Addiction?

[Kooshdakhaa]

Taking opiates daily for any significant amount of time will cause a physical dependence.


"Addiction" is more of a mental thing than a physical thing, and not really possible to diagnose over the internet.

Actually..................addiction is more of a physical response than it is a mental one.

Ever hear of the DT's? Its a physical response that alcoholics have when they are no longer allowed to drink. Not only can it make them very ill, but it can also cause death, which is why sometimes alcoholics are allowed to be weaned off it.

Never heard of a mental addiction (like shopping, gambling or co-dependency) ever causing someone to almost die.

Crack cocaine has no physical withdrawal symptoms, yet there's no doubt it's an "addiction".

I'm very familiar with the DTs, as well as other forms of physical withdrawal - I spent 2 or 3 years as a certified addictions counselor at an in-patient detox facility - but that physical withdrawal exists in addition to the mental addiction.

The physical detox part of getting clean is the easiest part.

Yeah, it's just like quitting cigarettes. Everyone seems to be pushing nicotine gum and nictotine patches, but actually the nicotine addiction is the easiest part to kick. There are three hooks in addiction to cigarettes...the nicotine addiction, the habit and the psychological addiction. The actual habit and the psychological addiction are by far the hardest to overcome.

It may be pretty much the same for all addictions.

That's also why I quit smoking without nicotine patches or gum. And I'm very glad I did because I know people who quit smoking years ago but they're still chewing on that nicotine gum. : ( Silly.

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Sorry, I'm serial posting here. But I just wanted to mention that my most beloved dog has arthritis in her knee. When it was first diagnosed she was having an obvious problem with it. The vet prescribed pain pills (Meloxicam). I don't like taking pain pills and I didn't like the idea of my dog taking them for the rest of her life, so I did some research. I put her on Glucosamine plus MSM and after talking to my vet I started giving her shots of something called Adequan. It was originally used in horses, but now is also used for canines and humans even use it (body builders in particular, I'm not sure why).

To make a long story short, she no longer needs pain pills and all symptoms are gone. I haven't had a follow-up x-ray done, but Adequan is actually known to improve the joint, not just kill pain. And there are virtually no side effects.

Unfortunately, there is a problem with the manufacturer right now and it isn't available until they get their plant retooled. I have one more dose for Greta, I'll need a dose by September 1, so I hope they get things up and running soon! Although the effects may last a while even if she doesn't get her dose.

My whole point being...well, I guess it's obvious. Just killing the pain with pills wasn't good enough for my dog...I wanted a better solution and I found one. Are pain pills good enough for you, Gracie?

 

[Politico]

Half a Vicodin? You're a lightweight.

 

[MikeK]

Oh, jeez, Noomi! I have been addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. I managed to beat both addictions. But I certainly didn't choose those addictions.

There are people who can drink alcohol and never have a problem, not because of their own self-discipline, but because they are not alcoholics. Alcohol affects alcoholics differently than it affects other people.

I am proud that I beat both of those addictions. I quit drinking by myself, no "rehab," no AA meetings. I had to quit before it completely ruined my life. i struggled for years before I was able to get control. I quit smoking cold turkey after smoking for 30 years, a pack a day or better, and I haven't smoked in over 11 years. Haven't drank in 15 years.

Why in the world would anyone choose those kinds of addictions. They ruin your life and destroy your health. When I started drinking socially as a young woman, I didn't know I was an alcoholic. It isn't my fault that I'm an alcoholic. I'm just lucky I had the personal strength and the right circumstances to help me to quit. I'm not better than others who have not been able to quit.

If you managed to kick both alcohol and nicotine you quite fortunately are not an addictive personality. I smoked for 35 years and managed (with the help of Nicorette gum and Tootsie Roll lollipops) to quit back in '85. So I'm among the fortunate, too.

While it is a medically established fact that susceptibility to alcoholism is a genetically inherited condition I'm not aware of similarly conclusive evidence of a genetic link to other addictions.

We used marijuana quite regularly from the mid-1960s through to early 1980s and both my wife and I quit cold when Ronald Reagan made it a serious crime in 1982. Neither of us experienced any problem in the way of withdrawal, nor did any of our friends who quit along with us. We all miss its pleasant effects but not in any disturbing or seriously unpleasant way. And while I've read and heard from a few others who claim to be addicted to marijuana and experience severe withdrawal symptoms, there is no medical support for claims that marijuana is biologically addictive.

I believe those who imagine they are addicted to marijuana are addictive personalities who are inclined to develop psychological dependence on anything from Pepsi-Cola to jelly beans.

 

[Esmeralda]

I take 1/2 and sometimes a whole vicodin per night and sometimes none. I never take more than one within a 24 hour period because I usually just pop an advil for my joints. The only time I take vicodin is when I am flared up for a week. Then I might wind up taking half of one along with one advil.

Do you consider that an addiction and my needing pain management? Personally, I don't think so. According to my doctor, I am becoming addicted. So I fired him and found a new doctor.

I think addiction and pain management are two different things. I'm not sure I would fire my doctor, but I'd get a second and even third opinion. Only you know, however, if you are honest with yourself, what you need and whether you believe you are addicted or just managing your pain in a reasonable and healthy way. I don't have a pain management problem, so I couldn't say what would be right.

 

[Gracie]

I haven't had a vicodin in about 3 days. No need. When I get super stressed, my RA goes on hiatus. Maybe adrenalin or just flat out sadness is the cure to RA. Who knows. I take a melatonin every night to help me sleep. I no longer take advils because they give me canker sores. Tylenol sucks. So I deal with joint pain by taking hot showers often and resting as much as I can. And moving. Gotta move. If I don't, I stiffen up worse.

I am not a drug addict. I asked because I thought maybe I gave some sign to the doc that he didn't interpret well. My new doctor said I have no problem with them and only need them when I flare up. Just like in the winter I need to wear my uggs instead of going barefoot.

But y'all go ahead and think I am a druggie if you wish.

Shrug.

 

[jon_berzerk]

I haven't had a vicodin in about 3 days. No need. When I get super stressed, my RA goes on hiatus. Maybe adrenalin or just flat out sadness is the cure to RA. Who knows. I take a melatonin every night to help me sleep. I no longer take advils because they give me canker sores. Tylenol sucks. So I deal with joint pain by taking hot showers often and resting as much as I can. And moving. Gotta move. If I don't, I stiffen up worse.

I am not a drug addict. I asked because I thought maybe I gave some sign to the doc that he didn't interpret well. My new doctor said I have no problem with them and only need them when I flare up. Just like in the winter I need to wear my uggs instead of going barefoot.

But y'all go ahead and think I am a druggie if you wish.

Shrug.

Gracie

have you tried remicade infusions

it works wonders

 

[Gracie]

I have declined medication for RA. I was taking the MSM gluc-whateveritscalled but it gave me bad acid reflux so I stopped. The only RA specialist in this county will not see me because I refused to take the Sympony he tried to foist off on me and he refused to discuss alternate and more natural ways. That shit is poison. Hell, all RA meds are poison. And since I said no, can we talk about other suggestions, he got pissed. And I ain't the only one he has done that to here in this town. Fuck him.

The great greats on the wagon trains dealt with it. If they can, I can. But thanks for the advice, hon.

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Oh, jeez, Noomi! I have been addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. I managed to beat both addictions. But I certainly didn't choose those addictions.

There are people who can drink alcohol and never have a problem, not because of their own self-discipline, but because they are not alcoholics. Alcohol affects alcoholics differently than it affects other people.

I am proud that I beat both of those addictions. I quit drinking by myself, no "rehab," no AA meetings. I had to quit before it completely ruined my life. i struggled for years before I was able to get control. I quit smoking cold turkey after smoking for 30 years, a pack a day or better, and I haven't smoked in over 11 years. Haven't drank in 15 years.

Why in the world would anyone choose those kinds of addictions. They ruin your life and destroy your health. When I started drinking socially as a young woman, I didn't know I was an alcoholic. It isn't my fault that I'm an alcoholic. I'm just lucky I had the personal strength and the right circumstances to help me to quit. I'm not better than others who have not been able to quit.

If you managed to kick both alcohol and nicotine you quite fortunately are not an addictive personality. I smoked for 35 years and managed (with the help of Nicorette gum and Tootsie Roll lollipops) to quit back in '85. So I'm among the fortunate, too.

While it is a medically established fact that susceptibility to alcoholism is a genetically inherited condition I'm not aware of similarly conclusive evidence of a genetic link to other addictions.

We used marijuana quite regularly from the mid-1960s through to early 1980s and both my wife and I quit cold when Ronald Reagan made it a serious crime in 1982. Neither of us experienced any problem in the way of withdrawal, nor did any of our friends who quit along with us. We all miss its pleasant effects but not in any disturbing or seriously unpleasant way. And while I've read and heard from a few others who claim to be addicted to marijuana and experience severe withdrawal symptoms, there is no medical support for claims that marijuana is biologically addictive.

I believe those who imagine they are addicted to marijuana are addictive personalities who are inclined to develop psychological dependence on anything from Pepsi-Cola to jelly beans.

I am too an addictive personality. Now food is my addiction. I have to fight that constantly. Food and work. I eat and work all the time. I'm not kidding. I'm all depressed today because my weight is up to 134. 132 is the very top of my normal BMI range. I am now overweight...again.

Yet I ate quite a bit of candy today, did not even try to stick to my diet program.

I am definitely an addictive personality type. I am also very strong, or maybe very stubborn is a better description.

I get addicted to little things all the time, a certain type of lip balm, certain foods, chewing gum. I started drinking chocolate milk recently, really like it, had to stop or it will become an addiction. As a matter of fact, I wish I hadn't thought of it, now I want some.

 

[Gracie]

Try Ensure Chocolate. I love that stuff. But I buy Kroger's Fortify..which is the same thing but a helluvalot cheaper. And it has every mineral and vitamin under the sun in it. No more HUGE horse pills that are called vitamins.

I haven't eaten much this week. Lost about 5 lbs. Right now, I am nibbling on a few m & m's and chain smoking. So yeah. Guess I am an addict after all. Good ol nicotine.

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

I haven't had a vicodin in about 3 days. No need. When I get super stressed, my RA goes on hiatus. Maybe adrenalin or just flat out sadness is the cure to RA. Who knows. I take a melatonin every night to help me sleep. I no longer take advils because they give me canker sores. Tylenol sucks. So I deal with joint pain by taking hot showers often and resting as much as I can. And moving. Gotta move. If I don't, I stiffen up worse.

I am not a drug addict. I asked because I thought maybe I gave some sign to the doc that he didn't interpret well. My new doctor said I have no problem with them and only need them when I flare up. Just like in the winter I need to wear my uggs instead of going barefoot.

But y'all go ahead and think I am a druggie if you wish.

Shrug.

Grace, you shouldn't ask people if they think your pill use is an addiction and then get grumpy because some people think there is a problem.

Besides, it seems like the general consensus was that you don't have a problem! When you get defensive about it...well, some might take that as a warning sign. You're talking to a recovering alcoholic and former smoker here, all the denial is totally beaten out of me.

When I was drinking, most people who were close to me didn't cut me any slack as to whether or not I had a problem. And the people who said I didn't have a problem...well, they were wrong. But I sure liked hearing them say it, back then.

P.S. Don't get mad...I don't think you're an addict. If you were you probably wouldn't be talking about it, know what I mean?

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Try Ensure Chocolate. I love that stuff. But I buy Kroger's Fortify..which is the same thing but a helluvalot cheaper. And it has every mineral and vitamin under the sun in it. No more HUGE horse pills that are called vitamins.

I haven't eaten much this week. Lost about 5 lbs. Right now, I am nibbling on a few m & m's and chain smoking. So yeah. Guess I am an addict after all. Good ol nicotine.

Ensure Chocolate may have vitamins and minerals, but it will still make me fat. : ( If I like it, I'll tend to drink too much of it, which I can't because then I'd be taking in to much of some vitamins.

I just have to use sheer willpower to get myself under control and keep myself under control. I am under a lot of stress right now, so I eat. I've got to get control. I can't stand being fat.

Or drunk. Or smoking.

I think that's why I spend so much time on here lately...it's another addiction. : (

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Gracie, in case you miss it, I added this edit to my other comment:

P.S. Don't get mad...I don't think you're an addict. If you were you probably wouldn't be talking about it, know what I mean?

 

[Gracie]

Sorry. Just...still not myself, Koosh.

{{{{hug}}}}

 

[Gracie]

Try Ensure Chocolate. I love that stuff. But I buy Kroger's Fortify..which is the same thing but a helluvalot cheaper. And it has every mineral and vitamin under the sun in it. No more HUGE horse pills that are called vitamins.

I haven't eaten much this week. Lost about 5 lbs. Right now, I am nibbling on a few m & m's and chain smoking. So yeah. Guess I am an addict after all. Good ol nicotine.

Ensure Chocolate may have vitamins and minerals, but it will still make me fat. : ( If I like it, I'll tend to drink too much of it, which I can't because then I'd be taking in to much of some vitamins.

I just have to use sheer willpower to get myself under control and keep myself under control. I am under a lot of stress right now, so I eat. I've got to get control. I can't stand being fat.

Or drunk. Or smoking.

I think that's why I spend so much time on here lately...it's another addiction. : (

The bottle says drink two a day. I only have mine (just one) with breakfast. Something I eagerly await . Kinda like getting off work and wanting a martini. I don't drink alcoholic beverages..never really have liked the taste. So...I eagerly await my morning breakfast when I get my Fortify Chocolate drink.

I am the opposite with stress. I don't eat at all. Just nibble and I have to force myself to do that.