In my last post, I said I'd talk about why meth is so addictive, and I will. But not today. Today is the 4th of July and I just wanted to share something fun.
This is a direct rip-off from a post on Kristin Nelson's blog, but I figure she won't mind if I link to her site.
More than 200 dancers performed their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Railway Station of Antwerp. With just 2 rehearsals, it is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program where they are looking for someone to play the leading role in the musical of "The Sound of Music".
My dad sent me the link to this a few weeks ago. It sent chills up my spine. Have a great day!!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Drugs vs. medicine
Addicts often have underlying mental illness issues. I.E. depression, anxiety, OCD and even schizophrenia... Some were diagnosed prior to their drug use. Some only found out when they finally got sober. The question of which came first (the drug abuse or the mental illness) is almost irrelevant when talking about meth. Of all illegal substances, meth is particularly damaging to the brain. (more on that tomorrow)
I was diagnosed with major depression at age 12, and have been on and off a smorgasbord of medicine since then. When I was first diagnosed, depression was treated with tricyclic antidepressants, so named for their three atom molecular structure. These carried more side affects than SSRI's, which are more commonly prescribed today. Tricyclics are still used for a variety of medical conditions including irritable bowl syndrome, specific types of chronic pain, insomnia and fibromyalgia.
SSRI's, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, are widely used today in part, because they have fewer side effects. (as I said, I'll talk more about brain chemistry tomorrow...and NO IT WON'T BE BORING:)
When I was using, I took my meds haphazardly, at best. I had reasons for this that made sense to me at the time, like meth works on serotonin and so do my meds, so it would be wise for me to not mix the two. HUH?? Like I said, it made sense at the time.
Now that I'm sober and living on a small cocktail of anti-depressants, mood stabilizers and anti- anxiety meds, I've finally reached homeostasis. But here's what I find bizarre, at least for myself: It took me a long time before I began taking my medicine every day. Now, understand that if I go two days without my drugs, I'm a complete mess. I plunge into deep depression which then leads me to not care about them because, why bother? This will never go away... I'll always be this way (depressed) so it doesn't matter...blah, blah, blah ad nauseum.
When I'm in my right mind, though, this is what I think: I NEVER forgot to smoke meth! Not once. No sirree, Jim Bob, I was faithful to my love, even though it almost killed me. So why can't I be faithful to medicine that makes me feel and live better? Even now, after almost two and a half years of sobriety, I have to constantly remind myself to take them. I've tried everything: putting them in the bathroom by my toothbrush, putting them on my nightstand, putting them in those little "days of the week" pill boxes...
Now, I have them on the top of my microwave and so far, that's working out. I still have to consciously remind myself to take them. Just yesterday, I realized at 5 pm that I still hadn't taken them. It's just weird. I'll see them multiple times a day and think oh, I need to take those now, and then I'll get distracted by something as simple as brushing my teeth or finding lint on the floor. (ooooh, shiney!) Oy.
I've always hated the stigma that goes along with taking medicine for my mental illness. (which reminds me of a personal ad I've thought about running somewhere: overweight, mentally ill drug addicted single mother seeks male....) It seem like everyone these days is on Prozac, Paxil or Wellbutrin. People even put their dogs on anti-depressants. So maybe that's why it's such a struggle for me. Do any of you have the same problem?
I was diagnosed with major depression at age 12, and have been on and off a smorgasbord of medicine since then. When I was first diagnosed, depression was treated with tricyclic antidepressants, so named for their three atom molecular structure. These carried more side affects than SSRI's, which are more commonly prescribed today. Tricyclics are still used for a variety of medical conditions including irritable bowl syndrome, specific types of chronic pain, insomnia and fibromyalgia.
SSRI's, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, are widely used today in part, because they have fewer side effects. (as I said, I'll talk more about brain chemistry tomorrow...and NO IT WON'T BE BORING:)
When I was using, I took my meds haphazardly, at best. I had reasons for this that made sense to me at the time, like meth works on serotonin and so do my meds, so it would be wise for me to not mix the two. HUH?? Like I said, it made sense at the time.
Now that I'm sober and living on a small cocktail of anti-depressants, mood stabilizers and anti- anxiety meds, I've finally reached homeostasis. But here's what I find bizarre, at least for myself: It took me a long time before I began taking my medicine every day. Now, understand that if I go two days without my drugs, I'm a complete mess. I plunge into deep depression which then leads me to not care about them because, why bother? This will never go away... I'll always be this way (depressed) so it doesn't matter...blah, blah, blah ad nauseum.
When I'm in my right mind, though, this is what I think: I NEVER forgot to smoke meth! Not once. No sirree, Jim Bob, I was faithful to my love, even though it almost killed me. So why can't I be faithful to medicine that makes me feel and live better? Even now, after almost two and a half years of sobriety, I have to constantly remind myself to take them. I've tried everything: putting them in the bathroom by my toothbrush, putting them on my nightstand, putting them in those little "days of the week" pill boxes...
Now, I have them on the top of my microwave and so far, that's working out. I still have to consciously remind myself to take them. Just yesterday, I realized at 5 pm that I still hadn't taken them. It's just weird. I'll see them multiple times a day and think oh, I need to take those now, and then I'll get distracted by something as simple as brushing my teeth or finding lint on the floor. (ooooh, shiney!) Oy.
I've always hated the stigma that goes along with taking medicine for my mental illness. (which reminds me of a personal ad I've thought about running somewhere: overweight, mentally ill drug addicted single mother seeks male....) It seem like everyone these days is on Prozac, Paxil or Wellbutrin. People even put their dogs on anti-depressants. So maybe that's why it's such a struggle for me. Do any of you have the same problem?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Facts about meth
This is from the http://www.kci.org/ web site. It's just some general information that I think is worth posting here. I've added some facts of my own to update the information.
FAST FACTS ABOUT METH
Fact: Women are more likely to use meth than cocaine.
Fact: Meth is metabolized by the kidneys, and can lead to severe kidney damage. Other drugs, including alcohol are metabolized by the liver.
Fact: The average meth "cook" annually teaches ten others how to make meth.
Fact: Every pound of meth produced leaves behind five to six pounds of toxic waste.
Fact: DEA has identified 20 Mexican meth trafficking organizations in the Midwest.
Fact: Methamphetamine accounts for up to 90 percent of all drug cases in Northwest/Midwest communities.
Fact: Methamphetamine kills by causing heart failure, brain damage and stroke.
Fact: Methamphetamine can produce hallucinations.
Fact: Meth users are the hardest to treat of all drug users.
Fact: Meth lab site cleanups can cost up to $150,000.
Fact: Meth use increases risk of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence.
FAST FACTS ABOUT METH
Fact: Women are more likely to use meth than cocaine.
Fact: Meth is metabolized by the kidneys, and can lead to severe kidney damage. Other drugs, including alcohol are metabolized by the liver.
Fact: The average meth "cook" annually teaches ten others how to make meth.
Fact: Every pound of meth produced leaves behind five to six pounds of toxic waste.
Fact: DEA has identified 20 Mexican meth trafficking organizations in the Midwest.
Fact: Methamphetamine accounts for up to 90 percent of all drug cases in Northwest/Midwest communities.
Fact: Methamphetamine kills by causing heart failure, brain damage and stroke.
Fact: Methamphetamine can produce hallucinations.
Fact: Meth users are the hardest to treat of all drug users.
Fact: Meth lab site cleanups can cost up to $150,000.
Fact: Meth use increases risk of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence.
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