FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
#1
Has anyone else had issues with replacement addictions? In my case, I have very often been prone to self medication in various ways. As a teen, I was obsessed with ballet (the music, ballet world, and of course the physical aspect). I took 7 to 8 classes per week after school and practiced at home and/or listened to classical music much of the remainder of time. Then alcohol abuse slowly started. That was my worst self medicating behavior ending in detox and years of AA meetings. In lighter periods of alcohol abuse I also became obsessed with my job and would be considered a "workaholic". Even during a couple years in highschool and college I was like that, reading and researching all day when not in classes. Then that would ease.
After I stopped abusing alcohol, I had periods of abusing a benzo and then times I abused stimulants. Off and on I would have binge eating periods, though binge eating has not been an issue most of my life. I take plenty of bipolar medications. I'm on my best cocktail yet. I have also had therapy for about 15 years, some more helpful than others. There have been times when I wasn't really "abusing" anything, but that never lasts that long-term. Some times when I'm seemingly not exhibiting addict behavior, I have mildly compulsive habits like clenching and grinding my teeth, touching my face, picking my face (more when I was younger), picking at my cuticles, and the like. I have other very mild compulsions, as well. I don't believe I have OCD, though if there's a spectrum, I may fall at the very mildest part. I wonder if there is a link between all of these things (bipolar, addictive behavior, obsessive/compulsive behavior)? |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous43949, bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
Legendary
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Italy
Posts: 11,817
(SuperPoster!)
7 38.4k hugs
given |
#2
I have bever experienced this, BirdDancer, so unfortunately I don't have a lot of advice to give to you. From what you wrote, I do believe that you may be on some sort of spectrum. Being obsessed with certain things, compulsive habits are all symptoms of this. That's just my opinion though. I may be completely wrong. The only way to know for sure is to go to a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. I hope you'll be able to get the help you need. I'm not sure how these things are connected, but some MI can definitely overlap. Some people use alcohol or other substances to cope with their Depression, for example. Do you think that may be your case? I'm so sorry I can't be more helpful to you. I hope I have given you something to think about at least. I hope you'll be able to get the help you need and deserve. Remember that we're here for you if you need it. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous43949, Anonymous46341, bizi
|
Magnate
Member Since Feb 2013
Location: planet earth
Posts: 2,986
11 401 hugs
given |
#3
Yeah I have an addictive personality so I stopped drinking liquor and went to full fledged shopping addiction. I find deals and use coupons...but over a months time I can spend lots of money on amazon and the grocery store.
__________________ Love, Light and Happiness!!! |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous46341, bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
Member
Member Since Jun 2015
Location: Maine
Posts: 281
8 99 hugs
given |
#4
I quit drinking over 4 months ago. Now I find I'm eating and smoking more. I'm already obese and pretty much a chain smoker. My health isn't great but definitely could be worse. When I was drinking I did over eat and smoke a lot but not to this degree.
__________________ Im not crazy, my reality is just different than yours. |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous46341, bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
El Psy Congroo
Member Since Aug 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 5,501
9 4,690 hugs
given |
#5
I used drugs heavily recreationally and became addicted to stimulants for a year. I’m now dealing with alcoholism. I also have long-standing nicotine addiction, now using e-cigarettes, but still a slave to nicotine.
My mum thinks I have an “addictive personality”. I think there is definitely something to the notion that one can be prone to addictions and substitute one for another. I guess some of us are just prone. I think for me it’s somehat down to a lack of impulse control and a liking for mind-altering substances. __________________ The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again... "To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous46341, bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
Bizi is bizi
Member Since Nov 2005
Location: cajun country
Posts: 10,856
18 43.9k hugs
given |
#6
I know that I have an addictive personality.
alcohol, eating and internet. A trifecta. I have been addicted to losing weight. I weighed 190.8 pounds this morning and weighed 137....3 years ago.That is over 50 pounds in 3 years. sigh my poor body. I have even been 123, I was manic and obsessed with dieting. I was sick. I fell down and broke my collar bone and that stopped me from going to the gym and out snapped my mania. I need to be focusing on my paper work....trying hard to not ignore it or procrastinate. I have some charting to do which won't take long. It is hard focusing on this paper work when I think it is stupid, getting doctors orders to give pedicures. But that is the requirement. sigh bizi __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg. |
Reply With Quote |
MickeyCheeky
|
MickeyCheeky
|
Member
Member Since Mar 2019
Location: Montreal
Posts: 117
5 44 hugs
given |
#7
Your case just sounds like a classic case of not knowing where to put all of your excess energy. If you're the type of person that puts 110% into everything you do, that's actually an amazing quality. Channeling that energy into something like exercise, the same way you did for ballet, would not only give you the killer bod of your dreams but it'll help you replace some of your unhealthy addictions with something productive. Or maybe you can start a new hobby like painting or sculpting, playing a new instrument, writing, or even start dancing again! Those are just a couple of ideas.
__________________ "If you don't like something, change it, and if you can't change it, change your attitude." - Maya Angelou |
Reply With Quote |
bizi, MickeyCheeky
|
MickeyCheeky
|
Crone
Member Since May 2010
Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system.
Posts: 71,479
(SuperPoster!)
14 53.7k hugs
given |
#8
Addiction and bipolar is two separate things, often co-morbid but non the less separate. I've often heard that addictive personality will find other things to replace the original addictive object. I've always wondered if anxiety isn't the root problem.
__________________ Nammu …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann |
Reply With Quote |
bizi
|
Poohbah
Member Since Dec 2015
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 1,280
8 136 hugs
given |
#9
I recently read that they have not yet been able to isolate the gene for bipolar, but that what they found so far is one that appears to be tied in with other disorders, and as I recall (really too exhausted today to try to google that, sorry)they mentioned OCD and ADHD. So this might explain that. Ive always been a binge eater and a stress eater particularly craving carbs. They say there is some link between carbs and serotonin. Tho I have serious problems with anxiety,I took almost no xanax or related meds for most of my life because my. Dad was an alcoholic and I feared I would end up addicted. I take xanax only when I am super stressed, but my tolerance for it is so low that even half the lowest dose seems to effect my driving, so I got some 10 mg CBD gummies w no THB (no high)to try but my research suggests that they can effect yr driving so haven’t tried them yet. Just got a new used car so I’m nervous about that.LOL
BOTTOM LINE in my opinion is that I bet this is very common for biological reasons or just that we need an outlet for all the feelings that tend to swamp us. The challenge is to reject the harmful ones and keep things in moderation. I guess how to do that would be different for everyone. __________________ Bipolar 2 with anxious distress mixed states & rapid cycling under severe stress tegretol 200 mg wellbutrin 75 mg, cut in half or higher dose as needed Regular aerobic exercise SKILLSET/KNOWLEDGE BASE: Family Medical Advocate Masters in Library Science Multiple Subject Teaching Credential-15 yrs in public schools Last edited by admin; Mar 31, 2019 at 03:01 PM.. Reason: edited at member request |
Reply With Quote |
bizi
|
bizi
|
Threadtastic Postaholic
Member Since Dec 2018
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 6,006
(SuperPoster!)
5 192 hugs
given |
#10
I am a smoker and a recovering alcoholic. I believe my addictions stem from something genetic combined with trauma and mental illness/adhd.
__________________ "I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society. |
Reply With Quote |
bizi, luvyrself
|
Junior Member
Member Since Feb 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 14
5 |
#11
Very much so. During most of the time I have been using meth and for most of my life, never really got the hype about cigarettes and such. But, then, I got a stressful job that had a generous salary and easy access to cigarettes. Annoyingly, I have not put them down since and I tend to smoke a ton when I am not using. It is just going to make sobering up when the semester ends, an irritating fiasco.
|
Reply With Quote |
bizi
|
sarahsweets
|
Reply |
|