New Start

[nic374]

I sent ray a note about being physical and mental addicted How can you tell the diifrences between physical and mental depent on painkillers

[Girl_Interupted618vygyx]

I didnt read any of the other post replies but wanted to reply myself. I have given this alot of thought. I have been on and off of opiates many more times than I can count. the first three days or so, are definately Physical addiction. but i believe that after that it is mostly mental. Mostly. Not all. I recently went on an extravagant vacation. I detoxed (not by choice) while I was on vacation and was very tired the first day and had the RLS thing for two nights. after that i was surprised that I hardly thought about the pills knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I couldnt get any more until I returned home and surprisingly I hardly thought about it. Once I got home I was 4 days clean and felt physically totally fine. as soon as I started getting back into my routine, work, chores everyday stress, I started thinking about the pills constantly. That proved to me that it was mental.I felt fine, totally fine physically, but as soon as I had to do the everyday stuff that was unpleasant, I wanted to use. I have a normal life. normal amounts of stress and i still wanted to use. I know that if I can conquer the " MENTAL" I will succeed.I dont mean necessarily going to meetings and all of that ,and I know that works for alot of people.I mean just accepting that life is a challenge and we need to allow ourselves to feel tired. Feeling tired is what triggers me the most. Ive talked to alot of people. My mom , my sister, there tired too and they dont have to pop pills to make it. there just tired and then they rest. Be a couch potatoe. the house doesnt have to be spottless all the time. if you dont feel like making dinner, order a pizza.Etc Etc. Allow your self to feel tired, your only human.

[daystrom]

Bingo, I totally agree with worried.  My sentiments exactly.  Well put.

Ray

[worried878]

many pain patients after long term use at a prescribed dose are physically dependent..but not mentally..they do not seek drugs nor as a rule abuse drugs..mentally dependent people seek and abuse...and that is an addict i guess...we are P an M addicted..also after detox..we are no longer physically addicted but we are still mentally addicted and that i when the problems start..AFTERCARE...make it to the 3 month mark...keep on trying and going forward

[Bob641]

Nic, a phiysical addicted person is the one that have been uses the medication long enough to build a tolerance and that his/her body will need the medication or it will face danger of severe withdrawal symptoms, depending on the drug. These people do not seek the high or the mellow feeling, just take their prescribed drugs as directed for an extended period of time. Some drugs can be physical dependable in a short time(ex. Xanax)and the withdrawal symptoms are mild, severe, acute or almost none, again depending of the drug . These people will need the same help as the psychological addcted, because their bodies tolerate the drug in a large quantity or the chemistry of the brain is somewhat altered by the use of the drug, then you leave it and you can end in a seizure or severe withdrawal symptoms, same happens with the psychological addicted.
In my opinion, and is personal, the psychological dependent is in a 85% people that looked treatment for a certain illness, they were prescribed a medication and used it and abused it, enjoying the feeling of the higher dose. I can that related them a bit different but at the same time  a bit different.
Then is the plain junkie, excuse the word, this the one that buy drugs from the streets, internet, doctor shopping and fake any illness in order to get his/her drug of choice.
Just my two cents