days was sumn else man and that before I knew about higher grade stuff. Imagine dispensary stuff as a newcomer (so impactful that sometime i would roll a spliff and just sit there and wait, the feeling that you get when you have the last slice of cheese cake and u know its good but don't wanna finish it yet).

Sing with me: Medication

 

[GoldenBud]

It'll be interesting to see more data come out on these topics, over the next few years.

Hello to you,
Hope you're doing well.

I am weed-free since 2/22/23, so seems like it's almost 600 days.

I feel much better in terms of throat/lungs, breathing, and I can work without the feeling like "I gotta get home to my weed! can't wait"
So yea, I am much more calm, more relaxed, feeling like a grown up man. not somebody that can fight or getting angry on somebody, I am not that guy anymore.

BUT, I can't tell you how my life would look if I lived in USA/NL etc', in a country that weed is legal. not gonna lie. (I understand you can use weed in many offices break in USA, so no rush for "I must go home getting some weed! I am stressed!")

The main absolute reason I stopped using weed is money. I live where it's illegal and 30gr top shelf weed cost me 500$ or more (If I'm lucky)

And the salaries are not too good in my field.