Breaking free from negative cycles

Here are a few things that help me out.

Talking to someone who really gtes it-whether it's a friend, family member, or even just a fellow support group person (or maybe even a monk if I'm feeling adventurous) hlps immensely. There's this helpline too, which is super handy.

First off, tackle one tiny chore that's been annoying me. Like emptying the dishwasher or wiping down a table-or something equally small and manageable. It feels great to get that done and boost my mood a bit.

Then I make sure to eat something! You know how much easier it is to make good choices when you're not hungry, right? So either I go for something healthy like carrots, which are always in the fridge (I just peel them and munch), or maybe yogurt mixed with muesli. Or if I'm feeling indulgent, there's no shame in treating myself to a less-than-healthy snack.

Lastly, doing something differently can really shake things up. For example, going for a walk when I wouldn't normally do it, talking to someone on the street instead of avoiding them, or taking a different route to work-it doesn't matter what. The point is that it's refreshing just knowing I'm not stuck in my usual routine. And it oten leads to some pretty cool surprises!

thx clio:)

1st off i rly wanna address all ur points cus im super grateful and wanna know ur thoughts

the 1st point is rly good but no one around me gets it thts why i came hree

doing chores dont work for me b/c while acting normal adn doing stuff out loud im sneaking drinks in the back

eating helps a bit but coke makes it hard to eat so it only helps when i sleep and have no more drugs left

tryin something diff is good advice too but it dont help much when ur deep in it

hope this isnt sound like cirt or anythng jus want u 2 know wher im at rn

thanks a lot x

Yeah, same here. Can't stop even when I try. gets out of control quick.

I would say, "Well done," because I know it's difficult to stop. It takes time, money, and often creates more issues.

What you're missing is not the drug itself but the feeling that comes after taking it.
If you are religious, start by praying. Even if you feel it won't help, it does; it can calm your mind first.
Then drink water and go to the gym, even at night.
Or take a walk somewhere else entirely.

Another approach is to use a calendar-based process: mark days when you don't take drugs. For example, Monday off, Tuesday on, Wednesday off, Thursday on, Friday and Saturday continue as usual, then Sunday off, and Monday back on. After each successful day, add another day without the drug.
Try this method and see if it works.

Please have a good week and let me know how you progress.

There's probably gonna be tons of different advice floating around here, but if I was in your shoes, honestly, I'd have to get tough on myself. You know, rip off that bandaid and just cut ties with everything-no exceptions. Burn those bridges to the dealer or dealers, be accountable to your friends, and use any shame as a tool instead of letting it bring you down. The hardest part is definitely going to be ditching the crowd that feeds into your habit, no matter if they support it or just drag you down. They all gotta go because you know who they are.

Focus on building new coping skills and good relationships. Find something else to do when cravings hit-something you can rely on. Maybe force yourself into social situations, hang out with people to distract yourself, or dive into games, reading, music, or watching stuff. You get the idea. It's not perfect, but it helps. The goal is to create moments where you crave something other than those substances.

And most importantly-NEVER underestimate how serious this is. I thought because I wasn't physically dependent on alcohol that my binge drinking was no big deal. But there wre times when I'd realize how bad it really was and curse myself for not seeing it sooner. I'd tell myself things like, "Well, my family member drinks every day and they're fine." Or, "I still have a job, so what's the problem?" or, "I've never gotten a DUI, so everything must be okay."

But here's the thing: comparing yourself to others is dangerous. Remember why you reached out for help today-whether it was because of that binge drinking earlier this year or something else. By 22, I thought I was doing okay because most days I wasn't drinking and even when I did get wasted it didn't seem like a big deal. But in reality, my body started to take a hit. Turns out, alcohol can do some serious damage faster than you think-I had stage 2 liver disease by the time I went to see a doctor for something unrelated.

Yeah, addiction is no joke, and even if it's not life-threatening in every case, it can still change who you are. So, you have your reasons for reaching out today, and this post would be way longer than it needs to be right now.

To sum up: You need to do these things and stay strong in your fight against addiction, but don't ever believe you're totally safe. The cold hard truth is that addiction isn't something you can completely conquer-you can't have a healthy relationship with whatever substance you were addicted to. Your brain remembers those triggers and can pull you back into it faster than you might think. For instance, even after years of sobriety, going on Christmas Eve 2042 thinking "what's the harm?" could lead to a relapse. You climb Eveerst but suddenly find yourself strapped onto a snowboard because you're confident in your skills.

Relapse isn't inevitable, but why risk losing everything you've gained from being sober? Remember, staying away is the only real solution.

Lastly, I didn't mention specific tools like therapy or having a sponsor-I know those can help. But my belief is that sobriety needs to become a philosophy in your life, something you grow with over time. It's about building willpower and acceptance through sobriety, which takes more work than letting the addiction take hold.

When you're ready after the initial bttle, think about:
Why did I seek help now?
How have these actions hurt me so far? What might they do to my future?
Have these actions affected other peoople in my life, and how will it impact them going forward?
What would be the outcome if I used for a day versus being sober for that same period-a month, a year?

Also consider:
What could happen to my body if I continue using? What are the real risks?
Why did addiction take hold initially-is it because you started caring less about consequences over time?

In time, you'll see what sobriety can give you-more than just money or freedom from guilt and suffering. It opens doors to achievements that seemed out of reach before.

These questions might seem like a lot right now, but they help uncover the reasons behind your addiction and shift your mindset towards a healthier one. Mostly, this is a mental battle, so good luck on that front too!

So yeah, getting out of a spiral ain't really my thing, honestly. But when my mom quit drinking cold turkey, she ended up in the hospital with like super severe symptoms that were seriously scary. I mean, it was tough, and we almost lost her for a second there. So if you're going through something similar, just remember not to be afraid of hitting up a doctor or getting soem medical help because it's totally normal and really common

Hey, maybe start by cutting back a bit and adding some workouts? You can ease into it.