Seeking courage to face addiction and quit all substances
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
Seeking courage to face addiction and quit all substances
Newcomer, read a few posts, and decided i was finally in the right place after some internet searching with failed results.
I'm in desperate need of tips to face and fight addiction. Has anyone quit cold turkey EVERYTHING?
I find myself, weekly, promising myself I am going to quit. The day I promise myself I'm going to quit is usually shortly after I've come down. I used to feel enlightened and last about a week but lately I've been making it just past the hangover before I start again. I can't remember the last time I went an entire WEEK without using any types of substances.
I know quitting is possible because I have done it
I use out of boredom and to self medicate. I have never been diagnosed, but i think i've had depression and anxiety entire life.
I know quitting is possible because I have done it before. I just really need some help on remembering the first stage of the journey.
How do I convince myself i want to quit and how do i get through the first month??
I'm in desperate need of tips to face and fight addiction. Has anyone quit cold turkey EVERYTHING?
I find myself, weekly, promising myself I am going to quit. The day I promise myself I'm going to quit is usually shortly after I've come down. I used to feel enlightened and last about a week but lately I've been making it just past the hangover before I start again. I can't remember the last time I went an entire WEEK without using any types of substances.
I know quitting is possible because I have done it
I use out of boredom and to self medicate. I have never been diagnosed, but i think i've had depression and anxiety entire life.
I know quitting is possible because I have done it before. I just really need some help on remembering the first stage of the journey.
How do I convince myself i want to quit and how do i get through the first month??
Sobriety is Traditional
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Orcas Island, Washington
Posts: 9,067
Welcome to SoberRecovery!
We can't say it is a good idea to quit everything at once. For one thing, we don't know what you're using. If you have any concerns, a doctor is the only one who can answer.
As for how to stay sober a month, my wife and I did it by going to AA meetings once a day at drinking time. SoberRecovery is a great source of support also.
Read around and post often!
We can't say it is a good idea to quit everything at once. For one thing, we don't know what you're using. If you have any concerns, a doctor is the only one who can answer.
As for how to stay sober a month, my wife and I did it by going to AA meetings once a day at drinking time. SoberRecovery is a great source of support also.
Read around and post often!
Do your best
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 67,047
Welcome Tired your right you can do this i think having a solid sober plan helps immensely
Here is a link to help http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Here is a link to help http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...at-we-did.html
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Welcome Tired! Motivate yourself by knowing that life will be better, far better, once you get sober. The initial withdrawals are never fun, but after that you open many doors to things you never had access too. Your using might actually be making your depression and anxiety worse, most likely it does. If you've never seen anyone about those issues please do, both conditions are very common and treatable.
Regarding going cold turkey, not sure what substances you are using but seeing a doctor might be good before you do. Sometimes withdrawals can be dangerous...best to be safe.
Regarding going cold turkey, not sure what substances you are using but seeing a doctor might be good before you do. Sometimes withdrawals can be dangerous...best to be safe.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
I've left a lot of substances behind. They're all out of my life now, apart from caffeine.
My life is a lot better for it.
It took me many years to finally get to the point of readiness to truly make the choice - but along the way the only way I ever quit anything; alcohol, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, marijuana, nicotine - the only way I ever really managed to quit it was 'cold turkey'.
I have had hundreds of failed attempts at 'weaning' or 'quitting gradually'. All they ever led to was an eventual return to increased use.
When I finally shed the two remaining addictions of marijuana and alcohol (the latter being the worst and hardest) - I did it by taking a multi-pronged course of action that included AA, this forum, counseling, meditation, exercise, lifestyle changes, letting go of many patterns (including the people that came along with them) and making DAILY effort to keep my head in sobriety.
I'm well over a year now and it has been a difficult ride at times, but with a firm sobriety foundation, I can't see ever going back to those dark days.
#soberliferocks
My life is a lot better for it.
It took me many years to finally get to the point of readiness to truly make the choice - but along the way the only way I ever quit anything; alcohol, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, marijuana, nicotine - the only way I ever really managed to quit it was 'cold turkey'.
I have had hundreds of failed attempts at 'weaning' or 'quitting gradually'. All they ever led to was an eventual return to increased use.
When I finally shed the two remaining addictions of marijuana and alcohol (the latter being the worst and hardest) - I did it by taking a multi-pronged course of action that included AA, this forum, counseling, meditation, exercise, lifestyle changes, letting go of many patterns (including the people that came along with them) and making DAILY effort to keep my head in sobriety.
I'm well over a year now and it has been a difficult ride at times, but with a firm sobriety foundation, I can't see ever going back to those dark days.
#soberliferocks
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: BC Canada
Posts: 228
I second all the suggestions above! I have an AV that creeps up on me out of the blue, and before I know it, I've drank.
I've quit cold turkey, but I don't think that's for everyone. Check with your doctor.
What has helped me a lot is to be vigilant every minute of the day, and just work to stay sober each minute/hour of the day at hand.
I've gone to a few AA meetings, but I love this forum, so keep posting on it!
I've quit cold turkey, but I don't think that's for everyone. Check with your doctor.
What has helped me a lot is to be vigilant every minute of the day, and just work to stay sober each minute/hour of the day at hand.
I've gone to a few AA meetings, but I love this forum, so keep posting on it!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
Thanks for the advice everyone. This site has already proven to be uplifting and supportive.
I agree, I have to go cold turkey. I agree that weaning myself off substances and only allowing certain ones will only create cravings for the ones I really want. Luckily i am not addicted to anything with a physical, sickening withdrawal.
Almost a decade ago, I got over a meth addiction. I don't know what prompted me to think that getting prescription amphetamines would be any better. All it did was make me realize how much I missed amphetamines. But, the guilt of depending on them causes so many flashbacks to emotions and scenarios I don't want to have. I did realize that i can handle them better now that i'm older and wiser, but I would rather be unfocused and less attentive than suffer a heart attack or stroke. My body is getting too old to handle this ****.
I hate that I have put myself in this predicament where i have to start over again. I tricked myself into thinking I was clean for years, when all I did was replace meth with excessive amounts of alcohol 3-4 times a week. All I have is drinking buddies. I have to make all new friends... again. Its going to be a lonely ride.
Why is it so hard to realize that we are killing ourselves slowly?
I agree, I have to go cold turkey. I agree that weaning myself off substances and only allowing certain ones will only create cravings for the ones I really want. Luckily i am not addicted to anything with a physical, sickening withdrawal.
Almost a decade ago, I got over a meth addiction. I don't know what prompted me to think that getting prescription amphetamines would be any better. All it did was make me realize how much I missed amphetamines. But, the guilt of depending on them causes so many flashbacks to emotions and scenarios I don't want to have. I did realize that i can handle them better now that i'm older and wiser, but I would rather be unfocused and less attentive than suffer a heart attack or stroke. My body is getting too old to handle this ****.
I hate that I have put myself in this predicament where i have to start over again. I tricked myself into thinking I was clean for years, when all I did was replace meth with excessive amounts of alcohol 3-4 times a week. All I have is drinking buddies. I have to make all new friends... again. Its going to be a lonely ride.
Why is it so hard to realize that we are killing ourselves slowly?
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