Hi
I am trying to understand more about substance abuse, addiction and how it manifests differently with different substances. please understand that this is not meant to be provocative.
I have heard some on here (I dont want this to be personalised but speaking generaly) say that when in recovery and suffering real pain that can take pain meds sensibly and as prescribed. some have to get a trusted person to hold them some can do it alone as long as they attend meetings ect....
Now I know from my very limited knowledge of AA that I often heard it said some thing like.....One drink is too many and ten are not enough. That is very true of me to be honest, and thats what I am trying to be now, when I take a drink I continue untill I fall asleep or fall over which ever come first. Once i take a sip nothing will get in my way untill I am drunk or I find some other way of getting "out of it". Its like once I get on the roller coaster I am off and there is no getting of until the end of the ride. I am thinking why is this not the same with pills? even when taken for pain, why does it not set off the madness, as I call it. Have i misinterpreted AA?NA doctrine?.
As I have told most people I am starting on sub on monday and having experience of this before I know ,with me, it does not make me want to take more and more untill I am wrecked..I just take the one dose and forget about it.
So what I am saying is alcoholics to my knowledge once they touch a drink seem compelled to carry on. Though when taking pills some, including me, are able to daily adjust there dosages and some are even able to taper until they stop. I have never heard of an alcoholic being able to taper.
Should these two substances be treated as different animals?
Just interested
Paul
Do my questions make sense?
hey paul,
hope you are well. as you know i'm a heroin addict. i have never had problems taking pills untill this time. i was in a car accident and was severly injured and i'm still in alot of pain(4 months) i have been fighting with staying clean since september. i was doing great till the pain became unbearable. i started to take my pain pills as prescribed. i was doing great, i thought. untill my 90 pills were gone in 2 weeks. so much for doing good, huh. i truely think it is impossible for me as an addict to take only as prescribed. i tried giving them to my husband, but all i have to do is cry and he will give me the world. (he hates seeing me in pain.) but no matter how hard i try i think i'll still abuse whatever i can, even without knowing till its to late. i'm not sure if this is understandable, it early. but i hope i was close to your questions.
have a great day
raerae
hope you are well. as you know i'm a heroin addict. i have never had problems taking pills untill this time. i was in a car accident and was severly injured and i'm still in alot of pain(4 months) i have been fighting with staying clean since september. i was doing great till the pain became unbearable. i started to take my pain pills as prescribed. i was doing great, i thought. untill my 90 pills were gone in 2 weeks. so much for doing good, huh. i truely think it is impossible for me as an addict to take only as prescribed. i tried giving them to my husband, but all i have to do is cry and he will give me the world. (he hates seeing me in pain.) but no matter how hard i try i think i'll still abuse whatever i can, even without knowing till its to late. i'm not sure if this is understandable, it early. but i hope i was close to your questions.
have a great day
raerae
Paul
I am not sure I understand your post but I shall try to respond to what I think you are saying...
a far as giving meds for pain to a trusted friend to dole out as rx'd as needed for pain... this does start a mental rollercoaster and the reason the person gets off early is because they never really had control (the friend had the pills) in the first place ... that is why we say... dont use meds for pain unless it is an absolute necessity and only for short term use( a week)... or long term mainagement (years ie methodone) ...they are still left dealing with the mental stuff after but they just arent taking the pills.. so that is that question
and no alcohol is the same chemical dependency as pills... there were times in early recovery that if I took a tylenol that I would get a psydo high from just the act of taking a pill... addiction is a chemical thing as well as an emotional thing.. once the switch is thrown it can not be turned off... The use of sub is playing to the chemical side... As I understand it... It deals with the chemical cravings the body creates and thus helps with the physical and thus helps the mental craving that can be started by the former... soo.. and also if a person already has the mind set that a pill can make everything better including addiction then they will be ahead of the game sort of mind over matter....
As far as weaning and alcohol... I dont know....?... never thought about it...
anyhoo just my thoughts...\
just my two cents...
teresa
I am not sure I understand your post but I shall try to respond to what I think you are saying...
a far as giving meds for pain to a trusted friend to dole out as rx'd as needed for pain... this does start a mental rollercoaster and the reason the person gets off early is because they never really had control (the friend had the pills) in the first place ... that is why we say... dont use meds for pain unless it is an absolute necessity and only for short term use( a week)... or long term mainagement (years ie methodone) ...they are still left dealing with the mental stuff after but they just arent taking the pills.. so that is that question
and no alcohol is the same chemical dependency as pills... there were times in early recovery that if I took a tylenol that I would get a psydo high from just the act of taking a pill... addiction is a chemical thing as well as an emotional thing.. once the switch is thrown it can not be turned off... The use of sub is playing to the chemical side... As I understand it... It deals with the chemical cravings the body creates and thus helps with the physical and thus helps the mental craving that can be started by the former... soo.. and also if a person already has the mind set that a pill can make everything better including addiction then they will be ahead of the game sort of mind over matter....
As far as weaning and alcohol... I dont know....?... never thought about it...
anyhoo just my thoughts...\
just my two cents...
teresa
Raerae and Terasa
Thanks for responding to my post. You have been helpful. You know....my problem is I make things too complicated lol. I have to analyse everthing and look at every angle. I wish I could learn to just keep it simple and enjoy life on Gods terms. I think I need more of a child like faith in the things God is showing me. Learning to rest in Him and appreciate the moment.
Today I was listening to some music (Spock's beard and Led Zeppelin) I actualy felt euphoric and I was sober. Now, I always had the notion that substances running around my brain enhanced my experience of music but today i experienced the sounds in a lovely way and felt emotions that where much better than when high. I am really greatful for that. Hope the Sub I start on Monday does not take the edge of these lovely feelings I am experiencing at the moment.
Terasa i am so glad we are able to talk you are giving me some great insights.
Paul x
Thanks for responding to my post. You have been helpful. You know....my problem is I make things too complicated lol. I have to analyse everthing and look at every angle. I wish I could learn to just keep it simple and enjoy life on Gods terms. I think I need more of a child like faith in the things God is showing me. Learning to rest in Him and appreciate the moment.
Today I was listening to some music (Spock's beard and Led Zeppelin) I actualy felt euphoric and I was sober. Now, I always had the notion that substances running around my brain enhanced my experience of music but today i experienced the sounds in a lovely way and felt emotions that where much better than when high. I am really greatful for that. Hope the Sub I start on Monday does not take the edge of these lovely feelings I am experiencing at the moment.
Terasa i am so glad we are able to talk you are giving me some great insights.
Paul x
