Thought I'd check in!

[Chris]

It's been some time since I've stopped by this site but I like to every once in a while and read the entrees. Wanted to stop by and post a little update and say what's up, Mike? Was figuring on just leaving a comment on the latest entree but I noticed you have a forum now! I had wondering if you would put one up eventually. Glad you did man. Forums are an even better way for fellow addicts (recovering or not) to connect and share their experiences and help each other!

To introduce myself to everyone that reads and cares to know, I'm Chris. I found this amazing site about 9 months ago which helped save my life. While adderall wasn't my problem, Vyvanse (another stimulant-based ADD medication by Shire, the corporation behind Adderall) was. It may not be quite as potent as Adderall, but it's definitely just as addictive. I was only on it for about 7 or 8 months but I got so hooked on it, I truly felt like I was driving myself into the ground at top speed. "Jumping out of a plane without a parachute is the best example I can think to describe just how fast and hard I hit bottom as a result of the pills". Something I said in a comment on the "Your Challenge" entree. It still scares me a bit thinking about how much weight I lost (was down to 123 from 155 before I got hooked), how much muscle mass I lost, how gaunt I looked, and just how all around miserable I felt physically and mentally at the end of it all.

Anyway, finding this site and reading some of the entrees gave me the courage and motivation to finally break my silence and open up to people about my addiction. At first, I just wrote a letter to a couple of my best friends, asking for the understanding and support. They were overwhelmingly supportive. I didn't figure they'd ditch me or anything, but I was a bit surprised by just how willing they were to extend a hand and help me in any way they could. From there, I told some other people, and just kinda kept going with it. It's kinda weird when I think about it, but in a way, I felt like the more people that knew about this, the more likely I would be to stay clean and not relapse. There are a lot people who want to see me stay clean and knowing and reminding myself of that, helps a lot. I've called it "creating my own support group".

It's been almost nine months (24th I think..) clean now and things are doing great. There's definitely been some rough times since I quit Vyvanse, but I'm finally beginning to feel like I'm really moving on into a better place in my life. I just moved up to the Lake Tahoe area and am working at a ski resort as a lift operator. It's just a winter gig but I've fallen in love with this place. The economy isnt that great up here (where is it though?), but if I can land a second job or find employment year-round, I may just try and stay up here! Lift operations is pretty physically demanding work (the first week was brutal!) but I love this job and it gives me PLENTY of opportunities to snowboard. I feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in, in years!

Been way too busy for my own good lately, but I'll try to stop by time to time. You run a great site Mike, and I'm ever-grateful for finding it. Keep it going! It's of great help to those struggling in addiction and in recovery! Going to rap it up here, as my day starts at 6am tomorrow (and every work day... lol).