topic Substance Disorder in PTSD and trauma

Substance Disorder

Scotty2013 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 02:34:48 GMT

Good Afternoon, Anyone deal with Substance disorder, I like to use that word rather than Addiction?. It's common amongst us with Anxiety/Dep/Trauma/. So i deal with 2 birds and so far I've managed a good decade or so of stability. I guess that's a good thing, I work my Pharmacological program as directed, it worries me though this Opiate Epidemic in the states, I hope it never hits our shores last thing i need is temptation on every corner... I do find though i fight through Stigma at times and wish people would understand the nature of this disease, but i feel education is the key. Just curious if anyone else is in this boat?, fortunately ive some support and not alone, always a constant worry though things change, and i don't do change well. Anyhow thought i would just open the gates and see if anyone else struggles with SD with Mental Health .

Substance Disorder

PamelaR — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 03:29:06 GMT

Hi Scotty and welcome back to our community forums

Most likely I don't have a SD with my anxiety, depression and trauma, though I do often drink alcohol when I've been triggered to help me sleep (though it often doesn't help at all).What it does do is dull my feelings. I find it very difficult at times allowing myself to feel, especially if they're ones that hurt. Must admit though I'm getting better at not using alcohol these days. Thanks to a lot of good work with my psychologists and opening up with friends (something that's taken a long time to do).

You are right, there is a stigma about substance disorders, perhaps not as much for alcohol and cigarette use as there is for other drugs.

Are you getting help from anyone, e.g. health professional or health service?

Have you bonded with your parrots yet?

Kind regards

PamelaR

Substance Disorder

Guest_922 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 13:46:04 GMT

I do this. Nothing illegal, prescription but I self medicate when I am struggling with traumatic images and intrusive thoughts. Like Pam I do it to dull the senses and spin me off to sleep. The problem is sometimes you get it mixed up. I havejt done it for a while because I had a scare. I’d had too much and it effected my stability etc the next day. I need to be on my game at work. I was only using it to get through night demons. I’m still tempted but somehow seem to battle through it.

Substance Disorder

Scotty2013 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 22:52:41 GMT

Hi PamelaR thankyou..
Yes Alcohol was a goody with Anxiety, i cant drink those these days, so that's one good thing. I'm not getting any help but i feel I'm at a place where I mostly have to do the work, although its always nice to have the professional support. Yes I've bonded with them, naughty little things, keep me on my toes that's for sure. But i wouldn't be without a bird now, my Fid. I'm glad to hear your doing well also.

Hi Elaria yes more self medicating, I totally agree there how mine started. Yes it helps in the beginning but turns in the end 😞 . I'm sorry about your night demons i know them well, i can understand that too we just want to black out for the better word and get some reprieve from this stuff .

Substance Disorder

Guest_922 — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 23:05:19 GMT

Yes. I felt mine turning. I was prescribed different meds for migraines, anxiety etc and found that I was using them more frequently and in the end not sure if I had migraines. I felt pain but I think it was more psychological. I began to enjoy the feeling of the medication but it was actually not helping me sleep. In fact my sleep was more broken with wild dreams. And then one day I just looked grey, felt really unstable and groggy. My friend at work noticed I was unsteady and just asked if I had been taking anything? I felt embarrassed to say that I was self medicating. In fact, I smirked knowing what I was doing was wrong. They knew my troubles and were very empathetic but to tell them I had been taking medication to sooth in a manner that wasn’t intended meant I had lost control. I have always been looked upon professionally at work and now I felt pathetic. So I stopped. But even now I still crave it.

Substance Disorder

geoff — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 01:36:13 GMT

Hi Scotty, would love to contribute to your thread, are you able to wait until tomorrow morning as I am logging off, I start very early in the morning about 12.30 am or so, but I have booked marked your thread.

Sorry but I'm an early riser.

Take care.

Geoff.