Comments on: 3WW: Darkness; patronize; weaken–Monkey on my back; yes I love cliches especially drug ones

By: lucy

lucy — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:12:06 +0000

you are so brave to share so honestly what you’ve been through and continue to conquer.
It upsets me how many docs throw meds at us and then become sarcastic about our dependency. in my eyes you are Already a success story.. and on your way to living the rest of your LONG life feeling free!
I hope u continue to share your successes with us Pia!

By: MichaelO

MichaelO — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:30:37 +0000

Pia,

This was a very cogent and brave confession. In reading this, I feel we are on different paths with similar resolves. Your description of brain fog and loss of words is so similar to the state I was in when I was diagnosed with Addison’s. Of course, now I have to take hydrocortisone three times a day. It’s like an addiction of sorts because if I forget to take it, I go to shit (as I write this I realize I’ve forgotten my lunch time dose! Aack). So my new addiction keeps me from feeling like you do when you’re on yours! Here’s to clearer thinking! I’ve found the blogging exercise has really helped me move forward again. I hadn’t written (or read) for a couple of years and I was beginning to lose confidence in myself.

Go forward in light, Pia!

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:10:33 +0000

I am here for you.

Visualization. I know it sounds all new agey and stupid, but I have an old friend from college who was addicted to Percodan and Valium and he swears by it.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:57:43 +0000

Wow. I’m impressed there was something you held back this long. Like Coop, I have faith and am here.

By: pjd

pjd — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:20:56 +0000

I struggle to truly understand what someone with a learning disability faces. I have been graced with no such issues, and the more I listen to people who suffer from them, the better I understand. When our older son was very little, he had some issues. My wife thought it might be Asperger’s, but in research it seemed much more like NLD. The neuropsychologist said he was wired correctly but just very anxious by nature and also quite obstinate. Some days it’s still a real struggle with him because he experiences the world in a different way, somehow.

Medications really scare me. I live in a town that loves its meds. Antidepressants are as common as Advil. The moment a kid acts normally bored in class, he’s loaded with ritalin. My wife became a minor celebrity at the local hospital because she went through non-drug childbirth–twice!–and only a handful of the nurses had ever even met someone who gave birth without drugs. But medication really scares me because I think we are such complex creatures that we will never truly understand all the effects they have. But really, it’s no different than going to McDonald’s, I guess. Most of the foods we eat are loaded with similarly mysterious chemicals.

No idea where I’m going with this. Just thanks for posting your story, and keep in mind that aging does have its own effects. As the drugs leave your system, you may only be feeling the normal physical effects of nature. I’m only 42, but as a lifelong athlete I feel the effects of aging every day.

By: susan

susan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:24:02 +0000

This was difficult to read not because of your writing (you’re always clear, Pia) but because I addiction runs through my family like a river.

It takes a lot of courage to be this honest with self. To share it says more about you that we can only admire.

Be well.

By: Tumblewords

Tumblewords — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:15:44 +0000

A well written post – descriptive and honest. I admire your tenacity and your ability to change your life. I was addicted to cigarettes for a long time and was really pleased to chuck them and get on with living… Good luck and good life to you – thanks for sharing this bit of inspiration and humanness!

By: quin browne

quin browne — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:14:37 +0000

and the truth shall set you free.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:03:42 +0000

Hardly scattered. Focus and logical.

Not to mention sad, yet uplifting as the same time.

By: cooper

cooper — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:37:50 +0000

That was beautifully written though, as someone already mentioned, painful to read, that in itself is not a bad thing.
I know many drug addicts. most of them addicted to legal drugs, and I know several success stories. If anyone can do it you and South Carolina can. I am here always.

Slowly is the way for going off from what I’ve heard. No rush.