cross addiction-looking for support

I had 7 years clean and sober before I had this surgery.  It started with drinking then the weekend before last I had a full fledge relapse that consisted of cocaine and heroine.  It resulted in my husband threatening to leave me and me trying to kill myself.  I ended up in the ER and was almost admitted to the psych ward.  I will also add that I am also bipolar 2 so I have that burden to bear.  I am currently doing everything in my power to get well.  I almost ended up losing everything again.  I am seeing a therapist, going to meetings and met with my psychiatrist.  I am working on my spirituality and trying to think positive.  If I hadn't had the relapse i probably would have continued to drink.  I just want to send out this warning to other people who struggle with drinking to be very careful about this surgery and be vigilant about continuing to go to meetings.  Cross addiction is very real.  I realize I may get some harsh comments about this post, and I really don't mind, I am  aware of what I have done to myself, and I appreciate any support and prayers for my recovery as well.

Holy crap! don't know what to say to that.  Just remember that you did it before so you can do it again.  Nothing is worth loosing your family and well being for.  Try to stay strong and hit those support group meetings in everyway you can!  Meanwhile I'll send up a prayer for you.  Just remember you don't want to waste all that time and effort you already put into getting yourself well.  Hold on to that if nothing else.  Ultimately you have to do this for yourself though I'm sure your family is happier with you well too!

Thank you so much for your prayer.  That was really what I was hoping for by posting.  And thank you for the encouragement, I have done it before and am very determined to do it again.  I just thank God I didn't end up homeless again or losing my kids.

I congratulate you on your bravery in starting this thread and want to thank you for bringing up the subject of cross addiction and sharing your relapse.

I know everyone get antsy and sarcastic about the vets suggesting therapy to people who fall off the lifestyle early on, but I do think therapy helps us to look at ourselves, our pasts and our strengths and weaknesses to help us better navigate this surgery and what is expected of us in our new lifestyle.   Eating crap at a few weeks out or drinking alcohol a little too often is a signal that we are not really accepting or dealing with this new change and lifestyle and cross addictions and regain are real possibilities for all of us.

I think sometimes when we are anything from a few months out to a few years out we think we are invincible, we are losing or have lost a boatload of weight and can't seem to do anything wrong.   We think that is how it is going to be forever and that is sooooo NOT TRUE!   We are going to have to navigate life with our new anatomy and if we had problems with addiction - being it drugs, alcohol or food - before surgery, chances are we are going to have problems afterwards.   If we don't work on our problems it is very easy to slip back into our bad habits or even addictions, or swap one addiction (such as food) for another!!!

Once again, thank you for posting this and I wish you well on your journey to recovery 

Thank you so much, it is so true and it means the world to me.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Put your life in the hands of your higher power and yourself.  Together you can do all things.  Bless you for being honest here and asking for help.  We all need help at one time or another (or always!). 

Thank you losingitall, I need your prayers.

There is a group for transfer addictions.  It does not look very active - but I am sure people are checking it all the time.. and I know there is a lot of support there.. if needed. 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/crossingtotransferaddiction s/discussion/

wow, I didn't know that! Thanks!

Hi,

I am 18 years clean and have just had the RNY done last week 7/15/13. I really appreciate your post. I'm very afraid of losing my clean time and am very active in my area and have a wonderful support group around me.  I am going to make some appointments to also seek mental health therapy because I can see where the food became my last frontier. I had quit drinking, smoking, doing drugs, spending, gambling and anything else in my life that can be considered an addiction and this was the one thing I couldn't accomplish. I realize that this is an area that will need some intense therapy because I was eating to cope with life and now there is no coping mechanism. So I've continued to go to my meetings and have started some step work again, but I still feel maybe I need that extra boost from a therapist. So reading your post has given me the extra push to do something and schedule an appointment. I hope you return to your meetings as you don't want to lose that love and support. They are your family and need you too. Hang in there and remember no one will think less of you than you do to yourself. Go back and face it and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised how well you are received. Also I had 6 years in the beginning of my journey and went out and the hardest part was starting over again and doing the steps. But the second time around is the time you will really work hard to keep what you have lost. Thank you again for your post and keep coming back.

C

XO