addiction

The realities of addition; the truth about living under, above and beyond the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The 800 lb. Gorilla
The thing that everyone is aware of. Everyone knows about. On occasion it is discussed, however, only in the most superficial terms. It warrants discussion of course. More than that it warrants action, even resolution, but that will not come anytime soon. It is too sensitive a subject to discuss as deeply as it needs to be. So many layers of pain, resentment, guilt, powerlessness, anger. No—don’t go too deep or you may be forced to face an awful truth.
By Tarra8 years ago in Psyche
McDonald's: My Nightmare
When I was a small boy, I would see commercials for McDonalds. In fact, I would see them over three or four times a day, to the point where I would be craving the golden arches all day long. My parents were rather smart about this, though, because very rarely would we ever go to fast food, so I would always consider it a treat when we did. This was during the mid to late 90s, when the size of their food was that of a pickup truck and the prices were low. A Big Mac meal cost around $2.99 back then, now you couldn't get one for less than seven dollars, and the sandwich has shrunk considerably. I loved going, and when I would get a happy meal and get that cheap toy from the latest blockbuster that was kicking around in theaters at the time, I thought of it like Christmas. I would only ever get toys two times a year: My birthday and Christmas. The rest of the time, if I wanted something, I would get the same answer. "NO." As simple as that; a large, pulsating NO. My parents were stern, but they were fair. McDonald's was the same way—whenever I would ask to go, same thing. NO.
By Evan Filley8 years ago in Psyche
Inner Battles
Society has been programmed to believe in good and bad. This doesn’t pose a problem, until you realize that most people believe that asking forgiveness will excuse the demons they possess. It’s rumored that demons exist in dark matter (Dark energy, Quantum Physics. The majority of this reality is made of dark matter, meaning that dark spirits can be anywhere. Our brain is even composed with dark matter (Dark Matter of the Brain)). So who’s to say that we all don’t have demons within us? People have different ways to feed their demons, addiction being the most prominent. It’s as if gluttony is the only way to satisfy our inner demon's hunger pangs.
By James Harrison8 years ago in Psyche
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Laying in a cold jail cell, shaking and crying, praying to God to please free me. I had not seen my kids, did not know if they knew their drug addict mother was in jail. That was the beginning of the end of my road to destruction. I had gone through the worst withdrawal symptoms ever imaginable and slept for six days straight. Then it happened. I was out of jail with a whole new thought in my head.
By Tina Sanchez8 years ago in Psyche
7 Signs Your Loved One Has an Addiction
In the unfortunate even that you suspect your loved one is facing drug addiction, your mind goes a million miles an hour. But in the midst of all of it, how do you know for sure? One surefire way is to get them to take a drug test, but approaching them out of nowhere to have them do that is a way to cause issues between the two of you. So, what do you need to look for?
By Savana Verret8 years ago in Psyche
Drugs vs. Emotions
As a former user, I’ve come to the realization that my drug use stemmed mostly out of being unable to control my emotions. I was unable to handle the power inside of me that controlled me. Prior to using, I had sleep problems since an early age. My brain seemed to never shut off analyzing this and analyzing that. I pick up on other people’s emotions, too. I’ve been called an empath by a shaman. I was given these gifts, and had no idea how to handle them, control them, or what they even were, so I turned to drugs.
By James Gaines8 years ago in Psyche
The Tear
We grew up by heroin highway, or 290. I saw the stories on the news, but we were in a small suburb. It couldn't happen to anyone I knew. We had good lives, they weren't perfect, but they were good. I stood staring at his gray body, dark circles under his eyes, bluish-purple lips, bruises lined his arms and as they administer the naloxone, I can't help but think that he is dead. Not in the literal sense. His heart is beating again, but this is not the guy I grew up with. The person I knew died with the first injection. The first snort. The first toke.... to be honest, I'm not sure how it started. He wouldn't tell me that. He hid his other life from me, knowing that I wouldn't approve. He knew I had a background of bad experiences with people I've known making a handful of mistakes on harsh, addictive drugs. So he hid it from me, like so many of our other friends. I've watched as many of my best friends have made this transition; from best friend to complete stranger. Even worse, I've stood at funerals for this horrible disease. I stood at funerals before we were even out of high school. And now, here I stood, watching the man I was in love with wither away as the disease and the drugs took over. As I ran a hand over my protruding belly, I wondered how this was going to affect her. I wondered if he would even be around to meet her. I wondered if I should run, get as far away from this state as possible so that there was never even the possibility of me ever seeing my daughter fall to this fate. But that wouldn't help. Moving wouldn't solve anything. It was a nationwide problem at this point. I looked again at the stranger in front of me. This disease was killing him and in that moment I realized there was nothing I could do to stop it.
By Michelle Schultz8 years ago in Psyche
Fuck Heroin
My sister and I use to be so close. When she got pregnant with her oldest child I was there for her whenever she needed anything. Little did I know that ment raising her daughter. She was a teenager. Into drugs, smoking marijuana popping pills.
By Kaitlyn Bristal8 years ago in Psyche
A Modest Proposal, the True Dangers of Narcotics
As a child, I watched my mother weasel her way into countless doctor offices and con them into writing her prescriptions for highly addictive painkillers and narcotics, such as Xanax, OxyContin, and Hydrocodone. She convinced them she was in unbearable physical pain, which was not entirely false. Yes, she was in pain, but that pain was not somatic, but mental. Years of emotional distress and misfortune led her down a path of addiction that tore her from her family and ultimately contributed to her death.
By Alyson McGowan8 years ago in Psyche
Addiction Getting to the Core Issue
One major thing which people rarely take into consideration when it comes to the topic of addiction is the reason behind what caused the addiction in the first place. Instead they see the results of a broken person, and the things that lead them down the road they took. They look at addicts as if they are almost less than them.
By S P8 years ago in Psyche
Heroin Freak
If you asked me six months ago if I’d ever use hard drugs, my answer would have been no way. I don’t believe in drug use, it’s for the weak minded, the weak willed. It’s for people who want to run away from their problems rather than fix them. Now fast forward to today, and I’d tell you that my drug of choice was possibly the best and worst decision in the world.
By Kierstyn West8 years ago in Psyche
The New Face of Drug Addiction
America is being overtaken with a drug crisis and for once it is not illegal drugs, rather the rise in the use, and abuse of prescription painkillers. According to a recent study, 1 in 3 Americans (35%) are regularly prescribed painkillers by medical professionals. In fact, the total number of painkiller users is closer to 40% when you factor in people who obtain painkillers from other sources, including internet purchases and drugs prescribed to others.
By Wilf Voss8 years ago in Psyche