![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:18:14
I don't know if any of y'all remember, but six months ago tomorrow I quit all drugs (including alcohol) and I'm happy to report that (assuming I don't use today, which I feel pretty confident about) I haven't touched a drug in those six months. I was a pretty heavy-duty pothead for many years and had been getting into some coke towards the end, so this is no small feat. I just wanted to acknowledge it.I'd be happy to share what I did, although a lot of it I find hard to share with others, simply because it's kind of a mystery to me. I did it without a twelve-step program, I'm sort of happy to say (although there's absolutely nothing wrong with twelve-step programs).
I'm very, very happy that I quit, and my life and my mood have improved *drastically*. I highly, highly recommend it (although I recognize that it's easier said than done).
Posted by Dinah on May 31, 2004, at 14:22:15
In reply to Tomorrow I'll be six months clean, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:18:14
Posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:29:23
In reply to Re: Congratulations! That's wonderful! (nm) » crushedout, posted by Dinah on May 31, 2004, at 14:22:15
Posted by DaisyM on May 31, 2004, at 15:08:23
In reply to Tomorrow I'll be six months clean, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:18:14
No small feat is right! I'm really proud of you and I can tell you are proud of yourself. Self-medicating is always tempting when we are in pain and the past few months have not been easy for you...which makes this anniversary even more special to celebrate.
Do something nice for yourself today. You deserve it!
Posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 15:13:26
In reply to Re: Tomorrow I'll be six months clean » crushedout, posted by DaisyM on May 31, 2004, at 15:08:23
Thanks, Daisy. I am really proud of myself. But I also feel lucky to have done this. Because it feels really good. I'm amazed at how much better my life has become. Everything is better. Food tastes better. Sex is better (not that I have any, but if I did, it would be better). TV is funnier. Colors are brighter. I could go on and on.
The reward is in the thing itself. Which came as a huge surprise to me. It really did.
Posted by partlycloudy on May 31, 2004, at 17:19:51
In reply to Tomorrow I'll be six months clean, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:18:14
Congratulations, crushout. I really envy you!
>
> I'd be happy to share what I did, although a lot of it I find hard to share with others, simply because it's kind of a mystery to me. I did it without a twelve-step program, I'm sort of happy to say (although there's absolutely nothing wrong with twelve-step programs).
>If you're able to, I would love to learn what you did and what got you through your day. There isn't a moment I don't think about drinking.
Posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 17:38:23
In reply to Re: Tomorrow I'll be six months clean » crushedout, posted by partlycloudy on May 31, 2004, at 17:19:51
Thanks, partlycloudy. Gosh, I was afraid someone would ask me how I did it, because I'm not really sure. For years, my therapist was trying to get me to see the benefit of quitting, and honestly, I knew it was something I should do, but I could not for the life of me motivate myself to do it. I'm not sure what made me finally make the decision, but when I did, I planned it about three weeks in advance and told her I had decided to do it and when. She was thrilled and supportive but understandably skeptical that I would actually do it (she tried not to show it).She loaned me a book that I thought was really helpful for thinking about addictions and quitting stuff. It's called "Changing for Good." Even though I'm not usually a fan of self-help books, I strongly recommend this for anyone trying to make a major change in their life (from quitting smoking to starting to exercise). It helps you understand, in a very practical way, the stages of addictions and getting over them, if that makes sense.
Since I quit, it's been shockingly easy not to want it. I just found myself so much happier in every way that I never really could understand anymore why I used. It feels so amazingly good to be clean, even when I don't feel amazingly good, if you know what I mean. I don't think that experience is common so for that, I am very lucky.
Posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 17:40:10
In reply to Re: Tomorrow I'll be six months clean » partlycloudy, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 17:38:23
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/038072572X/drbobsvirte00-20the one in my post above was to an out-of-print version.
Posted by partlycloudy on May 31, 2004, at 18:00:14
In reply to here's a better link, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 17:40:10
Thank you - I know I'll find something that will help me.
Again, congratulations.
Posted by watergirl on June 2, 2004, at 19:34:04
In reply to Tomorrow I'll be six months clean, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:18:14
Congradulations on your huge accomplishment!!
Im on day three of sobriety. And scared. I dont really have much faith in myself. Im really going to try. I put myself on the waiting list to see my p-doc today. Im not sure how its gonna help. One addiction to the next, I guess.
Posted by crushedout on June 2, 2004, at 19:40:50
In reply to Im on day three of sobriety, posted by watergirl on June 2, 2004, at 19:34:04
congratulations! three days is amazing. those first two days are the hardest, i swear.what do you mean one addiction to the next? i'm on anti-depressants. i don't think i could've done it without them. but it's not an addiction. it's just medicine as far as i'm concerned. for my illness: depression/anxiety.
i suggest you write yourself a list of all the reasons you're glad you quit. evem silly stuff. try to think of as many reasons as possible. believe me, it's worthwhile. i feel so much better.
Posted by beatrix34 on June 2, 2004, at 21:47:22
In reply to Tomorrow I'll be six months clean, posted by crushedout on May 31, 2004, at 14:18:14
YAY!!!!! Good for you!!! Congrats! (((crushedout)))
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Substance Use | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.