Warning: This article contains discussion of drug use which some readers may find distressing.
A doctor who used to consume marijuana every evening has revealed the massive change he saw in his life when he eventually decided to quit.
While recreational use of cannabis is perfectly legal in a lot of states across the US - 24 to be exact - people can have mixed feelings about the drug.
Some people insist it is perfectly fine and can be perfect to unwind, while others argue that it is best to steer clear due to the potential negative side effects.
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One man, however, is very much aware of the potential negative impacts it can have due to the fact he would consume it every night for years.
Chiropractor and certified addiction recovery coach Dr Frank Michalski, 36, has spoken about his experience consuming weed from the ages of 19 to 27, and how it impacted his life.
Speaking to UNILAD, he explained that he initially didn’t quit all those years despite the negative impact it was having for the simple fact that he enjoyed it and was not convinced that life would be better if he gave it up.
With that said, he also spoke about how his body reacted to giving up the addiction, as well as the side effects he experienced.
He said: “[Overall] insomnia, irritability, mood swings, anxiousness, like I had the whole gambit, like classics, all of our withdrawal symptoms that you would see with any other, any other substance.”
However, he also noted there was a significant change in his life that he would describe as ‘radical’ that he was not expecting.
Ultimately, he said his entire mental mindset shifted after giving up the drug and this led to success in other areas of his life.
He said: “[Quitting] radically changed my life.
“The mindset that I had to have to quit, like I made the decision. I stayed committed to that decision, hell or high water. I said, I'm going to stop.
“I made a commitment to myself, and I saw that commitment through to its entirety, and that radically changed me as a person.”
Dr Michalski explained that he realized he could apply this same determination to his physical health, mental health and relationships.
He continued: “I was like, Well, if I can do it with this, I can do it with anything. I can do it with my business. I can start a YouTube channel one day.
“That was the biggest shift for me, and I very much saw my addiction, I was like, Okay, I have some really great traits about myself. I'm really dedicated to consuming cannabis, hell or high water, I seem to find a way. I got a lot of grit. I've knocked myself down 1000 times, I've gotten up 1000 times.
"I got delayed gratification. I'm putting off everything else in my life so I can consume weed. So if I can take those traits and I can apply that to my physical health, my mental health, my relationships and my financial wellbeing, I could be unstoppable."
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (313) 209-9137 24/7, or contact them through their website.
Gerrard Kaonga