I'm 62, and have been smoking since age 30. I stopped when I was hospitalized for psychiatric problems, and was able to stay clean for a couple of years. But, when I made the decision to smoke again, I went out and immediately found my dealer. Now, three years later, I smoke morning, noon, and night. My family has distanced themselves from me, because of stupid, angry outbursts that would never occur if I weren't craving pot. I isolate, and often go for days without interacting with another human. Pot has negatively impacted my social life. I have none. I also notice that I am drinking more, and alcohol has never been my drug of choice. I'm attempting to find a recovery program that is not religion-based. Does anyone know of alternative programs, and how to get support when a person has grown paranoid and afraid of people.
Dear Calypso,
You are not alone in your struggle my friend. I can't stop smoking pot every day either. I must admit I was a bit thrown off when you say you want to take the non-religious approach. When I strip religion down to it's roots, I see it consisting of only few things. God, love, and faith.
I think that, amongst finding hobbies and being around sober friends, it's important to have, at the very least, love and faith.
You are not alone in your struggle my friend. I can't stop smoking pot every day either. I must admit I was a bit thrown off when you say you want to take the non-religious approach. When I strip religion down to it's roots, I see it consisting of only few things. God, love, and faith.
I think that, amongst finding hobbies and being around sober friends, it's important to have, at the very least, love and faith.
NA is not religious based.Its spiritual based. I too struggled with the concept of a higher power. It came down to do I keep hurting or deal with the whole higher power thing and go to meetings anyway. I guess the pain of continuing what I was doing outweighed the pain of dealing with the odd person talk about god. I was at a meeting this evening and there was not one mention of god or higher power for that matter, just a bunch of people trying to get better. I go to meetings, take what I want from them and leave the rest. Make friends with the people that are doing well, go for coffee with them. If you think you have suffered enough put the higher power thing behind you and go to meeting because its about so much more than higher power...its about love, friendship and identification. I spent a stint in a psychiatric unit because of cannabis...never want to be back there again.
The author Stephen king did an interview with the Paris review where he was asked about the religious aspect of AA, Here's a piece of his answer.
"Whenever I speak about this, I tell people the story about that movie Pink Flamingos that John Waters made with Divine, this big fat female impersonator. Theres a scene in Pink Flamingos where Divine eats a piece of dog excrement off the sidewalk. Waters was always asked about that particular scene. Finally, one time he exploded and said, Listen, it was just a little piece of dog s*** and it made her a star! OK? As far as Im concerned, the whole issue of God is a little piece of dog s***. But if you can swallow that part of the AA program, you dont have to drink and drug anymore."
Hope things work out for you my friend. Keep coming back.
The author Stephen king did an interview with the Paris review where he was asked about the religious aspect of AA, Here's a piece of his answer.
"Whenever I speak about this, I tell people the story about that movie Pink Flamingos that John Waters made with Divine, this big fat female impersonator. Theres a scene in Pink Flamingos where Divine eats a piece of dog excrement off the sidewalk. Waters was always asked about that particular scene. Finally, one time he exploded and said, Listen, it was just a little piece of dog s*** and it made her a star! OK? As far as Im concerned, the whole issue of God is a little piece of dog s***. But if you can swallow that part of the AA program, you dont have to drink and drug anymore."
Hope things work out for you my friend. Keep coming back.
I suggest a vacation to some place, and dont be shy about meeting people and starting conversations. If you lack human interaction perhaps get a job where you are in constant contact with people (gas station clerk). Try to remember why you quit and focus on that find a hobby to keep you distracted when your bored and craving weed. Its going to be tough but will only get easier. I dont recommend smoking occasionally because that messes with your brain signals. Just quit ull be ok.
