http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab en-us The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab Mon, 6 Sep 2010 07:45:01 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss YaBB 2.4 Revision: 1.28 30 http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282882329/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Drug Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282882329/0#0 Smoking is a hazardous habit which has adverse effects on the smoker’s health. It affects almost all the parts of the body. Even when the smoker tries to get rid of it, he is not spared. Smoking is a habit which is tough to get rid of. There are a number of Quit smoking side effects. But the side-effects are much trivial than the diseases caused due to continuous smoking. The side-effects of quitting smoking might last only for some time, but the diseases caused might last lifelong. The side-effects can be easily overcome by preparing oneself to face them.<br /><br />There are two different elements of the side-effects while one quits smoking – the physical and the psychological aspects. <br /><br />The most conspicuous effect soon after quitting smoking is the sudden decrease in blood sugar level. Dizziness, headache, bad cough, concentration lapse, time perception distortions, ubiquitous sweet tooth and other behavioral changes are attributed to the sugar level changes in the blood. The symptoms of low blood sugar are similar to that due to lack of oxygen in the body. Inadequate oxygen prevents the brain from working to its maximum capacity. Nicotine excites some specific organs due to which the amount of sugar stored in our body is released. That is why cigarettes act as appetite suppressants. When one quits smoking the body needs to readjust itself to the new condition. Hence one tends to have more food to maintain the blood sugar level. Cigarettes work much faster than food. Hence people tend to gorge themselves over food. It eventually leads to weight gain. The other physical side-effects are sweating, insomnia, sour stomach, stomach pains and mild shaking. http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282684145/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282684145/0#0 This is Sven again, I guess I have a lot of question sorry for posting so much? As stated I am a gay man and I've found there is a certain dificulties that are fairly different for me as a gay man than for other hetro-sexual men. I know this will sound stero-typical, and hate that I use this as an excuse, but I've noticed that people have always thought being gay was a form of sexual perversion, and some may still do, it is as if being gay you get certain freedom to be permiscuous. I unfortunately have used that total bogus excuse my self. I was wondering if there was others gay sex addicts that have felt the same way<br /> http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282682972/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282682972/0#0 Hi this is Sven again. I was just noticing there is a lot of females on this forum and I was wondering is this usuall I'm used to go to SAA meetings where there is only men in fact since going I haven't seen one woman at the meeting. Or am I in the wrong forum is this forum for women only, if so sorry for the confussion. http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282682315/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282682315/0#0 Hi everyone my name is Sven I'm 40 yr. old gay man and I'm a sex addict. I just found this site and hope it can help. I have been going to other 12 step programs in the past so this is nothing new to me, but I have found it harder to admitt that I'm a sex addict more than any other addiction. I know I'm powerless over my compulsion: the use porngragraphy, masterbation, one-night stand and the like and my life has become unmanagable, I did have to go to jail for a sexual offense, there was other times in my history that I racked up bills for 900 #'s, finally there were a times I sexually molested my sister when I was 17-18, so all the signs pointed that I was an addict, what I think I had a problem with was the shame I was feeling. I knew deep down, I wasn't the monster that the words "sex addict or sex abuser" represented to me. It was if, when I was acting out, I became another person. Don't get it twisted I know what I did was wrong and I take full responsibility for my actions, just that my actions don't match my personalities, or morals and I hate myself for acting out. I want to get better and not feel the urge to go on the porn sites everytime I go on the computer, I want to have a lasting committed relationship and possible marriage with someone I honestly love (when I can legally do so). Eventually I want a family either by adoption or foster care. All in all, I want to be healthy. I feel I've got a good handle on alcohol and drugs (going to the meeting, doing the steps, etc.), but sex addiction has been very much a struggle for me. This has one addiction I haven't been able get any time of sobriety  from, even using the circles of sobriety and going to SAA meetings. I know if I keep trying I will eventually get it, but I'm impatient with myself. I hope this is a site I can get good feedback thankyou for being there. http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282536523/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282536523/0#0 I am concerned that my ex-boyfriend (and father of our 3yo) may be relapsing.  Just under a year ago he started attending sexaholics anonymous meetings as well as meeting up with a therapist on a weekly basis.  He was very consistent at first and refused to miss a meeting for anything!  The past month he has missed several SA meetings, partly due to his health as well as our child's. <br />This week he never made an appointment with his therapist and missed his meeting that was tonight (he stated he had no gas and only $1.00 in his bank account).  He borrows money from his parents to help pay for his therapist (not covered by insurance).  <br />I'm concerned about him relapsing and acting out.  I'm also concerned about whether he is really going to his therapist once a week or if he is pocketing the $ for himself.  I did try to encourage him to go to his meeting tonight and offered to let him borrow my car so he wouldn't have any excuses why he couldn't go(even though he has carpooled there with other members).  He doesn't feel comfortable talking to me about his sobriety, and as we are no longer together I don't push the issue.  However because we are sharing the responsibilities of raising our child it is very important to me that I know he is getting ongoing counseling and support for what I've come to understand will be a life-long commitment/challenge for him.  <br />I believe in being straight forward and honest with him so I'm planning on confronting him with my concerns in the next few days when the time seems right.  <br />I guess I have a couple questions...should I call his therapist as well to express my concerns?  Any ideas on how I can best support him, even though we are not in a relationship other than being parents?  Maybe this type of behaviour is normal for a recovering addict? <br />Thanks for reading, I'm excited to have found this message board...would love to hear anyone's thoughts or experiences. http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282047928/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Drug Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282047928/0#0 n/a http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1281210290/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Cry For Help! http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1281210290/0#0 HELP! I'm a married mom of two beautiful girls. I have major back problems, and have been on oxycodone for more then 2 years now. I don't get,"high"n from this medication, but now my body depends on the drug just to function, or I am so sick, I cannot take care of my family! My husband,(whom I have left several times, only to return because of financial reasons, and the kids), is unsympethetic, and takes some of my prescription himself.  His drug of choice is pot, and he sees nothing wrong with that. I want to be free of this awful drug, but I have no money, no insurance,and no friends or family for support.  Any advice, or help would be greatly appreciated. I'm so scared, and I feel trapped. Every time I've quit in the past, I've been severley sick, suicidal, and alone- throwing me right back to that awful pill. I want to be who I was before. HELP http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1210883172/2#2 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1210883172/2#2 well, I was diagnosed as SA back on February but have just begun the process of getting treatment today. that said, the underlying reasons are connected to my need to manipulate men in order to get infinite amounts of attention and to be found desirable from them....once I get it, sex is just the currency..it's what I used to keep the attention coming...I've been doing this since I became sexually active...just didn't realize it until now... http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1219946348/6#6 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1219946348/6#6 oh wow...I've never really looked at my rituals before...I'm just starting this recovery process so forgive me if I stumble and fumble along...My addiction involves seducing a male target - once he was identified, the hunt began. <br /><br />My rituals usually involved:<br />* making sure my hair, clothes, scent, etc. were "perfect" - sometimes I would obsess about it, thinking if I didn't look or smell a certain way, my hunts wouldn't be successful.<br />* planning meetings as far in advance as possible<br />* I kept in constant contact with my affair partners via email, text, and phone conversations - I wanted to make certain they were still in my web.<br />* I had to create story after story to account for the time spent with them<br />* I had a certain lounge that I would visit weekly under the guise of going dancing, but in reality, it was so I could find my next target.<br /><br />Ugh, writing all this down makes me sad and disgusted with myself...I'm sure I will uncover more rituals the further along I get in this process...<br /><br /> http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1280777922/0#0 The Recovery Zone Message Forum - Alcoholism, Addiction, and 12 Step Discussions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery and Rehab/Sex Addiction http://www.recoveryzone.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1280777922/0#0 <div>Hi everyone....I just found this forum and am so glad I did....I was diagnosed as an SA about six months ago. I have accepted it for what it is, realizing the SA doesn't have to define me, but still struggling with the guilt and shame of my behavior. I haven't attended any meetings, just working with my therapist because we finally confronted it head on this weekend. I am a predatory addict. Dr. Carnes calls it "Seductive role sex". This is defined as "seductive sex focuses on charming, persuading or manipulating others into sexual contact, and involves treating the other person as a "conquest" or a challenge, rather than someone else to connect with. The other person becomes an object the seducer uses to make himself or herself feel more powerful. People who get addicted to seductive sex may have multiple relationships, affairs, and/or unsuccessful serial relationships." That's me to a T. I am married and have had 6 affairs (varying in nature from long term physical to one-night stands) over the course of my 10 year marriage. Of the 3 long term affairs, none of them resulted in any emotional attachment towards the men. These men were "hits" feeding my addict. I know that now. I didn't back then. I am here because I need help. I want to say I've been sober since April 2009, but what does being sober mean? </div>