The Fastest Way to Succeed in Life is to Change Who You Hang With

Who You Hang with is Who You Are

You may have heard some version of the phrase, "tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are," before. We are who we surround ourselves with. I cannot stress enough how important this is to understand in your journey to become successful in life, as well as successful in mastering and addiction.

Here is my little story about how I eventually figured this out on my own, not so long ago.

Hanging out with Bad Boys turned me into the Worst Boy

I was a shy kid growing up, but when I turned thirteen years old and started smoking pot, I became a rebel. I began hanging out with older kids who were always in trouble, skipping school, drinking, doing drugs, lying, cheating and stealing.

My mom always told me that I needed to find different friends. She told me that I was getting in trouble all the time because of the people I was hanging around with. I was young and stupid, but although I knew that deep down I was a good person, I continued to hang out with these so called friends, knowing the stuff I was doing was wrong.



Does this remind you of any of your friends?

I ended up getting addicted to pot (yet you can get psychologically addicted to marijuana), then chrystal meth, eventually even heroin for over twenty years. I couldn't hold a job, an apartment or a girl, not to mention that I wrecked every car I ever owned. I was in an out of trouble, in and out of jail, even doing prison time in Ohio and in Texas.

When I finally wised up, the biggest and most important step was moving and cutting off my old so called friends. As soon as I found new people to spend time with, things started looking up.

I started staying out of trouble, not drinking or doing drugs. I started taking care of myself better. I started dressing better and paying attention to the way I looked. And best of all I started to enjoy life more. The list of improvements in my life after making that change continues to this day.

Don't end up like your loser friends!

Most of my old friends are either in prison or dead now. The ones that aren't still can't keep a job, much less money in their pockets. When I do occasionally run into them, it never fails that they try to "borrow" a buck off of me. And I know if I were still hanging around with them, I wouldn't be doing any better. That is, if I were alive at all.

The moral of the story is that changing who I hung out with changed everything in my life for the better. Sure, everything isn't peaches and cream. I still have problems like everybody else. The difference is, I no longer feel the need to escape from my problems, because I know I can master anything life throws at me. Mastering problems is what life's all about. There is no feeling greater that the satisfaction of overcoming a problem.

Some people are good for us, some are not, writes Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, in their book, Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't. Safe people are people who help drive emotional healing and character growth.   

Tell me Who You Hang with and I'll tell You Who You Are

Picking positive friends is the key to success

If you surround yourself with negative, unsuccessful losers you'll begin thinking, talking, acting and ending up like them. Usually, without ever knowing what hit you!


On the other hand, if you surround yourself with positive, successful winners, you'll begin to think, talk, act and end up like them too. It will happen so fast, you'll never even realize it until you unexpectedly hit your first big break!

Those we surround ourselves with influence us on a subconscious level, whether we want to admit it or not, because our minds are programmed to learn like this. No matter who you hang out with, you always take a piece of that person with you when you leave. 

Do you see like what you see?

Now in the moment of truth, I want you to take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Do you like who you see looking back at you?

Then, take a good look at the five people you are closest to. See a resemblance?

Tell me who you hang with and I'll tell you who you are!



Even if you aren't hanging out with people who are getting into trouble, stealing, doing drugs, or whatever, ask yourself:

Are the people you are surrounding yourself with a positive influence on you becoming the best, most successful and happy person you can be? Or are they holding you back?

Now that you have been confronted with yourself, I think you know what you need to do. Its not rocket science. However, if you are like me and you always seem to end up with bad friends and worse partners, Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't provides practical ground-breaking help which lays a firm foundation for personal growth. This book shows how you too can find the people who will help you down the path to healing and void those who may damage your emotional health.

If you surround yourself with good, successful, positive people and YOU WILL become one as well.

If you have any examples of how "bad friends" led you down the wrong path, Addicts Not Anonymous fans would love to read all about it in your comment, bellow.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

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Sometimes Moderate Drug Use is the Sensible Alternative to Abstinence

Everybody is different. In some cases moderated drug use or drinking may be a good alternative to abstinence.

Life is meant to be fun. Some people need to drink or use drugs socially to loosen up, be happy and really have a good time.

As a former drug user who has weathered my mammoth share of negative consequences do to addiction, I am convinced that for some people moderate drug use is a sensible, workable alternative to total abstinence.

Using some form of mind altering substance is natural for human beings. Man has been getting high since the dawn of time. Getting high in one way or another is a natural to human beings as having sex.

Upon researching this subject, I found that primitive people, it seems, used a wide variety of inebriating plants no matter where they lived on this planet. They were used by almost every tribal people I came across in my research, in many different ways.

For the most part, these substances had very positive effects on the people that used them, and positive effects for the societies of which they were a part. People need mind altering drugs like alcohol or marijuana to lose social hang-ups and gain the personal self-confidence to allow people to have fun, be happy and love life. It is as cruel and unnatural to as human beings not to get high as it is asking them not to have sex. 

People are different. Drinking and drug abuse are different. Addictions are different. In some instances, moderated drinking is a viable alternative to abstinence.

While for some people it is easier to not use at all rather than use occasionally, for some people it is easier to use upon occasion that to not use at all. These people need to wind down and let off steam regularly or they will become unhappy, discontent and frustrated to the point they could do something stupid, even risky to validate being alive. These people often look forward to their regularly scheduled occasional fun. Rather than asking of people impossible abstinence, it is better to ask they get only get high as much and as often as it takes for them to stay sane.   

Apparently I am not the only person who feels this way, since there are already countless controlled use websites, groups and societies listed all over the Internet.

To ad to the argument for controlled, occasional drug use we must also bring harm reduction to the table.

Harm reduction (or harm minimisation) refers to a range of public health policies designed to reduce the harmful consequences associated with recreational drug use and other high risk activities. Harm reduction is put forward as a useful perspective alongside the more conventional approaches of both demand reduction and supply reduction.

Many advocates argue that prohibitionist laws criminalize people for suffering from a disease and cause harm, for example by obliging drug addicts to obtain drugs of unknown purity from unreliable criminal sources at high prices, increasing the risk of overdose and death. 

Still, critics who are concerned that tolerating risky or illegal behaviour sends a message to the community that these behaviours are acceptable have no better, workable, doable alternative.

If you have the answers, or if you just have some feedback, Addicts Anonymous readers love to read all about it in your comment. So, please leave a comment today, maybe even NOW... you know you want to!

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Sources
Harm reduction (Wikipedia)

On the Genealogy of Drug Abuse and Addiction (antiochsb.academia.edu)

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The Crystal Meth Speed Experience

Amphetamine users can reach a plateau where no other pleasure is possible

Though amphetamines includes many prescription drugs such as Dexedrine, Desoxyn, and Ritalin often prescribed for obesity, narcolepsy and ADD, this article is primarily about a stronger form of amphetamines, known as methamphetamines, or meth, speed, crystal, crank and ice on the street.

This illegal form of amphetamines is classified as Schedule I drug, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse and little or no legitimate medical use.

The most popular forms include white crystalline powder, which is water and alcohol soluble.

What is Crystal Meth really?



Rocks are hacked into a powder for snorting 

The powder form sometimes comes in rocks, chunks or crystals that are white or off-white. The prescription varieties are available in a variety of capsules and tablets of different colors. The routes of administration can include "snorting" the powder, injecting a solution into the bloodstream, or swallowing a capsule or tablet. The slightly modified form of methamphetamines known as "ice" can even be smoked.

Sometimes meth is mixed with other drugs to form a "cocktail", such as mixing meth with with heroin for a "speedball" (please note that mixing cocaine with heroin is also often referred to as a "speedball) or with barbiturates for a "goofball". Meth is not mixed with LSD or PCP as often today, particularly since it is ever increasingly hard to find either of these hallucingents. There are those however, that add Viagra to either, or both methamphetamines, ecstasy or cocaine to create something they call sextasy. This is primarily used in gay subcultures for long, energetic, heightened sex sessions.

All amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants used recreationally and as a performance enhancer. Crystal meth has been used by some college and high-school students as a study and test-taking aid. Since all amphetamines work by increasing energy levels, concentration, and motivation, they allow students to study for extended periods of time.

The Crystal Speed Experience

After snorting, smoking or injecting meth, users can experience a rush of pleasure similar to an orgasm or adrenaline shot. There is increased alertness, energy, euphoria, excitement, creativity, concentrations, power and even self esteem. The user's sex drive often increases. The appetite is reduced. It is known to induce euphoria. However there is also the possibility of paranoia and hallucinations.

One user described her first meth experience like this; "The first time I used speed I was at a friends house smoking weed. He started smoking ice, and I start criticizing him for it. So he said you cant criticize until you have experienced it. He whipped out a line about 3/4 of an inch long and extremely thin. I snorted half of it and forced myself to snort the rest even though it burned more than straight pepper. Within 5 minutes I felt extremely excited, and talked my ass off. Always trying to get a point across. Jumping around doing push ups and exercises. I was on a empty stomach but it didn't bother me after that. Two hours later I was off my high and his girlfriend came home and he poured out another line that was even bigger. This gave me a little high but it wore off within an hour. For the rest of the night I had trouble sleeping with everyone around yelling and partying. But I stayed laying down for about 7 hours even though i got about 30 minutes of sleep. I went home to get ready for work and my eyes were extremely dilated. I still hadn't eaten. It was a amazing experience though."

The same user describes her last  experience with meth like this; "The last time I did speed about 2 months after the first time, I bought a half gram, did a line and headed over to a guys house who was piercing girls all night. I snorted up all of that half gram to myself. The problem was that after the first line I didn't get much higher. I just keep stuffing ice up my nose all night even though I wasn't high, just getting pissed I couldn't get higher. My friend sat down with me and smoked a joint with me and told me to get off the shit. I agreed looking back at how I had lost about 20 pounds and all i could think about was speeding, my teeth didn't feel good even though I brushed 3 times a day, and how my diet was horrible. 24/7 my mind operated around speed, and I was killing myself. I started smoking weed like I used to and it made me reflect on how speed was bad. I felt so guilty for using speed. Hard drugs just make you chase the high like crazy. I thought the speed was just getting less potent but it was just me. I haven't done speed since then, just smoking allot of weed which I think is a positive thing were speed is negative. Still after only two months of using I think about speed. It nags at me, but I ain't going back to that Nightmare."

Many methmethamphetamine users soon experience, even chase long periods of being continuously under the influence, which is known as a run. Users describe these high-energy periods as euphoric, where they believe they are invincible and can accomplish anything and everything.

Unfortunately, after three to five days this euphoria is often replaced by agitation on the second day, along with frightening visual images and exhaustion. An amphetamine "run" may produce psychosis which can bring on uncontrollable violent behavior similar to paranoid schizophrenia. 

Users can experience a "crash" after long periods of usage. The crash can result in depression and suicidal ideation.

Methamphetamine addiction takes longer to form than heroin, morphine or other opiate addiction. Though there are those that say they were addicted the first time they tried it, what they really meant was, that they liked it so much that they knew they would be doing almost anything to repeat that experience over and over again. In reality, it takes about three to five days of continuous methamphetamine use to start experiencing any forms of addiction.

Though methamphetamines are addictive, withdrawal will not cause the addict to suffer great physical pain as heroin, morphine and other opiates does. However, meth withdrawal result in extreme fatigue and tiredness. The addict will want to do little else but sleep the first two or three days without the drugs. After the initial crash, or sleep, the addict will be very sad and depressed, with feelings of hoplessess and despair. The addict will more than likely become withdrawn, wanting little if any contact from family or friends, though these should insist on seeing him or her at this time. The addict will be unable to feel joy, happiness or piece of mind during this withdrawal period. The addict must be determined enough to do whatever it takes to not use for at least a week, more like two weeks to a month.

Are You a Speed Freak?

Do you use speed regularly?

Do you think about how and when you're going to use speed again?

Is your work or school performance affected by your drug use?

Are you having problems with family and friends?

Do you spend more on speed than you can afford?

Do you use drugs in addition to amphetamines?

Amphetamines are not bad. Very few drugs are. Its the people who abuse them that make them bad. Both pharmaseutical amphetamines and their more potent, illegal meth hybrids are great if used correctly. With that I mean carefully and occasionally. If you've read this far down the article, you'll already know the many uses and benefits of chrystal meth. 

If you are someone who has no problems with addiction, there should be no problem your using them correctly, whether it be recreationally to have some fun, therapeutically to help with your self-esteem, or vocationally to study for a test or finish a client's estimate, except maybe that it could be against the law.



However, if you have addiction running in your family, with maybe a father as an alcoholic and an uncle who is addicted to drugs, or you have trouble saying no to cigarettes, Heinekens, gambling, porn or even food, then you may want to think twice about even trying amphetamines once. In fact, if there is any doubt in your mind whatsoever that you may not be able to say "no" to something you like, DO NOT try it, ever.

If this picture of a long term speed user doesn't scare you, nothing will!

That being said, you may want to check out my article, The "Totally" Esctasy Experience, but as with everything, its basically up to you how you want to live your life. You can experience or not experience pretty much anything you want. It sometimes comes down to how much of an adventurer you are. Do you like to try new things? Do you like to experience life to the fullest? Do you like to experiment?



Don't you ever say I told you to! On the contrary, I warned you! I explained the good the bad and the ugly of chrystal meth. The rest is up to you. If you already have a problem with addiction, there are programs such as Narconon drug rehab that can help.

Try it at your own risk... let me know what happened (or didn't happen) with a comment.

Written By: Tom Retterbush

On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine

The story begins with chemist Gordon Alles's creation of amphetamine in 1929 and continues through its use for weight loss, attention deficit disorders and today's crystal meth craze. Smith, Kline & French (now GlaxoSmithKline) bought the rights for use of the drug and marketed it to treat depression. During WWII, British and American soldiers developed an amphetamine appetite as RAF medics distributed wakey-wakey tablets to bomber crews. At the book's core is an outstanding chapter, Bootleggers, Beatniks and Benzedrine Benders, describing how Benzedrine inhalers, available without a prescription, could be cracked open for a totally new kind of amphetamine experience, exerting a potent influence on music and literature. 

Buy Directly from Amazon for the Best Price of $13.78, or Buy New for $21.98, HERE

Sources

Amethamphetamine (wikipedia.org)

Speed/Amphetamines (cmcsb.com)



Do You have an Internet Addiction?

Do you find yourslef longing to login to the Internet?

Do you have a hard time pulling yourself away from Facebook? Do you feel a need to check your email? Do you find yourself playing games with anyone who will play with you? 

You could be exhibiting signs of addictive behavior.

According to a new study from Yale University, one in every 25 teens reported an "irresistible urge" to be online, tension when they weren't online or said they had tried to quit or reduce the time they spent surfing the Web, Reuters reports.

The study of more than 3,500 high school students in Connecticut found that those with "problematic Internet use" were more likely to be depressed and aggressive, and to use drugs.

"Problematic Internet use may be present in about 4 percent of high school students in the United States," researchers wrote in The Journal of Clinical Psychology.

"It may be associated with depression, substance use, and aggressive behaviors. High school boys, though, may have heavier Internet use and may be less self-aware of the related problems."

Asian and Hispanic students were more likely to have problematic Internet use, although most students in the study were white, according to Reuters.

About 17 percent of boys said they spent more than 20 hours a week online, compared to 13 percent of girls.

It seems harmless compared to alcohol, smoking and drugs, but do you ever wonder if you might have a "problem" with the Internet?

1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?

2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?

3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?

4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?

5. Do you stay online longer than originally intended?

6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?

7. Have you avoided friends and family because you do not associate on the Internet with them?

8. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?

9. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?

10. Do you find yourself feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behavior? 

Recognize any core problems that may be causing your Internet addiction.

If you are struggling with depression, stress, anger or anxiety, for example, Internet addiction might be a way to self-medicate your bad moods. Have you had problems with alcohol or drugs in the past? Does anything about your Internet use remind you of how you used to drink or use drugs to numb out? Recognize if you need to address treatment in these areas, such as therapy, or returning to group support meetings.

Practice your coping skills

Perhaps blowing off steam on the Internet is your way of coping with stress, sadness or anger. Or maybe you are excessively shy and are having trouble relating to others in real life. Building skills in these areas will help you with the stress and strain of daily life without resorting to prolonged Internet use.

Get a support network 

The more relationships you have in your real life, the less you will need the Internet for social interaction. Set aside dedicated time each day for friends and family. If you're shy, or have trouble with your self-esteem, you might try finding common interest groups such as a sports team, education class, or book reading club. This will allow you to interact with other people and let relationships develop naturally.

I strongly recommend you read my article, 10 Essential Steps to Permanent Addiction Recovery, here on the Addicts Not Anonymous blog. Between what you've learned from these two article you should be able to kick the Internet addiction without outside help. If you find you're still having a hard time, you may want to seek further assistance. 

Fortunately, there are several other really good online resources for those with possible Internet addiction. The most popular are netaddiction.com, helpguide.org, teenzeen.org and virtual-addiction.com to name a few.

If you have any feedback, commets, questions or concerns, please leave them in form of a comment bellow, and I will respond as soon as possible.

Good luck! I hope you or your loved one gets clean. 

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Source How many teens have "Internet addiction?" (reuters.com)