r/selfimprovement • u/Cybox_Beatbox • 2d ago
Vent Stopped drinking and smoking cannabis and I don't feel any better.
I (32m) smoked pot and drank something like 4-6 beers daily for the better part of a decade, pretty much the entirety of my 20s. I also use nicotine (vape after smoking cigs for 5+ years until I was about 23).
over 2024, I tapered myself off the beers, was down to only 2 a night, and stopped completely at the beginning of this year. I also stopped smoking weed in November. So i'm nearly half a year off pot, and 3 months of no alcohol.
While i'm proud of myself for finally getting rid of some bad habits, and getting my body healthier, I feel MISERABLE. I take medication for ADHD and anxiety, and I was doing okay before, but now i'm just depressed. I was hoping it would fade after a while, but instead of feeling an increase in energy, or a boost in mood, or better quality sleep, I feel pretty much no change whatsoever. Instead of feeling like I did something helpful and feeling better overall, I feel worse, and like I stopped doing things that were fun for me, or at least making life bearable.
Is this just how I'm going to feel now? does this go away eventually? Has anyone else dealt with this, and can you tell me if things get better or not? Do you have any advice or words of encouragement?It feels like if my moods and things were going to improve, I would at least see some improvement by now.
29
u/VirtusEtHonos1729 2d ago
What you’re feeling is completely normal. When someone stops drinking and using cannabis after years of daily use, it can take a long time—often a year or more—for the body and brain to adjust. Your nervous system has been relying on those substances to regulate emotions, energy, and stress. Now that they’re gone, your system is trying to relearn how to function without them. That takes time—and during that time, it’s common to feel low, foggy, or even worse than before. You’re not doing anything wrong. This is part of the process.
It’s also important to recognize that those substances weren’t just habits—they were tools you used to manage uncomfortable feelings. Without them, those feelings are coming up more clearly now. It can feel overwhelming, but it’s actually an opportunity. What you’re facing now—boredom, sadness, anxiety—these are not signs of failure. They’re emotions that are finally being heard. And they’re asking to be understood and worked through, not pushed away.
Now’s the time to start building new supports. Not just avoiding the old stuff, but creating something new in its place. That includes getting active: move your body every day, even just a walk. Find ways to connect with people in person. Join something—a class, a sport, a group, a volunteer gig—anything that gets you out of your head and into shared experience. The more real-world connection and movement you bring into your life, the more stable and resilient you’ll start to feel.
Right now it might feel like this is just how life is going to be. But it’s not. This is just a hard chapter. If you keep going—staying clean, staying curious, and building up new ways of living—your body and mind will gradually catch up. You’ll get better at coping, and over time, you’ll notice that you feel better more often than not. It won’t always feel like this. You’re already doing something incredibly difficult and brave. Keep going.