Why am I addicted to everything I like?

[lifeisbetter]

I was heavily addicted to opiates for 6 years.  I've been clean for a year and very grateful. The problem is now when I find something I like its like I'm addicted to that. Like a certain food,downloading songs on the internet, or when I have any extra money I spend it on something "I have to have" but of course really don't. I used to be able to balance and control these things. Once you cross that imaginary line into addiction,does it apply to everything? Is is mental or physiological?

[Rex1]

Way to go. WOW - that's awesome. I too am at what 43 days now.

Feels good, although I have my ups and downs. Glad you are doing better - don't be a stranger. We have new people here all the time, and can use all the support we can get!

Rex

[sharonver]

You have an addictive personality, like most of us do. I do the same thing.  Shopping, eating, I could go on and on.  When I see it coming I try to stop it before it gets out of hand, but its not always easy. At least there is no physical withdrawals!!!
Thank God for that!

Sharon

[WifeofAddict]

I love your question...and think it is a good one for the doctor.  Can't wait to hear his response.  My husband gets out of rehab tomorrow (can't wait), and i am wondering the same thing.  Is he going to get addicted to NA meetings?  Is he going to drink?  Is he going to become absorbed with his job?  Hopefully he becomes addicted to me....that wouldn't be so bad :) Congrats on the one year opiate free!  What an accomplishment!  How do you feel?  Are the urges still strong?  How often do you crave it?  
~~~shaking your hand~~~~
Way to go!
Catherine

[kebby]

I relapsed yesterday on day 12 of no pills! I real great and very ashamed! I have my appointment w/ an addictionologist this afternoon. I have strep throat and just couldn't take the pain! Sorry to myself and all those who were inspired by me. Kebby

[Rex1]

Strep throat is no picnic! The sickest I have ever been in my life was when I had Strep about 6 years ago - pain like you wouldn't believe!

Now here's the kicker - if you were on painkillers for some time, and then had been going CT, this incredible pain would be magnified by 5x or maybe even 10x!!!

I am not saying this to make you feel better - it is the truth! I do not know whether I could take that kind of pain. I might take a very low dose of Norcos just to get through it, and then quickly taper to zero when I was well.

My point is, painkillers are for pain, and you likey have an oversensitized pain threshold because of your addiction. Don't beat yourself up - feel better and get well.

In fact, I am not sure I would call this a relapse.

On a side note, for all us here, this is the very reason I think we need to be off Painkillers, especially the strong ones like Hydro, Oxy, Ms Contin, ect. We may legitimately need them one day, plus all of our endorphins in full working order.

Kebby, I think that if you had say 6mo or a year of no painkillers, the pain from Strep would be much less because your bodies natural defenses would have stepped up and been operational.

Good luck and feel better!

Rex

[Pinkit]

Hang in there Kebby.  Congrats on the 12 day mark.  It's great that you got that far.  The first time you tried to ride a bike, did you fall?  I'm sure you did, but I bet you got right back on that bike and rode it again until you didn't fall.  Think of it that way.  So what if you relapsed.  Just get right back up, brush yourself off, and start riding again on your rode to recovery.  You can do it!  Don't spend alot of time feeling ashamed that you relapsed.  Just spend that energy on getting clean.  Good luck to you and god bless.