Some of you have forgotten...

[bluespence]

It appears that many of you who are clean and have been for some time, have forgotten what it feels like to be addicted and fighting for your sanity. For some, you think it should be so easy, just go ct..."you will be okay" and for others when they choose methadone or sub they get chastised for that...what everyone needs to remember is everyone is different and we all have different pain tolerances and will powers, etc. So what may have worked for you may not work for someone else.

[worried878]

I agree with cathy on that one...the truth can hurt they say...but fact is going into horrible details about every hot flas or nausea wave is not productive as it scares the wits out of many who r afraid of feeling sick for a bit to get thru this.....it is the truth..u just gotta do it if ur goal is to be clean...no one here will glorify another stronger narcotic as a rule on this forum less u have tried over and over and failed...very educated and knowing people here...best thing about this group is they tell u like it is (:

[liscamdave]

I have NOT forgotten the things I went through. The things I went through because of my addiction are bound and set in stone. I lost my husband to both his and my oxy addiction, so don't tell me I forget what its like. I remember my w.d and my pain like it was yesterday and NOT one year ago. I think when you hear what these "clean" people are saying. Its them not surgarcoating things. I think that some people who come here, lost and scared, just like myself when I started here 2 years ago, don't know certain things and are only causing themselves more agony. There were tons of things I didn't know about my addiction when I started here. SO I would not catorgize the clean people as a whole. Everyone is different as are their addictions and w.d's.

[mtgoat911]

bluespace mentioned that everyone is different, and yes they may very well be different as far as where they live, how much money they make, religious backgrouds, etc...

however addiction is a dis-ease of life that can trick us into believe that we are terminally unique
but we are not unique, no matter what we have been through,, there is always some addict that has been through it and found freedom

i see the terminally unique syndrome alot, working in tx
everyone comes in , they are more addicted than their roomate, they were abused as a child, no one could possibly understand

for the person , who thinks their situation is unique, start a new thread explaining why you are different from other addicts, i bet many people will be on that thread talking about their experience with the same situation

[kim715]

I think sara said it all...To me you are a huge success story,being able to control the meds the way you do...I know that I couldn't do that...You're a real inspiration Vic,and a big part of the support system on this forum..We're all real proud of you..Hope you know that.....Kim

Mike...Thanks for that pat on the back...You were one of the first people to reach out to me here...Can you believe it's been 9 months???!!!  I'll NEVER forget how you helped me through one of the toughest times in my life.It sounds like you're doing so much better Mike...I'm real proud of ya and real happy for ya too.....Kim

[dominosarah]

You my friend are not a failure, not even close.  You are not abusing your meds.  You have tried everything else out there.  As far as i am concerned you are a vital asset to this forum.  Be proud of yourself.......we all are.  sara

[VicUser]

One year ago today I stopped taking vicodin for chronic back pain c/t after 7 years of use. It was not easy and so many people here helped me. I did real well until March when do to a work function I was faced with a choice, resume taking vics or stop working. Now, I know you will say that there are other treatments and I have tried almost everything from various non-narcotics meds, to epidural cortisone injections to acupuncture. I feel like a failure often, I would like to be celebrating being clean one year today but instead I side on the sidelines and cheer on my friends. Thankfully I am still accepted my friends here and know I can count on them. Over this last year I have seen them support those that needed help and wanted to “get clean” and I have seen them tell the ones that wanted it to be easy the truth and show a little tough love.  Yes there have been some sharp words, but there is so much more support here than anyone could ever wish for.

[dominosarah]

Bottom line is how bad do you want to get off pills and how bad do you want to stay clean..........it is all up to the person.  I was told the truth about this addiction from day 1 and am still being told the truth 7 months later.  Do i forget where i came from.....no i dont.  Every week i am told 2 words that stick with me..........Guard up!!!       sara

[avisg]

Not every thing we say can be rainbows and butterflies it wouldn't  help if we did .If had come here and people had not been straight up. I may have spent along time continuing to use .They laid it out for me it was  not want personal it was the bare bones of addiction.I am very glad for that .

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Nothing easy about it. No way that I could ever forget it. Could probably scare any new person away from "clean" if I relayed enough stories, though......

[IBKleen]

Let me tell you something..I forget nothing. Everyday when I go to a meeting and I see the new person coming through that door, I remember.

I remember laying in the street getting water through a fire hydrant in order to get off..believe me..I remember. And when I talk to someone, it is from the heart and it is from experience, strength and hope.

If you don’t like what you hear here? Well, enough said.  These people have saved me ,more than once and I owe a lot to them. I am a little protective, so if you mess with them, you mess with me.

I may not get here much, but I do not forget. …ever………….

[Mikeinthesouth]

I just waned to pat kim on the back for a good job done well. Pat Pat

[addict3]

Bluespace, I can say with total certianty that I personally have not forgotten. And I do not think many, if any have.
It is hard, hard as he!! but you have to want it bad enough to go through it.

Are you having some trouble? I have seen a couple of your posts, everyone gets frustrated I think.

Is there anything I can do to help you?
Please feel free to PM me if you wish.

Good luck and wishing you the best!!!

[kim715]

I think we all try to speak from personal experience....and I've never seen anyone say that c/t or tapering,or no matter what route one chooses to get clean is easy...nothing easy about it.I always try to be honest,because I know thats what helped me when I came here,people being honest about what I was about to go through,and Cathy is right,sometimes the truth isn't pretty. I have 9 months clean from methadone...I remember those first few weeks like they were yesterday,and although I'm glad that parts over..I don't EVER want to forget where I came from.

[mtgoat911]

people who are chemically addicted really arent so different
and when i feel like i am different than others, i need to be looking at the similairities
i will never forgett what it was like
sometimes i wish i could, i still have nightmares about the **** i went through in active addiction
and when you get clean you will realize that this is a door that people cannot shut
and its best not to shut this door even if you could
we know so much about addiction and treatment now that recovery is more available now than ever before
there is no known cure for addiction however most addictionoligist have found that 12step recovery program is the most widley accepted methode of recovery
that is why most tx center focus on this type program
infact now they are using 12step programs for other issues such as chronic pain, eating disorders and sex addiction
i do not think that it is east to get clean, infact i almost died during detox
but i would rather tell a newcomer, yes you can do it, keep it simple, it will pass
than telling them, oh its going to be hell, you will probably relaspe
its about carring the message of hope, when i was faced with complete absinence i wanted to shoot myself, but there were people around me saying, oh you can do this, its simple really
and it is simple
the only way to stop is to stop
you want to quit doing something you have to stop doing it right
this is not complicated
whats complicated is knowing how to stop and getting over all that fear
so its a simple solution that is complicated by our diseased thinking
i promise you blue no matter how long i stay clean, i will never forget what it was like

[dominosarah]

I remember going thru wd's and would see GTMI saying this is the easy part.....staying clean is what is the hardest......i kept thinking what on earth is he thinking........now i know.  One day at a time.            sara

[GoingToMakeIt]

However you choose to get clean is really the easy part. It is the long haul of staying clean that really matters.

[cathy5841]

i think ppl need to hear the truth...truth is not always pretty...but i do think you can give truth in love.

[Mikeinthesouth]

I think people just say their opinion and diversity makes the world go around........................ but i believe that some logic and love should be addressed as well when giving such opinions that seem harsh.............................. I know the pains of ct and am dealing with them at this moment.......................... so I can just give my experience and try to do so with some couth. it takes all kinds take what you need and leave the rest and principle before personalities................................................................