Ask Lemmy

You need a comprehensive detox. Both those substances are depressants. When you’re off the drugs, you’re not so much sober as hung over. It takes a while for the effects to wear off. The hangover is a bad time but it takes a lot longer than a day for your body to fully recover.

“Dissociative drugs make me happy.” Perhaps you have anxiety, depression, etc. Yeah, life sucks right now too. But always being high isn’t really a solution. Therapy, antidepressants, friends, and family can help but I can’t begin to guess what your situation is.

By wearing myself out physically or behind engrossed in a project (s). Both seem to work. I also see a direct correlation of social media and feeling hopeless, even on the decentralized sites. I try to limit my use and try to have them focused on my personal interests and block\filter the doomers. I can always go find the daily shit-news when I feel like it.

LSD

I smoked a lot of weed as a young adult. Looking back on that time I believe that I was escaping from the endless intrusive thoughts. Focusing my mind on any sort of work was difficult and I used all sorts of substances to get by. My typical usage profile is to find something appealing and use the shit out of it until it becomes a problem, spend time recovering and repeat with the next chemical. After recovering from heroin addiction it became obvious that it was not normal behaviour and I sought medical advice. They diagnosed ADHD and many of the past events started to make sense. I use routine to bring order to my life. I meditate to calm the mind. The medication allows me to focus and prioritise tasks. I think of my life in two starkly distinct chapters, pre and post diagnosis. I feel happy and the thought of taking substances seems like a strange thing to do.

If you can't feel joy with substances that means you're an addict. You need professional help probably.

But speaking more generally, your issue is you think 'happiness' is an emotional high you have to chase. What you don't get is that happiness isn't some intense feeling of joy... it isn't. It's the ability to self-regulate and to stop chasing the highs and the lows. It's realizing the 'bland' feeling is good. You should be feeling bland.

I transitioned and now life is mostly kinda acceptable levels of bullshit with some very bright spots so... estrogen injections I guess.

I drink alcohol maybe once per year and I've never touched weed. I feel joy when I am around people and animals whom I love.

Exercise releases endorphins, also it can take your mind off of troubles.

Maybe try being sober. Couldn't hurt your chances with women

I dont want to discourage you from getting clean and healthy, but you kind of can't feel the same joy from sobriety.

There are certain moments in life that will blow regular drugs out the water (cant speak for hard drugs/DMT), like getting married, seeing your kid get born, achieving a lifelong goal etc. The problem is they're just moments. Life is absolutely dull when sober, but once youre used to it its just fine.

You probably should take at least one year break from it. You will feel like shit for a time, but trust me when you stop using substances you will regain yourself, and your sense of balance slowly. Being sober is not your main problem..

Cravings and the feeling/thought of "just a little bit..", "it would help me.." will be present later, you have to learn your triggers and what makes you want to do it in the first place.. You have to research the topic.

I can tell that you aren't happy at all when you are high.. You might feel it, and belive it..

I won't tell you what to do or not, but as someone who came out alone from "addiction" mainly smoking weed, but used harder substances too..

Drugs fuk you up... No matter if you're using harmreduction practices, or just don't care..

Trust me there will be no need, even for a little bit of it, when you become sober and change your life truly..

You have to find your own way what works for you. Exercise is a good way to start.

It can be your source of strenght, and you can learn so much from yourself, your brain and substances..

It's better without it. It will get you nowhere good if you continue to smoke, you will never be satisfied if you think that weed makes you happy...

I am in the same boat as you, but I agree with the other comments that say weed will make you ok with anything. Weed has always seemed like a good option for me due to (multiple sources of) chronic pain, but I can absolutely tell that it has affected me negatively over the years. I need a substantial lifestyle change at some point in the near future.. I need to reorganize my entire life, and also need to stop being a fat piece of shit.

I never had weed, but I did drink occasionally. I am seldom sad. I may not always be happy, but I am always peaceful. I cannot offer you advice, but I can tell you what makes me persistently joyful are people. Maybe I would help someone carry a bag, or just smile at someone running, reminding them that they can do it. Just small interactions in my beautiful little city with its beautiful people. Makes me feel a strong sense of identity, like I am invested in everyone's personal success. It also never makes me feel alone, because if I am suffering, I just think of millions of others who are also suffering. Some are facing bigger and some smaller problems than mine.

Try being more kind to strangers, more generous and more empathetic. This alone has led me to so much peace, that I cannot tell you.

I hope you do well, my friend.

Honestly pretty relatable. I had a bit of a “you’ll shoot your eye out” moment this summer. I got some flower for the first time in a while (it’s mostly a thc drink culture around me) and was smoking daily. For the next couple weeks the thought kept crossing my mind that maybe I should only smoke every other day to keep my tolerance creep slow and prevent what I call “zombie mode.”

I got to meet one of my favorite youtubers whose first video I had watched was this one “On Weed:” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_pcavwJitC4

We talked a little and I asked if he still smokes. His answer? “Yeah, but only every other day.” To hear him echo the exact thing I had been considering internally really got me. I’ve been a lot better about keeping a day or more between getting high, and I have found that it has helped me enjoy being sober more as I have found things to do while sober, and also increased my enjoyment of getting high as I have more time to look forward to it and a lower tolerance that makes it easier to get to the right level.

I highly recommend it.

Sugar, chocolate, cookies and cakes.

I have never been high and don't really drink much. I have been mostly depressed since about 2013 but happy maybe here and there. The clean air a few months into lockdown was amazing though.

Do you exist solely to do drugs??

I'm entirely the opposite. I don't know how you find the will to breathe after more than a beer. I swear statues are made of people that smoke weed. I still feel smoke in my system after 3 weeks and take nearly a month to feel 100% again without the dull lag. After just one beer I am done for the day and won't get anything productive done. Back when I raced, my legs felt like they were weighted with lead bricks for a couple of days after just a beer. However, Adderall is like my super power.

Walking. Community involvement. Sitting in silence. Recognizing the task at hand and knowing I can find a way to get it done. A berry smoothie. A cup of tea.

Sport and board games.

Nothing like the adrenaline of sport. Capoeira, fencing, whatever...I think having no power, being completely depleted after doing sport is one of the best feelings.

Boardgames: simply a decent combination of strategy, luck and talking, that keeps you engaged.

Maybe you’re self medicating

Sugar

How do you feel joy while using depressants like alcohol and weed? Personally I hate the loss of control, I feel less like myself, but I know everyone's different. To answer your question:

I go for walks and see the sunlight through the leaves. I ride my bike and, to paraphrase the poet, sing a song of the muscles of the leg. I read poetry. I hug my loved ones. I go dancing. I challenge myself with puzzles. I read YA fiction as a grown-ass adult just because I want the good guys to win every now and then.

I rather enjoy alcohol and weed, but I find I enjoy them more the less I use them. I think once a week or biweekly is the sweet spot for me, though twice a week is ok. More than that and the fun diminishes and the negative effects are felt more. My main relaxing hobby is video games, and I like the idea of beers/weed and gaming, but it really sucks for anything that’s not really casual. I’ve been running through hollow knight this month and I’ve noticed when I do partake in either that it makes the platforming and bosses much harder

What's your sober life like?

I mean, I don't, but I didn't feel joy with them either.

I guess, sometimes there's a cat to pat.

Weed gives me anxiety attacks and I'm allergic to alcohol.

I'm just sad all the time. When i drink i can stop being sad, and stop worrying about things like counting steps/breaths, the date, and whether the number of times i clicked my mouse was the right number before turning it off for the night.

I feel joy when I play boardgames or tabletop RPGs. With a good table, lots of banter and shit talking happens and that's perfect.

Never had weed. When I drink, I get more talkative, but it's a fine line before I get sleepy and depressed