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.

[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

[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.

[Ebolapox]

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

ya know, you'd blow the collective planet men's minds if you had typed that you were addicted to sex. just sayin'

[ShortRoundChief]

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

Wow, that is some story.

[Carlota69]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Wow, that is some story.

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.

[In58men]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

That is some of the worst shit you can put in your body...

It literally can kill you if you have underlying medical conditions you aren't aware of.

You'd be better off railing an 8ball.

I found the hard way, it was definitely a wake up call. One more month it'll be a year. I couldn't tell you how many I drank before this happened. Two a day was about right, plus redbull and vodka or yager bombs on the weekend.


I can honestly say I haven't had either of the two mix drinks since.

[In58men]

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.

Good stuff

[Tombstone RJ]

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

yikes girl! But you are right, some people just have very addictive personalities. For those types of people, it's hard to quit, it's not really in their nature so they have to fight hard and really want it.

[KC2004]

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

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.

[The Dawg]

I am very, very, glad I found this thread. Or somebody brought it back up from when it was created quite some time ago.

I agree with KC2004. With compulsive/ addictive behavior, while one addiction may hold your attention for a while- it's just as easy to jump to something else.

For me it's gambling. I have a major issue with it- no doubt about it. However I also have other addiction demons that come calling from time to time.

[JOhn]

Originally Posted by JD369

I am very, very, glad I found this thread. Or somebody brought it back up from when it was created quite some time ago.

I agree with KC2004. With compulsive/ addictive behavior, while one addiction may hold your attention for a while- it's just as easy to jump to something else.

For me it's gambling. I have a major issue with it- no doubt about it. However I also have other addiction demons that come calling from time to time.

Same here. Went from alcohol in my 20's to sex & relationship in my 30's...then to prescription drugs after that. I do nothing in moderation.... including CP. lol

[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.

[Tombstone RJ]

I've dated an addict and it was a whole different world for me. I couldn't understand why we couldn't keep any alcohol around the house. It takes me a long, long time to polish off a bottle of whiskey, but not with this girl. Basically, she drank until it was all gone.

It sucked because that meant that either I had to do like she did, or we had to go our separate ways. We ended up going our separate ways. Thankfully, I'm the opposite, I can take things or leave them. Take alcohol away from me and I'm fine.

However, it's not the same with an addictive personality. It's all or nothing, balls-to-the-wall until you pass out. A person like this either changes willingly or dies.

[JOhn]

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.

WTG man, the first days are the hardest

[JOhn]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

However, it's not the same with an addictive personality. It's all or nothing, balls-to-the-wall until you pass out. A person like this either changes willingly or dies.

THIS

is

me

And I didn't start to change willingly, but 6 months in jail because of my addiction got me started. Glad now that I spent that time & time in treatment