Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 6/29/2008

Question
I have an addiction to speed.  I smoke it daily, and have for the past year, when my boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident.  I have already told Grandmother whom I work for, about it, and that I am going to stop this month.  I do not have to go to work everyday, so I can go through the withdrawal.

I want to quit so badly, I'm preoccupied with the idea most hours of the day, and all hours of the night.  I just don't know how to get through the first week or so of the withdrawal symptoms, as they feel all consuming.

I really do not want to go into a rehab. facility.  I will, however, go to a cognitive therapist when I get through this.

I want to stop this and I have to do it now.  Please help me.

Thank you,
Amy

Answer
Hello Amy,

Going to a cognitive therapist may not help you at this stage, because addiction is mainly a physiological phenomenon and not a psychological phenomenon.

Please read:

Treatment of Drug Addiction at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/treatment_drug_addiction.html

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...

The accident of your boyfriend may have triggered a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and left you with a permanent depressive illness.

Please read:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Hypoglycemia at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/PTStress.html

and also

Self-help Personal Growth Psychotherapy at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/self-help_personal_growth.html

and ask for a referral to a Nutritional Doctor, a Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychologist if he wants to.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman