[Tmontana94]

Hi everybody!!! So what do you think about the quote "addict always an addict" I need some help or tips on how to deal with a sober life. Long story short I need to stop smoking weed not bc I want to but bc I dont have other choice.. for the past two years I had many experiences with many substances but never a real addicton prob but I smoke tons of weed bc it helps with my anxiety depression and side effects of my stimulants meds but bc weed is illegal and all the myths I cant consume how i would like and it causes many probs with my family so i need to quit for good. So what can i do instead? How to deal with boredom? How to be sober without feeling like a robot manipulated by society? Does it get any better? Is it possible to stay clean if you quit even if its not your will? I'll appreciate any advice on how to deal with a sober life

[spondiferous]

First of all, welcome to PC.
I have been clean/sober nearly 7 years, and when I first sobered up all I knew was that I couldn't be loaded anymore. That was all. I thought my life was over, etc. But what I have found is that my life didn't actually start until I was sober, not really, because I expended so much time, energy and resources on mind-altering activities that I didn't have any for anything else. So...although that initial fear of 'what now?' is tangible and very real, and can be significant, it has little basis in reality. Hopefully just knowing that will be helpful to you.
That said, becoming sober initially can be hard, especially if you are a chronic user of anything, though even if you aren't it doesn't mean you won't have a hard time with it. Dealing with boredom is the #1 thing people in recovery need to learn how to do. There is a void that exists in life and that's the reality of it, especially for those of us with mental or emotional illness of some sort. There are all kinds of things to do, if you're motivated. Figure out what else you'd like to do with your life. Find different ways to deal with anxiety, depression and the side effects of other meds - that is the hardest one. I'm in recovery from an eating disorder right now and I feel like I'm losing my mind. It is going to take work. It's not just as simple as a decision, at least not for 99.99999999999% of people.
As for the quote 'addict always an addict' (how I'm familiar with it is 'once an addict, always an addict'), it's really a matter of perspective. While I don't think that I am diseased, broken, and will always be that way, I am an alcoholic and a drug addict. I have no guarantee that I can ever safely use either of them again, and so I do everything in my power to reinforce my decision to stay sober. Even after years...I still sometimes need support with it. But it's worth it. It's worth not having that life anymore.
If you want to talk about this any further feel free to PM me. For some reason I very rarely check in with this section of the forum.

[Leed]

This is my perspective on it -- I'm an alcoholic/addict. In July, I'll have 20 years sober. BUT, I'm no further away from a drunk than someone who has 30 days sober. That's because if I take ONE drink, I'll be off and running again. You see, I'm an alcoholic, and that means that once I start drinking, I can't STOP.

So for me, once an alcoholic/addict, ALWAYS an alcoholic/addict. I will NEVER be able to use again. EVER.

Do I care? NO. I never want to go back to that so-called "life" again.

[ShaggyChic_1201]

This may be inappropriate to post here, and if I get an indication that I've offended someone, I'll pull it.

IMO, "once an addict, always an addict" does apply in the secular world, but not for those who believe they can be born again spiritually and can receive a new spirit. To them (and me), the past is wiped clean and I am no longer an addict, tho as LEED said, I still cannot use. Just semantics, the bottom line is the same: addicts must stay away from their addiction of choice and/or switching to a new addiction.

Respectfully,
Bub

[kala83]

breaking addictions is a very hard to thing wither they be small or big and i have several myself.
coming to realization I have these issues and that I need to work on them was not easy for me to admit at all.

but I am coping with things and doing the most I can to change the situation as much as possible.
Welcome to PC its a great great place and if you ever need to talk I am always open to talking to people and helping if I can.

[LuNaTiX]

Originally Posted by Tmontana94

Hi everybody!!! So what do you think about the quote "addict always an addict" I need some help or tips on how to deal with a sober life. Long story short I need to stop smoking weed not bc I want to but bc I dont have other choice.. for the past two years I had many experiences with many substances but never a real addicton prob but I smoke tons of weed bc it helps with my anxiety depression and side effects of my stimulants meds but bc weed is illegal and all the myths I cant consume how i would like and it causes many probs with my family so i need to quit for good. So what can i do instead? How to deal with boredom? How to be sober without feeling like a robot manipulated by society? Does it get any better? Is it possible to stay clean if you quit even if its not your will? I'll appreciate any advice on how to deal with a sober life

I think you need to come back to life, make your life so pleasurable that doing any drug would only bring you down. I made the reality presented by sobriety more desirable then the reality presented by, percs, oxy, coke, speed, xtc, etc etc, the list goes on. But trust me on this, if you take a drug and it makes you feel bad, you wont wanna do it.

Keep busy, keep positive, and work towards goals in life, first small and then bigger. Acknowledge your accomplishments, learn from your mistakes and... relapse is not failure, its a lesson to learn n evolve from.

[sandworm]

I have trouble with the 12 step and recovery groups "today".
i would suggest you give this youtube a listen and see what you
think of this man's thoughts on the topic of recoverying, vs recovered.

Thank you for a great thread.

Sandworm

I think it might be easier to start recovery (or remission if it's alcoholism) by seeing a
psychiatrist. So many people self-medicate their problems with alcohol not knowing
that they might have an underlying illness that they are trying to manage with drugs.

My understanding is that a relatively new drug called Naltrexone is helpful in relieving the
cravings for alcohol. It might be that a psychiatrist can identify if there is an underlying
problem you need to have treated by a specialist. Then, adding a 12-step recovery
program may work for you.

I hope you get the relief you want and can do it with as little psychological pain as possible.
It's a difficult task you've set for yourself but well worth it in the eyes of many who have
come through a 12-step program successfully .

Being drug free is really living life to its fullest for many.

[Mental_Peroxide]

There is such a thing as an "addictive personality" and, unfortunately, statics show that most people who have this also have a mental illness of some form. I believe in "Once an addict, always an addict" because as Leed said, I am only one pill from addiction. I have been MOSTLY sober since 2001 (given Vicodin for a root canal and recently, for a headache). Fortunately, my GP only gave me 10 pills because after the headache was gone, I didn't save the rest of the pills for the next headache, I took them to try to get high. Even after all these years, my tolerance to opiates is so high it did me no good, but the fact is, I was still using addictive behavior and I really believed when she prescribed them, I was safe using them. What a fool am I. I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

[jamie1982]

hi,

I think you should come clean with your psychiatrist letting him know you're abusing marijuana to "combat the side effects of the stimulants." Chances are he will take you off any addictive medication knowing you are a drug abuser. Let your psychiatrist know you want to quit marijuana. Then tell your parents you want to quit and that you've notified your psychiatrist.

Once its clear you want to quit yet you keep relapsing (probably will happen), they might put you in residential drug treatment so you can get some clean time under your belt. Then you need to follow up with psychiatrist visits being completely honest, NA meetings, and maybe an outpatient program.

Also, the Narcotics Anonymous big book (it's blue) says "once an addict, always an addict" isn't a true.