Poll: Have you ever been addicted to something [Poll]

[barbzilla]

I had a friend recently who had a bout of addiction with Opiates. We managed to successfully get him off of the painkillers, but it wasn't easy. He ended up going through horribly withdraws that made him sick and irritable. Many times a day he would vomit and go through what could only be described as flu like symptoms that made him so miserable. The sickness made him get so irritable to the point that he was cursing everyone out, including myself and his mother (the only two friends he really has). This was with the assistance of suboxone as well (a medication meant to help ease the withdraw symptoms and assist patients trying to get cleaned up).

As some of you may know, I used to be very heavy into drugs. To the point that I would do many different drugs multiple times a day. I have done everything from Pot to Heroin and I never got addicted to anything, though I should have. The same thing can be said of alcohol when I was in college, and cigarettes which I smoked from age 14-26. I was able to quit everything cold turkey without any side effects, so I can't empathize with any of his effects.

So I was wondering if any of the escapists have ever had a major addiction that caused withdraws when they quit, and how they felt during the withdraws. The aim of this is to help my friend stay off of the drugs, and to help comfort him as he continues to have some minor withdraw effects.

So please let me know what went on through your mind as you were going through withdraws, what you did to help ease those thoughts, and what you have done to stay off the drug you were addicted to.

 

[dmase]

Well I thought this was purely a simple answer thread so I put still addicted, but ugh obviously not as seriously as your friend. I smoke cigarettes and am in the process of quitting, withdrawal is usually just head aches irritability and it seems to fuck up my sleep schedule but that happens to me whether I'm smoking or not. Obviously nothing compared to opiate withdrawal.

For me it works best to get my mind on other things. Keep busy because you don't have time to think about how much you want something. Of course a lot about smoking is heavily psychological not as much chemically.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Subutex (Buprenorphine) as part of a phased withdrawal. Wasn't really a problem, spent 3 days thinking I was going to start feeling like crap soon but never did. Very lethargic physically and mentally for months afterwards though. I did an MSc to help give me something to get off it for but ended up quitting due to the aforementioned long term withdrawal effects. I should have stayed on the Subbies, in hindsight the MSc was more important. Anyway, after that I moved in above my old dealer, lulz ensued, now I get a Diamorphine script so I'm happy as Larry.

 

[Rawne1980]

I smoke that's about it.

Other than that, I might as well face it i'm addicted to love .... couldn't help it, sorry.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I WAS addicted to caffeine throughout most of my teenage years, sinking down AT MINIMUM four cans of soda a day. I stopped drinking at that rate two years ago. I only occasionally have a soda, and that's only when I go out, which isn't often. Hell, I haven't had that stuff in a month now. When I was stemming the consumption I did occasionally get rather big headaches, but nothing an aspirin couldn't handle.

 

[mitchell271]

I had a caffeine addiction for a couple of months. I'd get migraines in the morning until I had a cup of coffee. I quit (with the help of painkillers) and now I only drink caffeine if I'm pulling an all-nighter.

 

[redknightalex]

Not sure how to vote. I drink my tea every morning, have soda over the weekends, and do have headaches if I don't drink some tea/caffeine in the morning later on in the day. So, slight caffeine addiction. I also am physically addiction to drugs that are prescribed to me for anxiety. It isn't that I want to take them (other than to keep me level, I'd rather do it naturally) but getting off some drugs is a hell all its own.

So, am I addicted to what you would normally call "drugs" (illegal, non-prescription) then not really.

Am I addicted to some sort of substance? Yes, although mostly for my own good...if that makes sense.

I guess your options really only seems to cover the "drugs" culture deems as unworthy, ie smoking, opiates, etc.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I suppose you could argue I'm addicted to caffeine in the sense that when I don't have it I do get withdrawal symptoms(headaches, fatigue, etc) but really I don't feel compelled to have caffeine beyond that, and the amount of time it would take to detox 100% is only about two weeks... so it's not really much of an addiction.

Aside from that, I've had a fair bit of nicotine and I don't ever feel like I need to have it. I've smoked plenty of weed but I don't anymore and I was never addicted. I drink every couple weeks or so and I never feel I need to... I just generally don't get addicted to things. If anything I'm more addicted to the behavioural habits of procrastination than any substance. My procrastination is pretty bad though...

 

[Esotera]

The nearest I've probably been was Temazepam (holy shit, what an awesome drug). I've never really kept up with anything long enough to get addicted to it, I'll generally recognise when I've been using too much and try and cut down, or at least be aware of it.

My ex used to be addicted to codeine, and I didn't even really know it at the time. I suppose there are a lot more high-functioning addicts than the typical stereotype.

 

[EeveeElectro]

I can't go a day without caffeine but I'm not sure if that's an addiction. I don't drink 5 cups of coffee a day but I usually need a cup or an energy drink to perk myself up and stop feeling sick. I'm trying to stop drinking fizzy drinks, haven't had any today and won't have any tomorrow. I cut them out completely a few years ago and felt really good.

I usually have to take a painkiller a day because of various aches and pains, not sure if it's me being addicted or just having an achey body.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I have an alcoholic ex, and I'm sorry to say, there is only so much you can do for them. It is the person in question who should have the drive to struggle with their addiction. Most who don't either are in severe denial or simply victimize themselves thinking they can't get over it. You should present it your friend as such: dude, it really boils down to you taking the reins of this thing. Staging an intervention helps too but the bottom line is, either the person has the will to overcome addiction, or doesn't. The best you can do is clearly present the case.

 

[Colour Scientist]

Fags would be the main one, I suppose.

I'm so boring.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I can't go a day without caffeine but I'm not sure if that's an addiction. I don't drink 5 cups of coffee a day but I usually need a cup or an energy drink to perk myself up and stop feeling sick. I'm trying to stop drinking fizzy drinks, haven't had any today and won't have any tomorrow. I cut them out completely a few years ago and felt really good.

I usually have to take a painkiller a day because of various aches and pains, not sure if it's me being addicted or just having an achey body.

I hope your plan to cut down on the fizzy drinks works out. I cut them out of my diet and I've been losing the excess weight pretty consistently since then, though I've gotta get in some more exercise(DAMN YOU WINTER! STAHP BEING SOO COLD!). You'll definitely feel a bit of pain at first, but that'll wear off as you become less dependent on the stuff.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

I had a friend recently who had a bout of addiction with Opiates. We managed to successfully get him off of the painkillers, but it wasn't easy. He ended up going through horribly withdraws that made him sick and irritable. Many times a day he would vomit and go through what could only be described as flu like symptoms that made him so miserable. The sickness made him get so irritable to the point that he was cursing everyone out, including myself and his mother (the only two friends he really has). This was with the assistance of suboxone as well (a medication meant to help ease the withdraw symptoms and assist patients trying to get cleaned up).

Just wondering how much Suboxone he was on when he stopped completely? Because it shouldn't be that bad at all if they've taken you down to the right amount. It doesn't ease withdrawal symptoms, it's just that since it's a prescription they can slowly lower the dose so that in the end the amount you're on isn't a real problem to come off. Otherwise the active opiate ingredient is about 40x stronger than oral morphine gram for gram.

As for keeping off, he needs to find something else he wants to do and enjoys. That's down to him. Also food. General lethargy can be a big problem and it takes a while to get an appetite back, or at least be bothered to go out to buy/cook/eat food, which leads to increase lethargy etc etc. It might also be wise to cut links with certain circles of friends, depending on the whys and wherefores.

Also, be prepared for your efforts to fail.

 

[Vault101]

I WAS addicted to caffeine throughout most of my teenage years, sinking down AT MINIMUM four cans of soda a day. I stopped drinking at that rate two years ago. I only occasionally have a soda, and that's only when I go out, which isn't often. Hell, I haven't had that stuff in a month now. When I was stemming the consumption I did occasionally get rather big headaches, but nothing an aspirin couldn't handle.

what kind of "soda" are you talking about? a regular coke as bugger all caffine in it

I'm addicted to energy drinks, tried and faild to give up....nowdays I have less and switched to sugar free..lesser of two evils

 

[geK0]

Mild caffeine addiction..... but voted "no" because I'm sure the OP isn't asking whether I like to have coffee and/or energy drinks in the morning

 

[geK0]

Fags would be the main one, I suppose.

I'm so boring.

For a moment I thought you meant you were addicted to gay men

then I remembered "fag" means "cigarette" in the UK

 

[an annoyed writer]

I WAS addicted to caffeine throughout most of my teenage years, sinking down AT MINIMUM four cans of soda a day. I stopped drinking at that rate two years ago. I only occasionally have a soda, and that's only when I go out, which isn't often. Hell, I haven't had that stuff in a month now. When I was stemming the consumption I did occasionally get rather big headaches, but nothing an aspirin couldn't handle.

what kind of "soda" are you talking about? a regular coke as bugger all caffine in it

I'm addicted to energy drinks, tried and faild to give up....nowdays I have less and switched to sugar free..lesser of two evils

Mountain Dew, which has a higher caffeine content than your average Coke. Easy to get addicted when you sink down half of a twelve-pack a day. Had energy drinks when that wasn't enough.