A personal topic about addiction.

Is this a psychological addiction, or a physical one?

 

NA and AA scare me, they say you have to admit that you are powerless over your addiction and the only way for salvation is through God. It teaches that you'll never be without an addiction, and I believe as long as you think that way you won't. Everything about them seems to focus on the negative as opposed to dealing with and taking responsibility for overcoming the addiction.

There are support groups out there that can provide the kind of support that you need it just takes looking. G'luck.

 

It's really as simple as not buying it. I've been through the same thing, although I would never have called it an "addiction." It's a habit, and it's a very easy one to break (relatively speaking).

I went from smoking every day over the summer to stopping cold turkey when I moved. I tried to find some last weekend, but I couldn't (although I didn't try very hard).

Weed tends to have the opposite effect for me. More often than not, I'll get high and wonder why I'm being lazy and not doing anything. I completed more than a few art projects completely stoned.

With that said, I'll probably buy some more this year and then maybe quit for good. Weed makes me feel great, but it's expensive and I don't need a record. I may just quit doing drugs, period (including alcohol). Time will tell.

I'm not addicted, but if I had a steady source for oxycodone I probably would be. I've been offered heroin but that's going a little far for me.

 

If it's a problem that you can't quit by yourself, then there are substance abuse clinics that are very discrete. I may be biased, but I think social workers are better at helping in this paritcular issue than psychologists.

I'd never had an addiction before and only a few weeks ago I went to a Hookah bar with my friends. I was lured in with the claims that it was "natural" and "not addicting". I found out later from one of my Indian friends that an hour long session is the equivalent of over 100 cigarettes. I felt really good when I did it, but I've had massive cravings for it ever since. It was weird since I had always given my family crap about smoking.

 

See, that's why only idiots smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes are designed for maximum addiction. They also contain Nicotine which opens a pathway in your brains chemistry that cannot be shut.

Cigars are a little better.

 

^Cigarettes are hard to put down. I smoked on and off for about seven months and had to have an "episode" (involving a girl) to quit permanently.

I haven't smoked a cigarette since March, but I still crave one every now and then. I didn't even smoke for that long, so I definitely found it easier than many of my friends will when they try to quit.

 

LOL That clinches it, I'm never going back to another hookah bar for as long as I live.

I enjoy being at maximum physical effiencency.

 

Atheists Anonymous... First you just have to admit that you are powerless over your addiction and the only way for salvation is through God.

 

I can become addicted to things very easily but usually can overcome the addiction (usually requires help from family/friends along with my will power) as for drugs best advice-don't buy them and don't hang out with people who use, buy, sell etc

Personally I know people who use but are not addicted and function fine in life so I am comfortable being around them, but I've never used/tried with them. I'm sure I'd become addicted to anything I tried.

 

This is excellent advice.

 

I wonder..

What causes a person to turn to drugs and alcohol? I suppose it could be problems with the family or personal life, or perhaps a desire to delve the depths of the human soul. I've often wondered how I would've turned out if I had never smoked pot for the first time or taken my first shot of whiskey. Would I have been different... or perhaps indifferent?

I don't drink much, but tonight I did. It is an escape of sorts. Am I a weaker person for succumbing to a mechanism that enables me to leave my problems behind?

I have found much beauty in the perceived folly of intoxication. Subjectivity is a player in an inconceivably large game in which no one can win. Who is right and who is wrong? Drugs and alcohol have given me beautiful memories that I will forever cherish, and at the same time have given me superficial solutions to "problems" that can't be fixed by inebriation.

I don't know where I'm going with this. I'm just really fucking drunk and needed to spill something out somewhere.

Sometimes I wish I could apologize to everyone I knew for being such a fuckup.

 

Don't think there's one reason but escapism is one of. Honestly I don't think it's about weakness, sure it's better to deal with problems than avoid but sometimes it's healthy to relax and turn your mind off as well, give yourself a chance to refocus. It comes down is it used as a way of avoiding reality on a regular basis and can the person cope without it.

What you say makes perfect sense - kudos for typing so coherently drunk