Hey you! I plan on writing many blogs detailing the dark, filthy trainwreck my life had become once the disease of addiction took ahold of my soul, however since this is my first post in this category, I thought I would take this opportunity to give you the 411 on my specific addiction….
I have a very vivid memory of setting my stuffed animals up in a row and teaching them about turtles. I explained about their shell, the way their heads ducked inside when they were scared, and the way they either lived on land or in the water. My treasure trolls never paid attention in class, so I usually had them in detention writing they were “sorry” over and over for interrupting my class. I had a passion for teaching and knew that when I grew up I was going to be the greatest teacher this town had ever known.
My dream, was to become a teacher, and at NO point, upon being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up did I EVER respond: A lying, thieving drug addict.
I didn’t want to be that. I don’t think anyone does, so HOW does this happen over and over to countless friends and loved ones? How do people who were straight ‘A’ students, or like myself, Captain of the High School cheerleading squad, ultimately end up in a trap house shaking uncontrollably while the dope man takes his time gathering the drugs I’ve just purchased with money I’ve just stolen out of my sisters wallet after she invited me over to hang out?
How come the girl next to me can take a pill for the first time, and never have the desire to try another, but when I take a pill, I am immediately thinking about the next time I can try one again.
Apparently there is something in our brains called a “reward system“. Evidently, back in the day, this came in handy when people were new to the earth. When they ate food, or had sex, the dopamine in their “reward system” spiked, that caused feelings of wanting to do these things again. I believe the “reward system” was put in our brains to continue procreation and encourage the human race to feed themselves on a consistent basis. After all if people were repulsed by sex, no one would have done it and humans would eventually fizzle out right?? This is the same reason that when you see a big a** delicious piece of chocolatey cake you get friggin excited, and when you eat that bad boy your “reward system” is like HELL to the YES….
The thing about our “reward system” is, it also releases dopamine when drugs travel through it, record levels of dopamine in fact. For someone like myself, when my “reward system” starts pumping that dopamine out, I never want it to stop.
Imagine you go to get a professional massage. You are on the table, waiting for the massuese to begin rubbing the warm oil between her hands. You know that at any moment, she is going to place her gifted hands onto your tired, achy, sore muscles and gently knead the stress you have been carrying away until you are completely relaxed. You are waiting with anticipation for her to begin….THAT feeling, is what it was like when I first started using…
The anticipation of knowing that the minute I took that pill, my days of stress and worry would disappear and I would become completely relaxed. If you could get a professional massage everyday, you probably would. I wanted that feeling everyday. I had a choice between feeling bored, annoyed, anxious and stressed, or feeling happy, relaxed, careless and free. Once I realized I could feel that way all the time, I never wanted to stop.
Eventually my “reward system” responded by lowering the amount of dopamine it produced, the only way I could feel that wonderful feeling I initially experienced was to do more than usual. My body built a tolerance. So I doubled the amount of pills I did to show my body who was boss…..
I didn’t know about withdrawl when I first began taking these magical pills. I was unaware of the consequences at that time, hence, my continued use. One night I was lying in bed and I got a feeling similar to that of growing pains. Remember when you were little and your muscles and bones were growing and that shit hurt?! That’s how I felt. I called my best friend and she told me it was most likely because I hadn’t taken a pill that day, and if I took one, she is sure I’d be fine. So I did. And she was right.
That was the night….. That night I stopped using because I wanted to, and started using because I HAD to. I found, that when I stopped taking a pill for an extended period of time, my body revolted.
Imagine laying in bed, and all of a sudden it felt as though your bones were breaking out of your skin. Your muscles were twisting in on themselves as your body became drenched with perspiration. Despite feeling as though you were sitting in an oven, your body was prickled with goosebumps. Your nose begins running and your eyes watering. You clench up into the tightest ball you can make and begin rocking to help alleviate the pain, to no avail. You attempt to sleep, in hopes of time passing without you being conscious, but the severe physical pain your body is in doesn’t allow it. You have diarrhea and vomit leaving your body at the same time, but you dread having to get out from under the covers to use the restroom because the cold air feels as though someone is repeatedly stabbing you with thousands of microscopic needles all over every single inch of your body. You are forced to be awake every second and feel every ounce of this torture. Seconds seem like centuries…….and this feeling will last for weeks, even months, until the drugs are completely out of your system…
Or. …….You can feel better within seconds…..all you have to do ….is take one pill and all that pain and anguish instantly……disappears………
It’s as if you are underwater, the remaining air you had in your lungs just dissipated, so you begin hiccupping on whatever miniscule traces of oxygen you have left. The surface of the water is a mere inches from your face, all you have to do is stand up and you can inhale fresh, clean air into your empty tired lungs….
That is how it feels during withdrawl…..the pills, in essence, are my water surface….
I know it was my choice to begin taking the pills. I know it was ignorant of me to not fully research the consequences of my actions…but once I began, it became virtually, impossible….to stop….
If you know someone who is suffering from addiction and you are thinking to yourself “why the f*** don’t they just stop?” ….Try walking up to someone on an oxygen tank and saying to them “hey, why don’t you just turn that damn thing off?”….
That’s how it feels to be an addict. If an addict has a job, a family, a home, a vehicle and they have the choice of going through weeks and months of physical and mental agony, or taking just one more pill and postponing the pain for another day. They will most likely choose the pill, every time.
Don’t be judgemental, be empathetic. Don’t be hateful, be emotionally supportive. Don’t lose hope for them, pray for them, and don’t write them off as a lost cause, because change is always possible. You cannot talk a drug addict into getting clean. They must experience enough pain, desperation and heartbreak to decide to fight with all their might to beat it. No one on this earth, including children and judges, can make an addict become willing to stop if the journey of getting clean seems harder than continuing on the dark path of addiction. This is why many of us have to hit rock bottom in order to stop. If things haven’t gotten bad enough, why would we? It’s torture.
If you are a parent,spouse or child of an addict,….you have to know this isn’t your fault. Its ours, and theres nothing you could have done differently aside from chaining us up in a closet, (and even then we would most likely eat paint chips off the wall…jk…kinda). Don’t give us money, give us love and support and please believe me when I tell you this……that this is ALL you can do. There are no “right” words to say to us..no “right” things to do or not to do…love us from a distance if you must but please, don’t stop loving us.
I am grateful that no one wrote me off as a lost cause…It was the love and emotional support of my family that kept the hope in my heart alive as I fought the demons permanently residing in my head, that so desperately attempted to take my life from me.
I will never be able to be a school teacher (damn felonies) , but when I got clean I made a promise to God that I would take every opportunity I was given to teach others about how recovery and the program worked for me, and that it can for them too…. My life isn’t where I expected it to be, but I believe in my heart of hearts, that its exactly where it was always meant to be…..
?erggg can’t talk, you just swirled all that shit up like it just happened. So, I’m thinking your going to write a book or be a stand up comedian fucking rock star. Thank, thank, thank you for so openly writing, making videos and posts. I wish I would have seen some of this when I first became a mom, I would have felt so much better, like I was not alone. I just really appreciate your stuff and had to tell you KEEP GOING, your FUCKING AWESOME!
Awww thank you so much Desarae, that means a lot. I hope I didn’t trigger you 🙁 your comment made me smile so friggin big, you are a rock star my friend!!!
I love ya much..my mom is an alcoholic. I stress sooo much and help so much .its so hard to have a life of my own. I watched this.it made me cry .I am the one walking around with a pillow in my hand ..and I’m not anymore.. thank you.. I always know that I should ..but some reason .your video made me see more..
You are such an incredible and brave woman. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you so much! Xo
I am just beginning my journey twords sobriety and I’m afraid. It hurt and the anxiety almost becomes to much to handle. When I feel like I am slipping I watch your videos. About any and everything. Just ur voice and laughter let me know that I can make it and I will make it. You are a true inspiration to me and my journey. Thank you Tiffany from the bottom of my heart thank you.
Wow, you have a gift my love. And a teacher you are! !!!
Dear Tiffany, I just read your blog. It hit home and touched my heart. I experienced A lot if what you wrote, only I am not an addict. My son is. The pain and worry I felt will Always be with me. I love my son and for a long time actually helped his addiction, not KNOWING that , that is what I was doing. Financially it nearly broke me. My SON an addict. It couldn’t be. He was a father, a faithful mate,a hard worker, and a wonderful SON. What did the Dr. Mean an overdose??? Over and over again! I loved him before I knew and tried loving him 10x as much after I became aware. It was that love and getting on my knees daily, nightly praying to our God. My son is now clean. Living many miles away, with his children, who are now grown. I do not hear from him very often. We were always so close. After those couple Of years flying to his home ,..more often than not ,the first flight out, pleading, crying,trying to understand. Well, it took some very tough love, but he is alive. Why, he chooses not to really talk to me except on Holidays and my birthday and Mothers Day,…well I will never know. I just thank God every day that he is alive. My heart goes out to every addict, alchoholic, and their families. It is a terrible disease. But a whole lot of Love and faith in our God, is what it takes for everyone touched by this disease. God Bless you and continue writing your blog. It truly touched my heart. A Warm Embrace, Rena ..(.Mother of truly a very wonderful SON and man who battled this demon.)
Wow Rena, thank you so much and what a powerful story! In my opinion, the only thing harder than being an addict, is loving one. Especially your child. Watching them change into someone you barely recognize anymore, watching them self destruct and being virtually powerless, unable to help or fix them. The pain you carried must be enormous. I am so glad to hear that he is better and able to be there for his family. Perhaps he may be carrying some shame still, unsure of how to reconnect with you due to the guilt he feels. Perhaps not. Either way I pray that you all may be able to begin anew and be apart of one another’s lives, because life is fleeting, and we only have one go of it. Your comment meant a lot to me and I’m sending you love and hugs!!!
This awesome Tiffany! Thank you for so being so open and sharing your story with us ?
That’s an awesome story Tiffany! Keep up the great work! It’s truly a marathon!
Thank you so much!!!
Such a powerful and honest post! So glad you were able to overcome (or at least really ward off) your demons x
Such a well written blog. I’m so glad there are loads people like me out there. Your story is amazing; makes my life Look like a walk in the park.
Thank you very much, it really means alot to me ?
You. Are. Amazing! Thank you for sharing this!!! My ex-husband is an addict as well…. he became one after we separated and disappeared from our lives for almost 2 years. I spent countless days and nights messaging him, pleading for him to fix his life and come back to his children. I left voice mails all the time, even sent him texts written out as my 5 year old daughter spoke words to her father asking why he won’t answer the phone or text us back. He hit very rock bottom in December and called me up asking me to come get him and take him to rehab. It was the HARDEST thing I ever had to do…. to agree to drive 2 hours away and drop him off another 4 hours away and then drive 3 more hours back alone. It was hard to even agree to help him after all he put us through….after all, he left me to pick up the pieces of my daughters crying night after night for 6 months because their daddy just stopped seeing them and wouldn’t talk to them. I thank God that He gave me the strength to still show him love and help him. He has been clean for almost 5 months now and in a month and half the girls will see their daddy for the first time in exactly 2 years. Reading what you wrote from your perspective has really helped me. He’s not a many of many words and has never been able to put into words what it was like for him. This helps for sure! Keep being amazing <3
Oh wow. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to give you perspective from the addicts side. 5 months is incredible and I pray that your family is able to be whole and happy again! Please keep me posted on how it goes with the reunion
You are one strong momma!!! ???
I absolutely love your truth! Looking forward to reading everything you write and watching all your videos. Your story will change lives, your amazing and funny, and you are definitely a teacher. Great work!
Aw Mary, thank you SO much. I really appreciate this!
I am so glad I found your FB page and blog. My 20 year old son is a recovering meth addict. I blamed myself so many times. Like you, he didn’t say, hey when I grow up I want to be a drug addict. He was an athlete, smart, and flushed it all down the toilet for drugs. I love your reading your blog, watching your videos, and reading about the struggles that have brought you to where you are. I can’t wait to read more.
Thank you so much Debra! Your son is in recovery now?!?! Yay!
Thank you so much for your open, raw, honesty!! As I struggle through this thing we call life, reading your blog posts have helped me so much! As I said before, I have a daughter who is recovering (actually spent 2 years in prison), a son who is an active addict of anything he can get his hands on and I’m married to an active alcoholic. Reading your posts and seeing my daughter where she is really gives me hope for my son and husband!! You are an absolute ROCKSTAR!!
I love your story! On November 13, 2016 I used for the last time. Some jail time and rehab was not my own decision but if I wanted to be with my family I had to try. I’ve now been clean for 310 days! I appreciate you being open with your experience. I have my life back with my husband and 3 kids there with me ??
My husband is an addict and has been for most of our marraige. There is nothing I can do. He has never gotten to the point of stealing from anyone (thankfully) but he uses daily and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I just started following you on FB so I decided it was time to read your blogs. I started from the bottom so of course this is the first one about the addiction that I have read and it has helped me to understand his addiction a little better.
I couldnt understand why having a wife and three kids wasnt enough for him. Why he feels like he needs these stupid things but you have made it abundantly clear as to why.
Dont get me wrong, he is not a fall down junkie just looking for his next fix. There is a lot to his story and I dont want them to sound like excuses but with everything that has happened in his life I think he just uses them as a coping mechanism to deal with day to day life because inside his head is a bad place to be.
IDK how to fix it or what to do but I just keep doing me.
Thank you for sharing.
What is your husbands Drug of Choice? Rehab fails for 80% of addicts who go. If your husband is addicted to opiates(pain pills) the CDC recommends MMT(Methadone Maintenance Treatment). I know first hand that it works. It’s especially excellent because most people who have become addicted to opiates and hit rock bottom don’t want to stop for the simple fact that they’re scared of withdrawal. Withdrawal from opiates is painful and psychologically tiring. With methadone withdrawals aren’t necessary. Most people think “you’re trading one drug for another” which isn’t true at all. Methadone does not get you high. If you work your way up to your personal optimal dose you don’t go through withdrawals and you don’t get high. You finally are able to feel normal again!
Here is a link showing that MMT is the Gild Standard in Treatment for Opioid Dependency
https://app.box.com/s/k6th4hej49cplezvbx6f23lhihmi2r0k
I’ve just ran across your videos, blogs etc about 2 hours ago. I have a list of health issues, fibromyalgia, and rather than list the other health dx, I’ll just say that the fibro in itself has taken over my life. I’ve jus turned 50 last week. I’ve been post menopausal since 09, with all of its glorious side effects to add to my life’s issues. OR IS IT ? I’ve jus realized in the past 10 minutes, r all these sweats, hot flashes, and pains, from those things, meno and fm? Or is IT MY MEDS ??? Tramadol and fentanyl patch!?!?!?
I’m in shock, I can’t even think,
Is it? Could it be? That I am an addict? That all these symptoms are actual signs of withdrawal in between pills and patches? I mean I’ve wondered, and ive thought maybe…nah it can’t be that.., I mean could it? And then I move onto my next day of depression and loneliness, anger and frustration at my body and my social withdrawal, anxiety, all the physical stuff…I think I’ve jus realized it may ALL BE THE MEDS!!!! I’ve been cutting back on tramadol, today I took none, yesterday two etc…and if I’m a day late Changing my patch omg I feel like sh#t and takes me a few hours to figure out oh dummy, change ur patch.
So if it’s the meds, what do I do? Last year I went off tramadol cold turkey and w/d for over several weeks…2 to 3 weeks was horrific and I did it alone. The doctor switched me to something else from one minute to next poof. Cold turkey. Nightmare. It took 2 weeks for me to figure out omg I’m in withdrawal.
I don’t want to go thru that again.
I’m assuming the patch is jus as guilty as tram and that needs to stop 2
What do I do.?
(Keep in mind I do have fm and other issues , RA etc, but can’t take any NSAIDS so my options r very limited.)
I’m feeling so confused right this moment,
Can it really be?
Just reading this, you sound really afraid. Not everyone that takes pain medication is an addict. If you are on any kind of meds for a period of time and you just cold turkey stop them, 9 times out of 10 you will feel bad. I’ve had to take pain medication for my back but I never abused them, I never took them to feel that ‘high’. I had to take them straight for 2 years but never took more than I was suppose to, I had to be in awful pain to take it. I didnt have withdrawals when I stopped. Re-read Tiffanys blog, .She states she took more
Fentanyl has even worse withdrawal symptoms then tramadol! I was on fentanyl patches for 6 years and came down off of them over a period of 2 years. Went from 75mcg to 50 to 25 to 12.5 and then switched to Methadone. When the doctors around me would no longer prescribe opioids I went to a methadone clinic. Best thing I’ve ever done in my entire life! Sounds like you are dependent which is different then addicted. Dependency still comes with withdrawals though.
Methadone, if you can deal with your pain, can be a life saver!
THIS!!!!!! THIS exact same compilation of a supposed “failing body”, advice AND miracle fix-it meds from a trusted and highly professional DOCTOR, a smidge of denial, and a shit ton of ignorance…. this exact same compilation of everything is exactly how I began my very long, very deep, and so very dark descent into that otherworldly abyss. My doctor was my first drug dealer… right along with countless other people, too!
That fentanyl patch is what was causing your anguish. That stuff is the sweetest, kindest, most amazing feeling shit. But also so very relentless, unforgiving, brutal and wretched version of satan himself!
Such a truthful and detailed struggle. Thank you for sharing your story.
This post resonates so strongly with me. We share the same drug of choice. I will never forget the day that someone told me it was because I hadn’t taken any pills that day. I didn’t want to believe it but also tested the theory and it was correct. I’ve watched your videos for a long time without realizing you had a blog. Our stories are very parallel like most that are in recovery. I am almost 4 years clean and sober and live a completely different life than I did back then. I saw a lot of people posting on your live today about your blog changing they way they look at people that have used in their past. I wish all people know that because we suffered from addiction doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of being positive members to society. You have obviously made bounds and strides to improve your life and get your story out there. Thank you from one train wreck that’s trying to make to it to another ?
Hey Tiffany. I’m new here on the blog website but I’ve been watching your videos for a while.
I’m a mom of 3 (10, 8 and 9 months). Addiction sucks. I’m there. Trying. Fighting. Everyday. My vice is prescription medication. I’ve been able to taper down (which I’m incredibly proud of myself for). My goal is to be completely free of medication. I know it takes a lot of will power but it’s what I know I need to do. For my children, my husband and myself. To be completely honest, I’ve never actually admitted out loud that I have an addiction. Maybe this comment right here is the stepping off point. I’m not sure if you’ll see this but THANK YOU for making this blog, the hilarious videos and everything in between.
I stumbled across your blog this morning while I was absent-mindedly scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed while on the way home from my methadone clinic. Ive had the privilege of visiting the clinic every morning for the past year—but it sure beats the hell out of the alternative! I started going there after finding out I was pregnant in early 2017…my son Luca is now 8-months old and hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me…I shudder to think where I would be if I had not finally decided I had enough of being a raging drug addict and started down the long grueling road of trying to put my life back together—not for myself (I’d given in to all-consuming self-loathing ages ago) but for a tiny human I hadn’t even got to meet yet. The small part of your blog I just had the privilege of reading hit home and described a personal truth for me that I never was quite able to put in to words for myself. I cant wait to read more, and hopefully take the time to finally share my story too. Thank you so much for the raw honesty in just the little bit of your blog that I’ve got to read so far ??
I want to say after reading your description about suffering from addiction was for you it brung me back to the 11 years I used drugs…I had some many ppl tell me just quit..when I’d tell them it’s not that easy..they just blew me off…I remember going through withdrawls from my drug of choice meth…i experimented with it when I was 18…stopped got married to a great guy..as time went by my not ex yet stopped wanting anything to do with me..when we found out we couldn’t have kids..he just like cut me out of his life so in exchange I started using again..he never ever said a word to me about being gonna for days not knowing where I was or anything..I felt so alone..so I’d do more for that rush of feeling good..when i would come down it hurt so bad..physically and mentally..just to have him say I love you or I’m here for u would have made a difference to me..but eventually we got divorced..I lived with my brothers family gone all the time drinking and doping..I never wanted to deal with life..didnt think I was worth it to enjoy life..I suffer from anxiety depression and very low selfesteem..I had ppl take advantage of me and I would let them cause at least I’d have ppl around me..finally I had a friend ask me to go on a trip to Ohio with her..I was gone two to three weeks when I got back I had realized it felt good not relying on that next fix or worrying where it was coming from. So that’s was end of October 2005..started seeing a guy bout christmas and by march I was peegnant..I know god had a reason for me to quit doing drugs that october..I just quit them after eleven years went through the withdrawls and all that but to find out I had a baby growing in me was a gift that I didnt take lightly..I have been sober now for 13 years my daughter is almost 12..I couldn’t imagine ever going back down that path..I learned to deal with life the ups and downs and all the other crap too..then laying in bed listening to your story and reading it..I stopped and thought wow someone actually said how I had been feeling…thank u for making me feel less crazy lol..you are awesome and an insperation… plus I’m hooked on your blogs and vlogs you are so funny and I can laugh anytime I watch one…thank u from the bottom of my heart..
Angel
Hi Tiffany! I’ve been watching your hilarious videos on YouTube for a while now, but its wasn’t until now that I realized your a recovering addict. I am as well 🙂 I just wanted to tell you that I loved your videos on being a mom and what motherhood is REALLY like most days…pure chaos! Lol! But now that I have read your full story and watched some more of your videos, I love you even more 😀 There are so many similarities between our stories, its unreal. I feel like you are reaching out to so many people by being honest and sharing your truth. I am also on a mission to help others dealing with addiction and recovery. You are so inspiring and a truly talented person! Thank you for keeping it real!
I’m showing this to my stepdaughter. Her mom is an addict. Sometimes she blames herself. She’s in therapy. We talk about addiction and how after a certain point it’s not a choice anymore it’s a need. I think seeing it from someone who isn’t raising her would be good.
Much love! Keep fighting the fight!
Just finished your book. Great read. You’re an excellent writer. I’m not an addict, but I found your story to be extremely interesting. Any plans for a follow up book?
You’re videos are hilarious, BTW.