[ambivalent amy]

Addictions.....When I have told people about my addictions, they always look at me weird. I do not understood why they do.

I have been addicted to many things – booze, pills, marijuana, cocaine, meth, food, pop, work, tobacco, books (I learned that yesterday), people (I know it sounds weird, but its true), driving, etc. But I am not addicted to everything at the same time.

For instance, I drank when I was a teenager, but didn’t drink for about 15 years, and I started again when I left my ex husband. I did pills when I was a teenager- I no longer do. My medications, I take as they are to be taken and I do not abuse them. Cocaine in my early 20's, Meth mid to late 20's & early 30's. I have smoked cigs since I have been about 16, I did quit for 8 months, and now again for about 2 months (only smoked a few that I bummed, but I do use a smokeless cigarette). I deal with my food, pop addictions most everyday. I am not addicted to all people. I somehow am attracted to a certain person and all of a sudden we are hanging out all the time. They are just as much about hanging out as I am – it is like we feed off each other. Driving – love to do it but it can be a problem if you don’t have the $$ for it and you take from other bills (this hasn’t been as much of an issue as I have gotten older, as I drive my company work vehicles for part of my job). I have smoked pot regularly since I have been16. But I don’t smoke everyday, and usually I don’t smoke a lot when I do, but I do smoke several times a week.

I don’t know.....I guess I think that you can't really treat one condition of addiction, IE. alcoholism, narcotics, meth, etc. Somehow it is the “disease of addiction” that needs to be treated. I think that might be why people will substitute one addiction for another.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thnx.
By the way, what should we call the “disease of addiction”?
Addictionism? For all I know that might already be a word.

Ambivalent Amy

[madisgram]

amy, u're correct. one addiction is subtituted for another. a vicious cycle of abuse. the disease of addiction is aptly called. unless a person honestly takes a self appraisal of their using the cycle will only get worse. we are running from something in our life and don't have the wherewithall to choose to stop any mood altering substances. but it can be done. i know that can work. my whole being has had a positive transformation for me by my abstaining from it all.

[WePow]

You are spot on.... I also do that with various things.... it is difficult.

[BFPIERCE]

Ithink you may have a point you have a unique perspective that wasnt arrived at over night

[ambivalent amy]

Originally Posted by madisgram

amy, u're correct. one addiction is subtituted for another. a vicious cycle of abuse. the disease of addiction is aptly called. unless a person honestly takes a self appraisal of their using the cycle will only get worse. we are running from something in our life and don't have the wherewithall to choose to stop any mood altering substances. but it can be done. i know that can work. my whole being has had a positive transformation for me by my abstaining from it all.

You have been sober for a long time. So you may have some experience about a few questions that I have....

Will a person ever really find what they are running from in their life? Did you find what you were running from in your life? I have no idea what I am running from, but I do know that I have made a lot of errors in my life. I do try to live my life to the best of my ability to try and make up for my mistakes, and what not.

As I have stated in my earlier post, I am addicted to anything for the most part. I know chemicals can be abstained from but how on earth does a person abstain from things that they have to deal with in their everyday life, such as work, driving, or even people? To treat addiction don't you have to stay away from the things you are addicted to?

Is there somewhere that treats the 'disease of addiction' and not the individual components that someone is addicted to? I am not sure if I understand how treating one thing (ex. alcoholism) but not treating what takes it place, can be beneficial.

Maybe my asking so many questions is my denial of my addiction?

Thanks,
Ambivalent Amy

Not having had alcoholism, I can't really give you the answer which AA would probably offer, but I do have a sensitivity to sugar (and now wheat) so I know a little about cravings.

You ask what is one running from? It could be low self-esteem, from love, from
ignorance, from fear, from God, from anything that is human that one can feel deep emotion about that drives him/her to seek relief of the pain of it all.

I would agree that one needs to know what the deepest problem is that prompts
the addiction. Seeing a psychiatrist and learning his view of the problem is one place to start. Another is AA and there you must be willing to follow a 12-step program that will eventually expose you to your real problem and then lead you to the way to live a sober and healthy lifestyle. Either way works for many of us, I think.

[layla11]

Hi, I guess switching from one addiction to another is something we all have in common at one time or another. I like to talk about the joys of living drug and alcohol free. A freedom from hangovers and abuse. I think that you can overcome the obsticals of running and emotional turmoil. I can tell you what I dont do anymore, I dont have hangovers, I dont take abuse or insults from people anymore, just to have friends, also have a better self esteem because of it, also staying away from unhealthy relationships with people, contantly sick with sinus and upper respitory infections and my house is a lot cleaner, as well as me. I can do without this in my life. I focus a lot more on the positive things in life, since the depressant alcohol and drugs are no more a part of my life. Progress not perfection are the things to strive for. These things have improved my life dramatically.