Compulsion

I have a serious compulsion to spend excessively. The money has been going towards items to "self-medicate." I am stuck in one sense perhaps more why aren't my scripts helping. They are to keep me from hurting myself or anyone but the mania is too darn frequent. If I have money I spend it. If I don't I borrow it. Then at end of month I have no money left over. Then I'm double depressed. It's a bad cycle I want out. I'm going to an outpatient rehabilitation clinic for 10 days. We can't have phones during sessions. Please give me some ideas. I will respond at end of day. Thank you.

[Hidden]

I understand you get a script for your condition, although I do not know what you are self medicating with. Ho does your GP get around prescribing script that is for your condition if He does not know what STUFF you are taking when you medicate yourself

BOB

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My GP does know and my scripts are all non habit forming. I need a new method that perhaps can work with me as well.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Follow your Doctors advice when it comes to medications. Hopefully as you walk down the GP Pathway it will work out for you

Here to chat

BOB

[Hidden]

Get someone else like your parents to read your balance for you and help you or your partner of course. They will help you control! That is what I have to do after spending too much on educational stuff and clothes for my son and self. They have focus on saving which really helps.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[Afrohair]

Give your money to someone else to look after and budget it obviously someone you trust I’ve had to do this in the past it must be someone who won’t give in to you though.cut up your credit cards delete apps online where you are spending I’m guessing you self medicate from online but I don’t know delete those and possibly even the internet to stop you visiting.do what you can

[Hidden in reply to Afrohair]

I did try to give my money to someone else. Problem was then I would borrow from someone else and have to pay at end of month. Vicious cycle.

[Afrohair in reply to Hidden]

I totally understand I’ve been here and I’m still like that now I’ve cut my cards up and still found a way to spend it needs a lot of rehab and rehabilitation and someone being strict with you

[Seddy85]

Hi my mum has my bank card and did me a spreadsheet it’s really helped and working great maybe you could do same thing

[Hidden in reply to Seddy85]

Once I tried a handwritten budget to no avail. I like the spreadsheet idea as it will itemize and correctly inform you of total spent and amount left. I will to draft one in class today and make it tonight when I get home. Thank you..

[Hidden]

If you are having problems with money, make a list of incoming income and outgoing bills

The outgoing has to be managed possibly by Standing Orders that will take out your bills and show you what is left. Also make a standing order for Credit card payments, the money gets spent when there is only something on plastic. However this will help you plan your money, you need to pay off your card every month.

Regulate your spending like going out and clothes, save so much for these items and do not overspend.

We purchase our week shop on a credit card, that again we pay of on a monthly basis it is important you manage your accounts if you fail you will always be in de bt

Consider a savings account for savings, allow yourself a regular amount and pay into this account by standing order this takes over payments by the bank and you will get statements on a monthly basis and you will see where your money is going. If you are unable to manage your current account you will not save.

If you want a new car consider a manufacturer lease, in that way the car gets serviced and any problems get fixed for you, even if tyres go some accounts replace them for you

BOB

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have a savings account which is of course $0. Having this automated will definitely help. Thank you.

[MaskedNinja]

Hi.

I have periods just like this. I'm doing it right now.

It isn't what I'm buying that is the issue, it's just feeling the 'need' to reward myself, I think.

Maybe you don't mean you are taking anything when you say self-medicating? Are you simply referring to your compulsive-spending?

It is hard to feel rewarded, especially when nothing is giving you any pleasure. A dopamine thing perhaps?

Whatever it is its a seemingly endless vicious circle.

I'm not always like this. I can be really good at saving money, especially when I'm working! When I actually have more money!

Boredom for me is a big trigger. I see no point in doing any safety techniques, not for me. I will still get hold of the money, somehow.

I do know that doing something else with your time could help though. Even something like a community social event or self-help groups. Plenty of addiction groups around! And it is an addiction. That is why I mention the dopamine aspect - almost all addiction has been related to faulty dopamine signalling of some kind. Especially stimulants like cocain & amphetamines. Maybe that is something you could focus on, looking for natural ways to boost dopamine, or even to suppress it like Meditation or Tai Chi, Yoga. Could help break the cycle.

It might need a boost too, and there are plenty of ways to do that without self-medicating. Some non-expensive supplements are good for increasing dopamine levels, in a more natural way than drugs. a few off the top of my head: N- Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT), Rhodiola extract, Theacrine (TeaCrine) and a few nootropics like Oxiracetam which I don't find addictive but it clears the mind & gives me motivation. But be careful, I have even found supplement buying quite compulsive!

Other better ways could be sports or training and gaming such as pub quiz-nights. Winning at something is a great way to achieve a sense of reward. Although a drinking atmosphere might not be the best place to be right now. Bingo?

Keep us updated will you?

[Hidden in reply to MaskedNinja]

Thank you for great ideas. And yes cocaine is one of my spending habits. Your view of brain deficiency dopamine is something I never thought of neither have the "experts" referred it to me.

[MaskedNinja in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean. They never tell us what 'they' think we don't need to know or will understand. They forget that we all use the internet!

I now agree with what I've always been told but couldn't understand. Addiction is a desperate way of filling a void within us. What that void is, that emptiness will depend on the individual of course but I would bet money on it that you know what that something is.

Sometimes, if you have been smothering it for such a long time you can forget what triggered it or what the reason(s) is/are, but it will still be there. You just need to do a little digging. Sometimes the help of a therapist can help you find those answers and then on to find your own solutions for them.

Something for you to think about.

I myself am still on that mission, but I am starting, albeit half-heartedly, to find some ways that I feel fit me as an individual to enable me to help myself and also to start accepting help.

It can be a long journey but it doesn't have to be a bad one!

[Hidden in reply to MaskedNinja]

Thank you for your advice. Of course an idea is new because we have hidden everything. Your concept of digging in and find what you're escaping I will. It won't be overnight. I have anxiety issues over my addiction and when I dig too deep escaping is better. That I've got to stop. Thank you again.

[Wanttobehapppy]

I truly understand your compulsion to spend money to make you feel better I’ve been there and racked up to much debt to cope with, with me it got to much and I had to go insolvent, it’s brilliant that you have help to deal with it I tried and tried to explain to health professionals who took absolutely no notice of me and just advised me to go bankrupt, which wasn’t the best of solutions in my case it just made my depression worse till I could take no more but I digress.

I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope the 10 days in the clinic helps you I just wish I had that opinion then maybe I could cope better to deal with my depression management.

[Wanttobehapppy]

Just read one off your reply’s, with me it was crack cocaine your situation sounds so so similar to what I had to deal with it’s selflessly made me realise I’m not the only one who have gone though this off which I apologise , please get yourself to an addiction clinic for the cocaine addiction it’s a bloody hard drug to give up but I did it and It wasn’t the only drug I was addicted to.

I get it, self medicate to make you feel better but it’s only temporary.

[Hidden]

Sorry, I have taken Narcotics etc for over thirty years for pain, they have now found a different way to suppress pain, nerve, tendon and joints and I am in the midst of cutting back on Pain Medications because now I am not suffering like before. I am sixty nine years old.

Coming of the medications, I have managed now to reduce my medication by two thirds, they are hoping I will be able to pull back even more in another six month time. I am not taking the medication for pain, it is addiction and having to pull of the drugs. The problem is when we get older we have more Chronic Conditions that can be very painful, if you cannot pull back sufficiently you end up where Pain Medications become problematic and the dose levels go up and up to get the best bang for buck. The higher the dose you need the more chance you will be taken over. It is known that near the end of life as they increase the medication up and up to get affect the body breaks down and of you go.

In my case life, and getting older and older where the drugs have a reduced affect the saying was I understand Yes the Patient had controlled pain, sorry for your loss

BOB