addiction

[Grape]

it isn't a conscious decision, it starts with a chemical imbalance that creates the inability to have highs from other forms of stimulation, new cars quit making you happy etc. After that, it doesn't take long for the body to trick the mind into thinking it has to have this substance to live. I watched my ex go through physical pain to try to stop, but in the end she couldn't get happy without it, even though she knew it wrecked her life.

[scootro]

[Big A]

What does that mean?

I see eye to eye with him on both counts, I've had my own battles with the bottle.

Genetic, physical, and the least of all is mental. Anyone who thinks addiction is only mental, has never seen someone going through withdrawals.

While I agree that the physical quotient is very powerful, even with alcohol on cases, that is what keeps someone an addict. There is also a big mental side that allows one to become an addict in the first place, whether it be a coping mechanism, a pre-disposition to not giving a fuck, depression, anxiety, etc. Then there is one's life situation, and how they react to it further exacerbates things.

I personally tried a few of the more addictive substances when I was younger on quite a few occassions, and really enjoyed the experience, but eventually walked away, as it wasn't conducive to where I wanted to get in life. Fast-forward a few years, add stress and a few other factors, such as a job that pretty much requires constant trips to the bar and other social functions that of that nature, and I found myself drinking more and more. Not your typical "gotta have it to function" alcoholism, but it certainly becme harder and harder to say no, regardless of the situation.

[jluv]

Cigarettes fit that description perfectly.

So do other drugs, lots of food, booze, driving/riding fast, promiscuous sex, spending money, etc.

The real question here is why the hell do so many things that feel so good have to be so bad for you? It's just plain cruel.

[SouthernSVT]

So do other drugs, lots of food, booze, driving/riding fast, promiscuous sex, spending money, etc.

Yes please.

[dumpycapri85]

I thank God I am not addictive type . I have tried just about every form or function that could be and never had a problem putting any of it down . I have seen how habbits can form for me after I just get used to doing something . I drank allot about 7 years ago but I knew at the time it was only because I was bored . If I had something better to do I would not even think of it . I built quite a tolerance that I still have but I don't drink very often anymore . I feel for people that can't stop destructive behavior that affects there lives . I lost my sister to recreational use and my parents always said she was an addict . She was not , she just liked to party and they never undestood that . They would tell you smoking a joint is just as bad as shooting up because they have no exsposure to the truth . My sister never did anything I haven't done and we did things together at times but she never did any one thing all the time . She had some things she wanted to forget about from time to time and I think that goes for all of us . Some just want to stay on vacation and by the time they realize they have a chemical dependancy its to late .

[Grape]

I thank God I am not addictive type . I have tried just about every form or function that could be and never had a problem putting any of it down . I have seen how habbits can form for me after I just get used to doing something . I drank allot about 7 years ago but I knew at the time it was only because I was bored . If I had something better to do I would not even think of it . I built quite a tolerance that I still have but I don't drink very often anymore . I feel for people that can't stop destructive behavior that affects there lives . I lost my sister to recreational use and my parents always said she was an addict . She was not , she just liked to party and they never undestood that . They would tell you smoking a joint is just as bad as shooting up because they have no exsposure to the truth . My sister never did anything I haven't done and we did things together at times but she never did any one thing all the time . She had some things she wanted to forget about from time to time and I think that goes for all of us . Some just want to stay on vacation and by the time they realize they have a chemical dependancy its to late .

i'm a firm believer in the "no such thing as addiction, only weak people" way of thinking.

[dumpycapri85]

i'm a firm believer in the "no such thing as addiction, only weak people" way of thinking.

I don't know if I would go that far but that is because I have never been on that side of the fence . For me it seams that way but I don't have any huge demons that I need to fight or maybe I just don't let the ones I have make that kind of impact . I do know will power is a huge factor . I got mine from an early lesson taught to me by my Grandfather who was also the best freind I ever had . He smoked Pall Mall reds from the time he was 18 and my Grandmother smoked the Golds . I was about 7 and got caught taking smokes a few times . This worried him and he sat me down one day and promised me to never smoke another one if I would promiss the same . He was about 65 then and from that day till the day he died he never touched another one . Thats 47 years of 2 packs a day , unfiltered cigs and he lived the rest of his life with my Grandmother sitting in the same room smoking . I said to myself after that there is nothing a person cant do if they want to .

[roliath]

depends on your personality, enviroment, etc...

ive done things from time to time that are considered by some to be highly addictive and have never had an issue..

looking back, i wish i'd never started smoking weed in highschool...ive blown so much cash on bud

shut your mouth!

But i've never experienced anything else in my life except weed and beer, and I haven't had any beer/alcohol in over 2 years.

[bcoop]

My dad is a School Resource Officer in Parker County. They got to talk to a bio chemist. He says that after about 6 months of use of any drug be it alcohol weed, cocaine, ect that your body forms a chemical dependance on it and you will have a very hard time quitting. He says he doesn't know much about the mental aspect of it all but knows the bio chemist side and says that is one of the reasons have such a hard time quitting.

lulz, weed is not chemically addictive. thats ignorant, and there is plenty of science out there that proves that biochemist is an idiot.

[Hines57]

I think pain pills was one of the hardest things for me to quit. I was given them at as a teenager from being run over and then had two surgeries over the course of a couple years and was given them the whole time. I took them everyday for roughly 3-4 years and when I wanted to stop I realized how hard it was. After that many years my body didnt want to function without them and it took me a long time to finally just up and quit. I dont think addiction is for the weak of mind I think anyone can be overcome by addiction whether you think so or not

[chuckacosta]

I don't know if I would go that far but that is because I have never been on that side of the fence . For me it seams that way but I don't have any huge demons that I need to fight or maybe I just don't let the ones I have make that kind of impact . I do know will power is a huge factor . I got mine from an early lesson taught to me by my Grandfather who was also the best freind I ever had . He smoked Pall Mall reds from the time he was 18 and my Grandmother smoked the Golds . I was about 7 and got caught taking smokes a few times . This worried him and he sat me down one day and promised me to never smoke another one if I would promiss the same . He was about 65 then and from that day till the day he died he never touched another one . Thats 47 years of 2 packs a day , unfiltered cigs and he lived the rest of his life with my Grandmother sitting in the same room smoking . I said to myself after that there is nothing a person cant do if they want to .

Wow! That's impressive of your grandfather. But I totally agree. The only way to beat something is #1 you have to want it. And #2 it has to come from within.

There have multiple times in my life where alcohol and cigarettes could have dominated my life. But I always knew in the back of my mind that it was was bad therefore I never allowed it to dominate me. I can go from smoking a pack of cigarettes in 1 night and drinking a 6 pack or more of beer in that same night to not smoking or drinking for months at a time. Addiction trips me out. I always wonder if it's all mental. I know there are some physical aspects to it. But I think that is the people whom are truly addicted and possibly need it to function.

However, I do have my vices. My biggest vice has got to be food. I have struggled with weight my whole life. After losing 90lbs between 2010 - 2011, I have seen myself become lax lately and have put on 20-25 of those lbs since my 1 year (May 2010). But again, I go back to what I said. I know what it takes to beat the food addiction. I just have to execute. Sometimes I wonder if I just don't want it bad enough. The way I wanted when I was in my year of losing the weight.

[DON SVO]

Wow! That's impressive of your grandfather. But I totally agree. The only way to beat something is #1 you have to want it. And #2 it has to come from within.

I agree with this, and I like dumpycapri's story.

A lot of people here know that my mom died 2 years ago on Feb 1st due to complications with COPD, and that the smoked until the day she died. She was only 55. Nothing, not even the begging of her kids when she was first diagnosed, would make her quit smoking.

My 1st step father was the anomaly. He had some pretty bad heart disease, and suffered at least 6-8 moderate/major heart attacks with a half-dozen 'mild' ones sprinkled in (he had over a dozen in his lifetime, unreal). He was like DumpyCapri's grand-dad, smoked 2 packs a day and didn't give a f**k what you told him to do even if it killed you.

Long story short, he had a mild heart attack and went to the ER. They had him in a room hooking up the EKG/etc and as he told me, "I felt like my arms went numb. I got light-headed and the next thing I knew I was in ICU, it was 36 hours later, and they had done a quad bypass on me." He went into cardiac arrest in the ER room, luckily the Cardiologist was in the room with the nurse. He was told if he had gone into cardiac arrest even in the parking lot, he likely would have died.

He smoked for another month or so after he was discharged. He explained that, one day, he was watching TV and having a cigarette. He looked down at the cigarette, put it out, threw the pack in the trash and never touched another cigarette the rest of his life. He lived another 5-6 years after that. Sometimes you have to have that switch go "click" in your head. I think some people just never can flip it.

[Tyrone Biggums]

I'm addicted to breasts. Specifically big naturals. Can't get enough of them. Strange, I know.

[dsrtuckteezy]

lulz, weed is not chemically addictive. thats ignorant, and there is plenty of science out there that proves that biochemist is an idiot.

if that were true, id be feeling like shit right now bc im out hah