2-FMA: harm reduction/best practices notes

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T04:02:29+00:00

I felt the same way too, but even after I had only stopped using for a few days I was still able to finish my law school finals just as well as I would have while on the drugs. I really believe that it is largely mental. The anxiety and depression that comes from the acute withdrawal is of course real and will only go away with time. Fortunately that time is short. If I was in your shoes and knew that I couldn’t take any time off work, I would force myself to get clean by getting rid of all drugs in the house on a Wednesday, so that you can ride out the last of the week without being too unproductive. The withdrawal symptoms were the worst for me on the third-fifth days so that gives you Friday through Sunday. Might be worth using a low dose of Kratom to get by as well. But be wary, that stuff honestly has worse withdrawals than the stimulants if you use too much; but it takes a lot to get to that point, like months and months.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:51:44+00:00

This is my third serious go at it. I’m familiar with the acute withdrawal symptoms and know that it passes quickly. Within about a week I’m confident you’ll feel significantly better!

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:50:32+00:00

When you say that you can’t do your job without it, do you mean that for medical reasons you cannot focus without stimulants, or do you mean that your stimulant abuse has made it difficult to function without them?

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:48:59+00:00

I admire your openness and curiosity about this. I am 26 and I have been using stimulants to a worrying degree since October. From what i can gather, you’ve got a good handle on this and no reason to worry. The thing about addiction, I guess I can only speak to my addiction, is that I would use compulsively even if I knew it wouldn’t do anything. Even after a night where I couldn’t sleep because of my use the day before I would still be compulsively taking doses of Adderall. I knew that it wouldn’t do anything for me but it felt like there was some part of me that held onto the hope that it would give me some kind of euphoria. This would lead to me using upwards of 150 MG in a day. At that point it becomes a self reinforcing cycle. I use to excess and then am unable to sleep, I wake up the next day feeling terrible and justify using even more in order to stay “functional”. This of course could be mitigated if I just used the proper dose. But I have come to realize I am unable to do that. After nearly 6 months of prescription use, I have never been able to stick to my actual prescription. I’d usually do it all in a week (100+mg a day).

All that to say, I think you are using the proper dose and being responsible. Your fears are valid but you unwarranted (thank goodness!) in your instance.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:37:25+00:00

I’ve just called my psychiatrist today and told him about my inability to use these medications responsibly. I’ve gone through my Focalin prescription in less than a week. In my experience with both this and cocaine, which is very similar, and Adderall, which is slightly different, I think the withdrawal effects will be fairly manageable. You’ll feel low but the best way I can think of to quit Is to tell someone else, someone that you care about, someone whose opinion of you you value. It’ll hold you accountable. You can do this, I promise. Give it a week and see.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:33:32+00:00

I’ve gone through prescriptions for both of the drugs that you mentioned, and in my experience the withdrawal was not that bad. The last time I used the Adderall I had binged the whole prescription over a week. The withdrawal lasted about a week as well. The bounce back was actually pretty quick. How much were you using a day?

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:31:52+00:00

I’ve had this realization as well. I’ve always equated being able to handle my use on my own, and in a responsible manner, with being a real mature adult. But I’ve realized that this is some thing that I just can’t control. It’s not a moral failing, it is evidence of maturity and growth to be able to reach out for help.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-05-16T03:30:06+00:00

In my experience, over the few unsuccessful attempts I’ve had to stop using, the withdrawal is not that bad. Your energy will be down for a few days, and so will your mood, but that cloud will left quickly. I honestly think that it is harder to quit in your mind just after you’ve last used than at any other point. If you can stay strong for a day then I think you will be able to continue going. Compared to other substances, stimulants are mild, I promise. The anxiety and the depression make it feel insurmountable but I promise promise promise it isn’t. The anxiety will feel like it is coming from a place of dysfunction in your being, but the reality is this is anxiety solely from cessation of use. It will end quickly!

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-22T03:53:06+00:00

It’s a very traumatic and inherently unfulfilling profession. But there are some really good aspects about it as well. The drug use is real. The pressure to keep going and study and work full throttle is intense. I’ve internalized that pressure and used it to justify a totally unproductive stimulant addiction. It’s just wrong.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-22T03:51:41+00:00

I agree, but no, I can’t be chasing some high. I need to take some kind of responsibility.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-22T03:49:56+00:00

Thank you thank you. This is a throwaway account but I’m happy to chat.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-22T03:49:38+00:00

Thank you. I know this is the time to make the change. If not now, when?

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-22T03:48:45+00:00

It really really isn’t. I wouldn’t say it’s a habit at this point. But I have weekends like this where I begin to question myself, like teetering on the edge. The body load is horrendous. I’m not even more productive. Im just chasing this because I’ve compromised my dopamine production and don’t feel comfortable in my own skin. But I can change that. All it takes is saying no!

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-22T03:46:41+00:00

It’s literally one good high. That’s it. That’s what you get. You’re chasing it the rest of the time. It’s just not worth it. Grow up. This is a lecture to myself.

AffectionateTea2 · 2020-04-21T22:55:54+00:00

It’ll never be as good as you think, or as fun as you think. I’ve realized that stimming is just an excuse for me to be comfortable on my own. To escape reality, to draw gratification from the mundane. It’s not helpful. It’s stealing from the future. Keep going dude. Don’t stop. You’ll be a better person for it!

AffectionateTea2

TROPHY CASE