how did you quit?

[Ishraqiyun]

I think people obtain the best results when they believe strongly that they can do it. In other words they are actually optimistic about the possibility of success. If you think you are probably going to fail and don't have the confidence it's easy to fall back into it. The problem then, of course, is how does one go about finding a more positive, optimistic, and empowered viewpoint. That's a complicated question and I'm not sure I know the answer. For me I think seeing other people who successfully stayed clean might have played a role. For that NA or other programs of that nature are a nice place to meet people who have success stories.

It's a hard thing though and often a life long process. Relapse is very common you just have to find you're way back on track each time you fall if you happen to live through the ordeal. Mental illnesses like depression and anxiety often compound the problem as well. People often turn to drugs precisely to treat problems like that. It's best to get psychiatric help as soon as a person gets clean if they need it.

Eating good and exercising once you get clean can help out a lot as well.

 

[cerette]

Thanks for your replies!

 

[BigChrisfilm]

There is nothing you can do to make them stop, however that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. The only real thing you have power over is that you don't have to enable them. Figure out, make a list of all the things you're doing which makes it easier for them to continue using, and stop doing them. It'll be hard, but its the most loving thing you can do for them. The may hate you for it, but its the drugs talking. Make sure to explain to them why you are taking the things you are away. If you are a Christian tell them the gospel every chance you get.

As for how and why I got clean? 1 my family did exactly what Im telling you to do. I lost all my family, and was in the process of loosing all my friends. I was homeless, had no money. I had hit what they call rock bottom. Now as for how I got out and have stayed out is a little different, and if you dont believe in God will be hard for you to understand. I prayed to God that he would remove me from that environment, however I had just talked with my parents and tolded them F you, literally, so I wasn't welcomed back. I told God either he was gonna have to do something or I was gonna end it. I dont know if I was serious. My Grandparents call me right afterward and tell me they're coming to get me. Now I hadn't spoken to them in quite sometime. Long story short I moved in with them, stayed clean before finally moving back in with my parents. While going to NA meetings. However a year later I was starting to become very interested in God and Christianity. I ended up getting saved about a year after I'd stopped using. While doing this I came to the conclusion that the Bible said I could only serve one master. Therefor I prayed that God would keep me from using and I stopped going to meetings. I don't know when but I believe God has cured me of addiction. That's not a very popular thing to say, and I don't know if I can claim it happens or would happen for everyone. However I know its true because I have no desire for my drug of choice, infact the whole idea of doing it disgust and confuses me on why I'd ever have wanted to do it in the first place. Sometimes I even question whether I were an addict. I believe that no one ends up in tge situation I was in unless they were. I hope some of this rambling can help you, and please remember you aren't alone.

 

[cerette]

There is nothing you can do to make them stop, however that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. The only real thing you have power over is that you don't have to enable them. Figure out, make a list of all the things you're doing which makes it easier for them to continue using, and stop doing them. It'll be hard, but its the most loving thing you can do for them. The may hate you for it, but its the drugs talking. Make sure to explain to them why you are taking the things you are away. If you are a Christian tell them the gospel every chance you get.

As for how and why I got clean? 1 my family did exactly what Im telling you to do. I lost all my family, and was in the process of loosing all my friends. I was homeless, had no money. I had hit what they call rock bottom. Now as for how I got out and have stayed out is a little different, and if you dont believe in God will be hard for you to understand. I prayed to God that he would remove me from that environment, however I had just talked with my parents and tolded them F you, literally, so I wasn't welcomed back. I told God either he was gonna have to do something or I was gonna end it. I dont know if I was serious. My Grandparents call me right afterward and tell me they're coming to get me. Now I hadn't spoken to them in quite sometime. Long story short I moved in with them, stayed clean before finally moving back in with my parents. While going to NA meetings. However a year later I was starting to become very interested in God and Christianity. I ended up getting saved about a year after I'd stopped using. While doing this I came to the conclusion that the Bible said I could only serve one master. Therefor I prayed that God would keep me from using and I stopped going to meetings. I don't know when but I believe God has cured me of addiction. That's not a very popular thing to say, and I don't know if I can claim it happens or would happen for everyone. However I know its true because I have no desire for my drug of choice, infact the whole idea of doing it disgust and confuses me on why I'd ever have wanted to do it in the first place. Sometimes I even question whether I were an addict. I believe that no one ends up in tge situation I was in unless they were. I hope some of this rambling can help you, and please remember you aren't alone.

Thank you so much for sharing your personal story. Praise and thanks be to God that you became a believer and have been able to quit drugs. I rejoice with you, and for the fact that you have loving family who has helped you.
Yes, I am currently on the tough love-path, I have cut all ties with my relative, other than asking other family members about how he's doing. (They still keep in touch with him and help him with everything.)
Thanks again for the encouragement, I must keep praying.

 

[ladyjazz]

I was instantly HEALED of drink by Jesus. But, i was not healed inside. Im struggiling w a different substance. But God can heal someone too. My 2 cents.

 

[roylee1970]

For me it was going to prison for selling drugs to support my habit. Here’s a great example of God doing his work in mysterious ways. About 4 months into my sentence I was celled up with this grumpy, controlling and otherwise unlikable guy. We clashed right off and almost came to punches. We ignored each other for weeks. Somehow one day we started having words with each other and I was talking about my pasts and all the wrongs that had been done me by the ones I loved and trusted. He looked me in the eyes and said, “I have way too much on my plate to be dealing with something like this and to be honest you don’t have time for it either” He grumpily gave me a couple of pieces of advice put his headphones on and went back to watching TV. For some unknown reason I listened to a guy I did not even like. For the next 20 months I struggled and worked to do the things he suggested until they finally took effect. I’ve been out of prison now for 5 years and have not once had the urge to use drugs. Before I went in I was miserable. I suffered from long-term chronic major depression. I was hateful and bitter towards the world. Every thought was negative and I was in misery constantly. Since I’ve been out I have no longer been depressed and all the grudges have gone somewhere else. In short I dealt with the core of the problem that led me to using drugs instead of dealing with the drug problem. More importantly some grumpy gave me the tools I needed to be able to deal with those core issues. In the end I moved out of that cell as soon as I was allowed to and never really spoke with grumpy again but strangely I followed his advice. A year after my release I contacted him by mail and thanked him for it then asked if there was anything I could do for him. We are still in contact today and I send “grumpy” as I like to call him Magazines, newspaper subscriptions from his home town or whatever it is that can make the day pass a little easier. It all started from a hopeless moment in the cell when I honestly got down and asked Jesus into my life. He responded immediately by sending a warm feeling from my toes to the top of my head to let me know he heard and he’s been doing wonderful things that I do not deserve for me ever since.

 

[ladyjazz]

Thats awesome roy! Very encouraging and im happy for you! I just don't think without Christ involved that true freedom exists. Altho tables and support are great, Christ can heal those inner hurts that lead us to use. What advice did grumpy give you?

 

[roylee1970]

The advice I remember most applied to what was eating at me the deepest at that point so I guess that’s why it has stuck with me. It had to do with all the hurt and betrayal I suffered from. He told me not to focus on it to think of something positive about the person that had done it instead of what they had done to hurt me. He said to remember something they had done to make me laugh or smile. To do this every time a negative thought or hurt came up. I will admit it was harder to come up with for some than others but if you want to and try hard enough you can find something. It was hard because our minds actually want to see them pay for what they did. How can we just forget about it when they did this or that to us? Well that’s a choice a person has to make. Do you want to continue to live in misery and hope that one day they pay for their wrongs or do you want to be happy? In the beginning it seems every 5 minutes I was having to think of something positive but over time it became less and less eventually fading to a smile when I thought of them and eventually fading from my thoughts completely. It’s not easy but nothing is and the payoff is far better than any other I have ever received. The nice thing about this is it applies to so many things. The person who sexually abused me, the parents who physically and mentally abused me, the friends that betrayed me and the list goes on. If a girlfriend were to ever cheat on me I would be able to let go through this process if someone close died I could focus on a happy time instead of the hurt of them being gone. He gave me such a wonderful gift that those in my life either overlooked or did not know to teach me themselves. Once I got that out of the way I spent my time reading self-help books and books on positive thinking when I left prison I was a totally different person. For those people out there hanging onto yesterday the only thing I can tell you is let go let yourself be happy. Life is a matter of perspective and it really is that simple. But telling someone to let it go as I had been told my entire life without giving them the skills to do so is no help. Here is one skill most everyone could benefit from choose to use it or not the choice is theirs. Most addict are the way they are because they use the drug to cover up something they cannot cope with and finding a way to deal with that will more often than not solve the problem.

 

[epluribus36]

Everyone has a different story. But I think what worked for me, was I lost something I couldn't stand to lose, and that was my kids. I didn't care about my self-esteem, my standing in the community, my marriage, my job, my life, but my kids, that was another thing altogether.

I just couldn't stand knowing they were in a weird facility, undergoing God knew what. And that they were headed for a foster home, God knew of what nature.

Luckily my wife and I knew a lady and her husband who could take them, Hmmm, I say luck, but I now know everything is God's will. And I see what He was doing, and I'm grateful that He did it.

Six-plus years of sobriety, dealing with life on its own terms, and now I'm a Christian too! Life is good!

 

[ladyjazz]

Roy, a big thumbs up!!! A great message!

Eplur: congrats! Awesome!

 

[ladyjazz]

Another hard part is forgiveness of self.

 

[SpankyW2]

It honestly depends. Is the person spiritually minded? Do they believe in God and having a purpose, hope, etc? What substances are they?

Honestly the way I quit was a bit...unorthodox. I'm not saying not to pray and ask for help, but the thing that did it for me was to, uh, STOP asking for help and realize that I had control over it. Does that mean I'm free of mistakes? Absolutely not. However, a lot of people get the idea that they're a slave to something - whether it's sin, a substance, whatever. This causes a tremendous amount of damage.

I quit crystal meth without going to rehab. They say that's next to impossible. I'm not saying that rehab is useless, but I am encouraging the power of self-control.

Keep in mind that it depends on the substance, too. Some drugs are PHYSICALLY addictive - opiates, for instance (heroin, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, etc) - and those drugs are hard to deal with outside of detox. Most drugs, if possessing addictive properties, are hard to kick just because the brain wants it. However, if he/she has already been in rehab multiple times, detox and counseling may not be doing it for them.

My best suggestion is something you may not be able to do that much about - have the person realize that they ultimately have control of themselves, their outlook, their environment, and the results they get. It really helps.

Who knows, perhaps the more self empowering state of mind was an answer to the prayer.

Not everyone can quit on their own, they need help. Now a few can, I have done it before, but when you let the strong man back into your house it gets worse, so says Jesus.

 

[epluribus36]

Another hard part is forgiveness of self.

Maya Angelou said that the greatest gift we can give ourselves is to forgive those who've wronged us. I would add that it's also important to forgive ourselves for the wrongs we've done to others, and make amends, except when to do so might harm ourselves or others. Just as you said.

 

[SpankyW2]

Forgiving ourselves is hard' I know it is hard for me, I beat myself up when I do wrong things because of drugs. It makes it harder to recover, and the devil and crew will try to make sure that you stay down on yourself. Guilt can be powerful.

 

[Paul808]

I suffered from a crack/cocaine addiction for over 10 years. I somehow manage to walk into a church one day after a 7 day bender, this changed my life forever! I spoke to the pastor at the church about my addiction and they helped me get into a long-term drug rehab program in Toronto.

If it was for God's grace I truly don't think I would be alive today. I pray to God everyday to give me the strength and courage to maintain my sobriety.

 

[CMuskwa]

Are you a believer? If so keep praying for him and his salvation. Secondly never give up

 

[CMuskwa]

Oops wrong forum , I thought this was for struggling Christian addicts or is this about everything is fine and yet I still struggle with issues?

 

[amilynne1977]

Oops wrong forum , I thought this was for struggling Christian addicts or is this about everything is fine and yet I still struggle with issues?

.
Just wondering how things have turned out for you. I thought it was for struggling addicts who are christian. I need to share some things too. Kinda feeling guilty and condemned

 

[DansonPete]

I manage to stop my addiction by admitting myself to Recovery Drug Rehab. Substance addiction almost ruins my life, I've made a big mistake by using it. I almost lost my family and friends. I'm just lucky to have a rehab around my country.

I manage not to fall out of wagon by attending some meetings. It's up to a person if he or she really wants to stop. The will to be recover is the only key, without this no one can help you.

 

[CMuskwa]

I am an addict and I have no issues admitting that and yes I do want to quit. Honestly I have been praying for delieverance for some time now. I have no friends who are in recovery and I have difficulty asking for help, however I have reached out to a faith based recovery centre but I am so scared.. and curreently there is no avaiable space I work and always have, and I take great pride in that , yet I also realize that I cannot quit on my own... To say to someone that one must want to stop is really discouraging , I battle with this daily and I do have small victories , I have prayed for complete deliverance from my addictions and to say to someone as myself that I need the desire to stop and that no one can help me is so very smug and judgemental it's not even funny... I pray that when I am finally free that I never say that to anyone in recovery!!!