Seven Days

"Whilst I was still smoking and trying to quit over a long time, one of the things that made my attempts harder and more demoralizing than they might have been was the almost universal dismissal from the medical and drug treatment professions about the reality of cannabis withdrawal. The process seemed to be classified as something so insignificant as to not be worth analysing or understanding.

As soon as I appreciated that there were others who were suffering the same symptoms, the same frustrations, I found the process not only possible but also, in a strange way, enjoyable. It was such a relief to realize that I wasn’t alone, that I wasn’t a failure because my attempts to quit using a drug that was supposedly non-addictive kept on ending in feelings of inadequacy and frustration.

As long as I was able to dig deep and remember my personal motivation for quitting, and the things that I wanted from my life that were missing because of my cannabis dependency, the reality, however tough, would undoubtedly be worth it. What I did not expect, especially during the early days of the process, was quite how much better I would feel when I pushed through to the other side and was finally free of a dependency that I thought would be with me for life.

As I began working with others, I could see patterns emerging, defined stages and timelines that, although different for individuals, could be used to offer encouragement when most needed."