TDS How to get someone destroying themself to quit that refuses to? (Really need advice)

Abundance

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Mar 25, 2012
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Hope this is the right section to post, I pretty much never ask for this kind of advice as I tend to be good at coming up with answers and solutions myself but I really am at a total loss here, I hope there's someone that can give me the answers/solutions I need. I'll try and keep it short and to the point.

I started using drugs regularly about a year ago at the age of 18, since then I tried pretty much everything, including IV. Before I started I hadn't tried anything, even though I hate to admit it I was the kind of person who looked down on people who had a glas of wine with their meal, this was only really due to my mothers brainwashing. When I tried alcohol at the age of 17 everything changed, I did my own research on the internet and found things aren't as bad as the propaganda I've been fed (went from Alcohol -> Cannabis -> You know the rest...). I was pretty depressed, quite severe social anxiety, got some "luggage" from the past as probably 95% people on here do. Anyway, I went from Alcohol to IV Heroin in something like 8 months, I'm doing pretty good now though, cannabis will probably always be in my life I don't see anything wrong with it and I do take the odd benso when things feel really heavy but I'm confident that I've been there done that for the most part. Sure I long for opiates a lot (some people are stimulant people, some people are benso people.. opiaties are what fills the void for me that nothing else can fill) but I have it under controll and that part of my life is over, it was an interesting year, I learnt a hell of a lot and I now understand what it's all about.

Anyway.. to my dilema. There's a person (a girl, ofcourse), same age as me, the same person who helped me get hold of stuff when I didn't have any connections. She was using quite a few years before me, around mid teens, nothing heavy early on though. I care a lot about this person, we actually started talking to each other online and don't live in the same city but we've met every now and then for the past year where we spend several days together in a row mainly doing drugs and we talk online almost daily. She is my only/best friend. I don't have any contact with my family so really she is the only person in my life I value. She is a bit more outgoing but claims I am her most valued friend. I've always known that she uses quite a lot but always thought she had it under controll, she's never been seriously physically addicted to anything. Well I recently found out it's a lot worse then I thought, not physicall addiction but very regular use of many different things, mainly a variety of pills, quite regular opiates, quite regular stimulant and some other stuff on and off. It is clearly getting way out of controll, or has been out of controll for over a year. She takes something (different all the time) every day virtually every day, maybe 5% of the days in a year she won't take something. I've been very careful and have never really confronted her but subtly suggesting that maybe she should try and cut down just a little, she won't listen. I've tried explaining what she is doing is going to lead to and honestly, I think she knows but doesn't care. She is very smart but just doesn't care, doesn't want to live. I've tried trying to find a root cause or problem assuming there must be something but haven't found anything. I know for a fact she is smart, she looks amazing (despite her heavy use it doesn't show at all), she comes from a wealthy family and has (from my perspectice) had everything she could ever want, every opportunity. Opportunitied I would of done anything to have. I've really tried trying to find out what's bothering her and she insist there's nothing specific. I believe her to an extent but at the same time can't believe someone would do what she is doing without having some pretty serious stuff you're trying to get away from. All I get is "everything is pointless.. hollow.. meaningless".. she is quite different from anyone I've ever met in many ways. Like me she doesn't connect well with other people, hard to trust people, shows virtually no emotion though probably comes across as quite normal but has some strange tendencies and thought processes.

I know you can't make someone quit that doesn't want to, my mother tried to do that and I know it just makes you hate the person, hence why I've been very cautious about the whole thing. I'm not even telling her to quit just to slow down a little bit but she is on a path of selfdestruction. I've tried everything I can think of, I've told her she can talk to me about anything and that she can trust me and I think she does to an extent, more so than anyone else. I've told her how much I care about her, told her I'd do anything for her, anything to help and I just get a sort of "whatever, I don't want anyone's help". I've suggested so many different things and nothing seems to come close to appealing to her, I just don't get it. She's spoken to psychriatists before (not out of choice but due to her parents initiative) and that didn't help.

Maybe there is something that she can't or doesn't want to tell me about, I've had several theories and speculated a lot but don't want to confront her about things so all I've done is to make sure she knows she can talk to me about anything and that she can trust me. I've told her almost everything about myself to show that I trust her which I thought maybe would help her open up but so far nothing. It's not that I want to know what's bothering her, ofcourse I'm curious but it doesn't really matter. I just want her to be happy and if she carries on she is without a doubt going to be permanently fucked up. If people want to use drugs I really don't mind but as her closest friend I feel it's all on me. I am the only one who knows the extent of her drug use and I can never tell anyone (and I never would) because that would be betraying her trust, which I will not do. so I have to try and do something but I don't know what. I rack my brain constantly trying to come up with a solution but it's impossible, the fact that it's hard to talk to her about these sort of things makes it even harder (I'm afraid of pissing her off) but I know her well enough now to be able to express my concerns very firmly but not coming across as I'm trying to lecture her or controll her. I need to stay on her good side. Giving her some sort of ultimatum would be pointless, if I told her to cut down or we would have to stop being friends she would forget about me straightaway, not because she doesn't value my friendship or anything like that but just because she won't let hersef be controlled, or maybe because she just doesn't care, to be honest I don't know. She never really gives reasons but I always know how she is going to behave or what she is going to do in certain situations/circumstances.. it's strange..

So yeah this is hard, I'm never really in a position where I don't know what to do but I am at a 100% total loss here. I thought maybe someone here had been in a similar situation and gotten out of it or know someone that got out of it. I don't expect to find an answer here but I figured its worth a shot, I know the problem is probably more psychology related than drug related but they go quite well together. I'm not trying to get her to quit I just want her to slow down. Even if the root of the problem isn't solved it doesn't really matter for now because if she carries on I'm pretty sure it's going to lead to irreversible damage.. the thought of which fills me with sadness to an extent that nothing else has ever come close to doing.
 
Let me take my best guess: your friend comes from a wealthy family. There are things that happen in a family that has money. Dark things. Things you can't discuss with someone who hasn't come from that same background, because they wouldn't get it. It's far-reaching. Things happen to people around you, and then you start learning family secrets, or creating your own. She is hurting profoundly and feels alone, even though she has you. It's nothing personal, she just doesn't trust you. She doesn't trust anyone. Take what you can from this. There may not be any way for you to successfully intervene. Because family is always there, and she has to remember that.
 
on the other hand.. a drug addict doesn't need a reason to keep going. If you keep going you will understand. Best of luck. Welcome to BL:)


an active addict does not look at all things honestly, if you can get them to be honest, they will see the same thing you do if you are being honest.
 
Let me take my best guess: your friend comes from a wealthy family. There are things that happen in a family that has money. Dark things. Things you can't discuss with someone who hasn't come from that same background, because they wouldn't get it. It's far-reaching. Things happen to people around you, and then you start learning family secrets, or creating your own. She is hurting profoundly and feels alone, even though she has you. It's nothing personal, she just doesn't trust you. She doesn't trust anyone. Take what you can from this. There may not be any way for you to successfully intervene. Because family is always there, and she has to remember that.
Yes I actually say in the text that she comes from a wealthy family and I know that having money doesn't mean everything is automatically good, I come from a family that didn't have money (for the most part) but still have some pretty shitty early memories (trying to find a hiding place whilst my father beats up my mother amongst other things) so it's not like I don't know "what pain is like" although sure there are probably things a lot worse than what I experienced.

I know she is hurting and I know she is alone and not being able to help is really killing me to the extent that I just want to follow her down the path she is on, yeah seriously. Whilst she likes me as a friend she has made it pretty clear she doesn't want anything more and as you can probably guess I like her a lot more than a friend but have accepted that we're just friends, even though a part of me is always hoping for more. Honestly though I just want her to get better, I want that more than anything else..

What do you mean with "family is always there"? I've met her family briefly, I'm pretty good at reading people and to be honest they seem quite normal although there's definately potential for some weird stuff and I have some theories, some pretty crazy theories that are almost ridiculous but from the little I know it could be possible but really it's just wild unfounded speculation. If I brought it up and it was true it would probably terrorize her that I somehow managed to guess it and if I was wrong she would just think I was incredibly stupid. Rich people aren't always sociopaths but sociopaths are often rich so I'm fully aware there could be some stuff going on she can't doesn't want to talk about. Is there a chance that there's nothing? She insists there's nothing bothering her and I want to believe her but I can definately see her being the kind of person to keep something a secret for a long time against everyone, whilst other people I've met are the kind of people who tell the most strangest deep things to almost anyone. So if there's nothing I can do.. what do I do? Just stand by and watch? At the moment that's really all I'm doing because there's nothing else I can... I've thought about just moving on and forgetting but I don't think I could..

on the other hand.. a drug addict doesn't need a reason to keep going. If you keep going you will understand. Best of luck. Welcome to BL:)

Well, I did go through a pretty heft amound of potent bensos for a period, as well as quite heavy heroin use for a while but I was always very careful.. but I do get the jist of the whole "Who needs reasons when you got heroin" maybe she's just the kind of person who genuinely doesn't care? Or maybe her sheltered rich spoilt life means that she knows nothing of what real pain/misery is? This thread is just going to confuse me even more on what I should do it seems..
 
I know you can't make someone quit that doesn't want to, my mother tried to do that and I know it just makes you hate the person


You are already enlightened of the situation if you listen to what you are saying. If you say this to yourself and truly hear it, everything will fall away.

To be a good friend for me is to reach out and grab the hand of a friend reaching out. Until then, I am of utter uselessness to them. No matter what I say or do, advise or tell them, nothing will work.

You have to take care of yourself in this situation. Cut ties if it is negatively affecting your life situation. Then, you will be able to welcome back with open arms the friend you once knew if they decide to change their life. Until then, it is needless suffering on your part.

The most dangerous lies are the ones you're telling yourself about being able to help. Your friend's problems are not of your own and I encourage you to make this distinction so that you do not suffer.

I would hope that you take care of you so that you are able to take care of others when they reach out to you.

"You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself." Galileo

Until the opening of your friend's eyes to the unconsciousness that she surrounds herself in, there will be no teaching or helping her find it within herself.

Take care of yourself.
 
Well, I did go through a pretty heft amound of potent bensos for a period, as well as quite heavy heroin use for a while but I was always very careful.. but I do get the jist of the whole "Who needs reasons when you got heroin" maybe she's just the kind of person who genuinely doesn't care? Or maybe her sheltered rich spoilt life means that she knows nothing of what real pain/misery is? This thread is just going to confuse me even more on what I should do it seems..

Another big one that is common with the upper social classes is the rehab term "king baby" have always had what ever they wanted without having to put much effort into it. classic syptoms include wanting whatever they want right when they want it, and a large amount of anger displayed to try and perpetuate this. I also want to say that i am in no way saying that people or families with money don't have the same serious problems that the rest of the world, such as abuse emotional; and physical, they do.. also I would like to expand on the idea that rich families keep dark secrets, that certainly happens.. but those families that keep those dark secrets not only keep them from the outside world but keep them from themselvs, will call it rich mo fo denial, this results in the same denial behavior,not, minimization, rationalizing, ignoring, ect.. all of which mean that no healthy resolution comes of the problem and it grows as the perfect life/family delusion/ilusion is unjustly promoted.

"Or maybe her sheltered rich spoilt life means that she knows nothing of what real pain/misery is?" Abundance

I'm going to throw this out there hard, so please don't be offended. MONEY DOSN'T SOLVE your problems, it illuminates new harder ones. Try and follow me through this one, if you try I will try and follow myself.. a person is born into poverty, struggles through life with a goal based a belief that happiness will be reached if you succeed at reaching wealth (and i don't pretend to assume that all people are captivated buy the idea that monetary success will equal happiness, but we, yes.. we from all backgrounds try many, well intended, folly pursuing "the goal of happiness"), This may be done because a person of less wealth often unjustly believes that a person that is "better off" is "better off."

A person of financial standing.. well, i should say, NOT A SHALLOW person from wealth.. as i have seen quite a few shallow wealthy people actually convince themselves that a life of leisure and buying a great deal of worthless expensive junk makes their life successful and full, and of course in order to convince themselves, they have to convince others that their life is amazing and perfect, this is why families with money have to perpetuate the illusion or delusion that they are special and their lives are perfect.. If other people new their shit still stank, then they would have to get honest and admit it to themselves, and then what they have been so shallow and lame as to perpetuate a lifestyle, an unfulfilled lifestyle, on the blood sweat and tears of others, wtf.. yeah, its the truth. (this as every statement about humanity in history only encompasses a portion, not all ever, except the statement that we are all guaranteed death. (why do hollywood (gods) use drugs in insane quantities.. could it be because non of matrialistic shit brings hapiness,


SO what if your born into a position where you already know that what a majority of people strive towards does not equal success???? (cause you already had it and your miserable) Rite, new and harder problems, because the "the delusional persuit of happiness, through wealth, can take your entire life.. before it plays out as BS. But, its better to have somebody do the "menial work" .. TAKN A BREAK ON THIS FOR NOW>> sorry went off
 
You are already enlightened of the situation if you listen to what you are saying. If you say this to yourself and truly hear it, everything will fall away.

To be a good friend for me is to reach out and grab the hand of a friend reaching out. Until then, I am of utter uselessness to them. No matter what I say or do, advise or tell them, nothing will work.

You have to take care of yourself in this situation. Cut ties if it is negatively affecting your life situation. Then, you will be able to welcome back with open arms the friend you once knew if they decide to change their life. Until then, it is needless suffering on your part.

The most dangerous lies are the ones you're telling yourself about being able to help. Your friend's problems are not of your own and I encourage you to make this distinction so that you do not suffer.

I would hope that you take care of you so that you are able to take care of others when they reach out to you.

"You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself." Galileo

Until the opening of your friend's eyes to the unconsciousness that she surrounds herself in, there will be no teaching or helping her find it within herself.

Take care of yourself.

This.

I really can't add anything else, but I do feel your pain and wish everyone the best of luck.
 
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There doesn't have to be anything specific that causes a person pain. My younger brother and my younger son were both addicted to drugs (crack for my brother and MDVP for my son). Both of them described the feeling inside that they were worthless. My brither called it an "unfillable hole inside" and said he has no idea why he felt that way but that he hid that feeling all his life. I will not say that i was a perfect mother or that my husband was a perfect father--like all parents we made mistakes but they were pretty minor ones, at least until the addiction changed so much. My parents were great parents (3 kids and we all 3 feel that way). Neither my brother nor my son was abused or neglected. I have thought about this a lot. Thought is probably not the right word--obsess would be more accurate. I don't know that there is any one simple answer to this human puzzle; rather it is probably a complexity of factors.

The bottom line is this: your friend has to save herself. All you can do is be honest, be empathetic without being enabling, and try to encourage rather than discourage. You can show her your own vulnerabilities and model working on yourself. I know how hard this is. take care of yourself.<3
 
You can do nothing more than offer your support and be there for her when she needs it.

You can't really do anything more until she admits/realizes that there is a problem and she needs help.
 
I know for a fact she is smart, she looks amazing (despite her heavy use it doesn't show at all), she comes from a wealthy family and has (from my perspectice) had everything she could ever want, every opportunity. Opportunitied I would of done anything to have.

I've really tried trying to find out what's bothering her and she insist there's nothing specific. I believe her to an extent but at the same time can't believe someone would do what she is doing without having some pretty serious stuff you're trying to get away from. All I get is "everything is pointless.. hollow.. meaningless"

There doesn't have to be something specific wrong for a person to feel like shit. In fact, that's basically the definition of depression. My boyfriend never understood why I was sad or anxious or devastated even though "nothing" was wrong. Being depressed IS having something wrong. It doesn't need a trigger, and it doesn't need a cause. You can want to die just because, not because you were raped or beaten or abused. Or if you were raped, beaten, abused, or any traumatic incident, it can affect you forever.

And no offense, but the first line of what I quoted is meaningless. It doesn't matter if you think she's pretty or smart or whatever. And it certainly won't help her for you to tell her you think she's squandering opportunities you would kill to have. That will only make her feel worse.

The short answer is there is nothing you can do to stop someone from self destructing. All you can do is be there for here without pushing her away. Tell her you're worried. Tell her you care, that you love her. Tell her the world, your world, would be severely lacking if she were gone from it one day.

I've been "the girl" in your situation before, and it doesn't help for someone to say what's wrong, you're perfect, stop doing this. Love her unconditionally - and let her know. I hope she turns around soon, but a person can't stop until they're ready, and it's hard to want to stop when you view yourself as a worthless sack of shit.
 
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