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My Good Bye Letter

Old 01-14-2007, 06:33 PM
  # 21 (permalink)  
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Veronica

I think you will do fine. You have a great sense of truth about you.
When I was drinking, I had the mindset that going from hard stuff to just beer means I don't have a problem. I found that my issues are my issues and what others think doesn't matter. If it was a problem for me, it was worth doing something about it. Glad I learned along the way that alcohol was alcohol no matter what form it came in. Any drug, no matter the strength or form can be a problem for any person.
The degree of issues that any addictive substance causes in our life doesn't dictate if it is an issue or not...it is what we think that says it is a problem.

Mashed potatos and gravy can be as much a problem for me as the strongest drug there is.

You are wise and smart... you will do well I am sure. Congratulations on your choices.
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Old 01-14-2007, 06:53 PM
  # 22 (permalink)  
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That was a great letter. It opened my eyes. I had a love affair with pot myself I also had an affair with hydrocodone on the side. I kicked alcohol to the curb so it wouldn't be a threesome but the other 2 were still there then I got away from them. My new love afair is sobriety. I still am battling it out with hydrocodone though (kind of like a nasty divorce lol). I am doing alot better but I still have to watch out for it. I seen this letter and replaced the marijuana parts with hydrocodone for myself I hope you don't mind.
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Old 01-14-2007, 07:33 PM
  # 23 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by VeronicaLee View Post
UGGG..I think we are right back where we started. My problems are very real.

Anyhow..thanks to all who read my post and showed support. I appreciate it.
Yes, yes, yes and yes. In my experience, pot is just as addicting as any other substance one can name. Each substance has its own pitfalls and your addiction is just as real as any other.

I commend you, VeronicaLee, for making the commitment and taking action toward a new, better way of life. Sending you lots of support!

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Old 01-15-2007, 01:17 AM
  # 24 (permalink)  
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Thumbs down

Originally Posted by stonerat View Post
I am sorry veronica, that is my opinion, if u feel addicted then I am sorry, no way you actually are though.

You think you are, try being addicted to alcohol or heroin and you will realise you aint adicted to anything at all.
stonerat -i like your avatar...BUT you're
...still one without the alcohol...

good luck veronica...
--one is too many and a thousand is never enough
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Old 01-15-2007, 03:39 AM
  # 25 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by VeronicaLee View Post
UGGG..I think we are right back where we started. My problems are very real.

Anyhow..thanks to all who read my post and showed support. I appreciate it.

Yes, VeronicaLee, pot does cause real problems. I have a couple of family members who are terribly addicted to it and have not been able to quit using it in over 30 years.

Here are the detox symptoms that some pot users go through when quitting pot and the possible timeliness of the duration of the symptoms. Good decision to stop using and wishing you success with quitting this crap too.

Detoxing from Marijuana


What is Detoxing?

Detoxing is the way in which your body gets rid of the toxins accumulated from years of using. It happens the first few days or weeks after getting clean and/or sober. It is also the very beginning of getting used to dealing with reality and real feelings with no numbing agent.

Can there be physical effects from quitting marijuana?

In spite of numerous years of being told that there are no physiological effects from marijuana addiction, many of our recovering members have had definite withdrawal symptoms. Whether the causes are physical or psychological, the results are physical. Others have just had emotional and mental changes as they stop using their drug of choice. There is no way of telling before quitting who will be physically uncomfortable and who will not. Most members have only minor physical discomfort if any at all. This pamphlet is for those who are having trouble and wonder what's happening to them.

Why do some effects last so long?

Unlike most other drugs, including alcohol, THC (the active chemical in marijuana) is stored in the fat cells and therefore takes longer to fully clear the body than with any other common drug. This means that some parts of the body still retain THC even after a couple of months, rather than just the couple of days or weeks for water soluble drugs.

Can this affect a drug test?

The experiences of some members have shown that if you quit marijuana and expect to take a drug test you should not go on a crash diet at the same time. Fasting, or a crash diet, can release the THC into the bloodstream very rapidly and can give a positive reading. This has happened to several of our members, but each time only with crash diets and major weight loss, not with just eating less than usual.

What are some of the more common symptoms?

By far the most common symptom of withdrawal is insomnia. This can last from a few nights of practically no sleep at all, up to a few months of occasional sleeplessness. The next most common symptom is depression (that is, if you're not euphoric), and next are nightmares and vivid dreams. Marijuana use tends to dampen the dreaming mechanism, so that when you do get clean the dreams come back with a crash. They can be vivid color, highly emotional dreams or nightmares, even waking up then coming back to the same dream. The very vivid, every-night dreams usually don't start for about a week or so. They last for about a month at most and then taper off. "Using" dreams (dreams involving the use of marijuana) are very common, and although they're not as vivid or emotional as at first, they last for years and are just considered a normal part of recovery.

The fourth most common symptom is anger. This can range from a slow burning rage to constant irritability to sudden bursts of anger when least expected: anger at the world, anger at loved ones, anger at oneself, anger at being an addict and having to get clean. Emotional jags are very common, with emotions bouncing back and forth between depression, anger, and euphoria. Occasionally experienced is a feeling of fear or anxiety, a loss of the sense of humor, decreased sex drive, or increased sex drive. Most all of these symptoms fade to normal emotions by three months. Loss of concentration for the first week or month is also very common and this sometimes affects the ability to learn for a very short while.

What about physical symptoms?

The most common physical symptom is headaches. For those who have them, they can last for a few weeks up to a couple of months, with the first few days being very intense. The next most common physical symptom is night sweats, sometimes to the point of having to change night clothes. They can last from a few nights to a month or so. Sweating is one of the body's natural ways of getting rid of toxins. Hand sweats are very common and are often accompanied by an unpleasant smell from the hands. Body odor is enough in many instances to require extra showers or baths. Coughing up phlegm is another way the body cleans itself. This can last for a few weeks to well over six months.

One third of the addicts who responded to a questionnaire on detoxing said they had eating problems for the first few days and some for up to six weeks. Their main symptoms were loss of appetite, sometimes enough to lose weight temporarily, digestion problems or cramps after eating, and nausea, occasionally enough to vomit (only for a day or two). Most of the eating problems were totally gone before the end of a month.

The next most common physical symptoms experienced were tremors or shaking and dizziness. Less frequently experienced were kidney pains, impotency, hormone changes or imbalances, low immunity or chronic fatigue, and some minor eye problems that resolved at around two months. There have been cases of addicts having more severe detox symptoms, however this is rare. For intense discomfort, see a doctor, preferably one who is experienced with detoxing.

How can I reduce discomfort?

For some of the milder detoxing symptoms, a few home remedies have proven to be useful:

Hot soaking baths can help the emotions as well as the body.
Drink plenty of water and clear liquids, just like for the flu.
Cranberry juice has been used effectively for years by recovery houses to help purify and cleanse the body.
Really excessive sweating can deplete the body of potassium, a necessary mineral. A few foods high in potassium are: melons, bananas, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, and tomatoes.
Eliminate fat from the diet until digestion is better.
Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine until the sleep pattern is more normal or the shakes are gone.
The old fashioned remedy for insomnia, a glass of warm milk before bedtime, helps some people.
Exercise not only helps depression and other unpleasant emotions, it helps the body speed up the healing process.
Conference Approved Literature

©1992 Marijuana Anonymous
All Rights Reserved
P-04
6/96

http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/Pages/detox.html
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Old 01-15-2007, 04:56 AM
  # 26 (permalink)  
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I am afraid I was drinking last night
I am sober now, and really sorry, it wont happen again.
What a total idiot I am, sorry Veronica.
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Old 01-15-2007, 05:10 AM
  # 27 (permalink)  
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I just wanted to say the Veronica wrote a heart-felt letter to help cleanse herself of her problem. Whether some agree it's a problem or not, arguing with her was not what she wanted. This was about her, not you. Just let it be a step in her recovery and leave it alone.
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Old 01-15-2007, 06:07 AM
  # 28 (permalink)  
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Just as a bit more following on EricPaul's post................
Personal experience only............
We have a young friend of the family who was diagnosed with cannabis psychosis some 5 years ago when he was 18............... he was a grade A student who was due to start university to study for a BSc degree.
I wont bore you with the details - but at the time this boy nearly lost his life due to the effects of cannabis induced psychosis. He now still suffers from depression and poor mental health. He has never got to university and now exists on state benefits here in the UK. His family are shattered. I can assure you that he has had the best of care from the doctors including specialist psychiatrists. There is no doubt his condition is a direct result of using cannabis.(as stated by the doctors) And not as uncommon as you might think. Harmless? No - I really think that most people really dont know the potential here.
Recently - at school - the kids and parents have had informative lectures about the possible side effects of cannabis. It would appear that the doctors are starting to see people in their 30s and 40s who smoked cannabis regularly over the years and who are now starting to show effects. Some strong indications that far from being harmless - cannabis may in fact produce organic effects similar to MS - where the myelin sheath on the nerve/muscle cells is stripped off the cells over time producing damage (and symptoms)of the same order as MS. There are some very large studies being undertaken here in the UK at the moment................. try googling............... There is talk amongst the medical profession of epidemic proportions starting to show up here in Europe............
Dont want to alarm anyone - but really now doubt that cannabis is the "harmless" habit that people have spoken of for so long. May be very far from the truth.
So - looks like there are organic physical problems with cannabis - not just a psychological aspect - but a real physiological one too.
I know my experience is just that - anecdotal - but its a dreadful sight to see a fit healthy intelligent bright able young man struck down in his teenage years by psychosis. The psychiatrists tell us there are many young people suffering in the same way................... Personally I think people are being lied to - so I would urge anyone to get informed. Dont assume anything about any pill/drug/habit.
It always appears to me that people who use cannabis are always trying to tell the rest of the world how "safe" it is - how its not addictive or harmful in any way. Why is that? I have never understood that. My daughter indeed had a boyfriend who for a while demonstrated all round the UK on marches to "Free the Weed"! Such passion? Why? He appeared regularly on TV. He was on a mission to convert us all? But - thankfully - he is no longer a boyfriend!
So - even here in UK and Europe where our laws regarding drugs are far less stringent than the US - our govts are still hesitant to legalise cannabis. There have to be sound reasons? Wonder what govt knows but wont tell us?
So - please dont let those who wish to tell us all that pot is harmless get away with it? For some reason they illogically need to believe that.
How can any artificially taken drug ingested into the body have no effect at all? It's just not logical. For every action there has to be a reaction? So there has to be some physical effect of taking any drug - and why assume it is benign? Daft? Dont believe it - you have too much to lose.
Veronica - I hope you dont mind my putting this post up on your thread - but I think its completely relevant and important.
Take care - you've made the most difficult step by identifying and acknowledging the problem................ take heart and go forwards now - keep posting - there is so much help and support here for you...............you can do this.
woops
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Old 01-15-2007, 06:14 AM
  # 29 (permalink)  
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Amazing Veronica...I read that letter and though not into pot, I feel most if not all addicts can realte to what you put into words.

On pot some can smoke and be in control while others can't, your addicted to it, some feel ones can't i know of alot of ppl that feel as such...I feel it is Earths Tranq, if they would legalize it I feel in the USA we would be out of debt, they could tax the hell out of it, I know it is used for medicaal reasons, the point is your addiction to it I take serious and you have alot of will-power
I hope all your other demons drugs, what ever they might be all is Ok and your doing good.

Ever think of writing any poems? asking for I used to write, most are based on darkeness, I can not type, but w/ an ink pen it flows...I wrote one on my family their use at the time frame was Crack, I posted it on here somewhere...
I was able to get inside the minds I had thought of the addict, I never could until I amone, but my poems would say other...odd you writing made me think of what i used to do and writing was a escape for me and one that did not harm me nor anyone. So thank you for sharing
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Old 01-15-2007, 06:18 AM
  # 30 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by woops View Post
Just as a bit more following on EricPaul's post................
Personal experience only............
We have a young friend of the family who was diagnosed with cannabis psychosis some 5 years ago when he was 18............... he was a grade A student who was due to start university to study for a BSc degree.
I wont bore you with the details - but at the time this boy nearly lost his life due to the effects of cannabis induced psychosis. He now still suffers from depression and poor mental health. He has never got to university and now exists on state benefits here in the UK. His family are shattered. I can assure you that he has had the best of care from the doctors including specialist psychiatrists. There is no doubt his condition is a direct result of using cannabis.(as stated by the doctors) And not as uncommon as you might think. Harmless? No - I really think that most people really dont know the potential here.
Recently - at school - the kids and parents have had informative lectures about the possible side effects of cannabis. It would appear that the doctors are starting to see people in their 30s and 40s who smoked cannabis regularly over the years and who are now starting to show effects. Some strong indications that far from being harmless - cannabis may in fact produce organic effects similar to MS - where the myelin sheath on the nerve/muscle cells is stripped off the cells over time producing damage (and symptoms)of the same order as MS. There are some very large studies being undertaken here in the UK at the moment................. try googling............... There is talk amongst the medical profession of epidemic proportions starting to show up here in Europe............
Dont want to alarm anyone - but really now doubt that cannabis is the "harmless" habit that people have spoken of for so long. May be very far from the truth.
So - looks like there are organic physical problems with cannabis - not just a psychological aspect - but a real physiological one too.
I know my experience is just that - anecdotal - but its a dreadful sight to see a fit healthy intelligent bright able young man struck down in his teenage years by psychosis. The psychiatrists tell us there are many young people suffering in the same way................... Personally I think people are being lied to - so I would urge anyone to get informed. Dont assume anything about any pill/drug/habit.
It always appears to me that people who use cannabis are always trying to tell the rest of the world how "safe" it is - how its not addictive or harmful in any way. Why is that? I have never understood that. My daughter indeed had a boyfriend who for a while demonstrated all round the UK on marches to "Free the Weed"! Such passion? Why? He appeared regularly on TV. He was on a mission to convert us all? But - thankfully - he is no longer a boyfriend!
So - even here in UK and Europe where our laws regarding drugs are far less stringent than the US - our govts are still hesitant to legalise cannabis. There have to be sound reasons? Wonder what govt knows but wont tell us?
So - please dont let those who wish to tell us all that pot is harmless get away with it? For some reason they illogically need to believe that.
How can any artificially taken drug ingested into the body have no effect at all? It's just not logical. For every action there has to be a reaction? So there has to be some physical effect of taking any drug - and why assume it is benign? Daft? Dont believe it - you have too much to lose.
Veronica - I hope you dont mind my putting this post up on your thread - but I think its completely relevant and important.
Take care - you've made the most difficult step by identifying and acknowledging the problem................ take heart and go forwards now - keep posting - there is so much help and support here for you...............you can do this.
woops

OMG...I did not know that pot could do this damage, i did not read what you wrote till after i posted this. This weed can do this much damage? then I retract what i typed about a few things. thank you for sharing this info:
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Old 01-15-2007, 06:28 AM
  # 31 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by stonerat View Post
I am afraid I was drinking last night
I am sober now, and really sorry, it wont happen again.
What a total idiot I am, sorry Veronica.
We all have said, did something. the point you making a apology is what matters, i am sure Veronica and other ppl suffering will understand, the last thing you need right now is guilt, this may spin you into a bad direction, so please give yourself a break, you came out a Gentleman and honest.
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Old 01-15-2007, 08:07 AM
  # 32 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by stonerat View Post
I am afraid I was drinking last night
I am sober now, and really sorry, it wont happen again.
What a total idiot I am, sorry Veronica.

Hey, stonerat, you are not an idiot. Such self deprecating sentiments will just keep you feeling bad and then will just keep you seeking oblivion in the bottle. You are just hurting like the rest of us. Booze and drugs cause us to do and say things we don't mean, so cut yourself some slack and don't be so hard on yourself. You are a good person suffering under the influence, like so many here are or have been.

Are you going to AA? Why are you still drinking if you know that it causes you to act like you don't like and causes you to think that it makes you act like a "idiot"? Perhaps it is time for you to get rid of the booze? Hope you feel better and stay sober.
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Old 01-15-2007, 09:29 AM
  # 33 (permalink)  
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While this thread isn't about me and I feel ashamed showing my face here, I would just like to say a couple of things and then bow out.
I am still drinking because I am waiting for a referral to a detox centre as I can't do this by myself
Smoking pot everyday is an adiction, it allows you to hide from yourself and the real world. When you stop it can cause real mental problems.
I am so sorry I tried to diminish the problems it can cause, they can be huge problems. I know that personally, and when I read what I posted I wanted to dig a hole and jump in it.
Anyway, this thread is about Veronica, good luck Veronica.

Well done to Veronica for addressing this monkey on her back.
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Old 01-15-2007, 10:37 AM
  # 34 (permalink)  
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Thanks, Stonerat, for the apology. Wishing you the best on your recovery, too.



Veronica - you go, girl!


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Old 01-15-2007, 01:05 PM
  # 35 (permalink)  
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Thanks, Veronica!

Though I don't have an illicit drug problem (but for the grace of God), I'd love to be able to use your letter for my other DOC, like sugar, alcohol, addictive relationships, etc...

Would that be okay?
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Old 01-15-2007, 01:58 PM
  # 36 (permalink)  
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Oh sure TheGirlInside..go ahead and use it! I am glad that so many thought it was a good idea!

I know it helped me for other things I am addicted too (crack, pcp, sick relationships) as well.
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Old 02-12-2007, 06:38 AM
  # 37 (permalink)  
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Hello...i am a Counselor Intern working toward licensure as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. I love the goodbye letter...i use it in group...and for the rat fellows information MARIJUANA ABUSE/ADDICTION is measurable and diagnosable....it is defined in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 4th edition text revision...DSM4TR and marijuana is not only psycologicaly addictive but also emotionaly and physicaly...this is defined by physical withdrawl symptoms...there are physical symptoms like...poor sleep, headaches, loss of appetite, and the usual emotional or psyc symptoms as well....any drug user that can use a drug or behavior that causes tolerance and withdrawl symptoms can be diagnosed as abuser or addict...there is also marijuana anonymous...spell it out marijuana hyphen anonymous dot org and look for the story of the lotus eaters....it is very helpful the most dangerous thing about marijuana is what professionals call amotivational syndrome....the Story of the Lotus Eaters in the MA text and on their web site thoroughly describes it

thank yall
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Old 02-13-2007, 04:28 PM
  # 38 (permalink)  
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You can continue to try and fool yourself....I did for 2 years thinking the same exact thing as you! Pot is a problem, it is a drug and no matter which way you slice it if you say it's not an addiction then it always is!
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Old 02-15-2007, 08:49 AM
  # 39 (permalink)  
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I smoked Pot for 15yrs...everyday 3xday or more.
I was afried to mix that with my pain mangement meds so I stopped.
I personally did not have WD's or anxiety over stopping Pot but that was just me. Everyone is different
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Old 02-15-2007, 11:05 AM
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you most likely missed the withdrawl due to the fact that you were taking pain medications
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