• Hello Graphic
    NEW MEMBER'S GUIDE
    INTRODUCE YOURSELF
    YOUR FAVORITE DRUGS?
    WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

  • NMI Moderators: Coffeeshroom

aka The Queen of Swords

For the longest time I knew that the present system of punishment/rehabilitation/treatment for substance use/abuse in this country was wrong. I knew that the shame, guilt and total abstinence often taught, typically, did more harm than good. I knew that there HAD to be a better way. Then I found this video. This man was able to perfectly articulate so much of what I've been thinking and feeling all along.

Click on the Link Below
Everything You Know About Addiction is Wrong

Jadis, QoS
 
In March of last year I posted a link to a youtube video of a TEDTalk about addiction called Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong. The things that Johann Hari learned during his research on addiction showed him that treating addicts like criminals, trying to guilt and shame them into sobriety is exactly what pushes people to relapse and continued use. My favorite part of the talk is the very last thing he says; "The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection." Absolutely brilliant. I've included a link to the video again below.

Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong link to youtube video of TEDtalk by Johann Hari on addiction

Almost exactly a year later.....
Today, because of a personal experience I had, that both surprised and empowered me, I went looking for more reality- based (rather than fear- based) insights into addiction and addiction treatment. I am thrilled to have found Dr. Gabor Mate, author of In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts. There are many videos on youtube where he discusses his ideas on addiction. He discusses addiction as a response to pain. In the video I've linked below, he says, "Addiction wasn't the problem, addiction was your attempt to solve a problem." Earlier in the video he also offers his definition of what addiction is: "Addiction is any behavior that a person finds temporary pleasure or relief in and therefore craves but suffers negative consequences in the long term because of yet cannot give up." He goes on to specify that the "behavior" does not necessarily have to be substance abuse, rather it can include things like sex, pornography, food, shopping, power or any number of other behaviors.

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts link to youtube video - Gabor Maté and Joe Polish define what addiction is and why it's actually a solution to the pain

I've never met a user who wasn't trying to numb out some sort of trauma they'd suffered. I'm so glad that people are FINALLY starting to understand that people who use have emotional wounds that need healing. Once those wounds are healed, the bandage of substances will no longer be needed.

✨🌛🌝🌜✨
💙🦇💙🔮💙

Jadis, QoS
 
I was doing drugs long before I experienced any serious can give ya PTSD trauma if I don’t count bomb explosions and tense adults during war. I don’t think war in a way I experienced it fucked me up very much or I have suppressed it. But war fucked up my country and filled it with heroin and other stuff resulting in it being quite big problem in a post-war years.
 
SpiralusSancti said:
I was doing drugs long before I experienced any serious can give ya PTSD trauma if I don’t count bomb explosions and tense adults during war. I don’t think war in a way I experienced it fucked me up very much or I have suppressed it. But war fucked up my country and filled it with heroin and other stuff resulting in it being quite big problem in a post-war years.
Click to expand...
When I said that I'd never met a user who wasn't trying to numb out some kind of trauma, perhaps I should've written emotional pain and/or trauma. I certainly don't mean to say that trauma, by definition, is the only thing people are looking to numb out. It can be any kind of emotional pain or reason that makes one so uncomfortable in their own skin that they feel the need to self medicate.

I hope that makes my point of view more clear.

Jadis, QoS
 
I was actually trying to make a joke of myself.

I have similar experience like you if I consider only addicts, but if I consider recreational/responsible and medical users too than I have met many people without any trauma doing drugs or if put other way, almost everyone, if not everyone experienced some kind of trauma anyway.

And like one my friend said – “Fuck people without trauma, they are boring!”
 
I might be the oddball out but I feel like my addiction has caused most of the issues I'm now struggling with in life and I don't really see any trauma earlier in life that wounded me

I mean if you count the degrading (in my eyes today at least) psychological experience of being brought up in a broken American wasteland system there you go plus some difficult years in school with bullies moving around not knowing anyone except drug users (I mean it's rare that you find someone who doesn't use any drugs with what Pharma is trying to pump people with except they like to stigmatize a bunch so they can just profit and control minds?)

Nice ideas thanks for sharing

anyways no sense dwelling on the past for me I know I don't want to go back there all I can do is try to live for today I guess

I understand I need to take responsibility for my choices and no one can make those for me
 
Last edited:
Happy Dog GIF
 
SpiralusSancti said:
I was actually trying to make a joke of myself.

I have similar experience like you if I consider only addicts, but if I consider recreational/responsible and medical users too than I have met many people without any trauma doing drugs or if put other way, almost everyone, if not everyone experienced some kind of trauma anyway.

And like one my friend said – “Fuck people without trauma, they are boring!”
Click to expand...
In the context of the videos/links I posted, I was referring to people with addiction issues, not recreational or medicinal users.

I'm glad we finally got on the same page. :)

Jadis, QoS
 
psyd said:
I might be the oddball out but I feel like my addiction has caused most of the issues I'm now struggling with in life and I don't really see any trauma earlier in life that wounded me

I mean if you count the degrading (in my eyes today at least) psychological experience of being brought up in a broken American wasteland system there you go plus some difficult years in school with bullies moving around not knowing anyone except drug users (I mean it's rare that you find someone who doesn't use any drugs with what Pharma is trying to pump people with except they like to stigmatize a bunch so they can just profit and control minds?)

Nice ideas thanks for sharing

anyways no sense dwelling on the past for me I know I don't want to go back there all I can do is try to live for today I guess

I understand I need to take responsibility for my choices and no one can make those for me
Click to expand...
Coming from a broken home, having been bullied and moving around a lot, which makes creating stable relationships difficult, are all experiences that can cause a great deal of emotional pain. I see a lot of self blaming in what you wrote. I'm sorry that you're in pain. I hope you find the help you need. Did you watch the video I linked above called "Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong?" If you haven't, I think you should.

BIG HUG :heart5::heart5::heart5:

Jadis, QoS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top