I deal with cases that their Dr has told them if they have another drink they'll die - they go straight from the Dr's surgery to the off license. Not because they want to die, purely due to the power alcohol has over you. Consequently most don't die from that warning, but a few have. My first ever client in my new (not so new now!) job, died within 2 weeks working with me. There was nothing I could have done differently, however since then my success rate isn't to be scoffed at. It's an extremely rewarding job - However, if you don't use your monthly supervision properly, you'll 'burn out' pretty quickly.
I didn't proclaim to be an expert in addiction, I was merely stating my opinion on the Lilly livered approach that we have these days towards people who don't take responsibility for themselves. It's always someone else's fault and someone else's responsibility.
It's in the book mate, so it is - that's if you go from that book, but to be honest most professionals use the DSM. The problem occurs diagnosing dual-diagnosis clients. It's a matter of which came first. For example someone may have social anxiety disorder and also be an alcoholic. Which came first? did they drink to help their social anxiety, or did the drink magnify their anxiety disorder after a few months solid drinking. Bit like the chicken and the egg scenario really.
I smoked for 20 years and tried every aid going to help me quit, from patches to hypnotism, but I could never crack it, as my will power wasn't strong enough. In the end I tried replacing the ***s with an e-cig - worked a treat, gave up and then 6 weeks later I chucked the e-cig in the bin. Never had one since, 3 years later.
Yeah - that's exactly what I thought you said. I was questioning why you would know any different, as 'Joe Public' has the same views as you, and in most cases rightly so. They have no need to explore addiction on a deeper level
Listening to what thousands of others have said and read it is a question of horses for courses. What works for you will not necessarily work for somebody-else. I don't even think that it's purely a question of will power. If I fall off the wagon then yes it takes will power to get back on track but I've learnt that beating myself up for failing is not a good strategy. I hate to say it but my own opinion is that once an addict always an addict. Whilst I don't know if it is a mental disorder ( 1 in 4 of us will have that so it's not rare or a failing) I do know that there is a great deal psychology involved in quitting smoking - right time, right reason, right support, etc. etc. However the common thread appears to be accepting/coming to terms with the addiction. I believe that AA encourage their members to accept that they are alcoholics even when they are dry and have been for a long time. So my version of that is to accept that I am a smoker who has/is choosing not to smoke. Somehow that helps me to remain smoke free for the most part. After that I will leave it to practitioners like Sky to advise us as to what works and why for those with other addictions.
I tried ciggies when I was younger and a few years ago was smoking fairly regularly but I could never have smoked more than a few a day, certainly no more than ten. I wouldn't say I was actually addicted to it as I tended to smoke them only when I was out and about, never at home because I didn't want to stink the house out and because I was too lazy to go outside to do it. I could stop for days and then have a couple. Eventually I realised it wasn't worth bothering with at all so capped it completely and like I say, haven't had one for years. I couldn't ever imagine smoking now as it would have an adverse effect on my sports life, can't imagine having sub-standard fitness because of them. Encouraging people towards a healthier lifestyle is definitely part of helping them quit.
Exactly my journey with cigarettes. Except I'm 4 months in on the e-cig's (not sure if you mean vapourisors, or the things that look like ***s that cost a bomb?) and have no intention yet of giving them up. I have all the modded ones though, I'm currently rocking a Ego 3 v3 with a Areotank v2 atomiser - running on a resistence of 1.5ohms. I also buy my e-juice online from either Triphammer or Vapology (so much better and cheaper than the stuff you get in the shops - that goes for the whole kit too). I run on 5.2v, rather than the tanks that aren't adjustable that run on 3.7v. Once the original set up is bought (not from shops!) then it now costs me about £7 a month, and I really enjoy it - hence no reason for wanting to quit yet, although that was my original plan! So my set up is Variable Voltage EGO Battery (I have the silver one) please log in to view this image Aerotank v2 atomiser please log in to view this image
100% true. You may of quit the thing you're addicted to, but staying stopped is the hardest part. The minute you think you're cured is the minute you're ****ed. That's why saying's such as 'one day at a time' 'Keep it simple' etc. were wrote. I like your thinking around AA too Dave - acceptance is the key, as they say
Well in there mate I have this curse but I tried the e-cig and f**ed it out and started on ***s again.
Agree, if you are an addict, you tend to fight that addiction for the rest of your life, you can win, but you have to fight to keep the battle won
I get the impression folks don't agree with me often In that context it's probably just as well I don't require social validation to justify my self worth
As an ex-smoker the best advice I can give to anyone is, when you decide you want to quit, don't worry about how many times you give up on giving up. In fact the more times you keep giving up (and restarting) the better. I gave up for a few days the first time, restarted, then a long while later gave up for 8 months, restarted. Each time I restarted I would hate myself for it. Then a while later gave up for 3 months but this time I began to realise the fact I could keep choosing to quit smoking, no matter for how long, was the important thing. It was a switch in psychology. Then without the pressure of making it so "final" I would keep giving up, not worried about restarting. Each time I knew I wasn't going to worry about restarting. If I did so be it. What mattered was that not smoking for even a day meant I'd saved my body from that from that day at least. So I would quit over and over again, no pressure not to restart. Sometimes it would be a few months, sometimes a few days. I decided I was in it for the long haul. No quick fix. The last time I decided to quit was 6 years ago. Never smoked a cigarette since. Must have been about the umpteenth time I quit. Recommend it to anyone.
Extremely generalised comment mate. I agree in part especially with cigs and so on, one can only bame themselves. But with drug addiction there are just too many different causes and scenarios that cannot be encapsulated in any single generalisation. For example, painkiller addiction for lonterm injuries. Another, drug addiction by PTSD sufferers. There are many more. But I agree that there are also many that just chose a recreational drug, got hooked and blamed society. But I don't blame a kid who was molested over and over and took heroine to escape their horrid lives.. that's definitely a different case. Your generalisation is almost Tory-like
Is that really fair? I don't have to agree with Tobes to accept that his comments here have been completely honest and are therefore worthy of consideration.
I used an e-lite cig. My tactics were simple. Replace the ***s with the ecig 100%. So for the first 2 weeks I stuck to all of my smoking rituals, smoking the ecig instead. So I'd go outside at the same times I always did, only minus the tobacco. After 2 weeks I started breaking the rituals, so stopped going outside to use the device and had the odd pull on it sat at my desk if I felt a craving. Slowly but surely I felt the need to use it become less and less and habits I'd had for years were broken. The idea of continuing as a 'vaper' didn't appeal at all tbh, as I wanted to completely disassociate myself from the 'smoking' stigma and didn't particularly enjoy it either.
I've got no real knowledge of painkiller addictions aside from Michael Jackson, who took it to a level beyond comprehension, but I do know that it is one that can creep up on people who have to take painkillers for longstanding conditions. The person who's had an awful upbringing and turns to drugs for escapism, still makes a considered decision when they start on crack or heroin. Do they deserve any more sympathy than some hooray Henry who's hooked on beak? Maybe, but the principle of personal choice and responsibility still holds true. As for the 'Tory' comment, I might sound a bit Daily Mail on this subject tbh, and I make no apology for doing so, but never associate me with that shower of s**te.
