Posted by femlite on September 10, 2003, at 8:56:21
In reply to Re: Typical ADHD w/ atypical side effects? » DSCH, posted by femlite on September 9, 2003, at 17:58:50
I feel like I should elaberate on the things Ive quit that could be considered addicting. (ran out of time before)
Any info you have about street drug use and its long term effect on mental health,(residual and otherwise) is appreciated.
DSCH, I also appreciate the thought you had that the differnce I felt when taking opiods, could shedd light on which med direction to go in.
It is a relief to be able to discuss it and not hear the same old addiction advisories.
You are a gifted counselor. Thank youBack to my point.
Quit all street drug use 20 + years ago, never used since
Sexual addiction, celebate for 7 years
Fasted from all sugar & sweets for a year
fasted from meat 3 years
Threw my TV in the dumpster. No tv for for 3 years
I think I used alchohol as medication, but I dont have a drinking problem per se. I recently learned it disrupts sleep more, I pretty much dropped it. I ve had 1/2 a beer in a month, and i wont drink close to bed time.I guess what Im trying to say is that any time I learned or realized something was bad for me, I quit it cold.
Ive never been additcted to anything,.. ei.. not been able to quit. My will is strong. But it has also been my undoing at times.
I think I could agree with the suggestion that all my experimentation has possibly been counter productive, mentally speaking.3 years ago my fatigue increased dramatically, weight gain ensued. I didn't know at the time, my thyroid was underactive.
I started taking Ephedra. It increased my energy signifigantly. But something unexpected occured, my thinking became more productive. Ive had real trouble getting up in the morning for years, I feel disoriented and depressed. I cant think of a reason to move. Complete confusion.
That completely changed using ephedra.
It was wonderful. I took it first thing, by the time I got the kids up and sat down to breakfast, I knew everything I wanted to do that day and actually had the energy to do it.I didnt even care about the weight loss at that point. I felt the psychological benefits alone were worth the supposed risks.
After six months I crashed. My adrenals were exhausted, and my pain threshold seemed completely diminished.
My neck mucles tightened up and I couldnt move (ive had neck and back pain most of my life).
I knew I had to quit taking Ephedra.
My GP made 20 injections of Cortisol into the base of my skull, definately not fun. But it worked for a while. (I have since realized that cortisol triggers mania, and afraid to use it again)
Two more serious crashes, and I was competely bed ridden for a month. Thats when my GP prescribed the Percocet and Soma. That was a year ago.
It has taken me a year to get to point where I can sit in a chair for more than 20 minutes with out pain.
I completely dropped the percocet 2 months ago. I have no desire to take it again.I just recently quit using Soma. (another med I was told was addicting) What motivated me was feeling like Im loosing mucle tone
But my back and neck are starting to tighten up again. I dont want to take it, but I may not have a choice. Im going to try to wait it out,it may be a withdrawl effect.A good friend pointed out to me a couple of months ago that my resistance to psycho active meds, seemed inconsistent with the fact that I had been self medicating my depression, especially the last 2-3 years. I realized she was right.
Thanks all, for letting me get this out and down on paper.
My husband suggested that I compile all the post Ive made here and give a copy to my pdoc. I not sure she would read it or being moved by it. But it is worth a try.
Its a help to have someone to say these things to (and find support from). I dont think I would write these things down for myself. If Im not talking to someone, I am not very willing to consiously recall things that are painful to think about
poster:femlite
thread:250203
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030907/msgs/258679.html