Hello Members: I have been pondering something off and on for a while ansd recently a post someone made...motivated me to ask this question.

I feel some or most of us have had a rough life...some more than others. I can recall that during my darkest hours that the urge to take more meds than needed or I know a friend who drinks more when she is in despair.

My question is can any of you relate to this urge. If so is it a urge to hurt ourselves because we may feel that we may deserve it?

I will spare all of you the heartaches about my blood family and subsequent self-made family. It certainly causes me to behave in a different manner and then I feel quilty that I allow others to influence my actions.

If any of you can relate...I would apprecite your comments. Thanks, Risky Buiness

Risky,I think you might be on to something there!I used to excape I think!It made it easier to face each day!Gave me that boost I needed to get through the day!Just pop a pill and bam you can face anything!I'm now on day 3 clean and am doing ok!But it is a struggle everyday to say NO!!! Take care my friend.. Jerri

Ms RB... I can certainly relate. Yours is a great question and I hope you receive the kind of feedback you are looking for. I wish I knew the forces that cause one to deny their better senses and slowly bring destruction to themselves. I wish I knew why I have. I wish I knew how to stop and stay stopped. I wish I could understand what I can't seem to come to terms with. Life goes on...or not.

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Gina

I feel that in addition to horrible lives, there are biochemical factors that lead to addiction. And I think too, you need to consider what is an addiction (versus unhealthy habits or behaviors) If it were just "nurture" and not "nature" I think I would definitely be an alcoholic. As it is, I can take it or leave it when it comes to drinking. However, when I am over come with emotional issues, I have a tendency to binge eat. Even though for the most part I have a healthy life style, there are those times. I have read a lot about brain chemistry and it seems like the more addictive a person's personality is, the lower certain neurotransmitters are. And certain actions and chemicals increase those low chemicals which lead the body (and brain) to crave the experience or chemical again. We were researching antabuse for my alcoholic fiance and found out about this stuff called naltrexone, for example, that binds to the same receptors in the brain as alcohol, so lessens the cravings for alcohol. So I guess what I am saying is that, while there are times that a crappy background can cause enough stress to "self-medicate" I think there is more to addiction than that.