Discussion Do you rely on any coping chemicals?

[FTL.Wanderer]

1. Do you commonly rely on any chemicals to get you through stressful times?
2. Is this effective for you?
3. Have you tried to stop?
4. If you've relapsed, why do you think you have?
5. Have you tried professional therapeutic counseling/advice?
6. Do you think you have a chemical dependence?
7. Are you apprehensive about others finding out?

Me:

1. Yes, sugar.
2. Effective in the moment--enough to get through some very stressful things.
3. Been trying to stop my whole life.
4. Keep relapsing because nothing else makes me feel good enough that I can get through inevitable stress/pain.
5. Yes, seen lots of professionals and faithfully tried their advice (CBT, DBT, ECT, TT). For me these have been either bandaids or downright ineffective. But I enjoyed group talk therapy (TT) because many of the people were so colorful or fun.
6. Yes, I'm confident I have a chemical dependence.
7. I work very hard to hide my dependence from others out of shame.

 

[Meretlein]

For me sugar is my number one coping mechanism. I used to be quite fond of benzos and alcohol though.

 

[Redt2go]

Yes, yes, no, NA, yes, not yet, not really except CBD and my job

 

[Sundayafternoon]

Yes, yes, no, NA, yes, not yet, not really except CBD and my job

How does CBD effect you?

 

[Redt2go]

How does CBD effect you?

I've decided to stop using it ... I haven't felt any effects really

 

[KiraLittleOwl]

I only smoke cigarettes. I quit many times but always relapse. :(
It's hard to really quit when you live with a smoker.

I used to cope with food and cannabis too, but not anymore.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

Nearly everything else beat out pharmaceuticals. Hmmmmm. ;)

 

[kkatt]

1. Do you commonly rely on any chemicals to get you through stressful times?
2. Is this effective for you?
3. Have you tried to stop?
4. If you've relapsed, why do you think you have?
5. Have you tried professional therapeutic counseling/advice?
6. Do you think you have a chemical dependence?
7. Are you apprehensive about others finding out?

1. Apart from 2 years of pregnancy,I have been continuously under the influence of chemicals since the age of 13.
2. I'm still breathing
3. I quit a 20yr long Heroin habit. Also stopped heavy use of speed. But always just replaced one substance with another.
4. Even a glimpse of my unmedicated mind is simply too much to bear.
5. I received a prescribed course of Methadone,Subutex,Fentanyl and Morhine to escape the opiate addiction. No counselling or therapy other than medication.
6. I am an addict.
7. Few people are aware of my continued indulgences.

 

[FTL.Wanderer]

1. Apart from 2 years of pregnancy,I have been continuously under the influence of chemicals since the age of 13.
2. I'm still breathing
3. I quit a 20yr long Heroin habit. Also stopped heavy use of speed. But always just replaced one substance with another.
4. Even a glimpse of my unmedicated mind is simply too much to bear.
5. I received a prescribed course of Methadone,Subutex,Fentanyl and Morhine to escape the opiate addiction. No counselling or therapy other than medication.
6. I am an addict.
7. Few people are aware of my continued indulgences.

Thanks for being so frank and detailed. How was it, even with the pharmaceuticals, getting over the op. addiction? When I lived in the US Northwest, I knew someone who was on methadone to overcome his op. addiction. It was really tough for him. I'm impressed you've kicked it.

I really like your phrase: "Even a glimpse of my unmedicated mind is simply too much to bear." Yes x 10^6. I think this is why for so many of us we're barely functional in situations others consider elementary. Great points--thank you.

 

[kkatt]

Thanks for being so frank and detailed. How was it, even with the pharmaceuticals, getting over the op. addiction? When I lived in the US Northwest, I knew someone who was on methadone to overcome his op. addiction. It was really tough for him. I'm impressed you've kicked it.

I really like your phrase: "Even a glimpse of my unmedicated mind is simply too much to bear." Yes x 10^6. I think this is why for so many of us we're barely functional in situations others consider elementary. Great points--thank you.

So many addicts get parked on Methadone. In all these years,I don't know a single person who got clean using it. I was exceptionally lucky and found a doctor prepared to trust me with fentanyl patches. Even then,the withdrawal symptoms of the Methadone were evident. It's also known as "liquid handcuffs" because that stuff becomes your jailor. It's much harder to quit Methadone than Heroin or pretty much any other opiate.
If not for the belief that particular doctor had,in my conviction to put it in my past,I have no doubt I couldn't have done it. In the UK,any medical doctor can prescribe opiates in this way,but it's exceptionally rare,simply because they don't want the responsibility.

 

[brighter]

Codeine is starting to become my flight away from this life...

 

[Ken_Rosenberg]

For me, it's amphetamines.

 

[elizabeth.luck]

I don't know if mine counts but lately I've been restricting food. It is somehow calming.

 

[ron_g]

None, but then again, I don't really cope so well.

 

[K8!]

I don't use chemicals, I rely on my mind to be strong enough to push it to the back of mind. Something that's taken years to achieve. I refuse to think about it although I know it'll eventually resurface

 

[Bojangles]

Just caffeine. I've tried to cut it out, but my depression is 10x worse without it. The internet is my worst addiction in general.

 

[Didymus]

None. I try to sleep as much as possible to escape.

 

[Oppenheimer]

Sugar and Ritalin. God I really think I could not go trough an entire day without Ritalin.

 

[DepressionsAHo]

Codeine is starting to become my flight away from this life...

Always hated codeine
Never did anything but put me to sleep and headaches
Hydrocodone and oxycodone
Built up a tolerance though so 3 pills does the trick
Mixed with alcohol and I become an absolute fucking delight

 

[brighter]

Always hated codeine
Never did anything but put me to sleep and headaches
Hydrocodone and oxycodone
Built up a tolerance though so 3 pills does the trick
Mixed with alcohol and I become an absolute fucking delight

I guess it's different for some people. I haven't done it since the post but ketamine has been working well for me since then.
I've never heard of Hydrocodone or oxycodone though. What do they do?

 

[DepressionsAHo]

I guess it's different for some people. I haven't done it since the post but ketamine has been working well for me since then.
I've never heard of Hydrocodone or oxycodone though. What do they do?

Hydrocodone is a brand of Vicodin
Both are opiates like codeine is.
They make me feel fuzzy and light. Like everything is ok in the world. I'm floating and just... Happy

 

[brighter]

Hydrocodone is a brand of Vicodin
Both are opiates like codeine is.
They make me feel fuzzy and light. Like everything is ok in the world. I'm floating and just... Happy

That sounds good. I'm glad it's doing something for you :)

 

[DreamsofDeath]

Not the most original but I love drinking alcohol. I've been told it's a depressant, but I find it blissful escape. Ideally I'd be in a perpetual state of the ideal level of drunkenness, never experiencing any hangover. I hope to be indulging in it for much of Easter.

 

[Roberto]

Just caffeine. I've tried to cut it out, but my depression is 10x worse without it. The internet is my worst addiction in general.

Me too + some alcohol + antidep.