I knew to this, and would love to talk to someone who understands what im going through.

tkuhel12 · Newbie

I knew to this, and would love to talk to someone who understands what im going through.

jonijoni1 · MIP Old Timer

tk, welcome to the board. Many here are alcoholic, who have also dabbled and becme addicted to other things. While I perosnally can't identify with the opiate thing, I am addicted to other drugs. But Alcoholism is my primary illness, just to clarify. Some here do not have any experience with drugs at all. But we do have one thing in common, which is alcoholism.

I do hope you find others here who can identify and help you with what you are going through.

I do know that the first step to recovery in anything is the admission of powerlessness, and that there is indeed a problem. Good for you, for getting help and reaching out, for both you and for the sake of your children.

In love and support,
Joni

Wren · Senior Member

Hi there, and welcome!

Yes, it is hard work, but I can guarantee you that the hard work that gets put into having a future for yourself and ultimately, your family has alot bigger payoff than the work that goes into getting drunk or high.

For myself, the work on my thinking processes began to really come into fruition when I admitted that not only did I have one hell of a problem, but that I was unable to deal with it by myself. I needed the support of others and I needed someone I trusted to help guide me one on one. Reaching out and admitting I needed (and still need, at times) the strength of others in my position to help me understand, learn and re-learn how to look at my life and responses to life situations was a huge step. But, it's the first step on a wonderful road.
Sometimes the road's bumpy, and life didn't stop happening, but the difference between life and enjoying it, and death....well, there's no comparison. Hang in there, share here, and most importantly, reach out to others in your area for meetings, sponsorship and support...hope we will hear from you often, Chris (wren)

Jerry F · MIP Old Timer

I wasn't much for drugs because the prescriptions didn't do anything for me
while the non-legal stuff tried to control me. I like to be in control and so
booze is my drug of choice however I arrived at the same point that you
did the point where I needed help. What the girls previously suggested is
what was suggested to me and what worked...Don't try it alone and reach
out to others who have the experience you don't...that of getting clean and
sober. I understand what you talk about missing the feeling of being high
cause that is a great deal about what addiction is; you practiced it until it
was a primary habit and now that you don't you're in withdrawal. This will
go on in your mind, body, spirit and emotions. Suboxone will do some
physical relief and then there are the other levels.   Don't try it alone.

Call the AA or NA hotline in your neighborhood and scream for help and
arrest the disease. Your kids are helpless against your disease but you're
not if you're willing to get help from others who have the experience on
how to live a clean, serene, happly life.   It works if you work it and you
can work it.

Keep coming back here for support.   ((((hugs)))) smile

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hello TKuhel, and welcome to the board. I was also dual addicted and I attended AA and NA at the same time. This was beneficial for me to address the issues separately even though alcohol is a drug. In order for your recovery to work, you'll need to make it your number 1 priority and although we say we recover "one day at a time", it's imperative to make it to 90 days, then 6 months, then a year with continuous sobriety. For that reason it's highly recommended to attend 90 meetings in 90 days. The odds are steep and you need all the help that you can get. We need a sponsor and a sober support group (friends in the program that we call daily) to help us with our thinking/reasoning , which can be extremely flawed in early sobriety because our disease is constantly trying to get us to drink/use anyway that it can. Managing stress is crucial, avoiding stressful situation ditto. We learn that we have to stay away from the people that we used to drink and drug with. A lot of times those are family members, and people that we are/were in relationships with. It's a real task to "clean up our play pen". You've really got to want this badly for it to work. "We must be willing to go to Any Lengths for our sobriety".

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

Eventually (in due time) you will regain the ability to truly get high on life. This sounds sappy, but it's true. You do NOT need drugs or alcohol to enhance, cope with, or to buffer life. It will happen for you if you surrender to the program and just do the right thing each day. It's not an easy journey, but a wonderful one. Welcome and keep coming back! Post here how you are doing because that is what we are here for!!!

Mark

SUSIE · Senior Member

I agree with Pinkchip....You will get high on life. And I agree it sounds sappy lol. The longer I remain sober the more I can see life in a different way. I like to think of it as my new normal. It use to be normal to drink, and get drunk....have tons of problems and chaos in my like. Since becoming sober my new normal is being happy (or sad) and living life on lifes terms. You will hear that over and over. But you too can live a easier and happier life if you so choose. We are here to incourage and listen to you. Good Luck and welcome!

mikef · MIP Old Timer

Welcome tkuhel12's
So glad you come come to our first step.For us to use any 'mind altering,mood chaging substance is a contract with death.We suffer from the disease of alcoholism.Yes,you are now on your way to learning "a new way to live" one day at a time! Hope to see and hear more from you!! smile

Just Toni · MIP Old Timer

Hi There TK and Welcome to MIP,

There are many here that understand what it is you are going thru. Definitely difficult, but VERY, VERY Possible.

Cross (duel) addiction is harder that straight detox off of Alcohol.

I recall so clearly a Dr. speaking at a Womans Recovery Center with his little diagrams of the Central Nervous System, and him explaining that with many drugs, narcotics, they take over after a short time, the body's ability to make it own endophines, then when the drug is stopped, it just takes time for the body to reboot back to, and begin making its own endorphines....I understood that only too well when I cold turkeyed of Valium that was as accessable as Candy, as well as the Alcohol......it was a difficult time, but stick with it, the body had great regenerative tools, so just dont drink, dont use drugs. and go to meetings, 90 in 90, it will help. tried and true for hundreds of thousands.

Prayers to you dear,

Toni,

and Again Welcome, please keep coming back here and let us know how you are doing.....you signed in and are now part of our little family here.

-- Edited by Just Toni on Wednesday 21st of July 2010 08:11:14 PM

happycamper · MIP Old Timer

The first days, weeks and months are the tuffest ... if you want them to be.

Id highly suggest getting to meetings, finding a sponsor and a God of your understanding. Begin working the steps and your life will get better

Mike B. · MIP Old Timer

Welcome TK.
I can relate. From my experience it didn't matter whether it was alcohol or drugs. I obessed over them when I wasn't under the influence and wanted more when I had them. Either one gave me relief and comfort and the ability to be at peace where I was at the time. The problem was it stopped working and the wreckage created became to much to handle.
The solution: AA meetings, let everyone know your new, get a sponsor, get some numbers from the meetings and practice calling them, work the steps with your sponsor and find a higher power of your understanding and your life will change...........
We are talking about things that we alcoholics don't like to do: ask for help, rely on someone else, take suggestions, CHANGE and be honest. The program works best when we're Honest, Openminded and Willing to do anything to change of lives. You will have to change the person you are today to remain sober and recover.
This program has worked with very little change for 75 years. It has saved many lives and changed the lives of many more.
Time to get to work..............

augieben · Newbie

tkuhel12:

You probably have the same genetics that your mom had. See http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/162933.php

These problems are usually 50% genetic and 50% poor life skills. With you being one of the few in your family to graduate from HS, this should work to your advantage slightly.