The first time I approached my friends and admitted that I was developing an addiction to marijuana they all laughed at me. I no longer surround myself with those people but the mark remains and I hate to admit I haven't quite gotten over it. Lately I've begun to miss them again. Its hurtful how I was there for them at any time and when it was my time of need I became a punchline to a joke that is still lost on me. Anyone care to share a similar experience?
Wow - tough situation when you try to reach out to people and confide in them that you're dealing with addiction and they don't take it seriously. I haven't had friends laugh at me as such, but I have had friends who didn't see drinking to excess regularly as an addiction (it's so normalized where I'm from - binge drinking is almost a rite of passage, it would seem...) and as a consequence I had to distance myself from those people too. I know it's hard when you have to break away from an unsupportive friendship group - but honestly it will be better in the long run. Any time you have to do that, there's a mourning period for the loss of the friendship, I think...but you need to remember that true friends are ones that will support you, not enable your addiction or laugh at the fact that you confided in them. Keep that in mind, even though it's a hard reality to face. Proud of you for admitting you were battling with addiction though - it's not easy to confess to that, so well done!
I do not have a similar experience to share, but I will say that friendships begin and end at many different points in our life for many reasons. Often our priorities or goals in life change, leading us into new directions where we lose contact with old friends, but also make new ones. It may hurt at first to think of your old friends, however, if they were truly your friends in the first place they would be more supportive of your health and decision to quit marijuana. Hang in there, and continue to focus on the new and improved you.
Friends who act thusly are no real friends. A real friend will not try to make fun of you ever. They obviously don't take addiction seriously and, to be brutally honest, you don't want to be around such people when you are battling the addiction. You can't allow yourself to be weak now @OP. Find another support network or build one. You'll find this to be more valuable than the friends who laughed at you when you told them about your addiction.
I wouldn't consider those people friends, I am sure that if they were your friends they wouldn't have that reaction. I know it can be tough at first but you will see that your decision to create a certain distance from them was the right decision. I don't doubt that you know or will meet some new friends that will give the support you need.
I also do not think those kind should be considered as real friends. I have felt how it is to be always there for a friend and when I am the one needing, all you can get are excuses. Better to move on and spend time to those who really cares.
Its unfortunate, but there are many marijuana users who honestly and truly believe that marijuana has zero negative health effects and is completely impossible to become addicted to. This is a very ignorant viewpoint to have, and honestly shows how naive many daily users of marijuana feel about their situation. We live in a day and age where literally everything has negative health effects. Fast food, frozen food, bottled water, soft drinks, alcohol, prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, even vaccinations in some circles are criticized as being unhealthy. While some of these notions are nonsense, many are rooted in truth. It's foolish to believe that burning something and inhaling it, multiple times, sometimes multiple times daily, will not have an impact on your health. As for addiction, almost anything can be addictive, especially if you're an individual with an addictive personality. Video games, Netflix, gambling, fast food, tobacco, and marijuana are all addictive. Fortunately, healthy habits such as running, swimming, lifting weights, and playing sports can be mentally addictive as well. For someone who uses marijuana daily, and claims that its not addictive, this addiction manifests in an "I can quit anytime I want. I just don't have a reason to, and its not bad for me" attitude. But when push comes to shove and they have a reason to quit, many people will fail to, when results in them losing friends, romantic relationships, job opportunities, and can result in legal trouble if you are reckless. As for your situation with your friends, if you really want to fall back into this circle, I urge you to reconsider. These friends you have, while they may be fun and hold similar interests, are naive and self-destructive if they believe that their addiction is anything but an addiction. These kinds of people will hold you back in all facets of your life. Stay strong and carry on. -M
I am sorry that they laughed at you! Addiction to Marijuana is a very real thing. My sister is currently hooked on it and we are all trying to get her to stop using. I think you need to get some new friends then buddy.
I had some "friends" who laughed at me when I told them that I had decided to quit smoking, and said something like "Yeah, we know that you won't be able to last long". They kept offering me cigarettes and tempted me into smoking. Fortunately, I was strong and stubborn enough to resist the pressure and get rid of my addiction. I no longer surround myself with those toxic people anymore.
I don't understand why did they laugh at you. It was a serious matter in the first place, unless you were putting a funny face back then. Anyway, I have never experienced the same thing before, but yes, I have lost some friends along the way, and I sometimes do miss them. But I just try to keep in mind this quote I have read somewhere on the internet, "If you're not losing friends, then you're not growing up."
I can understand why people would laugh about it, though I don't think it's right. Marijuana is not seen as a drug very often. People tend to see it as something like cigarettes nowadays. I'll be honest and say that I don't see marijuana as a huge deal and am openly okay with it. Although I feel this way, I do think it can be addicting and I do not think it's okay for people to criticize others for quitting. Addiction can lie with anything and anyone. If you're making unhealthy decisions, you should receive full support from your friends.
All I can say is that it is better for you to stay away from persons that don't take your preoccupations seriously. The main reason that they don't cared about it is because they don't think that they have an addiction or that they any kind of help. I think that you where smart by going away from them, it is difficult to go away from friends, I have experienced it, but it is always better to do so and you will find better friends who will make your life better, believe me. I had addicted friends and got away from them after noticing that they started robbing to have more money for drugs, they even stole from me because I was not into drugs and after some time pf being away I was told that they started robbing each other and selling drugs too. I'm glad I'm not near them and so should you because you'll never know how far they could go.
I had a similar experience to this. I remember telling them that I think I was getting addicted to marijuana and similarly like you, they laughed. I had to make a tough decision because these were my friends growing up and that I knew pretty much my whole life. However, they were all addicted and couldn't tell for themselves. They would constantly spend a lot of money on marijuana and other substances. Looking back at it now, it is an easy choice. After weeks of contemplating, I finally decided to cut ties with them and start a new life with people that actually supports me. Just stay strong and surround yourself with good people.
My experience may have been a little different since the source of the conflict had something to do with money and not drugs. Still, the situation is pretty much similar. At the end of the day, you just want your friends to understand rather than condemn you. Since you already broached the subject, the least they could do is help you through your problems and not add more to it. Do not worry. Every friendship has its fair share of trials and tribulations. If those friends were meant to be with you for a long time, that misunderstanding will eventually be patched up. While waiting for time to heal wounds, just make do with the love and support you get from other loved ones and focus on recovery. Perhaps new friends will come along the way but be careful with the bridges you burn. Things will fall into place... in time.
Hi, I think that maybe your friends laughed at the situation itself, and not directly at you. Maybe they thought it was funny that anyone would say that they were becoming addicted to marijuana, because maybe they (while in their ignorance) did not see it as a possibility. I also think maybe you should just have told first the friend that you trusted the most individually instead of to a large group. The reception could have been different since people always try to be cool while in groups. Maybe they weren't even trying to deliberately hurt you, but took it as a joke for lack of knowing how to react. If these friends were not the ones influencing you in any way to smoke marijuana, then maybe you should try to rekindle the friendship (since it could of been just a misunderstanding). If you think these friends could actually get you into a bigger drug mess, then stay away. You don't have to ignore them if you see them down the street, say hi and stuff, just don't hang out like before.
They don't sound like real friends. Laughing at another person when they share something like that is a little twisted. Majority mock what they don't understand. They get ahead of themselves or behind so to speak. I think some people can be sensitive about being laughed at perhaps if they hang out with the wrong people on a consistent basis. I'm thinking of this guy who's father was probably a narcissist. He would give him dirty looks for not doing what the father wanted. I believe that would be a bully. Well the guy as an adult has one pal who is just like his father but slightly different. The bully laughs at him about everything. Ridicules, belittles, demeans, and degrades. Is that a friend? No. Not at all. Sometimes we go from parental abuse straight into seeking out the same kind to hang out with. If you want to continue with people like this you've got to get some thick skin. Laugh at yourself and say he's right how ridiculous am I being addicted to marijuana? Its almost legal. Who cares? Adapt to the low mentality of a joker that likes to make you the brunt of his sarcasm. Ok. Believe me there are better people in this world that care.
The human nature cannot just live and survive alone because what makes the world and all the societies what they are, are people and it would be quite logical to lean on your friends as confidants. But then again, we as humans just do not welcome betrayal nor railings as our Christian fellows can vehemently confirm. My experience was rather different in the sense that I had begun a marijuana addiction from a very light encounter with an old time friend. The start point was very subtle and I just didn’t see it coming because the next day, I was already in need of more puffs. I remember the first day I went to bed early and I got a disagreement with my dad. As I recollected later, what I had done was very unprecedented and I wouldn’t do it in my right minds. However I chose not to disclose to my friends the crawling addiction while I knew I had to find a way to conquer it before it was too late. Apparently most of my neighborhoods friends had an incident of marijuana and considered the practice cool and therefore confiding in them would result in reinforcing the activity in the “shadow hero” fashion. Friends will either make you or break you. While in your case your friend derided you, in my case they could foster the practice. In either way, there is no help rendered. If you have an addition, the first thing you have to do is try to walk off the environment and then evaluate which friends are on the right track. It is a preliminary step but it’s on the right track to pull you out.
This is one of the things that makes quitting anything really hard. You have to make a real change in your routines. If you don't want to keep drinking, you have to quit going to your favorite bars. If you don't want to keep on doing coke, you have to stop hanging out with Peter, Tony, and John, and so on.
I think it's awesome that you have a problem with marijuana. People tend to view it as harmless when it is not. Not only is it harmful but it may even open your appetite for harder drugs. It is no laughing matter and anyone who laughs at someone looking for help is no friend. I can't see why they would unless they didn't believe or thought you were overreacting. In any case, stick to the changes you have made for your health and happiness.
Losing friends over a matter of drugs can be an extremely difficult thing but just try to focus on the road ahead. This is easier to do if you set goals for yourself and really work to achieve this goals. Find a reward to treat yourself too if you do manage to fulfill the goals you set for yourself. Try not to think to much about your "friends" and focus on improving yourself, it is an immensely satisfying and achievable endeavor.