Addiction...

[58-4ever]

It's something I'm really struggling with right now. What addictions have you battled with/ or currently battling? How did you overcome it? Did you find a higher calling? Did you make a personal promise to yourself? I need some success stories. You guys are like a second family to me that doesn't pass judgment. And if you do, it is usually well deserved. Feel free to post here with some self disclosure.

Thank you.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Yeah, and that the super duper short version. I ended up in a home so I could graduate. It was a board and care home. I lived with 13 Schizophrenics. That story in itself should be a movie.

Good for you. It's good to see that a person can pull themselves up after they fall down.

That's an awesome story, and I'm sure that it makes life so much more enjoyable considering the dues you had to pay to get there.

[Demonpenz]

Alcohol/drugs sober one day at a time.

[R8RFAN]

My addiction is eating food I know I am not supposed to eat as a Diabetic.
I am a well controlled Diabetic most of the time though.

I continue to struggle with chewing tobacco. Can quit for 6 months, a year and even 2 years at a time but it always creeps back in. I don't even enjoy it.

Also should get the energy drinks in check. That crap is a poor excuse for water and it costs a fortune. I don't even want to think about the amount of money I've spent on two useless consumables in my life.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by JOhn

HI, I'm john and I'm a recovering Addict.

I have about 2 years clean at this time, after relapsing following 3 years clean. I had a serious problem with prescription narcotics for 10+ years. For me the key was going through treatment & being very involved in NA & AA....

Not willing to share much other than that on here, but if ya want to talk shot me a pvt message anytime.

About the same here for me. We've talked before.

For those of you who are experimenting with drugs, I would like to give you a little word of advice from someone who has seen the dark side of pretty much every drug, and made his way back to the light.
I'm not going to tell you not to pursue the thrills you are seeking from them, I'm just going to issue a strong warning to you, that the kind of addiction that you will find yourself in with heavy use of "opiates" which consist from anything from percocet to black tar heroin, is completely unlike that of any other substance you will ever put in your body.

That day will come when you want to stop any drug, and with all other drugs, besides these opiates, after about 48 hrs of not taking the drug, pretty much all physical symptoms will have subsided, and all you will have to deal with, is that pesky itch that you want to scratch of actually getting high.

Opiates on the other hand, have a little surprise for you for the next 2++ weeks or so after you've decided to go clean.

Day1-4. Vomiting(if you can eat), PAIN(everywhere), Explosive unannounced diarrhea. Freezing cold feeling accompanied massive drenching hot sweat.
Day5-8. Basically the super flu. Hell on earth.
Day9-14++ Extreme Lethargy, Malaise, a complete loss of interest in........everything.
Day?? According to the person. Freedom.

I had to do this on my own, but would very much suggest going into rehab if you have that opportunity, as it will be almost impossible to not use when you are feeling this way.

Luckily, I had a job I needed to finish in Italy, so I went over there, and toughed through it, or I'm not really sure I could have done it..

Any other drugs, I say party on man ( not crack or needles tho.)
Opiates: stay the **** away if you know what's best for you.

I'm going on 18 months clean from everything, cept a bowl or something every now, and again.

Not ONE other person that I knew has come clean from the Oxy we use to use, and I have not seen one other person besides myself come of of them for more than a few days. It has taken EVERYTHING from them, but they still continue to do it, because they get sick without it, and it makes it damn near impossible without serious help.
It really makes me sad. Lost some good folks to it. Don't be fooled. It can happen to anyone who thinks they are just gonna fool around with it for a while.
DON'T DO IT

Feels good to be clean though. Real Good. Feel like I survived a WAR.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by KC2004

From my experience you will trade one addiction for another. Its a case of addictive personality. You will find something in life to make up for what you quit doing. Hopefully when you kick the thing you want to you find something more appealing/productive to spend your time doing.

This is true. It's really hard to come clean....of everything, but it can be done

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

You'd be better off railing an 8ball.

lol. No.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Extra Point

KC2004 and JD369 bring up a couple good points.

It's been 7 weeks from this past Sat. that I went to my first AA meeting. Funny, that today's topic was about addictions other than alcohol. No coincidence that I haven't fired up a bowl in the 7 wks+.

Cigarettes, OTOH, are a different matter entirely. Caffeine, as well. Funny, the huge image of the coffee pot on the front door of the AA office.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by frazod

It's been nearly four years now since I smoked a cigarette, but recently I have started smoking cigars again, happily with no addictive consequences. I always missed smoking a little, but not the stink of cigarettes, the filth or the urge. A cigar out on the deck with a beer once every couple of weeks works just fine for me, and I don't feel compelled to have another one 15 minutes later. It's great.

Good luck with that Tim. I had quit cigarettes (45 year smoker) for quite a few months one time, then cigars. Started inhaling them, and there it was.

I have now quit cigarettes again since last labor day, and I struggle with about anything that can be addictive. It is a daily battle of making the right decisions.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Carlota69

For me its about willpower and a very healthy support system. Therapy for addiction is a huge help. get it if you can.

Ive been an addict since I can remember. When I was a senior in high school, I was majorly addicted to freebase cocaine. I was already heavy into other drugs, LSD, Crytal, Pot and cigarettes, But smoking cocaine nearly killed me. At age 18 I was 79 lbs, homeless and near death and was still trying to finish HS. I remember sitting at my dealers house on the couch( I also lived there briefly in the cellar with my boyfriend and a skunk), and all these dudes came out of one of the rooms with all kinds of firepower waiting for some brigade to come. They were high and paranoid and I knew if I moved, I was dead. I had an epihany, I was going to die if I didnt makes serious changes. I did. I ended up on the streets for a couple of months while still trying to graduate, And I did it becasue I had to. The other drugs went out the window too, except nicotine. I managed again to quit smoking, cold turkey, when I was 28. WILLPOWER and the desire to live. As you can see in both cases, it is the desire to live that helped me put the pipe down so to speak.

As I grow older I still find I have addictions I need to deal with, gambling was one once and food always will be. Im an addict. Plain and Simple. But with help, support and a will to live a better life, you can be a "semi-retired" addict like me

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Good luck with that Tim. I had quit cigarettes (45 year smoker) for quite a few months one time, then cigars. Started inhaling them, and there it was.

I have now quit cigarettes again since last labor day, and I struggle with about anything that can be addictive. It is a daily battle of making the right decisions.

Same thing with me. 1 cigar turned to 2 and so on. Finally came to the point I was smoking cigars frequently.

Then, I rationalized if I'm going to smoke cigars frequently I might as well smoke cigarettes--they're cheaper and not as bad for you.

Then there I was again.

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by KC2004

From my experience you will trade one addiction for another. Its a case of addictive personality. You will find something in life to make up for what you quit doing. Hopefully when you kick the thing you want to you find something more appealing/productive to spend your time doing.

Absolutely no doubt about it. I think food for me right now is. Since Im an addict, Im hoping I become addicted to the gym. I mean, Im going to be addicted to something, why not working out?

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Same thing with me. 1 cigar turned to 2 and so on. Finally came to the point I was smoking cigars frequently.

Then, I rationalized if I'm going to smoke cigars frequently I might as well smoke cigarettes--they're cheaper and not as bad for you.

Then there I was again.

I quit smoking cigarettes 15 years ago, cold turkey. For years, I had smoking dreams and I was always like "I dont really smoke, just right now..." I didnt have one of those dreams probably for the last 5 years, until about a week ago. It was really weird.

In a nutshell, cigarettes hold onto you forever...well, until you die...

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by Carlota69

Absolutely no doubt about it. I think food for me right now is. Since Im an addict, Im hoping I become addicted to the gym. I mean, Im going to be addicted to something, why not working out?

I gave up cigarettes a couple of weeks ago--again. I had some health/heart issues that turned out fine but the doctor strongly warned me against continued tobacco use (no duh huh).

I keep telling myself to hit the gym (I live right next to the student rec center) but I guess I first need to get addicted to motivation.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by KC2004

From my experience you will trade one addiction for another. Its a case of addictive personality. You will find something in life to make up for what you quit doing. Hopefully when you kick the thing you want to you find something more appealing/productive to spend your time doing.

This.

I've been through pretty much every substance you can think of.

Today, I like to play video games with my kids. Sober.

My wife kids me all the time that I spend too much time playing but she knows what the alternative is.