Why does the urge to use increase as the effects decrease?

[falsifiedhypothesi]

I've been using many drugs on and off for the past four years. My DOC is definitly opiates, I love the sedating/ stimulating euphoria and no comedown. For the entire 4 years I've managed to keep my use very controled and never fiended for anything. Just this past year I've seemed to be getting strong urges to use everyday.

The effects of all drugs have been getting weaker yet my urge to use them has gotten stronger. Even when I know a redose of say, kratom, won't do anything I am still compelled to take it anyway. I am consistently stressed most likely due to an undefined and undiagnosed mental disorder. The stress has been pretty steady for the past few years so maybe it's finally breaking me down.

 

[TheRapperGoneBad]

I feel like stress levels and drug use go hand in hand.
also from what I read sounds like tolerance is catching up with ya.

The more you use the more you need and the more depleted your receptors are after you use.

 

[inthetriptank]

I agree with the above. Also, I think psychological factors play a huge role...the more you teach yourself to look forward to the "reward" of a given high (i.e. opiates), the more you notice when it doesn't match your expectations. And then you naturally want to do more, particularly as tolerance builds. You also learn to associate certain places, times and people with feeling good. I know I definitely self-medicate to deal with stress and negative emotions, and now after 10 plus years of drug abuse, I'm conditioned to look to a substance to de-stress and feel good.

Easier said than done, but if you can resist the urge to use opiates daily you will be happy you did. Daily use leads nowhere good-I actually think the psychological dependance is the worst part of addiction. WD's go away, but that conditioned response is a lot harder to escape from.

 

[Erikmen]

I feel like stress levels and drug use go hand in hand.
also from what I read sounds like tolerance is catching up with ya.

The more you use the more you need and the more depleted your receptors are after you use.

I agree with you too. I guess that's what happens eventually..

 

[Parabolan]

Tolerance sucks!

 

[wezface]

I think it's also pretty natural to try to chase that "first high" feeling - which doesn't have to be literal, just romanticizes the days when you used less and felt more. And we're all pretty good at romanticizing things, 'else we wouldn't be here.