Thanks for this Vin. My immediate thought is that it's incredibly honest, and makes for much better reading than someone repeating platitudes about grit and positive thinking that they don't really believe.
The piece also ties in with my belief that highly sensitive people - who feel everything more deeply than most, experiencing both higher highs and lower lows - often turn to drink and drugs to numb this hypersensitivity, the same way people who live with ongoing intense physical pain rely on a daily dose of painkillers. This is one of the main reasons creative people, who are highly sensitive by definition, are so likely to be heavily into drugs (along with other factors like openmindedness, inspiration-seeking, thrillseeking, greater receptivity to the weird & wonderful states brought about by psychedelics, etc).
Some would say that the healthier approach to deep psychological pain is a mixture of therapy, the various lifestyle tweaks the therapist's likely to recommend, structure, community, trust in God and a regular spiritual practice. But does this cocktail work for everyone in every circumstance? What about people who have no faith in a higher power and can't manufacture one? People who just don't get that much from others? People going through levels of trauma I can't even imagine?
It would probably take years of training and experience for me to even begin to answer these questions, and if I had them I could very well get it wrong anyway. My question would be: is it not possible that some people legitimately need a particular variety of illegal drug to get them through the day, same as others need painkillers, antidepressants, or long walks in the park? If so, what does this mean for both psychiatry and drug policy?
I agree with you on the sensitivity part, makes one more susceptible, I have evolved to some degree since i wrote that post, I am sober for over 18 months now and don't feel the pain as I did back then. Reading zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance helped me quite a bit since I share some of the mental drawbacks as the author. Therapy is a tough topic for me to speak about, But what I can say is that it has to be a different glove for every person, sometimes meds do help, which is what addicts tend to do in the first place but their way is generally unsustainable.
Trusting in a higher power brings one back to earth, on the ground. But believing isn't for everyone. And living with prescription pot can be an easier alternative which is something great but only if you live in places like the USA.
So the way out of it all for me was a combination of meds, parts of therapy which I could relate to, a sense of faith and higher power in my own terms and books and philosophy which resonated with me. If I think about it all now, it was all part of the bigger plan for me to go through all the struggles to come out stronger and help lead the way for others who might be in the same rut (sounds like how a person on mania would say, hopefully not) , but not as an imposing therapist or like spiritual practitioners who only believe in their own ways.
My way of writing may seem contradictory but purpose, like Viktor Frankl said is what keeps us going.
I haven't completely figured out mine yet but I feel it has to do with a bit of writing, pro pot activism (although I no longer feel the need to use it personally) and helping people figure out their own personal zen.
Thank you dearly for reading it and sharing your thoughts about it. I shared it with a bunch of my friends, relatives, therapists and even councilors but they barely had anything to say.
I hadn't realised you were the author of the piece yourself Vin! Thank you for sharing it, and for your honesty in this comment as well. I'm delighted to hear that you're sober and have found so many lifestyle methods that work for you. I share your love of Motorcycle Maintenance and Viktor Frankl - two of the shining jewels of 20th century thought in my opinion. I couldn't agree more that everything you've gone through is part of a plan, and wish you the best in finding your purpose going forward.
Interesting take.
would you share your thoughts on this? https://proton-9.medium.com/thoughts-of-a-functional-addict-on-mental-health-8952e4e46339
Thanks for this Vin. My immediate thought is that it's incredibly honest, and makes for much better reading than someone repeating platitudes about grit and positive thinking that they don't really believe.
The piece also ties in with my belief that highly sensitive people - who feel everything more deeply than most, experiencing both higher highs and lower lows - often turn to drink and drugs to numb this hypersensitivity, the same way people who live with ongoing intense physical pain rely on a daily dose of painkillers. This is one of the main reasons creative people, who are highly sensitive by definition, are so likely to be heavily into drugs (along with other factors like openmindedness, inspiration-seeking, thrillseeking, greater receptivity to the weird & wonderful states brought about by psychedelics, etc).
Some would say that the healthier approach to deep psychological pain is a mixture of therapy, the various lifestyle tweaks the therapist's likely to recommend, structure, community, trust in God and a regular spiritual practice. But does this cocktail work for everyone in every circumstance? What about people who have no faith in a higher power and can't manufacture one? People who just don't get that much from others? People going through levels of trauma I can't even imagine?
It would probably take years of training and experience for me to even begin to answer these questions, and if I had them I could very well get it wrong anyway. My question would be: is it not possible that some people legitimately need a particular variety of illegal drug to get them through the day, same as others need painkillers, antidepressants, or long walks in the park? If so, what does this mean for both psychiatry and drug policy?
What do you think yourself?
I agree with you on the sensitivity part, makes one more susceptible, I have evolved to some degree since i wrote that post, I am sober for over 18 months now and don't feel the pain as I did back then. Reading zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance helped me quite a bit since I share some of the mental drawbacks as the author. Therapy is a tough topic for me to speak about, But what I can say is that it has to be a different glove for every person, sometimes meds do help, which is what addicts tend to do in the first place but their way is generally unsustainable.
Trusting in a higher power brings one back to earth, on the ground. But believing isn't for everyone. And living with prescription pot can be an easier alternative which is something great but only if you live in places like the USA.
So the way out of it all for me was a combination of meds, parts of therapy which I could relate to, a sense of faith and higher power in my own terms and books and philosophy which resonated with me. If I think about it all now, it was all part of the bigger plan for me to go through all the struggles to come out stronger and help lead the way for others who might be in the same rut (sounds like how a person on mania would say, hopefully not) , but not as an imposing therapist or like spiritual practitioners who only believe in their own ways.
My way of writing may seem contradictory but purpose, like Viktor Frankl said is what keeps us going.
I haven't completely figured out mine yet but I feel it has to do with a bit of writing, pro pot activism (although I no longer feel the need to use it personally) and helping people figure out their own personal zen.
Thank you dearly for reading it and sharing your thoughts about it. I shared it with a bunch of my friends, relatives, therapists and even councilors but they barely had anything to say.
I hadn't realised you were the author of the piece yourself Vin! Thank you for sharing it, and for your honesty in this comment as well. I'm delighted to hear that you're sober and have found so many lifestyle methods that work for you. I share your love of Motorcycle Maintenance and Viktor Frankl - two of the shining jewels of 20th century thought in my opinion. I couldn't agree more that everything you've gone through is part of a plan, and wish you the best in finding your purpose going forward.