'Guard Up' -- Best Ways -- Pride/Humility

EvolverU

Hello Friends & Fellow Comrades-In-Arms. This Is My First Ever Question On The Forum. I've Been Thinking A Lot Lately About The Mysterious Process Of:

1) What Finally Makes A Certain Time -- The Very Last Time We Use? What Made It The 'Aha' Time For You?

2) I've Also Been Wondering About What Others Consider Their Most Powerful 'Motivators' Or Techniques When The Cravings Come Whispering -- The Best Way They 'Guard Up'.

3) Lastly I'd Love To Hear If Others Feel (As I Do) That How We Deal With Pride and How Seek Humility Are Key Elements In Getting Clean & Staying That Way. Really Curious On Your Take & Experience With This One.

So, I'd Really Appreciate Any Experiences And Words Of Wisdom You Might Be Willing To Share re: The Above. Whether You Choose To Answer A Single Question Or Several, For The Sake Of Clarity, (And My Dulled, Sleepless Faculties), Could You Please Use The Numbers In Front Of The Questions In Your Response. Thank You All!

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Need help and comfort. Opiate addiction

Itsanewstart1

A long story short, I've been popping pills painkillers for about 10 to 15 years now and have been through it all. The ups and downs bein...

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motye51

At this point, I'm at a loss for words. I'm at a loss actually in my heart. It feels weird.......about 2 years ago I came on here to ge...

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my_mayberry

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1 year clean today

KY33

I am 1 year clean and sober today. Its been a heck of a journey. Thank god.

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kyle505

1 - More than ever before in my 15 years using, the pills had complete and total control of my life. Wife, children, work, friends, etc., etc., were alway second. I cancelled a long-planned vacation because I wasn't sure if I'd get a refill in time (lied to my family about why it was cancelled). I didn't go with my wife when she took my daughter back to college (out of state) because - you guessed it - I wasn't sure if I'd have pills. My kids are 24, 20, and 18. For 15 years they came second. All the wasted time finally caught up to me and I could not look at myself in the mirror. Not a dramatization, the truth.
2 - The way I've stayed clean for the last 17 months is because of the three step plan I put in place, with the most important piece being telling my secret. I found that once everyone knows (who needs to know, i.e., family, doc, dentist, etc) it is very, very hard to relapse. When my head starts talking to me, I talk to my wife. I've posted this before - medicine cabinets, people I know who've just had surgery or dental work (including my children) were and are sources. But since my wife knows this, she helps keep me headed in the right direction (watches me like a hawk).
3 - Finally pride - after all this time I have none left. I'm working on living a life and doing things that I can be proud of, but that will take some time. For me, pride had very little to do with my addiction. The minute I started lying to my children most of my emotional insides were trashed.
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ariley13

OK, #2 I really can't answer. I have not really had to deal with a lot of the cravings yet. I'm sure that will change when I least expect it. I will be very interested to see what others have to offer and what tools they use to fight their cravings.

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ricart70

Ha funnyweaver. @sarah yea.i have to really think on this.i like these posts that make you think

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weaver71

I heard it, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

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ariley13

I only have the answer to #1 right now. I was so tired of taking vicodin every single day. I had a legitimate script and always took it the way I was supposed to. It scared me that I relayed on this drug so much. I come from a family of addicts and whether it is genetic or a learned behavior, I know that somewhere inside me it is laying in wait. So I guess that I was aware at the rate I was going it was only a matter of time before I got out of control. I am like Ric and superstitious about saying never. What is the saying... we say never and God laughs. I can tell you that I have not had any drugs in over a month and have not had anything to drink in over a year. I plan on it staying that way.

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