Quitting multiple addictions simultaneously

[dpleim]

I have 60 days clean from opiates. I'm just starting a weight loss program. And an exercise program. My medications seem to be stabilizing the PTSD, Bipolar 1, Agoraphobia with panic Disorder, and DID. And now I want to quite smoking. I've smoked 2 packs a day since I was 15 years old (and, take my word for it, that was a long time ago.) Oh, I also quit alcohol in December (a one day relapse after having quit for 16 years).
So, can I, should I, be doing all of this at once. (Oh, I'm also job-seeking at the same time, attending a sexual assault group, a bipolar group and an AA group).
I figure that if I'm going to shock my system with any of this, why not do it all at once? Or am I going to overwhelm myself and just quit it all? I am getting conflicting opinions from my docs. But, why would I want to suffer over and over again trying to quit something?
Not sure what to do.
Any opinions? Experience?
dawn
p.s. this is my first post.

[jlo34]

Welcome Dawn.
Wow. I have no idea. I stopped drinking 15 years ago. I've been smoke free for almost 6 months now. I've worked through a lot of issues using the 12 steps in AA for about everything.

Honestly, I felt a bit overwhelmed from your post. I don't know. I wish you all the luck in the world. Honestly, I think for myself, I'd take the worst few and deal with them. Sounds like you're taking on an awful lot...I hope you're not setting yourself up for failure. I would suppose that if you want to stop all of this together, it's possible. Just hope you have a whole lot of support and be kind to yourself!!! I've known of people who have stopped multiple addictions at the same time and have done so....just remember a day at a time is all you need to do.

Blessings and prayers your way,
Jen

[Alera]

I'm stopping a medication I don't need anymore and tappering it off while I quit smoking. I have found that I actually feel better knowing it will all be over sooner. Thats just me though. Your milage may vary.

[justicej]

Wow, I loved your post. Thank you. I can't tell you what's right for you, and I doubt if your therapsts can either.

I smoked in my twenties, quit cold turkey, and stayed quit for about 17 years. Started smoking again three years ago. I quit smoking back in May. I gained about ten pounds, because I have always dabbled with addictive behavior, usually sustituting one with another.

but this time I started to read about twelve step programs. I discovered, I am more codependent than addictive, but am beginning to think that they are just two sides of the same diseased coin. I fit the 13 characteristics of an adult child, even though I am the adult child of an adult child. I think I am an "emotional" alcoholic, but don't behave like an alcoholic at all.

But here's the catch, since doing this work, I have stopped behaving like a food addict (which i have behaved all my life). I lost ten pounds. I stopped wanting to drug myself, which I have craved all my life. All of my addictive and controlling behaviors are spotlighted to me in ways they haven't ever been. It's like I hit a disease bottom, and the whole process has to be done differently now.

I know what it feels like to want to do it all.

Only you can know if it's right for you. Listen to your heart. The higher power speak through your inner child.

[historyteach]

Hi, dpliem;
And welcome to SR!

The research shows that there's a higher probability of success when we quit all the addictive behaviors at once. DonS posted it on the Secular Connections forum, and my counselor told me that in my smoke cessation group when I quit after 36 years!

You are also dealing with multiple mental health issues. I'm not sure if that matters or not. Probably, getting away from the opiates will help that problem. I would just say take it one day at a time; practice the behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle, and continue to seek support. The answer will come to you.

Wishing you loads of success in your worthy endeavor!

Shalom!