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testingthestrongones

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hey everyone...I really need your advice and help here. what is the first step to stopping?? I realized I had a problem Friday when I was talking with one of my friends. I realized again last night when my friends were in tears over my constant drug use. the sad thing is not much else matters to me but the high. I really need to find a program, one without staying in the place, to help me with this. I am really lost on what to do. I feel so lost, lonely and out there. I can't seem to find reality. Thanks for reading this. <3
 
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Annoula

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my dear...u r not alone...

every single man and woman and child and elder in this planet feels alone at times.
but i strongly believe that for every lonely feeling person there is an other person ready to listen and comfort. but we have to be very open minded and sometimes we have to look for this person or even persons.we have to cry out for help.
HELP ME! I AM LOSING MY MIND! HELP ME!

i believe that the "high" feeling is the problem in all kind of addictions and the most difficult to cope with. but many people have succeded in cutting down addictions so if u really want to do it u are going to.

i feel u r in a good way my friend...
the first step in a bad condition is diagnosing. and u diagnosed urself by understanding that u have a problem.

as a second step u can reach out for people that have nothing to do with addictions. i emphasize that because people with addictions might not be a good influence at difficult times. so reach out for people that can listen to u. an older person, a priest maybe. go to a church and ask for the priest. if u r not satisfied with him, go to another church, and another. professional assistance is also very valuable so if u can find it "grab" it!

i don't know if u believe in God or Christ but i can suggest something...
addictions r usually caused by an empty feeling we have and need something to cover it. so we stuff this emptiness with a drug, alcohol, self-harm , sex (sometimes) or whatever else.
when the urge for getting high comes to u, try to direct this urge in something else. direct it to God, or Christ, or ligh, or life . for example...
"i really need to have a drink now, i can't stop it...oh God make me want to find YOU with such an urge!"
or
"i want to get high now and forget all this nonsense of this nonsense world... i want to find the Light! and forget this nonsense of this nonsense world"

overcoming an addiction biologicaly is very easy. the tricky thing is the mind. and u know what i think?? that with ur mind u can do whatever u like! u can use it the way it pleases u. u can make urself stop a thought, and start thinking another one.
our life is a mind game.
and our mind usually takes over and makes the rules.
but if we get to understand it we can make our own rules and play in our terms.

i hope i gave u some ideas.

i would be glad and happy to talk to u more.

:)
 
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LynnMcG

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testingthestrongones said:
hey everyone...I really need your advice and help here. what is the first step to stopping?? I realized I had a problem Friday when I was talking with one of my friends. I realized again last night when my friends were in tears over my constant drug use. the sad thing is not much else matters to me but the high. I really need to find a program, one without staying in the place, to help me with this. I am really lost on what to do. I feel so lost, lonely and out there. I can't seem to find reality. Thanks for reading this. <3

Why do you think you can't go into a program where you have to stay? It may be exactly what you need. I mean, at this point, you don't really know what you need so don't look for excuses. This isn't going to be fixed in one neat little weekend either. Your life is about to change, for the better.

Can you talk to your parents? Chances are they know you have a problem already and are waiting for you to do something about it. No one else can do this for you, but you...which is hard. But you can do it. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in this world. You have Jesus Christ on your side...ALL things are possible through Christ who strengthens you.

God bless you!
 
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azboxer

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Your off to a good start. Realizing you have a problem is the first step. Many times people with addictions dont want to admit that. The next step is realizing that you have tried dealing it with yourself before (if you have) and realizing that it didnt work. That is when we need to turn to God. God can help. I suggest finding someone who you can talk too...really talk to. There is a christian based recovery out there called celebrate recovery (celebraterecovery.com or org) that is a great support enviroenment. There you will find others like you, find a accountability partner or sponser that will help you during the times that are troubling. As a recovery group leader in my churchs program, I want people in my gorup to call me when they are needing something instead of heading back to old behaviors. I think you need to find someone who is in recovery, because they understand. People who dont have addictions dont truly understand the control these behaviors or drugs have on us. If there is anything else I can help you with, let me know.

Have you worked a 12 step program before, a christian 12 step? There are some good 12 step workbooks out there that I have used...Good luck!
 
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If Not For Grace

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one without staying in the place,

I highly recommend 12-step programs. BUT GOING IN MAY BE THE BEST/EASY WAY.
The First (of12) step involves ADMITTING and Powerlessness. You must ADMITT your addiction (you are already on the right track here).. You have 1/2 the battle won when you admitt its an Addiction. Good Luck and God Bless--Get a support GROUP and change your playmates immediately. No Users/drop em, I don't care who they are. God will open new doors as you close these...
 
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jmwillia

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Congratulations!! :clap:
The first step in making a complete recovery is to admit that there is a problem. I realized I had one late on night when I woke up in county jail (for the first and only, so far, time in my life). Talk about a sobering experience!

That was exactly what needed to happen to me to turn my life around, as unpleasant as it was at the time. I hope that you have not had to experience this at your age.

I suppose there are a number of ways to stop using. I would strongly recommend a Christian program called "Celebrate Recovery". It is based on and closely follows the proven 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. It was developed by Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church somewhere in California. You can find all kinds of information about this program on the internet, just search for Celebrate Recovery.

It is a very good program of action that will help you stay clean and sober for the rest of your life, IF YOU WANT THAT. No one can make you stay sober or cause you to fix the things that need fixing in your life but you. Pray that God will lead you to a fellowship of recovering believers. I know that He will –because He can. I will pray for this for you too.

I have been continuously sober for nearly 2 years after drinking away nearly 30. Do not follow this example! Feel free to post, PM or email me (anyone may) if you have questions about the 12-Step program. I would be happy to share my own experiences in recovery.

Please do this now before it is too late!!
 
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Harlan Norris

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testingthestrongones said:
hey everyone...I really need your advice and help here. what is the first step to stopping?? I realized I had a problem Friday when I was talking with one of my friends. I realized again last night when my friends were in tears over my constant drug use. the sad thing is not much else matters to me but the high. I really need to find a program, one without staying in the place, to help me with this. I am really lost on what to do. I feel so lost, lonely and out there. I can't seem to find reality. Thanks for reading this. <3
Well in a way you are lucky. You are looking to get your problem under control, and you are only 18. I abused drugs for most of my adult life. Thats a lot of years down the drain. It sounds like things are already going south for you. Good. You see the hardship associated with drug use, is the catalist for change . THe key for me was realizing that my drug use was ( what I did ). I was the one taking the drugs. As soon as I was able to deal with my responsibility for my circumstances, I found that I had the Power to give it up. We dopers are full of excuses. Get rid of those. and you can quit.
 
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wrknprgrstn

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Don't think, don't drink or use, and get to a meeting. Ask someone in the AA or NA program to be a temporary sponsor. Choose someone you don't know and start dumping this **** on them. They have experienced the same ****. Go to 12 step meetings and stay stay stay sober by hanging out with people you wouldn't hang out with...those who are recovering. We're all swimming against the tide bro. It's either that or die. Enter through the narrow gate. Peace and surrender to the God of your understanding. If you don't understand your God...cry like a little child or fake it til you make it.
 
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GabrielW

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In A.A. only the first half of the first step deals with alcohol "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - ...." The rest of the steps, including the rest of step one all deal with mental attitudes. As a Christian you have an advantage, I can say this from experience I got sober without knowing much about God, Jesus anything, in fact I blamed God and hated him for what was happening to me. Maybe you feel the same way? It's okay. If you know your Bible than you'll see plenty of similarities in it and your Big Book, and 12 and 12. The 12 and 12 might as well have a yellow cover and say "Spirituality for Dummies" The more I read the more I realize I've heard all this before. But i don't close my mind, I realize that it's just broken down on a level, that a scared, lost, confused alcoholic who feels rejected can understand. Get to a meeting brother find the guy who everyone's excited to see, the guy everyone gets up to shake his hand when he gets there (well if it's your first meeting and you're anything like me you won't be early) So listen in the meeting for who knows what they're talking about. Watch for who sticks around after the meeting. Get then as a sponsor... Ya know what? Don't worry about any of that, just go to a meeting, after that, go to another, keep doing that and everything will work out I promise
 
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