***Are YOU Addicted To Anything?***

[SJK+]

Substituting one compulsion for another is very common. My first sponsor in AA used to say that before you start anything new, call him! I have seen people in recovery get addicted to gambling, video games, food, etc. after giving up alcohol. It is a part of our compulsive personality.

Perhaps the challenge is to become 'addicted' to things like prayer, exercise, etc. Although 'addicted' is perhaps too strong a word - even too much of a good thing can cause problems.

[SweetPoison2]

Originally Posted by SJK+

Although 'addicted' is perhaps too strong a word - even too much of a good thing can cause problems.

You are very wise!

[Gr82bthin]

Chewing gum. My new vice. I just noticed last week that I had gone through several packs. When I started counting, I was chewing 6 pieces daily. I have quit smoking, drinking alcohol and had to get help with both of those. Today I have myself on 1 piece of gum a day and I'm doing fine. I still love to drink fountain diet soda, don't care too much for canned or bottled. I guess there will always be something I will have to watch.

[slinkerbell]

i think my biggest addiction right now is weed (gasp!) - yep, i said it. i live in cali and have a medical prescription for it -- i started smoking to get off a multitude of anti-depressants and very strong sleeping meds. it's helped immensely with emotional and physical issues, however there are definitely side-effects. i'd like to think i'm healthy enough to stop smoking and not take pills -- i got there in the first place from heavy drug and alcohol use and then ended up in the hospital for trying to end my life - wow, that seems like so long ago and so far from where i'm at now.

anyway - i'm not writing this to shock anyone - i know pot isn't the greatest solution for mental health and sleep disorders! i'd really like to find more natural ways of taking care of myself - exercising is one of them...i started doing that about a year and half ago and it has been SO good for my head.

[SweetPoison2]

Originally Posted by Gr82bthin

I guess there will always be something I will have to watch.

Why is that! LOL! Gum is not too bad though!

Originally Posted by slinkerbell

i think my biggest addiction right now is weed

Dontcha get the munchies though?

[pennylovesdarren]

HSN & QVC! It's pathetic but I love to watch and I love to order even more!

[actualize81]

I used to lecture at people and say , with an emphasis on my superiority, that everyone is addicted to something. Basically I realized a little too late that I was addicted to stress and adrenaline. I am recovering and healing now but "freaking out" was my safety net. Thank god my body didn't appreciate it and gave me some great feedback. Calmer times are approaching.

[SweetPoison2]

Good for you! Takes courage to admit what you did!

[SweetPoison2]

Originally Posted by pennylovesdarren

HSN & QVC! It's pathetic but I love to watch and I love to order even more!

That is hilarious!!! Happy Shopping!!

[WyomingDiva]

What I am NOT addicted to?

But...I've actually given most of it up. Booze, men, carbs, pop, sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, chocolate, french fries, anything potato, anything wheat or gluten-containing, coffee (even decaf now)...sigh.

Okay, so I still have a little bit of a shopping addiction, but that'll probably have to go eventually too....

The cleaner I get, the cleaner I HAVE to get.

[SweetPoison2]

Thats is funny! Great post! Thanks for sharing!

[LoraJR72]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

LOL me too!

best sexiest body of your life in 7 days; 14 days; 30 days -- whatever!

I come from a whole family of addicts. we got it all, baby.

booze; drugs; cigs; food; sweets; shopping; sex; attention; enabling.

I've been addicted to almost everything on thst list at one time or another...

it's an oral fixation!

^^Yup, sounds about right for me, too!

[steady]

I am addicted to EVERYTHING!!! Food is probably the safest addiction for me....well maybe I can get hooked on exercising again.

[skeeweeaka]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

LOL me too!

best sexiest body of your life in 7 days; 14 days; 30 days -- whatever!

I come from a whole family of addicts. we got it all, baby.

booze; drugs; cigs; food; sweets; shopping; sex; attention; enabling.

I've been addicted to almost everything on thst list at one time or another...

it's an oral fixation!

Ok, keep the laughs coming....

I was addicted to the internet...but now I only log on after dd goes to bed...

TJ

[cruisinNlosin]

chocolate. always has been always will be. my guy makes a triple choc cake to die for! i can NEVER say no to that slice of heaven...mmmmmmmmmm

[Mogget]

Ive had and kicked a couple of biggies (in the order they occurred):

Anorexia
Agoraphobia
Bulimia
Painkillers
Self Mutilation
Compulsive Eating
Coffee (I still drink a cup most days, but can go without, no withdrawals, so no addiction)

At the moment I still smoke a few cig's a day, so I can't say I have quit that yet. I smoke quite a bit (this is a relative term - I mean I split a small joint with the boy maybe 4 or 5 nights a week) of dope when we have it, but don't miss it when we run out (as we have just done) so I don't consider it addicted.

I am very addcted to infatuation/ relaionships etc and have a ridiculously co-dependant relationship with my boy (who I remain utterly infatuated with 2.5 years in)... it sounds vute or silly but I'm quite serius in that it is an addiction to being "in love"... before we hooked up I had crush after unrequited crush on thoroughly unsuitable men, several BAD relationships etc. My patterns have not changed, I just picked a good guy this time (and I would say that cause I'm still in it... so I won't ever know until we break up, which I hope never happens)

From an NLP point of view, the cause of replacement addictions is the failure to keep the secondary gain in tact. Your addictive behaviour is not just a symptom, it is serving a purpose (albeit perhaps poorly or a purpose that is out of date) - in a high quality NLP reatment for addiction the secondary gain is preserved, so that the whatever the behaviour is trying to acheive can still be acheived (perhaps even more effectively) but in a way that is more acceptable and ecologically sound.

To put it horribly simplistically - if you abuse food to numb your emotions the secondary gain might be "not having to feel things that I can't handle" - if you just get rid of the comfort eatting the person may take up drinking. If you preserve the secondary gain you re-program the mind to find healthier more ecological alternatives to get the result of "not having to feel things that I can't handle" which might include learning how to better handle your emotions (reducing the impact), having better access to your internal resources (increasing what you can handle), ways of preventing those situations from occurring, resourceful ways of dealing with trigger situations, ways to use your mind to disociate from emtions that are too strong, and to bring the association in gradually as you can handle it etc etc.

Good stuff. I've seen (and done) powerful work with those tools for various addictions.

[SweetPoison2]

Lose the cigs, and you will be good to go, girl!! You shld be very proud of yourself ~ took courage to state what you did!

[Mogget]

Originally Posted by SweetPoison2

Lose the cigs, and you will be good to go, girl!! You shld be very proud of yourself ~ took courage to state what you did!

On my way to ditching the smokes... have tonsilitis at the moment so smoking is torture (my body gets bang on side when it's time to stop things)... I'm smoking infrequently enough now that I loathe the smell so if I have one I go shower, wash hair, brush teeth and change clothes - you simply cannot do that more than a couple of times a day and have time left foranything else...

[SweetPoison2]

Just don't give up trying! I saw this person smoking a cig in her/his car, today. I think it was a guy, no matter...

But I was at a light, ( Yup. Red. And I stopped ) and I was watching him, and I thought......

"how could I ever!".........ewwwwwwwwww!!

You can do it! I quit for 16 years, so my kids, would not smoke, cuz they will if you do while they grow up, and they don't....then my life went to hell three years ago, and I started....

Now I am finally done

[kalalou]

Originally Posted by Mogget

Ive had and kicked a couple of biggies (in the order they occurred):

Anorexia
Agoraphobia
Bulimia
Painkillers
Self Mutilation
Compulsive Eating
Coffee (I still drink a cup most days, but can go without, no withdrawals, so no addiction)

May I ask how you overcame your agoraphobia & how severe it was? I am agoraphobic and am now working with a therapist doing CBT. I'm in my beginning stages though and am curious how you over came it.



I am addicted to :
Over spending
Cigarettes
Cokes ( about 6-8 a day
SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR ( pie, candy, cereal, if it has sugar in it I am eating it)

If I do not eat or drink sugar I feel like I cannot stay awake , or so cranky I want to karate kicking someone!!

As far as weed - I just started smoking it, at the age of 35 believe it or not lol. I take a small poof or two and it's like taking a muscle relaxer for me. I have to say so far it is helping with my anxiety, worrisome thinking, and stress levels late at night. I probably shouldnt be giving it props, but I'm just being honest. ( no munchy affects for me, actually I am not hungry in the least, thirsty for a coke lol but not hungry)

[ravengal]

Originally Posted by SJK+

I gave up alcohol over 19 years ago, gave up smoking 15 years ago (don't miss booze, miss the smokes nearly every day).

Diet Soda is my big hang-up, and the new sugar free energy drinks.
Add to that list coffee and you see I am a caffeine junky.

I gave up coffee and soda for Lent last year...it was really hard the first week, and I am sorry I picked it up again after easter.

And when I am binging, it is pizza.

But I could stop anytime......

I quit smoking 12 years ago on my first try, and still miss smoking too. Like you, I am a diet soda and coffee junkie. I miss that "bite" and "burn" that cigs used to give, so maybe the caffeine replaces that for me.

I also have a problem with cheese.

[ravengal]

Originally Posted by skeeweeaka

Ok, keep the laughs coming....

I was addicted to the internet...but now I only log on after dd goes to bed...

TJ

Oooooh, how could I have forgotten to admit my terrible internet addiction in my first post!

[LoraJR72]

LCF! I love it!

[SweetPoison2]

Yup. I agree! Fell right into this one!

[Star123]

Hey,

I'm spilling, so bear with me okay??? I admit that I'm addicted to shopping and overeating, going on the internet too much lately and showing signs of straightening up things when I see them out of place. I think that's called OCD. I know my sister struggles with it and and has a ritual of having to clean her house on saturday mornings, which just aggrevates me at know end. The overeating has been a struggle most of my life, since the age of 9, and the shopping has shown it's face a couple of times now, buying lunch instead of making it at home and eating out too much, [I'm finally admitting that I've been over doing it, due to a co-worker who has been complaining about my going to the lunch truck too often. I said to myself that she just jealous because I make more money then her, excuse. This has been driving her nuts at work and I let her know that I don't have all the exspences that she does; like owning an SUV and buying a new townhouse, not driving or paying for gas, etc. which is none of her business; I got really mad at her, but didn't yell at her at work. But let her know that I don't have her expenses], but I did feel guilty today and admitted to her that I have been going to the lunch truck too often and said, "I HAVE BEEN GOING TOO THE LUNCH TRUCK TOO OFTEN AND NO ONE CAN AFFORD THAT."

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I noticed over the past several months that I've stopped taking care of myself, [hygiene; like not brushing or flossing my teeth at night and being too fatigued to bother showering or bathing after I coming home from work; just too tired to do anything ], I'm so embarrassed!!! but now I'm picking myself up these past couple of weeks and have been taking care of the hygiene part. I know it's due to being depressed about my weight and having gained all my weight back. And about the spending thing, this is the second time that it's showing signs of compulsiveness. Thank goodness I only have one credit card and have a low limit. I do pay my bills, but I've been buying clothes that I really don't need again. Got to get a hand on this!!! Oh, I watch a show tonight called, "Maxed Out," it' a program about people who are indebt with their spending habits, and are maxed out in the thousands of dollars. The host of the show is a life coach who helps them see what they're doing wrong and gives them a planning strategy to get their debt down and get them out of debt. This show has some good points and it opened my eyes to what could happen to me, if I don't keep up on things.

I realize that this behavior is a disease like alcohol addiction and can be managed. This week I've begun making my own lunchs the 'old fashion way' at night and it feels good!!! I will save money, not buying my lunch every day. Plus keeping the spending down will save money too, and I will work on getting my self-esteem back. Because the underlying problem of these addictions is low self-esteem and trying to fill that 'void' in my heart. This will take time, but I can do it!!!

God BLess,

[LoraJR72]

Star

[Star123]

Originally Posted by LoraJR72

Star

Good Morning,

Lora, thanks. When I vented yesterday about having these addictions that I'm struggling with, it helped me admit that, Hey, I need to stop and get a handle on this!!! I actually feel better about myself and that I finally got thoses things out in the 'open'.

P.S. when you're mad at someone who is judging you for your actions, it's time to look at yourself in the mirror and see what '****' you're shovelling. I didn't like what I saw.

You'll have a great day!!!

God BLess,

[auntiesocial]

Originally Posted by slinkerbell

i think my biggest addiction right now is weed (gasp!) - yep, i said it. i live in cali and have a medical prescription for it -- i started smoking to get off a multitude of anti-depressants and very strong sleeping meds. it's helped immensely with emotional and physical issues, however there are definitely side-effects. i'd like to think i'm healthy enough to stop smoking and not take pills -- i got there in the first place from heavy drug and alcohol use and then ended up in the hospital for trying to end my life - wow, that seems like so long ago and so far from where i'm at now.

anyway - i'm not writing this to shock anyone - i know pot isn't the greatest solution for mental health and sleep disorders! i'd really like to find more natural ways of taking care of myself - exercising is one of them...i started doing that about a year and half ago and it has been SO good for my head.

I used to be addicted to pot (no prescription though, heh).
When I quit doing that, I started drinking heavily.
I think the pot was a better choice.

For me, though, I can't smoke pot anymore. It used to be my best friend, but now it gives me horrible, horrible social anxiety and makes me feel like I hate myself. So I don't do that anymore.

I quit smoking three days ago.
Now I'm going to work on not drinking. I don't drink heavily anymore -- maybe twice a week or so -- but I usually seem to overdo it when I do drink. I think this is partly because booze hits me SUPER FAST when I'm doing LC. So I can have, say, three drinks and be done. I'm a lightweight.

My mother has been addicted to various substances throughout my life. Three of my four grandparents were alcoholics. I KNOW this is in my genes. I'm 30 years old and I'd like to get to know me without any substances in me.

[girlydisturbed]

wow. I guess you can be fairly open here and not be judged. That's cool. I'm new here and this is my very first reply to any thread :-P I have such an addictive personality! I get addicted to anything. Its bad actually. Recently I was binging on cocaine (no worries, I've quit....got too intense). I use to do meth years ago (quit that too..a long time ago). I love my coffee and smokes in the morning. I will take pain killers. I think I can even call myself a recovering alcoholic! lol And last but not least, I was addicted to food. When I didn't have the other drugs, the food is always there, so very lonely in the cupboard or fridge(till I give it a cozy place to relocate to haha) At least this addiction hasn't gotten out of hand, but I'm not thrilled about it either :-P anyways, I found this site and it looked like it might be fun and helpful :-)

[SweetPoison2]

Wow, Guys ~ everyone just hang in there and post often ~ have faith, believe in yourself and hopefully there is some ray of light here, for everyone!

Remember ~ we only have one body. One mind. We can not get a new one when we damage this one.

Only. One. Life.

Let us stop whining and start living! (as Dr. Laura would say)