Anyone Here Been Addicted To Drugs Or Alcohol And Overcome?

[mikemarrs]

Anyone Here Been Addicted To Drugs Or Alcohol And Overcome?

Probably baring my soul on this one but i think its time.I've told the story before of how back in the late 90's i beat addictions to drinking,drugs and a three pack a day cigarette habit.Well two years later with guard down i encountered another obstacle although i did not know it then.Back about ten years ago i had a real bad wreck and got addicted to painkillers which i still have a problem with ten years later.I defeated all those demons only to let another one overpower me but i will say this.I have never encountered anything harder to quit than what i'm doing now.I've tried and dozens of occasions but i fell short.Its not the kind of thing where i'm having trouble paying bills or robbing family or anything but i'm just disgusted i let it get this far.Its also the fact that you know your a better person but you get weak and it gets the best of you.There is an epidemic right now all over the country because of this problem.

I'm wondering does anyone have any words of advice or things that could help?

[steveo777]

Sounds like you've taken the first step - Admission. I also know enough to know that one rarely goes it alone. Help is out there, if you really want it, but you have to want it. I'm no experty by any means, but I at least know what I just said.

[Rip Rokken]

My heart is with you Mike, and I wish I be more of a help. I just recently decided 100% sobriety was no longer of value to me, and I don't (yet) regret it. Matter o' fact, I'm in an Irish tavern as we speak enjoying a mighty fine Spaten Oktoberfest.

If it's to the point it's affecting your life in a negative way, don't try to fight it alone. Find a group for sure, because you'll meet a ton of people who can relate to your struggle in every way. Feel free to PM me anytime if you want to talk.

[AR]

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds it might incriminate me.

Wish everyone the best in their struggles with any and all vices of course.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Check for a Narcotics Anonymous in your area, good luck to you

[Yoda]

Hey Mike!

Kudos to you for being strong and willing to admit to your addictions. I would check out your local substance abuse outpatient agencies in your area. I'm not sure where you live, but in several states, you have Community Service Boards that provides mental health and substance abuse services - those are usually non-profit and will work with insurance companies. I'm sure you also have private agencies as well that will provide the service, although I'm not sure if they're higher in cost or not. Either way, I'd definitely not hesitate in getting help.

[Peartree12249]

Admitting you have a problem is the first step. You may need some medical help in safely detoxing from the medication. This could have very serious consequences if you try to do it alone, so please get medical help. Then get into a good 12-step based inpatient or outpatient rehab program. Finally join a good 12-step program. If you don't have NA where you live go to AA. Chemical addiction is all the same, so any 12-step program will use the same principles. All the others are based off of AA anyway. Good luck and God bless!

[yulog]

Getting better is either an act of inspiration or desperation. Here's hoping you can find something that inspires you.

[mikemarrs]

The thing that is dangerous is it all starts out being fun.There for a good while you don't think anything is wrong because everything happens gradually and slowly.You wake up one day and instead of one helping you now need two and instead of waiting three or four hours between taking things you only wait two or three hours.Then you also notice as time goes by you start isolating yourself even if its watching television or being online.You start spending less time with family and friends and then things start revolving around your problem you have created.Later in the future i'll open up more about it and its not pretty.I've done enough medication to kill two or three grown men a couple times over.I'm in a phase right now where i'm weaning myself down plus trying to get myself to the point where i can function without depending on it.Might be a very long process but i think i can do it.It has definitely put a strain on relationships as well.I've lost touch with my best friend the last ten years and i've even had people here invite me to things but i'll admit now this is the reason i've been unable to do a lot of it.

Thanks Rip and everyone here for the encouragement.

[Red13JoePa]

I'm addicted to booze and sex with no desire to overcome either.

[Seven Wishes2]

Painkiller addiction is a MUCH different thing than a recreational drug addiction. I have far more sympathy and empathy for those who suffer from the former, and very little for the latter.

[mikemarrs]

Thought i'd update everyone on how things were going.I've been gone a good while as most of you can tell i wrote the original post about my fight with these demons in late November/Early December and here about a week ago was going to update this and i was stunned when instead i read about Dean.As you all know we both had our issues with pain medication and we used to PM each other quite a bit with how hard of a struggle it was.We were both fighting those damn demons and i heard he was doing quite well fighting his up until he had the heart attack that claimed his life.

It took me up until January 26,2012 to totally and absolutely defeat the problem i had.I am now in a recovery program and i go to this place everyday and they help me out and i do meetings and things.I've been sober since January 26,2012.I had this addiction for over eleven years and especially over the last year or two it got really ugly with me spending a lot of money,falling behind on rent and also borrowing money from various payday loan places up until i was a good 3 to 4 thousand dollars in debt.I was very close to losing my family and also my life because i was taking a huge amount of medication but my tolerance was through the roof.I come very close to OD and had a couple blackout spells but what finally convinced me was i was killing myself and my girlfriend of fifteen years told me that between all the debt we had plus my habit that she had to leave me until i got help.Well she told me this right around Christmas so she didn't leave and i kept on doing the pills about another month or so up until one day i just decided it was going to end up killing me.I was dying and i knew it.My whole family told me after i got in recovery that when i was on pills there at the end they were all waiting to get that dreaded phone call.My girlfriend used to lay awake at night and watch my breathing.I was that bad.


I finally broke down one morning after the kids left for school and told her to get on the phone and find me help which she did bless her heart.I got around 3 thousand dollars back on my tax returns and every single dime went to paying off all the debt i incurred from borrowing money for the pills plus the money to start me in a recovery program.i literally had about twenty bucks left once i paid off all my debts and started the recovery program.Thank god i got help its the best thing i ever did and it saved my life and i didn't lose my family which includes my seven year old daughter and six year old son.I felt bad about all the debt i put us in especially around christmas but i got help from someone here and i'll never forget that persons help especially at such a critical point in time.I'm just glad i got help and i'm thankful that i made it through and each day i try to make the best of each and every day.

[Behshad]

Check for a Narcotics Anonymous in your area, good luck to you

I dont think hookin him up with secret drug dealers is a step towards the right direction!

[Behshad]

Thought i'd update everyone on how things were going.I've been gone a good while as most of you can tell i wrote the original post about my fight with these demons in late November/Early December and here about a week ago was going to update this and i was stunned when instead i read about Dean.As you all know we both had our issues with pain medication and we used to PM each other quite a bit with how hard of a struggle it was.We were both fighting those damn demons and i heard he was doing quite well fighting his up until he had the heart attack that claimed his life.

It took me up until January 26,2012 to totally and absolutely defeat the problem i had.I am now in a recovery program and i go to this place everyday and they help me out and i do meetings and things.I've been sober since January 26,2012.I had this addiction for over eleven years and especially over the last year or two it got really ugly with me spending a lot of money,falling behind on rent and also borrowing money from various payday loan places up until i was a good 3 to 4 thousand dollars in debt.I was very close to losing my family and also my life because i was taking a huge amount of medication but my tolerance was through the roof.I come very close to OD and had a couple blackout spells but what finally convinced me was i was killing myself and my girlfriend of fifteen years told me that between all the debt we had plus my habit that she had to leave me until i got help.Well she told me this right around Christmas so she didn't leave and i kept on doing the pills about another month or so up until one day i just decided it was going to end up killing me.I was dying and i knew it.My whole family told me after i got in recovery that when i was on pills there at the end they were all waiting to get that dreaded phone call.My girlfriend used to lay awake at night and watch my breathing.I was that bad.


I finally broke down one morning after the kids left for school and told her to get on the phone and find me help which she did bless her heart.I got around 3 thousand dollars back on my tax returns and every single dime went to paying off all the debt i incurred from borrowing money for the pills plus the money to start me in a recovery program.i literally had about twenty bucks left once i paid off all my debts and started the recovery program.Thank god i got help its the best thing i ever did and it saved my life and i didn't lose my family which includes my seven year old daughter and six year old son.I felt bad about all the debt i put us in especially around christmas but i got help from someone here and i'll never forget that persons help especially at such a critical point in time.I'm just glad i got help and i'm thankful that i made it through and each day i try to make the best of each and every day.

Youve been through a lot, but youre on the right tracks. You will be just fine my friend !

[mikemarrs]

Thought i'd update everyone on how things were going.I've been gone a good while as most of you can tell i wrote the original post about my fight with these demons in late November/Early December and here about a week ago was going to update this and i was stunned when instead i read about Dean.As you all know we both had our issues with pain medication and we used to PM each other quite a bit with how hard of a struggle it was.We were both fighting those damn demons and i heard he was doing quite well fighting his up until he had the heart attack that claimed his life.

It took me up until January 26,2012 to totally and absolutely defeat the problem i had.I am now in a recovery program and i go to this place everyday and they help me out and i do meetings and things.I've been sober since January 26,2012.I had this addiction for over eleven years and especially over the last year or two it got really ugly with me spending a lot of money,falling behind on rent and also borrowing money from various payday loan places up until i was a good 3 to 4 thousand dollars in debt.I was very close to losing my family and also my life because i was taking a huge amount of medication but my tolerance was through the roof.I come very close to OD and had a couple blackout spells but what finally convinced me was i was killing myself and my girlfriend of fifteen years told me that between all the debt we had plus my habit that she had to leave me until i got help.Well she told me this right around Christmas so she didn't leave and i kept on doing the pills about another month or so up until one day i just decided it was going to end up killing me.I was dying and i knew it.My whole family told me after i got in recovery that when i was on pills there at the end they were all waiting to get that dreaded phone call.My girlfriend used to lay awake at night and watch my breathing.I was that bad.


I finally broke down one morning after the kids left for school and told her to get on the phone and find me help which she did bless her heart.I got around 3 thousand dollars back on my tax returns and every single dime went to paying off all the debt i incurred from borrowing money for the pills plus the money to start me in a recovery program.i literally had about twenty bucks left once i paid off all my debts and started the recovery program.Thank god i got help its the best thing i ever did and it saved my life and i didn't lose my family which includes my seven year old daughter and six year old son.I felt bad about all the debt i put us in especially around christmas but i got help from someone here and i'll never forget that persons help especially at such a critical point in time.I'm just glad i got help and i'm thankful that i made it through and each day i try to make the best of each and every day.

Youve been through a lot, but youre on the right tracks. You will be just fine my friend !

Thanks!! i'm definitely hoping that things will be fine and i'll be able to stay on the straight path.

[StevePerryHair]

Good luck to you! You've taken the first steps, which is tough! I'm sure you can do it, just taking one day at a time!

[Behshad]

I'm addicted to booze and sex with no desire to overcome either.

Well I dont think the farm animals are as enthused about your sex addiction as you seem to be. Maybe they'd feel differently if you'd share the booze with them before the act :lol:

[Michigan Girl]

Mikey, I've always said you were one deep pool ...much respect ^^^here.
Only good thoughts/wishes and prayers for you.

[Peartree12249]

Remember it took you 11 years to get to where you hit bottom. You're not going to fix everything overnight. But it sounds like your heart and head are in the right place. Keep your priorities straight. Your continued sobriety needs to always come first. Good luck!

[conversationpc]

I've never had a drug or alcohol problem. In fact, I've never been drunk or high in my life. However, I'm definitely a compulsive overeater and that's just as much of a vice as any, the only difference being that you can't quite stop eating food, can you?

[mgstar1964]

Mike,

Congratulations on your newfound sobriety - I'm proud of you for finally having the guts to overcome your additions and face your struggles head-on ... that was half the battle right there ...

Continued prayers and positive energy going out to you to help you stay on your positive track - don't ever give up

Best Regards,

Michael

[Peartree12249]

I've never had a drug or alcohol problem. In fact, I've never been drunk or high in my life. However, I'm definitely a compulsive overeater and that's just as much of a vice as any, the only difference being that you can't quite stop eating food, can you?

Ding ding ding ding!!! Boy, I can totally relate! Well, not about the drug and alcohol part I drank and drugged plenty but I got sick of it and stopped no problem. Now food is another story.

[Angel]

I've been sober since January 26,2012

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

You are amazing!!! It takes a very strong person to recognize the problem AND seek out help. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back!!!! (and maybe a cupcake!)

[mikemarrs]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes!!

The strange thing about me is for many many years i was a night owl and i'd be up every night until 3 or 4 am in the morning pretty much every night.Well since i have gotten sober and i have to go to the recovery center every day i go to bed every night around 7 or 8pm and i get up around 4 or 5am in the morning.I like my new hours very much and now i am able to see my kids off to school every day which used to be something my gal took care of and i now participate in which is pretty cool.Me and her will be together fifteen years in June and we have never married and as long as it ain't broke i don't try to fix it so we are fine in that regard.We are both very happy and we have a seven year old daughter and six year old son.One thing i always did even when i was not sober was i always spent time with my kids so no regrets there at all.The main thing i do regret is i did kind of isolate myself and did not leave the house much.When people get on drugs they do tend to be paranoid or keep to themselves and i was no exception.Well i'm better now about getting appointments and stuff done instead of canceling things which i used to do quite often.I feel much healthier now not just physically but mentally also.

[mikemarrs]

One thing i meant to add is it is hard when you have life changing things happen to you so you are not able to do some of things you did for so long.For instance i know Dan just got out of the hospital for clots and if he did end up not being able to drink alcohol that would definitely change things if he had to leave it alone or even cut down on it.I did a lot of things back in the 90's and one thing i loved was to drink but i started having seizures so once i got on dilantin for a while for my seizures i had to stop.After a couple years i stopped taking the seizure medication because i knew the only reason i started having the seizures was because i was drinking an ungodly amount of whiskey and beer not to mention doing other things like cocaine which was stupid of me but i stopped all of that forever back in 1999 then in 2001 after a couple years sober i started taking pain pills and that was the only drug i was on but after a couple years i was hooked and been that way until this year when i finally got help.Anyway since i stopped taking this pain medication a couple months back i have had to find other things to do to fill that void.Sometimes me and the kids play board games or i'll go for a walk it just depends.Its definitely a challenge at times to find things to do but i eventually find something to occupy my time.

[SilvioRodrigues]

Mike,

It's good to know you're doing well. I think the most important thing was the admission that you needed help. My father suffered with alchoolism but he refused to ask for help and didn't let anybody to help him. We tried to do our best to help but unfortunately he was determinated to destroy himself. And he did, almost 20 years ago. He was only 50.

I'm glad you can look around and see your family taking care of you. It's a great reward and a strong motivation to keep straight.

Congrats!

[Liam]

This is NOT easy. If I have any advice for the first month...SWEETS. That's how I handled it.

[verslibre]

I didn't have any caffeine between noon and 7PM and it was awful!!!

[Andrew]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes!!
.

Let me add mine to those Mike. Good man and stay strong.

[mikemarrs]

Thanks Andrew and everyone

I left out something i didn't tell everyone but i did tell Rip in a PM here a week or so ago.I've been having these heart palpitations or arrithymias and they are driving me up the wall.A couple weeks back there for about thirty minutes my heart got so out of wack i called 911 and that they gave me nitro and some other stuff in the back of the ambulance.The guy in the ambulance had me hooked to the machine and my heart monitor readings were all over the place.Well i get to the hospital and they say that i was drinking way too much caffeine and my potassium was real low.Well right after my hospital trip i go buy a shitload of bananas and some potassium pills from the vitamin store.Anyway i wake up this morning and it is happening again.I don't know i go from frightened one minute to irritated the next.I wonder if i am now paying the price or paying my debts for all the pills i was taking.All i am wanting is to be well now i am scared there may be damage from the years i did all the partying.I think i may set up something with a cardiologist and just pray and wish me luck i just hope a bigger battle isn't looming over the horizon.