After heavily smoking for 5 years, I’ve finally decided to quit cold-turkey. I have a number of (non-related) medical issues that seem to worsen when coupled with my usage lately, ranging from extreme heart palpitations to syncope. Smoking used to be my ultimate method of relaxation, but has now morphed into catastrophe.

I’m on day 8 of withdrawal. Days 1-5 were horribly difficult; I fought severe cold sweats, a nagging headache, appetite loss, anxiety, insomnia, and general temptation. But the past 3 days have proven that I can and will win this battle. For anyone seeking advice on how to take care of yourself in times of withdrawal, read below 👇

1. Hydrate. Grab a water, Gatorade, or vitamin drink every day. Fuel your body with the electrolytes it may be missing due to your lack of appetite. Avoid caffeine, as it may cause you to feel more jittery/anxious without the sedative effect from smoking.

2. Exercise— even if you really, really don’t want to. It’s one simple way to distract yourself from the withdrawal symptoms, elevate your mood, ease bodily tension, and help you to fall asleep more easily at nighttime. You could opt to run, walk, or jog, or choose to bike, dance, or lift- whatever feels the best for you!

3. Follow a bedtime routine. Train your body to fall asleep and wake up on a certain schedule to avoid bouts of brain fog, depression, anxiety, and/or insomnia. Get your body back into a healthy rhythm without the daily reliance of weed, and be sure to get plenty of sleep to allow your body proper rest.

4. Eat a varied diet if possible. Sugar and junk food typically make a person feel worse during this time, so be sure to swap them for some fruits and veggies. Lethargy is common during withdrawal; give yourself the energy to fight it. Your body and brain will thank you later.

5. Keep an ice pack, fan, or cold washcloth nearby to reduce excessive perspiration. Use them on your head, the back of your neck, your hands, and anywhere else you might be sweating from. The cold also acts as a little jolt to the nervous system to ease anxiety and panic.

6. Distract yourself. Do some cleaning, reading, mediation, cooking, showering- anything to take your mind off of the way you’re feeling. Allowing the brain to fixate on withdrawal symptoms can lead you to feel depressed, hopeless, and worse. Find a hobby or a distraction and give it your all!

7. Tell at least one person in your life, so that you may look to them for support. No one can take away your symptoms entirely, but speaking with a trusted individual can greatly reduce the stress you’re feeling. Don’t go through this alone; others can’t help you if you they don’t know what’s going on.

Here’s to hoping I make it through day 9 and someday, day 99. Best of luck to anyone out there battling their own withdrawal and to the rest of the world’s lucky weed enjoyers!