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Am I lying to myself? Success on my own?

Yeah I agree with that will power thing, the aim is to change your environment/relationships/thinking so that will power is no longer required most of the time imo.
 
Stimfreak2234 said:
So I quit doing meth for good October 4th 2021. I did it all by myself and my friend who’s also sober keeps telling me I can’t do it by myself and I will break down and use. Can it be done on your own? Anyone with long term sobriety or knows someone with it, who did it on their own? I’m just extremely socially anxious so being around people is a no for me
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Well, AA/NA actually has an even lower success rate than people quitting on their own...

I got sober from alcohol on my own (well, with my dads help...had him give me my alcohol once every 24 hours and cut me down by one unit every 2 days).
 
The community spirit has been an integral part of recovery personally. I'm not sure if it's a reasonable example but like Sangha in Buddhism kinda. Maybe that's why your friend is being overly passionate haha because they know it helps them but i know what u mean I've had similar statements made by people who hardly know me etc and it's just like mate, FFS I've been sober for a year I'm not in the "cracked it club" as they like to say implying I think I've got it and don't need to worry ... I just don't like aa sorry etc...then the cynical side of me thinks they are jealous or something strange..but again that's just me lol my brains a dickhead. But honestly I don't actually think I would have been / able to stay sober if it wasn't for going to a group I've been attending since my detox. I don't go as often anymore but when I'm feeling the urge building I go more often if needed. Being able to relate to people in the same struggle when it gets difficult is extremely helpful for me, keeps me focused, plus it's nice to see how people are getting on etc (after building relationships/bonds with them over the course of their journey). that support you not only get to give not necessarily to receive, but because you can and you can relate as all have something in common and all come with unique reasons for being there(I.e.wanting to quit). to learn from/with others but u don't have to agree with everything all the time and vice versa. I didn't warm to AA and it me because I didn't like the style of it but that's just a personal preference and the group/s I attend are more relaxed. If it's something you might like you could give it a go and see what groups are available in your area... but I don't think it's the end of the world in terms of recovery unless you're isolating yourself in the house 24hrs a day not speaking to anyone/doing fun activities/working with others etc but having the space to get stuff off your chest only other folk in recovery can get is great if I'm being honest. Like things i couldn't talk to my family or friends because they don't really get it as much/too close to home
Well done btw you're doing amazing man, you've got this. ❤️👍
 
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THECATINTHEHAT said:
Nice one, it was a genuine comment rather than a facetious one🙂
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Haha weird you said that, coz after I added a smiley face to my reply I was like "shit, I hope they don't think I'm being facetious" lol

I will look, btw, I'm just lazy and also currently have 400+ tabs open across 5 windows (yes, really...and only 300ish are porn)
 
Stimfreak2234 said:
Can it be done on your own?
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IMO/E
Yes
I have given up many drugs on my own (though usually there were incentives like family doing without while I use). Some I just "outgrew". Some I stopped because it/they were doing more harm to my surroundings than my addled perceptions otherwise.
But simply put we can do as we wish and have the ability to do so... whatever this may be. We just have to do it and dedicate to whatever changes we may want to make.
Congrats on your success.
This may not apply to all but see no reason it couldnt.
Best wishes
 
6am-64-14m said:
IMO/E
Yes
I have given up many drugs on my own (though usually there were incentives like family doing without while I use). Some I just "outgrew". Some I stopped because it/they were doing more harm to my surroundings than my addled perceptions otherwise.
But simply put we can do as we wish and have the ability to do so... whatever this may be. We just have to do it and dedicate to whatever changes we may want to make.
Congrats on your success.
This may not apply to all but see no reason it couldnt.
Best wishes
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Agreed. I've done it myself.
With alcohol (NGL I relapsed multiple times, but I've currently been sober [from alcohol] for 5 years). Alcohol is the hardest one to do by yourself because it's so dangerous to withdraw from. Even mild alcohol withdrawal is classed as a medical emergency to due seizures, stroke, heart attacks and death.
So I was drinking 60ish units a day so I moved back in with my dad and each day at 6pm (just an easy time, it was when he's get in from work and he'd get the alcohol on his way home) he'd give me 24 hours of the alcohol I needed (yes, needed). Each day, we'd decrease the amount by a unit.

I also stopped using amphetamines by myself after ending up like Sara Goldfarb (literally emaciated and completely psychotic).

I even went cold turkey on methadone which had me in acute opioid withdrawal for TEN WEEKS. And I did that while in a homeless hostel.

It can always be done, it's just very difficult. However, if you are dependant on alcohol, barbiturates or benzodiazepines, please see a medical professional first as those withdrawals can be very dangerous.
 
THECATINTHEHAT said:
Would love to see the studies that suggest that if you have links
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The Effectiveness of the Twelve-Step Treatment

web.archive.org

This very well researched resource includes various studies supporting the point that NA/AA do indeed have lower success rates than spontaneous remission.

Also regarding your last comment, I think in response to me (though I could be mistaken)

'I think most people know that relapse is common but that’s useful I guess.'

I didn't suggest that. I suggested spontaneous remission is common.
 
No that was in relation to you I thought you were using that as a synonym for relapse.

Thanks for the link I’m just looking through that now!
 
Bottom line is yes you can beat back any challenge if necessary.
Hold to what is dear.
Best wishes
 
THECATINTHEHAT said:
thought you were using that as a synonym for relapse.
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wtf?
she is more than a simple relapse, im afftaid.
wheres chief?
lol
Hey commincations are not optimal. need body language and stuff.
we all get it twisted sometimes
if we didnt we wouldnt learn and be so good at who we need to be.
ldk
 
Eligiu said:

The Effectiveness of the Twelve-Step Treatment

web.archive.org

This very well researched resource includes various studies supporting the point that NA/AA do indeed have lower success rates than spontaneous remission.

Also regarding your last comment, I think in response to me (though I could be mistaken)

'I think most people know that relapse is common but that’s useful I guess.'

I didn't suggest that. I suggested spontaneous remission is common.
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Great to read but always should include valid & peer reviewed links, for sources ( valid, empirical resources only tell their rational - even then, not necessarily right for everyone but for those of us who trust in diligence it's only fair to our fellow peeps to aim toward the least, bias approach.)
As an aside, though the reading makes sense from my experience, personally - met many on BL & IRL who have benefited/maintained a QoL through, AA/NA, so, although, stats may not value them (I have grievances, also, through experience)- i wouldn't rule them out for anyone, desperately in need of help/support. These are not solutions to addiction, nor, should they not be criticised but they shouldn't be ruled-out, either imho. Perhaps, a healthy criticism of social groups/systems & personal actions should be involved in
searching to deal with addiction. Insight is imperative.

What is "spontaneous remission", though?
 
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Asclepius said:
Great to read but always should include valid & peer reviewed links, for sources ( valid, empirical resources only tell their rational - even then, not necessarily right for everyone but for those of us who trust in diligence it's only fair to our fellow peeps to aim toward the least, bias approach.)
As an aside, though the reading makes sense from my experience, personally - met many on BL & IRL who have benefited/maintained a QoL through, AA/NA, so, although, stats may not value them (I have grievances, also, through experience)- i wouldn't rule them out for anyone, desperately in need of help/support. These are not solutions to addiction, nor, should they not be criticised but they shouldn't be ruled-out, either imho. Perhaps, a healthy criticism of social groups/systems & personal actions should be involved in
searching to deal with addiction. Insight is imperative.

What is "spontaneous remission", though?
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I have friends I met in NA when I went when I was 17 who have been sober over a decade. I respect how they work their program.

I maintain that the 12 step model works for a minority of people and was simply the only available option for a long time.

From what I remember the link does include peer reviewed studies, they basically collected them and put them all in one place. The main writing itself is of course, the author's opinions, but the actual studies done are not theirs, and have been done by unbiased groups.

It is phenomenally well researched, and it is very well referenced, with references for almost every statement made.

It's not like the guy just wrote an opinion, he's basically critiqued the Big Book front to back.

Someone made a statement that 12 step programs have a lower success rate than spontaneous remission. Most studies show that this is not entirely true, but it's almost impossible to actually get any reliable statistics on this due to the nature of the anonymity of the program. I know this specific resource does claim that to be true, so I was providing it to support that statement, not necessarily as gospel truth.

'Spontaneous Remission' refers to when a person with a SUD just stops, for any number of reasons, after engaging in treatment or before engaging in treatment but not because of engagement in treatment.

For me, I just smoked my last joint and realised I was watching a video about 5G conspiracy theories and agreeing with chemtrails and asked my mate to ditch the rest of the bag. That was spontaneous remission.

For cough syrup I did it one night and I literally felt like I was gonna die from pain. Never bought it again.

Alcohol made me piss constantly, so one day I just never had another drink.

Benzos, well if I'm given a limited supply I can moderate, but if given a bottle then no. I can't control myself. Still no.

Opiates definitely not. I need to be on maintenance therapy. But I suppose the fact that I shot up heroin in June last year after 4 years off it and immediately put myself back on maintenance therapy as I knew where I'd end up you could call that spontaneous remission. Fear of consequences.

Meth, not quite there yet.

So yeah. It's a thing.
 
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