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  • AADD Moderators: swilow | Vagabond696

fine line between being in control and having an addiction

Dr.Beat:

It would be much harder for me to break my addiction with my girl friend, then my addiction for making music and research chemicals.

You could argue the definition of addiction/physical dependance/habituation. They both cover the same concept. Inability to change out of a destructive pattern. However, this is not true of all addicitions/habituations/physical dependencies.
 
a wise moderator from here once said to me (when i asked the question When does drug use become a drug habit? )

When you expect to do it rather than choose to do it.

those words still ring true. thanks kitty.
 
Its also good to consider that in reality you can also break 'addiction' into 2 separate forms:

Psychological Addiction
Physical Addiction

Obviously they are linked in a manner, but for some things the movement from a psychological addiction to a physical addiction is definately an area where I would consider the line from in control to out of control exists. Some substances do create a physical addiction very quickly, and its generally those that you see a lot more people using that you would call a drug addict.

stace.
 
it becomes an addiction when you finally admit to yourself that you are no longer in control! and probably havent been for a while either! been there!
 
everyone who has used meth alot will know the feeling of cravings..

when u get that feeling, is that a sign of mental or physical addiction?
 
Pomplemous: Your statement is not true. Your addicted when your body cant say not. People here are mearly arguing about when the mind admits to an addiction.

Surely you can be addicted without admiting that you are?......
 
Witch Doctor said:
everyone who has used meth alot will know the feeling of cravings..

when u get that feeling, is that a sign of mental or physical addiction?
Click to expand...
I'd say that'd be a mental craving, but I guess it'd depend how long it had been since you last had it. If you were coming down and craved a little bit more to feel good again, that'd be physical (well both, but probably more physical), but if you hadn't had any for a week then the craving would definitely be all mental.
 
Obviously, moderation is the key.

It's as simple as that! I suppose it all depends on what drug you're talking about, as alot of drugs differ in their addictive qualities.

Me?? I usually like to have at least a 5-10 week gap in-between usage, with frequent +++monthly breaks. You truly do feel a better person when you have a long break from using any drug.

But, yeah... as far as I know with drugs like Heroin it could take between one week to a month of consistant usage (depending on person... but usualy it starts off being a "Psychological Addiction" making the person *Think* they won't be able to function normal if they won't use... or chasing that blissfull high opiates can bring forth.

Alcohol:- From what I've experienced, the first few weeks/month of alcoholism won't leave you with withdrawal (THIS IS NOT A FACT!! ONLY FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!!) but then... it all comes down to your genetic make-up, or susceptibality to acquiring an addiction.

Weed:- Hah!! I bet the majority of Bluelighters have been *Psychologically Dependant* on weed at least for a week or so. But, I'd say smoking for about 2-3 months non-stop, every day could lead to difficulties stopping (Again *NOT A FACT!!* personal speculation.)

Drugs like MDXX, well... I don't think it's really a good idea to be going over-board like using every weekend or so, as thinking of the week of work as being shitty because you're not rolling is not a good thing. You don't want to just experience happiness when you're in that altered, blissed up state of mind. Plus, with MDXX people have a tendency to "lose the magic" after abusing this drug for a little too long.

As said before, for maximum enjoyment of getting fucked up on drugs, I would really keep my usage down to about once a fortnight (heh, preferably longer breaks for recovery of those neurotransmitters) Once a month would be the better option though.

I have friends that use like once or twice a year (I used to be like this.) and I tell you what, every tme they do get fucked up on any drug, it's like a mystical experience to them.

But then... we're all bloody different now aren't we?? So I wouldn't go taking this reply as accurate information, just mere advice from a person who has monitored his friends, and his own usage.

Dunno if that helped, take it easy!=D
 
Addiction... I would think I have lost it if I am calling work "sickies" so I can get high or not coming to work too many times because I feel like shit.
 
In recent years the World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined addiction as:

"a cluster of physiological, behavioural, and cognitive phenomena of vaiable intensity, in which the use of a psychoactive drug takes on high priority. The necessary descriptive characteristics are preoccupation with a desire to obtain and take the drug and persisitent drug-seeking behaviour. Determinants and the problematic consequences of drug dependence may be biological, psychological or social and usally interact."


That this addiction (or dependence) syndrome includes seven key elements:

1. A subjective awareness of compulsion to use a drug(s) usually during attempts to stop or moderate drug use.

2. A desire to stop use in the face of continued use.

3. A relatively stereotype drug taking habit i.e. a narrowing in the repertoire of drug taking behaviour.

4. Evidence of neuroadaption (tolerance and withdrawals).

5. Use of the drug to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

6. The reliance of drug-seeking behaviour relative to other important priorities.

7. Rapid reinstatement of the symptoms after a period of abstinence.

also look at this site: http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Addiction
 
Urbanhog said: Addiction... I would think I have lost it if I am calling work "sickies" so I can get high or not coming to work too many times because I feel like shit.

The above statment is ME!!!! so this is bad... I have just been to the doc (again, for 1000th time this year already) and now been prescribed Valium to help me a bit... no good... I wish I could just feel normal again.

edited: I was going to add that no only have I been avoiding work, but also my friends and family. .... I have not been home to visit my parents in ages (can't even remember the last time, oh yes I do, it was xmas and I was only there for lunch and left ASAP) ...this is also the same with my sister and closest friend. I use the phone more now, rather than confront anyone in person...I know I have a prob, and I will get me through this.
 
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mongman said:
Pomplemous: Your statement is not true. Your addicted when your body cant say not. People here are mearly arguing about when the mind admits to an addiction.

Surely you can be addicted without admiting that you are?......
Click to expand...

Fair one - was talking of my own realisations there - when knew all along was addicted but pretending it was in control. That's what I meant - until you stop kidding yourself.

ghostcorps: feck me - I was ticking off all of those from my newly-ex H addiction.

I must not come to these forums because reminds me I never wanted to give up - jut moving town was the reason - wouldnt know where to look.

*bails out in a small panicky sweat*
 
Is it just me or are there a lot of people in denial? Seems to me people aren't prepared to admit they have a problem until they end up in the gutter.
 
I'll go number 3... But i keep taking 'drugs' in general.. easy to say no to various ones and various ways of taking them... I'm addicted to somethings thats for sure!
 
When i take drugs. I see it as monuments in my life, like travelling. These are very special experiences in my life (pretty much psychadelics). When on anything such as MDMA i treat it as if it's could or is my last time (especially in the case of "losing the magic") may never experience that same state again. I'm an explorer of altering the perception of time, space etc of the mind.
I say your addicted when you can only find that high level of pleasure from drugs.
When you say im not going to ever increase my frequency of taking this drug, but you slowly develop excuses and exceptions without trying to accomadate your original rule... IF you can wait your "time period" and then say i dont think this is the right situation, but doing it anyway. You need to be able to say no if its the wrong time.
If you can honestly say i can never touch this drug ever again in my entire life, but (something along the lines of) but im thankful for my experiences.
If your not satisfied reaching that same high and constantly wanting to get that much further.
... All these rules as signs either leading to or already facing a drug problem/addiction.
It's late at night/morning i havnt slept for a while sorry if i was just rambling
 
being in control (to me) is when you can go out and dance all night, or go out socialising without feeling like you have to take drugs to do it. When you fail to draw the line between 'needing' drugs and 'wanting' them.

If you need the drugs to go out, and cant go out without them, or feel like its not worth going out when your not high, thats when you have lost the control.

not being able to distinguish between want and need is the point where you have lost sight of any kind of control.

thats my two cents worth anyways.
 
stacyrox said:
Its also good to consider that in reality you can also break 'addiction' into 2 separate forms:

Psychological Addiction
Physical Addiction

Obviously they are linked in a manner, but for some things the movement from a psychological addiction to a physical addiction is definately an area where I would consider the line from in control to out of control exists. Some substances do create a physical addiction very quickly, and its generally those that you see a lot more people using that you would call a drug addict.

stace.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY. I agree wholeheartedly. I think a lot of people do get denial regarding it all as they are not physically addicted. MDMA/Ecstasy is a very good one for this. Most people do not get a severe craving for it by their bodies, as you would for a cigarette. Moreover, the mind wants it badly because it is used to it and knows what things could be like if it had it. Addicted ecstasy users are 9/10 times addicted psychologically. A lot of regular weekend poppers probably wouldn't even realise they have an addiction.

So how do you know when you are psychologically addicted?

I personally think it's:

You feel like you won't have fun without it. When you can't go to your favourite club without having it, or feel really uneasy if you do so.

Whenever Friday comes, all you can think about is getting off-chops. (I personally can go all week without even a thought of having a pill, then when Friday comes.......)

And I guess a good indicator that applies to both psychological and physical addiction is when your quality of life decreases during the week just to fund your weekend (assuming your a weekend only person)

Just my thoughts.
 
i've been thinking about my drug use alot lately... i'm mostly into xtc, i know i can deal with life much easier and im a more all round happy person when i havent had it for a while... but those glimpses of me are not so common, i get caught up in doing it weekend after weekend that i forget that its actually having an effect on me out side of taking it... right now i know that i could do better for myself by staying away from it... but i want to do it, and i will this weekend... and i've never really thought i had a problem but i think now i do... im choosing to do something that goes against reason...
 
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