Drug addiction

[NotTheSpiceOfLife]

I am astounded to discover that there's no drug support thread! So I thought I would start one.

I've been smoking weed for 25 years. Over the last 6 months, I've smoked legal highs instead because it's cheaper and you can buy it on the high street.

It has wrecked my life. I want to tell people about my experiences whilst I'm going through withdrawal, and see if there's any help/advice available.

Of course anyone can post about any kind of drug addiction that they want to talk about. I'd like to use this thread as a distraction to help me help others.

I'm going for a long soak in the bath now, as I'm trying to use distraction techniques to get through each day - but I'll be back with you later.

I'm an addict. I'd like to say recovering. I just need to keep recovering x

Yes we had to tell her for obvious reasons, and of course I completely understand her reaction, as does DP.

She's always been awful, tbf. But this is really holding DP back, she's the only person to have this effect on him really.

She really doesn't need to be calling and texting constantly when there is a plan in place though, does she? She started by saying he could have supervised visits last week, which he has done, twice this week walking 8 miles there and 8 miles back, to se him for an hour. He's trying so fucking hard.

It's one of those situations where she drinks to excess a lot - but does not see the similarity. I can't blame her. I just want things to be right again, and it's going to be a long old road.

A bit of compassion wouldn't go amiss though!

She certainly needs to understand the potential effects of her stressing DP out, what's your relationship like with her? Just wondering if you could try and have a calm conversation with her and explain that she needs to back off. Would it be worth trying to find some stuff online about recovering from addiction and send it to her to back up what you're saying and help her understand? If she drinks to excess it's a bit hypocritical to only allow DP supervised access, especially when he's stopped using but it shows how committed he is to DC that he's willing to abide by her rules and walk all that way, hats off to him for that. Still think it's worth chatting to your NA group and seeing if any of them have been through this, someone who's been through this themselves may well have some good ideas. The only other thing I can think of if it gets really bad and you're worried about DP is to see if someone (family member/friend) could act as a go between for essential communication about DC and block her from calling/texting DP for a while, it would be too awful if the ex was the cause of a relapse

Thanks Fern

We sat down together earlier and composed a text asking her to try and understand. She replied as if she gets it.. We shall see

We have no relationship other than mutual distaste, so I don't think that would work

sounds justified on your part at least! I think the text is a really sensible approach, really hope it does the trick. It's awful when others' lack of understanding causes this amount of stress, hope you and DP are ok

You don't know how much I appreciate you talking to me like this Fern

I'm glad it's helping if only a little, you're doing so incredibly well Not, you really should be so proud of yourself. It's not the same thing but I would never have got through the aftermath of the robbery without DH's mate, for the week or so we were stuck at the old house before we got moved I was terrified they would come back. DH's mate sat up all night on our sofa in the dark with a machete (he was a total nutter ) and went everywhere with us during the day, I honestly wouldn't have got through it without him so know how much having support means. I'm so looking forward to you coming out the other side of this and hearing how much better your life is for being clean, keep focused on that, you're doing so well

You're an angel x

My life is already better. Even though it's shit, it's better. Does that make sense?

Sounds promising Not. Hopefully you have got the message through to her. Another box ticked

Thanks so much 51

Through another day not
Very well done, thinking of you

Can't quite believe it Chopsy

I so nearly caved last night. But I didn't!

See that's it not you didn't!
Again quoting bits if Rachel's holiday... The emotional development stopped when you started drugs, now you have to learn to live life on life's terms and re learn new responses.
The default has always been drugs to cope with happiness, stress, sadness, celebration.
Now you suddenly see other people can do these things minus chemicals.
Revelation for me!!!

You got NA planned for this week?

Yep, tomorrow, Thurs & Sat

Awesome. Perhaps make a list of questions to find out if anyone can help you with the ex situation?
It may help as NA can get emotional or you get so into it you forget, never find right moment etc

Not sure how much time you have on your hands but if you could try and do 90 meetings in 90 days it will give you such a wonderful sense of achievement. Esp. as you enjoyed going. They also do online meetings so you dont have to physically get yourself out to it. Did you collect your white key ring?

Well done OP. You are doing fantastically well. And so is your DP. I'm so glad to hear that the NA is helpful to you.

I'm struggling today. I just want to sleep and cry and wait for my meeting tonight. I'm a bloody shaky nervous wreck today and I don't know why.

I had a bit of an argument last night in another thread and it disproportionately pissed me off.

I know it's just one of those days. I just want to see people tonight and start again tomorrow if that makes sense.

I haven't used or anything, by the way. Just not enjoying today!

Know it's hard but try to put the other thread out of your mind, on days like today I think you have to be totally bloody minded and utterly focused on what's important to you, fuck everyone else basically Whatever the argument was about it's not as important as what you're going through, I get the impression it's a bit alien to you to put yourself first but that's exactly what you must do, most people will never have to go through anything as difficult as what you're doing atm so you mustn't let them drag you down. Can you do something nice for yourself to take your mind off it? Whether it's a nice long walk in the fresh air or snuggling under your duvet with a favourite dvd and a big cup of hot choc do something that makes you feel good to kill time til your meeting. I'm always here if a friendly ear is what you need, PM me anytime if you think it will help

It is often the small stuff that hits us for six, when we are vulnerable. But it is just that, small stuff, put it out of your mind, focus on you. You are the important one

Ridiculous really how a stranger's words on the Internet can make you feel like shit. I was just being oversensitive.

I'm in McDonalds Can't believe I'm even eating, although my eyes are FAR bigger than my stomach!

fast food always does it for me (which explains why I need to lose about 4 stone!) glad to hear you've found something to cheer you up. I get wound up by internet rows too (usually FB, it's the devils work!) trick is to decide in your head the other poster is a moron and congratulate yourself on being so intellectually superior they're not worth worrying about works every time. You have to remember that dealing with life's stress's straight is a new thing for you and you have to develop whole new strategies, considering you're less than 2 weeks in I think you're doing incredibly well. How long til your meeting now? Hope it helps and you come back feeling positive again