overcoming addiction?

Question

Has anyone ever overcome an addiction and had ungodly panic attacks as a result? I was once addicted to something, I dont want to say what it was, but as the months rolled on and I was getting further from the addiction phase I would have these panic attacks that were so intense. It would pass, and then I would be fine. The attacks became further and further apart and after a few years, they stopped. Once they stopped, I noticed that I started to regain my old personality again. It was very weird. It seemed the further away I got from my addiction, I was regaining many emotions and memories of well being that I once had. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks very much!

Answer 1

Mentally the addiction affects the way we think and feel, and how we live our life. The addiction will literally stunt the growth process, and the addict will remain childish, selfish and insensitive to the needs of others. Psychologically the addict remains in denial, and will do just about anything to justify bad behavior to others while under the control of their addiction. Addicts are basically selfish people who only care about themselves even though they are real good at manipulating others into believing otherwise.

Emotionally the addiction makes the addict become overly defensive to anyone who tries to take away what he or she so desires. Addicts have a difficult time suppressing their negative emotions and are immature and childish. If they become too dependent on the addiction, they will justify reasons of why they think they are better people when abusing their substance of choice. Their low self-esteem keeps them very sensitive to how others feel about them. They are prone to finding faults in others to get any attention off of them.

Spiritually the addict is at a loss. He is desensitized to the spiritual self within him. The addiction keeps the addict from becoming the whole and complete person that God intended him to be. True potential is stunted. The addict does and says things that he normally wouldn’t if he were living his life without the neediness of addiction. The addict is missing out on so much in his life that he “wants and needs” too much, making him unable to give of himself.

Alcohol and drug addiction affects the whole family. Family members are affected in different ways, especially the person who loves the addict and enables the addiction. This person is called the enabler because they sweep things under the rug, so to speak, pretending there isn’t a problem. Unfortunately, the enabler usually gets the brunt of the abuse from the addict because the addict expects so much from them. If the enabler doesn’t come through with the addict’s neediness and constant requests for things, the enabler had better watch out! The enabler is just as sick mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as the abuser. They both need help.

The enabler is the rescuer of the addicted person. As long as the problem is continually swept under the carpet by the enabler, the addiction will continue to progress further because no one believes there is a problem! Denying the problem exists runs rampant in homes where addiction is fed. The longer the addict continues to use, the worse it will be for everyone involved.

The addiction takes hold of the mind with such force the addict is afraid to even think of living without the addiction. Addicts try to stop, but their bodies and mind tell them they can’t. They are filled with fear and terror at the thought of not getting their next fix, afraid they will not be able to cope in life, but this just isn’t so!

At first abstaining from an addiction that has controlled the mind, body, and soul for so long does make us feel insecure and self doubting, but the addict can endure and overcome those fears through the help of God. But first before any of this will have any real impact on the addict he must WANT TO QUIT THE ADDICTION!!

YOU NEED TO:

Find the courage to determine what you need that you're not getting.


List three things that you feel you're running from in your life. What are you using your addictions to avoid? Get to the heart of the matter.


You can't change what you don't acknowledge. Get real with yourself. Ask the tough questions — and listen closely to your answers.


Behave your way to success. Instead of being afraid to be a successful person, learn how to own those positive feelings.


Work on how to present yourself on an "even-up" basis with the world. How can you know if you can stand on your own without the crutch of your addiction unless you remove it?


Stop running. You can run but you can't hide. Stop putting your own happiness off until tomorrow.


Remember, you don't ever break a habit. If you want to get rid of bad behavior, you have to replace it with something positive — something that will make you stronger instead of weaker. Work on identifying positive behaviors that would make good replacements for your addictions.

Answer 2

Over comming an addiction is hard. I give you tons of hugs for getting away from your addiction. Any one can get panic attacks from withdrawl. It's difficult, but you need coping mechanisms to try and relieve the tension from the attacks. Here are some tips that got me through my attacks from nicotine withdrawl, the best thing you can do is just try them, and if they don't work, you can atleast say you tried:

1. Listen to relaxing music. If in a public place, carry an MP3 or a c.d player with you, go in to a restroom or loo, and take 5 minutes to yourself.
2. Brush your teeth. :D (this one always helped me, and it gave my clean, white teeth!)
3. Drink a cup of tea.
4. Take deep breathes, inhale, wait 3 sec. exhale, wait 3 seconds and repeat. If you are more stressed, allow more time in the alotted spaces.
5. yoga!
6. Phone a friend that will listen to you complain, and let your heart out.

I hope these helped... Good Luck and Stay Safe!!!!

Answer 3

More than 20% of the population is either addicted to alcohol, tobacco, pan-masala, Guthka or narcotic substance like cannabis. Homeopathy has some good answers to get the body rid of such dependencies without causing side effects. Homeopathic formula helps to withdraw the person from these addictive substances with minimal withdrawl symptoms like agitation, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, depression and indifference of life.

Answer 4

I use to have an addiction. Use to have anxiety attacks and for a short time after but now they r gone and it is good to be back to my old self again..
So guess it just takes time!
best of luck to ya!

Answer 5

i was kind of like that when i beat my coke addiction(crack) around six months of being clean.i would have panic attacks,but i also thought i could have had a ear infection.they went away with time.not sure i helped much. but good luck to you.

Answer 6

im an addicted xanax 3 years still am an addicted i dont know what do to i need to get help because i get depressed.

Answer 7

The panic might lessen if you take some anti anxiety medication. I had the same experiance you talk about and that seemed to help me. Feels good to be your old self again huh? Keep it up.

Answer 8

Yes the reason you have panic attacks is that you are self medicating yourself when you engage in taking drugs or alcohol. Once off, the brain has no crutch and it actually exacerbates anxiety.