Lost it all. Be carefull people.

[BrothaBill]

how do we avoid it though???? what environmental and cognitive factors are common to all addicts.. that would be a way to avoid or at LEAST recognize addiction early on.

Well of course its hard to tell addiction from depression first off and they are intertwined. I was a cognitive depression researcher and of course some of the things we designed to study was substance use, from alcohol calendar to diet drugs and steroids etc...
Also goal orientation, perception of negative events, Beck's depression inventory as to their current feelings, MMPI-2...etc..
The largest longitudinal study that had been done in the university covering prior to them even entering the university.
So Ive studied it extensively. I worked under Dr. Ben Dykman who worked under Dr. Seligman as you'll remember from Seligman's learned helplessness experiments with animals and a box with a wall and an electric field underneath the dogs. In one setting, theyd electrify the bottom of the cage and the dog would jump to the other side and escape the shock.
The next theyd raise the wall and electrocute them and theyd try and try and jump over the wall which at that point was too high. Soon, the dogs would just lie down and take it.

Then the experiment would be that theyd relower the wall to the previous level and shock them where they could easily jump over again. Instead of jumping over. They just laid down and took the electrocution instead of trying to jump over the wall.

They "learned" to be helpless.

That is what cognitive pathways do, they form and it takes quite a bit of unlearning *from the cognitive school* way of thinking about behavior.

There is quite a bit of BF Skinner in what I think as well but its useless I think to really describe the issue of addiction.

Having talked to many people with addiction. The person that really made sense was a chaplain at Providence hospital.

He perfectly described it addiction as a "crisis of the spirit"

Now I cant come close to how he spoke to people and gave them hope where I couldnt, but it was like, to me, holy fucking shit! All my studying and words and he addressed issues of the spirit and people had tears in their eyes.
I wrote it down in a notepad but I cant remember it and I boxes upon boxes of notes.

But what he said about his breaking point, his bottom. He used examples and talked about spirit (from a non-denominational, not religious point of view that you could relate to)
Was that one thing that scientists trying to measure depression and research that we always avoided was spiritual measurements b/c you cant measure them.
Yet, crazy that all of the most effective longterm programs for people to quit addiction has a spiritual aspect to them.

If you are concerned about addiction, the only advice I can give is to find your spirit guide

 

[landser]

I don't mean to pry but AAS addiction is actually quite rare. Can I ask what you were addicted too?

Cocaine and Heroin.

 

[javaguru]

Cocaine and Heroin.

Sorry to hear that bro..both are very hard to beat drugs. I wish you the best and bodybuilding isn't compatible with either. Actually, focusing on a healthy bodybuilding lifestyle may help you! Those are rec drugs and will do nothing to further your bodybuilding goals! Stay strong!

 

[Kakdiesel]

fuck that was a sobering post. good luck to you man. i am truly sorry for what has happened.

 

[jnevin]

Day by day bro. I never got too into drugs, but alcohol had me fucked up for a while. All good thoughts your way.

 

[Raptorex]

best of luck bro

 

[Seashell]

So good of you to post that landser, I don't think it can be stressed enough. The problem is, you don't know whether or not you're the addictive type until it's way too late. I've recently watched a family member go through this, hell on earth for anyone that loves that person. Same path as you, lost everything, high paying job, ended up in a homeless shelter, looked like a walking skeleton, suicidal, etc. Thankfully they too hit rock bottom before it was too late, and are currently clean. I pray every day that he has the strength to stay off.

 

[Lestat]

Well of course its hard to tell addiction from depression first off and they are intertwined. I was a cognitive depression researcher and of course some of the things we designed to study was substance use, from alcohol calendar to diet drugs and steroids etc...
Also goal orientation, perception of negative events, Beck's depression inventory as to their current feelings, MMPI-2...etc..
The largest longitudinal study that had been done in the university covering prior to them even entering the university.
So Ive studied it extensively. I worked under Dr. Ben Dykman who worked under Dr. Seligman as you'll remember from Seligman's learned helplessness experiments with animals and a box with a wall and an electric field underneath the dogs. In one setting, theyd electrify the bottom of the cage and the dog would jump to the other side and escape the shock.
The next theyd raise the wall and electrocute them and theyd try and try and jump over the wall which at that point was too high. Soon, the dogs would just lie down and take it.

Then the experiment would be that theyd relower the wall to the previous level and shock them where they could easily jump over again. Instead of jumping over. They just laid down and took the electrocution instead of trying to jump over the wall.

They "learned" to be helpless.

That is what cognitive pathways do, they form and it takes quite a bit of unlearning *from the cognitive school* way of thinking about behavior.

There is quite a bit of BF Skinner in what I think as well but its useless I think to really describe the issue of addiction.

Having talked to many people with addiction. The person that really made sense was a chaplain at Providence hospital.

He perfectly described it addiction as a "crisis of the spirit"

Now I cant come close to how he spoke to people and gave them hope where I couldnt, but it was like, to me, holy fucking shit! All my studying and words and he addressed issues of the spirit and people had tears in their eyes.
I wrote it down in a notepad but I cant remember it and I boxes upon boxes of notes.

But what he said about his breaking point, his bottom. He used examples and talked about spirit (from a non-denominational, not religious point of view that you could relate to)
Was that one thing that scientists trying to measure depression and research that we always avoided was spiritual measurements b/c you cant measure them.
Yet, crazy that all of the most effective longterm programs for people to quit addiction has a spiritual aspect to them.

If you are concerned about addiction, the only advice I can give is to find your spirit guide

great post.

I had someone draw my spirit guide.. had an aura reading once.

But onto things that actually matter some.. I did research for a professor at my college who was trained directly by BF skinner.

I ran experiment on pigeons.. in skinner boxes.. quite interesting.

 

[BrothaBill]

great post.

I had someone draw my spirit guide.. had an aura reading once.

But onto things that actually matter some.. I did research for a professor at my college who was trained directly by BF skinner.

I ran experiment on pigeons.. in skinner boxes.. quite interesting.

Its not about having someone draw your spirit guide, its about finding someone that answers that void you have, everyone has it regardless if they deny it or not, its brain chemistry and genetically ingrained in everyone.
Im not talking about people singing the same old song bee.

Its the guide that shows you an eternity in a second and it all makes sense for that singular instance of "zen"
and yo knowledge I dont trust cuz I aint trying to preach to all people my equal try to not make another sequel, to the daily situation, obsession my bredgion, my ceasar's creation, I know what they can do is all good for you true but do they do what they say they can do> I think not bee, let me see how they withstand the pressures of the man in demand get back to me my man
Its that instant that you know, you know everyone, hit you hit the perfect frequency in your mind, its a zen moment

 

[biteme]

Same thing happened to my ex brother-in-law. He had a job making 60K, a wife and 4 kids. Drugs destroyed his life. Or rather his inability to control himself. When they finally arrested him, he had a machete, a saw offed shotgun, several knives and guns, used syringes, and other drug shit in his vehicle. He was involved with a meth lab. He said they'll never take me alive, but he didn't put up a fight when arrested. His teeth began falling out, he has heptatitis as well. Definitely took a toll on his health.