What have you ever given up? Drugs, drink, cigarettes, gambling?

1. 81

   Bard of Elyposted 13 years ago

   At various points in our lives many of us fight against addictions and hopefully are successful at beating them. Addiction comes in many forms and there are many reasons why a person would want to free themselves from it.
   
   In my own life I was once a barbiturate addict many years ago and then became a Valium addict. I managed to quit those drugs. I was a chainsmoker for many years too and stopped smoking 20 years ago.
   
   In more recent years for health reasons I have given up coffee and all drinks containing caffeine and even quit citrus fruit because I have read a lot of evidence that they cause arthritis.
   
   I used to be a meat-eater and gave that up several years ago too.
   
   So those are some examples of things I have managed to give up. Please post examples of addictions you have successfully beat and say what you have given up in life.

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      prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have given up buying branded clothings, bags, accesories etc. and learn to live simply, I was addicted to shoes, bags and buying stuff which I never used
      
      never had prob with drugs cigs and kind of those things, never tried those things
      
      Am happy for you,

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      Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Good question Bard I've given up weed, ecstacy, speed, LSD and pethidine - all a long time ago now. I frequently give up caffiene for months at a time, but always seem to return to it. I smoke too many fags, so haven't given those up yet. I hardly ever drink alcohol now, but I'm not 100% tee-total. I still like the occasional magic mushroom experience

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         Justine76posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         mushrooms
         
         wish I could put my old pic up now....

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            Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Well done for quitting the fags! It is the hardest of all......for me anyway.

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               Justine76posted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I had a friend who quit cocaine, easier then the ciggies...
               Its an every day struggle still.
               thanks 

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   3. 65

      TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Wow! Congratulations on your success with giving up those things, Ely. Those must have been some difficult struggles.
      
      As for me, I gave up the coffin nails (cigs) three months ago to the DAY (Nov. 16)
      
      It probably doesn't count for much, but I also gave up television after 9/11 (I came to the conclusion that it was harmful to my mental health and intelligence)...I do still watch movies though.

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      Deborah Sextonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      ________________________
      I've never done any of those things, and can't understand why anyone would

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         Bard of Elyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Are you saying you have never been a coffee drinker?

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            Deborah Sextonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            _______________________________
            I've had a cup of coffee at someone's house, to be polite, but I've never been a coffee drinker, if that's makes sense to you!?
            
            No coffee, tea, sodas, cigarettes, no drugs (prescription or street). no gambling.....

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            1. 81

               Bard of Elyposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               That is pretty amazing that you have never had any addictions! You are very lucky!

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                  Deborah Sextonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  _________________________
                  Thank you, I think so too, plus, I didn't put myself in a position to get addicted to anything.
                  My spiritual life, gives me strength to walk away..I'm not saying anything about my religious views, it's just that I am very inward
                  Most people develop life long addictions from an early age, so I also have my father to thank for being strict. I would never have smoked because of my dad, I would have feared the consequences,  my dad was a kind man, and he expected a lot from us

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                     JoelMcLendonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     I can vouch for that

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                        Deborah Sextonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        _______________
                        And I for you. There was a year when Joel enjoyed one cup of cappuccino in the morning, but suddenly stopped.....Ani ohevet otchah

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2. 0

   Justine76posted 13 years ago

   Wow!! Good for you. Ive quit smoking 3 times. So far, its been about 4 weeks since my last butt. Odd as it sounds.... I was addicted to soap operas for awhile. But its been 2 years since the last time I ignored all responsability to watch.

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3. 76

   figmentposted 13 years ago

   I've tried given it all up at one time or another, but it just keeps flying back at me like  "like spit in the wind.  Right now I'm sober only b/c I'm secluded to my father's home hundred's of miles from my "connections".

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4. 0

   lyricsingrayposted 13 years ago

   I gave up wearing white jeans, except it was long after they were no longer in style

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      Green Lotusposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      White jeans are no longer in style? Thats good to know cause mine don't fit anymore

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5. 0

   Justine76posted 13 years ago

   looks like Im still addicted to forums
   Ive got to go guys, but be proud of yourselves. Its not easy to get rid of bad habbits

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6. 81

   Shadesbreathposted 13 years ago

   I used to chew tobacco.  A can a day of Copenhagen. Did it for 17 years.  Quit 13 years ago.  I still miss it, but I don't get the overwhelming urges anymore.
   
   You know, that crap sells for like $6 or $7 bucks a can with all the usurous, discriminatory and punitive taxation that has been placed on it in the so-called "free" U.S. I can't imagine having to come up with $210 bucks a month for that habit now.  Sheesh.
   
   Although, I do tell myself that the day they announce a cure for cancer, I'm going out and buying some. 

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7. 87

   Patty Inglish, MSposted 13 years ago

   Clutter and junk.

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8. 0

   JeanMeriamposted 13 years ago

   Oddly enough, the news. I used to read it several times a day. Especially the more sensational and sad. I found it was making me depressed. Now I just pay attention to my own life and things I enjoy. And I’ve given up cigarettes a few times but keep going back. I’ll figure that one out someday.

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9. 73

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   I gave up drinking. I still smoke, I do a little gambling, but I pick my spots to play. I used to have a gambling problem developing, but got it under control. I did have an alcohol problem when younger, but recognized and took action before it got worse.
   
   I quit drinking 'hard' alcohol and simply stuck to beer. Then, about 2-3 years ago, I quit that altogether.

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      china manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry - I just couldn't let this go by.  What a disgusting thing to do to yourself to play!   
      
      I gave up the UK to live in China.

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10. 69

    IntimatEvolutionposted 13 years ago

    Crack, prescription drugs, meth, and cigarettes.

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11. 73

    lorlie6posted 13 years ago

    Acid, shrooms, meth, crack, cocaine, MDMA, weed, alcohol and on and on.  Never shot anything, though.

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12. 60

    Madison22posted 13 years ago

    I quit drinking and drugs 10 years ago, they nearly destroyed my life.

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13. 65

    TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

    WoW! There are all kinds of wonderful tales of triumph here! Congratulations to all of you who have managed to give up the harmful things in your lives and I wish all of you continued success with your future goals!!

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14. 63

    flread45posted 13 years ago

    I gave up cigarettes in 1986

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Congratulations!!!

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15. 68

    mega1posted 13 years ago

    science fiction and vampire books!

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16. 64

    Mishaposted 13 years ago

    Smoking back in 2005 I think. For good.

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17. 84

    KingDrewposted 13 years ago

    I finally quit smoking last may.  I had only been smoking for a little more than 6 years, but it was still pretty difficult.  You don't realize how much habits like that control all your daily activities until you are cutting them out.

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18. 70

    ddsurfscaposted 13 years ago

    I have quit quite a few addictions.  I no longer do cocaine, heroin, drink, cigarettes.  I haven't done coke for 10 yrs, heroin for almost 2 yrs and drinking 5 yrs ago, smoking only 3 months ago.
    I still smoke herb about once a week, and take prescribed pain meds, but at a very low dosage.

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19. 68

    mega1posted 13 years ago

    I am still wondering whether people who investigate other people can just sign up for HP go on the forums and find out all kinds of good stuff - like if you're applying for work and they find out that you're still battling with a huge addiction to cheetos? can the forums bite us?  I wonder!

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       Justine76posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I personaly know somebody who was fired due to a myspace blog.
       Hopefuly a person would have a good unsearchable profile name..

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20. 68

    mega1posted 13 years ago

    YEAH!  well, let them go ahead on and 'vestigate the shite outta this one, hope they get a couple laffs outta it, cuz they won't be gettin' much else!  Happy Prez day, and don't let me catch you sneakin' into the Tribe space with no uptight attitudes, hear? cuz I'm feelin' just a tad sadistic today!

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21. 65

    Daniel Carterposted 13 years ago

    I was addicted to marriage for 24 years. I finally got over it and am much healthier.
    
    I'm serious.

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    1. 68

       mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       good for you!  I can dig it!

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       Mamelodyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       serious?? dear boy my stomach muscles are aching from extreme laughter

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22. 61

    double_frickposted 13 years ago

    lets see...
    i quit smoking cigarettes twice...i've quit smoking weed a couple times. i still smoke weed now. or  
    i'm pretty proud that i quit crack. though i'm the opposite of proud to admit i did it in the first place. and coke. and E.
    i've also quit drinking caffeine...when i was pregnant...but thats one of my central vices now.
    
    oh yeah, i'm with glass spider on the TV!
    people can't believe we don't have television or saturday morning cartoons (brain drain) for my son! we quit that when they did the digital switch...and haven't missed it yet. (though i'll admit *quitting* my soap opera addiction was a toughie.) LOL

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23. 65

    Daniel Carterposted 13 years ago

    Oh, btw, I watched my daughter go through heroine and alcohol addiction and anorexia. She is clean and sober and healthy. She did it by herself. I don't know how she did it. She is now married to a fabulous guy, has a great job, and rocks my world.

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24. 68

    mega1posted 13 years ago

    here's my theory on addictions - and believe me I can speak from experience - addictions make you sick, no matter what they are, if you are compulsively doing something it will make you sick, therefore, once you realize that you don't like being sick you will stop - until you find another compulsive fascination!  so, do we want to be sick?  seems like a stupid question, but maybe that's the real question -

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       TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I'm with you...and a great question! I sometimes also wonder if society doesn't reinforce some of our bad/addictive habits.

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       Daniel Carterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Good insights. My personal feeling is that the more at peace you become with yourself, the more healthy you are emotionally, physically and spiritually, the less need you have of self medicating. As you become healthier, the medicating seems to loose its power on an intellectual basis, but then, often we have to deal with the physical addictions, which can kill us if we don't find a way to over come them.
       
       An addiction, I think, is *anything* that brings self harm and prevents us from having a balanced life.

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25. 60

    Mamelodyposted 13 years ago

    My most memorable addiction has to be gambling.. took me five years to quit but eventually I did although every time I drive past a casino I always stop by to have a look but I make sure I go in with no money otherwise I'll be back on the black jack table again
    
    I also gave up caffeine and soft drinks..

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26. 60

    Beelzedadposted 13 years ago

    I gave up on television some time ago. Does that count?

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27. 0

    wordscribe41posted 13 years ago

    Drinking, November 26th of 1995...  The best day of my life. 

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       Sara Tonynposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Bravo!

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          wordscribe41posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Thanks, Sara.  It nearly destroyed me.  Congrats to you, too.  Your lungs thank you also.

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28. 60

    Sara Tonynposted 13 years ago

    Weed, cigs

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       Mamelodyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       ahhh.. that explains some bits of you.. good on you though

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          wordscribe41posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          ??? 

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29. 81

    Bard of Elyposted 13 years ago

    Thank you everyone for responding! There are a lot of us here who have beaten our addictions which is great news! Congratulations all round!

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30. 73

    AEvansposted 13 years ago

    I gave up cigarettes shopping, I used to be a shop-aholic it was the worse addiction someone can have. I was always purchasing things we really did not need. I was a complete fanatic for designer fashions my husband honestly had to take the credit cards away put me on an allowance and I could only pay cash. I did not grumble I knew I had a serious problem, after about a year and a half I actually could control myself. Now when I go to the store I am able to say, " I honestly do not need it." As for the clothes in the closet that I had many with tags including shoes and purses, they were donated to our local Red Cross for those who could use them.

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31. 69

    jayjay40posted 13 years ago

    I gave up cigarettes for 2 years, but I'm affraid I'm smoking again. I tried again recently but just didn't have the will power

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32. 78

    Aya Katzposted 13 years ago

    I gave up the law and Coca-Cola. But it's not really called giving something up when you no longer want to do it, is it?

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33. 61

    mod2vintposted 13 years ago

    Having a social life! Children and having my failing business eat up anytime I have.

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34. 0

    ralwusposted 13 years ago

    Good thread Bard. Having had lymphoma now since '93 along with much agony and pain. I was on Dilaudid for 7 years. I hated what it did to my well being and it really did not take care of some of my worst pain. Plus the binding effect in my bowels added to my misery. I quit them, the hardest thing I ever had to do in one months time. I now use another pain killer on an as needed basis that is non narcotic and works on the nerves. One side effect of this is, I get addle brained and it is hard to get myself up and out of bed, so I use them only when it is most unbearable. Sometimes, the pain is just better to deal with than drugs.

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35. 60

    receptionistposted 13 years ago

    For me, I've to say food and cigarettes. I'm still working on my food addiction.

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36. 0

    Deborah Sextonposted 13 years ago

    I've never smoked or done drugs but I gave up all the other men in the world except my husband..
    
    Shhhh don't tell him I said that.

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37. 0

    hamstersmessiahposted 13 years ago

    I've never given up anything.  Just lost interest in a lot of my former addictions is all.  Got bored with them.  I'm about to give up on smoking cigarettes I think.  They've been tasting pretty bad lately.  Although I love nicotine!  Wish I could get the Camel Orbs here locally.  I love those!  Tobacco candy !

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    easybusinesslinksposted 13 years ago

    I gave up on life awhile back, as I was addicted to living like a tramp, but all is well now as I love being me, although I won't reveal that in my avatar, also gave up masturbation, but it comes and goes!

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39. 81

    Bard of Elyposted 13 years ago

    Thank you everyone for continuing this thread with posts about what you have all managed to give up! We are all doing well at conquering our addictions! I am proud of my achievements at doing this and I hope you all are too. I know that when I quit smoking the self-pride I had in having accomplished this helped me keep free from going back to being a smoker.

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40. 61

    megs78posted 13 years ago

    I quit smoking 5 years ago.  was hard, really hard, but I have never looked back to date.  I love being an ex-smoker.  It makes me feel proud and as if I've accomplished something really huge.

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    Mark Knowlesposted 13 years ago

    Cigarettes - 5 months yesterday. I did not kill anyone yet.....

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    brimancandyposted 13 years ago

    The only addiction I have ever had is buying too much clothes.
    I have a closet full of polo shirts, and tons of jeans that sit in a pile unworn. I could probably dress 50 to 100 guys my size on what I have in my closet, and we won't even talk about the amount of underwear in my dressers. I should sell it all on Ebay! I could probably make some money.
    
    But, years ago, I used to be quite a club kid. I went to a bar almost every night of the week, and would blow $50.00 easily on drinks. I stopped doing that pretty quick, but, it was something that I was always tempted to do again. Now, I find that I don't like going to bars, unless there is going to be something special going on.
    
    Another kind of addiction I have is road trips. When I was working, it wouldn't be unuasual for me to take a weekend off, and drive to Chicago, or Toronoto. I might even drive as far as Montreal. I would also hit several amusement parks every summer.
    Now I can't afford to do any of those things. So, that is something that I will miss.
    
    But, I have never had any kind of addiction that I can't control. The rest is all physical, but, I do eat a lot.

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43. 40

    bwh1posted 13 years ago

    haha, good thread
    
    Drinking, Smoking, Girls (the W ones)
    
    I believe that you have to try all what's legal to be able to say "I've done this", but when it's time to quit - quit.
    
    G.

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44. 68

    Hunter Lposted 8 years ago

    never been addicted to anything. Pushed it close and been bad but I always just stop and walk away,, for a few weeks... I honestly dont think i'm capable of addiction

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    FatFreddysCatposted 8 years ago

    I gave up smokeless tobacco (aka "dip") in February of 2013. It's been almost two years already! Wow.

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46. 81

    Bard of Elyposted 8 years ago

    Yes, very well done to all those Hubbers who have overcome addictions and posted here!

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47. 0

    Robilo2posted 8 years ago

    Quit smoking 24 years ago... cold turkey... never went back..

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48. 79

    Silva Hayesposted 8 years ago

    I quit eating meat, poultry, and fish over 30 years ago.  I quit smoking about 10 years ago.  Used the "cold turkey" method for both.  I don't miss any of it; I feel an extreme aversion at the thought of eating meat or smoking a cigarette.

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    ChristinSposted 8 years ago

    Cigarettes, fast food and soda - not necessarily in that order   I gave up cigarettes at 24, but I started at 13 so it was a hard habit to stop.  I gave up fast food completely years ago and never felt better.  I used to drink several sodas per day, deluding myself that because they were "diet" they were healthier... I now have a soda a few times per year maybe.  My teeth and health thanked me for that one too.

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    Silva Hayesposted 8 years ago

    Oh yeah, I forgot sodas.  I never drink dark colored sodas and might drink a ginger ale occasionally.  Also I cut down on coffee to only one cup a day.

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