I searched to see if there was a previous thread and seeing none...

As many of you are aware, I have had an extremely rough year and I have not been coping with it very well.

I will be going in to see a professional, but I would like some information on some other community services out there from a personal standpoint. I am aware of AA and it has done some members of my family a world of good. However, I am a young mom and I worry that I may be out of place. I am also open to other similar support groups.

If anyone has any suggestions or endorsements, I would really appreciate it. If you do not wish to air it in a public forum, feel free to shoot me a PM.

Thanks!

1/27/2009 7:59:22 PM

come over and we'll talk about it over a drink



j/k. good luck.

1/27/2009 8:16:49 PM

Haha, Chris. Funny guy.

1/27/2009 8:38:33 PM

the state has to provide some sort of substance abuse programs for mothers

1/27/2009 11:31:14 PM

http://www.smartrecovery.org/

1/27/2009 11:42:04 PM

AA is ok if you are religious. to atheists, it's worthless, since you have to give big ups to a higher power.

1/28/2009 12:16:42 AM

Adult CoA meetings have helped me in the past

1/28/2009 5:49:37 AM

perhaps a personal trainer?

i found exercise a great way to get me off my addictions...too bad i'm addicted to exercising and nutrition and now my parents are worried about that

1/28/2009 6:04:02 AM

addictive personality much?

1/28/2009 8:32:02 AM

Quote :

"i found exercise a great way to get me off my addictions...too bad i'm addicted to exercising and nutrition and now my parents are worried about that"

Point out to them that if you're gonna be addicted to something, that it's better for it to be something more or less healthy than something destructive.

1/28/2009 9:01:44 AM

extreme exercise and nutrition IS destructive.

1/28/2009 9:53:00 AM

.

Quote :

"AA is ok if you are religious. to atheists, it's worthless, since you have to give big ups to a higher power."

True.
Apparently society is content with atheists not being accommodated. Big surprise.

Quote :

"extreme exercise and nutrition IS destructive."

By extreme, do you mean excessive?
And either way, excessive exercise can still be less destructive than substance abuse.
Also, "destructive nutrition" is an oxymoron. If it's destructive, it's no longer nutritious.

1/28/2009 10:14:22 AM

after I got back from rehab I lived in a halfway house where we were required to go to AA or NA once a day (90 meetings in 90 days is the standard when you start going). I had difficulty with the whole higher power thing. not saying you will though. AA does do good for some people. IF you really want to quit, and IF you follow the program to a T. and if you dont it probably wont work (this is all just my humble opinion here folks). I don't think you would be out of place. people from all walks of life go. there's even younger peoples meetings held around here in Raleigh. didn't work very well for me, but then again I didn't want it at the time. I definitely think talking to people who have been through the same thing helps a lot whether you're in a program or not. if anybody has any questions feel free to pm me.

1/28/2009 11:31:36 AM

Quote :

"extreme exercise and nutrition IS destructive."

But it's not unmitigated.
I'm just saying he should point out to his folks that there are definitely worse addictions to have, and if he's got to have one, be glad it's that.

1/28/2009 11:40:03 AM

Quote :

"Also, "destructive nutrition" is an oxymoron. If it's destructive, it's no longer nutritious."

[orthorexia fail]

1/28/2009 12:02:40 PM

well i dropped nearly 100lbs in 1 year through exercise and diet...i've got an addictive personality so they're fearing some type of eating disorder or health problems associated with extreme diets and exercise(lymph node/kidney issues)

I've done a bunch of research on some extreme diet plans by some professional nutritionists...right now I'm on a <20 net carb/day diet...basically eating ~200g fat/200g protein/20g carbs day...very similar diet to what humans ate for the first 200,000 years of their existence..or however old we think we are

they don't want to see me any less weight than what I am now....I just want to hit 189 so I can say "i lost 100lbs"...I'm right around 195 now and it's hard as hell to budge, I'll spend 2.5-3hrs 5-6x week at the gym...I monitor my HR at all times, allow for little recovery time...and my supplement list is extensive...if you check out the Time to get in shape thread...you'd see how obsessed I get

1/28/2009 12:06:05 PM

gg on seeking support bottombaby. that takes balls. we <3 you so take care of yourself

1/28/2009 12:09:12 PM

When I went to AA for a court mandate Freshman year, there were all sorts of people there, sometimes even State students who were actually going for the intended purpose depending on which one I went too. If you are in Raleigh, there are at least two a day pretty much every day somewhere in the area. I went to the one down Hillsborough Street towards the RBC Center mainly and I like that style better than the one closer to campus.

They do give props to a higher power, but they aren't particularly pushy about which power you use, lol.

1/28/2009 12:11:45 PM

Quote :

"Apparently society is content with atheists not being accommodated. Big surprise."

Apparently atheists are giant wastes of flesh who don't put forth a very good effort to help their own people.

I don't actually believe atheists are wastes of flesh, but bitching about the help offered by groups which are built on religious fundamentals is stupid as shit.

1/28/2009 3:17:44 PM

Quote :

"AA is ok if you are religious. to atheists, it's worthless, since you have to give big ups to a higher power."

i think one of the unstated goals of AA is to turn people to religion, so i'm sure they are happy to accomodate atheists, as long as they become believers in the the recovery process.

but back to the original question - if you're a young mom, do whatever it takes to get off whatever destructive addictions you have, even if that means feelign out of place at a particular meeting.

1/28/2009 3:27:54 PM

Wake County Human Services should be able to provide you a list of support groups and professionals. Even ones that may be out of your price range if there's a fee can be reduced.

1/28/2009 11:44:51 PM

I am going to resurrect this thread.

I am in treatment. I have a substance abuse counselor, attend group therapy, and I am taking Campral to assist in my recovery.

Part of my treatment plan involves attending 2 AA or Al-Anon (I am the child of an alcoholic) meetings a week. I've been going to the meetings that I can get to -- my husband has to be home to watch our son, but I am having trouble finding a "home group" that I feel comfortable with. It just seems like everyone in AA is at least 10 or more years older than I am.

I dunno. . .I'm looking for a little help from my TWW family. Since AA is anonymous, feel free to PM me instead of replying to the thread. If I didn't respond to you last time, I'm sorry, but things were kinda early and fresh, I'll be better about responding this time. I would love to get some suggestions for meetings or even find someone who'd like to be a buddy and go together.

4/1/2009 11:00:22 PM

Quote :

"too bad i'm addicted to exercising and nutrition"

I did find your exercise routines a little extreme.

4/1/2009 11:41:13 PM

Quote :

"...and my supplement list is extensive"

Why are you taking supplements? You need to quit taking these.

4/2/2009 9:52:08 AM

some people are just addicted to supplements. rather that than drugs. obsession.

4/2/2009 9:54:38 AM

They do have groups called "Young People's Groups" that are geared more towards people our age. My dad was telling me about them. Looks like there is one on Fridays at St. Phillip's Lutheran Church on Falls of the Neuse. http://www.nctriaa.org/db/index.php


And other than Al-Anon, I would really check out the ACoA meetings...those helped me more than Al-Anon b/c I found that there were more spouses at those than children of alcoholics/addicts. http://www.alanonalateen6nc.org/

4/2/2009 11:17:55 AM

Aren't all substance abuse treatment providers generally of the "quit forever", rather than the "moderation" philosophy?

I mean, sure, there may be some specious "science" that suggests that the former is a better strategy than the later, but there should still be a choice. It seems like only a very small fraction of substance abusers actually attempt one of the available ["quit forever"] treatment options, and even those aren't always helpful.... but then a much larger fraction of substance abusers would be willing to attempt a [non-existent?] "moderation" treatment option. Think about it -- If most substance abusers that never even try the available ["quit forever"] treatment options are doomed, then why not allow them the choice of such "moderation" treatment options? Wouldn't that help? At the very least, it would get many more substance abusers to "get the ball rolling".... (Our society has a tendency to wait until situations are critical before taking action. Religious and political groups seem to dominate the substance abuse treatment "industry" with their "quit forever" philosophy. If apolitical and/or secular substance abuse treatment options that allow for the "moderation" philosophy were more available, I suspect that the harms associated with substance abuse would be far more greatly reduced than we've experienced from the political and/or religious approach.)

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103677/

Quote :

"Campral"

I am very suspicious of such drugs.... I mean, what if they actually work? Can't we then all just drink however much we want?...after all, there's a pill to fix everything -- no need for self-discipline....

4/2/2009 12:53:15 PM

[Edited on April 2, 2009 at 2:08 PM. Reason : df.]

4/2/2009 2:08:22 PM

people with substance-abuse problems often can't use these substances in moderation. that's why they're in the trouble they're in to begin with.

[Edited on April 2, 2009 at 2:42 PM. Reason : .]

4/2/2009 2:41:49 PM

If I could drink in moderation, I wouldn't be an alcoholic.

Campral is not a magic pill. It's actually in its infancy, but it is thought to ease the physical withdrawal from alcohol so that alcoholics have a better chance of maintaining abstinence.

I am willing to try anything.

4/2/2009 4:08:18 PM

Quote :

"i found exercise a great way to get me off my addictions...too bad i'm addicted to exercising and nutrition and now my parents are worried about that"

In fairness, I don't think you were chemically dependent on being fat and playing WoW.

4/2/2009 4:13:07 PM

simple solution: don't buy booze.

4/2/2009 5:05:15 PM

Try counseling. Ultimately if you really want to quit, you can.

4/2/2009 5:10:40 PM

Quote :

"i found exercise a great way to get me off my addictions...too bad i'm addicted to exercising and nutrition and now my parents are worried about that"

I don't see how you can be considered "addicted" to exercise or nutrition. If you were actually addicted to it, you'd be getting training injuries or be too weak to continue, which would obviously be counter-productive. I can't see anything harmful about trying to be as healthy as possible. You only get one life, might as well make the most of it.

Quote :

"Apparently atheists are giant wastes of flesh who don't put forth a very good effort to help their own people."

An atheist is someone that lacks a certain belief. Atheists don't have "their own people." We're all atheists at birth. Atheists don't really congregate, just like people that don't believe in Santa Clause don't congregate. In any case, you'd be way better off looking within for help, rather than to a God that some dudes made up thousands of years ago

[Edited on April 2, 2009 at 8:12 PM. Reason : ]

4/2/2009 8:07:30 PM

I don't know you at all, and I've never had any issues with any substances, alcohol, etc.

but I've dabbled in what I'd consider severe depression (relatively speaking), and the only thing I can tell you is to NOT feel like you're alone in your ordeal. Ben was dead on when he said that the best thing to do is talk to someone who has dealt with something similar, if for no other reason than to have them tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is a big, big thing. Til then, yeah, I'd say just try to eat healthier, and do LIGHT exercise daily, as it does just as much for the mind as it does for the body.

I can say from personal experience that routinely jogging with music absolutely resets me, emotionally, physically, spiritually.

[Edited on April 2, 2009 at 8:20 PM. Reason : fsdadfsd]

4/2/2009 8:19:13 PM

Quote :

""Apparently atheists are giant wastes of flesh who don't put forth a very good effort to help their own people.""

Don't be atheist hating. They don't hate you, so why hate them? no one likes haters

4/2/2009 9:18:06 PM

the fact that you came to TWW, broadcast all of your personal issues, but now youve admitted you have a problem means youre taking all the right steps

4/2/2009 9:28:55 PM

lol.

i am who i am. i could care less who knows.

4/2/2009 9:43:38 PM

^
That's good. Many people get trapped up in denial scenarios, so, with some perseverance, you should do alright....

Quote :

"We're all atheists at birth."

QFT

Quote :

"people with substance-abuse problems often can't use these substances in moderation. that's why they're in the trouble they're in to begin with"

I understand that people are different, and some experience great difficulty with moderation. I suppose that for them, a "quit forever" approach is appropriate. However, some people can moderate -- it's just that since treatment is primarily (or exclusively,) a "quit forever" approach, they tend to avoid it. If there were some "whoa...take it easy" treatment options, then those who successfully use substances in moderation might never progress to all-out addiction. That's all I'm saying. We shouldn't always wait until the situation is serious before doing something.

4/2/2009 10:04:23 PM

but if you have the self-control to moderate, then why would you need a "take it easy" treatment option

4/2/2009 10:15:43 PM

Self-control isn't absolute. You can generally have things under control, but there could be "slippage". Such slippage, if unaddressed, may result in complete loss of control -- addiction. If the only treatment is for those who have already lost that battle, then how can those still fighting it get help? Perhaps "treatment" is the wrong word -- something more like "education" is what I'm talking about. Where can you learn how to drink responsibly?

4/2/2009 10:27:39 PM

If you fall off the wagon gimme a shout, I have been told I am fun to drink with.

4/2/2009 11:18:18 PM