Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.

Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

This community is a place to share information and support with others who are trying to stop using drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other addictive substances. Discuss with others, the symptoms of addiction, addiction recovery, ways to quit like tapering and cold turkey, and withdrawal symptoms. If you are interested in general "chat", please visit our Addiction Social Community.
Post a Question Back to Forum
 | 
MedHelp Member's Question

Can recovery from addiction become an addiction?

by Vicqueennomore, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
Can recovery from addiction become an addiction? I feel as though I am consuming myself with trying to recover?
Member Comments (111)

by RobynBanks, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
excellent question. ...my body&mind  are constantly in a state of withdrawl....its like its normal for me.

by Vicqueennomore, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Robyn
Nice to see I am not alone on that one...it's been 15 days since my last pill and I can think of nothing else but when and how am I going to be nornal again....

by The Golden Slipper, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Vicqueennomore
You are definitely not alone.  I am a barbituate addict and have been clean since just before Thanksgiving.



I have no idea what feeling normal is supposed to feel like.  I am constantly feeling crazy like I'm going to lose my mind at any moment.



I do have some brief moments of peace where I can honestly see how crazy my pill seeking behaviour was and how much better I feel now.  Unfortunately the feeling doesn't last that long though and I start feeling nuts again.



Maybe it's just part of the process. I can certainly relate though I am constantly obsessing about how I feel.



Golden Slipper

by Vicqueennomore, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: golden,robyn
Is it because we had the simple task of just taking a pill, or snort or whatever our drug of choice was, to feel "better" and now we feel we have nothing or so we think. Right now this forum is helping me but I am afraid of actually becoming "addicted to my recovery" from it...make sense anyone??

by percsnomas, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Queen/RB/GS
Being slightly further along in clean time(5 months this past Sunday), I can tell you that "stuff" is all normal...to wonder if you will ever really be normal again(and obsess about virtually everything to do with recovering).



This shall also pass, please trust me on that one.

More separation from your last pill will provide the means; then the next thing you will know is, you actually will be living your life again(ie. moved on).



Stay strong people, and try not to think TOO MUCH.



Percs

by Vicqueennomore, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: percs,robyn,golden
Thanks Percs for the insight, any idea how long that took? I am trying not to think to much but I have some idle time on my hands because I just got laid off. It may or may not have been because of the 4 days I took off because of the "flu" (w/d). Not a real stable work force out there right now and I was fairly new. In any case I can collect UE but time and not necessarily money is my enemy right now. Too much of one and not enough of another, I guess. I am trying to stay busy by catching up on housework that didn't get done in the last 2 weeks but it is a struggle. I use to take a few pills and have the energy to clean my house and my neighbors :-). I just want to know when I will have at least half of that energy and motivation.

by J. E. W., Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
I know the feeling... Ive been putting alot of my time into this forum. It has helped soooooooooooooooooo much on my recovery. I know I have along way to go,but with all this support it helps tremendously!!!!!!! But I too think Im addited to this forum... I dont think this is a bad addiction though!!!! Its a God send for me...  Day 11 today and besides for a few ups and downs, sneezing,[whats that about?],bodyaches here and there,I think over all I doing good!!! Prayer has helped me get through the down time alot.. And knowing your all here is sooooooooooooooo wonderfull.. So Everyone smile a great big smile and think about how wonderful life is and its getting better everyday of our journies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ill be praying for you all... If I could I would reach out and give everyone of you a GREAT BIG HUG AND KISS from the bottem of my heart for all the help youve been and will be in my journey.. Iknow that God has his hands on us all.. So rejoice.... Were going to make it..        God Bless you all my friends..And give your worries over to God he will take themm in time..                J.E,W.

by percsnomas, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Queen
I get asked that alot.  My last pill was Aug.19/02, and I still remember cutting the grass about a week after that; continually looking down at my legs.....cause I was certain they were made out of concrete!!! urgghh

I forced myself to the gym, no matter how lethargic I felt; so to answer the timing question, Id have to say things really improved after 3 weeks.  It took me a couple months before I didn't THINK how much energy I needed to play with the kids, work around the house ,etc. That kind of happened without me even realizing it.....



I'm sure the loss of employment doesn't help your situation, but as you've pointed out, keeping yourself busy is critical. Hey, you didn't lose only a job, you lost an all-consuming pill habit at the same time(great trade off in my books).



Thomas and many others have pointed out how important exercise(in whatever form) is, I couldn't agree more!!!



Keep fighting, IT WILL GET BETTER!!!

by Vicqueennomore, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Percs, JEW
Thank you Percs again for the wonderful insight....

Yup, good trade off considering my new boss was adding majorly to my continuing the pills. Very much a jerk.....

JEW, I hear ya on the sneezing and how about that yawning all the time (gotten a little better since the first week) but my nose has been stuffed up for 2 weeks and I am afraid to take anything for it for fear of addiction and the "jitters" that sinus meds do.

I do have to say that I do have a slight, ever so slight, desire now to not to sweat the small stuff, hard to explain but before I was a little anal retentive about keeping the house clean and making sure everyone is happy. I have a little relief in that I am caring about myself right now and actually I feel a little guilty about it. I am afraid my live-in won't want the new me that is not "here to please".

by FINISHED!!, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
Three words...EX-ER-CISE!!! I can't stress that enough. It's hard I know. I have always been atheletic so it may have been easier for me than others but with every time you exercise, the more "in shape" you become. Exercise is proven to increase energy & the feel good chemicals in your brain. If you can FORCE yourself to do a little exercise one day, then a little more the next etc, the day will come when you feel GREAT. Energized. Healthy. You must force this upon yourself. This is what got me through my detox without the effects of the oh-so-common depression that generally follows detox. Take your vitamins, drink your water till you're gonna burst & exercise both brain & body. Geeze, I sound like Hulk Hogan but it works...I swear by it.



FINISHED!!

by NEW ORLEANS LADY, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Queen/Everyone
You pose a wonderful question!  I am 36 days out of hydro-hell and i almost feel like I forgot how to live my life (without-pills). It is almost like OK NOW WHAT? Sometimes I feel so lost!

the posts today have really helped me to stand back and just take it one day at a time--all of you on this forum seem to come through at just the right time--Queen--you are not alone-prayers and peace--much thanks n.o.lady

by Vicqueennomore, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Finished, N.O. Lady
Finished!! I have been hearing that quite often now and I have a few exercise tapes from who knows when because I am not a big fan of exercise. It is 10 degrees below zero out so I can't just go run or walk for that matter but maybe an aerobics tape is a good start,huh? I am about 25lbs over my ideal weight so it couldn't hurt, right???

N.O. Lady - wow 36 days!! That's great....I can't wait until I get there. I hear ya though. Go on with life, pleasing others was my life now what? At this point I am, ok all cards on the table...I am living with my boyfriend that has 3 boys, 11-8-5. I help him take care of them. They are like my own, most of the time, you see I do have 2 of my own that live with their father, he had more money at time of divorce than I did, honestly, didn't lose them due to any kind of unfitness or anything like that. I see them every other weekend. I live right now to help take care of my boyfriends kids and to see mine every 2 weeks. What am I moving on to???

by teeitup, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: finished!!, Everybody
Hey bud email me when you can, I can't remember If I sent you my pager # or not, I'd like to talk to you if you don't mind. Anyone else who would like to email me feel free. Thanks for everyone!



***@****



teeitup!

by suzieneedshelp, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
Wut an excellent question!  

Yes we have addictive personalities and so anything can become an obsession with us.  But...this is wut the success of the 12 step program is all about i think.  To direct those compulsive/ obsessive tendancies into something positive like helping others get/ stay clean!  Wut a meaningful way to be consumed with life.. helping others!  

This board is the same.  Some non-addicts (sig others, etc) think well once u get off drugs./ alcohol u need to get away from all this stuff.. but that is quite the opposite as AA has proven!  Staying in touch with those who  are seeking help reminds us of the horror we went thru, the grip it has on others'/ had on our lives and it helps to keep us drug/ alcohol free!

Peace,

Suzie

by Thomas03, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: vicqueennomore
As people with addictive personalities, we might not be able to choose whether to be addicted or not. But we have some power over what we are addicted to. For example, to get my ass out of my chair and out exercising, I play a little game with my addict mind. When it is time to suit up for exercise, I focus on how good I'm going to feel after I exercise, shower and put on fresh clothes. I visualize myself relaxed, clean, kicking back with a sandwich, just feeling good. I try to make THAT my addiction. You only have to do 20 minutes of mild aerobic exercise to experience a sense of well being. Become addicted to the post exercise high and your addict self will do all the work! Feel lucky you can exercise. Many chronic pain patients don't have that option.



Thomas

by J. E. W., Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: bungee7
How you doig hon? Havent heard from you today.. Just wanted to check up on you.. Im praying for you..                                  God Bless...   J.E.W.

by suzieneedshelp, Jan 21, 2003 12:00AM
To: Worry about Bungee
EVeryone plz say extra prayer for him.. he is having bad cravings and his mind is trying to convince him he is not ready to be drug