12 Step Chewers

I just stopped drinking Monster's (blue) cause it was effing with my blood pressure and they were not worth the the stroke. However, I've been having caffeine withdrawls like a mother fucker. WTF?

I'm like Bad Lieutenant (original Keitel flavor) without the badge. So far it's working out great.

You dissapoint me Phil. I thought you a Nicholas Cage man. Wicker Man and all.

Gotta respect those who came before, Martin...

I'm currently battling my addiction to the Cardboard Crack (aka Magic: The Gathering) with a PlayStation 3 and Modern Warfare 2, but I can already feel the need creeping up on me.

Just one more booster pack, please?

You people and your problems.

Keep coming back.

Type 2 Diabetes in a can, too, so it's probably best that you dumped those things.

Yeah I know....but they are still as tempting as cheap hookers! Good thing the fear of wrath from a Zen like Steven Seagal keeps me in check...

Whenever you get Seagal Vision from chugging one too fast, you will learn.

Also, I'm not immune to those things either. I know they're terrible for me, but I have one every once in a while. With food, obviously, so it blunts the insulin response a little, but they're still awful and I shouldn't rationalize my occasional intake of them with "Well, I NEVER drink soda, so hey why not?"

I'm really close to being addicted to tea. That's all. I'm kinda boring, I know.

Things that I had a hard time of managing were anger, booze, and sex, in that order. Since college, I've turned to Seneca's advice in De Ira for the first, stopped spending money on the second, and sought therapy to identify and deal with why I tend to seek out people who are perfect candidates for toxic relationships. So far, things are on track with that, I have a decent post-college gig and avoided self-medicating and getting into bad relationships.

12 steps are for people who can't figure out the 3 step program.

step 1 - identify addiction

step 2 - transfer addiction to something else

step 3 - repeat as necessary. extra points for setting record for most time in between repeating said addictions

I'll kill everyone who looks at me sideways if I don't get cup of really hot tea in the morning. I swear to god I drink a ponds worth of white tea everyday. Thanks to Twin Peaks I had a serious coffee addiction until I hit 30; have supplanted said addiction with a burning, searing dick-itch for tea.
And cheese and onion chips. Any brand. Doesn't matter.

White tea... [insert pic of Homer drolling]. I only tried the Lipton and it's superb.
I drink Dilmah when I have the chance but I will look for another good white tea soon.

You can have my coffee when you pry it from cold, dead hands.

...

For christmas i'm buying you a sarcasm detector cause I think yours is broken

It's the shit. None of that tanin aftertaste that, at the bottom of a cup, can really fuck your tea-zen shit up.
Magic.

If you have a physical addiction to alcohol, how long without it until the DTs or withdrawal or what have you kick in?

...won't it also be cold by then and thus undrinkable?

You buying?

I was an alcoholic for like, five years drinking essentially every night, at least half a bottle of scotch until this year, about six months ago and just stopped flat out, cold turkey and shit.
Didn't experience a single DT or withdrawl or anything.
Kinda embarrassing.

I can't stand the taste of coffee, but I needed an influx of caffeine to get through college. The solution was to develop a very unhealthy addiction to Mountain Dew that I am still fighting 7 years later. I still drink it, but it is down to 1-2 cans a day instead of 5-6.

Bleh, Mountain Dew.

I don't miss being hooked on sodas, but MD was the worst. It's like liquid crack.

I was the same way with Mountain Dew. I cut out all regular sodas when I got the ol' type II diagnosis, but I still drink diet coke and diet mountain dew a LOT. I quit a huge and long addiction to nicotine over 3 years ago, but I still have a pretty massive caffeine habit, to the point that if it gets to be 11 or 12 o clock in the morning and I haven't had a diet coke or a cup of coffee, I'll get a headache or a stomach ache. I've never had a problem with booze, in that I can drink lightly, moderately, insane amount, or go months without a drop. When I was 21, and a bartender, I drank a lot more, but it was only really that year that I had a lot of regularity. I still have the speed and endurance of drinking champ though.

Went through Narcotics Anonymous back in 2006-2007 for a very bad cocaine addiction. I've been clean from that shit since 2006. Never going to make that mistake again. I've got too many good things in my life right now, such as my amazing girlfriend.

There's absolutely no shame in it at all, and it could help! I quit cold turkey, but still went through it anyway.

Control is sometimes the best you can wish for. Best of luck with it. I occasionally smoke pot, but never let it get out of control.

heh actually it is true. but that just means your not treating the addiction, your just replacing it.
I've noticed when i try to stop smoking weed, i drink more.

When I lived in California I got hooked on Dr Pepper.
I found an American Hot Dog stand in the CBD here in Melbourne that has fridge's full of the stuff...I haven't had a regular supply since i was 21.
Welcome back, Doctor!

Well, it's obvious you paid attention. Congratulations on finding the cure.

Also, Kate, NA is inclusive. It's about recognizing all drugs, and that even alcohol is a drug. It's not like you have to stand up and tell what your specific addiction is, and if it's not up to snuff, you are asked to leave. It's not a contest. Just don't think of it as a place to learn to "control" your addiction. Google the twelve steps and you'll get an idea of what I'm talking about.

More power to the people who can recreationally use drugs without escalation or negative consequences. I can't.

That's all I got. Thanks for letting me share.

Bob Saget, not John Stamos.

Wow... Maybe I'd better lay off those things then.

Is it the same for Battery, Cyclone, Burn and Rush? Thing is, I party hard. So having one of those giant-sized Monster or Cyclones (particularly love the Cranberry Cyclone and the M-60 Monster varieties) before heading out is what keeps me from getting sleepy too early.

(That's my curse... I get narcoleptic if I don't give myself a heavy caffeine boost)

I don't have them on a daily basis. But I suppose my dependency on having a can of that shit before starting a night of partying could be considered a slight addiction. As is the obligatory Gatorade I have the next morning.

Does the fact I go out and party hard at least two or three times a week (usually involving drinking) make me an alcoholic?

I've heard the term "Social Alcoholic." Maybe that's what I am. But I'm very careful with labels because I would hate to offend anyone who has struggled with a serious and real problem. I've seen friends of mine go through it and it really is hell. Those who have recovered and lead drink-free lives have more courage and strength than I can describe.

My ex informs me that I have an addiction, of the non-specific variety. To something along the lines of casual sex/variety/people I don't know/attention. Not sure if he's right or bitter.

hey

Lost 1999-2001 to a brown, toke-fuelled fug. Wrote some cool music though. I think. Knocked it on the head when the paranoia got out of control - lesson? It IS addictive and smoking too much is really really bad. Quit 30 a day cigarette habit about 3 years ago before my first kid was born (always swore I wouldn't be a smoking Dad) and seamlessly replaced them with thick, soupy black coffee. Like Ryan, I will fucking end you if you take away my coffee. I know caffiene addiction is bad but it beats the shit out of the Black Lung.

Update on my Energy Drink dependency...

I discovered this other one called ACUTE FRUIT. It's non-carbonated, has no sugar and is fruit juice based. (I particularly enjoy the Kiwi Berry mix)

And yet it still features taurine and ginseng and yerba mate (YES!!!) and caffeine and all that other good stuff that gives you the energy you need to stay up all night partying.

Life is good.