Drug Rehab Options Blog

Hello all, I'm on day 3 of sober recovery.

I'm a marijuana addict- been using for about 10 years now. I have tried to quit before but it never lasted for long. This time I'm really serious. Pot has changed me for the worst! I have gone to the ma chat meetings off and on, but tonight I went to my first NA meeting. I was really scared, but I did it and it was good and I will be going back. I plan to check out another meeting tomorrow.

In my realization that I need to really quit pot, I've also realized I have a problem with alcohol. I mean I knew I had a problem with alcohol, but if I just smoked pot, it would be okay... but obviously when I'm not smoking I need something to replace the void so I turn to drinking. A lot of times I think I'm fine- I can handle it, but other times I know I am not fine- like when I go out and always drink too much, drive drunk, say and do things I regret and so on..

So I am thinking of going to AA too. And then I discovered Al-anon also. Maybe will go to that although ACA might be a better choice given that my father is an alcoholic and possibly even a drug abuser as well...., but that is not so common here. I wonder if I should even think about Al-anon or ACA right now though. I haven't spoken to my father in over a year now. It bothers me some, and when I read about the people who should attend those meetings- definitely me, but I think maybe I need to deal with my own problems first by going to NA and maybe AA.

I am curious to know what people think about this and particularly the issue of starting with NA and AA at the same time, oh and can't forget MA (no land meetings but I find the online meetings to be very good for me). I want to do the MA steps but should I do AA steps too at the same time? The issues I have with pot are sometimes similar to the issues I have with alcohol, but in a lot of ways they are very different. In any case I feel that in order to quit pot, I need to abstain from alcohol and I like the idea of being able to not have hangovers anymore or do stupid things that I do when I drink.

Thanks in advance for any advice and I am glad to have found these forums and be here!

My boyfriend of almost 3 years is in recovery. He is/was a marijuana addict as well as a tobacco addict which is still hasn't given up. He has been sober for 1 month at this point. This has been a very difficult time for me as his partner. He has told me that he feels like he's been "a shell of a man" for his entire adult life. Numbing any and all of his feelings with marijuana. Now, it is as if he feels like he has to make up for lost time. Where he used to keep his feelings at bay by smoking pot, he now voices every one that comes into his head. Most of them being negative. And a lot of them, issues he has with me. Suddenly, he no longer loves me like he used to. He told me in the past that he wants to get married to me. He has now communicated that this is no longer the truth. This is all a huge shock for me. I was unaware that him and I had such major relationship problems. I was also unaware of how much and how often he was smoking. I knew he smoked somewhat regularly, but it never really bothered me. Now, it's as if my entire world has been turned upside down. I am happy that he quit but sad in the same respect. He is no longer the sweet, selfless person that I fell in love with. I want to help him and I want to be there for him. He just makes it really hard. He has so much anger now. We are seeing a therapist together. She tells me that I am supposed to try and not take the things he says to me personally. I really don't know how to do that. I am miserable. Can anyone offer me some words of advice. I am new to this forum.

Thanks,
Lindsay

Hi, I am new here. Joined this morning. I posted in the Family and Friends of Alcoholics area - and thought I would do a quick posting here.

I have many alcoholics/addicts in my family. Grandfather, father, ex-husband, son (marijuana addict), possibly a couple of nephews, and now the sibling with whom I have always felt the most close to emotionally - I am sure that her drinking has turned into alcoholism. This latest revelation is just crushing me.

I live in a rural area with very few accessible meetings, although I have attended a few. Once fall/winter weather gets into the heavy rain/wind/sometimes snow pattern, I probably will be even more limited as to being able to get to meetings.

So, I am so glad that I found this website.

I know it is purely by the grace of God that I am not an alcoholic - - - and I am grateful for that. But having so many in my family, (two who died as a direct cause of the disease), is so terribly painful. I know I need help to be able to cope with all of this illness around me (as I truly believe alcoholism/addiction is).

And I know I need to work on myself first - so I am here not only for support, but to learn as much as I can about this Family Disease of Alcoholism - so that I can change my thoughts and feelings and not be so distraught about my loved ones.

Thanks for being here.

DL

Hi Everyone,

Can someone please help me with some guidelines? I find myself truly between the rock and the hard place.

I'm not even sure how to ask this, so please forgive as I stumble along... :)

(the short story)
My partner is a marijuana addict and has been lying to me about it for some time.
She is very new to recovery, but is attending MA meetings.

The scenario:
Yesterday she tells me she had a compulsion and scoured the house (which I had truly thought to be pot free) and that she had found some, but felt so overworught by her actions that she threw it away. She wanted me to know because she wanted to be transparent and she felt guilty about it.

I ( right or wrong and I sure someone will tell me) thanked her for her honesty and then told her that I was proud of her. That while she had begun to act on a compulsion she had taken action. She smiled and told me that really helped.

Today she called me at work to tell me that she was high. that she hadn't thrown anything away, but instead had gone out and bought herself a bong, etc.

At this point she told me that she felt awful about it, but that since she was telling me I couldn't be upset about it because this wouldn't help her.


She then went on to explain to me how addiction was a disease and that it made no sense for me to be angry at the lies. I wasn't angry, more just deeply sad and the circle of lies.

I asked that she call her sponser (Is that a mistake as a first step?)
Her sponser told her to tell me that I had no right to be angry or sad and then went on to compare it with being mad at a cancer victim for having cancer. (I do not believe this to be either a kind or accurate metaphor, though I am truly trying to keep an open heart about this so please help if I'm being out of line)

I felt like I'm being played by using a system that is supposed to help.


Am I truly out of line for wanting to be honest with her about what her addiction is doing to those around her?

I am a person that attempt to choose words thoughtfully and not from a place of anger, But now I am angry. angry and sad becuase I do not understand how to respond.

Thank you for listening. Any and all responses are truly appreciated.