← Return to Is drug and alcohol addiction just a bad habit? Or is it a disease?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Profile picture for diverdown1 @diverdown1

@trooperdogg1960 That is great that you put all that down! I understand what you are saying and I believe that there is truth in it. Everything is subjective, so it is difficult to know what another person deals with. I do identify with a person that used to drink and use drugs. I have been in rehab 4 times since the age of 14 years old. I tried many times to put down the substances. Each time I relapsed, it got worse and worse until I finally surrendered to what I believe to be the power of the Universe. I did go to AA because it was the only thing I knew to do at the time and I received what I needed from the people as well as the program which is to get me to take myself out of myself and realize that I am neither god, nor the center of the Universe. I still live by the principles of what I learned in the 12 step program. As a person who started using at such a young age, I had no idea how to function sober. Everything was ALWAYS about me. I learned to try and help other people, not to receive anything back (at least I try) but to just be of service, whether that is opening a door for someone, letting someone out in traffic, or picking up a friend on meth at a hotel and calling 911. I am so glad you are moving. I can relate to that as well. I got sick with Covid, twice in 2022. It passed and then several months later, I was struck down with something awful. I was so sick and no one, even the doctors knew what was wrong. They knew it was something with my immune system. After 4 years of this and a lot of research, I know it is long COVID. Talk about people looking at you different. There are people that do not believe it is real. It is VERY REAL. I used to run every morning with my dogs, lifted weights and was the strongest and healthiest I have ever been due to being sober and exercise. Now, it is all different. I have fatigue, malaise (even doing small things), tinnitus, joint pain, brain fog, muscle aches, heart races, headaches and these symptoms are different each day, except for the fatigue. I have my own theories about autoimmune issues and trauma that I won't go into here. I appreciate your honesty and sharing here. Beautiful pic. I am sharing one I took off a boat in the Caribbean.

Jump to this post


Replies to "@trooperdogg1960 That is great that you put all that down! I understand what you are saying..."

@diverdown1 Beautiful picture! Ain't it fun gettin' old?! All I got is lumbar radiculopathy, lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease, esophageal lukoplakia, vitreous degeneration in left eye, vitreous opacities right eye, age related nuclear cataract left eye, spondylitis without myelopathy, restless legs, peripheral polyneuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis, severe spinal stenosis, and trigger finger. Thats just the current stuff. Now with all those, I seem to forget things alot. I get angry and frustrated easily. My feet burn when I sit and get extremely painful when I lay down. The epidurals I get only help a little. Other than that Im fit as a fiddle. I dont let these stop me from participating as an organ donor, previously through CORE KidneyUCLA, Mayo Organ Center in Scottsdale and now active at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla CA. I fight mental fog and depression using neuroplasticity exercises. This involves using my non-dominate hand, taking new routes, experiencing new things to create new neural pathways and build new neurons through neurogenesis. This fights depression as it strengthens my agency. Physical activity is daily regardless of pain and motivation. You gotta keep moving in order to keep moving. And I cant stress enough, Motion is Medicine. I fight depression by fighting depression. Its a mindset. Removing negativity by removing negative words from my vocabulary. I dont create new hobbies but I expand the hobbies I enjoy. Walking every day around our lake in nature has been the most therapeutic both emotionally and physically. When I hurt, I walk. When Im angry I walk, Mindfulness while walking is an amazing tool. I wish someday to see the Caribbean from a boat as you did. Perhaps, I will. Someday.