is addiction always controlling?

[dolph]

addiction controls, or so we have discovered. it's a delicate subject; many users of addictive products claim not to be addicted. many products are regulated and the argument can be made that many more should be to, because of the potential for addiction and abuse. are you the type of person who's addictions control them? to anything - drugs, sex, internet, tangerine sour altoids. have you ever been physically/psychologically addicted to anything, and try to wean yourself off of it without any help? do you believe it's possible to do so?

last few questions: can one be an occasional user of drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) but not be thought an addict? for example, if someone gets drunk a few times a year, are they an alcoholic? if someone smokes pot/snorts cocaine/takes ecstasy and gets high a few times a year, are they a drug addict?

 

[compuwiz1]

Your questions are difficult to answer, at best. Each person has their own unique set of circumstances, so the questions are too vague to assess.

 

[DJSnairdA]

I've gotten off silly addictions by myself.. mainly the computer..

I've also heard that depending on the way you react to cigs, it can take from about a week to a couple of months of regular smoking to get addicted to them..

 

[bmacd]

I seriously think i have a caffeine/pop addiction, as well as to this place (ATOT) too.

-=bmacd=-

 

[aimn]

Are you the type of person who's addictions control them? Anything I do a few times and enjoy, I end up abusing. For instance, I decide to start golfing again. Played on the weekend, got invited to join a mens league, joined mens league. Not only on Tuesday night, but on Thursday night too. So now I am golfing on weekends, Tuesdays, Thursdays and hook up with different guys on the other night, to be golfing 7 nights a week. This is typical for me. I am a recovering alcoholic drug addict. So..........yes.

"wean yourself off it without any help?" Of course that is possible, but not probable. I had a buddy die about two years ago. Trying to sober up at home. He died at 37 in his mothers arms. He needed to be in the hospital to recieve the medical help he needed to get the detoxification process. Even with treatment, your chances of staying sober are abour 8%. I say, get help, talk and work with someone who understands addiction. There is power in "we" and we need all the help we can get.

Yes, you can be a user and not be an alcoholic/addict. I think these are some good questions to decide if you have a problem or not. Does using affect your life in any negative way? Do you drink to the point of being drunk, everytime? Ever have blackouts? Is is a financial burden? These are only a few simple questions.
I have learned that alcohol is poison. You are getting sick, not drunk when you drink. This is why we have such hangovers, we just got done poisoning ourselves! Drugs delplete your body of certain chemicals, that, makes you high. Meth is made of (I think) 6 different chemicals, each one individually would kill you. Mix them all together, and you get a "high" out of it.
I am glad those days are behind me. Life is so much better without drugs and alcohol in my life. Eight years sober and I am doing better in life than I would have ever imagined. I have lost 129lbs, feeling better than ever. I have money in the bank, my own house and a brand new truck. I am in the process of starting my own business and have just recieved custody of my nine year old daughter! It just keeps getting better!

 

[Booster]

is addiction always controlling?

Not always, and not by anyone. Not all people can control their addictions and get rid of them if they need to.

 

[Amused]

Almost anything can be "addicting." Some people are more prone to addiction than others. I've known people who can smoke tobacco and cocaine, but leave it and not crave it. I would say they very rare, though.

Myself... I have a very addictive personality and it's taken years to learn to control it. In my teens, my problem was cocaine. I kicked that by 18. I had used pot and alcohol during that same time, but only socially and could take or leave it.

My second addiction demon was cigarettes. That took much longer to stop.

Well, that's it for "physical addictions."

I've had quite a few "psychological addictions" that usually play themselves out fairly fast. My latest was Frappuccino.

No matter what people tell you, it really all does boil down to self control and willpower. No one can help you quit, if you aren't ready to quit.

True addiction is controlling. Those who don't think it is are in denial... and denial is a big part of addiction.

I do not believe substances should be controlled simply because they are addictive. The government is not my mother, and it is up to ME to look out for ME.

 

[dolph]

anyone else?

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: dolph
addiction controls, or so we have discovered. it's a delicate subject; many users of addictive products claim not to be addicted. many products are regulated and the argument can be made that many more should be to, because of the potential for addiction and abuse. are you the type of person who's addictions control them? to anything - drugs, sex, internet, tangerine sour altoids. have you ever been physically/psychologically addicted to anything, and try to wean yourself off of it without any help? do you believe it's possible to do so?

depends on the person.

last few questions: can one be an occasional user of drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) but not be thought an addict? for example, if someone gets drunk a few times a year, are they an alcoholic? if someone smokes pot/snorts cocaine/takes ecstasy and gets high a few times a year, are they a drug addict?

the definition of addiction that i use is continued usage in the face of overwhelming loss.