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4622011 tn?1357274877

The ? - are you dependent or addicted - BIG difference.

I read a lot of physical pain, I wish I could help with that, my concern is that too few are not addressing what MAY be the underlying problem-ADDICTION.  Just a though but many do not find this out until many years later.  Pain management is real and necessary but a fine line exists that once crossed is difficult, not impossible to return back from.

YOUR pain is real I just wonder if you are aware that you may have awoken something within you that now uses your emotional pain, pockets of darkness  (POD) I call it, to destroy your life.  This nightmare your in started with a legitimate pain issue and now has spiraled out of your control through no fault of yours, but now you are responsible for seeking out a way of dealing with your current life situation.  Reaching out is the first step, I commend you for that, now continue your journey and get you life back, please no not settle for just an existence exactly what addiction wants, I know first hand.

Best of everything on your journey home,
Vince
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4522800 tn?1470325834
I want to say I am very PROUD of you for your many, many years...That is sooo good to know that we can do this..
I just posted the same thread..Just a few days ago.. I know I am a addict but I thought I would get some excitement around here Ha! Just kidding..But it does get alot of replies does it not..
God Bless u .....You should come in more often with your great success. It gives us sooo much hope....
Vickie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tis v. True. But unfortunately most addicts are dependants and dependants are addicts. It's a massive shame that the addicts have found such a destructive habit to their body. It's better to be addicted to going to the gym, for example, like my ex. Better than being addicted to codeine or something.
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4622011 tn?1357274877
Great feedback that's what I'm looking for.  Empathy I have but in my years working in the field there are plenty, too many I believe, touchy feelie practitioners whereas I needed and teach with a more direct approach.  

I believe that those with the addiction trait/gene/ disease your call are born and cannot be made, tissue dependence is something different and as corrected stated does not contain a psychological/spiritual aspect.

Instead of pushing the car I'm reading/wrote the manual so the car can be fixed and be driven instead of patched to last for weeks/months/years and then breaks down or DIES.

The diagrams are information laid out instead of words in a book, many are unable early in treatment or lack the education, working in the prison necessitated something different, to follow in a text book presentation.

To Ben, I am selling something, a new way of looking at an old problem and by the success rate of conventional modalities it has been needed for decades.  Just because it sounds too simple or good or I present myself to you as a car salesman, no offense intended to salesman, for those who repeatedly return to active substance use or negative behaviors, ADDICTION is more than the use of drugs, just maybe I have something to offer.

This is why I'm here other sites I'm on are lovefests mainly commenting on how they feel, needed when appropriate, but nothing to do with understanding the addiction model and most definitely nothing to do with recovery.  Too bad I do feel they are being done a disservice by those with time and knowledge.  I do what I can, this site limits it, and leave the results to a higher authority.

Thanks again for feedback,
Vince
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
LOL...sheesh...I guess maybe thats not permitted?  Oh well!  I tried.
Helpful - 0
1796826 tn?1578874779
Just a quick word or two for you sir: Your charts (to an engineer) seem very contrived. I.e. Venn diagrams with equations on an overlay to make them seem denser. I don't doubt that you mean to help. But you're coming off like you're selling something. And this particular venue has a long history, many grateful members (like myself), and wonderful people who give a whole lot more of themselves than anyone has a right to ask coming here every day because they love seeing people get well.

If you're here to help, lurk for awhile, get the pulse, and I'm sure you can offer a lot. If you do want to promote your own thing - there's better places to do that.
Helpful - 0
1796826 tn?1578874779
LOL, let me just say how impressed I am with those filters to catch you on the second try, NG :)
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480448 tn?1426948538
************* is the blocked out part.  Grrr...MH's filters!
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480448 tn?1426948538
Addiction and dependency share many similar traits, but they are also very different.

Addiction involves a huge mental aspect...including mental cravings, and the willingness to do things that are way out of character for that person to obtain their DOC.  An addict will take more than prescribed and often abuse the med in other ways (snorting or shooting, versus taking pills by mouth)...where a person who is physically dependent won't do that.  They also usually don't take more than prescribed, and usually, when they have detoxed off an opiate, they are done, they have no "cravings".

The simplest way I've seen the differences explained is that dependency is physical and addiction is mental.  It's more complicated than just that, but that gives the overall picture.

A person who is dependent but not addicted does not need aftercare, because there isn't that mental aspect involved.  Some people who are dependent eventually become addicts, and almost all addicts are dependent.

It's very important for a person to be very honest with themselves to figure out what they are dealing with.  If it's dependency, they will follow a slightly different path.  An addict will need aftercare and will need to stay vigilant, so they don't fall back into the same old habits.

Here are two definitions that outline the contrast quite well:

Addiction is a neurobiological disease that has genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. It is characterized by one or more of the following behaviors:

Poor control over drug use
Compulsive drug use
Continued use of a drug despite physical, mental and/or social harm
A craving for the drug


Physical dependence is the body's adaptation to a particular drug. In other words, the individual's body gets used to receiving regular doses of a certain medication. When the medication is abruptly stopped or the dosage is reduced too quickly, the person will experience withdrawal symptoms. Although we tend to think of opioids when we talk about physical dependence and withdrawal, a number of other drugs not associated with addiction can also result in physical dependence (i.e., antidepressants, beta blockers, corticosteroids, etc.) and can trigger unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.

This link contains some good info about comparing the two:
http://www.*************.com/chronic-pain/coping-279488-5.html

Helpful - 0
3225128 tn?1347133998
Hi , I needed the pain pills for pain , but after a while i needed them for every thing . To feel better , energy , to do anything.
I think thru using pills for pain i learned to use them for all lifes pain.
I am 3 1/2 months pain pill free and have no craveings . Found i can deal with body pain & lifes stress better then i can deal with the addicted pill no life .
Even on painful days i feel mostly happy & smile . Get things done the best i can .
Don't remember being happy at all on pain pills ... Ron
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1551327 tn?1514045867
I am surprised you took offense to that but I will say this.  You are here to help and I don't doubt that.  If you even help one person you have helped us.  What I was trying to say is that we have had people on here for years and they are well respected because they get down in the trenches with these addicts and help them fight every day.  I wish you luck and I will leave this question with this:

Let's say that you are pushing a car into a driveway.  Which would you rather have:  A person who read you the owners manual along with physics books that explain how much energy must be exerted to get the car where it belongs or someone who offers a shoulder to help you push.
Helpful - 0
4610518 tn?1361075748
What makes me up set is I found something that helped my pain. I was stuck on the couch most of the time prior to pain meds on a heating pad, barley slept cause I couldnt get comfortable.  Tried other meds like cymbalita and sevella to name a few and had horrible side effect and one med actually made have heart palputations and I havd to do the whoke heart monitor and such. I now take a pill to help thoes out :( so for me were addiction came in is my ex best friend introduced me to snorting, me and the girls dad had seperated and I found that if I snorted I was super mama!! I fould go and go and also no pain!!! I craved that high so I fould get everything on my long list done daily. Thats were addiction came in for me. I now dont know what I will do for my pain since I tried everything before. I refuse to have pain meds in my home again. Not because I will abuse again. I am so happy to not have that hanging over my head!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had my first thought of using about 80 or so days clean. I didn't crave and still haven't, but I know I'm an addict and was chemical or tissue dependent. All addicts of opiates are tissue dependent, not all tissue dependent people are addicts. Tissue dependency is when the transmitters in the brain recess and stop working naturally. The human body is efficient, if you give it what it needs artificially, it stops producing whatever drug it is. All drugs have a natural equal in the body, that's why drugs work. Addiction is a little more of a mystery, that's why one can only diagnose their self. I know I'm an addict, because my life had become unmanageable and I could not stop on my own will-power. I continued to use when there where negative consequences. If I took one a day for a while I'd be back up to 200mg+ eventually. Anyway, that's my take on it, I like this discussion, thanks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I got clean 11 days ago but I didn't have any cravings at all but of course withdrawals. So was I dependent and a chemical addict? The addict side of wanting the pills never showed itself and I'm a little perplexed after reading everyone's stories on here.
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4622011 tn?1357274877
"I don't know that there is a huge difference."  That my brother show that you don't know.  Those that are only dependent come off the substance and do not return, a physical dependence only.  This is different from an addict, depending upon substance, who may also have a physical dependence but it is the addictive trait, whether you call it genetic or spiritual maladity to me it does not matter, there is a problem.

"If you are who you say you are then why don't you lend a hand."  And just how besides giving information on my profile, journals an photos, do you suggest?

"Those who can't do teach."  I been clean for 24+ years, got it the first time, and have seen and heard many things in the rooms and elsewhere.  Years of college education an certifications backed by work experience from prison to a psychiatric hospital.  I've earned my seat at this table and beyond.

Your doing the hardest thing right now for many of us, me included, ask for help.  I am here awaiting to assist as I can to everyone.

Vince
Helpful - 0
1551327 tn?1514045867
I don't know that there is a huge difference.  We are all addicts and every addict I have ever seen is chemically dependent.  Whether it is for physical pain or emotional.  I have seen you post a lot on here.  If you are who you say you are then why don't you lend a hand.  Those who can't do teach.  I don't mean to be offensive but I have been here a long time and I do.
Helpful - 0
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