Octsober!!

[ocean]

We're trying something new here.......

This is the first month of it , Octsober!
If you guys like it, we may continue on into other months-

The point of this thread will be to support each other in achieving sobriety.

This is entirely optional, and however long you would like to be clean for, is entirely up to you......this can be a day, a week, or the entire month.

The point is to go without your DOC(s) for however long you can, or lower your intake.


It would be best if we could start off with your story, a little introduction to you and your DOC......what you think is behind your addiction and what your goal is.
If you are choosing to lower your intake and not go for the gold of total sobriety, than explain that and where you are starting off. (Meaning if you are now drinking 24 beers a day and hope to be drinking 2 a day, say that. That is where you are starting off, and your goal.)

We are hoping that this thread can be one where we support each other and hold each others hands through the temptations that may pop up.

Please be aware of the health risks which can occur from rapidly reducing consumption of your DOC(s).
So please do not put your health in unnecessary risk to achieve something greater than what is realistically and safely possible.

In this thread, be open an honest and just try your best.
I will open this thread early to get the introductions going!


edit- Medications you are prescribed are not going to count against your abstinence.

edit- Also, let's try and maturely handle "Octsober's almost up" talk as the month progresses. I know the month ends with Halloween, and people know what they know about tolerances and such. But let's try and keep the dialogue about making progress toward making more progress, not making progress as some type of challenge with other goals. Posts of the nature "3 more days of Octsober, and then it's party time," or downplays of such a theme, will be seen as triggering material and will not be given much room for tolerance. "3 more days of Octsober, I'm so proud of myself..it's almost completed" is different.

 

[n3ophy7e]

This is SO great guys, fantastic idea

Sign me up

I'm n3o, and I have a drinking problem.

I've been drinking heavily for about 4-5 years, and the time has come for it to stop. I come from a family of functional alcoholics so it's been really hard for me to admit to myself the extent of my problem, because no-one else in my life has ever admitted they have a problem! I would really really love to be completely and utterly free from the grasps of alcohol within the next 6 months so this is a good starting point.

I'm not going to set any specific goals e.g. no drinking for a month, because at this stage I honestly see that as unacheivable for me and I don't want the feeling of setting myself up for failure before I've even started. Plus I have a really REALLY bad track record of sticking to plans and schedules.

So I'm going to start with taking each day as it comes, starting with Monday 28th September, no drinking for the entire week. All other substances are fine for me during this period because I don't have a problem with anything but alcohol.

I've got a fair few social functions during Octsober which will inevitably involve drinking, so for these such events I would like to firmly apply the concept of moderation, and just have a pleasant few drinks, rather than going balls to the wall and getting completely hammered.

I'm really excited about this guys, this can only bring good things to us. I look forward to hearing everyone else's plans for Octsober, and supporting each other through this

 

[panic in paradise]

.... does the winner get tricks or treats?!?

 

[theartofwar]

I've used for well over a decade now, I'm 23. I think to be exact started at 11. I worked my way up - at first my DOC was DRUGS. Whatever, whenever, just get me out of myself. Eventually that settled on opiates. I've had a vicious love hate relationship with opiates for years now and while it's getting better I'm not clean. I've been down the bupe / and methadone road - few times. I'm considering a low dose (1-2mg) of bupe for maintenance. I'll be in touch monday w/some of the local docs and go from there - I don't want to go back to my old clinics, too many triggers.

Not surprisingly, I also take benzos. Last time I w/d from methadone took so damn long I ended up with another nice habbit (benzos). So now im VERY slowly tapering those down. The doses never got too high but the duration is not worth messing around with.

I would love to see if I can make october a clean month (I don't know what that would really look like but you gotta start somewhere). It has my birthday / some real big social events / most esp halloween . I'll give it a try and be honest about it, I hope it can help others also.

 

[RedLeader]

Count RedLeader in.

Current DsOC: Pretty much have been a daily alcohol user since 2005. Probably have drank 75-80% of the days since I turned 21 nearly four years ago. Intake fluctuates, but I'd say it's typically anywhere from 4 to 12 standard drinks per day that I use. I've also been a daily benzo user for the past 6-7 months. And though that use has actually gotten a lot better, it's still howering around 1-1.5mg/day of clonazepam. Nothing else is currently habitual.

Goals: I want to do the entire month without any alcohol intake. And I would like to end Octsober with a stable dose of .5mg/day of clonazepam. No other drug use either.

Exceptions: My birthday is on the 14th, and I might break all of the rules on a day around my birthday. But the plan will be to keep it within the time-frame of one night. And only if it's in a social setting with others. I don't really do Halloween, so that won't be an issue.

Other Notes: In Octsober, I also plan to begin supplementing my regular weight training with krav maga and kickboxing classes, 2 and 1 each week respectively. And also, I am going to start learning another language. I will be having two meetings per week with my tutor(also known as my little sister). And I'd like to, for certain, have made a decision about a big career move by the end of the month as well.

I wish everyone else the best of luck!!! This won't be easy, but for everyone serious about it, I think we will all feel a lot better after 4 weeks of effort.

 

[OverDone]

Nice! I'm in.

I'm a garbagehead that prefers IV coke and IV heroin. I first started using when I was 14 and quickly progressed to the next better drug(s) I could find.

I was completely clean from 1993 to 1998
I relapsed from 1998 to 2003
I got clean again from 2003 to 2008
I picked up again and continued to use until 08/22/09
And here I am, a confused, often angry, sometimes ok addict who is finally able to walk tall and look people in the eye.

I have been clean 36 days now from everything (even longer from antidepressants - paxil/paroxetine). I plan on maintaining this everytoday. I have doubts concerning my ability to do so but I am working pretty hard at not using.

Since I'm clean today I think I'll dedicate Octsober to:

1) following my sponsor's suggestions
2) exercising EVERY DAY.
I haven't exercised in 3 or 4 days for a variety of reasons. The funny thing is that exercise is the solution to the reasons I'm NOT working out
3) be 30 days into a 90 and 90

This is an excellent idea, ocean! Addicts are so damn smart!

 

[Captain.Heroin]

11 months clean from heroin

Too bad that this wasn't started last month when I got clean.

Well, I've been clean from heroin for 11 months, and hopefully this October I'll past the year mark.

< 1 month until my 1 whole year clean from heroin.

I'll update you when it's been 1 year.

Heroin is a hard drug to kick, but with a little will power: you can do it!

It would be best if we could start off with your story, a little introduction to you and your DOC......what you think is behind your addiction and what your goal is.

Hm...a little introduction...if I start typing this story there's going to be nothing "little" about it.

Heroin was the only drug I had a problem with, I spent way too much money on it, I kicked it several times only to relapse a few days or a week or two down the road.

Suboxone helped me quit once and for all. I didn't quit when I first started Suboxone, but definitely tried to. I relapsed on Suboxone for a while, then a little over 11 months ago I discovered IV buprenorphine and that is what helped me keep off of heroin the most.

Ever since then I've stuck with buprenorphine and have stayed off of heroin.

That's the super-condensed version.

Nice! I'm in.

I'm a garbagehead that prefers IV coke and IV heroin.

I feel you man, even though I preferred snorting heroin to shooting it, I still definitely used IV heroin and IV cocaine a little bit, and both have huge addiction potentials. I'm really glad I didn't do either one too much, but I know that no matter how long you've been going at it, you can always cash in your chips and walk away.

You also have many years of sobriety under your belt, so you know you can do it. Plus, I have a good feeling that we'll all hang in together this month.

But, also like that Seinfeld episode where they all went to see how long they could go without masturbating, let's be honest with each other here.

Plus, there's no shame in relapsing at all. I've relapsed a handful of times yet I've managed to be clean for the last 11 months and plan on a lot more time clean as well. I'm going to really enjoy participating in this thread with you guys this month!

Best of luck to everybody! If anyone needs to talk feel free to PM me.

 

[Mariposa]

Count me in.

My story is very, very similar to that of n3o. I am a problem drinker. I do not presently use "hard" drugs. I've never had a drug problem, the booze is the only thing that ever got me - and I've been around the block a few times with other substances, very addictive ones.

I have a strong family history of alcoholism on both sides. As far as I am aware, I am the only one who has ever sought treatment. Alcohol was almost certainly a factor in my mother's death 13 years ago today. My father is a practicing alcoholic who probably puts away 2 bottles of wine and a couple vodka drinks a night. I have had to temporarily stop associating with him because of this.

If the argument for genetics is valid (I believe environment is more important, and I am an ex-psych major) then I am walking proof. Out of my mother's 6 siblings and my father's 4, all but one are practicing alcoholics. My mother's brother is dying of cirrhosis of the liver and AFAIK, STILL drinks.

I didn't start heavily drinking until I was almost 22 - no teenage alcoholic stories from me, I was pretty uninterested in the stuff - thought pot was better. I started dating someone who drank heavily and had a phatty expense account, so it was Grey Goose and blow every weekend at awesome, scene-y Miami Beach clubs and restaurants for awhile. I could put down the coke, but not the Goose after that. It's been that way ever since, though budget cuts have made the Goose out of the question.

I love vodka, and that is the type of alcohol that is the focus of my problem. I also live in wine country and have a family that drinks wine constantly.

Currently I am on a taper schedule with supplemental benzodiazepine use as needed. My goal is to be abstinent. I don't know if this is realistic. I am not going to self-immolate if I have 1-2 beers or process it as a "relapse" but I will probably declare it here or in the alcoholism thread for purposes of honesty.

I have never gotten in trouble for drinking; have a clean driving record and no formal diagnosis of "alcoholism". But I am most definitely an alcoholic.

I start tax school for 10 weeks and then will be sitting for my state exam, so it is especially important that I do not drink problematically. Between lecture and homework it will be the equivalent of a part-time job in and of itself. It might not lead to a new career, but I'll be making bucks come tax season.

As inspired by others in this thread, I'm also going to ramp up the physical activity. Many of you alkies with no sex drive at present will find that it comes back with a vengeance!

An exception may be made for Love Fest next weekend, though more likely I'll be doing things that don't go with alcohol. I don't generally like or celebrate Halloween, but if someone invites me to a party or event, I will probably drink.

I am not allowed spirits under ANY circumstances. This is because I drank an entire bottle of vodka recently and it was a bad time.

I am allowed to cook with alcohol, as I do often, and the alcohol burns off.

I smoke marijuana with the blessing of my wonderful doctor and do not plan to give that up anytime soon. It has never presented a problem; I do not smoke at work or school.

I am shopping around for a dedicated psychiatrist for medication management. I am a bit of a complex case because of the amount I can drink without hangovers and that I am a dual-diagnosis patient - I lucked out with major depression and panic disorder. I see a Ph.D for therapy once every week to two weeks (currently 2 weeks since I am doing better). I am not "badly off" enough for rehab and I think rehab would only teach me to be a 'better' addict.

I will not be going to AA again, but I did consider it. I believe I will find AA triggering and I have to walk past 3 liquor stores to get there. I respect deeply those of you who are going the 12 step (especially 90/90) route. It just isn't for me.

I am doing this for me, but also my partner, who has lovingly stood by my side even when I didn't deserve it. I want to prove to both of us that I can be a good lifelong partner, possible parent, and not tethered to a toxic substance.
I'm doing this because if I don't, I know I will lose everything. I know that sounds unnecessarily alarmist because to retain some semblance of my privacy there is a lot I won't say here, but it's true.

Between OL/IRL, I have probably 10 people that know I'm doing this whom I can easily call if I run into trouble. The hardest part will probably be drinking that last beer at the end of my taper, knowing it will be my last.

Good luck to everyone. It won't be easy, but this is a great group of people participating in this project. Thank you all for your support, and please feel free to contact me by PM for my e-mail and IM information if you'd like a source of support through chat/e-mail. I'm a good friend and listener when I'm sober.

Many thanks to Ocean for heading this project. Sorry for the tl;dr; I just wanted to give those of you who don't know me well some insight into how bad my problem actually is, and as a matter of full disclosure.

 

[ocean]

This is an excellent idea, ocean! Addicts are so damn smart!

Not really my idea honey-
We took an ideas from an Australian thing called Octsober and I think Mariposa had suggested it(???)-
And we combined it with a thing that used to be done years ago in TDS called
"Sober Wednesday" that Panic in Paradise has been wanting to start back up for over a month now.
I was a group effort, founded by mixing a number of ideas!

I am so glad to see so many people introducing themselves!
I think this is going to be an excellent thread and hope to hear many success stories!

 

[OverDone]

PIP, I dig the 'Sober Wednesday' idea! I'm in if you bring the concept alive

 

[Carl Landrover]

I like the sound of an Octsober.

I think drugs are more of a hindrance on my life than anything. I'd really like to just use weed when I feel like it. I'd be very happy with just taking weed, caffeine, and suboxone through October.

I'd like to stop the suboxone, but I don't know if I'll be able to.


I think I may start going to a therapist.

 

[Cornishman]

After this month's 'wrecktember' an octsober sounds much needed.
Count me in.

 

[Ryka]

I come from a long line of alcoholics. My father’s parents were perfectly pickled for the most part of their life, along with my great Aunt still on my father’s side. Family gatherings were huge excuses to get together and drink for the adults. I have 3 half-siblings from my Father who are much older than I am and my 2 brothers would join in the celebrations. I don’t remember anything but happy but my Mom has recently told me stories about how it was anything but happy. My father sobered up when I was 5 or 6. He started drinking again when I was 20 and away in college, but died of cancer only 5 months later so… My Mom remains an alcoholic…I will not call her after 6pm on any given day because there is no worthwhile conversation that takes place.

I agree with Mariposa that I think even if I do have proclivity for alcohol because of my genes, there are surely some environmental factors that play into my alcoholism. I really didn’t drink until I was in my early twenties. Sure I had a few nights in college but much less than the “typical”. I was in the military and that is the highest “cult of alcohol” I’ve ever seen from BBQs at the “shop” on Fridays to the hour long cocktail hour before any formal event. I was drinking a 750ml of Jack in two days, then get another, and another. I didn’t think I had a problem, everyone I was around was drinking too and we all still got up and went to work the next day.

Fast forward about 7 years and we want to start a family. I had no problem putting the booze down to get PG and didn’t drink at all for both of my PGs. After the first delivery while still in the hospital, I collected two bottles of JD as congratulations presents. I didn’t drink as I was breastfeeding, but as soon as that was over, back to the bottle. But I didn’t think I had a problem. Second PG dropped the booze again, but here’s where the problem started. I quit breastfeeding after 3 months so I could drink. There was a lot going on, first time in my life I wasn’t working out of the house, I had a 2.5 year old, twin newborns, and we had just moved to a new city. But I still didn’t think I had a problem. For the first time in my life I was hiding my drinking from my SO.

I started working again and would stop by the liquor store about half a mile from the house on the way home get 3 mini bottles and a soda. By the time I got home I’d consumed almost my entire concoction. But I still didn’t think I had a problem.

Another move to the West Coast and I’m still working East Coast hours. So I’d drink pretty hard from2:30 to about 4:30. So I don’t have a problem getting up in the morning. Then I found Bluelight and realized I wasn’t the only person with a problem. And was ready to admit it was a problem.

My goal is to decrease my alcohol intake, to have numerous days in Octsober where I don’t drink at all and some of them be consecutive days. It’s going to be a long road; I don’t think Octsober will be the end all, but it will be the beginning.

Hindsight I do realize I had a problem way back years ago. But I’ve finally decided to do something about it.

There's more to the story I'll be happy to share but this is mighty long already. I need your support again and I'm ready to support others too!

 

[n3ophy7e]

^^ Great to have you on board Ryka! We can do this hun

 

[SA]

I've mentioned L-Glutamine before. It is a good and inexpensive supplement to help in the recovery.

Glutamic acid, with the help of vitamin B6 and manganese, is also a precursor of gaba (gamma-aminobutyric acid), an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Glutamic acid helps transport potassium into the spinal fluid and is itself an excitatory neurotransmitter. (gaba, however, is inhibitory.) Glutamic acid thus has been used in the treatment of fatigue, parkinsonism, schizophrenia, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, and alcoholism. Supplemented as L-Glutamine, it penetrates the blood-brain barrier and can be used as a brain fuel. Research has shown that L-Glutamine, in a dose of 500 mg. four times daily, decreases the craving for alcohol. This amino acid is now commonly used in alcoholism clinics. (L-Glutamine: The Craving Fighter)

Some recommend doses as high as 1500-200mg. I really don't believe that is necessary and can actually interfere with sleep cycles. Dosage as low as 150mg has been shown to work wonders in helping your body fight cravings by helping it balance that sugars craving void left by the absence of alcohol. Something to look into, IMO. If any of you have juicers, do a glass of fresh carrot+green_apples juice every morning and possibly night, at least, if you can. The pasteurised store bought juices simply don't cut it.

Go Ocsober Team, Go!

 

[Ghettochrist]

I want to stay away from everything for the whole of october since i starting back at uni.

Just to prove i can do it.

i take ridiculous amounts of disociatives and psychedellics and happen to chance upon alot random pharms and i never intend to drink but always get given alcohol.. i despise blazing smoking and stims the most but still somehow regrettably accept the odd offer.

this idea is great i want an octsober with plenty of food.. water.. music.. chilling.. and getting what i want

then a treat might just be in order hehe! wish me luck guys ..best wishes to you lot. msg if u need help.

 

[SA]

wish me luck guys ..best wishes to you lot. msg if u need help.

Wish you success! Let's keep it public, though, on that "message me" front. We need to keep the support lines open and public for everyone. This is not just to help announced participants here, but also those who are following along on their own. Knowledge and tips shared in public here will help everyone involved, on the scene as well as behind the scenes.

 

[Ghettochrist]

hopefully i'll remember to read the thread that's all aha.

Subscribed to it tho so hope i can be of some help.. weird this thread comes up now because i noticed i had a text from a mate who hasn't been into ketamine for that long just over the last year asking me about how to control usage aha.

It's a choice and it's hard to accept that.. only once you accept it's a choice do you have the power to do something about it.

Although close proximity to fellow ket-heads or having large amounts of it does put you into a no win zone lol.

As for nitrous it's so easy to slip up too but it's so much better the longer you wait, just tough when opportunities come up that sound almost too good to pass up espesh when women are involved lmao.

Let us all be strong for octsober!

 

[anonymous_mouse]

I am a poly-drug addict, but I have been completely clean and sober for two weeks (four weeks if you don't count the one-night relapse). In July, I successfully detoxed off everyday amphetamine use. At the end of August, I successfully detoxed off everyday alcohol use.

I am so fucking close to using again.... using anything. The anxiety I have is unbearable. I have developed agoraphobia and I spend hours, or sometimes days, in the house because I'm too afraid of going outside beyond the yard/apartment parking lot. I'm bored and lonely.

For half of October I'm visiting my family, going out of state. I will have no drug connections, so that part will be easy. Alcohol is another story. My family always has plenty of wine around the house (they're Jewish, not alcoholics lol) and my Mom doesn't know a thing about my alcohol/drug problems, so asking her to hide it from me would lead to too many questions. Upon returning to my home, I am afraid that I'll call up my friends that have adderall, cocaine, opiates, etc. and start using again.

My challenge is just to RESIST USING! That means nothing at all, especially alcohol as it is the worst drug for me (causes a lot of anxiety the next day, poisons my body). I already have two weeks behind me... I hope it gets better because I am going crazy!!

 

[n3ophy7e]

I've mentioned L-Glutamine before. It is a good and inexpensive supplement to help in the recovery.

I can vouch for this too. I've been taking glutamine supplement for about 6 months now. And it is FANTASTIC. It really helps to increase cognitive function and clarity, as well as helping with cravings, and it's great for healing the stomach lining as well.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.