Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

[allankay]

I have been reading a lot of threads over the past two months on MWO, many slips and many regrets. A high percentage of Newbies and quite a few regulars talk about medication. Drugs for tiredness, drugs for cravings, drugs for...Don’t get me wrong in some cases prescription drugs are needed.

However, I have noticed that a lot of people are simply looking for an easy way to quit a horrible addiction. I agree with Kuya on this. You will experience discomfort, tiredness, mood swings... However, they only last a few weeks. We live in a culture where people use slimfast and starve themselves instead of going swimming or going cycling. We expect to become millionaires over night without the work and commitment it takes. I am sorry to say but it is the same with alcohol. There is no magic answer; you have all the tools you need, so never underestimate self reliance.

Moderate to high intensity exercise a few times a week will build your defence system up, elevate your mood, help you lose weight and you won’t have to spend money on the expensive medication. Good diet will further improve your mental state and help you lose even more weight. Whenever you feel lonely or sad (because you are probably staying away from your drinking buddies) you have MWO. There are so many great people here to cheer you on, provide advice and give you words of encouragement when you most need them.

I just think that too much kindness can be a bad thing too. If a person is not willing to make sacrifices necessary to achieve this goal then maybe we need to play a role of a strict parent rather than a BFF.

[stumpy]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Hi Allan, with all due respect and I do repect you. I have been fighting the medication route for sleeping for two months, my 3 little slips did not stop me from quiting and did not aide in my sleep problems (my slips were over a month ago). To go without sleep (I mean no sleep) for up to six days a week is not healthy. I don't take the craving meds either, I just don't like anything that makes me feel different or off. But chit, I need sleep. Does that make me bad?

[stumpy]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Also, how on earth can you exercise when you too tired to get up?

[mama bear]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

I take an anti depressant that has saved my life....nuff said
no long term meds for stopping AL, though

[allankay]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Stumpy, I was expecting some negative reactions to my post. However, I just wanted to challenge the traditional way of thinking. Great coaches/trainers do not sugar coat everything, they are tough on their students. I was referring to medications that reduce cravings. For example AB can potentially kill you! Is it worth taking it just to avoid cravings? If you read my post carefully you will see that I am only talking about people that seek an easy solution to a difficult problem.

Sleeping pills have nothing to do with my point. Same as medication for your heart, high cholesterol, diabetes...

AK


BTW

[allankay]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Mama, I stated quite clearly that there are times for taking medication, however, they should not be abused and taken as a shortcut solution.

So before posting comments please read my thread carefully.

AK

[stumpy]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Allan, I did read your post. Again please forgive me if I sound short, I haven't slept in weeks, I don't think it's because of being AF. There are many on this site who do take medication to keep them from craving/drinking, I may not agree with it but if it works for them, who am I to judge. This site is called My Way Out for the simple reason that each person finds their own way out. As for me, I had to take clonazepam the first few days of my quit because I'm a nervous type person and I was afraid of seizures. I thank god that I don't crave alcohol now at all.

[allankay]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Stumpy, insomnia is a very serious condition. Have you had it before? Or have you started sleeping less after quitting?

[JackieClaire]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

If I could have found an 'easy' way out of drinking,I'm damned sure I would have found it.

Funnily enough this time round the block I've needed nothing, just my supplements.

Each to his/her own.

As you say Molls 'whatever it takes'

[Slaythefear]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

allankay;1394362 wrote: I have been reading a lot of threads over the past two months on MWO, many slips and many regrets. A high percentage of Newbies and quite a few regulars talk about medication. Drugs for tiredness, drugs for cravings, drugs for...Don?t get me wrong in some cases prescription drugs are needed.

However, I have noticed that a lot of people are simply looking for an easy way to quit a horrible addiction. I agree with Kuya on this. You will experience discomfort, tiredness, mood swings... However, they only last a few weeks. We live in a culture where people use slimfast and starve themselves instead of going swimming or going cycling. We expect to become millionaires over night without the work and commitment it takes. I am sorry to say but it is the same with alcohol. There is no magic answer; you have all the tools you need, so never underestimate self reliance.

Moderate to high intensity exercise a few times a week will build your defence system up, elevate your mood, help you lose weight and you won?t have to spend money on the expensive medication. Good diet will further improve your mental state and help you lose even more weight. Whenever you feel lonely or sad (because you are probably staying away from your drinking buddies) you have MWO. There are so many great people here to cheer you on, provide advice and give you words of encouragement when you most need them.

I just think that too much kindness can be a bad thing too. If a person is not willing to make sacrifices necessary to achieve this goal then maybe we need to play a role of a strict parent rather than a BFF.

Agree for the most part. I do think there are situations where drugs are required; however, we are a society that has become very use to taking or wanting the easy way out for everything. What pill can I take? Do remember, alcohol can be a chosen easy way out in itself, so part of growing and changing is biting the bullet. You have to look at each situation in its own right, though. Generalization can be dangerous. Some people have real issues with damage and systems that aren't functioning properly.

At times, people need a loving helping hand and at other times need a loving kick in the behind. I can usually tell when the kick in the behind is necessary, but this board can be a difficult place to issue it. Some people aren't ready to deal with truth. Sometimes the loving hand works...sometimes the kick works.

Currently for me:

I've been dealing with a VERY painful issue, so finally had a breakdown over it all as it hit final velocity and my heart cracked into pieces. Sometimes what is best in us can also feel like it is killing us. I had one night where I completely fell apart. I didn't want the alcohol per say, but felt so much pain and could not cope, so I drowned myself in alcohol almost in hopes of dying to stop the emotional pain. So in truth, I am back on day three because I drowned myself into oblivion that night and had a few a couple nights before that knowing it was coming and I had to make a decision I didn't want to make. I'm not happy I couldn't handle the pain, but don't really regret the use of it because the pain was that bad. I'm not sure what would have happened if I had stayed alone and sober. Sure hope this round is easier than the last round considering I didn't continue to drink. Love is a very powerful emotion.

So, I'll update my signature shortly.

Humbly yours,

Slay

[Slaythefear]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

stumpy;1394401 wrote: Allan, I did read your post. Again please forgive me if I sound short, I haven't slept in weeks, I don't think it's because of being AF. There are many on this site who do take medication to keep them from craving/drinking, I may not agree with it but if it works for them, who am I to judge. This site is called My Way Out for the simple reason that each person finds their own way out. As for me, I had to take clonazepam the first few days of my quit because I'm a nervous type person and I was afraid of seizures. I thank god that I don't crave alcohol now at all.

There are biological reasons a person needs medication. I believe Allan's point is just that sometimes it's a matter of just wanting it enough to make the commitment and following through even with discomfort. There are different levels people go through and different problems, but there are often commitment issues as well. An overweight person may just want a pill to eat the fat away rather than watching their diet and exercising. That is the type of behavior Allan is referring to if I am not mistaken. We can be our own enemies and just not want to face that, but weeks without sleep is a real problem, Stumpy. You need to address that and medication may be needed. It's not like you are just having a couple nights of discomfort.

[allankay]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Slay, we started posting about the same time and I very much respect you. I was worried that I have not seen any posts by you recently. I wish there was a way for people from this forum to meet in person as nothing really replaces physical contact. You know you can always turn to us when you feel like there is no tomorrow.

I have always drowned myself in alcohol when I was stressed beyond the limit. But let’s say something happens tomorrow like a death in the family, will I drink? I really hope I will not. I know one thing for sure that no matter how low I may feel, AL will just kick me hard when I am down. It solves absolutely nothing. I don’t have an answer for what to do when you feel like your heart is breaking but maybe grieving (crying, punching walls, breaking stuff) is better than the bottle?

AK

[spacebebe01]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Hi Allen, maybe you could be gratefull for what you have got yourself and that you have been able to get it without needing to resort to having to use other measures apart from the ones you chose instead of critisizing others who have had to look further afield to find help for themselves. This site is called My Way Out for a reason, it is to enable people to find their own way out from their own addiction. Why not leave people alone to choose for themselves without trying to be nasty toward them. Believe me, meds are not an easy way just the only way that works for some of us so please let us be.

[stumpy]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Allan, it stated around three weeks after my quit. I'm a mess lol. I almost (almost!) feel like drinking just to sleep but I realize that wouldn't be a good night sleep and most likely a nasty hangover.

[RunningCourage]

Quitting doesnt require any medication! Has no shortcuts

Hello... not being the controversial type, i'm gonna stick my big toe into this here thread.

Allan, I think you make some very sound points. I too quite despise that we live in a culture that seeks to "cure" through the least effort, whether that be for weight loss, for depression, for dependency for a whole host of other ailments. Equally, for example, i have little respect for those who use drugs to, as i see it, artificially enhance their sporting ability.

It is well know too, and many advertise it on these boards, that exercise is an excellent way to alleviate negative feelings and to release hundreds and thousands of those feel-good "ickle-me's" that live inside us (there's a chemical name, but guys it's been 15 years since i did biology at school). And as i'm sure everyone knows i run, and love running and know how it makes me feel after running a run (better than before the run).

HOWEVER, I do believe there are occasions when people very rightly take medication for addiction. And they do this not as a short cut but as a last resort. I fully support this. Although it's not quite the same as AB, i did use nicotine patches to wean me of the cigarettes. For some, if it works (and for many i know on the boards, it does work for them) then AB might be the way to help end their negative relationship with AL.

Now, i am NOT a doctor (a clowndoctor, maybe, but not a medical doc) so I know i do not have the knowledge or expertise to speak about AB or other meds on this forum. But I do believe that in the professional medical world there is the best expertise and guidance to help addicts understand what taking prescription medications mean towards beating their addiction. MWO has it's place in supporting individuals with finding their path out of addiction/dependency whether that be by sharing experiences of taking meds, advising individuals to see their doc in relation to meds, or even (if like me and Allan and others) to support us in working through our relationship with AL without the aid of meds. I can only speak for myself, but I never felt the need to take meds. I was right, I didn't, I am lucky. *looking to the stars and saying a thank you blessing*... but others are in a different place with AL, and need different support mechanisms.

Allan, I don't think you would disagree with this, I just feel that your post might be read the wrong way. For some people the LAST RESORT is the FIRST ACT and the first act may mean taking medicines, or other medical interventions, to lead them on the road to recovery. The exercise, the healthy eating, the smoking or whatever else might have to wait.

Just my 2 pennies worth.

RC