SMILEY's Posts

RE: Best way to approach a guy who has an addiction

4/21/2008 1:47:04 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

Well, you're probably right about not being mooshy, begging won't get you anywhere. And in fact, thousands die each year while denying that they are alcoholics. So, the important way to approach someone is to confront them through love. Addicts learn how to remove the support systems that prop up the disease and allow it to thrive. But if you're going to support him, you have to learn how to impose ultimatums that will force him to admit his need for help. Maybe bring another friend with you so that they can back up your stance and encourage your concern for your friend. Good luck yo :D

Most Addictive Type of Gambling

4/21/2008 2:38:20 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

    The electronic gambling games may be the most addictive gambling games out there. Gamblers who play electronic machines become problem gamblers almost three times earlier than those who stick with table games and racetrack gamblers. The exact numbers are 1.08 years for electronic gamblers and 3.58 years that is for table and racetrack gamblers to become addicted. It is their immediate gratification that makes video poker and slot machines so addictive.
    Internet gambling, however not the most popular, may be the easiest to hide from friends and families. One can erase all memory from a computer's history and hide any evidence that they have been gambling online. Also, they are the least likely to admit that they have a gambling problem at all.
    According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 4.2 million Americans are addicted to gambling. Of these 4.2 million, 60% of them make under $25,000 per year. Alcohol abuse also has a lot to do with gambling addiction. Those who have a problem with alcohol are 23 times more likely to have a gambling problem than those who do not have a gambling problem.

RE: Who is addicted to the internet?

4/21/2008 2:41:08 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

My best friend is totally addicted to myspace. She knows that she is obsessed with it, but still continues to use it for hours on end. I'm not really sure how to approach her about it in a serious way. Cuz she tends to get offended very easily. Should I just tell her myspace is a huge waste of time and that you could be doing a lot more productive things with your time? I don't want to tell her to delete it, that's a bit too far, but it's so annoying to hang out with someone and they're just paying attention to their myspace page!

RE: My mother

4/21/2008 2:45:46 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother, I'm so overwhelmed when I think about either one of my parents dying. My dad is an alcoholic, however he isn't nearly as bad as he used to be. I don't fear of him dying of alcohol poisoning, but I do worry about him getting behind the wheel of his car. He claims he is a functional alcoholic and that he can drive better than most people even when he's drinking. It's ludacris, but it's the path he chose to live his life and honestly, I could beg and plead with him from today 'till the day I die, but he will not quit drinking.

RE: Glad I Don't Have Kids

4/25/2008 11:52:27 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

My best friend has parents that have caused her to lose so much in her life and she's only 19 years old. They've ruined her credit because they used her name on their PG&E and phone bills and wouldn't pay the bills, and they would just take all of her money when she got paid. They're both addicted to meth and divorced and they have a weird situation with boyfriends/girlfriends. I hate watching her go through all of this because her family has done absolutely nothing for her and whenever she does something, her whole family will gossip about her and basically ruined her whole reputation. I wonder why the heck they decided to bring kids into their hectic world.

Waiting to give up your life to God

4/28/2008 4:07:48 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

I was talking to my friend about church and why she hasn't started going. She's been a few times and I know she likes it, but she can't seem to make the decision to give her life to God. She believes in God but feels like she should act more like a Christian before she attends church. I've met a few other people like this. I told her that she doesn't have to be 100% before she starts attending church. It's like waiting to get healthy before going to the hospital, it doesn't make any sense. God loves us and wants us to be around other Christians. And he will take care of us and minister to especially to those who are struggling.

RE: Steve-O success!!

4/28/2008 4:10:49 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

I've always liked Steve-O, he was always my favorite guy on Jackass. And it actually gives me more motivation seeing all that he's accomplished and how he's so determined. He probably has a lot of friends that look up to him for the decisions he's making to stay sober.

RE: Hi newbie

4/28/2008 4:15:57 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

I'm glad you can acknowledge that you have a problem. But you have to be prepared for the next part of your recovery. To some people, being a porn addict is like commiting adultrey. So just like you would act if you had an affair, you need to be sympathetic and understanding and be prepared to end your affair with porn. Be done with it, hate it and know that it can ruin your life if you let it.

RE: How did you quit?

4/28/2008 4:19:16 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

Keep reminding yourself how great of a decision you're making. And keep a positive attitude about it, and forget about everything that drove you to smoking in the first place.

RE: Career Help in recovery

5/2/2008 11:11:26 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

This is a common issue in recovery. Have you been attending meetings? I found some contact information for meetings in your area:

OFICINA INTERGRUPAL DE TAMPA-BAY
1936 W MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD.
ROOM 203A
TAMPA FL 33607
813 870-0437

TRI-COUNTY CENTRAL OFFICE, INC
8019 N. HIMES AVE SUITE 104
TAMPA FL 33614
813 933-9722
24 HR ANSWERING SERVICE 813 933-9123
http://www.aatampa-area.org

Also, have you thought about using a temp agency? This is a good way to try out different jobs without committing to one in particular. Plus, temp work is usually less formal in regards to the interviewing process and this will alleviate some of the stress that comes along with interviewing and job searching. Having your degree in Marketing is a great tool and resource to use in the job market. In regards to the meetings, you should feel comfortable to open up and share. If not, maybe find another meeting where you feel closer to the individuals involved. I hope this helps a little. Good luck on everything.

RE: Hotlines

5/2/2008 11:14:03 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

These hotlines are great, I know my brother called on one occasion. Basically they just talk to you about what is happening and make sure you're not in danger and basically can support you. They're really a great thing. Some kids have no one to care for them, no one to talk to about their day... it gives them some hope. I think if a parent found out, then it could be somewhat of a wake up call more than a thing to get angry over.

RE: Energyyyyy Drinks!

5/2/2008 11:17:50 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

So it's basically like having a cup of coffee, some drinks may equal two cups. But I think they're more life savers than a danger to us.

RE: Sex Rampage

5/2/2008 11:26:11 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

Typically it takes about a quarter of the length of the relationship to get over your ex. But sleeping around and going from relationship to relationship isn't going to make you get over them, in fact it may prevent it. I think the best thing to do is cry about it, surround yourself with your friends, learn what you did wrong, better yourself, and move onto something better :)

RE: Methadone kids

5/2/2008 11:32:42 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

Wow that's a really big difference! I'm just starting to realize how many people take methadone. It's like everyone got so obsessed with meth, everyone was using, and now we're getting all of the after effects. First it was meth babies, now it's gonna be methadone babies and methadone labs.

RE: Career Help in recovery

5/14/2008 8:15:48 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

Sometimes its good to sort of shop around regarding which therapist you want. There's all kinds of AA, NA meetings... group therapy, individual, pastoral counseling, that's awesome you're moving along though. Hope all is well :)

RE: Cosmo

5/14/2008 8:18:46 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions because those magezines aren't just for sex. Almost all magezines have some sort of sexual influence and the Cosmo Girl ones aren't bad at all. But if you're just being a protective brother, feel free to have a chat with her and make sure she knows what she's getting herself into because sex is a big deal in a relationship.

RE: Addiction or Relationship?

6/9/2008 10:08:57 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

I think if you fix your addiction issues first, then it'll be a lot easier to fix your relationship issues. But if she's gonna make the effort to quit drinking every night, then you need to step it up and be a good, supportive boyfriend. She'll love your for that and see that you're not just sitting around while she's working. Best of luck...

RE: Increased Eating Disorders

6/9/2008 10:24:55 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

I've noticed more people with eating disorders, and now there's all these sites promoting anorexia and bulimia. Having an eating disorders is like cutting yourself short in life, to overcome it, you have to reverse a lifetime's perspective. You have to strive to basically overcome yourself, it's a daily struggle, but in the end, worth it.

Talking to Pregnant Women About Alcohol

6/9/2008 11:46:33 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

I went to my friends graduation dinner last weekend and there was a lot of drinking involved by a lot of the guests, which is pretty common now at graduation celebrations... But anyways, the thing that bothered me is that my friends cousin, who is pregnant, was drinking beer. At first I didn't think any of it but she said a couple things that made it obvious that she was pregnant. She only had one beer, but still, it bugged me. I always understood that it's really important not to drink at all when you're pregnant, especially in the first couple of months. I figured her boyfriend would say something, but he obviously didn't care at all. So is it my place to say something, or should I just leave it alone? People have different opinions about smoking/drinking while pregnant.

RE: Bipolar and Substance Abuse

7/25/2008 4:32:21 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

One of my friend's mom has bipolar disorder and has a history of drug addiction. Now she's addicted to opiates like oxycontin and codeine and I think she takes meds for her BPD. Some days she acts like a straight lunatic and he's had to apologize for her behavior more times than he can remember. I feel bad for him because she doesn't always manage her disorder in the right way. But I agree with you guys, doing drugs definately makes symptoms of BPD way worse. Especially stimulants like meth causes additional anxiety. It causes them to be a danger to themselves and others because the mood swings can turn violent.

RE: #1 addiction?

7/30/2008 9:04:50 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

Personally I think porn addiction is the highest. With every other addiction, the stats are pretty similar to those of females. But alcohol and pornography definately are the highest.

RE: Saying no

7/30/2008 10:09:01 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

When I don't feel like drinking, I simply say no thanks I have to drive or I'm the designated driver. Or sometimes I say that I have a big test or am working the next day. It shows that you're responsible and don't really have a desire to drink.

RE: College presidents seek drinking age debate

8/19/2008 10:09:23 AM SMILEY
35 Posts

How many times must we relearn the lessons of prohibition?" the
statement says. "Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing
contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are
told they are not mature enough to have a beer. College students are forced to turn to unsafe practices of drinking, endangering themselves, and those around them. The goal is to get drunk as quickly as possible before they go out to public place where they will not be served. If people were exposed to drinking at a younger age, they'd be more mature about it.

RE: Movies about Addiction/Recovery

8/19/2008 3:05:47 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

Hancock was sort of an addiction recovery movie, he was addicted to alcohol, and it turned out he cleaned up his act and everyone loved him

RE: Dejavu

8/19/2008 3:27:28 PM SMILEY
35 Posts

I hate when something happeneds in deja vu that I know I don't like. I feel like I could've prevented it or changed the outcome if I paid more attention to it.

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