Opioid Addiction – How Reset Reality Can Help #ResetReality

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Opioid Addiction is scary, it’s growing every single year, and can happen to anyone.  I was watching the news, it’s sad what opioid prescription painkiller abuse is doing to our nation.  It’s a horrible, chronic disease that is growing, every single year more Americans affected by opioid addiction.

After using prescription pain killers they can begin to alert the brain’s chemistry.  It does so by resetting the brain so the user begins to feel that they need the opioids prescription painkillers to get through the day, both physically and psychologically.  I have experienced what opioid prescription abuse does to a family.  Two VERY close family members were addicted for many years, along with 2 friends, one of which lost their lives.

I’m not going to say any names, I don’t think they would mind too much, but it’s their choice to talk about their past addiction.  I am proud to say past addiction, both my family members have managed to make it past everything, but it was far from an easy road.  Thankfully they were able to find help.

For this post I’m going to call them Tommy, and Tammy.  Tommy and I are very close, we go way back, and have been close for as long as I can remember.  Tommy and Tammy meet back in high school, and have always had that white picket fence relationship.  They were prom queen and king, moved together after high school to go off to college, graduated college, have good jobs, had a child, and when you see them together you can tell how much they love one another.  They have been through a lot together, and everything went downhill after their son was born.

Several years ago Tommy had surgery and ended up on prescription painkillers for a little while.  Nobody knew what was going on behind closed doors, and Tommy lost many friends, because nobody knew what was going on.  Tommy went from being a standup guy, who would help anyone with anything, any time of the day, to this guy that nobody ever saw.  He went from being a socail butterfly, to a hermit who went to work, and stayed away from everyone.  This guy who almost lost his job from calling in sick so much, didn’t have any money, almost lost his wife, and thank heavens he’s still here to share his story.

Several years ago Tommy came to my house, and asked if he could talk to me.  Of course I invited him in, I had been so worried watching him go downhill the past few years.  When he got to my house he told me that he was getting help for his addiction to pain pills, I almost fell out of my chair.  I never in a million years expected him to come and tell me this.  Nor did I realize how bad his addiction was.  At this point all I could do was give him a huge, tell him how proud of him I was, and offer my support.  To this day Tommy is off the opioids, but he will tell you it’s still not an easy task, it’s something he deals with every single day, but he knows what rock bottom is and doesn’t want to be there again.  He almost lost his wife, he spent a ridiculous amount of money on them, he did lose friends, and he still says he is thankful he didn’t lose his life.

A few years after Tommy was clean, we found out that his wife Tammy was addicted to painkillers.  She was lying to her husband, spending money that was for bills, sneaking and hiding her addiction.  She was able to get off the painkillers as well, but it wasn’t easy.  She almost lost her marriage.  Tommy has told me the only reason he stuck around so long is because he knew what she was going through.  Once she realize she was fixing to lose her husband she decided to come out with the truth, and tell him was happening.  He offered her help, she thought she could stop taking them, but it was SO much harder than she thought.  I don’t think she realized she was addicted until it was too late.  They were very lucky to have the relationship they have, because not everyone has that kind of support.

I also lost a friend to this horrific addiction not long ago.  It was an overdose, and so sad because he was too young to have lost his life.  I don’t think he realized he was addicted, he was still so young it was all about the party, and having fun.  He went to sleep, and never woke up.  It’s scary, and I wish so badly that people would realize how bad it is, and get help before they too lose their life.  I’m so glad there is places like Reset Reality.

ResetRealityBadge_1024x1024Opioid Addiction – How Reset Reality Can Help

Reset Reality is an amazing publish health initiative designed to spread awareness and understanding about the prevalence, science and treatment of opioid prescription painkiller addiction in the United States.  They help to encourage anyone living with prescription painkiller addiction to step back, reflect and hit the reset button by working with a healthcare professional so that they can work hard toward creating a new reality.  It can be done, and I ask everyone from the bottom of my heart to please look for help.

If you are looking for online resource where you can find information, as well as tools to learn about opioid addiction visit ResetReality.com.  They have a symptom screener, and a resource to find a doctor who is certified to treat opioid prescription painkiller, and/or heroin addiction.  You can also share “Words of Reality” or offer support with words of inspiration.   If you visit the site you will find “Words of Reality” there, as well as the testimonials from reality TV personality spokesperson Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino and other community ambassadors.

While I was visiting ResetReality.com I was reading Michael’s, Cheryl’s, John’s, Karrie’s, and Kim’s reality and realized this can happen to anyone.  I don’t know that there is really a story that touches me more, the fact that these people are standing up and sharing their stories to help others is amazing, and I applaud them for that.  Opioid Dependence is something that can happened to anyone, the more we know about the disease the more powerful we are.

Reset Reality has these great badges that you can download to show your support!  They are trying to raise awareness of opioid prescription opioid addiction, and helping to change reality of others.  Whether it’s your friend, family, co-worker, or the other Americans they are helping!   Like many of you I know this is a condition that can happen to anyone!  If you know someone who’s suffering be sure to tell them about ResetReality.com, it might be what they need to see there is hope, help, and a way out.

I support what they are doing to help others dealing with this chronic condition, so I’m lending my voice by grabbing a badge and placing it on my blog! I’m also putting this has my Facebook and Twitter picture because I support Reset Reality, and ANYONE who’s looking for help in battling opioid addiction!  You can grab a badge, and who your support by visiting ResetReality.com.  You just never know who might see it, and who’s life it could change.

 

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8 comments

rebecca boster December 3, 2013 - 5:34 pm

oh this is so important to talk about. it has effected a lot of people, including people in my family. Thank you, bekki

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Jenn December 3, 2013 - 7:15 pm

Its horrible, and I agree so much we need to talk about it if people are more aware of what can happen maybe they will be more careful. What’s scary is my daughter told me about all the kids in school playing with pills. I’m thankful she knows what they can do since we lost our friend, but there are so many other kids who don’t understand what they can do palying with them… SCARY…

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M.Clark December 3, 2013 - 9:12 pm

I know of someone who is an addict and the person who keeps her supplied with her drugs is her mother, it’s a very sordid affair.

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Mary Mosier December 4, 2013 - 1:04 am

Painkillers are a HUGE problem in my area of Kentucky, it affects more people than not, I have had personal experience with this issue, the lies, the stealing, all to get high My ex was an addict. Pray for all those in need 🙂

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Jo-Ann Brightman December 4, 2013 - 11:57 am

It is very important to raise awareness of opioid addiction and to help these people. Too many people just blame them, but once addicted it is very difficult to break that addiction.

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md kennedy December 4, 2013 - 2:36 pm

I take percoset occasionally for back pain, and thank goodness don’t have an addictive personality as I can see how you could become addicted to them. It must be so difficult to deal with, so it is great that such a resource is available.

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Evelyn Chuter December 4, 2013 - 9:00 pm

Addiction runs in my family. I have the disease of addiction and so does my brother and sister. I have one daughter that has the disease too. I also lost my husband to the disease in 2005, when he took an accidental overdose. My brother took his own life a little over a year ago when he just couldn’t overcome it. He tried many times. I’m happy to say that I have 3 years sobriety, My daughter and my sister have also gotten sober. It has been anything but easy. We all see mental health doctors and go to AA or Na meetings. So far it’s working. I can’t forget to mention the improvement of my relationship with the Lord. It’s fantastic!

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Rebecca Reinwalt December 4, 2013 - 9:15 pm

I have been taking opiod painkillers for over 5 years now. Luckily, I don’t have an addictive personality or i would be in deep trouble. I am closely monitored my pain management Dr, neurologist and orthopedic Dr . Due to various health issues, I have to take these medications in order to function every day, or I would be spending the remainder of my life bedridden. I am, what they call dependent on them. And if the need ever arose, my Dr’s would help me titrate off of them safely. Trying to do it on your own can be just as dangerous as being addicted to the,m.

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