Other Drugs & alcohol

[pacman404]

Do these make anyone else really uncomfortable or am I just weird? It seems like nobody else thinks it’s a big deal. I don’t want to say anymore in case I upset people. :/

 

[RubyBlue]

I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Everyone here seems pretty open to discussion about them. Everyone comes in their own way and drugs and alcohol are frequently one of those ways. This is a pretty tough group in that you don’t have to worry about trigger warnings or upsetting people. Everyone is capable of clicking off if they need to.

 

[joeylittle]

I don’t want to say anymore in case I upset people. :/

As @Annalyn78 said - you don't need to be concerned about upsetting other members w/your experiences.

Do these make anyone else really uncomfortable

Can you give an example?

 

[Ronin]

Furthermore, reasons why you're uncomfortable?

May be super useful for learning more about your needs or limits, or unpacking trauma.

 

[pacman404]

Sorry. I’m not very good at explaining things so I’ll try some examples. My dad was (is) an alcoholic and a drug user. I recently became friends with someone who is a recovering alcoholic which was fine but I think I was triggered the other day by something she said about having had a drink. Right away I was imagining her drink driving but I didn’t say anything because I don’t even know that she did drive. Then a couple of days ago she told me that she was smoking weed (legally) but I couldn’t not say anything that time. I think I upset her and I got upset too. What prompted this post was I just saw a post somewhere else from someone casually saying they were high on MDMA and everyone was commenting like that was totally fine and normal and not one person said ‘what the hell are you doing?’.

 

[RubyBlue]

I’m not sure which post that was, I’m definitely one to say ummm no. But you have to remember everyone here is on a different part of their own journey. Sometimes that includes still using drugs. I’m one that’s incredibly against it- but that’s just me. You are free to express your opinion on any post (diaries try to be careful), just know that some may support your stance and some may push back.

 

[pacman404]

I’m not sure which post that was, I’m definitely one to say ummm no. But you have to remember everyone here is on a different part of their own journey. Sometimes that includes still using drugs. I’m one that’s incredibly against it- but that’s just me. You are free to express your opinion on any post (diaries try to be careful), just know that some may support your stance and some may push back.

Thanks. It helps to know I’m not the only one. The post wasn’t here It was on another website. I wouldn’t have made this post if it was because that seems rude.

 

[joeylittle]

I just saw a post somewhere else from someone casually saying they were high on MDMA and everyone was commenting like that was totally fine and normal and not one person said ‘what the hell are you doing?’.

If that post was on this site, it would have likely been connected to some important research going on right now about the controlled use of MDMA in a medical/assisted setting for resolving PTSD trauma.

But also - yeah, some people do a lot of drugs, and for many people that's just fine.

I don't think your feelings are weird - they are tied to your personal experiences, and it's understandable you'd be more reactive around that topic. I think what you might be trying to sort out is whether or not your reactions are out of scale/excessive.

I recently became friends with someone who is a recovering alcoholic which was fine but I think I was triggered the other day by something she said about having had a drink.

This is a new friendship, sounds like?

I'd say, if spending time with someone who is in recovery but struggling/backsliding is extra stress for you, you might think about whether you want to continue the friendship.

 

[RubyBlue]

Gotcha, for this site the most common thing you’ll see is weed. There’s others and there’s alcohol but those are coping mechanisms (negative ones) but they are just yet another way to numb out and try to deal with the overload of feelings. Or to just feel something at all sometimes.

 

[Ronin]

That comes down to what you believe about a variety of issues at any given time...

I personally don't feel I have the right to force others on doing anything with their own bodies, if those rights weren't granted to me, and even then I have to be suuper careful about not overstepping. Ethical boundaries, moral ones, and definitely not legal ones.

So if on duty medic at the time? By all means I will treat it differently.
All cases, on & off duty? I'll always encourage safer use, or stoping use where possible, or lowening it / substituing safely.

Or refering to who has appropriate ability to help.

But just judging may not be the most helpful. And I got to be super careful about my *own* mindset when I get judgmental like that. Because it tells me a lot that I'm lot more strict and bossy about things I don't want to be / and in other time of my life, mindset.

Ditto when I get uber 'Drugs are all good, man.' and meaning it / not just trying to talk to the person on their level. Because it also tells me about me, not them. Just different things.

Do/have drugs played a role in my life? Absolutely. I was hooked to several types in many times of my life.

It's one of the *reasons* I don't believe people or states should absolutely regulate them in many ways they do.

Personally I'd known some amazing users. Many not. And many downright douchebags. It's not the drug, but the person behind it.

 

[pacman404]

That comes down to what you believe about a variety of issues at any given time...

I personally don't feel I have the right to force others on doing anything with their own bodies, if those rights weren't granted to me, and even then I have to be suuper careful about not overstepping. Ethical boundaries, moral ones, and definitely not legal ones.

So if on duty medic at the time? By all means I will treat it differently.
All cases, on & off duty? I'll always encourage safer use, or stoping use where possible, or lowening it / substituing safely.

Or refering to who has appropriate ability to help.

But just judging may not be the most helpful. And I got to be super careful about my *own* mindset when I get judgmental like that. Because it tells me a lot that I'm lot more strict and bossy about things I don't want to be / and in other time of my life, mindset.

Ditto when I get uber 'Drugs are all good, man.' and meaning it / not just trying to talk to the person on their level. Because it also tells me about me, not them. Just different things.

Do/have drugs played a role in my life? Absolutely. I was hooked to several types in many times of my life.

It's one of the *reasons* I don't believe people or states should absolutely regulate them in many ways they do.

Personally I'd known some amazing users. Many not. And many downright douchebags. It's not the drug, but the person behind it.

One of the reasons I thought it was a bad idea for her was because it seems like she has an addictive personality. Medication should come from the doctor. I’m not wanting to be judgey about it. I just get so upset and I can’t think straight.

 

[Ronin]

I’m not wanting to be judgey about it. I just get so upset and I can’t think straight.

For many people, medical care isn't accessible - or at high other cost.

Inability to think straight... sounds it might be a typical triggered state? :)