NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay.....slight confession: I, everyone's favorite uber-rightwinger, am an addict. No, not like Rush...well...sorta not like Rush. A few months back, I developed an addiction to Afrin decongestant nasal spray. I was able to kick the habbit, but endured absolute misery for a while without the product. Last week, I got sick. I thought I was over my minor cold, but it has developed into something much worse. To top this off, I've slipped back into using Afrin and I've re-awakened my dependancy on it. Today, I ventured out and bought twelve bottles of it.

I vivedly recall the misery I went through when I quit the first time. Weeks on end of not being able to breath properly. Teary eyes constantly. Head aches. Severe irritability. Et al ad infinitum. I don't want to relive such hellacious conditions again. If I don't take it, I simply can't breath. My nose will feel like it's on fire and my chest like someone's pushing down on it constantly. The first time, I was weened off with the help of a friend and a doctor. But the process was slow and left me miserable.

I feel ashamed that it beat me after a few months of being sober, but a feeling of relief that I'm using it again. It's an unusual 'high' feeling that I get when using it. I can't help it. I'm addicted to it. How could I break this addiction without subjecting myself to sheer misery again? Has anyone else ever gone through what I am now?

There are some things in life you hate that you still have to do. Trust me, you don't wan't to be dependent on a drug, however harmless it may seem. For instance, I was given morphine (for medical reasons) for a couple of days, and the withdrawal was horrible. My entire body was on fire with itching. It burned, but I still told the doctors no more morhpine because I didn't wanna get hooked.

Okay, one second...

Why the hell do people confuse us sometimes?

I can'tell you howmany timesI've been called "Colerica"...
sorry fornot contributing to topic

Okay, one second...

Why the hell do people confuse us sometimes?

I can'tell you howmany times I've been called "Colerica"...
Subtle indications in the fabric of spacetime.

There are some things in life you hate that you still have to do. Trust me, you don't wan't to be dependent on a drug, however harmless it may seem. For instance, I was given morphine (for medical reasons) for a couple of days, and the withdrawal was horrible. My entire body was on fire with itching. It burned, but I still told the doctors no more morhpine because I didn't wanna get hooked.

I don't know if I'm strong enough, mentally, to re-endure the condition that quitting the first time left me in. And then I have people telling me to just "get over it" or "find a hobby." But it's not that simple. I have plenty of hobbies, but they get obstructed when I can't breath or feel so crappy that I wish I was dead. Not even my two biggest passions -- writing and drawing -- help me at all if I'm without my 'fix.' Right now, I'm fine and dandy because I just used some. The fourth time today. When I have my 'fix,' I feel elated and better-than-normal. Without it, I feel like drowning myself.

To be Frank, I think I'm terrified of what may result if I quit, no matter how necessary it is that I do so.

Have you tried weening yourself off of it with nasal sprays that aren't habit forming? They should perform the same task that Afrin does. It'll just take them a couple hours, tops. I'm not sure if it'll help. I've known a few people, including my dad, that are addicted to Afrin. I've just never known anyone that tried to kick the habit.

My dad is also addicted to Afrin. I am positive of it.

I always wondered, is it possible to be addicted to Motrin (ibuprofen)? Because if so...I think thats me.

That does it. I'm too scared to take Afrin anymore.

The irony is amusing. Maybe this little learning experience will help you build tolerance for your fellow man. I have no sympathy for self proclaimed and proud social conservatives, but since I've never seen your posts and all I see is the current husk of a bigot (uber-conservative? favorite? really, who brags about that kind of crap?), I suggest you wait it out.

These things come and go, they happen to the best of us... Well, not really, only a small percent. And Afrin?! I make much restraint in not laughing till I die.

It's amazing the pathetic things genetics gets you on. Then again, you might not even believe in genetics, and just need to pray a little harder.

---

On a lighter, and more forgiving note: Spend time with nature. Take in its glories. Masturbate (if you believe it's ok), spend time with your girlfriend (if you believe it's ok --- I doubt an intolerant prick like you would be willing to try men, and maybe you don't even have a woman), spend time with your family (if you like them), or just do anything that makes you feel happy besides (HAHAHAHA) Afrin itself.

Oh, and don't come out to a bunch of people on a socially progressive website.

I love you, too. For never saying a word to you in my entire career here, I don't know what has you so wound up. It's nice of you to attack me repeatedly, yet you, yourself, say that you've never read a single post of mine.

A: I'm an agnostic, so your prayer comment is pretty much wasted. I haven't stepped foot in a church since I was four.

B: I'm a big man of science to answer your question of whether or not I believe in genetics.

C: I've never resort to insults in an arguement until I've been pelted with them repeatedly by an opponent.

D: I'm not a bigot nor am I a racist. One of my best friends is black, for example.

E: I do, indeed, masturbate. (Wowza! call the police!)

F: I do, indeed, have a girlfriend. (Wowza! call the police!)

G: I love my family with all of my heart.

H: I'm not 'into' men, but I don't quite care if anyone else is. As long as they aren't flaunting it in my face (public acts of sex, that is) or forcing it on non-willing counterparts, I have no problem with it at all.

I: I spend more time with nature than you may wish to believe. See, I live in the Kewennaw Peninsula of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a remote strip of land surrounded by water and plenty of trees. This is a place where white-tail deer outnumber people five to one. I'm also currently buried under several feet of snow, but I digress.

J: I find humor in your advice of 'building tolerance for my fellow man,' only to repeatedly attack me with irrelevant ad hominems. But, as a passionate person, I don't quite care. Keep insulting me. Go right ahead. Humor me.

K: Have a nice day.

I: I spend more time with nature than you may wish to believe. See, I live in the Kewennaw Peninsula of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a remote strip of land surrounded by water and plenty of trees. This is a place where white-tail deer outnumber people five to one. I'm also currently buried under several feet of snow, but I digress.

Man. I'm so jealous.

I am not a conservative.

Then I give you all my support.

Seriously, though, the best thing to do is enjoy everything besides your addiction that gives you pleasure.

You can get over it. Just be patient, and wait it out. And definately be honest with your family so that they can help you as well.

Have you tried weening yourself off of it with nasal sprays that aren't habit forming? They should perform the same task that Afrin does. It'll just take them a couple hours, tops. I'm not sure if it'll help. I've known a few people, including my dad, that are addicted to Afrin. I've just never known anyone that tried to kick the habit.

That's what I used when I quit originally, but the results, as aforementioned, were terrible to me. A doctor I had seen about it back then had me go down from Afrin to something else (I forget its name at the moment) that was much less powerful....but we [myself, my friends/family, doctor] believe it had a grave negatory reaction to me that only served to worsen my exiting-from-addiction condition.

I am quite against drugs and have a real anger towards drug users but I'm not going to let that get in the way of trying to help someone out. First things first, how long did it take you to kick the habit last time and how did you stop yourself from using it last time?

Then I give you all my support.

Thank you.


Seriously, though, the best thing to do is enjoy everything besides your addiction that gives you pleasure.

You can get over it. Just be patient, and wait it out. And definately be honest with your family so that they can help you as well.

I shall try my hardest. A part of me is reaffirming me that since I beat it once -- despite prolonged suffering -- I can beat it again. Another part of me is telling me not to even try to beat it out of fear of what may result from trying to quit. I definitely do not want to re-endure the hell that I suffered the first time around. Anyways, thanks to all for their support/suggestions.

Well, if I was your friend, I'd have taken all your Afrin and burned it by now, but alas, I can't do that because we're not...

I'm not an addict to anything (any drugs/alc that is, though I am on some comp games :P) but I have alotta family who are addicts and dealers of drugs and alc. Some of them were able to get dried out, were able to stop using... but others, well... they're still doing the crap...

But tell me... are you willing to waste away your life addicted to a drug, are you willing to put your family and friends through hardship of seeing you addicted to something, which inevidably will lead to something else, are you willing to live your life feeling bad for your self and guilty that you haven't quit instead of putting up with the pain for a few weeks, or however long it took you to withdraw?

If it's not enough to quit for your own mind and body, maybe it's enough to do it for your family and friends... If you're willing to put your self through this, are you willing to subject them to having to suffer seeing you get worse and worse, more and more addicted, and quite possibly get hooked on something else?

Is that worth quitting for?

I know it's hard enough to try and go though a withdrawl from my computer, and I know drugs are alot worse... but sometimes, as EmoBuddy said, you gotta do things you don't like, or even hate. You gotta go to the doctors and get shots. You gotta put your pet to sleep. You gotta get up early in the morning for school or work, if you got sleep at all. You gotta exercise after falling down the stairs and breaking half your bones. You gotta go hungry to feed your children. These are all different things different people have to go through. For you, it's going through a withdrawl from Afrin. Ya, it's gonna hurt, it's gonna burn, it's gonna flat out suck! But wouldn't you rather spend a few weeks of enduring hardship over spending the rest of your life enduring multiple hardships, and quite possibly set the stage for your children to get hooked them self?

Go to friends for support... parents and family might not do it for you, specially if you're a teen (I donno if how old you are), as alotta teens would do better w/ help from their friends than their family (though, don't leave your family outta it, they're really just as important, even if it may not seem like it to you...)

If ya need to, see a councler at school, or join a support group...

As you said others suggested, find a hobby... and know what you need to do? Ask someone to hide the Afrin... in fact, get rid of it completely. Throw it away. Get it outta your site!

And when you get a craving... find something you can do or think about to try and by-pass it... go running, listen to music, do homework or taxes, get on the computer and play, go to sleep, remind your self of the hardships you'll endure over an extended period of time if you sniff it... do something to get your mind to either say "Wait, let's not do that!" or get your mind off of it completely...

I'm sorry I can't be there to give you RL friend support, so this is what I can do for now... and plz... IM or TG me or a friend on NS if you need to talk to someone and you feel you can't talk to or get in contact with your family or friends...

I am quite against drugs and have a real anger towards drug users but I'm not going to let that get in the way of trying to help someone out. First things first, how long did it take you to kick the habit last time and how did you stop yourself from using it last time?

Time to quit in total? Oh jeez, probably close to a month and a half from the time that I convinced myself that I needed to quit and the time that I finally stopped feeling like I was dying from quitting. After a friend of mine counted me using the spray nine times in one day, he took action on behalf of me and took every bottle I had and got rid of him. Come to think of it, I nearly punched him when I found out. I'm glad he did it, though. Then, he directed me to a doctor for help. I was set up on a step-down sort of plan that involved moving me from Afrin to a less-powerful product and then down to salline mist.

Seemingly, I had such strong dependancy on it that I reacted with severe withdrawals. As I stated before, I went through weeks of not being able to breath, constant tearing eyes, awful headaches, and a nasty personality swing. Family and friends, I guess, willed me through until I was 'whole' again.

Time to quit in total? Oh jeez, probably close to a month and a half from the time that I convinced myself that I needed to quit and the time that I finally stopped feeling like I was dying from quitting. After a friend of mine counted me using the spray nine times in one day, he took action on behalf of me and took every bottle I had and got rid of him. Come to think of it, I nearly punched him when I found out. I'm glad he did it, though. Then, he directed me to a doctor for help. I was set up on a step-down sort of plan that involved moving me from Afrin to a less-powerful product and then down to salline mist.

Seemingly, I had such strong dependancy on it that I reacted with severe withdrawals. As I stated before, I went through weeks of not being able to breath, constant tearing eyes, awful headaches, and a nasty personality swing. Family and friends, I guess, willed me through until I was 'whole' again.

I'd say, live it up like you're dealing with a broken leg (ice cream! ice cream!... oh, minnesota... hot fudge! hot fudge!), or any other physical problem. Don't blame it on yourself, blame it on your brain, which is just another part of your body.
Stay inside if the drugs are out of reach, and just, lay low. Get "addicted" to TV and video games... and don't forget your girlfriend.

Also, I hate to suggest this, but perhaps it's your actual environment that's to blame for whatever is bother your nose. (Could you elaborate on why you were taking them in the first place to give us some background?)

You want a high hook yourself up to me. ;)
Just the sight of me will make you feel better. :p

POSTING THIS AGAIN, IT WAS LAST POST ON FIRST PAGE SO IS PROBABLY BEING OVERLOOKED...

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Well, if I was your friend, I'd have taken all your Afrin and burned it by now, but alas, I can't do that because we're not...

I'm not an addict to anything (any drugs/alc that is, though I am on some comp games :P) but I have alotta family who are addicts and dealers of drugs and alc. Some of them were able to get dried out, were able to stop using... but others, well... they're still doing the crap...

But tell me... are you willing to waste away your life addicted to a drug, are you willing to put your family and friends through hardship of seeing you addicted to something, which inevidably will lead to something else, are you willing to live your life feeling bad for your self and guilty that you haven't quit instead of putting up with the pain for a few weeks, or however long it took you to withdraw?

If it's not enough to quit for your own mind and body, maybe it's enough to do it for your family and friends... If you're willing to put your self through this, are you willing to subject them to having to suffer seeing you get worse and worse, more and more addicted, and quite possibly get hooked on something else?

Is that worth quitting for?

I know it's hard enough to try and go though a withdrawl from my computer, and I know drugs are alot worse... but sometimes, as EmoBuddy said, you gotta do things you don't like, or even hate. You gotta go to the doctors and get shots. You gotta put your pet to sleep. You gotta get up early in the morning for school or work, if you got sleep at all. You gotta exercise after falling down the stairs and breaking half your bones. You gotta go hungry to feed your children. These are all different things different people have to go through. For you, it's going through a withdrawl from Afrin. Ya, it's gonna hurt, it's gonna burn, it's gonna flat out suck! But wouldn't you rather spend a few weeks of enduring hardship over spending the rest of your life enduring multiple hardships, and quite possibly set the stage for your children to get hooked them self?

Go to friends for support... parents and family might not do it for you, specially if you're a teen (I donno if how old you are), as alotta teens would do better w/ help from their friends than their family (though, don't leave your family outta it, they're really just as important, even if it may not seem like it to you...)

If ya need to, see a councler at school, or join a support group...

As you said others suggested, find a hobby... and know what you need to do? Ask someone to hide the Afrin... in fact, get rid of it completely. Throw it away. Get it outta your site!

And when you get a craving... find something you can do or think about to try and by-pass it... go running, listen to music, do homework or taxes, get on the computer and play, go to sleep, remind your self of the hardships you'll endure over an extended period of time if you sniff it... do something to get your mind to either say "Wait, let's not do that!" or get your mind off of it completely...

I'm sorry I can't be there to give you RL friend support, so this is what I can do for now... and plz... IM or TG me or a friend on NS if you need to talk to someone and you feel you can't talk to or get in contact with your family or friends...

imported_ViZion, that was a rather powerful post. I'm still absorbing a lot of what you wrote.

Frankly put: no, I don't want to put myself through this nor do I want to my family/friends through the pain of seeing me like this. Yes, that's well worth quitting for. If I could snap my fingers or take a silver bullet to kill my problem, I would so in an instant. I'll take a few weeks of misery over a few years or more of it for myself and those that care about me.

This will be hard, but I'm going to beat this. I beat it once, despite what I went through as a result of it. I can beat it again.

Thank you all.

Here's a novel approach: Keep takin' it!

It's not like a $500 a day coke habit where you're gonna have to resort to crime to pay for it. It's not like the Afrin clouds your judgement and turns you into a terrible monster.

I have a horrible addiction to sleep that's eating up a third of my life. But I need it to function so I don't mess with that.

Afrin is medicine, if you need it take it. Plenty of people would keel over dead if they didn't take their medicine.

If you find yourself giving oral sex to a stranger in a dark alley just to buy your next hit of Afrin, maybe it's time for an intervention. Otherwise do whatever it takes to keep you tickin'. If I don't get my morning coffee I feel like the walking dead, so I shell out a couple bucks and get my ass some coffee. Every one has dependencies, no man is an island. If Afrin addiction is your biggest problem you should thank your unverifiable God or lack thereof.

I hope I don't sound like a callous jackass... Admittedly, I am a callous jackass, but I generally try to present a caring considerate front.

What is the active ingredient in Afrin and what are its effects.

You could always try to find some thing not quite so bad to replace it... If you feel the urge to take another hit just have a glass of vodka or a joint or some thing. Just think about the good things that will come from giving up your addiction.

What is the active ingredient in Afrin and what are its effects.

You could always try to find some thing not quite so bad to replace it... If you feel the urge to take another hit just have a glass of vodka or a joint or some thing. Just think about the good things that will come from giving up your addiction.

Um... no. Not a good idea.
Do things that give you a natural high. Don't kill anymore parts of your body with other drugs.

I'd say, live it up like you're dealing with a broken leg (ice cream! ice cream!... oh, minnesota... hot fudge! hot fudge!), or any other physical problem. Don't blame it on yourself, blame it on your brain, which is just another part of your body.
Stay inside if the drugs are out of reach, and just, lay low. Get "addicted" to TV and video games... and don't forget your girlfriend.

Also, I hate to suggest this, but perhaps it's your actual environment that's to blame for whatever is bother your nose. (Could you elaborate on why you were taking them in the first place to give us some background?)

If I recall correctly, I had been taking Afrin (or its equillevant) for years whenever I had a severe congestion during an illness. Seemingly, it finally got to me to the point that I was hooked. If I remember right, I just started taking due to nasal congestion. This resulted in an addiction.

Again, thanks all. I'm off for the night. G'night.

Marijuana is natural.....

But any way... you are right. Working out or going for a run or some thing is a good way to take your mind off shit and it also produces a natural high =)


Afrin.. Active ingredient?, effect?.

If I recall correctly, I had been taking Afrin (or its equillevant) for years whenever I had a severe congestion during an illness. Seemingly, it finally got to me to the point that I was hooked. If I remember right, I just started taking due to nasal congestion. This resulted in an addiction.

Again, thanks all. I'm off for the night. G'night.

Then allow me to reiterate that perhaps it is linked to something in your environment, and the only way to truly be free is to move or find whatever is causing you these illnesses all the time.

I often have congestion myself sometimes, and, incidentally, I was looking for my Afrin earlier this week. But there are plenty of other alternatives, especially natural ones like chicken soup or blowing-your-nose-silly-then-taking-some-Ayr.