How I did it: 7 years of long torture, towards the end there were no more drugs to try. No other ways of doing them. My life began going downhill quicker than I could see. The last 3 years of usage, I became a full-fledged junkie. I was a needle freak, and at the age 17-18 that was a difficult thing for my parents. There were many sleepless nights, my mother sitting up practicing my uligy, my father waiting to get the phone call that I was on the side of the road or in the ER dead.
Those nights became torture for me. There was no more fun highs, nothing did it anymore. There was no love where I was. There were rules, fake smiles, moroniclly deep conversations (there were some who just went into outterspace), there was a big nothing when I lived at the crack house. The only thing I got close to relief was a year or so prior when I stayed with another person. Their parent smoked pot. But this was NOT a crack house. That was my relief.
One day when my parents finally caught on AGAIN to forged checks and more drugs. I was given an altimadiem, stop or get lost. In my mind that ment either way I will die.
But this time I was tired, tired of the crying fighting and dissapoinment. So I tried, it wasn't easy, it wasn't fun. But hours turned into days, days to months. Along side me was Michael my old dealer. Together we got sober, together we attended meetings, together we prospered.
My family and GOD are the only two people/forces that I can say helped me see. If not for them I know I'd be dead.
Ask me if you want to know more.

Lessons & tips: 1. Find your higher power.

2. Find what your triggers are (ex. people, places, music)

3. Stay away from all old using pals. Inevitably it will only lead to using again.

4. It's not so important to count the days as it is the imporvments in your life.

5. You're never alone. There is always someone out there who can relatate and give you the advice you need.

6. You can't lie about your sobriety your actions will sooner or later reflect what you are truely doing. Lying is a form of denial, and to get sober you must get rid of all denial.

7. Remember addiction is a disease and getting sober isn't easy, but THE RESULTS ARE SO WORTH IT!

Resources:

• God (your higher power!)
  
• Family (will always love you and show the most support and recognition of your actions)
  
• Clean Friends (even if you don't have any now)
  
• Meetings- people who will never let you down e.i SPONSOR!
  
• Reaseaching your addiction as a disease. (A diagnosis explains the insanity)

Oct 03, 2008, 12:47PM PDT | 5 comments | 24 cheers