C O K E
- Thread starter RayFinkel
- Start date
I was completely happy in my life when I became an addict.holden said:
There are various circumstances that lead an individual to addiction. It's definitely not cut and dry. For me it was fun. I had a blast while I was doing it. Where it got scary was when I started waking up and the first thing I thought of before I took a piss was "gee it'd be nice to do a fat rail." Then it started to escalate and I was doing it before class, in my car, in the washroom at restaraunts, pretty much everywhere I went. One morning when I was visiting the folks, I woke up and reached for my baggy. That moment marked the beginning of my rehabilitation. I realized then that the drug had taken total control and it was time to stop. I cut myself off from anybody that I used to do it with. I became very close to my family and concentrated, as best I could, on my schooling. It has been just over 10 years since I've been clean. I don't have any of those past friends as acquaintences. There's not a New Years Eve that goes by without that flashing impulse to go out and buy some coke. That is the grip of an addiction. Whenever I see the stuff my stomach turns, my palms get sweaty and I start to crave. I never stay at a party if I see coke. I'm too afraid that maybe someday I'll succumb to the sweet lulliby that plays in my head when I see it.
Just a FYI. Nobody in my family is addicted to anything. I was the black sheep. It wasn't genetic for me. It was the party life I loved. That life led to my addiction.
This is my last post in this thread. I can't stand to read the narrow minded approach that some of you have towards addiction.
Everyone please play safe.
Peace.
ruck said:
Thanks Ruck for sharing your experiences with cocaine addiction, but didn't you think you were lacking fulfilment when you had to go to the washroom in the middle of dinner at some restaurant and run a fat rail on the toilet or do some keys.
Also coke creates new pathways in your nervous system thus the physical dependence on it - it's permanent damage
Bring Ray back
I suggest we all should petition Fred to invite Ray back.
Ray needs advise like we have been reading here the last few days. Whether it be harsh or soft, atleast he will appreciate that although he may be a stranger to most, we do care about his well being.
I suggest we all should petition Fred to invite Ray back.
Ray needs advise like we have been reading here the last few days. Whether it be harsh or soft, atleast he will appreciate that although he may be a stranger to most, we do care about his well being.
Coke and E are totally different.Meister said:
E gives you the feeling of euphoria. Coke gives you the feeling of utter carelessness. Coke makes you think you're the best. While E makes you feel your at your best. I've never hallucinated from coke but hallucinated everytime I did E.
E is addictive as well and I suggest you stay away. It's easier to not get addicted but the feeling of total euphoria, once tasted, can be over powering.
I have done a lot of E in my time as well. It was a blast but I remembered my cocaine dependency and decided to stop while I was not addicted.
I still smoke pot. I still smoke cigs and I still drink occasionaly. The pot and alcohol is something I can control and only do it whenever it's a party or something. With a buddy kind of deal. Once every two weeks or longer. The cigs is the worst addiction I've ever ever come across. Years of trying and still no luck.
Holden..fulfillment perhaps but in the form of the next high. I liked to party and it was fun when I first started. After that, I just needed to do it for the sake of doing it and feeling the high. It's disgusting at the very least.
W
WhOiSyOdAdDy?
ruck said:
How is crystal meth different from the drug above?
I have heard that crystal meth is much more addictive.
Also, many labs which make E are apparently adding crystal meth to make it more addictive.
Cocaine is a stimulant, primarily focused on dopamine functions in your brain (like crystal meth... although unlike crank, blow seems to work mostly by inhibiting dopamine reuptake, while crank mainly causes a release of the stored chemical). Dopamine is brain chemical that is tied to euphoric feelings - almost like adrenaline - so in that sense, the feeling should be more "euphoric" than MDMA (E). MDMA primarily affects the seratonin receptors (a brain chemical more associated with sleep functions and mood), although there is some "cross-over" with each, and (as others have suggested) E often is sold with a dopamine-style stimulant included with the MDMA component.Meister said:
In many ways, coke might be less damaging to your BRAIN (it does affect your neural paths and firing patterns permanently, but the methamphetamines like E or crank actually kill parts of the neurons that naturally create the chemicals... arguably more serious damage...), but it seems to be worse on other parts of your central nervous system (especially cardiovascular functions).
Although you didn't ask specifically, most researchers (quite reasonably) also summarise that the concentration on dopamine functions (as opposed to seratonin) and the "reinforcing pattern" of usage make blow and crank more addictive and subject to abuse; but note the caveat that not much research has ever been done on MDMA addiction, and anecdotal cases of extreme abuse are rare (to date).
Can’t tell you how any of it feels (I'll stick to carrots and clover, thank you), and ain't judging if you're using... just telling you what it does.
Unfortunately, mental issues are becoming more prominent as we discoverthe rusty tromb said:
how our mind affects our bodies...
I agree that there are too many cases where people use disease as a crutch for their bad behaviour... and there may be many people who abuse alcohol and drugs who do not have a disease... for those, it may be as simple as a bit of will power for them to quit....
however there are many more who's problem is much deeper... and their life and problems have nothing to do with a moronic cartoon
Slow&easy...you're right and wrong.slowandeasy said:
People addicted to a substance do not you the word "disease" as a crutch. The word disease is something, as a rule, they will use to explain to those who do not understand, why they are where they are. An addicted person will not normally make a statement using the phrase : "It's a crutch.." Thats because down deep while they may not be able to quantify their addictive patterns..the know it is not a crutch. I come cross people who have said that and within mere minutes identified them as attention seekers.
In reagrds to your comment "..it may be as simple as will power.." you are correct, but that is really oversimplfying the problem. Will power isn't enough. You need a plan to keep you moving forward. You need a support network of people who understand where you are. (The AA Sponsor program is an excellent example)
I've said it before ..i"ll say it again. Addiction is truly about coping and stress management. Getting the right tools will help anyone out of their situation. The right tools have to be tailored to each individual as we are all different. There is NO magic formula in recovery other than work! It has taken someone a long time to become addicted it will take expontially a longer time to reverse thought patterns etc to become clean.
You will find that those who have recovered will tell you they have several avenues of support. One is NOT enough!
Another snippet from the recovery files.. I'm starting to call it that now.
My intent in posting is to provide some info for those who have loved ones or friends dealing with a problem. Hopefully you'll come away with a little better understanding of what they are going through and why your questions fall on deaf ears sometimes. I also hope this will help those afflicted know..other people DO understand.
I'm going to bow out of this thread now. It has a life of it's own and thats a good thing. I currently am dealing with a relapse...and I have to take care of me. It is not serious...but I have some personal demons to figure out and deal with.
Every day is an adventure...and I deal with these minor setbacks as an educational process.
I wish all who have posted...a good day...cause having ONE good day is a really great feeling.
Keep posting. Keep hounding Fred...this is an important subject.
Above all...give yourself some space. No one is perfect. Be human...and go with the flow. Just be careful.
M2
Never tried cystal meth. I had a buddy who did it and watching him behave made me stay clear of that stuff. That is truly toxic stuff and should not be meddled with.WhOiSyOdAdDy? said:
There are a few problems with this discussion.
1) To argue whether or not it is a disease is pointless that's a matter of semantics. What's more important is the ill effects that the addiction can have. I think we can all agree that excessive drug use damages the body and can affect a person's friends, family, career and financial situation.
2) If its so easy to quit an addiction why don't you guys try and stop hobbying for a year. I imagine that most of you guys couldn't. Or try not drinking coffee, masterbating, or sex for a year. Anyways, my point is I think we can all find something in our lives that we would have trouble quiting so its not so simple as will power.
3) For certain drugs it is possible to develop a physical dependancy. To say that addiction is 100% psychological is to ignore the research on addiction.
4) Next time you have a serious problem in your life just use the same philosophy as you've given our coke addicted friend...... "get over it." I think you'll find those words to not have a whole lot of meaning.
I guess empathy and knowledge have given way to apathy and ignorance. Of course if you'd rather argue about the wording that people choose to use you are focusing on the wrong details. Bravo!
1) To argue whether or not it is a disease is pointless that's a matter of semantics. What's more important is the ill effects that the addiction can have. I think we can all agree that excessive drug use damages the body and can affect a person's friends, family, career and financial situation.
2) If its so easy to quit an addiction why don't you guys try and stop hobbying for a year. I imagine that most of you guys couldn't. Or try not drinking coffee, masterbating, or sex for a year. Anyways, my point is I think we can all find something in our lives that we would have trouble quiting so its not so simple as will power.
3) For certain drugs it is possible to develop a physical dependancy. To say that addiction is 100% psychological is to ignore the research on addiction.
4) Next time you have a serious problem in your life just use the same philosophy as you've given our coke addicted friend...... "get over it." I think you'll find those words to not have a whole lot of meaning.
I guess empathy and knowledge have given way to apathy and ignorance. Of course if you'd rather argue about the wording that people choose to use you are focusing on the wrong details. Bravo!
W
WhOiSyOdAdDy?
frankcastle said:
Actually.. I was addicted to Diet Coke. I drank 7-8 cans a day for almost 8 years. I did some reading as saw that it is believed that aspartame has unknoown effects on brain chemistry... and it made me think about what I was putting into my system. I gave it up cold turkey a couple years ago. Now the only carbonated drink I consume is beer (on occasion!). It was not easy and I think the addiction was more psychological.
W
WhOiSyOdAdDy?
I don't know where you guys are hanging out.. but in my 30+ years, I have only been offered coke for sale once in Colombia and seen one person do it once here, 15 years ago.kkarn said:
Well, why not ? I don't understand what this had to do with self-esteem. He had the courage to post publicly about his addiction & so I am sure he has the courage to confront the problem by seeking professional help. I am only trying to be helpful - not judging him to be inferior to the rest us.jwmorrice said:
Whoisyourdaddy,
Please note that I said some things can have a physical dependancy, thus making it more than a psychological addiction. I did not suggest this was true for all things. Therefore, while you stopped drinking diet coke that doesn't mean other things are as easy to quit. That's why people only sink to really low levels due to certain substances and you don't find people whoring themselves for say coffee.
Anyways, your mention of brain chemistry indicates that you believe there are psyiological effects of different substances. Is it really so hard to believe that some substances can change our brain chemistry to the point of behaviour changes such as addiction? Certainly, watching people that are drunk or high demonstrates short term changes in behaviour. Then combine this with observations of people who abuse drugs or alcohol for long periods of time and you can clearly see that they are suffering from changes that are more than psychological ones.
Also, keep in mind there are degrees of severity and obviously for you diet coke was not a difficult habit to break. I did not suggest that all habits are hard to break, that's why I picked things like sex, masterbation, and hobbying since this is a erotic review board.
Please note that I said some things can have a physical dependancy, thus making it more than a psychological addiction. I did not suggest this was true for all things. Therefore, while you stopped drinking diet coke that doesn't mean other things are as easy to quit. That's why people only sink to really low levels due to certain substances and you don't find people whoring themselves for say coffee.
Anyways, your mention of brain chemistry indicates that you believe there are psyiological effects of different substances. Is it really so hard to believe that some substances can change our brain chemistry to the point of behaviour changes such as addiction? Certainly, watching people that are drunk or high demonstrates short term changes in behaviour. Then combine this with observations of people who abuse drugs or alcohol for long periods of time and you can clearly see that they are suffering from changes that are more than psychological ones.
Also, keep in mind there are degrees of severity and obviously for you diet coke was not a difficult habit to break. I did not suggest that all habits are hard to break, that's why I picked things like sex, masterbation, and hobbying since this is a erotic review board.
It might have been helpful had you suggested that he seek professional help. That would be respectful of his adult status. However, to make his membership here conditional on doing what you say is not. I don't see how your action could be seen as reflecting anything else but a judgement that Ray is somehow inferior, or incapable of making his own decisions, or morally culpable.Fred Zed said:
What you've done is not to make the decision to seek help any easier. Instead you've loaded some additional freight, this issue of compliance, onto that action. Yes, you were trying to be helpful but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
jwm
You are in the wrong circles my friend. Those circles are toxic.kkarn said:
I know those circles too well.
I used to be in them. Coke distorts reality. Makes you feel superior to any situation. If you were not a smoker and you were doing coke, the smokers would not be so welcome.
It's weird world. It's one that is so hard to understand unless you're in it. And of course we all know you don't want to be in it. The trap is so easy to fall into. I suggest you find new friends and new circles.
People who do these drugs gravitate towards each other. It's weird in the sense that we can pin point who is a druggie and latch on for commonality.WhOiSyOdAdDy? said:
For instance, I smoke pot. Most of my current friends were met while smoking a joint. Thank god none of them are coke heads.
