LILTEX41

InRecovery, How about tackling this debate in a different perspective. What are your strengths in debating? Tell us! Make a list and let's focus on those areas as you walk into the debate. Capitalize on what you are good at and visualize yourself exactly as you want to see yourself in this debate. Lay on the floor if you have to and visualize yourself kicking some butt! Also, there is no such thing as failure unless you don't try. Let's look at this as an opportunity that even if this guy is "more experienced" or "ultra competitive", try to focus on the fact that this debate will actually help you grow and see what you can learn from him. You are going to walk away acquiring more skills, knowledge, and be a better debater in the end. You CAN handle this! You GOT this! Remember it doesn't have to be perfect. You will be a victor for showing up and taking on someone who you see as stronger. Think of it like going to the gym and maxing out on the bench press. Just think how strong you'll be when it's over! You CAN DO IT!

LOVE THIS GIRLS! Keep up the AWESOME support! That's what I'm talking about! High fives!

Kori, You sound like you are really high on Adderall right now. Are you still on it? Like the others said, you are going to notice a MAJOR improvement once you stop. I promise you will be SO MUCH BETTER OFF. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Swerve, So what is 12 credits? Is that like 4 classes? What about another option like dropping 2 classes (at least you'd only be losing like $7,500) and focus on getting A's on 2 classes without Adderall? You could really hammer the 2 classes without all the stress and slowly learn new tricks to studying without Adderall. Just a thought. IF it were me, I would do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to refrain from taking any meds. You got this far..why go back now? You are just prolonging the dependency and who knows when and if you will ever have this desire again down the road. I did this again and again with Adderall. "I just need it to function at work since I have this project due. I just need it to lose 10 lbs. I just need it since I started this new job, new schedule, too much stress in my life," on and on, etc.. ANY excuse possible to rationalize going back on it always seemed legit at the time. It was SO EASY to rationalize. As soon as the thoughts started creeping in..I'd be back calling the doc within 24 hours typically. Then 3 or 4 months down the road, BOOM! Something BIG and awful would happen all over again. I'd try to tell convince myself that all these other "problems" in my life were not related, but they were. Adderall was the cornerstone of every single issue I had. Not saying it's like that with you...I really don't know your story at all, but I just know what it was like for me. If you are looking for support to go back on a low dose of an ADHD medication, I'm sorry, but I can not tell you I think it's a good idea. I would stay far away from the doctor. I would get outside and get some fresh air, exercise, and yoga. I would steer clear from as much stress as possible and make my life pretty easy breezy...and FUN. I would find things to do I enjoyed and do them. That's all I got for you my friend. I wish you the best of luck and believe you will make the right decision that works for you. You CAN DO THIS! Hugs!

Welcome back Falcon! I was just thinking about you yesterday when I popped on here. I saw your name on an old post and was hoping you were okay. So great to hear you are still clean. AWESOME! And how cool is that you got to spend your summer on a house boat?! That sounds like a dream come true. I would love to do something like that. Anyhow, just wanted to say it's so great to hear that you are doing well and staying STRONG. WHOO HOO!

You all are doing fantastic! Ashley, I'll be in Columbus, but again I'm waiting on the phone call. The waiting is slowly driving me insane! I will run with you..that would be so cool!! In Recovery, holy crap! You did two long runs back to back? How many weeks have you been training like that? I'm worried you're going to injure yourself! Are you following the ten percent rule I hope?

When did you get diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome? Was it before you started taking Adderall?

Awe! Yay Ashley!! Are you still in Indiana? I should be moving back to Ohio soon. We should sign up and do a race together!

Waronwar, It sounds like you are making PROGRESS. YES! The desire to want a life without Adderall has to override the desire to take it. I think this is KEY. You have to VISUALIZE and keep DREAMING of your Adderall free life in order to achieve it. You have to WANT it more than you want to take Adderall. I know that sounds difficult, but I find that sobriety and/or abstaining from whatever substance you have an addiction to has to come from within. Nobody and nothing else outside of yourself can get you clean/sober. The desire must live within YOU. This is why I feel so many people fail when they go to rehab centers and are in and out of treatment centers throughout their lives. Once YOU have made a decision, have a desire within yourself, and are following your own intuition about what it is you want in life, then it will be so much easier. You won't need to keep searching for other people's plans, instructions, or anything like that. I can only imagine how that is to see your sister on meth. My guess is that she went to rehab to make your parents happy? She half heartedly wanted to get clean? She will get clean when she wants to be clean and hopefully that day will come. In the meantime, the only thing you can do is take care of you. I bet if she sees you getting healthier and happier it may just be the inspiration she needs to want that for herself. Hugs!

Good job everyone!!! Keep up the great effort and DETERMINATION!

InRecovery, I had no idea we have the same story basically and the same freaking quit date!!! That is TOO WEIRD! Seriously! 2 times ER with psych ward trips...detox, etc. WOW. You must be my RECOVERY TWIN.

Ddw, I can only imagine how much harder it must be to quit amphetamines after being on them since 8th grade. My heart goes out to you as your whole young adult life has involved the use of these drugs. I think you are basically going to have to rewire your brain by creating new habits and associations in order to break free from the deeply entrenched wiring going on from adderall usage. I would recommend trying to develop new study habits completely seperate from any way you used to study on adderall. Study in a different place, change routines (time of day you study), reduce any additional stress in your life, and just try to break all association with use of amphetamines. It is through the creation of these new habits along with lots of repetition that will help you to recover faster. The brain can heal itself. Trust in this and remind yourself that everyday you don't take adderall you are getting better and better. Know that everytime you go back to it you will have to start this whole process all over again. Is it worth it? That is up for you to decide. How soon do you want to be free? How much longer do you have want to postpone getting in touch with the real authentic you? You are so young and even though you are dealing with this struggle right now, just know that this is part of God's plan for your life in some way. Fighting this battle will teach you to dig deep within and find strength to overcome. It will develop your character and strengthen you every way shape and form. There may be times when you feel weak and like you can't muster another day without it, but be rest assured those are the days that you are growing the MOST. By building that resistance muscle and not giving in you will someday look back and not know how you did it, but suddenly it will be easy and you will be forever grateful for this battle made you who you are! I am really pulling for you and I understand what you said about wanting to be free in 2 years better now that you clarified. Thank you for that. Just try to keep in mind that this is your journey. Everyone recovers at their own pace. Maybe in 2 years clean time you will be amazingly flying strong, happy, and free!! You very well could be! This is your new beginning and it will be whatever you want it to be. Stay strong and keep pushing on!

You all are so kind and amazing!!! Love you all!! I have a big interview tomorrow. If I get it I am moving back to Ohio. Just wanted to share because this is kind of a giant turning point in my recovery if I go home. Will def be staying close as support will be much needed. Hugs everyone!

3:00 am and I woke up with this strange burning desire to add a few more thoughts to this post. So here we go! Ahem. Dear Donny, I don't think one has to think extremely positive and confident to stop taking adderall. There is a lot of info on this site and suggestions. Do NOT get overwhelmed. It's really very simple. Just stop taking adderall. That's all that you need to do to quit. Remember that. The other thing I wanted to mention is in response to #6 on your list. I felt pretty offended for all of those people you are attacking with this comment. Typically, in my humble 20 years of experience of working with recovering addicts, happy optimistic people do not start abusing alcohol and/or drugs. Most addicts are self medicating some type of underlying issue ranging from anything such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, ocd, on and on, etc. When you quit your drug of choice you get all your original issuesback, plus you lose your coping mechanism. Finding happiness in recovery is NOT a simple process. You don't just wake up and say, "hey everybody, look at me! I quit and now I'm all better and life is fking great!" It takes some serious work and until you have 2 years clean yourself, please do not go around attacking others who are working their ass off to stay clean and get their lives on track. They deserve respect. It doesn't matter what the substance is in my opinion. Adderall was my heroine. I never in a million years thought I'd be able or willing to give it up, but I did and I am grateful that I haven't relapsed. I cherish my recovery more than anything in life because I know how hard it's been at times and a struggle. But it is one worth fighting for and for anyone else that is able to overcome their demons in life, my hat is off to them! So please, all I ask fromyou going forward is that you respect the people here and we will respect you. This is a great network and support group. People you can count on to lift your spirits any time of day or night who have been in your shoes. You CAN this if you want it bad enough. We will help you in any way we can. Just keep pushing forward and keep it simple. Stop taking the pills and be lazy as you want for awhile. Take it easy and get better! Hugs!

I have a tut account! My friend introduced me to it a few years back. It's funny I just read this because I just logged into it on Sunday to create a new dream board. Did you make one? I made one with poster board and magazine cut outs, but something happened recently that made e want to change it up so I figured it would be quicker to do it online. So anyhow, now I have 2. I love these things! How are you doing by the way?

Welcome to the forum, DDW. You'll do just fine. Sounds like you have a serious game plan here and lots of determination to beat it. So did you quit already? I don't think you mentioned that part. If not, when is the big day?

FW, Yeah, I listened to the whole thing the other night, but I found some others that are a lot better. I just started getting into this stuff, but so far I love it. Anyhow, so glad to hear you are doing well. Keep shining!

I don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" answer to this question. I think it is totally up for YOU to decide as this is YOUR recovery and NOBODY else has any right to tell you just how to achieve it. We can tell you how we achieved ours and things that have been helpful for us. But everyone is different and what works for some people may not work for others. I know someone else on this forum who has held on to their pills for like 8 months. For me personally, I was not strong enough to be anywhere near Adderall and I haven't seen a pill ever since I got clean. When I decided to get clean for good I took my pills and tossed them in the dumpster. Luckily, I went to detox that week and didn't have an opportunity to go see if they were still there. Not that I would've, but I've done a lot of crazy things in my life. So again, I just want to reiterate that IMHO, you need to do whatever works best for you. Look within and you will find all your answers. Hugs!

Great job FW!!!! You're doing awesome!

Hey FW, try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEXlScN9AO0 and googling any/all self hypnosis videos for the subjects you need help with. This self hypnosis stuff is AWESOME!! It totally works better than any pill or drug. Hugs!

FW, I just want to let you know that I am rooting for you! You're doing great! Keep on posting. Hugs!

Wow, AWESOME!!!! Congratulations!!!! I love hearing all the recent success stories on here. It makes me so . So just wondering...now that you have made it a year...was it as hard as you thought it would be? What things did you struggle with the most? Has it gotten easier? What words of wisdom would you give to anyone out there still suffering? I really can't wait to hear your answers. I am honestly so far away from Adderall at this point I forget what it was like at time, but I think that all you newbies are such a great inspiration to those still conflicted with this problem as it is still so fresh in your mind. And the more you help the new guys, the better you feel about your own recovery. I love how that works. Anyhow, I'm babbling. Congrats again Reset!!

Swervecity, I think it sounds like you have a good game plan. What will happen if you miss 2 weeks of school though? Would it be helpful if you dropped a few classes so that when you came out of inpatient your stress level would drop significantly? Like maybe just take 1 or 2 easy classes, continue working, and work on your recovery for this semester. I think balance is really key. You could think of it like a semester on training wheels. Take the time you need to get well, but learn how to slowly adapt to college sober off all these drugs. Maybe you could invest the extra time available in some cool extracurricular activities that you enjoy. I just think it's really important to keep your stress level way down during early recovery. As you get stronger in your recovery you will be able to tackle more, but for now it would most likely be in your best interest to relax, heal, and get a firm grip on recovery. I know for myself that once I lose my recovery, I can kiss everything else in my life goodbye. My addiction will take precedence over all other dreams/goals that I have. Anyhow, so glad you posted tonight and it sounds like you are on the right path. Pray you have a quick and speedy recovery new friend!

HELLO NEW LIFE!!!!

Awesome Zero! See if you can get into a Tool Time meeting. Those are really great.