After experiencing

[yippeeciayay]

After experiencing the program for a while do you feel cigarettes should be included in
"Mind and Mood altering chemicals?"

[windysan]

oh jesus

[Inspiringmind]

If you thought so, 90% of the people in the program wouldn't have any clean time.....ever.

[yippeeciayay]

hmmm, if one thinks that way then, maybe they dont... lol
please dont take it personal,
its been an issue for decades, just wondering how others feel.

i didnt say how i felt!!
its just for converstation.

[yippeeciayay]

"""oh jesus"""

lol ...this is NOT a religious program... Jus Funnin with ya

[windysan]

Originally Posted by yippeeciayay

"""oh jesus"""

lol ...this is NOT a religious program... Jus Funnin with ya

he he. i shoulda said "oh higher power of my own understanding and whatnot"

[Barto]

Well sugar may actually be considered a food.

Hey Windy, what’s a nice guy like you doin’ in a place like this?

[REZ]

Nicotine is a mind/mood altering chemical. So is caffeine. So is cocaine. So is marijuana, LSD, etc. But also, so is sugar, chocolate...

But you've got to draw the line somewhere. What I need to look at is the first step:
Am I powerless over caffeine and does it make my life unmanageable?

I don't consider myself powerless over caffeine and in some ways it makes my life more more manageable, even though it does affect my mood.
For example, if it is after about 3 pm, I won't drink another cup of coffee, even if someone offers me some great coffee. I usually stick to about 2 cups a day. Coffee helps me concentrate on my work. When I used other drugs, I couldn't say no. If someone said, want to get high, I would say, you bet. I would also give in and had no willpower. Also, I wouldn't stop at 1 or 2 or whatever. I would keep on using and using. Caffeine is not that way with me. Concerning unmanageability, when I was using other drugs, I was out of control, irresponsible, immoral (stealing, lying, etc.). Caffeine doesn't do that to me.

[GlassPrisoner]

Originally Posted by windysan

he he. i shoulda said "oh higher power of my own understanding and whatnot"

He He.

"A higher power of my own understanding, whom I choose to call God"

18 Syllables

"God"

One Syllable

Easier that way.......

[Sugah]

Originally Posted by Barto

Well sugar may actually be considered a food.

Hey Windy, what’s a nice guy like you doin’ in a place like this?

The smartass in me really wants make a comment about the ex-husbands and ex-fiances who are recovering from their Sugah addiction....

But I won't!!!



Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Barto]

Originally Posted by Sugah

The smartass in me really wants make a comment about the ex-husbands and ex-fiances who are recovering from their Sugah addiction....

But I won't!!!



Peace & Love,
Sugah

Oh the fun I’d like to have with the words in this thread could get me kicked off this website.

[Sugah]

*snicker*

[Barto]

Snickers? I must refrain! I must refrain! I must refrain! …

On the serious side, I am going to stay out of the caffeine / nicotine issue (for now). I just wanted to say hi to Windy and perhaps poke a little fun at the inconsistency of the “nothing from the neck up” statement I hear at so many meetings these days, spoken by guys and gals who would just fall apart if you took their cigarettes and coffee away from them (never mind our Sugah, food, sex, and various other live addictions). I tried to insert a smiling thing here, Sugah, but I guess I forgot how.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by yippeeciayay

After experiencing the program for a while do you feel cigarettes should be included in
"Mind and Mood altering chemicals?"

Of course they are. take a cigarette away from me and I would go NUTS although I am a little crazy anyways. Caffeine well don't have a opinion really on that I do however love my coffee always have. Now lets get down with this and what do you feel about anti-d's they are mood and mind altering!

[Sugah]

I didn't mean to divert the thread. I realize that especially nicotine can make one's life unmanageable (I'm struggling with that right now).

I have a retort for those who've pointed out that my coffee drinking and cigarette smoking are inconsistent with recovery from addiction: "I have never compromised my morals for a pack of Newport, nor have I ever rolled anyone for a pound of Columbian roast." It's admittedly glib, and I know that they both have consequences; however, I consider myself clean even while partaking of them. I do not sneak to the bathroom for a quick smoke in non-smoking establishments or argue with anyone about non-smoking homes or cars I visit/ride in. I accept the headache I get if I miss my morning coffee as a consequence I can live with. When I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired of these things, I will change. I do not believe that either one will send me back to my DOC (more).

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Inspiringmind]

Originally Posted by Inspiringmind

If you thought so, 90% of the people in the program wouldn't have any clean time.....ever.

Ok, I thought I would add more to the conversation besides the hooky I put originally.

First Coffee...I have one cup of coffee in the morning...ok maybe it's two cups technically, cause that's what it measures on my coffee pot. On a rare day I will have a second one later in the day. If I don't have coffee I get a headache. Of course I don't go out of my way to make sure I have coffee, I won't rob someone for coffee.

Cigarettes... If I don't have a cigerette I will become a raving womanly dog. If I am down to a pack I will go out of my way to go get another pack. It is controlling my life and I just can't stop. If I am in a resturant or other place where I can't smoke, the second I step outside I light one up. Gotta have it. I tried to quit 3 times last year...patches, gums and those other things that start with an L that I can't spell. On Wednesday I am going to my doctor and asking for Chantix. My insurance will pay for one quit smoking method a year and this is the one I want. Kinda like being on methadone. It blocks some reseptors in my brain. But that's probably what I need to stop smoking. I have admitted that it is bad for me, but I still can't stop. Hopefully in about a week I will be able to though.

[Barto]

Originally Posted by Sugah

I didn't mean to divert the thread. I realize that especially nicotine can make one's life unmanageable (I'm struggling with that right now).

I have a retort for those who've pointed out that my coffee drinking and cigarette smoking are inconsistent with recovery from addiction: "I have never compromised my morals for a pack of Newport, nor have I ever rolled anyone for a pound of Columbian roast." It's admittedly glib, and I know that they both have consequences; however, I consider myself clean even while partaking of them. I do not sneak to the bathroom for a quick smoke in non-smoking establishments or argue with anyone about non-smoking homes or cars I visit/ride in. I accept the headache I get if I miss my morning coffee as a consequence I can live with. When I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired of these things, I will change. I do not believe that either one will send me back to my DOC (more).

Peace & Love,
Sugah

Boy, I just got back to posting on this site and I’m in trouble already! Damn.

I liked the diversion (best part of the thread in my opinion). I don’t have anything against anyone doing anything really. Whatever works. Actually, I am somewhat jealous. I had to quit smoking because of bronchial and lung problems; and I recently felt I had to quit coffee (which I really miss) because I think it has been causing me anxiety. I envy those that can enjoy coffee.

The point I was trying to make is that the expression “nothing from the neck up” is inaccurate. That’s all. Caffeine and nicotine are mind altering chemicals. That is a fact. And these statements against all mind altering chemicals may even be dangerous for people who need medication for illnesses. I wasn’t trying to criticize anyone for enjoying a little nicotine or caffeine, etc. I wish I could join you. Well, for coffee anyway. I don’t miss cigarettes at all.

BTW, I consider you clean Sugah. It’s all relative. Peace & Love to you, too.

[yippeeciayay]

thanks for all your replies, theyre what allows me to come to my own understanding of what "I" need" to feel comfortable.
i listen to you all and try to take what i need.
Vic you asked, what about anti-d's....
first, i'll address the smokes and this is only "my" own opinion and should not be taken as anything else.
i mean, what the___ do i know??
i just do things in this program to help me feel more in control of whats going on in my life...to gain some managability.
now when i look at ciggs, i came to the conclusion that, though unmanagability is not readily appearent,
how managble would my life be "WHEN" i get cancer. i would lose any control over my future the same
way i lost control over drugs. i would become powerless. and just like drugs, it takes time to see the consequences.
i smoked 2 packs a day for 35 years and gave them up 6 years ago because i knew they
were what i used at that time as my crutch. it was my stress buster instead of dealing with the stesses of life.
L on L's terms....
as for anti- ds, "personal opinion">>, thats all. >>my sponsor doesnt agree with me, yet, im ok with that today also.
my opinion against his may be fear based as i have witnessed his belief first hand yet still feel that feeling
of fear when it comes to these matters.
the way i see it is
the idea of this program is to remove the unmanagability out of my life, and not necessarily all drugs when perscribed.
i know at first it appeared the drugs were my problem, though, i found the truth to be, "I" was the problem
now, i feel, as long as perscribed by a doc, used as directed and THERE IS an obvious benifit of manageability
how can i deny the useage. i dont feel we should stop there though. i feel we should maintain pro-activity
to find other solutions otherwise i feel we are then just giving up just as i did so many times in active addiction.
as for NA, Since 1992, Narcotics Anonymous’ position regarding the use of medication has been
clearly stated in the pamphlet, In Times of Illness: “Narcotics Anonymous
as a whole has no opinion on outside issues, including health issues. The ultimate
responsibility for making medical decisions rests with each individual.”
please remember these are only opinions and "what works for me".
if something doesnt work for you, i say, dont do it. just be honest with the decision making process.
myself, i have no experience with them though, so maybe shouldnt even be sharing.
so please take this only as someone being asked how they felt.

[windysan]

dark chocolate.............god, grant me the serenity....

[yippeeciayay]

By the way,
Inspiringmind... It's sure nice to see you posting
(((*^_^*)))

[Sugah]

Originally Posted by Barto

Boy, I just got back to posting on this site and I’m in trouble already! Damn.

No trouble, Barto! I was joking, you joined in...and sometimes, a little levity is needed in many of the grave situations we deal with here (though I'm the first to admit I don't always have the best judgment on that sort of thing!).

I was semi-serious....I have seen the ex's unite, and god bless 'em, most of them have recovered from the ravages of the likes of me!

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Inspiringmind]

Originally Posted by yippeeciayay

By the way,
Inspiringmind... It's sure nice to see you posting
(((*^_^*)))

Thanks...I figured that this could be my way of giving to keep what I have.

[Time2Surrender]

(((yippeecaiyay))) I am glad you found us here at SR. It was time we got some new life in this site. Keep the questions coming.