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Is recovery possible if...

I recovered without NA or AA or any outside help. BUT....I wasn't young anymore. So I had many years of abuse under my belt. Many accidents, much turmoil, many hardships. Just couldn't justify the life anymore. I had to say enough is enough already.

Weed is good and I smoked up until a few weeks ago. It makes me cough now and I get some anxiety. Not real fun anymore for me like it used to be.

We are all so much stronger than we give ourselves credit for. The first step is always the hardest but once we take it the days get easier.

Good luck my friend. You can do anything you put your mind to.
 
Everyone has their own path towards sobriety and many people have done it without AA. Society often uses it as the standard, but it's really just one of several ways.

When I was younger I was pretty into it and went to hundreds of meetings. I was forced to at first, but started liking it after awhile. I think it's a great place, it built the foundation I sit on and it really did help me get off hard drugs. I think the social circle it provides is it's most valuable asset. I really have nothing bad to say against AA, but I also understand why some people don't like it. It's a little too rigid in it's method for some people. There aren't a lot of people who agree with all 12 steps, but that doesn't mean it still can't work for you.

I remember thinking I would never quit smoking weed ever. For me, and a lot of people, it sort of started losing its appeal around age 30. It's just not as fun for me anymore, too much anxiety. I still vape pretty much every day, mostly d8-THC, but mainly for various medical uses and not to get high. I don't like to get super high on weed anymore. It effects me differently now. I did way too many psychedelics.
 
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I'm not here to argue with anything the previous two posters have said. I will just add that weed is much more benign than many other substances out there. One of the reasons I was never successful in AA was I was not ready to quit drinking and I was not ready for complete abstinence from all substances (not to mention the higher power stuff).

That said, I quit drinking on my own some 20 years after I attended some AA meetings. I am no longer a daily toker due to my living situation but I do smoke bud every chance I get when I'm at friends' houses. The purpose of Harm Reduction is to help people understand that relapse is a part of recovery and knowing yourself well enough to take things in moderation.

In your case, if you have the will power and resources available to quit whatever you are trying to quit, I don't see why you would also have to quit cannabis.

tl/dr: Sobriety doesn't necessarily have to mean quitting all substances. It can mean for you just quitting that which gives you problems. If weed doesn't give you problems and is not a trigger for other drug use, I would say if you don't want to quit it then that is your decision.
 
Not promoting use by any means. However, I personally found it less stressful to settle on a life of use but only once in a while. Quitting outright always leads me to profound self disappointment and "weaker" as it was yet another failed attempt to do "what is right".
Does it have to be this or that? Can it be both? It cannot be either for me so I found comfort in the ability to control my usage. It seems sustainable (as long as I stay away from piles of benzos lol) and the downs that are felt from failing to do the right thing are avoided and replaced with confidence, decent mental health and the freedom of choice.
Again... this is not a rally for junkies world-wide to rise up and demand a couple doses a week as it worked for one guy on a forum meant to offer a healthier approach to drug use. It took decades, some great people (support) and came at a steep cost.
I am finally OK with who and what I am. I do not broadcast my use in public but I also do not hide it. Discretion goes a long way, it is said (I think :p ).

But on topic?
haypiñata said:
recovery
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I would consider myself recovered as a mf. Recovery to me is a state of gaining back one's ability to make a choice in a previously predetermined outcome in a situation. Or rather, the ability to act without fear of getting trapped. ;)
What is recovery to you?
Peace
 
Negentropic said:
When I was younger I was pretty into it and went to hundreds of meetings. I was forced to at first, but started liking it after awhile. I think it's a great place, it built the foundation I sit on and it really did help me get off hard drugs. I think the social circle it provides is it's most valuable asset. I really have nothing bad to say against AA, but I also understand why some people don't like it. It's a little too rigid in it's method for some people. There aren't a lot of people who agree with all 12 steps, but that doesn't mean it still can't work for you.
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Id highly recommend some form of a 12 step program from the jump. Like Negentropic said, it’s a great foundation to build off of. It’s so hard to imagine not getting high everyday when you have been doing it for so long. Its also a great way to meet people that are in the same boat as you. I don’t attend 12 step meetings currently but I’m in touch with a ton of people from my days in the program.

After I got some clean time I started seeing a therapist weekly and going to AA less. I used meetings to help me in between therapy sessions when I could feel myself slipping towards old habits. Everyone is different and you gotta find what works for you. Just don’t let the thought of being sober forever scare you away from even trying, 1 day at a time brother. Good luck to ya.
 
Weed, and other psychedelics, got categorized as scheduled substances with no medicinal value due to political reasons. Now research is showing that to be incorrect and laws and changing. However, recovery groups like NA are so rigid in their beliefs that they're resistant to changing their perception of a "drug". from being something that's purely recreational to something that's legitimately medicinal, even in cases where an actual doctor recommends it. There's plenty of doctors that will recommend cannabis to patients with appetite problems stemming from various causes, such as side effects of chemotherapy. If one of these patients is a recovering addict in NA, they would be considered to have relapsed should they follow their doctor's recommendation.

Similarly, addicts, many of whom struggle with depression, are not able to avail themselves of any of the emerging therapies for depression that involve the use of psychedelics such as psyllocibin and maintain they're sobriety at the same time.

I think it's unfortunate as these substances were miscategorized again, due to political reasons and should have always been under the purview of legitimate medicine.
 
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Yes, in fact for me life got infinitely better when I dropped the BS AA/NA model and began doing it on my own. I’ve talked about this plenty before but I grew up around AA/NA culture and I’ve seen firsthand how fucked up it is.

My mom and step dad are big AA members having been “sober” for decades, but they secretly eat benzos, opiates and whatever else they can sneak like TIC TACs. No one who I knew in AA as a kid is still sober now.

On the contrary, I still use many different drugs but my ideology completely changed. I no longer blamed the drugs for my problems, I blamed myself. I for once took credit for my bullshit not some inanimate object. And miraculously my drug use started becoming much better.

I’m not going to lie and say I don’t fuck up, I do, but it’s very rare and usually controlled much quicker. I haven’t done heroin in 12yrs, only smoked crack a couple times since then too. It’s because I don’t hold shame over it like before, I stopped giving it power and did my best to take it all back.

To completely relinquish all control to the powers of AA/NA only work for so long, it’s like switching DOC’s eventually the new drug stops being so new and fun. In this case the new drug is the cult of AA.

-GC
 
The motivation to stay clean for me came from overcoming my trauma while using ORT (Opioid Replacement Therapy) which is considered belonging more to the Harm-Reduction Approach and finding greater purpose and meaning in my life in the service of others through active compassion.

I personally don’t consider weed as a hard drug. I occasionally use psychedelics which are technically non-addictive.
 
Don't let society's "moral standards" dictate your "recovery".

It's possible to use drugs & still live the life you want.

It takes discipline, education, commitment & your own set of 'moral standard'.

I'll always smoke weed & need a daily opioid or something to get me feeling alive. And I'm okay with that, as long as I can be safe about it and have access to it.

However, there are people who take things too far, like getting wasted on alcohol + 20 other downers. These are the people who probably need the help before they hurt themselves.


If you find that you can use weed daily and take whatever else you like in moderation, well then that should be your business and your life. You should be free to live it that way if you want!
Prohibition & the drug war has really ruined how we (as a society) approach this topic for the most part.

Expecting absolute abstinence from some one is absolute ignorance.

This is just my opinion though.

If you slip up, try not to beat yourself up about it either. We're all human & you can always try again.
 
nznity said:
Tbh, from all the ppl I know whos been hsrdcore addicts, NA didn't work out for 99%of em. Maybe for a while but in the end they all overcome their problems by themselves.
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NA really helped me at the start. i've noticed massive differences between fellowships in different areas. i intend to start going to meetings again to support me in my abstinence from alcohol.

i haven't overcome my problems but i have had therapy that massively helped, made it possible for me to stay clean. like the level of PTSD i had would have meant if i'd not have got specialised help with that, i couldn't have stayed clean. heroin was the only thing stopping me from feeling like i was being attacked 24/7. wish i was exaggerating, every time i closed my eyes, even blinking, i could see me being attacked. i don't think its possible to live like that sober.

Opi_Kid_Rock said:
The motivation to stay clean for me came from overcoming my trauma while using ORT (Opioid Replacement Therapy) which is considered belonging more to the Harm-Reduction Approach and finding greater purpose and meaning in my life in the service of others through active compassion.
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yeah absolutely, as above, i think its important to deal with trauma, or whatever underlying problem is causing your addiction.

i have a lot of love for NA, but i've seen a lot of hypocrisy and people not living by the principles. many of the principles they apply are also found in buddhism, which has also really helped me. there are fewer obvious hypocrites in my sangha. i think different methods have all reached broadly similar conclusions about what we need to do to live a fulfilling life without crutches.

anyone who claims there's a 1 size fits all for recovery is oversimplifying to a ridiculous extent. peer support IS hugely important though, whether its 12 step, SMART, Refuge recovery, whatever.

and therapy, exercise, enjoyment, spiritual and personal development, self care, all play a huge role.
 
chinup said:
NA really helped me at the start. i've noticed massive differences between fellowships in different areas. i intend to start going to meetings again to support me in my abstinence from alcohol.

i haven't overcome my problems but i have had therapy that massively helped, made it possible for me to stay clean. like the level of PTSD i had would have meant if i'd not have got specialised help with that, i couldn't have stayed clean. heroin was the only thing stopping me from feeling like i was being attacked 24/7. wish i was exaggerating, every time i closed my eyes, even blinking, i could see me being attacked. i don't think its possible to live like that sober.


yeah absolutely, as above, i think its important to deal with trauma, or whatever underlying problem is causing your addiction.

i have a lot of love for NA, but i've seen a lot of hypocrisy and people not living by the principles. many of the principles they apply are also found in buddhism, which has also really helped me. there are fewer obvious hypocrites in my sangha. i think different methods have all reached broadly similar conclusions about what we need to do to live a fulfilling life without crutches.

anyone who claims there's a 1 size fits all for recovery is oversimplifying to a ridiculous extent. peer support IS hugely important though, whether its 12 step, SMART, Refuge recovery, whatever.

and therapy, exercise, enjoyment, spiritual and personal development, self care, all play a huge role.
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I think something that you haven't tried and would help you a lot to deal with your traumas and reset your brain would be a trip to the Peruvian rainforest and try ayahuasca.
 
Lovecraft said:
There's plenty of doctors that will recommend cannabis to patients with appetite problems stemming from various causes, such as side effects of chemotherapy. If one of these patients is a recovering addict in NA, they would be considered to have relapsed should they follow their doctor's recommendation.
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Hi my name is ____ and I’m an alcoholic.

That is not my experience in AA. There may be some very small group within, but the vast majority would agree that “we are not doctors”. And if we are taking medication “as prescribed” and not abusing it, one can keep the sobriety date, and the nonsense clout that comes with it.

Remember; the chips say “To thine own self be true” what does that mean to you?
 
nznity said:
I think something that you haven't tried and would help you a lot to deal with your traumas and reset your brain would be a trip to the Peruvian rainforest and try ayahuasca.
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i think you're probably right, i've heard amazing things about that sort of stuff. unfortunately i think going anywhere in south america for me right now would be a big risk. i could go totally intending to do some sightseeing then the ayahuasca and accidentally find myself scoring coke and never going home. still got this massive paranoia that at any moment i'm gonna truly destroy my life again so need to not engineer circumstances where that would be easy to do.

sucks though cos i have family who've just moved to colombia.
 
I'll add my 2 cents. Just in case it helps.

What I say here is only my opinion and I mean no offense or hate

Fuck AA/NA...

The last thing I wanted to do when trying to recover was start hearing about some higher power I never believed in, read some dated ass book about an alcoholic, and perform a cult ritual repeating 12 steps like a broken record.

I just smoked meth for a year, been awake 5 days, lost anything I held dear, and im out of cigarettes. I ain't ready for cult church.

For me personally, it was way too much way to quick. Never spoke to me. Rather pushed me away. Because even freshly clean in NA meetings, it seems like all we did was tell old war stories about using. That was probably just a bad group I was in, I get that, but even the basics of it made no sense. My life is in ruin, my brain is fried, I'm tired...you guys want me to keep a schedule and meet you how many times a week?!

Plus this could be court ordered?

No, absolutely not. Forced recovery never worked for me. I'll cut my nose off to spite my face, I dare you to tell me I can't use. I'll do it anyway.

You've got to come to the decision yourself. I truly believe AA/NA is far too overwhelming for people at rock bottom just looking for a bit of light.

I see a lot of people in AA 30 years sober, if that helps them stay sober, great! I'm doing something very similar right now with the Bluelight discord server. Talking about the lifestyle even though I'm 10 years clean. It does me good. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others. Maybe I can help someone. I love it.

Fresh clean? I think AA/NA isn't worth crap when you first start. It's just too much. Luckily this isn't 1937 anymore and we have options to different resources and people at the tap of a button. Search for those people. Ask for help, if they offer Keychains for days clean...I'd be hesitant.

Everyone has their own road. Walk it when you're ready. Start small, Rome wasn't built in a day.

AA/NA was not a part of my initial recovery, and I have even attended meetings recently online out of curiosity. Still get that strange church/cult/weird feeling 10 years clean.

Find your people/hobby/faith/reason/whatever for you. Not what someone tells you. Okay rant over.

That being said, try it out, if it works, great. If not, great too. It's fine either way. They are just the Walmart of recovery, sometimes what I need is at the corner store down the street.

Best of luck, and feel free to get in touch if you need anything. 👍

Joe
 
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chinup said:
i think you're probably right, i've heard amazing things about that sort of stuff. unfortunately i think going anywhere in south america for me right now would be a big risk. i could go totally intending to do some sightseeing then the ayahuasca and accidentally find myself scoring coke and never going home. still got this massive paranoia that at any moment i'm gonna truly destroy my life again so need to not engineer circumstances where that would be easy to do.

sucks though cos i have family who've just moved to colombia.
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When you Wanna get high it doesn't matter where ure in the world, if you truly want it you'll find the way to score.
 
Tokyo_Runaway said:
I'll add my 2 cents. Just in case it helps.

What I say here is only my opinion and I mean no offense or hate

Fuck AA/NA...

The last thing I wanted to do when trying to recover was start hearing about some higher power I never believed in, read some dated ass book about an alcoholic, and perform a cult ritual repeating 12 steps like a broken record.

I just smoked meth for a year, been awake 5 days, lost anything I held dear, and im out of cigarettes. I ain't ready for cult church.

For me personally, it was way too much way to quick. Never spoke to me. Rather pushed me away. Because even freshly clean in NA meetings, it seems like all we did was tell old war stories about using. That was probably just a bad group I was in, I get that, but even the basics of it made no sense. My life is in ruin, my brain is fried, I'm tired...you guys want me to keep a schedule and meet you how many times a week?!

Plus this could be court ordered?

No, absolutely not. Forced recovery never worked for me. I'll cut my nose off to spite my face, I dare you to tell me I can't use. I'll do it anyway.

You've got to come to the decision yourself. I truly believe AA/NA is far too overwhelming for people at rock bottom just looking for a bit of light.

I see a lot of people in AA 30 years sober, if that helps them stay sober, great! I'm doing something very similar right now with the Bluelight discord server. Talking about the lifestyle even though I'm 10 years clean. It does me good. I enjoy sharing my experiences with others. Maybe I can help someone. I love it.

Fresh clean? I think AA/NA isn't worth crap when you first start. It's just too much. Luckily this isn't 1937 anymore and we have options to different resources and people at the tap of a button. Search for those people. Ask for help, if they offer Keychains for days clean...I'd be hesitant.

Everyone has their own road. Walk it when you're ready. Start small, Rome wasn't built in a day.

AA/NA was not a part of my initial recovery, and I have even attended meetings recently online out of curiosity. Still get that strange church/cult/weird feeling 10 years clean.

Find your people/hobby/faith/reason/whatever for you. Not what someone tells you. Okay rant over.

That being said, try it out, if it works, great. If not, great too. It's fine either way. They are just the Walmart of recovery, sometimes what I need is at the corner store down the street.

Best of luck, and feel free to get in touch if you need anything. 👍

Joe
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Ikr, fuck Church c u L T.
 
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