Cocaine

[Rachel Divine]

If a friend would tell me to stop doing it or even worse, to go to counselling, she/he would not be my friend anymore.

Each to their own, whatever makes you happy...

[Mij]

You even contradict yourself in your own post , You ever thought about selling snake oil I am sure your post is well researched clinically proven and you have vast experience of the issues... Not

Yeah, if you use substances to escape from depression you should stop and see a doctor. The doctor will probably provide other substances which in my experience work, antidepressants are clinically tested and generally very effective, far from snake oil.
As for vast experience, both my father and grandfather took their own lives so I have a little bit of experience with addiction issues and depression.

[beautyaddict]

Yeah, if you use substances to escape from depression you should stop and see a doctor. The doctor will probably provide other substances which in my experience work, antidepressants are clinically tested and generally very effective, far from snake oil.
As for vast experience, both my father and grandfather took their own lives so I have a little bit of experience with addiction issues and depression.

I will take your post and accept it, so my condolences and a sincere apology , I have v direct personal experience of Suicide also.

The area of your original post I was challenging was the statement that only those with depression get addicted. In actual fact the reality is that use of certain drugs will lead to depression for many as they significantly interfere with brain function. Many many addicts have depression as a result of drug/alcohol use and it may be a lasting long term issue for them . It is not depression that will create an addict in the vast majority of case it is drug use that can give a person depression,.

Gambling addiction is a bit different but sadly it has the highest rate of suicide of all addictions . There are reasons beyond substance abuse but not going into them just in case some reading are in that place, if they are get help please.

i think I have become annoyed with the way the OP on this thread has been treated and may have contributed to my poor frame of mind/ response to you but no excuses I was wrong. I am a bit challenged that you are engaged in drug taking TBH as there are known inherited elements and certain statistics are cause for concern . I wish you well but I would be furrowed brow for you and again my apologies for a poor post no excuses.

[beautyaddict]

May i repeat my original query. What road should a person go down to get treatment for an addiction. My case in question it would be alcohol. should someone see a councellor a psyciatrist a psycologist or should they try (what seems to be in vogue for everything now ) behaviour . Would appreciate advice.

Can we do this by PM ? I am accepting this is a v genuine way .All info will be given total confidentiality , to answer you well more detail needed if PM not good for you I will give some broad principles for guidance. But I give you my word no games here I take addiction issues v seriously so I will do all I can for you. The detail is not personal more about frequency /intensity of consumption and why you see it s addiction. Nothing of your personal world if this makes sense

[beautyaddict]

I had you on ignore just taken you off so did not see other post

I see you thanked post but how you want to proceed ?

[beautyaddict]

General advice on addiction and seeking help. The intensity will depend on way forward , have there been a number of attempts to stop plays a part also . By intensity I mean frequency of consumption and the degree to which it is causing a person to be unable to manage conduct their lives. Other issues such as lifestyle, risks to economic status damage to family and of course the persons personal health all come into the mix. We if we meet someone can usually tell v quickly where they are at

The first step is for most GP . One to one counselling may help , I do not recommend on line interaction especially at the start. For those where it has now progressed to a point they cannot function the solution is rehab, residential 28 days or there abouts but this really only works if the person wants it , being put in rehab against ones wishes well mostly it is not working. Those who recover in Rehab really want it really want to break free, now some do go in on a it will keep others quite and they turn it around but the ones who win go in wanting it v badly. This is perhaps why many relapse after rehab , not unheard of for someone to be drinking taking drugs within the hour on leaving rehab .

CBT may work and counselling intervention but it is somewhat proven that group work therapy works best and is continued after in AA/NA meetings .

If someone has attempted to stop many times its likely one hour a week is not working if there consumption and its effect is impacting seriously on them and there loved ones.Often its the loved ones who are seeing it more cleanly. Starting with an experienced Councillor may be a good first step, finding the right one is not automatic , if one finds a good one that works for them that person will soon be able to see if more intense treatment is needed and professionally should be taking steps to guide in that way.
So GP first then its v individual from there , best broad advice I can give , some attending AA/NA meetings can help also. But GP and other supports are a good plan first.

I hope this helps , without further insight best I can do , BTW accepting there is a problem is a big big step forward a v big one.

I had not seen your last post sorry

[Mij]

I will take your post and accept it, so my condolences and a sincere apology , I have v direct personal experience of Suicide also.

The area of your original post I was challenging was the statement that only those with depression get addicted. In actual fact the reality is that use of certain drugs will lead to depression for many as they significantly interfere with brain function. Many many addicts have depression as a result of drug/alcohol use and it may be a lasting long term issue for them . It is not depression that will create an addict in the vast majority of case it is drug use that can give a person depression,.

Gambling addiction is a bit different but sadly it has the highest rate of suicide of all addictions . There are reasons beyond substance abuse but not going into them just in case some reading are in that place, if they are get help please.

i think I have become annoyed with the way the OP on this thread has been treated and may have contributed to my poor frame of mind/ response to you but no excuses I was wrong. I am a bit challenged that you are engaged in drug taking TBH as there are known inherited elements and certain statistics are cause for concern . I wish you well but I would be furrowed brow for you and again my apologies for a poor post no excuses.

It's ok pal, I don't think most of know how prevalent mental health problems are because nobody talks about it, and to be honest I don't address the subject myself dye to a weird shame I feel about it.

You point on substance use and depression is fair, it's chicken and egg, not sure which comes first. In my case I am prone to depression, substances can alleviate the feelings and then boom, I am twice as miserable once sober again.
I see others who seem to be able to indulge with no apparent side effects.
My view is that we should all be free to use drugs if want, but there should be more education and awareness for people around the links between depression and drug use. I genuinely never made the link in my late teens and early twenties out of ignorance and suffered unnecessarily for years.

Anyway, a good thread and no hard feelings.

[beautyaddict]

Many thanks. I do not do pms(maybe just me ) as i have feeling from past experience that information in pms is sometimes divulged to 3rd parties. .I have tried cognitive behaviour therapy .Was ok but will power has to be very strong. I was more or less deciding to stop therapy and try something else. That is really my advice question. .I am also fearful that a minor event at moment may not be helping either

I hope what I posted helps you. Addiction will capitalize on whatever it can exploit , many think it returns on tragedy or a sad event, guess what many relapse on success or a v good event . I hope you can see your way through to a good place, I will help in any way I can .

[beautyaddict]

Many thanks. I do not do pms(maybe just me ) as i have feeling from past experience that information in pms is sometimes divulged to 3rd parties. .I have tried cognitive behaviour therapy .Was ok but will power has to be very strong. I was more or less deciding to stop therapy and try something else. That is really my advice question. .I am also fearful that a minor event at moment may not be helping either

You might consider doing CBT and attending meetings as in AA this process could refresh the will power for you ? . I think a Councillor specialist in addiction is your best next step in conjunction with GP advice . AA is not easy at start but it is proven to work for many, the first 90 days are the most challenging you may also find a sponsor at a meeting. On the meetings they all are a bit different so again you may have to go to few till you sense a group that is working for you, try to go with the rituals they actually serve a purpose in a CBT mechanism

[beautyaddict]

Thanks for help. I will try AA combined with therapy i have now . AA was recommended to me but i did not like group sessions as i have a thing about discretion. Thanks again

My last post , Addiction likes secrecy it thrives in hidden places, AA is v v v strong on confidentiality , give it a go first few meetings will not be easy , your addiction will fight it v strongly , but get in there it will help. I wish you the very best. I sometimes advise that defeating/managing addiction is like a game of chess , given your intellect this visualization may help.