Current Events > Addiction is like the worst thing

(+) Yeah! (+)

Once you're addicted it seems almost impossible to get back to normal. I'm struggling with a couple addictions and my girlfriend vaping doesn't help. My therapist told me "Once you're addicted, that's it; you're addicted" and it seems like he's right unfortunately. I'm not sure it's possible to completely break an addiction and is probably just a constant battle of willpower, which isn't really encouraging.

when people say stuff like, "you're always going to be an addict", it usually means that even if you break the habit, you'll always have it loom over you.

that's unfortunately why so many people relapse, but don't let that make you feel like you always will since not everyone is able to do it the first time.

anyway, I'm hoping for the best for you.

You could replace one with another. i mean your toxic one with something healthy and productive.

Nicotine gum works. Smoked for a short duration and that was very easy to kick. 4mg was the dose of the gum.

As for other addictions and certain medications you can be placed on to combat it. Be very...VERY...VERY careful with those.

i was addicted to vaping before, but i always have this fear that its gonna blow up on my face, and when i saw a vid of a guy vaping and it blowing up and fucking up his face and teeth, that was it. i know that its usually the really cheap ones or ones where people who build themselves but dont know what theyre doing that explodes, but i still used that fear so i could stop.

Its pretty bad. Keep fighting.

Whatcha addicted to, bud? Nicotine addiction sux too, but its not the worst thing in the world. They let you smoke in rehab while you get over the harder stuff. Id recommend quitting that last, if you do have other more serious addictions.

Idk what you're addicted to, TC. Obviously some addictions are worse than others, and some are easier to break. When I was addicted to a harder drug I had to both accept that I was addicted and strongly want my old self back before I could summon the will to just stop. And I haven't looked back or even remotely desired that drug again. I quit cold turkey and it was a waking nightmare I won't go through again.

accord posted...

i was addicted to vaping before, but i always have this fear that its gonna blow up on my face, and when i saw a vid of a guy vaping and it blowing up and fucking up his face and teeth, that was it. i know that its usually the really cheap ones or ones where people who build themselves but dont know what theyre doing that explodes, but i still used that fear so i could stop.

You should be way more worried about the stuff they put in them. People have died because of the vitamin e acetate some brands used to have for flavoring. Thankfully that is banned now.

Mrbakerman25 posted...

Whatcha addicted to, bud? Nicotine addiction sux too, but its not the worst thing in the world. They let you smoke in rehab while you get over the harder stuff. Id recommend quitting that last, if you do have other more serious addictions.

Nicotine and weed. Nothing too serious but the weed is seriously eating into money I don't really have, and my mental health. Nicotine too really, and that one is even harder to stop.

Super_Slash posted...

Nicotine and weed. Nothing too serious but the weed is seriously eating into money I don't really have, and my mental health. Nicotine too really, and that one is even harder to stop.

Gotcha. Bupropion is really good for quitting nicotine. And it's an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety medication, so good for mental health as well. If you are willing to try something like that, I mean. If not I'd recommend the patches over the gum. Its worked for a lot of people I know and its easy to slowly taper down your usage with them.

For real.

I've been having some trouble with a long running addiction lately and man is it painful on my wallet along with every other shitty aspect of it

Addiction in general is weird. Like for alcohol, one of the common mistakes that addicts make is they'll go out for a beer after work. The first time they'll have one and go home without any issue. Second time, same thing. Third time, maybe two but that's not a problem.

This reasonable drinking can go on for quite a bit, but eventually they'll go out and for some reason be unable to regulate their drinking one time. Then they'll spiral out of control and it's a terrible struggle to get back to being responsible.

This is one of the reasons why they try to just avoid it forever. It's like Russian roulette. You might win a few times, but sooner or later you're gonna take a hit because you're an addict. So live your life like you're an addict if you want to be responsible.

Jiek_Fafn posted...

Addiction in general is weird. Like for alcohol, one of the common mistakes that addicts make is they'll go out for a beer after work. The first time they'll have one and go home without any issue. Second time, same thing. Third time, maybe two but that's not a problem.

This reasonable drinking can go on for quite a bit, but eventually they'll go out and for some reason be unable to regulate their drinking one time. Then they'll spiral out of control and it's a terrible struggle to get back to being responsible.

This is one of the reasons why they try to just avoid it forever. It's like Russian roulette. You might win a few times, but sooner or later you're gonna take a hit because you're an addict. So live your life like you're an addict if you want to be responsible.

Srsly. They talk about this in AA all the time. The "just one beer" mindset is straight up toxic to alcoholics. Yet it's so easy to succumb to.

You can never never understand
This demon standing on my shoulder
And he's pulling, he's pulling at my heart
And he's screaming, you bet he's screaming
"Giddyup, giddyup, motherfucker
you're going down with me!"

One of my favorite Cough lyrics from 288 Years of Sin

I deal with addicts a lot and it definitely seems like a lifelong struggle. Even when you're clean, all it takes is a bad day to have yourself fall back to drugs

I spoke about this too. MY drug of choice was fucking twitter. I was losing so much time there. Almost late for work getting backed up. It hit me how bad it was Yesterday or two days ago. I was up at 2 am when my sleep goal was 11. And I was looking and I am up that late and didn't get anything done. And I was just like this too much. It is consuming my life. And all I am doing is telling racist not to be racist something that is pointless. And while I would say a chemical addication so hard harder to break. I saw so many of the same signs.

That sounds like a horrible, horrible therapist.

Its why I will never understand why people choose to start vaping/smoking in 2024. EVERYONE knows this is where it leads

Super_Slash posted...

"Once you're addicted, that's it; you're addicted"

what he probably meant was that once you have the disease you'll always have the disease because your brain chemistry is altered. It's a bit like cancer in that you can put it in remission by following a recovery plan which can lead to, in the best cases, many years of sobriety and a relatively normal life. but you should abstain from all substances because you can bring it back very easily

I was addicted to posting, but the mods helped me get over it

I can't tell you how long I've been tryin to quit porn. shits hard bro.

it's like a smoker trying to quit with a pack in their pocket at all times.

i was addicted to CE but fandom helped me out with that

TheHoldSteady posted...

what he probably meant was that once you have the disease you'll always have the disease because your brain chemistry is altered. It's a bit like cancer in that you can put it in remission by following a recovery plan which can lead to, in the best cases, many years of sobriety and a relatively normal life. but you should abstain from all substances because you can bring it back very easily

I'm aware. That's the shitty part.

It's fun until the magics gone ime

I'm overdue for a long break myself. Hopefully I'll be able to pull it off without entering into a program and having to commit to spending bus fare >_>

Super_Slash posted...

I'm not sure it's possible to completely break an addiction and is probably just a constant battle of willpower, which isn't really encouraging.

It's absolutely possible.

I was hooked on meth for awhile a few decades ago. The cravings for it completely stopped after a few years. I have absolutely no desire to do that stuff again and haven't for a very long time. I didn't use a program or a therapist. I simply moved away from all the shitbags that I knew, to remove myself from that scene and I avoided getting to know those sort in my new city.

If you dont actually want to quit your addiction, you never will

I was a pretty frequent substance you're not allowed to discuss on gamefaqs user and I've stopped doing it for 3 weeks already and it's pretty easy. You need to get addicted to not doing it.

ItsNotA2Mer posted...

It's absolutely possible.

By the criteria of "stop using," sure.

If the criteria is "relearn how to use in a healthy way" I would be way more hesitant to agree.

Take my alcoholism, for example.

I've reached the point where if I drink two days in a row, I will become physically addicted, as in full-blown detox symptoms. (I don't know if one time would be enough because I'm never gonna go on a one-day bender, but irrelevant)

That's never going to change, it'll be like that tomorrow and it will be like that until the day I die, even if I never touch another drop.

There may well be addicts who can return to healthy use, but I highly doubt they'd be ones where physical dependency comes up.

You think addiction is bad, have you ever stubbed your pinky toe?

DrizztLink posted...

By the criteria of "stop using," sure.

If the criteria is "relearn how to use in a healthy way" I would be way more hesitant to agree.

Take my alcoholism, for example.

I've reached the point where if I drink two days in a row, I will become physically addicted, as in full-blown detox symptoms. (I don't know if one time would be enough because I'm never gonna go on a one-day bender, but irrelevant)

That's never going to change, it'll be like that tomorrow and it will be like that until the day I die, even if I never touch another drop.

There may well be addicts who can return to healthy use, but I highly doubt they'd be ones where physical dependency comes up.

I definitely get, (and respect), what you're saying. I'm just saying people can absolutely get to the point where they no longer crave, (or even think about), the thing(s) they were addicted to. I've been there.

Seven years clean from meth as of last month

Just hit two months and one week sober from alcohol.

It took me having a seizure and pretty horrifying auditory and closed eye hallucinations from alcohol to really take quitting seriously :(

DrizztLink posted...

There may well be addicts who can return to healthy use, but I highly doubt they'd be ones where physical dependency comes up.

I think you are talking about functional addicts. Controlling their usage so they can get through the day without getting sick. Often it can be someone you'd never expect to be using. Hard workers with good jobs, etc. It's absolutely not healthy though, and they are definitely physically dependent. It works until it doesnt anymore.

I've stopped drinking a few times. Decided I could handle it in moderation and went back to being drunk every day before realizing moderation won't work. So now I have no doubt that I can never drink again. Not even medicine with alcohol in it. I can't even buy cooking wine because I'd finish the bottle. That's how I relapsed the first time.

Bugmeat posted...

I was hooked on meth for awhile a few decades ago

at least one is away from that shit. it's bad.

wish i gotten my uncle away from it, if that rhonda chick didn't get my uncle hooked. would be alive today.

i could ruin her life if i wanted, just gotta report to apartment manager she's doing drugs. (isn't allowed on property).

cjsdowg posted...

I spoke about this too. MY drug of choice was fucking twitter. I was losing so much time there. Almost late for work getting backed up. It hit me how bad it was Yesterday or two days ago. I was up at 2 am when my sleep goal was 11. And I was looking and I am up that late and didn't get anything done. And I was just like this too much. It is consuming my life. And all I am doing is telling racist not to be racist something that is pointless. And while I would say a chemical addication so hard harder to break. I saw so many of the same signs.

Social media is designed to trick your brain into feeding itself dopamine, so in a sense it is a chemical addiction.

BewmHedshot posted...

Social media is designed to trick your brain into feeding itself dopamine, so in a sense it is a chemical addiction.

It kinda can be, but brain neurotransmitter bullshit is complicated enough to cause problems even without the physical dependency aspect.

Addictions to behaviors and whatnot are no less valid than addictions to substances, it's just a different sort of treatment paradigm since you don't have the same class of symptoms to worry about.

Like, you don't really need Narcan on hand at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, that doesn't make them "less of a real addict" than the people across the street at Narcotics Anonymous.

Not directing this post at anyone in this topic, just talking some of the common points.

Thanks to my first grade teacher, I was taught to never drink alcohol. I'm 43 and still never tried it. I have tried smoking only once (hated it) and marijuana only once. I did used to drinks lots of caffeine (sodas) when I was younger but have since quit it for the last 15+ years now. I only tried coffee once and hated it.

Also, I absolutely hate people who say weed isn't addictive. Sure, you aren't having intense withdrawal like heroin, but there is literally a physical withdrawal from it if you use it enough. Literally every time that I describe what I go through every time I jump back on the weed bandwagon and get really out of control with it, people just downplay it and ask what else I was taking, or say that I am lying. It's really frustrating.

Everything can be addictive. Either physically or mentally >_>