[bluevixen]

i need to talk about this...but it makes sense in my mind but when it comes out my mouth it sounds different..i kicked booze 7/20/95...the way i look at it that is great..and separate from my other addictions...i need to know why we replace one addiction for another...WHY DO I DO THAT?...why can't i face life head on and deal with my crap...i need feedback please...i'm really struggling...i have been away from PC for a few months and i miss it...i need the support...i've been isolating myself...it don't feel good anymore..i know anything can be a addiction..but where do we draw the line between normal hobbies and unhealthy behavior.?....i'm obessive about what i do...i have dual diagnosis..that's hard to live with...

[mel4]

(((((((((((Blue)))))))))))

Just know that you're not alone. I'm not too great with words or advice, but I know that there are others that are perhaps a little more experienced/have a greater ability to respond. Please hang in there.

Mel

[Cyran0]

blue, I can't speak to your dx but I can speak to your addiction question. I have an addictive personality. If I truly find pleasure in something I have an amazing capacity to abuse it to the point of very real dependency. This sucks and does make life complicated.

So how do I deal? One day at a time. I step back, ask myself a simple question, and adjust. The question is, "is this healthy?"

What I like about this question is that addiction issues aside, it helps with life in general and guides me toward better choices.

Now make no mistake, I'm no saint. Far from it. I don't make perfect choices and I'm no puritan. But it is harder for me to make the same bad choices over and over again when asking this question on a regular basis. And if a behavior is getting out of hand (i.e., I'm putting my need for something above, say, the needs of my family) I apply the same coping mechanism I use for drugs to that behavior.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Cyran0

[splitimage]

I think a lot of addictions stems from maladaptive coping mechanisms. I was a workaholic for years. Then I started cutting. Stopped that and started abusing alcohol, stopped drinking and started abusing benzos. The common theme not wanting to deal with my emotions, trying to fiill an emptiness inside, and running from the fact that I didn't really like myself very much. Now I'm extremely careful with my anti-anxiety meds to make sure I'm not abusing them, I don't gamble because I can see myself getting addicted to that. But more importantly with therapy and a lot of work in AA I've been able to start facing my emotions more. I still have that empty feeling sometimes but I just try and handle it one day at a time.

--splitimage

[StarPonysMama]

Today is my 26th day that I have not had a drink. I too, used addiction to cover up feelings. I tell people now that I am sober that when I drank - alcohol could "cure" any emotion in my mind. I drank because I was happy, sad, mad, hurt, scared, and stressed. Then I developed a crazy computer addiction. It was weird. Almost like a I had to have an obsession with something to cover up the other.

Totally understand where you are coming from.

I never joined AA just because of my time schedule but, I did read about their program. I found the 24 hour thing to be helpful. I got rid of my computer addiction. I don't limit myself to anything but I try to do everything in moderation. It's kinda like a diet of the brain. If I was having cravings to drink or obsess on the computer, or whatever else, I would stop, step back, take a look, curve my behavior to something healthier and tell myself "24 hours". Before you know it, that 24 turns into 48 or 72.

Just a thought. Hope it helps!

And I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM!