Since coming here I have met some interesting people who chose to share their personal stories with us. Many have spoken about their struggles and how they were able to recover and stay clean up until now, while others still battle with their addiction or other personal issues. Some I no longer see here and I often wonder how they might be doing. In my own case I have not been able to effect any positive change in behaviour of relatives and friends smoking marijuana which happens to be illegal in my country. I suspect it's not something that will likely happen any time soon if at all. I just thought I'd ask where are you now in relation to your addiction or life in general? Have you been able to stay on course or is it still work in progress?
I have been doing well since I first found this forum. I do not drink as much and managed to quit smoking. I love being on here and talking to people who need help and advice each day, or just have questions. It would be almost impossible for me to talk people out of smoking Marijuana around here because it is now legal in my state. I used to smoke it when I was young, but quit many years ago and think it smells gross now.
Rosyrain, they say you need to "drink a little wine for the stomach sake" so you should be fine. I am glad you have been able to quit smoking and you are generally doing well. Personal issues pop up with me from time to time but sometimes when I come and read of the trials of others my issues pale in comparison. I had reservations about joining the forum since I did not have a drug or alcohol problem and felt that just knowing others using marijuana excessively might not have been a good enough reason to sign up. I am so thankful ignored that initial apprehension. I have learned so much from coming here day after day and night after night. I really miss some who used to be trying to cope with their issues. I pray they are doing well and wish they knew I still think about them.
I too was hesitant to join this forum because I thought it might be for people with hardcore addictions, but I was wrong and glad I joined. We all need someone to talk to when we are going through struggles and it is sometimes nice to get unbiased opinions. I just hope that I am able to give advice and help others on here who need a ear that will listen to them.
I'm doing well, drug and alcohol free. I live with chronic pain... still, but I take no painkillers. Yes, I just suck it up, just like people used to do it back when they had no other choice. It's my personal choice, because I really think I've damaged my body enough, I just don't want to cause more damage to my poor body, specially my poor liver! I'm still dealing with some behavioral addictions though, ever since I stopped using... but I'm fine. Started losing weight last week, being part of this forum has actually inspired me to take better care of my health and do something about my sugar addiction.
Thank you for asking @Winterybella . Well, I can say I'm in a much better situation right now. I have stopped drinking excessively and I definitely quit on smoking. Sometimes I drink on unavoidable occassions but on minimal amounts and I no longer drink because I'm lonely or I need the company of alcohol but I only drink as a part of celebrations and happy events. My family is what keeps me on the right path and I'm so thankful I found my inspiration in them. I hope everyone finds their own reasons for sobriety too someday.
I'm making some progress. Sometimes I feel like giving up but the knowledge that I'd have to start from zero again and face the same temptations all over motivate me to resist the urge to go back. Yeah it's not easy but I'll keep trying because I desire to be addiction-free.
I can safely say I no longer have any desire to return to my old lifestyle just to have some company. I still get pretty lonely sometimes, but I’d say that since I turned away from all that a few years ago, I’ve made some major strides in my life. It’s still not what I want it to be, so definitely still a work in progress. And when things don’t go the way I want them to, I’ll feel an urge to give up because I feel like I’m not progressing. But I try to remind myself that I’m much closer to my goals than I was a year, two years, three years ago, and getting to this point was a process. So I can’t give up, now or ever.
Personally all I can say is that I'm getting there. I'm over the worst of things and now looking at rebuilding a life and starting again. Is it a success story? Partly in the fact I'm over an addiction, not so much in the fact I've lost a lot along the way.
Pwarbi, I say any progress whatsoever is a success story. Sitting here and reading the progress of everyone really warms my heart. I don't think anyone will tell you it is easy but I noticed that everyone was trying and nothing can beat that. I imagine some who might not have completely kicked a habit might stumble and fall from time to time and some even said they felt like giving up but they didn't, they keep fighting on. I think we are all to be commended for not giving up on ourselves.
Wow. Thank you for taking the time to ask about how we are all doing. Well, I am doing really great. Of course, there would still be problems, but that is life. I just try to be happy everyday and be contented of what I have now.
The only addiction that I have is my "spending addiction", but it's under control. I know when to stop and when to spend. I just can't help but buy things that I only want when I have extra funds instead of just saving the money.
I've been able to battle all my addictions but I'm still not 100% clean. I'm still craving certain substances from time to time but I'm getting there. Slowly but steadily, things will eventually be right! Thank you for asking about us, it's really nice!
I've been clean for quite a bit (I'm not comfortable sharing what I was addicted to) and I can say it was a tough battle. If you're going through the fight right now, keep it up, you can do it!
I thought I would drop in here again to see what I might have missed and Letoucan, I am just happy you have been clean for a bit and I hope you are still doing well. FuzyOn, I was just thinking about this thread and thought I would check in to see what I might have missed. Any progress is good news and I am glad you are doing reasonably well. 100% sounds like perfection and none of us are there yet. There are several people I have met here that come to mind very often. Some I no longer see but my wish is that they are doing well.
I completely agree with you. Achieving 100% is certainly really hard, but not impossible. I think that with the right mindset (that I've also been trying to change since the start of 2015) and beliefs we'll get there eventually. No one is rushing us, so we can just take our time and focus on ourselves how much we want.
Since finding this board I have come here many times to read the stories, and offer encouragement as well as gain knowledge. I feel I have made a huge change in my life in the 5 years I have been sober. I like to give people a hands up who are going through the struggles of getting a clean, sober and better life. Life is a wonderful thing once it is experienced without addiction.