cravings

[bev1295]

I was a crack smoker for 15yrs. I have been clean for 10yrs now. But my problem is I just cannot believe after all that time  I still crave it! I have dreams where I wake up and feel like I just did a hit. I will see it on the TV show cops and crave.I hate it. I just want it to just go away!!!!

[clean_in_ks]

My DOC (drug of choice) was not the same as yours.  But I have been learning and reading a lot about helping to restore my brain/body after the damage drug use has caused.  Here's a link from the health pages that may help.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Health-Effects-Of-Cocaine-short-term-long-term/show/414?cid=66

Also, I've been reading a lot about trying to regulate and heal natural dopamine production in my brain which the above article refers to.  The info I have learned about the amino acid L-tyrosine.....at least the main sentence "Tyrosine is important to overall metabolism.  It is a precursor of adrenaline and the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, which regulate mood and stimulate metabolism and the nervous system."
You, of course, could read much more about it.  There are a lot of articles within MedHelp's site about this amino acid.  You can't take it if you are on an MAO inhibitor, but it helps with lots of things that drug addicts are still lacking or not producing on their own.  That link up above talks about some fairly long term effects on the brain.  It may help.

Most importantly, of course, is WAHOO FOR YOUR 10 YEARS!!!  What have you done to remain clean?  Love to have you share more if you care to.  We all need to learn from each other.  Thanks for posting~

[SincerelyYoursT]

do you really crave it? like you want to smoke? or are you just reminded??
Neurologically speaking the memory associations may never completely go away… it just changes and new associations are made.
Certain triggers bring me back… so i can relate. However, I wouldn't call them cravings. After 7 years off I was able to confidently say that that chapter is over… regardless of the memory associations.
Are you 100% sober (no alcohol or anything?) ? if not, that may be why the neuropaths are still craving the excessive serotonin (as they have not been 'dry' for 10 years)...

[abritt121222]

Well awesome that you have been clean for ten years congrats on that. And I know wh at you mean about the cravings to and that was one of my biggest hurdles to overcome because I have had two back surgeries and its very easy for me to get any med I want cause I was hook on opiates and when I first got clean I would find myself convincing myself that my back hurt bad enough to justify getting the meds which was not actually the case but after going to therapist and counseling and all that it helped a lot with that. Have u ever done any of that and talked to a addiction councilor or anything cause even tho you have been clean for a long time it could still help you to cope with the cravings but for me and I'm sure many others cravings are now part of life and I jut had to find out the right way to deal with them and once I did it was a lot easier and also the cravings are not near as common as they once were but every once in a while when I have a bad day they can come back with a vengeance but I deal with it the right way and keep going. When they are bad the thing that helps me the most is to just chill out sit down take a deep breath and actually take myself back and remind myself how bad it was and why I never want to go thru active addiction again and have burned a picture in my mind of my mom and girlfriend looking me dead in the face crying telling me how much I was hurting them and it makes me feel better because I know that's the past and its something I never have to put anyone thru again because the pain I caused the people I love the most is something I hate more the anything and I never want to see them like that again.

Good Luck and Godspeed
ABritt

[mamaof4410]

Its normal. You did it for a long time. I used heroin for 6 months and I was told by an addiction counselor that everytime I feel anxious or I do something that I used to do while high the toxins from the drug are still in my system and they seep into my blood stream and thats why we get that craving. I take a mulit vitamin and it helps alot with the cravings, but alot of it is mind games. You just have to do something to take your mind off of the drug. Go for a walk or do anything that makes you feel better. WIsh you the best! 10 years is a HUGE accomplishment!