Aa
CRAVINGS
I was wondering what causes us to crave? I mean, I know we all have our triggers or whatever, but do you think it is more than that? I know in the beginning our body is screaming for us to use because it's not use to not having our drug of choice, but after several months, it seems that our body should be use to not having it, so why still have cravings? Just wondering everyone's thoughts about this.
Thanks everyone. I know we have to get to "core issues", and I am working on that. I was just trying to figure out why we still crave after so long of being without them, and unlike some people, pills do not go hand in hand with alcohol for me. I do drink once in a while, but I never took pills when I drank!! That actually scares the blank out of me, so I never tried it.
Oh and confused delete the last part of the url and leave just the actual address their to get to the home of the site...... I think he wanted you to see that document that is in black and white......http://www.upperroomcomm.com
I know drinking goes hand in hand I drank last time thinking it would be ok I would stop soon and be over with it right!! I ended up using the whole week while I was stupid drunk to boot. I can't drink and come to clean I will almost always use and that is that. I tried again a couple weeks ago and the experiment failed again.... LOL
I also know that when i drink alcohol i end up eating like a horse....same type thing i guess...gets me wanting more and more pleasure/endorphins..AA/NA says abstinence from all mind stimulating drugs/drinks...i am not there yet as i do drink but in moderation...i will have to keep a check on that....i do crave pills when i over do it...the next day when i feel yuck...so i dont over do it...i think i have control of alcohol...again...think...who knows.....fine line and may be something i need to think about...I am getting off the nicotine now...one step at a time i guess...i was never an excessive user tho...an addict yes..never gulped tons of pills and did not party on them...1 or 2 at a time spread out thru the day but it adds up...used them for energy and for pain to make it thru work each day...but i am an addict...i say this but i used just as much on days off...justifying..making excuses...hard habit to break! LOL
thanks. you know how gizzy posted alcohol was a trigger for him? i see how that could be now.
yes...the brain does not know the difference between alcohol, narcotics..nor nicotine..they all feed the receptors and can wake them up....in moderation tho i do not think it would be the surge comapred to 5 hydros, at a time or snorting lines of cocaine...but yes drinking and nicotine stimulates the receptos...that is why people do it usually...nicotine affects many receptors at once...relaxation and energy receptors...people who are compulsive overeaters are also in a way doing so to get a surge that makes them feel better as they feel low
If you believe in "core issues" and you havent done anything to find out what these are and havent addressed them then the cravings will always resurface in times of stress or if you havent learned to deal with these things without drugs.. These things can range from dealing with a death all the way down to cleaning your house or paying bills if your used to useing to do these things.
worried:
does alcohol produse dopamine same as using our doc??? just wondering if you drink does it wake up those receptors?
does alcohol produse dopamine same as using our doc??? just wondering if you drink does it wake up those receptors?
I will try to find something better for you confused...to understand this...it was new to me but now i do understand...if i know "why" i tend to do better with compliance...i do know that everytime u surge ur brain with dopamine for artificial sources it will wake those sleeping receptors up if u have been quit for a while...hence the tolerence always remains...or will return very quickly when u relapse...those extra receptors sleep and when u wake them up again with a surge they are still there...hence the tolerence does not go away for a long long time...if at all....if u stay abstinent for 6 months and use...they will quickly wake up those receptors u built and u will need enough to fill up all those receptors ...it takes at least 90 days for them to feel they are no longer needed after u quit to go to sleep and shut down...at least...but everytime u use and surge ur brain...u wake them back up
I read that in your journal Worried and yes it made sense, I went to that link and it only has a diagram, no choice to click on big book........
CAthy hit the nail on the head. When all around me seems to be outta control and I can't seem to get all the ducks in a row it is when I want to be numb. I guess that is when I have to realize who I am am that is not God the one who can control all if he chooses and I am not the coordinator of all things in my life some have to just go with the flow and the chips must just fall where they may and I am left to accept this as my life. I have to really look at it all and see where my responsiblity lies and do what I am supposed to do and led have the rest. I know I need to follow this in my life so bad somewhere along the way I forget this and try my darndest to go my own route. If this makes any sense at all I am still a bit singed in the brain LOL and hopefully will regain all mental faculties.. Lets hope!! Ha Ha
Someone posted a dopamine theory a while back...and i researched dopamine and kinda figured it out...tolerence and craving....when we use we cause a surge of doapmine too big for the receptors we have to handle...so the brain builds new ones to handle all the dopamne we are bombarding our brain with by using narcs and cocaine etc....those new receptors never go away but will eventually shut down after a while if we quit using...that is why most relapse in the first 90 days...so now u have a bunch of hungry receptors...to feed with the drug/or dopamine that u do not have enuf of to feed all of these receptors.....hence tolerence and craving as our body can not feed them all without the drug until some of them shut down which wont be til after we have been clean for a while..at least 90 days...people who use large amounts at once are going to have a harder time than one who uses smaller amounts thru the day due to the surge...and that is why during a taper large amounts at once should be avoided
http://www.upperroomcomm.com/bbsguide/images/bbsg2.jpg click on to Big Book Study 4th Step Guide page 2 and you will see a diagram on how booze changes in us and I believe that drugs must be along similar lines I hope this helps. I know it helped me understand.
i think for me when things are out of my control, i crave. i think that is linked to the numbness that comes with using. i cant control a situation so i use become numb and i dont care. hope that makes sense. lol
When I said stess I meant the kind that goes beyond everyday, like when ignorance just seems to prevail with eveybody and everything I am around. Truthfully it is probably just me.
I hear ya about triggers, that is when mine seem to come too, with stress being my biggest. I guess I asked because daily life is filled with stress for me, kids, finances (or lack thereof), etc........so I wish there was an easier answer....LOL
Our bodies seem to have a memory to. I know that after 5-6 years i would occasionally crave my doc of coke and alcohol and still do once in awhile. I have found though that my cravings seem to show up along with a trigger no matter how small it may be. For me stress is the biggest trigger, when I have reached the end of my tolerance level I just want to be oblivios to the situation. I am still learning to just walk away our put the situation in someone elses hand. Usually Gods.
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