Anybody else trade addictions?

[Frodebro]

I can't believe I'm sharing some of this shit, but since it's all behind me, and part of who I am (I too learned SO much about myself), I guess I just don't feel the need to hide it. I certainly used to, though.

Not one of us would be the person we are today if not for our experiences, which have given us a perspective on life that most people will never have. For those who have experienced addiction and come out the other side intact, there is very little that life can throw at us now that comes even close to the shit that we already put ourselves through-and survived. People who are unaware of my past just think I'm a disgustingly upbeat and cheerful goofball.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Mine was childhood emotional & (some) physical abuse, with a definite genetic predisposition to addiction (father was an alcoholic), and a social disposition that awakened when I was using. I actually scored the best job of my career from being high on coke, while posting on a construction forum, that got me noticed by a very high-end custom builder's lead carpenter.

You think I'm long-winded here... My brain came ALIVE on that shit!

I never used while working, but when I broke my leg during that gig, and needed 3 surgeries, I traded it for an opiate addiction, and things quickly fell apart, and they cut ties with me soon after. That was a rocky road for me for about 5 years.


I can't believe I'm sharing some of this shit, but since it's all behind me, and part of who I am (I too learned SO much about myself), I guess I just don't feel the need to hide it. I certainly used to, though.

Me too. My Dad died at 53 from Green Stripe Scotch. I used to pour his drinks when he couldn’t walk.

Your stories all hit home. I appreciate them very much. More than I can say really.

I’m sober today and grateful for it. The guitar and music help me stay sane. So does this place. With the passion, humor and even support shared that make this world more beautiful.

I am eating a 2lb bag of Sour Patch Kids thanks to @norminal FFS on the formatting. Boy they are sour and quite a rush! Almost like taking a shot.
I’ll graduate to the Haribo Gummies soon and join him and @the swede on the road. Def gonna try the peach ones.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Me too. My Dad died at 53 from Green Stripe Scotch.

Mine was 50, on my birthday, from a brain aneurysm. He was a "fun" drunk, until he wasn't. He drank to excess, but didn't drink all the time. You just didn't want to be around him when he was drunk. Complete, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, kind of thing with him.

And the only time he ever did drugs was when he smoked some weed at a party, and since he'd been drinking, he threw up in and out of the car with my mother driving them home, in the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel!!

I was real young at the time, but I remember feeling bad for the 2 "lot guys" coming to our house to trade him cars (he was a general sales mgr at a Lincoln Mercury dealer in Baltimore, so he always had a new Lincoln Mark V to drive), and take that one back to the dealership the next day.

He never smoked weed again!

 

[norminal]

Unfortunately here in Texas some folks are passing laws that’ll put a lot of the vape and edible stores out of business.

 

[KingsXJJ]

View attachment 45372

Not sure where you got the photo from but it’s awesome. A nearby store in Round Rock that I’ve frequented sent me an email with links to add my signature to the “petitions.” I did so happily.

I need a THC “Come and take it” flag.

Such “Small Government” Bastards.

 

[la szum]

Some good stuff up in here, Gentleman. Thanks!

 

[KingsXJJ]

Hey everyone! It’s a Friday and I am thinking about you and your kind shared messages. My history as I said is similar and hopefully I’ll get up the courage to post a bit of my background. But I wanted to let you all know that you are definitely on my mind and…

I’m still going strong and sober. Not even hitting the vape. Although I might.

I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend, sober or not. Who am I to judge? I think acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness is at the heart of peace and happiness. Possibly sobriety as well.

I am grateful to be able to reach out and post this to you all. I hope we all get some quality time with our shared love and play some music!

Jason

 

[Frodebro]

Hey everyone! It’s a Friday and I am thinking about you and your kind shared messages. My history as I said is similar and hopefully I’ll get up the courage to post a bit of my background. But I wanted to let you all know that you are definitely on my mind and…

I’m still going strong and sober. Not even hitting the vape. Although I might.

I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend, sober or not. Who am I to judge? I think acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness is at the heart of peace and happiness. Possibly sobriety as well.

I am grateful to be able to reach out and post this to you all. I hope we all get some quality time with our shared love and play some music!

Jason

Hey back atcha!

I’ve been on vacation the past week, with two more to go. I spent the last couple days doing some serious cleaning & organizing in my workshop, it had gotten so cluttered with the debris from the last six months of projects that there just wasn’t room to move. I wasn’t planning on doing that, but the next project on the list is building the coffee and end tables for the living room and there just wasn’t room to do it.

Right now I’m killing time while the glue dries on a rack of wall shelves I banged out today to store all of my quart-sized stain and clearcoat stockpile, they were piling up all over the place as well.

This is the kind of stuff that keeps my brain busy with positive things, and there’s no shortage of projects around here to sustain it.

Keep on keepin’ on.

Steve

 

[norminal]

Update:

I’m happy to say that after a brief t-break, I’m cut back on my cannabis use drastically. It was affecting my running gains, so I’ve tapered back to about a bowl every evening and upped my weekly mileage instead.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Update:

I’m happy to say that after a brief t-break, I’m cut back on my cannabis use drastically. It was affecting my running gains, so I’ve tapered back to about a bowl every evening and upped my weekly mileage instead.

NOICE my man!

 

[KingsXJJ]

Update:

I’m happy to say that after a brief t-break, I’m cut back on my cannabis use drastically. It was affecting my running gains, so I’ve tapered back to about a bowl every evening and upped my weekly mileage instead.

You run a lot? I used to in the Army. Kind of turned me off to it. But 4:30am with a hangover and 30 guys that smell like beer and sweat isn’t the best. I ran road guard to get out of the formation during our runs.

 

[norminal]

You run a lot? I used to in the Army. Kind of turned me off to it. But 4:30am with a hangover and 30 guys that smell like beer and sweat isn’t the best. I ran road guard to get out of the formation during our runs.

I try to get out and run every day. I slow down a bit during the cold month.

 

[Frankencat]

August 16, 1990 was my last drunken, drugged out bender. I was a hot mess before and up to that and I was spiraling down a dark black hole but I was given a chance at life, in a moment that can only be described as miraculous. I took hold of it and here I am. I still struggle with some of the things mentioned here, and have had a few bumps in the road on the way, but my coping mechanisms are much better and healthier nowadays. Music always was and is a major part of my life and I would probably be dead if it weren’t for that, and the love of friends and family and god's grace. God bless you guys and just know that, no matter how bleak it looks, there is a better way, I found that sober is the better way for me.

If you are reading this a struggling, please reach out to someone for help, family, friends, AA/NA, church, whatever. The one thing that really helped me to turn around was when I realized that I wasn’t just hurtling myself, but I was also hurting the the people who cared about me. We all take the ride together. Drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most selfish states of mind there is and that is part of what keeps you locked in. Break out of it and get some help.

Also yeah, I like food and gear too. Sarasota Guitar Show tomorrow.

 

[Zodiac]

I gave up cigs about 3 years ago, after smoking for about 45 years. Now I'm addicted to my vape. I'm trying to cut down on my vaping.
I also drank beer, for years, in EXCESSIVE amounts. Now, not so much, but I aquired the taste for whiskey. Most nights I'm drinking whiskey, telling myself it's not an alternate addiction.
I know I'm a mess. This is true and I need to sort myself out.
I will get there, eventually.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Thanks! The best advice I got early on was from the drummer from my old bar band, who had gotten sober a few years before me. He said that the first year or so is pretty tough, but eventually you get over the hump and the new lifestyle takes over.

I can honestly say that I never have any cravings, and it doesn’t bother me at all to be around people who are drinking. It’s just not a part of my life anymore, and walking down the beer aisle at the supermarket doesn’t phase me at all.

I do know that I’m not a typical recovering alcoholic, and that there are many who struggle with it for the rest of their lives. I feel extremely lucky in that regard.

This whole vibe is how I am with cigarettes. I used to smoke a pack and a half a day, til my mid 20s. Now I really can’t even stand to smell them or be around them - and I hate it when someone’s smoking near a building entrance or something and I’m forced to breathe their shitty 2nd hand smoke lol.

I’m so glad I quit - I know I should quit alcohol entirely too, though.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Hey Guys! Maybe gals, dunno. I’ve been jamming all day have a blast working on tones and lead work. Don’t know where else to post this without ticking someone off. Here’s some quick pics of some stuff used.

I gave up cigs about 3 years ago, after smoking for about 45 years. Now I'm addicted to my vape. I'm trying to cut down on my vaping.
I also drank beer, for years, in EXCESSIVE amounts. Now, not so much, but I aquired the taste for whiskey. Most nights I'm drinking whiskey, telling myself it's not an alternate addiction.
I know I'm a mess. This is true and I need to sort myself out.
I will get there, eventually.

Right on Man!

 

[KingsXJJ]

I have found I play so much better when I’m not slamming Vodak. It’s like I’m becoming the guitarist I always wanted to be but thought I never could.

Imagine that! What a dumbass I can be. LOL.. So happy and grateful. Loving it!

Happy Sunday All! Jamming on my ToneX and finding killer Plexi profiles on ToneNet. Loads of free fun.

 

[KingsXJJ]

 

[KingsXJJ]

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At first I thought the boxes were your stash before legalization changed in Texas. Heh!