addiction
The realities of addition; the truth about living under, above and beyond the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Becoming a Drug Addict Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
So at seventeen years old, I had been accepted to college, along with an academic scholarship to go along with it. I went to a private high school and I was held to a high standard. If you were to take a look at me on a piece of paper, one would believe me to be a well-mannered, privileged white boy who was going somewhere in life. What people did not know was that I had a raging heroin addiction at seventeen years old.
By Mike Mestrovich8 years ago in Psyche
Growing up with Addiction
Within our current culture, people often do not realize how alcohol can ruin lives, families, and careers. It is socially acceptable to binge drink to the point of blackout each weekend with friends, have a drink after work every day, and then to post all about it on social media. Am I saying that if you do these things then you're an alcoholic? Absolutely not. What I'm saying is within our current social climate, people often do not give alcohol and the risks associated with its consumption the respect it deserves. I, and many other families plagued by addiction, grew up knowing the extent to which alcohol can ruin a person and their loved one, and as a result, I am always careful when consuming it. Personally, I haven't made the choice to refrain from alcohol consumption all together, but many people have out of fear that it will ruin their lives like it did to their loved ones. Unfortunately there is a persisting culture of shame surrounding this issue, and in an attempt to break some of the barriers down, let's have an honest conversation about alcohol.
By Briar Landry8 years ago in Psyche
My Brother Died of An Overdose...His Name Was Matty
My brother died of a heroin overdose. His name was Matty. He was beautiful, he was funny, he was courageous and compassionate, he was talented, he was athletic, he was charming-and he was stolen. My baby brother was stolen by a substance, and nothing was done about it. The nurses, the doctors, the therapists-they all said how handsome he was, and how sorry they felt for me. They said they see this all the time, such young lives taken too soon. Some are taken instantly, and some are taken gradually. In my brother’s case, it was gradual. I never got a call saying “he’s overdosed, he’s gone,” something I had always assumed in my gut would happen. I received a call saying he was on a ventilator, but was breathing on his own. No one prepares you for seeing your loved one in that predicament. My brother was alone. He was unconscious. He was brain dead.
By Robyn Zarli8 years ago in Psyche
The Devil's Playground
Let me start by saying that I enjoy going to a casino about once a month to play the slot machines. They can be alot of fun. The flashing lights, the spinning images, and awesome graphics can leave you entertained for an hour maybe more. I occasionally accompany my mom when she wants to play bingo. However, there are many dangers associated with gambling if you are not careful. Gambling can become addictive and wreak havoc on so many levels. Similar to drugs and alcohol, gambling can destroy lives. It can develop into a disease of the brain. When we gamble, this triggers an automatic response to the "pleasure centre" in the brain, thus generating more dopamine resulting in an increase of adrenaline and euphoria. I chose to write this article to educate those who start and to encourage problem gamblers to seek help.
By Janelle Ouellet8 years ago in Psyche
My Unseen Recovery
Sometimes we wake up one morning and struggle with comprehending how we got to where we are right now. This is something that happens to me nearly every morning during my morning coffee as I sit at my kitchen table and reminisce about the "good ole days." The days when I knew exactly who I was as a person. Today I can honestly say that I do not recognize the person that I see staring back at me when I look in the mirror anymore.
By Alyssa Horn8 years ago in Psyche
Find Your High
About one in six young adults in America are battling an addiction to a substance. I recently realized that I’d been building my life around several micro-addictions, and that these addictions were keeping me from experiencing life at its highest frequency. I began to notice that I wasn't alone in this experience, that a lot of the people in my life were exchanging amazing opportunities in life for a convenient six-pack at the end of each day. After continuing to notice this trend in many of my close friends and family, I knew that there was a larger issue to tackle in the US.
By Renner Winston8 years ago in Psyche
My Story of Violence
(Disclaimer: Sorry for the length, much was cut before the final version, i hope you see it through.) This is not a world history lesson or even a political narrative, this is a story about something I struggle with, an addiction which there is no rehab for, least not in the way I could have once used it. This is the story about my relationship and domination of violence.
By Shamus Roan8 years ago in Psyche
A Memorable Journey
Through life, we go through many stages. Sometimes decisions we make have important influences on our lives, some good, and some bad. To adapt to these situations that happen in our lives, we must be very optimistic. At the beginning of my adulthood, I have had many obstacles, including addiction, marriage, and parenthood. Through these times, I felt great fear but also great determination. Those feelings resulted in remarkable success and accomplishments.
By Victoria Sherrod8 years ago in Psyche
Chasing the Spoon
I have been dreaming about sharing my story for quite some time now. There have been internal battles on whether or not to share it with the world. I had fear of being judged, ridiculed, laughed at, etc. There is such a stigma placed on addicts, alcoholics, and criminals, and with good reason too. My goal in starting this blog is to lift that stigma. I know that I cannot do that with everyone in the world. But if I can allow just one person to see recovering addicts, alcoholics, and criminals in a different light then my job is done.
By Olivia Scott8 years ago in Psyche
Our 1st Encounter
My body was a little shaky, but you approached me so confidently and immediately I was filled with a desire of interest. I had seen you with my friend, although it didn't feel right to be with you after her, I went for it, she persuaded me. I looked at you intensely, trying to see why so many had bragged about the way you had made them feel. So many others had spoken of their devotion to you, and that un-nerving need to always have you around. I too needed you, I grabbed you and took you in. I was feeling you for the first time, you had entered my body, immense feelings rushed from head to toe, every single cell in my body was feeling an unfamiliar pleasure almost unreal. The room in which we were in had once fully been lit, but now it seemed dark and a little chill, as all I could feel was you. It was an instant love for me, from that day on you knew as well as I did, no one could or would break us apart. You had made me feel alive, that part of me I needed to feel complete. My heart was pounding, my body full of sweat and shaking, although suddenly, my fears were no more. Every part of me took you in, you came in slow and took your time, making sure that my first time would be unforgettable. The room we made our sanctuary, a sacred place for you and I. I remember she watched but not for a second did I feel shy, I think I blocked her out altogether, I really didn't care who was there. The night came quickly and although morning was around the corner, I grew weary of having to let you go. But you promised me everything would work itself out! Promises~ Promises of always of being by my side, promises of healing the worst of all my pain, you promised to always put me first and never let me down. You promised in this walk of life I would not walk it alone, you said you would go with me to my grave, you promised you would be my light in my darkest time. I believed all your promises. What a night, strangers we were no more, every day, everywhere in front of anyone. I wasn't ashamed of you and you kept me on a high. Every day you made me find a new strength, you awoke new passions; you let me explore hidden traits I didn't know I had. A once, young girl afraid of the unknown, you had made a woman, strong and tall, unafraid of people's cynical ways and I now walked in a confidence that stood out far more than anyone in the crowd. I loved you and I was sure you loved me back, I was never going to let you go and I knew how bad you wanted me to hold on. I had finally found perfection in my life, a purpose, you became my strength, hope, endurance, confidence, loyalty and above anything else, you became my life. It was easy to tell I was deep in your hold; people suddenly were intrigued by me and why not? You gave me that confidence to show the talented, beautiful, desired woman who held her head high. One night with you and you altered all I would become, my morals, my common sense, all I had known was no longer what I knew. I was far more than just another one of your girls; no, you had truly made me your number one. Thirteen long years of complete loyalty between you and I, and I would settle for nothing less. And then suddenly, I awoke from this fairy tale fantasy relationship you allowed me to create in my mind. Something awoke deep within me, The fire I once felt you light had simmered and when the smoke started clearing I was finally able to see the real you. So why was I deceived and misled, manipulated and taken advantage of? You failed to mention to me in all your promises, that you would be making these same promises to others. You failed to tell me how the pain you promised to take away, you would one day replace even more. Or your promise to never let me down, oh that one you kept by being the one putting me there, making damn sure I felt the worst of all my pains. You had mentioned going to the grave with me, but you never mentioned how it would be you that would put me there. How only I wished we were still strangers, how much I regret that day we meet. I should have walked away, why didn't I stand my ground? You tainted my world, you tore me from my family and kids, robbing me of all my hopes and dreams. All you did was bring me broken promises I was misled in thinking you were something you were not. The life I chose to lead with you, was your reality never mine. How foolish of me to compromise who I am and naively fall victim to your ways. How could you do this to me? Why do I even ask! This is you, and your only purpose is to make people believe they need you as if they can’t live without you, willing to compromise who they are, just for you. You thrive off their need to have you, their dependency they rely on you fulfilling, becoming manipulated by your charm that they will go to any extent to have you. I have been struggling to stay away from you trying to restore whatever life I have left. I don't wish for anyone to come across you and blindly take part in what will ultimately become their biggest regret. So to what name do I refer you by as you go by many? A deceiver, manipulator, a con artist. Illusionist, a drug? Or those charming names I once ignorantly would say, my love, charming, perfect my other half, my way of life, my happiness. Those of you that have been caught in his twisted and sick ways, ask god to help you find way, far from something that stands for nothing. But for me your name will always remain as is... methamphetamine.
By Pink Martinez8 years ago in Psyche
"Used to It"
Last night I was sitting with my friend talking and the words "I'm used to it" came out of my mouth while we were discussing addiction and all the lives that it's taking. My friend just sat there silent for a minute... he wasn't sure how to respond to that because that's not something anyone should ever be "used to." I went on to explain that probably wasn't the right choice of words because you don't get used to people dying; it's hard every time, it doesn't get easier. But what I was trying to say is that we live in a place today where people in their young 20s are loosing friends left and right.
By Felishia Mudd8 years ago in Psyche
There Are No Words for Loss
They say life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment you're making coffee and the next you're on the floor with your expensive mascara staining your cheeks and the soft white rug that you've always loved. My moment came by a phone call.
By Austin Susanne8 years ago in Psyche
