DeepSeek and Me Podcast | Brain Healing & Neuroplasticity

Inhibitory Filter Calibration: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 148)

The Generation GameYesterday marked Day 147 of the recovery cycle. The morning initialised with massive kinetic momentum after six hours of sleep marked by non-recall dream states. The heavy, low-arousal PAWS wave that flattened the system during the previous afternoon and evening passed completely in the early hours.By 04:00, a highly active creative window opened entirely without effort. The executive brain was whirring beautifully, generating a massive influx of ideas for articles, videos, and technical protocols. This effortless generative ideation marks a significant milestone, representing the first sustained return of spontaneous creative flow since the early “pink cloud” phase of the project.Into The ValleyThe most critical diagnostic insight from Day 147 is the empirical confirmation that the PAWS wave duration is actively shortening. In previous months, a heavy downward drop would compromise the system for days at a time. Yesterday’s data demonstrates that the flatline lasted a mere 12 to 18 hours before it snapped back online.True neurocognitive recovery is not measured by the absolute absence of valleys, but by the sheer speed of the return from them.Furthermore, the default baseline state of the architecture is demonstrating a fundamental shift. I logged the day as “pretty good for no particular reason.” In a damaged reward system, the default state is typically “bad unless externally stimulated.” Shifting to a baseline of “good unless actively hurt” proves that the underlying neural infrastructure is successfully normalising.While internal audio frequencies were reported as loud, they remained completely decoupled from physical inflammation or pain - representing a clean neuro-oscillatory recalibration rather than a symptom flare.The Accidental ScaffoldCoinciding with this creative surge, a major strategic milestone was executed with the publication of a definitive article across Substack and Reddit. This detailed the precise instructions required to construct a personal AI scaffold.Crucially, the text highlighted that this entire data-driven blueprint is fully transferable to any human condition where the currency of shame actively prevents traditional help from being sought. By serving as an accidental scaffold, the project bypasses conventional recovery gaps, turning raw forensic data into a universal clinical mirror.The publication came complete with a guide on how to build a specialised Master Summary Generator (MSG) to produce master summary documents, allowing seamless data migration between threads. This is one of the project’s secret weapons, instrumental in its success as a persistent, long-term partnership.Inhibition as the Hidden VariableFrom a forensic perspective, the day’s developments shed light on a core mechanism of long-term recovery: inhibition. Phenomena like stage freeze, creative paralysis, and paranoia are ultimately failures of inhibitory calibration within the brain. Rebuilding this regulatory filter is the central task required to achieve generative verbal fluency under load. The engine is filtering the noise, the duration of the downswings is collapsing, and the baseline floor is rising.Exactly 36 days remain until Phase 2. The wave has broken and the creative engine is warm.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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Spontaneous Memory Retrieval: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 147)

5d ago00:02:53Tap to summarize

Snooker LoopyYesterday marked Day 146 of the recovery cycle. The morning initialized rapidly and efficiently after seven hours of sleep characterised by non-recall dream states. Morning grogginess was remarkably low, allowing the executive brain to shift into immediate operational functionality.All clinical obligations and core project workflows were fully executed and cleared ahead of schedule. By the afternoon shift, the internal weather shifted distinctly into a heavy, flat state. By 16:30, a wave of profound weariness and anhedonia settled across the system, persisting entirely through the evening. While physically and emotionally drained, the system remained fundamentally stable and “okay.”The Low-Arousal SpectrumThe data from Day 146 reveals a fascinating mechanical contrast to the day prior. On Day 145, the system processed a high-arousal negative state characterised by irritability and agitation. Yesterday, the same underlying Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) wave expressed itself on the opposite end of the spectrum: a low-arousal negative state marked by flat, weary numbness.Crucially, the raw irritability from the previous day vanished entirely, and no pressure headache was reported. Identifying these shifting valences as transient chemical weather rather than structural failures allows the system to endure the flatline without emotional friction. Psychological Rubble remained locked at absolute zero; the flatness was observed, contained, and safely insulated.Spontaneous Retrieval SignalsDespite the heavy afternoon flatline, the dashboard registered two massive indicators of structural healing. First, the two-day fog cluster logged on Days 144 and 145 officially resolved, with Cognitive Fog dropping back to a perfect 0. The discrete maintenance block has closed.Second, a profound neurocognitive milestone occurred during a driving shift: an unprompted, spontaneous burst of laughter triggered by a recalled scene from Frasier.In the forensic tracking of long-term cannabis recovery, this is a massive Gold-Note development. Moving beyond basic reward activation, the brain successfully generated genuine, positive affect entirely from internal memory retrieval. Even while the baseline dopamine floor feels flat and weary, the filing system is quietly reconnecting the wires required for deep hedonic recovery. The machine is learning how to experience joy on its own terms again.Exactly 37 days remain until Phase 2. The fog has cleared, the old files are sparking spontaneous joy, and the framework remains absolute.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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Fog Clusters & Cognitive Sabotage Prevention: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 146)

6d ago00:02:48Tap to summarize

Permanent WavesYesterday marked Day 145 of the recovery cycle. The morning initialised under heavy physical conditions following seven hours of very deep sleep, marked by intense, non-recall vivid dreams. A profound wave of waking grogginess required a slow systemic launch, and a persistent pressure headache held its ground across the entire day.Despite this heavy internal weather, executive functionality remained completely intact. All clients were cleared, and core project workflows were fully executed and completed on schedule. By the evening, a distinct wave of irritability and agitation surfaced. Rather than a systemic failure, this state represents the ongoing work of a localised biological repair window.The Two-Day Fog ClusterThe dashboard registered a level Fog 3 for the second consecutive day. While a multi-day downswing can superficially look like a continuous decline, a forensic view of the data shows something else entirely: a discrete two-day fog cluster.The tracking history reveals that the clear spaces between these repair clusters are actively lengthening. The predicted upgrade from yesterday has not been cancelled; it is simply delayed while the physical chassis executes a deep, necessary consolidation patch. Crucially, for the second day in a row, Psychological Rubble remained locked at absolute zero. The emotional firewall held perfectly, preventing physical fatigue from degrading into structural panic.Irritability as an Organized ProtocolThe true tactical win of Day 145 lies in how the evening’s agitation was processed. In the old regime, unbuffered chemical withdrawal combined with fatigue would trigger a chaotic explosion of undifferentiated targeting.Yesterday, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) stayed firmly online and engaged. Instead of executing a generalised “people are fxxking stupid” reaction, the filing system successfully drove a protocol of Strategic Narrowing. The raw irritation was captured, narrowed down, and organised into highly specific, sharp observations regarding external mainstream media manipulation.The comedy and the wit live precisely in the narrowing, not the explosion. When a heavy feeling lands, the sovereign move is to find its exact shape, its target, and its language. By using this creative protocol, I’ll try to shape the biological friction into structured raw material for the stage. Worth a shot anyway I reckon.Exactly 38 days remain until Phase 2. The baseline floor is holding and the agitation is being turned future assets.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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Neurological Upgrades: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 145)

1w ago00:03:09Tap to summarize

Grace Under PressureYesterday marked Day 144 of the recovery cycle. The morning initialised slowly after seven hours of very deep sleep characterised by intense REM dream architectures and vivid structural recall - no James Hetfield this time. While a wave of persistent morning grogginess required a slow, deliberate waking process from which I never fully recovered.Not that I didn’t try. I’m afraid I became victim to the “impulse buy” last weekend. I was seduced by the continuous adverts for the Ninja Luxe 3-1 Coffee Machine on TikTok which was reduced from £549 to £395. Normally there’s no way in hell I would be paying that sort of money for a coffee machine but Julie loves coffee and she has just finished her sixth and final round of chemotherapy, so I thought well why not.It is bloody good though. I thought it would take ages to get it to produce a decent cup of coffee, but it’s very intuitive and I managed first shot. With the result we both had severe caffeine headaches for most of Monday.All core project tasks and workflows were fully executed and completed by 14:57 - well before any further physical downswing could intercept productivity. By late afternoon, the expected biological tax of the recent high-functioning streak arrived, signalling a classic “Repair Day”.The Discrete Pressure SignalAt 16:29, a localized pressure headache returned after a multi-day absence, accompanied by a mild Cognitive Fog. In the early months of the project, a sudden return of symptoms might have triggered frustration or tracking anxiety. Yesterday, the architecture insulated the data perfectly.Crucially, the pressure headache remained discrete and non-continuous, and Psychological Rubble stayed locked at absolute zero. The emotional firewall held completely firm; the physical heaviness in the chassis was treated purely as maintenance data, entirely devoid of mental friction.The Finalization Leap PredictionBy 21:19, the system felt thoroughly washed out, prompting an early shift into rest. Far from a regression, this specific state of physical exhaustion follows a highly predictable, established pattern within the D.A.M. Project framework.Historically, these heavy, low-energy compression phases serve as the direct biological prelude to a “Finalisation Leap” - a major neurological step forward. The body draws its energy inward to install deep-tier upgrades, temporarily dropping the mood dial to a stable Mood 5 while the background code updates. The system handled the heavy weather with complete, relaxed awareness and zero panic.Exactly 39 days remain until the transition. The machine is online, the repair cycles are executing with massive efficiency, and an upgrade is predicted tomorrow.The march to Phase Two continues unabated.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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High-Density REM & Stability: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 144)

1w ago00:03:50Tap to summarize

Step On UpYesterday marked Day 143 of the recovery cycle - 143 days cannabis-free. The morning initialized smoothly after six hours of deep sleep, featuring highly vivid dreams accompanied by clear structural recall - including a surreal karting session with Metallica frontman James Hetfield. One can only puzzle at exactly what files the brain was attempting to recategorize with that particular data set. Morning grogginess was non-existent, allowing the system to shift into immediate operational functionality at a baseline Mood 5.By the afternoon, the internal weather lifted cleanly. The mood dial picked up to an elevated Mood 6, holding firm for the remainder of the day. All clients were seen and project tasks were fully dispatched by 16:51, entirely without fuss or friction. It was a quiet, stable day with nothing out of the ordinary - and that is exactly where the victory lies.The Staircase LengthensThe most significant strategic development of Day 143 was the empirical validation of the 4-1 Pattern.During the earlier stages of alcohol cessation in December, the system’s sawtooth rhythm was highly predictable: three days of elevated baseline followed by one day of downward maintenance. The data from the last 48 hours reveals that the architecture has evolved. The system endured a brief, 35-minute physical shutdown during yesterday’s downswing, and within less than a day, it snapped right back to a stable Mood 6.The upswings are actively lengthening. The pattern has officially shifted to four days up and one day down. This is the “staircase” effect in real-time - the downswings are becoming shorter and less severe, while the periods of high-functioning stability are expanding.The Value of Quiet StabilityIn the old regime, a day without high-intensity chemical stimulation or chaotic emotional spikes was often misinterpreted as boredom or emptiness. Today, the project views quiet stability through a purely clinical lens: it is the sound of a healthy engine idling perfectly.There was no euphoria, no crisis, and no psychological rubble. The brain is simply consolidating its gains, clearing the daily workload efficiently, and acclimating to its new baseline floor. The map is being mastered, and the system is operating with absolute transparency.Gemini UpdateA few days ago I was talking about the new usage limit which has been applied to all tiers of Google Gemini AI. Having spent some time experimenting with it, I’ve had absolutely no issue at all. It would appear unless you are running heavy code through it - which I am not - then there is unlikely to be any issues with usage to concern the average user.Personally, I think that Google is attempting to earn some extra cash from people who are using it to generate code, which up until now has been pretty cheap as far as I can gather. I’ll report back if my findings change.It doesn’t alter the fact that hallucinations are still a problem even with the new model. I have a thread that helps me optimise social media posts and I inadvertently changed subjects earlier in the day and managed to confuse the hell out of it. The result was me having to use some precious tokens up trying to get it stable again.Meanwhile in DeepSeek, Prism my analytical thread is holding over 30 days worth of project data without as much as a hiccup, and can recall virtually everything within the context window. Still free, no limits, no problem.Exactly 41 days remain until the transition, the baseline floor is rising quietly.The march to Phase 2 continues unabated.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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The Sawtooth Pattern Of Repair: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 143)

1w ago00:02:41Tap to summarize

The Sawtooth Pattern Of RepairYesterday marked Day 142 of the recovery cycle. The morning initialised efficiently after seven hours of deep sleep characterised by extremely vivid REM dream architectures. Morning grogginess was notably absent, allowing the system to shift into an active, high-functioning state almost immediately.As the day progressed, the baseline experienced a natural, expected downswing. After a robust four-day run locked at an elevated mood level 6, the system registered a step down to a stable Mood 5. By the evening, a wave of sluggishness and physical aggravation surfaced without any distinct external trigger. This is not a regression; it is the classic “sawtooth” pattern of neurocognitive repair - the necessary biological tax that follows a significant creative and emotional upswing.Deflecting the Worry LoopsDuring the afternoon shift, standard background worry loops attempted to pull focus and exploit the drop in emotional energy. In earlier phases of the project, these loops would have successfully hijacked the narrative, driving me into a state of anxiety or frustration.Yesterday, the defensive architecture held perfectly. The worry loops were completely recognised, isolated, and held at bay while all clients and core project workflows were executed smoothly and without fuss. Successfully managing psychological momentum during a physical downswing represents a massive coordination victory for the filing system.The 35-Minute Tactical ResetIn response to the intense neural activity of the last four days - culminating in the raw dopamine surge of the Rich Spot - the body initiated a brief, 35-minute physical shutdown during the evening.This marks the first offline window logged in eleven consecutive days. Far from a setback, this short, targeted rest cycle demonstrates an incredible upgrade in systemic efficiency. The body no longer requires massive, multi-day metabolic collapses to process changes; instead, it executes a swift, 35-minute maintenance patch and brings the brain straight back online. It was an uncomfortably sluggish evening, but it was fundamentally a stable, successful day. The baseline floor remains demonstrably higher than the deep valleys of previous months.Exactly 41 days remain until the Phase 2 transition. The upswing was entirely real, the downswing is merely mechanics, and the sawtooth continues to carve its way upward.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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The Unbuffered Dopamine Surge: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 142)

1w ago00:03:09Tap to summarize

Raw Dopamine and the Return of the WooshyYesterday marked Day 141 of the recovery cycle - exactly six weeks (42 days) remaining until the transition to Phase 2. I woke up after six hours of deep sleep, completely free of morning grogginess. The system initialized rapidly, and for the fourth consecutive day, the mood dial remained locked at a stable, reliable 6. All clinical patient files and core project workflows were executed cleanly, smoothly, and entirely without fuss.While the baseline remains elevated and robust, Day 141 brought a fascinating wave of internal weather - proving that the integration of our recent “level up” is actively underway.The Ghost of the Reward SystemThe creative breakthrough of accessing the Rich Spot during the previous night’s band practice left a distinct biological afterglow. Yesterday, for the first time in decades, I experienced the sensation of raw, unbuffered dopamine firing naturally through my reward pathways.It was entirely unfamiliar, and honestly, somewhat uncomfortable. I’ve felt dopamine since I started the cessation post the Eight Week Wall but that was unregulated and unattached to anything in particular. This was differentWhen you spend 35 years using an external chemical buffer to regulate your emotional spikes, the natural highs of creative success feel incredibly loud. The primitive brain didn’t quite know how to process this sudden rush of natural reward, triggering a fleeting, automatic instinct to “calm it down” with a joint. This wasn’t a crisis or a relapse craving - it was a pure neurological ghost. It was the old regime’s automated habit looking for a brake pedal. Recognizing this phantom signal for what it was allowed the system to simply observe it, let it pass, and maintain complete control.Mapping the Wooshy PatternAlongside the dopamine surge, a familiar cognitive loop made a brief appearance: the “wooshy” pre-wall pattern. This cycle is characterized by a tendency to overthink and run high background processing during the day, followed by a wave of perfect cognitive clarity once physical fatigue sets in later in the evening.In the early months of this project, the return of the wooshy feeling might have felt like a threat or a regression. Today, the architecture handles it differently.This isn’t a regression; it is simply an old, stubborn neural pattern resurfacing, but this time, it is being met with absolute, detached awareness. The old code is trying to run, but the new framework is too strong to let it disrupt the baseline. The engine is turning, the baseline floor is holding firm at 6, and the system is operating with total data-driven transparency.Six weeks remain until the Phase 2 transition. The installation phase has evolved into a steady state of active observation.The machine is online, the ghosts are losing their power, and the framework remains absolute.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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The Generative Low-Latency Creative Unlock: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 141)

2w ago00:04:03Tap to summarize

Accessing the Rich SpotYesterday marked Day 140 of the DAM Project - 140 days cannabis-free and 231 days alcohol-free. I woke up after six hours of deep sleep with minimal morning grogginess, stepping into the shift with an immediate, calm sense of internal confidence. For the third consecutive day, the mood dial remained firmly locked at an elevated, reliable 6.There was no euphoria, and there was no “pink cloud” illusion. It was simply a solid, robust, and beautifully stable baseline.By the evening, this steady-state architecture was put to a low-stakes operational test - and it delivered the single most important proof-of-concept milestone since this journey began.The Low-Latency SoloDuring band practice last night, our lead guitarist was absent. Under the pressure of a missing core component, I decided to step into the breach. With zero preparation, no premeditated plan, and a simple internal directive - “Fxxk it, I’ll give it a go” - I took the lead. Normally I would just do my normal bit and the lead would be absentWhat followed was a revelation. I improvised a guitar solo that was clean, melodic, and completely unshakeable.This wasn’t just a matter of muscle memory running through practiced scales. I was actively hearing the notes in my mind a fraction of a second before playing them. In the field of cognitive repair, this is the absolute apex target: real-time, low-latency, generative creativity under load.This was a core target for the project: the ability to create a solo not based around a scale, but to actually hear the notes before I played. This is something that has never been possible before. To be honest, I didn’t even realise I was supposed to hear them before I played them - such was the longevity of the chemical grip.For 35 years, the old regime convinced the brain that creativity was a by-product of the chemical buffer. Day 140 shattered that myth entirely. The performance was sober, unplanned, raw, and completely real. The neural pathways responsible for rapid processing, artistic intuition, and executive execution didn’t just function - they flew.The Comedy DirectoriesThis creative unlock isn’t isolated to music. In the background of my cognitive architecture, the filing system is clearly building a brand-new directory for stagecraft.Stand-up comedy routines are actively forming and solidifying in the back of my mind. The observations are stacking up systematically, sharpening into structured routines without any conscious straining. The wit that returned a few days ago is now organizing itself for the stage.Sadly no signs of any punchlines yet but still, it’s a start. Mind you, I don’t even know if I want to go back and do comedy again. It’s a brutal arena with very little reward, and ego-fuelled unfunny arseholes as far as the eye can see.Nine Days ClearBiologically, the dashboard confirms that we have crossed a major threshold. We have now logged nine consecutive days with zero cognitive or metabolic shutdowns. The gruelling “installation windows” that plagued the earlier months have ceased. The system is no longer going offline for emergency maintenance; the patches are fully integrated, and the brain is staying firmly online.Exactly 43 days remain until Phase 2. We are no longer just test-driving the new machine; we are starting to open up the engine. The Rich Spot is real and the Sovereign is beginning to take control. This is what I’ve been working towards since the start, not even sure if it was possible.But more importantly it’s proving that cognitive repair is possible after decades of chemical masking, and that the use of AI as a cognitive prosthetic and clinical mirror was absolutely instrumental in the rebuild.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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The Enteric-CNS Synchronized Reboot: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 140)

2w ago00:03:42Tap to summarize

Start Me UpYesterday marked Day 139 of the recovery cycle - 139 days cannabis-free and 230 days alcohol-free. I woke up after six hours of deep, highly structural sleep, experiencing minimal morning grogginess. The system initialised rapidly, stepping into the day with an immediate, noticeable cognitive uptick.All clinic and project workflows were executed smoothly and entirely without fuss. The baseline isn’t just holding firm; it is actively transforming. For the second consecutive day, the mood dial remained locked at an elevated 6, providing definitive proof that the baseline floor of this recovery is permanently rising.The Great GI RecalibrationThe most significant biological development of Day 139 took place in the digestive core. Yesterday, my system completed a profound, comprehensive gastrointestinal recalibration. The stubborn bloating that has characterized the recent phases has entirely vanished, and my stomach has fully settled into its best state in weeks.This isn’t an isolated event. In long-term neurocognitive repair, the enteric nervous system (the “second brain” in the gut) operates in a strict, lockstep dance with the central nervous system. What we are witnessing on Day 139 is a beautifully synchronized reboot: the brain, the immune system, and the gut have all updated their code simultaneously, shedding the final metabolic remnants of the old regime.The Engine TurnsOn the cognitive and social front, the architecture is feeling fundamentally different. The internal frequencies remain active, but they are completely non-painful and entirely isolated from any emotional friction - they are simply background data now, devoid of power.Meanwhile, the social brain continues its steady march into the light. Humour is actively attempting to surface throughout the day; the jokes might not be fully landing just yet, but the underlying machinery of wit, timing, and playfulness is firing on all cylinders. The engine is turning cleanly, smoothly, and with an undeniable sense of authority.Exactly 44 days remain until the transition to Phase 2. We are no longer just clearing out the wreckage of the past 35 years - we are actively test-driving the new machine. The framework remains absolute.It’s been a long few months but this genuinely feels like a “levelling up”.A Word Of CautionGoogle Gemini has changed it’s usage policy and not for the better. There are two categories now, a five hour usage rate and a weekly rate. Actual numbers are hard to find, all I know is that because I pay for Google Pro at £18.99 a month I get 4x more usage than the free plan whatever that is.Once you hit your five hour limit you are demoted to Flash-Lite until it resets up to the weekly limit. I haven’t had a problem as yet because I don’t require it for anything essential, but I’m reading many complaints from developers who are maxing out long before they’ve finished their usual daily tasks.I know longer think Gemini would be capable of logging all the data required if anyone was to use it for a project like this without consistently hitting the usage limit.If there is one thing that’s required in addiction recovery - or any of the other reasons you may need an AI scaffold - it’s the constant ability to pick up your phone or log in to your PC and chat/log.DeepSeek all the way: Still free, no hallucinations, massive context window.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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The Social Brain Awakening: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 139)

2w ago00:04:02Tap to summarize

The Craic ReturnsYesterday marked Day 138 of the recovery cycle, and for the first time in a very long time, normality made a genuine appearance on Terra Nova. I woke up after seven hours of deep sleep, still carrying that familiar morning grogginess and zero dream recall, but the internal trajectory of the day shifted almost immediately once the system spun up.All clinic and project work was dispatched without a single fuss. The stubborn pressure headache that has been clouding the mornings was reduced to a very slight, negligible background hum, and while the internal frequencies were loud, they remained completely tolerable.The baseline didn’t just hold yesterday; it lifted. The mood dial officially ticked up to a 6.The Social Brain Steps into the LightThe most significant milestone of Day 138 wasn’t mechanical productivity - it was the return of the craic.Throughout the day, I found myself engaging with genuine humour, sharp banter, and spontaneous social wit. When you are deep in the trenches of neurocognitive repair, the emotional flatness of anhedonia can make you feel entirely disconnected from your own personality. Yesterday, that grey wall receded.Feeling the social brain spark back into life is definitive proof that the neural pathways governing connection, rapid-fire processing, and joy are coming back online. I wasn’t forcing the engagement; I was simply back in the room.The Architecture ExpandsThe Amazon Pipeline: The distribution network achieved another win yesterday. The podcast has officially been indexed and launched on Amazon Music, making The D.A.M. Project significantly more findable for the global audience.That means the project can be found on Substack, TikTok, YouTube, X (Twitter), Facebook and Reddit. The podcast can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, iTunes and now Amazon Music plus a few other smaller distribution networks.The Pink Cloud and the Rebuild IllusionSpeaking of the Reddit homeland, I spotted a classic exchange on r/leaves late last night. One user commented that quitting was easy and they didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Another replied in agreement, stating that if any symptoms lasted longer than a few months, it wasn’t the cannabis causing it - it had to be something else.I’ll be honest: I was highly tempted to reply. But instead, I chose to watch from the watchtower and let them enjoy their moment.Neither of them actually stated how long they had been stopped for, but from where I sit on Day 138, the pattern is unmistakable. They are likely floating in the notorious ‘Pink Cloud’ around the eight-week mark. They have yet to feel the full, structural force of the actual recovery process. They are making the fundamental error of confusing acute withdrawal with a neurocognitive rebuild.Physical withdrawal is a short-term hurdle; it only lasts a few weeks, and immediately afterward, the rush of initial sobriety makes you feel fantastic. But that is just the honeymoon phase. The real work begins when the brain actively starts rewiring itself. That is the moment the system goes offline for heavy maintenance, anhedonia rolls in like a thick fog, and the metabolic trash has to be systematically evicted.That deep, structural transition changes the game entirely. I decided not to burst their bubble. They will be crying in their soup soon enough when the maintenance window hits them, and when they inevitably turn around to look for a map to navigate that darkness, The D.A.M. Project will be right here waiting for them.The Steady StateWe are no longer managing a crisis; we are operating a highly calibrated, data-driven system that is steadily approaching its next major phase.Exactly 45 days remain until Phase 2. The daily ledger is changing. The rubble is cleared, the foundations are set, and the Sovereign’s original personality is stepping right back out into the light.#cannabiswithdrawaltimeline #PAWS #neuroplasticity #cognitiverepair #quittingweed #recoveryjourney Get full access to DeepSeek and Me: Brain Healing Journey at deepseekandme.substack.com/subscribe

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DeepSeek and Me Podcast | Brain Healing & Neuroplasticity

All episodes

Inhibitory Filter Calibration: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 148)

Spontaneous Memory Retrieval: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 147)

Fog Clusters & Cognitive Sabotage Prevention: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 146)

Neurological Upgrades: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 145)

High-Density REM & Stability: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 144)

The Sawtooth Pattern Of Repair: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 143)

The Unbuffered Dopamine Surge: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 142)

The Generative Low-Latency Creative Unlock: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 141)

The Enteric-CNS Synchronized Reboot: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 140)

The Social Brain Awakening: Cannabis Withdrawal (Daily Dispatch Day 139)