• TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | Eligiu | deficiT

How I quit drugs and what I do to stay off.

Just wanted to update everyone and let you guys know I'm still going strong! I can't believe it has only been a month! So much has happened! My life is completely changed and I'm on a much better path. Through sharing my experience and perspective, three of my friends have quit drugs as well, and that is such a blessing to be able to share my story and let them grow. I still get temptations at times, but the only reason I get it is ALWAYS because I didn't meditate. We as human beings need constant calibration to put our minds in the correct perspective. We need to remind ourselves of our paths and not get sucked up into the material world. We are spiritual beings first but we forget about that.

I am not done with the message and will continue to help people. My dream is to do public speaking and try to get the message to as many people as possible. I'm currently working with some people now to make this happen.

I am very grateful to be where I am today as I wasn't sure my life would ever be like this again, where I feel like I am flying. Miracles happen to me literally everyday, just really really deep spiritual stuff that freak my friends out. Thank you all for support and encouragement, this board has been a tremendous resource towards my recovery as being an outlet and I am here to talk life with anyone.

<3
"It's easy to quit drugs; the hard part is quitting the reason you took drugs."
-thegent
 
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Just wanted to update everyone and let you guys know I'm still going strong! I can't believe it has only been a month! So much has happened! My life is completely changed and I'm on a much better path. Through sharing my experience and perspective, three of my friends have quit drugs as well, and that is such a blessing to be able to share my story and let them grow. I still get temptations at times, but the only reason I get it is ALWAYS because I didn't meditate. We as human beings need constant calibration to put our minds in the correct perspective. We need to remind ourselves of our paths and not get sucked up into the material world. We are spiritual beings first but we forget about that.

I am not done with the message and will continue to help people. My dream is to do public speaking and try to get the message to as many people as possible. I'm currently working with some people now to make this happen.

I am very grateful to be where I am today as I wasn't sure my life would ever be like this again, where I feel like I am flying. Miracles happen to me literally everyday, just really really deep spiritual stuff that freak my friends out. Thank you all for support and encouragement, this board has been a tremendous resource towards my recovery as being an outlet and I am here to talk life with anyone.

<3
"It's easy to quit drugs; the hard part is quitting the reason you took drugs."
-thegent


Your views, happiness, and success detailed in your post are amazingly inspiring and encouraging. I have been in the grip of multiple addictions and still am. I've had a couple of brief clean periods but have been living with them for 15yrs.

There are some great tips and advice on beating it and staying on top that you have given and I think could work for me too.

I also have the same dream of helping others through my own experience, money is also unimportant to me in terms of finding fulfillment in my life, I want something good to come out of the addictions that have consumed my life by helping to save others, otherwise 15yrs of my life that I've spent with drugs will have meant nothing.
I know that before I can be in a position to do that I have to beat my own first, and I am hopeful that it won't be too long before I am able to.

Hope you are still going strong.
 
Haha. Yeah theirs so much more to life. I did drugs because I wanted to fill something uncompleted in me I still dont know what it was. Maby post traumatic experinces or soemthing in that direction. But as long as I can remeber I was never that cool kid longer than a year. I had great ups and great downs. Have of my life nbobody liked me. I told my self over and over again to stop with drugs. First it was weed than alcohol and then DXM. I didnt learn my lesson form weed sinse I never got the kick out of it and it was just taken from me and I was left back expellt from school for a year. I swore to my self I would never smoke weed again. Then I started liking dringing. I lost a very good friend during this time cause I asked him if we could get drunk on his party. Then When I moved form the USA back to germany I Got drunk pretty often with friends until I got so drunk once I almost fell into a coma. My parents found me at nicht choking on my own thoughup laying in it too. They asked me how amny shots or drinks I drnk and (I cant rember this this was told to me) I said 2. Also they got me up and sayd they walked in the bathroom with me or something and I jsut colapsed and wasent able to do anything. After the hangover which is now a year ago I didnt drink alcohol again never to get drunk. Maby taste soem wine or drink a beer to quench the thirst but never to get drunk. Well then I hear on southpark yeha the TV show that you could egt high of coughf sysup (bad Idea showing this in TV) So well enoughf I told my friends and wanted to do it with them. One of them told his mother and she called my parents. My mom didnt know I was abusing it though she though Iw as using it agaoinst a coughf so dint get into truble and I jsut took it alone. In tha tperiod I took Nut meg once and that totally fucked up my mind for 3 days. After tha I told my self I have to stop with drugs. And that when it became more often that I took them. I got depressed and started after the 3rd time of DXM having haf to have it every 2 weeks. Within 6 highs I had 3 bad ones. One time I got sick for 7 days staright after not taking DXM on the second week. A week alter IO took it again. It was auful again a bad high. Then I did it again and if tha thigh would have been bad I would have stopped. But that was the best feeling I ever had in my life. It felt so good. Then I took it again after 2 weeks. If I hadent taken a ibprofin before on that day because I ahd a head ache who iknows I might have still been on it now. The ibprofin amde the high very long lasting and weak. Like a first pletau dose for 2 weeks. Then it stopped and I felt good for a day then the side effkts started showing. Thex lasted 4 weeks. And that I can say were the worst 4 weeks of my life. I always had this craving of the drug which I still get sometimes but very weak. So now Im on week 9 al sot on week 10 and my brain is producing enoughf sertoin again for me to feel good :). I have learned from this and anyone who takes drugs or has this weanting to try them I tell my story that scares them.
Drugs give gret feelings but the give the doubled negativ effekt back to you. ITs not worth it its a winnnnn .... LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE situation.

I have learned my lesson for goo now I hope. To get rit of the cravings I go into the sauna cause it makes me feel high again :D
Computer and TV is my adiction now and Im working on killing it.

THe only lasting effkts that I still have are complex thoughts very seldomly, bad sleep also very seldome, Fast heart ebat not as bad any more though and muscel tics in my leg oh and not to forget the snowy vison but I can say Im almsot back to normal and I love my life :)

Lol I learned my lesson with 14 which is not very plesant so anyone reading this. It should knock them into the right plöace I hopE :)


Sorry for bad speelling and typing


lars <3
 
Second day clean after a series of short-lived attempts to give up my addictions, and I'll say this thread offers some new wisdom to be applied. Specifically, meditation. This is not the first place I've seen it advocated, yet it is an essential release for the OP, along with trusty exercise. I've wanted to begin running again, as it used to be a healthy habit of mine, but the first few days I'm off I usually can't get out of bed w/o a great deal of effort. As of now, I accept it as a down time necessary to my physical well-being. I'm a fairly slender 26 year old, so it is isn't health/weight issues, just sickness from WD. While it helps me recover, it can get depressing.

However, it seems you experienced an epiphany which changed your entire outlook on life. No longer were you utilizing drugs as escape mechanisms, or for fulfillment, but you also realized the emptiness in your occupational pursuit. I'm very happy you found purpose, yet I feel it is hard to generally prescribe a method for anyone to attain the highly subjective self-actualization process you've suited to your recovery. Not that the pursuit of purpose can't be a deterrent for an addict, but I think you either were granted a life-altering change in attitude; yet if you feel you consciously or meditatively worked towards this realization maybe there is hope to apply a general routine helpful to anyone. None of this is to take away from your recovery and meaning you've attained. Good luck, and keep updating.
 
This was a great read, especially since i'm going to be living in a rehab starting tomorrow. I will need to visit this page again in case i get any fiendy thoughts of relapsing.
 
I've been clean for ten days now. What's weird is I seemed to have picked up a biphasic sleep pattern where I only sleep in 2-3 hour intervals twice a day. My body feels incredibly recharged when I wake up and my skin feels tight. There are definitely a lot of times when I feel stiff or feel pain in my body, but then I'll just start repeating mantras like "The pain is good for me," "This is to make me stronger," "The pain in my body is a material test for my mind," "God has given me strength, I can move" And I'll literally repeat each phrase about ten to twenty times and move on to the next one. I actually held a conversation with myself yesterday for over an hour which I've never done before, but it inspired me to get up and go to my first NA meeting. I truly feel present and this is where I know I should be.

This whole "process" is not about recovering from "drug addiction", but more "escape addiction". Feel the moment, smell the roses, listen to the birds chirp, and actually listen to what your body and mind are saying. Just be.

Just wanted to add after the post i submitted earlier from reading your story, tonight I attended my first CA meeting.
My problem isn't with Cocaine, I did have a problem with it for 8yrs but I got over that quite some time ago, but CA is there for support with any addiction and I have quite a few I still have got to deal with.

I had to force myself to go and very nearly didn't, but I am so glad I did. When I first walked into the room full of strangers I wasn't too sure about it but I found honest, non judgemental, understanding and loving people by the end of the meeting. I was a bit nervous when I had to introduce myself as a newcomer and wasn't in a particularly good state as I am still "using" daily at the moment but they all understood and respected the short introduction I was only capable of at the time.

I am religious, christian belief, although far from a perfect example and I fully respect anyone else's belief whatever they may choose, if any, and I don't expect them to share my belief, that is their own free choice to make. CA also isn't based on a christian belief it can be whatever you want it to be, but I met some true people there. They didn't try to make out that they were something they're not, some were christian and they didn't even try to put on an act of holyness. They were just themselves. They were just honest, they swore and spoke how they wanted, no airs and graces but that is what I needed. To me it was like a church that I had never been able to find before, the one that would take me as I am and saw me as someone in need of help. I even got a lift home and further offers of transport to more meetings if I want.

I'm not entirely sure of the step programme personally, for me, but I have found some people who have been through the same as me and worse, people who have used drugs that I can talk to socialise with and be understood without the danger of influence to use more drugs. There was one bloke there who I felt a sense of being drawn to, not sure how to explain it, he has recovered from addiction and is there to support others who haven't or are going through recovery, and he said he just "knew" when he'd seen me go in that he should speak with me which we did at the end.
Strange.......! But I mean that in a good way. We had a good chat and had some good advice. I want to clean myself up because I want to be in the exact position to do the same for others, and that is a goal I want to reach.

Anyway thankyou so much for this thread about your story. I just wanted you to know that it inspired me to get myself there and I'm glad I did.

God Bless you, mate.
 
^ congratulations on getting to the meeting. I'm glad that you've got support. I am sure that one day you will reach your goal of helping others find their strength. Actually, I am sure that you are already doing that. <3
 
^ congratulations on getting to the meeting. I'm glad that you've got support. I am sure that one day you will reach your goal of helping others find their strength. Actually, I am sure that you are already doing that. <3

Thankyou herbavore for you kind comments and support, I was quite touched when I read your reply. I am trying to answer some questions on some of the threads and give advice from what I had experienced so at least its as start, I'm getting another addiction now, Bluelight! This is such a wonderful place, I love it.<3 Heart for you too!
 
I've been clean for ten days now. What's weird is I seemed to have picked up a biphasic sleep pattern where I only sleep in 2-3 hour intervals twice a day. My body feels incredibly recharged when I wake up and my skin feels tight.

I had that too at first, depression can apparently manifest itself by nothing more than awfully disturbed sleep patterns. I was prescribed a Tricylclic Antidepressant. They leave you with a slight hangover the next day for the first week, then you norm out. After a week or two I was getting almost exactly 8 hours a night, undisturbed sleep. Downside is dry mouth during that time, an incredible thirst at times and a sugar craving from hell. If you a

I had no other depressive symptoms, I have a happy disposition, positive outlook and am self-motivated and not prone to irregular moods.They helped me. I took them for about a year then weaned off them and my sleep patterns didn't change it fixed it.

Its great to see other peoples methods for turning away from habitual drug use.
 
I'm getting another addiction now, Bluelight! This is such a wonderful place, I love it.

Yes, I have to admit to a bit of Bluelight addiction myself......=D But the reason I love this place is exactly what you have come to see in it: people really do care for and support each other. I look forward to seeing you around more! Don't hesitate to jump into the social threads where we get to lighten up and get to know each other.<3
 
The update:

Hey guys, it was really a pleasure to re-read through all of this. It's been a hell of a journey since this thread started. I've stayed away from pretty much every drug, except marijuana. I really love the way it makes me feel present, but at the same time I know that it also doesn't keep me as sharp as I should be. It's hard to quit everything, it's like I need SOME form of escape or decompression. I'd rather it be weed than cigarettes, TV, or alcohol, but I still feel like I'm just around the corner from quitting altogether.

I want to do something in personal development, whether it be coaching, seminars, books, etc. I've had some amazing breakthroughs recently. In my previous profession, I was a weed dealer. It's a job that I sort of fell into and did well with. The only problem being is that I got setup by my best friend, and now I've gone from being this super gregarious guy to someone with trust issues. Whenever someone would ask me, "What're you up to?" It would make me cringe, because I didn't want to lie, but I couldn't tell the truth. What am I going to say, "Oh, I got busted with 100lbs of weed, but it's all good because I got a dispensary and can beat the case." There was a period for two years that I was fighting these charges and emotionally I felt in gridlock. I realized that I had to give up the easy money of the d game (I also lost my dispensary at the time) to be able to be what I was put here to be. I know I've got a great gift for sharing perspective, but what good is that if it's bottled up within a reclusive paranoid weed dealer? What happened to my dreams as a kid of being on the cover of a magazine? Not being able to hold a conversation with the guy sitting next to me on an airplane without feeling like I was lying the whole time is emotionally straining. The path that I was on wasn't taking me there and I needed to take the chains off of my soul. So I got out.

I worked on starting up one company at a time with my savings, trying to go totally legit, but I made vital mistakes. Each venture, although were great ideas, barely left the idea stage as I kept dreaming of the riches I'd one day achieve. But each failure led to another venture with the reason being that the "timing was off", or "start up costs", and just not knowing how much I didn't know. Really, my biggest problem was that I couldn't connect to a new people. My circle of friends were the same and hadn't grown in a long time. My life was the last several years has been off the map, what am I going to say to someone new? I don't have a college degree, and on paper I've done nothing. Business requires networking, and networking (done right) requires vulnerability. I wasn't able to share my story before, but now here I am; I've learned to be a proud, passionate, open man!

Right now my journey is all about building up the network around me. I'm consciously going into places that I would previously hesitate going into, I'm talking to people with complete honest feedback with the intention of helping them realize their dreams. This is my purpose in life. Doing this makes me feel energized and fulfilled. I know that everything starts with making those around me better, and also eliminating negative people.

You are the average of you 5 closest friends. You are likely to do the same activities as your friends, whether it be drugs, TV shows, sports, etc. We all have our ways of bonding with each other. You will absorb ANY environment that you are in. Just look at nature how animals adapt to their environments. Consciously recognize that we are helpless in the wrong environment. I had to keep myself away from the chaos of my drug addicted mom and brother in order to put myself in a good place. Now that I'm holding myself in a higher frequency I'm able to be much more effective when I communicate and act around them. I can maintain my calm and don't blow up because my personal foundation feels solid.

My purpose is to make an impact, and as long as I touch one person I've done my job. My intent when speaking is to draw epiphanies from the others to lead them into the life of their dreams. I'm here to lend any wisdom and knowledge to help you guys. Looking back, it's not hard to see why I used those drugs! I was limiting myself waaaaay too much!!

Thank you all for reading. :)
<3
thegent
 
Gent you should definitely follow ur dreams of being a public speaker I found all of ur posts inspirational I've never meditated but I'm gonna try out ur method I know you posted this a while back I really hope you're still on the right path.. Thank u for posting I made an account bc of you
 
Excellent posts TG. How are you going these days?

It's no surprise your inbox is full ha. :D Clear it out when you get a chance mate!
 
I can't believe i am visiting this thread again after posting my comment above about rehab.
I quit certain drugs, but slowly started the cycle again thinking i could beat it.

I feel like such a shit hole, i'm dependent on benzos again which is really tearing me down and still do all sorts of drugs at different times. I thought i had it down.... i can't believe how deceiving addiction is. So many years of my life gone
 
Finished you r still quite young even younger than me so its never too late to get up again and get clean.
 
I can't believe i am visiting this thread again after posting my comment above about rehab.
I quit certain drugs, but slowly started the cycle again thinking i could beat it.

I feel like such a shit hole, i'm dependent on benzos again which is really tearing me down and still do all sorts of drugs at different times. I thought i had it down.... i can't believe how deceiving addiction is. So many years of my life gone

I can hear the disappointment and remorse in your post but really those years that you call lost have taught you many valuable things. People don't always get stuck or stray into self-destruction with drugs but drugs get all the shame somehow. Lots of people spend years trying to learn to stop hating themselves, unlearning old negative patterns. To me, as long as you are learning you are moving forward. Benzos, as much for themselves as what they are prescribed for, are one of the toughest things to kick. When you can start seeing your demons as your best teachers you start tapping into the power you have inside. Don't get discouraged. You did it once and thought you were done. When you find you have to do it again you have learned that you are not done but you know way more about your nemesis and your strategies will be different.<3
 
meditate....When I decided to meditate it allowed me to realize I haven't asked for help not once at all since I've been clean. Phew that just helped soothed my soul. Asking for help that is.
 
^Asking for help is one of the hardest things to do, then comes accepting it--even harder! Good for you for summoning up the courage and having the clarity to ask.<3
 
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