Anonymous Poll - have you ever battled addiction?

We have a very diverse set of members. Some of you are rich and others of modest means, some young and some old, some hold advanced degrees and others have a more practical resume. I'm just curious how many of you have battled an addiction of some sort?

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David
Co-Founder of DailyHealth.net

No, unless you count food or

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-Lloyd

I'm a recovering alcoholic and addicted to anything which makes me feel good. Just so happens that's my computer right now.
I am in A.A. for my alcoholic problem and in private counseling for my other problems.

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Your friend,
TheJackRabbit
A.K.A. Christopher

I was a smoker for about 5 years on and off.

Does an expensive shoe and purse addiction count too???

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--Elizabeth

Co-Founder DailyHealth.net and DiabetesDaily.com

I have been physically addicted to a couple things, but not psychologically. What that means to me is that I'm not an "addictive personality." My own terms.
I have certainly abused substances ranging from cigarettes to, well, that's my business. LOL Pretty assorted though.
But when it was time to walk away, I did so without a whole lot of problems. No need for counseling or support groups, etc., to stay clean.
So I think it's a different type of addiction that those that struggle and struggle. Hence my term "addictive personality." I actually think it's a hard-wired problem, quite physical. Not an optional choice for them.
I hope that made sense.

need to give up the ciggies though

No unless you count eating, Internet, shopping, talking, you get the picture.

Well, I voted no , because I considered drugs as illegal drugs. But I am a smoker. I quit but recently started back up again. I know its bad.

Becky,
I guess we're both in the same boat here as I can definately abuse substances, like you said just stuff, like cigarettes and no drugs or anything illegal! I'm good that way and do it cause I choose too, it's what works for me and that's what I choose.
Made complete sense to me.
But it is in my genes so to speak as I am of Irish descent and my great grandfather was from straight over on the boat. Grandmother and grandfather died in a car accident that was due to alcohol. And God knows at get togethers it is definately
there. Now my son has an issue with alcohol as his father was an alcoholic and with it in our genes I guess it was inevitable but I choose to handle things on my own for myself as I can walk away and have done that.
I don't for myself believe in all the meeting and 12 steps but I did get my teenage son into therapy and also into a program to help him but it didn't. He has become just like his father who is German so he just lost out until he matures and decides he wants to do something with his life besides drink as he is now 26 yrs old.

My Uncle (mum's brother) died from alcohol abuse when he was 36yrs old. He started drinking after losing his 2yr old son who ran onto the road in front of a lorry. He just could'nt come to terms with what happened and of course he blamed himself.

He did try and stop drinking a few times but could'nt handle being sober, it brought back too many bad memories for him. That was in 1972, now-a-days he would have been offered counselling and who knows it might have helped.

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Maureen.

CHOCOLATE! Honestly- a few years ago I had to give up chocolate as it was making me ill (headache, nausea and weakness) and for about a week after I stopped eating it I got the shakes and a feeling like something crawling up my arms - very unpleasant. However the good news is that the pregnancy with my second son cured me of the intolerance to chocolate (or is that bad news for my waistline).

Too broad of a question. How do you define addiction?

Mark

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"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." - Robin Williams

Addiction = unable to get through the day without something.

I don't know if I can give up alcohol. It's costing me so much money, I'm running into debt. It's not a great deal at the moment, but if I can't stop the drinking, I'm going to end up with too much debt to deal with. I'm going to start by trying not drink tonight and go from there.

Otherwise - sugar! Just anything sweet, I had hallucinations when I gave up sweets, I was so addicted. I'd suddenly find myself tasting mint toffees in my mouth, when I hadn't had any. Then and Everton mints.

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"Keep my love safe; take my love safe to wherever he goes, give him joy in who he sees, and make him a cause of joy in those who see him." Stephen King

James May is my god!