Author Topic: Substance Abuse Issues (Read 2022 times)

Elizabeth · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2014, 10:28:36 AM »

Quote from: ggreg

Quote from: johnb104

I have struggled with opiate addiction since I was an adolescent and I am now in my mid-20's. I have had a few relapses this week. I have massed my brain up over the years and am really struggling.

I'm curious. What makes a person start taking drugs in the first place? I've never even understood why a person would start smoking cigarettes, let alone hard drugs.

We are talking 2004 when you started. So the internet was around, Google worked. You must have know that drugs addicts came to sticky ends very often, so why start?

You seem to be reasonably articulate and intelligent from your post. At some point before you tried drugs you must have understood that drug-addicts did not lead long and productive lives. They didn't end up living in warm comfortable homes, free of debt, raising families, pursuing vocations. Drug taking is an inherently short-term, risky and highly dangerous thing to do where the long term risks enormously outweigh the short term benefits. Even if you are strong willed enough to stop and not become addicted, you risk all manner of infections, side-effects, complications and mixing with low-life scuмbags who populate the drug sub-culture as well as arrest and potentially long term imprisonment.

Did you simply have no regard for your long term mental and physical health or did you think about the risks and then ignore them? Why even dabble? What did you hope to achieve?

Too late to worry about it now, but I'd appreciate your response as to what made you take those first few steps.

Most people use opiates in order to self-medicate shame-based trauma, abuse, having been soldiers, sex abuse, medicines prescribed by pediatricians, and of course painful injuries, etc. They just want not to care so much, to stop the anxiety and stress associated with whatever is triggering the urge to make the memories go away.

There is a deep horror of suffering and lack of wishing to embrace the Cross. The drugs lie and say, "Nobody should have to feel this way."

As the drugs take over, the conscience becomes hardened and non-co-operative with God's Grace. Drugs are a portal to demonic influences and almost complete self-centeredness.

Prayers to St, Dymphna for all affected by this plague.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2014, 10:45:00 AM »

Some people start just to keep up with the world, to make up for (often physical) weaknesses, just so they can keep their jobs, or keep up with housework. No one who takes up some illicit behavior imagines that it will become a bad habit, much less that they'll become addicts. Self-love only dies 15 minutes after the body!

shin · « **Reply #17 on:** July 16, 2014, 10:56:43 AM »

Remember the value of short vocal prayers -- always pray when tempted.

Short prayers like 'Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, help us. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, protect us.''

Prayers for you!

johnb104 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2014, 09:55:29 PM »

Wow, thanks everyone, what a great and inspiring bunch of replies

I haven't touched anything since before my initial post. I have started praying my Rosary and Little Office throughout the day like I was before I starting messing up, as well as a lot of other things I probably won't go into.

My last relapse actually took place on my first day of Preparing for Consecration to Our Lady. I brought this up in confession of course and talked to the Priest about it. I was tempted to put off the consecration because of what I did. It struck me that yes, I messed up big time, but it's obvious that the devil does not want me to go on with the consecration. But Our Lady wants it - no, demands it. More on that in a sec...

As to why I ever started, I was a very nihilistic person. There was never a question of "this is bad or wrong" or "what will I do in the future?" I spent my time as a teenager drinking and doing drugs with ex-convicts, isolating myself for long periods of time, and trying to destroy myself. It was an escape at first, and then I had to use to function as I became an adult. Couldn't do anything without it, and more than not if I had enough I was unable to function. I believe that I was heavily oppressed by the diabolical. To put it lightly.

I am a very recent convert. I was raised in a very loving and strict family, and they did everything they could to help and support me, and eventually by a special grace I was converted after reading Story of A Soul and saying the Rosary daily. I told Our Lady that I would consecrate myself to her, and so far I've put it off. And so it's about time. I'm in the middle of the initial 12 days right now.

Prayer...penance...mortification...

Thanks you for your prayers and insights