Welcome!!! I was addicted to crack cocaine for 16 years but was heavily into it for the past 6 years. I thought I would NEVER lose the obsession and the jonesing for it. But guess what? I have. I still have cravings but they are very minimal.I go to NA meetings 6 days/wk, I have a sponsor, I speak with other addicts, I work on the 12 steps of NA, I read recovery literature, and I pray every morning and every night. Let me tell ya, I have never been as happy in my entire life as I am today. The clean life is the life I was meant to live. The addictive lifestyle will get me absolutely nowhere. There are only 3 options for drug addicts...jails, institutions, and death. I chose institution. Rehab and NA saved my life, literally. Good for you for being clean. The first few months are absolutely the hardest. But if you want it bad enough, you will do what needs to be done to continue sobriety. Reach out for help. Addiction is a pretty miserable, chaotic and lonely place, isn't it? I will also say that the addiction will only progress. The addiction will only bring you to the very bottom. We are not responsible for our disease of addiction, but we are responsible for our recovery. Sounds like you know you need and want to stop using, you know that you have a lot to lose, you know that you have a lot to offer and you know that the drug addict's life is a fucking nightmare! It will only end with death or jail. Fuck that!!! Take control of your addiction and reach out. Getting on this website is a great start. It's so refreshing to hear newcomers' stories, problems and thoughts. I have only been clean for 7+ months but it's the greatest fucking thing I have ever done in my life...EVER!!! I can't imagine going back to that insane life. I have so much going well for me today. I am not willing to give that up for fucking drugs!!! The drugs always run out. The problems, feelings, and issues are always still there after coming down. I wish you luck. I hope this helped a little. Please remain hopeful that things will get better. The jonesing and the cravings will subside over time, trust me. The obsession of drugs will be lifted in time. Pray to a Higher Power for some relief of the obsessive thoughts and feelings. Just keep on plugging along. Try to also remember that it is only one day at a time. That is all we have is today. Keep writing. Read some addicts' journal entries. You will see so many similarities and see that you are, by far, not alone in this battle. Have a wonderful holiday. Just do what you can to stay clean. It's so worth it, trust me. Take care...

My husband has been clean for 2 weeks, and really is staying strong. You need to surround yourself with sober people, eliminate all temptations, access to methods to get it, and stay sober! Praying for you!

i know how you feel. i've been addicted for 22 years. the last 6 years very heavily. i did everything imaginable to get my drugs. i couldn't get enough. i finally went to outpatient treatment, was not successful. i still used. then is was told by my counselor and therapist that it was time to go to residential treatment. i fought it tooth and nail. but i ended up going. i went for 28 days. it was the best thing i ever did. it was alot easier to deal with cravings there than it was to deal with them at home. at least there i knew that i couldn't get any drugs. the cravings last for a long time. i have 58 days clean right now and i still have cravings. they take a long time to go away. i still get them now, but they are not physical. they are more mental now. i don't have to white knuckle it anymore. my sponsor told me when this happens, i need to stop what i'm doing and be still and really think about what's going on with me. sometimes i can figure it out, other times i have to call someone. i recommend going to aa/na. i go to aa because i am an alcoholic too. i have found alot of support there. i found a great sponsor and she has helped me through the tough times. i'm pretty content now. don't get me wrong, i still have rough times, but they're not like they used to be. my advice, just hang in there. the cravings will go away. find another thing to focus on when they happen. use prayer. ask God to take them away from you. He will help us all get through this. i also recommend meetings and maybe an outpatient program. they are wonderful areas of support. hang in there, you can do this. i know you can. hope to hear from you soon.

Hang in there and stay strong. You are doing a great thing for yourself. I know it takes time but it will get easier. Glad you decided to come here:)

Congrats on being sober for 1 week!!! It's a really tough thing to quit. Just take it day by day.

One week is a GREAT start keep it up You need to find some clean friends that you can talk too and try to find a good meeting N.A. C.A. it all helps reach out to your Higher Power and start praying and reading the word . I will keep you in my Prayers God Bless