Substance Abuse Recovery Thread

[abaris]

I find that it affected my personality and I'm still recovering from that. I don't know about the rest of you though.

I never found it affected my personality. Only my general wellbeing.

[Excited Penguin]

I find that it affected my personality and I'm still recovering from that. I don't know about the rest of you though.

I never found it affected my personality. Only my general wellbeing.

Oh, it did, in my case. I have no clue why. But it changed me significantly.

[Thumpalumpacus]

At the risk of sounding terminally unique, I think that each addict is different in his or her addiction.

[Excited Penguin]

At the risk of sounding terminally unique, I think that each addict is different in his or her addiction.

Yes. Definitely. 

I find that my addiction made me incredibly complacent and lazy. The fact that I quit again and again basically after every pack that I finished depressed and stressed me -it never worked. I craved it. If I didn't smoke for too long life started losing meaning. 

This is all still there to an extent. But I'm adjusting. It's getting better. 

I know for a fact it was the smoking because of how much better I feel and how I change after I quit it for long periods of time. I start finding other things rewarding instead. That's an essential part of it too.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yes, finding a positive substitute is crucial for me. After I quit drinking, I took up woodwork, not intensely, but built a speaker-cabinet for my amplifier, and a couple little things for the house. And I resumed songwriting. The latter was and is particularly helpful for me, insofar as not only can I focus my mind away from drinking urges -- which do still happen to me -- but also, when I'm writing the lyrics, I can directly address the issues that feed into my addiction. Dreary listening for others, no doubt, but definitely therapeutic for me.

[Gemini]

Yes, finding a positive substitute is crucial for me. After I quit drinking, I took up woodwork, not intensely, but built a speaker-cabinet for my amplifier, and a couple little things for the house. And I resumed songwriting. The latter was and is particularly helpful for me, insofar as not only can I focus my mind away from drinking urges -- which do still happen to me -- but also, when I'm writing the lyrics, I can directly address the issues that feed into my addiction. Dreary listening for others, no doubt, but definitely therapeutic for me.

A substitute is crucial for me too. Right now that's AA. It's replaced alcohol in my life. I'm in such a vulnerable place right now, I swear to God, if I get out of this without getting religion of some kind, it'll be a miracle. 

Maybe I'll end up with Taoism, like Aegon. I always liked that. And Buddhism of course. Who knows. About the only thing I know is I won't be any kind of baptist.

I used to love to write, before I started drinking. I know a lot of writers were prolific drunks, but not me. I'm gonna try to get back to it when my brain remembers how to do things like sleep and form coherent thoughts.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yeah, I saw enough 12-steppers who replaced the alcohol with the group. More power to 'em, but I can't do it on their premises, which is why I rarely go to AA.

I bet your writing would help. One tool recommended for our recovery toolboxes is journaling. That's a great way to explore and come to grips with the deeper issues which fuel our addictions, and it would get you back into the practice of writing -- a worthwhile goal on its own.

[brewer]

I picked some CBT techniques that helped, especially in the beginning.

Socratic questioning helped also.

[abaris]

if I get out of this without getting religion of some kind, it'll be a miracle. 

Religion, as I said before, never factored in my life. Not even when sitting at my parent's death beds. I'm usually not a boots straps guy, but if it is about overcoming one's very personal problems I am. It's all about the individual situation and the major problem in any individual's life. These are as many as there are individuals. So I would never go out and tell someone do this or that to make you feel better.

For me it's peace of mind. I know that's what I'm looking for. That little personal space where outside influences no longer affect me as they do now. For other person's it's probably something different.

[brewer]

 if I get out of this without getting religion of some kind, it'll be a miracle. 

Be aware of the cult behavior in AA. There are those that will tempt you. And they disguise it well.