Drug abuse of a number of years, Damage done?

[Nixiam]

^Better than I could have put it.

 

[SS373dOH]

^ Being 19 and not 40, can go both ways, on the one hand, he may be able to heal faster, but on the other hand, using those types of drugs, is more harmful to a developing brain, than a fully developed one.

We are limited to assumption, I've known people that made it out of their drug use, with full cognitive abilities, and I've seen MFers that are burnt out and retarted as hell. See a specialist if you want, even if they diagnose you with something, treatment would by limited, only time will tell.


- Hopeless 7nos

 

[UtterlyConfused]

Crack'r - I couldn't have said it better myself. *High Five

 

[UtterlyConfused]

Always look for consultations. Those "Burned Out" People probably could get some more extensive and sophisticated treatment if they knew where to find it. I have to say this, but "Uh, life...finds a way.". LOL

 

[IrishLife]

I'm really not sure how people on a website diagnosing him with 'definite severe brain damage' is in anyway helpful? If anything it will just cause further depression and possibly continued drug use because why not if you are already screwed? We don't know how he will respond.

I guarantee being positive and staying completely sober will be the best thing for him. And giving himself time and trying to use his mind for more challenging things is better than doing nothing. It's when people are negative and give up that there isn't much progress or they decline.

He is also 19 which gives him better odds of recovery than a 40 yr old.

OP, I wouldn't take any of what we say completely to heart. I was told when I was 23 that I had a disease that kills 80% of people in the first year. I could have listened and become depressed and probably added to that statistic in a self fulfilling prophecy. But I stayed positive and worked to stay healthy and give myself every opportunity. That was almost 14 years ago and I still have the disease in addition to another that is related. But I deal with them well and it seems that every year I get a little better, at least symptoms wise. But I do everything I can to make my body stronger. My point is, we never know what the future holds. And it's much better to remain positive and live healthy and do everything you can to make things better. The brain is an amazing thing and can overcome some crazy things, yet it can make a body sick when there is nothing wrong because someone is negative and believes something enough. But being positive, optimistic, and happy is a much better way to live than negative and depressed. If you stay positive, sober, and give yourself plenty of time to heal (years even), you will be giving yourself the best odds of recovery.

As for the medical costs, see if there is a large University or medical center near by. Many are doing research on your very situation. If so, you may have to be a lab rat and let them run tons of tests all the time, but they should also pay for it all to help with their research and may even compensate you for time and travel expenses. It's up to you to be proactive and try to find things that can help you. Also, talk to your Dr and ask if he knows of anything like I mentioned or if he knows anyone that might know, that he can call. You can also make phone calls and ask. It will probably take many hours of calls as you will be given the name and number of someone that might know or be able to help and so on and so on.

Also, there are some brilliant doctors that will be able to tell you what you can do to help yourself and that are optimistic. But there are plenty more that aren't all that bright and have terrible bed side manners and will be depressing to talk to. So don't take everything they say to heart either and hopefully you can find one of the good ones.

If you have a hard time remembering things, start carrying a pen and notebook with you and write stuff down you want to remember. I make lists all the time because none of us remember everything and it's an effective tool to make sure you do things you need to or have everything you will need for a trip, etc, etc.

This is my opinion based on having severe health issues and having to deal with many doctors in many places and having to see a Dr once a week or more for 14 years now. I'm sure others won't agree with it all. But you can either try and make things as good as they can be, or you can give up and not get very far. And that goes for anything in life.

Good luck and try to stay positive no matter what!

Thank You very much for this reply!! Very helpful, Makes me feel a tad better Thanks again.

 

[belfort]

"my ability to be a human in general is gone i think"

WOW i feel the same way..after years of speedballs and Ghb i find that im basically a shell of a human being at this point..i dont enjoy that much in life, very low interest in most things, socializing just almost seems pointless anymore...the level of stimulation that i need now is absurd just to feel much of anything..emotionally im fried as well..

i almost think the best that people in our situation can do is serve a WARNING to others..give them the honest truth about what we did with drugs, tell them about the amazing highs, the fun but then add in the terrifying repurcussions that come after..i tell all youngsters do NOT fuck around with drugs that make you feel too good..if a powder makes you feel amazing, stay away from it and for sure do NOT combine it with other drugs for an even beter high...i know im not helping you much OP but just letting you know there are others in your situation..i wish i had some good advice..

 

[belfort]

^ Being 19 and not 40, can go both ways, on the one hand, he may be able to heal faster, but on the other hand, using those types of drugs, is more harmful to a developing brain, than a fully developed one.

We are limited to assumption, I've known people that made it out of their drug use, with full cognitive abilities, and I've seen MFers that are burnt out and retarted as hell. See a specialist if you want, even if they diagnose you with something, treatment would by limited, only time will tell.


- Hopeless 7nos

ive witnessed the same thing, i do know a handful of people that made full recoveries from their addiction..years of heroin/crack abuse yet with rehab, NA, support system they have somehow managed to actually be living a healtier, happier life than before they found drugs..then i know plenty of people that are complete shells of their former self and they went throug the same rehabs, NA etc etc..i think so much comes down to brain chemistry and u better pray that you are one of the rare cases where you can return back to a somewhat normal baseline, whatever the fuck that is lol..most of us druggies were never close to being normal to begin with so

 

[roadkill barbie]

Yeah,, very much like the OP and others just wanted to say thanks for putting that so eloquently Crack'r.
I've started copy and pasting the best bits of advice from Bluelight and Stuck in a Doorway (OCD Forum in my case) to my drafts folder to be printed off and revisited,, highlighted, make notes from at a latter date - those comments will certainly help and I'd certainly presume this may help for you as well Irishlife given similar memory issues. Sometimes the internet can be such a barrage of information overload and distraction that holding on to the bits you know to be most effective and helpful, whatever the source, and actually printing them out and going over them can really help to give you a decent kinda 'basecamp' if that makes any sense.
Good luck bud - I, along with many others I'm guessing see correlations or at least empathise but as far as advice goes, hats off Crack'r - thanks.

 

[Man in the Dark]

You need A medical doctors professional advice get a CT scan of your brain if you're really that concerned. You are young and you will heal. Don't surf the Internet looking up symptoms the only thing you're going to do is make yourself more nervous believe me I've been there and done that too many times. I've had two Traumatic brain injuries in the military trust me when I tell you see you neurologist get a CT scan and go from there more than likely you're going to be fine. Good luck

 

[Hospitality]

@IrishLife did you get better?