Families & Friends Of Addicts Support Group
Addiction affects more than just the individual. This community is dedicated to the families and friends of individuals suffering from any form of addiction. Mental health professionals are increasingly considering alcoholism and addiction as diseases that flourish in and are enabled by family systems. Family members react to the addicted person with particular behavioral...
So my son has stopped smoking pot cold turkey---it's only been 3 days. But from prior experience & through some research, I'm hearing about withdrawal symptoms that have me concerned.
The first one is about sleep. My son definitely started to depend on weed to help go to sleep. I know that it can become such a problem for people that they relapse because they can't tolerate the insomnia. (And then once they do start sleeping, their dreams return more frequently or they begin to remember their dreams again & they are often nightmarish & too vivid & that can create anxiety about sleeping......) Other than exercise & melatonin, are there any other ways to help with this proccess?
Also, I'm very worried about increased feelings of anxiety. (I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder years ago) Any tips?
The first one is about sleep. My son definitely started to depend on weed to help go to sleep. I know that it can become such a problem for people that they relapse because they can't tolerate the insomnia. (And then once they do start sleeping, their dreams return more frequently or they begin to remember their dreams again & they are often nightmarish & too vivid & that can create anxiety about sleeping......) Other than exercise & melatonin, are there any other ways to help with this proccess?
Also, I'm very worried about increased feelings of anxiety. (I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder years ago) Any tips?
Anxiety and and insomnia, nausea,loss of appetite, and vivid dreams are very common, but they don't last long.
Personally, I have been experiencing lots of problems with insomnia, mainly waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep. I think I finally found something that helps. I downloaded an ap on my Iphone called Relax Melodies and another called Relaxing Sounds of Nature. I usually set the timer for 30 minutes and put on a combination of a river, winds, and a little bit of thunder. Usually that puts me right out. Last night when it didn't, I switched to a quiet music box and I went right out. There are also sound machines you can get that do something similar. Meditation or Progressive Relaxation CD's and deep breating exercises also help.
Often these kids start with marijuana and move on to harder drugs, so their dependence on it is much longer. My son has managed to stay off pills for weeks at a time despite multiple relapses, but he finds it nearly impossible to give up the marijuana. That, of course, leads him back to the harder stuff every time. If he can get off of this, it would be a big step in the right direction.