Reasons to Quit Marijuana #2 - Psychological

Posted by admin on November 26, 2007

Marijuana on the Brain This is Part #2 of a 4 part series on Reasons to Quit Marijuana.

As stated in Part 1, I believe that it is a great idea to create an inventory of all of the reasons that I want to quit smoking weed. This servers 2 purposes: To clarify the negative effects of marijuana addiction in my life, and to use as a reference guide when I crave smoking pot, and think about relapsing.

The Negative Psychological Effects of Marijuana:

Motivation: Smoking pot heavily makes me super lazy. I struggle to get the most basic tasks, like housework done on time. I was always a procrastinator, but smoking pot and being a procrastinator is a horrible combination. This has been called A-motivational syndrome. I need to focus some research on a motivational syndrome.

Concentration: I can’t get in, and stay in ‘the zone’ very well when I am high on marijuana. I am become easily distracted and struggle to get tasks finished. I used to be able to work for hours without noticing the time go by. I now glance at the clock every few minutes and work feels like more a chore than way I have been sober for a few days or more. Sometimes I fade out when people are talking to me and I begin to daydream, or just shut down altogether. This had never been an issue in the past.

Memory Lapses: I forget things. Wallet, Keys, clothing, important dates, birth dates, names of people I was just introduced to, or the fact that I was just introduced to them. Smoking marijuana seems to affect my ability to transfer thoughts or ideas from short term - to long term memory.

Stress: Forgetting things, being late, falling behind, and being anxious and paranoid all of the time is stressful. I am sure you know what I do to relieve the stress. This really is a vicious cycle. I also have to hide this part of my life from coworkers and family which can cause a of stress as well. There is also the fear of being busted by the police, going to jail, or having to deal with sketchy dealers. I don’t like people to know I am stoned in public, so I stress out if I think they do know.

Mood Swings: There is the joy of scoring, and rolling up a fresh spliff, the anxiety of almost being out of weed, the anger and frustration of not being able to find a hookup and many other rollercoaster rides. There is an emotional high knowing you are going to get high, and a low after you are high, knowing you don’t want to do it anymore. I sometimes feel empty when I can’t find anything and am completely out of pot.

Depression: For me, I feel depressed because I eat terribly, break promises to myself, and am highly stressed when trying to maintain an addiction and normal life. When I fall behind and procrastinate, I feel like shit. Keeping busy is the best way for me to break this mindset. When I eat well, exercise and don’t smoke, I feel great. I am usually a positive person, and make sure that my inner monologue is positive as well.

Anger: I feel angry when I am not in control of when, where, and how I smoke weed. I also feel angry and anxious if I have weed, but am doing an activity other than smoking it. This has been a struggle in relationships when I would rather get out of bed, and get stoned, than cuddle up with someone for the rest of the night. I have resented people for interfering with my addiction.

See Also

How to Quit Smoking Marijuana

Part 1 Physical Reasons to Quit Marijuana

Part 3 Reasons to Quit Marijuana - Relationships

Part 4 Financial Reasons to Quit Marijuana

Filed Under: Negative Effects, Quitting Marijuana, Smoking Marijuana

Tags: a motivational syndrome, anger, depression, emotions, marijuana and depression, memory loss, mood swings, Negative Effects of Marijuana, psychological problems, Side Effects of Marijuana, stress

blackflag said,

This is the main reason for me, not being in control - having your body and mind rule over your soul.
I went on holiday for 2 weeks and didnt smoke at all, taken out of my usual environment i didnt even think about it but on my return it was a few hours before I was back to my habit.
Since new year ive been really really sick, the doctor told me I have an infection in my lungs, so for 7 days now I have not smoked at all and I want to use this as the time to just break free.
Its going to be hard not just within my own mind but also because my circle of friends all smoke and always give me great reasons to not stop!
admin said,

Yeah I hear ya. I think a lot of stoners don’t even realize the psychological aspect because they think that it is ‘normal’. Stoners tend to hang with other stoners, so their idea of normal gets a little skewed.
blackflag said,

Last night my neighbour came over with a friend of his, this happens all the time and I get given a lot of free weed on account of being the host. I said no to smoking due to my lung infection, it was interesting being straight and observing the behaviour. I saw the anxiety over the new batch not being up to scratch and the making up for it by smoking twice as much, i also had to sit through the ‘weed is life, weed is natural, weed is medicine’ speeches. I got to say I feel good for not smoking with them, it would have been easy to spark up and i know I used the infection as an excuse, but ive been straight up and said i want to quit before and the reaction was like telling them id slept with their mums.
Ryan said,

For me the depression is the worst psychological symptom of trying to stop. when i try to quit, absolutely nothing is able to entertain me and i just start thinking negative thoughts over and over til the point where i cant stand being inside my body. i really need to get past this phase and i think the rest will be easy. i’m gonna try quitting again after this weekend (both my roommates will be away, so weekend afternoons will be so hard to get through without weed during my first week of quitting so i’m not even going to put myself through that pain). i’ll keep updating my progress…hopefully someone comes on to blog as well so we can share experiences and techniques for successfully quitting.
ross said,

Start smoking cigarette’s and you’ll feel a fool for all these posts.

Don’t admit your addicted to anything, thats BULL. If I convinced myself i was addicted to clapping my hands, id probably become ‘physiologically addicted.’

It’s the little kid aspect of your mind ‘I NEED this I NEED that.’ You WANT to get high, it’s funner then being sober.

Go out and do something… no sh# your gunna wanna be high when your sitting at a computer, any non smoker would too.

‘Splif’, as in you add tobacco to it, theres your problem, that stuff IS addicting. Any ‘physical problems’ Could be caused by smoke form marijuana, I have been smoking for over 10 years, well ‘vapeing’ rather, it’s smokless, I want to get high not breath burning plant material. better taste too.

The weed your buying might be the problem too, the worse quality usually the worse for you… Don’t burn your weed, pack a bowl and keep the flame away from it.. if it turns black it’s getting too hot. you can smoke a whole bowl and have it still be green if you know what your doing. If you run out/can;t find a link you still have a bag off ‘vaped’ weed witch will have little THC left but, I find the taste of weed more enjoyable then the high so I guess if I’m addicted to anything it’s the flavor.
Bucking Faked said,

Ross I think you might be in denial? I mean who says they are only addicted to the taste. its like a coke addict who only likes the smell of cocaine- not the drug itself Sorry, not to be judgemental but surely you might need to re-evaluate things for yourself if you re-think that statement or why you really like/use MJ. PEACE
lily said,

I agree ,I think that you may be in denial too, I am too. I will sit there and say, oh I enjoy smoking, but my life is a mess.
You are addicted to the high, you are addicted to the way it makes you feel.After awhile, it just doesn’t work anymore, you just smoke and smoke and smoke.
The reason why tobacco is added is so the smoke isn’t as harsh.
I am sorry if I sound rude but this website is all about honesty. Maybe deep down you want to give it up too but know how ( hence your looking at this website )
Again not trying to be rude I am just so glad I have someone to talk to because I tell you know I am in a HOLE and I hate it !
your friend lily !
lily said,

see I can’t spell dopey pothead I am.

second last paragragh I meant “but you may not know how ”

See so embarressing and I am 32 in a few months
Rob said,

I have been firing up for the better part of 30 years, and am about to give it up. I quit smoking cigs June 2006, and sure this can’t be any more difficult to give up.

The weed I smoke is the kind bud, and I have stayed stoned most of the day. I will turn 50 this year, and think it is about time to grow up.

The biggest problem I have as a “marijuana addict”, is that I am isolated from people. There is the issue of being introverted already, and the weed brings me even deeper into myself. I also feel the weed contributes to an almost constant sense of depersonalization/derealization. I am detached from “the world”.

I understand that weed is not itself addictive, but for some of us it is everything. It is my primary “mood enhancer”.

I know that I am capable of more. I have managed to do OK on weed, but know that I am passing up MANY opportunities because I’m too stoned, and would rather just be stuck, but euphoric.

I use weed to quiet my mind. And so it is quite boring.

My quit date is April 1st.
Nolan said,

i am 17 and i smoke weed numerous times a day. usually about a quarter ounce a day. whenever i go a day without smoking it is so hard to get through the day. i feel addicted to marijuana. i cant think of a point in my life i was real happy without being fucked up. Life seems so dull and boring without weed. i want to quit but i cant. i dont know what to do with myself without weed. im on probation for gettin caught with 2 ounces so i kno i am gettin drug tested sumtimes.
Nolan said,

i smoke weed to get away. the world is a stressful place i think people need weed. everytime i see sumone that is real happy sumwhere and they arent fuckd up i say i wish i could be that happy without drugs. but i need weed to be happy. can neone give me some help. i really dont know i love to smoke weed but it gets me nowhere. no matter how much i smoke one day i wake up the next day and its the same regardless im not high. i hate the world not high. i wish i knew a way to go threw life without buying a half ounce every other day.can ne one help???
Joanna said,

I have been smoking pot chronically for about 6 years. I started smoking because all my friends were, now I’m addicted and can’t seem to find a good enough reason to quit.
But I do know this. I smoke pot when I’m angry so I don’t say things that will hurt others..but it’s a lie. My anger has gotten much worse. I can’t remember anything about my early childhood. I forget daily activities at my job that isn’t that hard. When I’m high I can’t look anyone in the eye. My neck shakes when I have one too many hits. I look to marijuanna to comfort me, and to take me away from problems, but it only pushes the problems down inside me instead of fixing them. I used to write stories all the time…now I can’t concentrate long enough to get past the first or second chpt…I feel awkward when with family. I want to quit, but I’m afraid of how volitile I’ll be. But this website is very true, and has brought to surface many of the negative effects I have been afraid to admit to myself.
This website IS an inspiration, thank you so much
Trevor said,

The main reason i want to quit smoking marijuana is because i have noticed within the last year or so that it has been very difficult for me to remeber things. I am 17 and i have probley been smoking pot for 4 years now and 2 of those 4 years has been constant every day literally, i can read something and about 20 seconds later i couldnt tell you what i have read. I understand that marijuana can cause short term marijuana and kill brain cells but could anyone please tell me if my memory will come back after i quit and if so how long do you think it will take until my mind is functioning normally again. I find it very hard to do my school work and complete average everyday tasks.
B Jean said,

I can definately relate to your concern over the memory loss. I am 25 and have been smoking since I was 18.
I quit for about a year when I moved off to college (that was when I was 22 to 23)…My mind cleared up pretty quickly, and I can remember writing in my journal that “I forgot how smart I was.”
My mind began working like a well-oiled machine again. And I was more creative than I had been in years.
I started smoking again after an old high school friend moved in with me; and have been doing so daily for the past two years.
I decided to quit again because I feel that it is having a negative affect on my mind… It’s been two days and I feel great about my decision.
vanessa-juanica said,

Yep. I am on day 6 today and having a rough time. The phychological aspect sure does play such a strong role. Even today, i am struggling with the “i want to smoke a joint” syndrome. I am so tired and restless and have been getting a 4 to 5 hour average of sleep at night. It is rough, but i am ready to stop.

I also joined MA (marijuan anonymous) and this has helped. There are in person meetings where you can be with others who have the same issues…and many who have been sober for some time.

I was having anxiety earlier pretty bad…so i decided to walk and walk. I walked about 5 miles and my feet are full of blisters. My feet haven’t worked that hard in some time.

I have been a chronic smoker for the past 15 years and over the past 5 years it has gotten worse. I said chronic smoker for the past 15 years, however, i have been smoking bud for 21 years now. I started when i was 14 years old. Buying weed at $120 a quarter oz and burning through it in 2-3 days is quite the expensive habit. The first step was for me to admit that i have a problem…i an addict.

I always thought that the idea of a “marijuan addict” was ridiculous. Now, i know different. I am pretty damn smart cookie too…got through college with all A’s and B’s and am considered very successful…but my life just isnt’ working anymore. I am 35 years old and keep asking myself “do you want to keep it up for another 21 years? I am tired of my life not working.

I loved you Mary Jane, but just can’t have you around anymore. Good luck to all of you, becuase it is not an easy thing to kick! Lots of love to you all.
vanessa-juanica said,

no more comments
vanessa-juanica said,

i meant…no more comments today. haven[’t smoked in 7 days
mick margaret river western australia said,

honetsy is the best policy have been mixing mull northern lights outdoor grown with tabacco for19 years had enough smoked weed all over the world africa europe america i think its very addictive and life controlling . this is the best most accurate helpful honest site i have found . 2months now without smoking anything hardest thing ive ever done. sleepless nights sweaty aggitated aggressive periods luckily im an obsessive surfer and have been surfing like a madman buggering myself out exhausting physically but feel pretty good. cry alot more now not so nullified loving living more attention to peoples feelings emotions.the news of the world effects me more now but my family is very sopportive good luck with your choices this is the hardest thing i have ever done but i know its the best thing for me and everyone who loves me .brought a new surfboard with money ive saved great motivation . straight is the new bent . it is for me anyhow.take care life is awesome and incredible enough without being stoned alot. trying to start again im 38 years old. mick w.a
meg said,

Trevor, I quit about four days after you wrote that post and havent smoked since. I’m seventeeen too and have been a litteral every day morning to night smoker for two years and i’ve smoked for four. My memory got awful as well but It’s starting to come back. Like when I was flipping through my ipod the other day i dind’t forget what song I was looking for before i got to it! Your memory will stop lapsing, well, at least mine did.

but does anyone know about anxiety/depression coming when quitting. i’ve secluded myself from society and am just REALLY unhappy
HashJam said,

Wow…

Maybe I do not really understand “marijuana addiction” because I’ve only been smoking moderate amounts for 3 years, but in my opinion you have to have a mind over matter approach when it comes to weed. Of the things listed above, the only thing that mary jane really changes about me is my concentration and that is only in the first half hour or so of smoking. To me weed is not your life, it should enhance your life. Take a toke and go for a walk or jog, go to library, take a relaxing bath, do some gardening, clean the house…It should make fun things more enjoyable and mundane things less stressful.

My boyfriend is a heavy marijuana smoker and has been for the past 5-6 years, but he also has a full-time assistant management job, works out with me often (after a couples smoking session because running while high is the greatest feeling), rarely forgets things or is late, and treats me like a queen.

I admit I have had a few episodes when I am anxious because I am out of weed and haven’t smoked in a week or 2, but I also have those times when I don’t even desire to smoke weed and I am just fine without. You have to keep occupied and go about your daily life.

I admit I have my problems, but they have existed way before weed was introduced into my life (my parents were told to seek psychiatric care for me at the age of 5). Marijuana is a beautiful gift from the earth and you should not blame her for your underlying mental problems…
Phil said,

I quit smoking marijuana about 1 month ago. I am breathing better and have more energy. I also have cut down on fattening snacks. One problem is I have not been able to sleep through the night. I know I said I can breath better and have more energy BUT I need sleep. I am 67 years of age. I smoked for about 37 years. Can anyone offer advice on sleeping. I want to keep away from the weed. I gave up tobacco 29 years ago. I drink some wine.Maybe I should stop that also. Thanx
Sissy said,

Hi all - longtime heavy smoker here….15 years. I quit cold turkey in May, relapsed for 2 weeks in August, but back on track again for good.

I was the smoker who didn’t know I had a problem and was in deep, deep denial. I lived in a foggy haze for years and one by one, lost a friend here, lost a friend there, and now I don’t have any friends, except my family and husband. Those friends didn’t know about my addiction and just chalked it up to erratic, paranoid, reclusive behavior on my part and I made up imagined excuses and slights to cut them out of my life. Lost some really great friendships, because MJ was more important and anyone who threatened to get between me and her was sacrificed. Wish I would have realized MJ was the problem, but regret doesn’t do any good at this point. Onward and upward.

The anxiety and depression one feels after quitting is REAL, but I see here everyone has different withdrawal reactions. I had extremely severe mood swings, aggression, and would suddenly be really, really enraged over ridiculous things at times with no warning. Still have trouble with sleeping and depression, but it has been slowly getting better everyday. The clarity of my mind is a strange, but good feeling. My lungs feel clear and I’m not coughing up the brown stuff anymore. Nice to breathe deep without wheezing.

I’m still secluding myself, but slowly and surely will make the effort to rejoin society again. It has been a comfort to know other people are going through the same thing, so thanks to everyone for putting it out there.

There are others (HashJam) on this site posting negative and/or dismissive comments in regards to people who truly have an addiction to MJ. Why are you on this site if it isn’t a problem for you? If it isn’t a problem, that’s wonderful, however, lording your apparent superiority over addiction to this substance isn’t a help to the folks who truly need this support. Smoking weed non-stop isn’t an enhancement to life. Making comments like that can cause someone to relapse. Addiction is indeed a mental problem yes, but so is reckless, hurtful arrogance.

My thanks to the author of this site. Has been a big help to me. THANK YOU!!!!
Keith said,

I use to smoke a lot. Way more then a person should, for about 2 years I smoked everyday, 365 days a year. The first year was fun as hell, I would get stoned and laugh my ass off, but after a while it didn’t give me the same stoned and I began to feel like it was filler. Now I feel it’s the linchpin to my relationship with my friends. We fight like dogs all the time until we get stoned, it’s bullshit. I still haven’t quit, instead I go to the gym several times a week and I try to keep myself so busy I don’t have time to smoke. I stay on campus longer at school to ensure I can’t meet up or just chill with my girl more because she doesn’t smoke. I use to love bud, now I feel the Con’s out weigh the Pro’s. As I type this someones coming over with a bag, its the first time I’ve smoked in 5 days and I just got home from a work out 40 minutes ago. Slowly I think I’m beginning to beat it.
Calum said,

Well, through my experience the psychological problems stemming from constant marijuana consumption has been the biggest factor in my decision to quit smoking. However important the psychological factor may be, the physical aspect is also very significant. Only lately have I begun to notice the sensation in my chest indicating that my lungs could potentially be caving in on them selves (although this could also be due to cigarette smoking for the past three years; which I have also decided to quit). I definitely agree with what HashJam said (”Marijuana is a beautiful gift from the earth and you should not blame her for your underlying mental problems…”), but I should also add that even though there may already be pre-existing mental conflicts within the mind of the constant smoker, it is very possible that frequently entering altered states of consciousness by means of consuming THC, can have typically negative effects, triggers, and reactions with the pre-existing condition. This for me is the main reason why I am going to attempt to quit smoking.