Gonna Take You Higher

There are many other reasons why people feel addictions are a good way to go. Some are thrill seekers. Others love the feeling of being in control. Some people turn addictions into a total lifestyle where their whole world revolves around their addiction and those who are addicted like them. You can see why so many people are addicted, but is that a good enough reason for you?

Next week we’ll talk about the cons (negatives) of addictions. Trust me, there are many. I used to be really tough on people with addictions. Over the years however, I’ve become far more compassionate. But I remember saying to one guy who was bragging about his drugs and how he didn’t want to change, “I don’t begrudge you a little fun, that’s all you’re going to get.” Have a great week.

NEXT WEEK’S TOPIC – LOWS OF ADDICTION
Your comments mean so much to me. I read every one and get ideas for my blog from what you have to say. Check and see if your comment is quoted in my blog. 

Question Of The Week:

How has an addiction messed up your life or someone you know?  Or, what's wrong with addictions? (Click HERE for a list of addictions.)

Your Friend,
Dawson

Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 11:47:56 AM
wow that is INTENSE. but the high of a sex addiction is obviously the 10 seconds or so of pleasure that feels good.
- alison

Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 11:47:31 AM
My addiction of choice was cutting. There are people who don't consider cutting as a addiction but it is. When I cut i want to feel the the pain and hurt. After evrytime I cut I don't want to feel of think about anything but the pain. When i cut it is usaully more that once probly ten times. At first when i first started cutting it was just once now it is either like five times but there deep or like ten times and there shallow. When you do drugs or a addictive behavior you want that feeling back because it makes you feel relieved in a way of stress and just issues your dealing with. It is really hard for some people to understand this if they don't use drugs or other addictive behaviors because they don't know what it is like. There are many of people with addictions and many without but everyone has to release there pain some way some how and everyone has pain. Thanks for reading my comment Love,Mariah K.
- Mariah

Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 - 11:46:05 AM
ok well i've had some addictions like:ciggaretes(spellcheck)popping knuckles,talking alot,and also flirting with guys that i dont even know and i dont know what 2 do when people say that they want 2 meet^and i get scared from it but i've gotten so used 2 it but i don't know what 2 do can u help? By the way can u help me?
- Brooklynn Pospesel

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 9:10:41 PM
the pro of meth you can cook it yourself as many people do,you can hook people on it easy and take anything you want from them.you can trade things such as big screen TVs and other items for small amounts that cost you nothing.you gain power over people and they do what you want and always tell you what they think you want to here.meth increases the sex drive and keeps you active all the time so there is always someting to do and your always doing it your life becomes fun, theres always someone around and something to do!!! all of this is great but check out my comment next week... bryanwilson
- bryanwilson

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 7:31:32 PM
My good friend Amanda was sent away to rehab for 10 months of her freshman year due to her addiction to pot, alcohol, and triple C's (which is a type of cold medicine). The worst part of it was I had no idea. She just didn't show up for school one day. It was the saddest and hardest thing I've ever gone through. My social life was shifting a lot at the time and she was my only close friend I had. Then she dropped off the face of the earth and I was alone during my first year of highschool with no idea if she was okay or if she was ever coming back. She is much better now. She is going to a different school but we still see each other.
- Allie

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 5:32:36 PM
Dawson,i,m haunted by a girls face on time mag,may,o6 she is a dropeout,or wantbe.she could be my Douther.but she is,n i stared praying for there dropeout kids.this is burtn in my soul.
- jim e.

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 5:31:16 PM
Yes, addiction has messed up almost my whole family..... and its sucks!! We have a lot of family problems because a lot of family members have addiction to something. We just bailed my 18 yr. old brother out of jail like 2 weeks ago because he got caught w. drugs on him. Then like 2 days ago we found out that my uncle that lives in Texas was in jail for drinking. My whole family is messed up because of addiction. I hate it!!!!! why is it so hard for people to get away from drugs and alcohol and other addictions????
- Sarah

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 5:31:01 PM
yeah it help my brother with phone calls
- alex

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 2:26:49 PM
In one of you past shows you said "With Friends Like Those, Who Needs Enemies?" That really clicked with me, and me being a writer/rapper, i decided to write this little thing for you. I think the message is really powerful and eveyone can connect with it. If you ever have another topic and you think you could use this, i would really appreciate it if you shared it on the show, I think a bunch of people can connect with what i wrote, here you go: If your friends use you and exclude you, they aint real friends, you see?// There's a saying that goes: 'With friends like those, who needs enemies?'// So, if your feelin' me, you'd know you gotta keep those 'friends' on their toes// Don't let them blink or move at you, cuz one minute to think and they'll be through// and back with more power, and a cringe like sour, and you'll be left still grinnin' like a coward// You let them use you, but next time you'll stand up// You won't lose, and you won't even have to bluff// im sure you see what it means, but for everyone else, it means that if you friends use you, and they arent your real friends, and by not standing up for yourself, your letting them get more power and letting them take advantage of you. And if your friends are like that, like they're mean and use you, then thery're bad friends, and with friends like those, who needs enemies? I would love for you to share what i wrote on the show becuase i think it can help a lot of people!
- Kayla H

Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 12:24:20 AM
well my boyfriend just broke up with me last night and he said that he can't stand long distance relationships and he said that he thinks that we should break up and he knows whats best for us so will you please help me on that i need major help on this one really really bad please
- hillary p.

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 11:50:24 PM
Hey, I had already commented on Sunday, August 19th at 2:18pm, but I have to say something else. I am havign some heart problems and they are testing me for somethings, but I figured it is all related to stress, because when I didn't do anything difficult, I didn't have as many flutterings or heart pressure. I figured since it is related to stress and I usually had a way of dealing with it, before I had it taken away from me, but now my stress has no way of coping and it is literally hurting me. When I was cutting, it got rid of the emotional pain. Now that my heart has all of that stress building up with no way of dealing with it, it is breaking down. Honestly, I think I liked it better while I was cutting because it got rid of the pain, I DIDN'T have heart problems, and everyone liked how happy I was. Someone write me
- Rachel again

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 11:48:18 PM
I am 26 i cooked crystal meth 4 about 5 years it is one of them highs where u dont really feel like u are doing anything wrong,just trying to get a little energy to get the tasks of the day done.a lot of people take yellow jackets and other subsances that are legal. meth seems cleaner, no giddery afteraffects. at first you really cant even tell you've done anything.before long u see you've accomplished everthing you needed to and thats a good thing so a few days later when things start backing up on you again you want the same sweet fix.before long you have a problem with it. you have to have it to get anything done and you find your self useing everyday with the constance use of it and the high hart rate your body forgets what its like to be normal and you can do nothing without it. nobody want to go back to doing nothing after getting so much done for so long so its got you traped and you find yourself living to get high. liveing to get high is a bad life full of bad things and you start wanting out with no way you have lost everthing you care for in life and there seems to be no end.I have been clean for 3 years i have my wife and kids back and a great life. i beat the addiction and would love to help someone with this problem message me at http://www.myspace.com/bwilson011
- bryan w.

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 6:23:10 PM
My addiction is worrying about my weight
- MiKayla W

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 1:08:57 PM
you can be addicted to sex you know 1 of my close friends is
- Nicky

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 1:50:05 AM
Value, worth, image, purpose...all being dumped down the drain by selfish choices and independence. There is nothing to live for. The addiction never fixes the problem. It never makes it go away. The addiction causes a numbness to the emotion, but it's only temporary.
- Sarah

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 1:49:44 AM
ProBablY thE wOrST thINg abouT addiCtIONs iS thE wAy iT caN cONtroL yoUR liFe. YoU gEt sO uSEd tO The AddICtioN iTs aLmosT sEcoND naTure.
- becky

Thursday, Aug 23, 2007 - 1:49:18 AM
i used to have a cutting problem. I wouldnt cut myself cuz i was suicidal but it was to take my anger out. i would take my anger out on myself instead of others because i dont like fighting. Then one day i decided i was gunna stop because i had carved I LOVE DAVID in my arm because i was really upset at two ppl and i didnt know what to do. It became such an addiction I was doing it without realizing it. It took awhile to stop and needed the help of my therapist, but i managed to quit. Cutting was my addiction.
- Amelia

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:36:14 PM
Well for about 5 months a few years ago I had a bolimia addiction... Since I rode my bike to tennis everyday and it was a long way I was losing a lot of weight.. so whenever I ate something.. I ran to the bathroom and made myself throw up.. It was really painful.. then after a while about five months later my mom caught me in the act and almost sent me to rehab or the hospital... I was going nuts (she said) with me doing that after like every meal my throat was like badly deceased because of my stomach acid... It was a horrible addiction... bt now I'm healthy as can be and at a good weight..
- Nikki

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:31:49 PM
Omg. I love your show! I listen to it every Sunday night. Just listening to you helps me with my problems! Your awesome! Thanks! --♥Stephaniex
- Stephanie

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:31:34 PM
i have a friend who struggled with addiction for a wile and now hes doig better and listing to Dawson gave me ideas to help him thanks so much
- Lauren

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:30:42 PM
Hello Dawson, It is so nice to talk to you. I am very greatful you emailed me. I am going to do my best to anserw this weeks blog for you. Addictions I don't even know where to start. I have had a friend that went to a different school her freshman year of highschool and she got addicted to drugs. I am simply the type of girl you can turn to about anything and I will do my best to help you. My friends call me Dr. Phil, but anyways... she turned to me and I did my best to help her. And we are simply going step by step and getting her through this. Because drugs simply wreck your life. I don't really know how to help on this weeks blog, but to tell your listeners and readers that it is okay to come clean. The sooner the better. The people that are truely your friends and that love you will be there for you no matter what! I hoped this helped you Dawson! Sorry about the late delay! Have a wonderful week and by the way your show is amazing and i listen to it every week ( as much as possible!)
- Ally

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:26:58 PM
Was hoping to find an email address on your site but I imagine you'd be swamped. I've gotta be like your oldest fan - almost 51! I was a couselor in the public schools for 23 years until my progressive illness finally put me out of work after nine years of struggling against it - that was four years ago. I'm semi bedridden now, more bedridden than not. Your the best thing on the air Sunday nights. I miss working with young people so I just really enjoy listening to the show. Anyway, was going to give you a little feedback if you had an email address - mostly all positives with just one point of constructive critcism, if you'd be OK with that. And as long as I'm being totally off topic, one of the things I really like is your one liners, some of which you come up with on the spot and others you've got in your one-liner bank, so to speak. Once in a while suicide comes up on your program. I wanted to give you and any young people catching this a great one on that: "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem." Great, great show, hope you stay on for many more years - Paul
- Paul M

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:25:27 PM
I think drug addiction is something that a. can make end up inpriosn for a long time b. end up killing yourself or others or both. also addictions are hurting me because my cousin has had a baby and before that she was smoking so I am pretty sure that the baby could die of some tipe of lung problem also addictions should not even be sold stuff that I see sickens me like ciggiretts sold for the lowest in the world or lowest lett by state it just makes me sick that people a haveing fun getting lots of money wihle people every coulpe min. die of drug addiction i mean if I were a crook thing I would do is get rid of all the places that make drugs it is just sick I think if you are strong enough you can get by wihle you best friend dies of drug addiction I was told by a doctor that if you don't start by 19 you prboply will not start and that is my comments I have more but i will save it for next week goobye
- joe

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 7:09:22 PM
Not all addictions are bad. An addiction to good health, for instance, is an incredibly great one. But I have been affected by the bad kind of addiction--drug addiction. My mom used to be a nurse. A few years ago, towards the end of her career, she started taking morphine from the hospital's supply to handle work-related stress. When she got caught, she lost her job. Then my parents got a divorce, which hasn't affected me at all, however. A couple months ago, my mom stopped taking her anti-anxiety medication and, with the not-so-helpful help of her boyfriend started doing meth and abandoned me. This hasn't really affected me, seeing as how I am 17 and can take care of myself. I have no harmful addictions. I am clean and have always been. Handling stress is what I do, even though I never am stressed out, so I'm not sure how I could handle something that I don't endure. Well, that's enough rambling. I hope that my response has been helpful. If anyone reading this has any questions or just wants/needs to talk to someone, look me up on the forum, username malox.
- Alexander G.

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 6:31:59 PM
my sisters ex-husband is addicted to coacaine and sells it also. he gave up his family for coke, he doesnt spend time with his kids and chose coke over them. hes so addicted that he talks to himself, steals money to buy the drug and wasted away all his money on the drug. he has tried to get help a few times, but he keeps getting sucked in... he will most likely be dead in a few years if things don't change for him. No one can help him, and when he does get people to help. he refuses,
- Dana P.

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 6:10:51 PM
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY ADDICTIONS.PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE DIED FROM IT.BUT I GOT OVER IT.I DONT KNOW WHY PEOPLE DO THEM IF THEY JUST END UP HURTING PEOPLE AND THEMSELVES.THAT IS WHY I SWORE TO MYSELF THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE AN ADDICTION.IF I EVER FALL IN ONE I KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE PEOPLE BEHIND ME BACKING ME UP,AND I CAN ALWAYS CALL U FOR HELP.OH AND BY THE WAY.I JUST WANTED OT THANK YOU FOR HELPING ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
- SELENA

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 6:10:21 PM
i've never tried drugs but i got addicted to cutting because it also has a "high". A headrush and a feeling of fyling, though probably not to an extreme like drugs.
- Abby F.

Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007 - 9:24:34 AM
In 2002 I started dating this guy right after he got out of prison, he said that he loved being with me because I didnt drink or do drugs and I would be able to keep him from doing those things. In the beginning it was great and he stayed sober. The longer we were together the more he started to get back into doing those things. I blamed myself for a long time because I thought I was the reason he couldnt stay away from the drugs and alcohol. In the end he was dealing again and had even slipped me some drugs one day and got me high. Three days later he was arrested and his parole revoked. I had drug dogs brought through my house and came very close to losing my home, my kids, my vehicle, everything! I realized at that point that it was not a good relationship for me to be in. I still dont completely understand what or why he chose to go back to that lifestyle and it still hurts to this day. I feel like it was three and a half years of my life I wasted trying to help him just to fail. It has made me lose a lot of trust in people. I know addictions are hard, I smoke, therefore I have my own addiction, and I used to drink a lot in the past. I am learning to overcome my own addictions and I understand why I have them, so why couldnt I help someone else overcome thiers? I dont know, and I probably never will. I just urge every person who is dealing with an addiction or knows someone who has one to get them some sort of help, you cant always do it on your own. I have seen to many people ruin thier lives with addictions and if I could help everyone of them I would. Life is to short to waste it on something that useless. I am always there if one of my friends needs someone to listen to because I hate to see things like this. I truly hope that anyone dealing with this sort of problem can get the help they need. I thank God everyday that I finally met(and married) someone without an addiction like this. It can happen and life can be better.
- Jennifer

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 11:24:53 PM
Ive see a drug addiction turn my best friend who i hung out with everyday and did everything with. Then he tryed marajauna and started likeing it more and more and pretty soon started doing it everyday and till today still does. Then he began to experiment with other drugs and thats where it all went wrong for him. He did not care about school started failing almost all of his classes and getting in trouble with the law and it just kills me to know that it happened to him because he was one the best people i knew and one of the funnest, and best friend to hang out with.
- Garrett

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 11:23:03 PM
There are so many things wrong with addictions. They take over your life. It never ends with just one addiction. Then you can't stop lying to feed your addiction and other times you steal to get what you want (not need). You put your addiction first above anything else, including your friends, family, job, self respect and morals. You will do anything for you addiction and end up hurtin the people you love. You mess up your life and sometimes you can't pull back. Pretty soon you'll lose everything, accept your addiction. But by then, its not even worth it.
- Jenna

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 7:22:34 PM
addictions can mess up ur lyfe in manny wayz. u can lose ur family, friends and basically mess up ur lyfe. i was watching montel one day and it was episode on addictions and this family was on there. and a mother had addiction on drugs, a painkiller. she was homeless basically because she used up all her money tryin to buy the drug and her family was on the show tryin to tell her that she needed to get help because of her current lifestyle. and that should answer the question to y drugs are bad. I lUv ur radio show dawson, the way u have a place where ppl can just call in and just tell problems. and it helps me just by listening. but thanks.
- riah

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 7:21:10 PM
i love to hear your show about differnt topics that ocurr in the usa
- tiffanymeahan

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:29:46 AM
i love your show
- vickie

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:29:39 AM
My addiction is mostly full of lows. It never really have those highs, but I just keep doing it. I’ll hurt myself (of course there is precise planning that goes into how and where to do it). Then fear wipes over. I have to hide what I just did to myself. I have to hide how I did it. Pain wipes over. Intense stinging happens for days after the cuts. I have to hide that I am hurting in any way. I must go on with the guilt eating away at my insides. I walk around, different from others, covered at all times, and people ask me why all the time. I lie to them. I live in intense fear that people will find out and turn away from me, even though I have not changed (personality wise). And yet, I still want someone to know and be there for me. I have yet to find them. And to cover all this up, I just start the cycle over again.
- shelby

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:29:31 AM
woah let m tell you,, addictions mess you upp big time! i know because iv had many addictions! and one of them were boys! you guys dont get addicted to boys all they will do is H-U-R-T you! i have had much experince with that belive me! -courtneyy!
- courtney ryan

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:29:23 AM
i am a cutter, and i don't know how to stop. last nigh, i cut open my vain, and lost sensation in my hand...now, my finger won't move, and i can't feel it...
- alex

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:29:13 AM
I am writing to tell whoever's reading about the lowest point of my addiction. I am twenty-two years old and I am a recovering heroin addict. I used heroin every day, several times a day, for quite some time. But there came a point when I couldn't afford to get high anymore, I could only afford to not be sick. I realized, what is the point in working all week, spending my paycheck on enough heroin until I got paid again (if I was lucky) and not even getting high? If I didn't use heroin for a few hours, I would get cold sweats and feel like I had absolutely no energy, so I had to use again in order to function. I couldn't pay my rent or my utilities and my roommates were getting pretty fed up. I decided to try to get into detox, so I took a medical leave of absence, but I had to be put on a waiting list and so for a couple of weeks I had no dope and no money. The cold sweats were just the beginning. I ached all over. The worst pain you can imagine, in every single inch of your body, even parts of your body you didn't know could hurt. I could barely eat. I couldn't sleep at all. I couldn't go without moving my legs. I couldn't keep them still at all. I would be cold but drenched in sweat and a minute later be extremely hot. I couldn't get a single moment of comfort. I was so desperate to feel better that I sat on my bathroom floor and shot up water off of my cooker, but it didn't help. All I wanted in the world was one more fix, but I had no money, no one left to lend me money, and no means of getting it. I have never been more miserable in my life, and I was that way for two weeks before I was able to get a detox bed. Why am I writing this? Because if even one person reconsiders messing around/"playing"/experimenting with heroin or any other drug after reading what I wrote, than it will be worth it to me. No one should have to go through what I went through. And even though other drugs may not cause physically painful withdrawals, the mental ones can be even worse. With all that I described about the physical pain I went through, the mental was just as bad if not worse, and it lasted much longer and was harder to fix. I'm happy to report that I am now 7 months clean and active in my recovery but it took a lot of work and will continue to for the rest of my life. Save yourself the trouble. You'll never know if you can become addicted to heroin if you never try it.
- Courtney

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:29:04 AM
hi dawson, i heard about you from a friend, and i was just wondering if you could give me some advice. i was in a relationship for 3 years from 8 to most of 10 grade. we were very close, more like best friends than anything else, all of a sudden he started ignoring me and told me that he thought we should stop dating. after we broke up he called me to talk and i was very cold to him, he cried really hard that night on the phone, saying he was sorry over and over again. two days later he tried to be firends with me and i wanted to stay firends as well, but after 3 more days of talking (a week after breaking up) he stopped talking all together. i was hurt, mostly because i was looking for closure afterwards and he refused to even look at me. i always wondered after 3 years how all of a sudden could he do something like that? i dont know what he was feeling because he didnt show any remorse (he never has shown any feelings at all). its been almost 2 years now and im over the relationship but recently he decided it would be ok to sit down and talk to me. and we did, we laughed and talk for around 5 hours, watched a movie about soul mates (he told me that we should watch it together) and at the end i had dinner with his family just like the old days. after dinner we went back to his tv room to talk some more and i broke down and cried. this was the first time ever that i had seen him feel remorse about what happend- because his tone changed and for about the next hour my old friend was back and i was so happy i couldnt stop crying, i told him i could see him falling and that i didnt want that for him, i told him to go out and find friends , do fun things even if it wasnt with me. he was really talkative told me he still remembered all the good things and also said he thought he could never have this kind of convorsation with anyone else) I left that day thinking that that might be the last time i ever see that david again. and sense that talk, he has found friends, but also drinking, smoking and drugs. i still care about him so much and it hurts me to see him doing these things. I want to reach out to him but i dont know how to do so. of coarse i have said hurtful things along the way, i have judged him and have not been all fair. but i would really like a way to show him how much he means to me. and i would like some sort of advice.. anything you can give. thank you.
- Chelsea

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:55 AM
I think that getting high is just a waste of time. but for those who do i think that they do it because of the simple fact that they need a way out of realit! maybe their lives are bad...but i know that still is not a reason to do drugs! Thats why i am so encouraged to help the love one i know get help! It just gets worst the more they do!!
- Rosenda

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:50 AM
I just loveeee your show!!!
- elizabeth

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:44 AM
Hey Dawson.. I have smoked pot.. Yeah i know its bad but i started to get addicted to it and i have been fighting it so badly and each week it gets harder to fight.. Sometimes i dont know how im going to deal with it but somehow, someway i do it. I believe that people can be addicted to many things besides just drugs and alcohol.. I used to be addicted to cutting.. My life wouldnt be better until i cutted and even after i did i wondered "why in the hell did i just do that?" and i would yell at my self for it.. and promise that i would never do it again.. but always when my mom would get on my case or i was having a hard time i would go and cut my leg (in summer) or my arm (in winter). I would just sit there discusted with myself but relieved at the same time.. I guess i just relized that maybe i should stop before i get caught or i have to go to a psych ward so i tried to stop.. but that was so hard.. I had every chance to but i didnt take it.. becaue i wanted to be able to say "yeah.. i held myself back." My point is that basically that i hope this time i can hold myself back just like with my cutting.. I have been pot free for 2 weeks and im hoping i can go another week.. If you think u cant get over an addiction.. think again just try and see how good you feel after you go another day w/o it!! honestly u feel high from that!
- Shelby

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:35 AM
well, self injury is my high. when i would cut, it makes me feel good, like i am letting out all of my anger, stress, and frustration. it makes me feel good for a while, until i have realized what i have done to myself.
- michelle

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:28 AM
wow i know alot of people with addictions but it hasn't messed up there life. they just go on about there day as if nothing happened. there skilled. allthough the fact that they even have addictions kindof makes me sad but i guess you get yoused to it i just hope the young people that we know and know them don't also become addicted to it or want to do it cuz they know someone who does. and it ruin there life.
- kimberly

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:19 AM
I have 2 young children (3 & 1) and just left their father because he was addicted to gambling. It ruined our lives in ways I could never imagine. I always thought that cheating would be the worst, but I soon discovered that along with gambling came lie after lie. I found myself always questioning, what is the truth? Our relationship was never going to improve without trust. I have wanted to call you time and time again, but I think I have made the right decision in leaving; even though I am a single parent now. This is very fresh for me; I just left him in March of this year. He still tries real hard to get back together, but I think that the love I once had is gone. He has been telling me he wants to be a family again and he wants what's best for the children. I want the best for our children too, but I feel that I can give it to them w/out him and I together. I let him have visitation with the kids 3 days a week (court ordered), so I am not going to keep them apart. He lives with his mother now, and she too is a cumpulsive gambler and won't seek help. She denies she has a problem. He's told me he has quit gambling and I don't know whether to believe him or not. The trust is gone. Thanks for reading, this was alot longer than I had intended it to be.
- Ericka Wendt

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:10 AM
my dad was an alcoholic and he quit a few years ago,but to this day he's still trying to pick up all the pieces. On that side of ma family there is a history of alcoholism and it scares me to death that if i slip into any kind of pressure i might keep the chain going. my grandpa (ma dad's dad) used to go drinking everyday, he used to get so wasted that he could not even get back home so what he did was pay one of the bartenders 75 cents to take him back home by pushing him in a wheelbarrow. he died when i was a few months old, his liver and pancreas were barely in place and fell out of place when he died. my uncle ( ma dad's big brother) got his pancreas removed because of drinking way too much, and he also is trying to get his life back together. then comes my dad's younger brother, he's on the verge of losing his wife and unborn child. for me it all comes back to my dad. he missed out on so much in my life all because he had to put himself first before his family. first of all he wasn't there for the first 5 years of my life because he was in russia for school, then he came back and we lived together for about 3 years. when i was 9 my mom, my sister, and i moved away from him, and i lived with my granma (ma mom's mom) wh basicly raised me when my mom moved to the U.S. but most of the time i'm on the edge cuz i don't wanna end up losing the people i love or things that i've worked hard for. my dad is an example in my life. for me 1 drink is just too many.
- kudakwashe

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:28:01 AM
ive been addictied to cutting for the past year and its horrible.
- Rachel

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:27:55 AM
HEY IM JULIO IF BEEN SITIN BY THE RADIO AND LISTEN TO U GIVEING PEOPLE ADVICE AND I TAKE SOME OF THE THE ADVICE U GIVE TO PEOPLE AND I THINK YOUR RELLY RELLY HELPFUL TO PEOPLE WIT PROBLEMS AND MAYBE SOMDAY U CAN HELPME WIT MINES AND MY GIRLFREINDS PROBLIM
- JULIO PARRALES

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:27:48 AM
dear mr. dawson, i am 13 years old and i really enjoy your show i watch it as much as i can it shows me all the people who have pain that you help them mend. its amazing that you can help so many people. it also teaches me that if i ever meet somone who needs some help maybe i could help them from the imformation you share. and the love that you have for these people, just amazes me its great and im truley proud of you
- Hannah Hauser

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:27:41 AM
what up man i am on addiction my is tobacco and smoking and it messed up my life because i cant talk to my family they do not like people with addiction i cant talk to my friend because they dont go round people with addiction i think addiction is bad i am trying to stop.
- jesse

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 - 10:27:33 AM
yeah there are a lot of pros to addicition, like the feeling of all your worries going away, the puff of a blunt takes away your stresses, the cutting of the knife on your skin, takes away the pain and confusion that you are dealing with, getting drunk turns you into something that you ar enot, makes you more outgoing, seem more popular, even cooler then other people, when i did these things, they made me feel invincible, until it all got old and turned against me. God is the Only One that helped me through when the addictions were calling me, temptaion was calling my name, to cut myself recently, but i just prayed and it went away. I have a lot more addictions to work with- but this time i know i can make it through them, because I have a Great Friend in My Father In Heaven, My Savior, My God.
- phillygirl

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 9:15:23 AM
I recently quite smoking marijuana and I've currently lost a relationship with what at one point in time I would have called my bestfriends. My friend of 13 years has even lost interest in me but I know I must not take this personnely because this is what addictions do. It destroys everything positive in you and around you. I've seen so many people effected in different ways by addictions it's hard to even determine one thing that addictions do to you. A easier questions is what doesn't addictions do to you. I thought by not smoking I would improve the quality of my life but in seeing that everyone and everything around me was somehow involved with drugs it makes that hard to see or believe. Now I feel more alone than ever but I'm actually able to work with around and through these feelings instead of just acting like though don't exist and trying to escape from them. I've lost my childhood,friends,experiences I should have had,job opportunities and most of all which I still have not gained back is my families trust. They don't even know about my drug problem but just by the person I became they distrust me. Addictions are like a natural diaster you never know when they'll really hit you at home but you know they will and when they do your never really prepared. I wish to this day I could skip all that I've been through involving drugs but you can't so take it to heed and when those people drop you because their afraid of your success and ashamed of what they feel as failure find ways to help those people after all their you at one point in time be understanding and forgiving. After all isn't not having those type people of in our lives part of what drove us to drugs? Everyone needs someone if you can always try to be that someone. Just watch how much of that is at your own risk. Never compare yourself to someone and say I'm not as bad as that person so I'm fine because I'm one of those who thought I couldn't get there and thought I was fine it's just apart of the drugs having control listen when I tell you save yourself now because like it or not you can't always be saved once your so far. Forget what you did it only matters what you do now anyone who truly loves you will forgive you. I'm living proof!
- Kelly

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 2:17:45 AM
Hey Dawson. I just wanted you to know I love your show. I think it is so awesom what you do for people. I also know you're asking people about problems they've had with addiction. Well, I am going to tell you mine. I'm now 20 years old. When I was around 12, I got into sexual activities with my girlfriends. Since that age, I was having sex with my girlfriend. When we broke up I was devistated and part of that was because of sex. So I found a "backup" persay. And in between that break up and my next girlfriend, I had sex with 4 other girls. Finally last year, I told my church about it. After all was said and done, I had one kid, no std's thank goodness, and I was also kicked out of my church. I was getting ready to serve a mission for my church, but I ended up getting kicked out in nov. of 2006. Obviously I was verty hurt by this. After being kicked out, I still fell into temptation. Around Christmas time last year I hooked up with my X girlfriend again. I've been battling myself for a long time, and I finally realized around Easter, where this was takin me and my life. My sexual addiction had complete control over me. Naturaly I want to have control over myself. I finally decided that I was going to fight it. I haven't had any problems since easter time. I am still dating, but I have found a great girl who I will have no problem staying straight. But if I only knew back then how much sex would be an addiction I would never have done it in the first place. If I could have avoided having a child, being kicked out of the church, and hurting many people, including at least one young lady who had my child, her parents, my parents, my siblings, and all of my family friends and hers, my life would be so much better now. I am now working on getting back into the church. The yound lady is doing great now. My child was adopted by her mother, and they love him very much. They let me see him every time I come in town which is awesome. At this point I have control over this problem. My family and hers are accepting the fact and becoming proud of our progress. But I just thought my story might be a good one to air. I hope this helps you out, since you help many many people out. Agian, I love listening to your show and I think it's wonderful what you do! Thanks for you time, Nick
- Nick

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 1:10:44 AM
i was on the other side of a drug addiction. the guy i was gonna marry was addicted to meth and i had no clue. i found out when i got the call that he went to jail. he was only in a week. we are trying to make things work but its so hard. there is no trust. i see how much he struggles with his addiction and cravings. i just don't see how its worth it. you ruin your own life and the lives of everyone around you.
- Christa

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:47:08 AM
my dad and my mom used to smoke my dad for i don't know how long and my mom since she was twelve when my dad quit it was very difficult for all of us he went through a very long withdrawl and was moody and grumpy most of the time my mom i don't remember because i was very young at the time but i remember my dad's and it always will because it showed me that having an addiction doesn't stop when you quit it really lasts a lot longer then that!
- abby

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:36:18 AM
Addiction as put me in Jail several times from public intox to here recently my second DUI. Not to mention the thousands of dollars I have spent on drinking, lawyers, fines, bonding out, etc. I could have bought a really nice house with all the moiney it had cost me. I have screwed over alot of friends who would do anything because I would rather drink than keep my word and be there for them like they are for me. I have lost numerous jobs from going on two or three day drinking binges. There is nothing good about addictions unless you count the high and the temporary relief from all the things that are bothering you at the time, but the next day they are back and hurt you worse than the day before.
- Jason T.

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:33:50 AM
I couldn't help but look over this blog on addiction. I'm a bit older than the writers here, I'm sure-But I had to make a comment. I was a user for years~I used drugs to clearly get away from my past, present and my unseen future. I saw myself as nothing for a long time-thus, I was looking for something to take me away from reality (an escape). For 7 years, I was on a road that continuously had me on a search for Meth. If I didn't have meth-I did other drugs and such until I could get it. When I decided I was going to clean myself up for good-I did just that. I stopped using and it was the hardest thing ever to do. What I didn't realize, until a year after being clean, is I contracted HIV from the binges I took. I can't tell you who I got it from or how I got it. I can guess it was unprotected sex-but when you are high, you are not sure about anything like you think you are-My thought process was 'I wanted to get away from life.' I can seat here tonight, and say you can't get away from HIV. HIV is with you until you die. So, when I did drugs, did I get away? No, I didn't. I got HIV. I can't get away from that. Addiction took me further than I wanted to go. Addiction is a lie and a thief...addiction leads to distruction and death. It kills the person you are meant to be and it kills the people who love you the most (even if you think they do not). Addiction always takes and never gives. Unless the giving is to destroy your body, mind, and soul. God bless~
- Drew

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:28:55 AM
I drank alcohol for 9 months when i was 16-17. my first taste wasn't even intentional. a restarant had mixed up my order. a few months later, my family really started having problems. i remembered how it felt after i'd had that drink. so i started trying to find alcohol. since i live in an area where 90% of kids have drank alcohol by age 13 it wasn't that hard. i would drink as often as i could. staying with friends' houses so i didn't have to go home drunk. i was addicted, and i used it as an escape. whenever i was drunk, my messed up family wasn't on my mind. i'm a Christian. and i knew it was wrong, but it was the easiest way i'd found to get away. very few people knew about my addiction. but i knew some of them would be praying for me. God gave me an amazing friend, who was an inter at my youth group. he became my accountability partner and has helped a lot. i am now an accountability partner to some of my drinkning friends, and a few have totally quit drinking too. sometimes when i turn away from God and start to fall, i get weak to that temptation. but i'm glad to say that i've only fallen to it once in the last 5 months.
- heidi

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:25:32 AM
hey dawson I decided to come check out you page. What I didn't expect is that I was moved by your blog and decided to comment. There are many people in my family with addictions well okay almost all of them. I have been around them all and I have noticed there mood swings. What I didn't tell you is that I have an addiction myself and it is self harm cutting burning what ever to get my heart pumping and it is so hard to stop when I get the change to do something most likly I take it. I know about all the ups and downs about addicetions and the suck and I am only 14 and I know what addiction is all about so my suggestion is when someone tells you to just say no they mean JUST SAY NO. Your life would be way more easeier even if you think it won't well Think again. Sometimes in life it take some people like me to do the things we do so we can help the others who are struggling with addictions or addictive behavior. Thats why god made up the way we are to help take care of one anothers well-being Thanks for listing Dawson Love, Mariah
- Mariah

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 12:10:03 AM
addictions change your life forever my name is caitlynrenee and i am 14.once you start to do watever you do you will have a hard time stopping my best friend jenne started smoking and shes only 14 and she started to smoke about a couple of monthes ago and know shes trying to stop but she just cant.......actually alot of my friends and family smoke and they know not to smoke around me but they forget and when they do smoke around me and i start haveing an asthma attack and then all heck breaks loose. one time i all most died very sad. so if you have read this you should stop or try to stop watever addiction you have because it can ruin your life and your friends life....and especially your families life. mr.dawson i listen to ur show and listening to your words for other people has helped me and everybody i know i would love to talk to you sometime thank you
- caitlynrenee

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 11:42:54 PM
addictions take over your life. they change the person you once were before, and you see these addictions are NOT nessecary at all. People feel certain ways; maybe its low-self esteem, stress, insecure, hated, whatever and they find something bad (which might not seem bad at first) and abuses it because they might become distress. Well there are easier ways to get out of that "darkness". So don't abuse drugs,don't overtake something u know u shouldn't be. HAve you ever heard the saying-"too much of a good thing is bad for you." ?
- Danielle

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 11:22:56 PM
thanks for letting me read this. i am 13 and i had an eating disorder last year becuse at 12 i wayed 110. i felt way to fat and left out. i didnt realize what all i had. my family is pretty well off, i have great friends who love me, and alot more. i have a friend who is older who went therw this at the age of 17 and found help at age 22. she told me if i ever had trubbles to talk to her. i called her the next night. she was suprised, but willing to help me. no i am felling alot better and learned how to lose weight the safe way. you show inspiered me to stop. i was too shy to call and i didnt know how to contact anyone. i tought i was alone. but thanks for letting me know i wasnt.
- sarah

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 11:21:09 PM
Hello Dawson. I love listening to your show even when I don't have problems. But to answer your question on how an addiciton messed up my life. About 4 years ago me and my mom got away from the only person I ever considered my father because he started shooting meth and I'm sure of all people you know what meth can do to a person and a family. Things were getting so bad he was stealing from me and my mom, taking things out of the house to pawn, and things along those lines. Finally my mom said enough was enough and kicked him out and we moved to a different town. But the experience has made me a stronger person and has helped me to know what not to get into. Though I wish he would get clean and get his life together again honestly I'm glad that happen because I wouldn't be who I am today.
- Shelby

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 11:04:38 PM
I fell into a cycle of self-destruction. Everything started with an eating disorder soon enough i was cutting to deal with the stress of bulimia and anorexia(sense i alternated between the two). Cutting was too hard to hide, i moved on to drugs, and i found that not only did they take the stress away they were also a way to supress the hunger.... But everything's has fallen apart and now i'm constantly depressed and angry with life. I can no longer control my emotions and im all over the place. My addictions are taking a toll on my health and mental state.
- Wendy

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 11:00:40 PM
Hey Dawson i just wanted to start by saying i love your show just by listening i've figured out how to deal with some of my own issues, but i was addicted to Alcohol and drugs for about 7 years and didnt realize the reprocutions of my using until the day i heard the jail doors slam shut on my face and i have been clean and sober for 9 months and have found new Clean friends in a fellowship of clean addicts and if it wasnt for their support i probably would still be using or worse dead but im not and im here living and breathing clean and if i can do it anyone can cause i was knocking down deaths door Thank you for being there for everyone Addicts inparticular thank you so much
- Mitch

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:59:06 PM
I love your show. I listen to it every sunday and you have great views on things.
- Rachel

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:58:57 PM
i know someone who was addicted to the internet. it seems like something to laugh at and something to easily to get away from. but this person quit her sports, missed school, and was hardly social anymore, except online. It was scary too, she would drink energy drinks and only leave to bathroom or get something to eat and go back. she wasnt playing games either, it was just myspace/xanga/facebook/espinthebottle, alll the sites she was logged into. she did however start to get bored with it, and she practically helped herself stay off by deleting 3 of her accounts, and finding other things to do with her time. but even now she is spending 6-7 hours online everyday..i dont know what to tell her, im mean im happy she cut back some, but i still think she should only get on for like an hour or something?... yeah so..
- Marisa

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:52:40 PM
hi dawson i love your show i listen to it sunday night ill realy like what your doing i just found your show a few weeks ago and i love it so much but anyways im 17 when i was 14 i smoked weed that my sister gave to me but i didnt realy like it much but i did try it again to be cool and my friends tryed it from somwere i wwasnt there but one night i was at there house they waled in so wasted they almost died then one night when were siting around he had done drugs i dont know what kind but he decided to try to cut himself but we stopped him then soon he got so deep in them we lost touch he and his bro finaly went to jail cause they robed somebody but it didnt help but i havent seen them in yrs but i just wish they never did drugs but thanks for reading my story josh 17
- josh

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:13:32 PM
Hey Dawson! I love your show. I listen every Sunday night. I love your point of view on things. I am what I guess you would call a 19 year old college kid that has a good head on my shoulders. I am a Christian and I love the Lord. I love to help my friends and people around me with their problems. I would love to help and mentor kids around here. How can I help? God Bless!
- Lindsey

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:13:04 PM
Hey Dawson. Just wanted to let you know I think your show is wonderful. I have been listening a lot lately.
- Donna

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:12:57 PM
Dr. Doug- cutting is wai bad. my firedn used 2 do it and she almost died!!!!!!1 normally i <3 ur sho, u really help ppl and thats amazin. keep up teh god wurk. p.s. i ain't no prankin
- D^3

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:10:41 PM
I feel that having an eating disorder really made me grumpy. I lost a lot of friends. I also had to take a lot of speaciol drinks to put on weight.
- Maddie

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 10:09:15 PM
Hey Dawson. I have been listening to your show quite a bit just out of curiosity. I'm not a teenager but I never knew teenagers had so many problems. I've never had any addictions(I promise) and I'm 26. I know that's hard to believe but it's true. I just wanted to share my thoughts and let you know that I think your show is wonderful. It gives teens a chance to talk about their problems if they have no one else to talk to. Just thought I would let you know what I thought. Talk to you later.
- Donna

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 9:38:30 PM
My boyfriend is addicted to weed, he holds a 2nd job for more money but it doesn't make sense. He smokes in the house and we have a son who sleeps in the next room. He has also taken money out of our son's piggy bank to buy weed. People tell me that weed isn't additive, that he must be doing other drugs then weed b/c he's been smokin weed for years so a new drug would show up. Idk if that's true, I know he is addicted to weed, but idk if he's doing other drugs
- lala

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 9:38:08 PM
I remember my first time getting high. i was scared at first cause my friends kept calling me rude things cause i didnt want to. then i did it and i felt so much better and i was happy and everything that was on my mind just dissapeared. but now im batized and whenever i look back at what i've done i really regret even hanging out with those people. so now whenever they call or something i just come out with the truth and say i dont want to talk to them. you might lose some friends that like to call themselves cool and stuff but acutally the people that are healthy are the cool people.
- Jessica A.

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 9:33:08 PM
I am addicted to gambling. Gambling has COMPLETELY ruined my life. I am in serious debt. I have ruined relationships with my family friends and girlfriend. But i keep going back to casinos and sports betting. I hate every moment when I am at a casino. Even if I am winning beleive it or not! But I am so addicted to going I am not sure if I will be able to stop. Its a genetic gene that is horrible to have. I throw every pay check I have away. I am better off throwing it out my car window.
- Greg

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 8:49:32 PM
I am addicated to Caffine. I can't go a day with out it. It wakes me up. My mom says that it's not good for me and I know that but I can't stop drinking it. I think people get addicted to stuff to fit in not really caffine but alcohol, and drugs. They see there friends doing it and they just take a chance and get addicted.
- Misty

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 8:35:05 PM
smoking has basically made me a liar. even tho its not a big addiction..i tell my mom all the time i quit and i really didn't. so im basically living a lie.and it sucks.
- karen

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 8:34:46 PM
my friend does marijuana and it has really messed up our relationship. she lies all the time and shes just not the same
- brittany

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 8:34:34 PM
Hi Dawson, about 2 years ago I started cutting myself when looking at how I acted around my friends and family you would have never guessed that deep inside I was dying and crying out for help, I was always such a happy person, I was always laughing and always happy, at least thats how I tried to appear to eveyone. I started cutting myself because I was loosing friends (or people who I thought were my friends)and at the same time my boyfriend told me that he had been cutting himself, when he told me that I though "hey what the heck, why not just try it, whats it gonna hurt?" I wasn't really sure that cutting myself would take away any of the pain I was feeling but the first time I cut myself I felt like it relieved some of the emotional pain I was feeling, and cutting myself soon became an addiction and even with the help of others I couldn't quit only because deep inside I didn't want to quit, because it made me feel better. But it was destroying myself and all my relationships I spend no time with my family and I totally isolated myself from the world...I haven't cut myself for about a year now, but I'm still addicted, not to cutting, I'm addicted to thinking bad about myself, because when I was cutting I beat myself up for everything wrong that would happen when someone yelled at me I would take it to an extreme and blame myself and then go off and cut, I still don't know how to think positive about myself I'm constantly saying how sorry I am for things that aren't even my fault or blaming myself for something bad that has happened, so even though I'm no longer cutting myself I still have the scars both on my body and inside, that I cant get rid of
- Lauren

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 2:20:50 PM
what's wrong with addictions is that they make you feel like you have no other way to go so you stay stuck. there good for nothing but we think they are good for every thing. but addiction is caffeine it hasn't caused me much trouble b/c it's easy to hide. but hte problem is when i try to stop pople think i'm dumb if i don't drink pop. not as many people support me b/c they don't realise that i have a problem. it's hard to stop b/c you can't get away from cappicino and pop. but i've been trying, don't drink caffiene as much now.
- Anna

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 2:20:07 PM
i love how you're helping people clear they're addiction and i know sometimes it doesn't work but i know if i had an addiction i'd come straight to you. U scare people onto the right past and i know that's what i'd need if i had an addiction. i listen to your show everytime it's on to hear about people problems so i know not to make a mistake like that. thnx -Camcam
- Camcam

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 2:18:39 PM
I never really had a drug addiction per say (don't know how to spell it), but I did have a BAD addiction to cutting. Dont' think of me as weird, because I had a perfect explanation for it. I didn't do it because I liked looking at blood or something that crazy or that it was a "new style". That's bull. When would do that, I felt as if the emotional pain went from my head and was transformed into pysical pain and that I can handle better. When I felt sad in anyway, the first thing that I would think to do is to pull out the razor or knife. Sometimes the relief, like you wrote in your blog, couldn't come fast enough and I would even do it at school in the bathroom, during a class period where no one was around. I didn't do it there because I wanted someone to catch me but that I needed the high NOW. I would consider it a high as well, because it made me emotionally high. The fact is that it wasn't permanant so I would have to keep doing it everytime something bad happens, and that just sucked, sorry for being frank. I "quit" for about eight weeks, but the fight is still going every day. It is horrible! My addiction was STRONG, it was my life really. When I finally told a few adults they kept saying how much happier I was while I was doing it. Because I was happier, I wasn't loaded down by the emotional pain.
- Rachel

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 2:16:56 PM
Well Dawson, I use to smoke a lot of week and some people would say I was addicted, but I knew I could stop at anytime. So I proved to them that I was right and I stopped. But then I started doing coke, and I knew coke was addicting but I still did it. So I finally told myself I need to stop all these drugs before it ruins my life and as much as i craved them i stopped doing them. But I have a friend who is badly addicted to weed and alcohol. And she went to some guys house with one of my other friends and she got so drunk that one guy raped her. This barely happened a few hours ago. And she is like a sister to me, I have known her since we were kids. I lectured her so much about how she need to get her life together and stop making bad decisions, but she never listened to me. When she gets home from the hospital I don't know what to say to her. I told her i would be here for her no matter what and I will be, but I honestly don't know what to say.
- Laurissa

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 2:15:37 PM
hey dawson, i was on drugs any and every kind you could think of and do to the drugs i lost someone very close to me a boyfriend i had had for almost a year i lost him one day cause i had to make a dicesion between the two and as you can tell i choose the drugs i regret this decision every day of my life i loved him so much and i didnt see how bad the drugs were effecting me untill he left me noe thanks to him opening my eyes i hve been clean for 9 months and i counsle those at my school who are dealing with some of the same things i dealt with all because love and god showed me the way now i'm with someone new who loves me very much and i couldnt b happier well dawson -later- jessica y. may god bless all that you do
- jessica y.

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 2:10:17 PM
It goes without saying that there are a "high times" in addiction, please forgive the pun. However, have you ever stopped to see the "low times." I myself have felt and seen the highs and lows of some addictions. Let me say, the lows, in total absolution out-way the high. Yes the feeling you get when you are in your high can be amazing, but it doesn't last. After the effects have taken hold and you start to come down, its like HELL. Your body starts feeling things that, in all honesty, you don't like. You become moody, agitated, and restless. Withdraw sets in. You begin to sweat and shake. You become angry at the world, at yourself. Thoughts you would normally never think of come rushing into your head. Everyone, in your eyes, becomes an enemy standing in your way. All you think of is that next high, that next buzz, and you will do ANYTHING to get it. You become a person you don't want to be. Not in truth anyways. For those who are suffering from an addiction, you can look back and remember those things you did. I have seen friends lose a lot. Some, even their lives. It doesn't have to be that way though. I can say I have seen people pull themselves out of some pretty bad situations. If they can do it, ANYONE CAN. Its just up to you to take that first step, "admit there is a problem." Which can be the hardest thing to do.
- Eric B.

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:40:08 AM
Dawson... I have been addicted to cutting for over 3 years now. At first, it was okay. My friends were supportive and tried to help me. But as the addiction began to set in, I started to treat those who loved me like crap. I hurt them just as much as I hurt myself, and it was too late before I got the point. Those friends that loved me so much had to walk away. It hurt so badly to see my life falling apart, but addiction doesn't care. It doesn't have time to worry about your friends, family, or school. My life slowly fell apart, and I now am only beginning to pick up the pieces. I also have been addicted to purging food for about the same amount of time. It isn't so bad sometimes. I have control. But lately, I have been stressed out, and I am losing control. It's funny how the things in life that you try to control end up being the starts of addiction. I am genuinely scared for myself. I can't control the throwing up, and I know that bulumia can kill. I don't want to die, but again, addiction doesn't care. It won't stop short of anything. And it messes up lives.
- Amanda

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:39:07 AM
I talked to you about a month ago about my boyfriend who was not making an effort to see me for a couple of weeks. You told me it was time to end it and realize he was seeing other girls. But the truth was, he just wanted some friend time. He really does love me and want to be with me. I took your advice and asked around and had my friends "spy" on him. And He did nothing wrong. Another reason why he was acting the way he was his friends were saying mean and hurtful things about me and he didnt know i was going to react, but, hes no longer friends with them anymore, and me and him are stringer then ever.
- alyssa

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:32:39 AM
thanks for reading my comments!!! i listen to your show every sunday!! you rock!
- sarina

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:32:28 AM
Hey Dawson, I tried calling in last sunday, but didn't get to talk to you=/ But an addiction has messed up my life. I've been addicted to drugs. I'm addicted to cutting, and what I eat. I've been to treatment for all of them several times, and i want to get better, but I honestly can't. I'm 15, soon to be 16. And I just wish I was 6 again. Life was so much easier. I hate addictions.
- Amber

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:31:53 AM
I love your show Dawson. You help out other people that are struggling and that is great. Luckily I'm not having any major problems in my life now but now I know who to call if I am!
- Mitch

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:31:09 AM
hey dawson...i've really wanted to call in, but i guess i'm just chicken..i dont know if i'm ready to face the facts..or rather deal with them...but all theses people talk about addictions, well..what drives them to their drug of choice, alcohol, sex..nobody talks about that...well i'm not going to go there b/c its none of my business...but well i guess i just need to know where i classify...in..i do drugs occassionally (ectasy,heroin) drink at parties (smirnoff, straight up vodka) but in this time period i'll be lucky to remember bits and pieces of the night before...usually i'll go thru lyk 5-7 guyz in 1 nite...i guess wat i want 2 kno is...is sex an addiction? i mean i luv the way i feel,...lyk i'm luved 4 a few mins...so i jump from guy 2 guy...well i lyk this guy and he sayz i have 2 prove i can B serious..but i dont kno wat 2 do 2 prove i'm serious about wanting a relationship with him???...
- Amy

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:29:38 AM
I'm not addicted to anything but your show. I love your show so much! God bless you!
- GeRi

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:29:19 AM
I never got into drug or anything like that. But I had family that got in to that stuff and I saw what the family went thought and I'm glad that I nver got mixed up in that stuff
- ingrid Auerbach

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:29:07 AM
my problem has nothing to do with addiction but with depresion. ive had alot of problems in my life... my dad cheated on my mom, my parents got divorced, i have a whole new stepfamily, i got kicked out of my house, and im having to deal with alot of crap at school..so my whole lifes messed up..oh yeah.. plus i got diagnosed with diabetes and had to stay in the hospital for a week from it... i have a whole lot of stress and i dont know how to releive it.can you help me?
- kylee

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:28:36 AM
most people think an addiction is something like drugs, or sex, or drinking, but an addiction can be anything. My dad's best friends (which was married), had an addiction to the computer. But it wasnt like porn, or anything like that. He would play computer games for 6 hours straight, and would even skip work to play. His wife and kids were really upset with him, and kept wanting him to stop. but he wouldnt. His wife wanted to get some help with their marriage, but he refused. All the could think about was getting to the next level on the computer game. Next thing he knows is that his wife filed for a divorce. Now he has stop playing on the computer, and asked for his wife to come back to him, and she wont. So the computer ruined his marriage, and his relationship with his children.
- Estrella T

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:27:35 AM
Now that I see that I'm not the only one with problems in my life.I don't feel so alone anymore.
- Elizabeth

Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 - 12:26:39 AM
first off im addicted to cutting myself, theres probably a lot of different reasons why, it relases the pain and the stress and sorry to be graphic but the deeper you cut the better it feels.its ruined my relationship with pretty much everyone except my brother, and my mom.my father is addicted to basicly every drug out there and he hates me. i want him to be with me and my mom but he said he cant stand the sight of me and that im a disapointment to him.
- Ali

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 1:17:38 PM
Well Dawson I used drugs for almost six years and I am only 21 years old I am now in a recovery program for help. I ended up making myself very sick due to my drug use I also lost many relationships with my family. I almost lost my 13 month old daughter to the state if it weren't for her grandmother. I spent three months in jail never had a stable place to live for my daughter nor myself. What drove me to using drugs were some of the pains I recieved in my past trying to fit in and cause I just loved the feeling. I want to let those people In active addiction know that there is help you just have to really want it and the first step to stopping is admitting you are powerless over drugs and that your life has become unmanageable. Word to the wise hit twelve step meetings make those meetings 90 days which is 90 meetings and seek help through prayer and reach out for help. The only way you get any were is to ask for help from other recovering addicts and YOU CAN NOT DO IT ALONE I know that from personal experience. This is my third time in a recovery program and if I go back out there my last step is death. I will pray for my brothers and sisters suffering from the disease of active addiction. I love you all. Melissa T.
- Melissa T.

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 1:14:51 PM
My friend was once addicted to heroin. It messed up her life because she saw herself being with complete strangers that in less than a week became family due to the fact that they had something in common with her..addiction! She ran away from home and was completley lost from her family and friends. She was living her life in denial and as much as everyone tried to help her she always seemed to push them away. She began getting problems with the law and was in juve for a couple of months. When she got out she found out she was pregnant. That changed her life completley around. She realized that now she has to change her ways because she not only has to take care of herself but her baby thats inside of her. She seemed to completley change her act around. Im so gald that she was able to turn herself around. I didnt really like her when she was on drugs because she always seemed distracted and became a rebel. But now im just glad i have my friend back!
- Jenny

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 11:20:56 AM
my friend has been doing pot and weed since he was 13 years old. he's 16 now. i'm really worried about him. when he's high...he says really hurtful things and does even worse things. i'm scared it's gonna kill him. how do i help him?....
- katie

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 11:19:32 AM
I have had a best friend for 6 years. We have always been inseperable and he means the world to me. We used to hang out ALL the time and everyone always thought we were dating because of how close we were. When he turned 14 he started spending less time with me and more time with some other friends. I was okay with it.. until I found out why he was with them. He was doing drugs. I used to love being around him.. but it got to the point where i couldnt stand to look at him. I moved last summer and didnt get to tell him goodbye because he was off getting high with friends. I went back To our neighborhood a few months later and stopped by his house. His sister was sooo excited to see me and called him to have him come home because she wanted to surprise him. When he got home he wouldnt look me in the eye because he was sooo messed up. He couldnt concentrate on anything. AFter that he has gotten worse. He is losing everything he has. He spends all his money on drugs... and he has lost himself. He used to be a very attractive guy, very popular, had a ton of people who cared about him, but now he is losing everything. I pray for him everyday because he is not going anywhere good. He used to go to chruch with me and we would read the bible together every Thursday so that we could help each other understand it better. But he stopped coming over after he started getting high. I miss my old friend. And now anytime my friends mention getting high or something I tell them that they are sooo stupid. All of my friends know how I am. I am strongly against drugs and Im not scared to tell people how stupid they are to do them.
- Cana

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 11:02:16 AM
My addictions have became something I'm always thinking about. I'm always thinking about how I can cheat my treatment, when will I get to do it next, and what will I use. It's... It's... It's an addiction. I'm really not worried about what will happen because it makes me feel good, but these feeling are only for those few moments. My addiction is hurting myself, so there are marks left that remind me of when I was sad.
- Ashley R.

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 10:58:58 AM
Cutting used to be my addiction. I've stopped doing it, but at times the urge to cut is still there. I'm trying my hardest, but as my life seems to be getting worse and worse, I want to cut again. Addictions can take over a person's life. At times it can be all that a person thinks about. All they want is to get that high, or that buzz, and just forget about everything going on in their life. Sometimes I wish I could do that. I just want to escape from myself and life and not have a single thing to worry about. Right now in my life, it's seems to me that past events are occuring again to me and I just want to go back to my old habits, or even new ones, just so I can feel better about myself. At this point and time, I don't know what to do. I'm stuggling more with things now than I ever had. I wish everything would just go away.
- Laura

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 10:58:16 AM
To me, people seem to get addictions from when they see other people doing that....I say that because I have a friend who was allways around people the was drinking,smoking,cussing, and sometimes doing drugs.So, she started out by cussing,then drinking,and then Smoking....well, when she done them, she was really depressed the next day, and she would CUTT !! That is why I think people start getting addicted to somthing when they see other people that are addicted to it...thanks
- Cierra

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 10:57:44 AM
hey, i know there are many types of addictions but i know mostly about drug addictions. my ex stepmom got a staf infection from heroine and she had a 20% chance of living she had one kid at the time ..my half brother matthew. she actually got so bad they brought in a preist to pray. all this from a dirty needle. so please guys dont ever do drugs unless your just waiting to end your life in a slow painful process..
- lauren

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 9:19:36 AM
I was addicted to movies. At first I watched them to relax but then I began to watch them more and more because because I because I became attracted to the fowl lifestyles, like drugs, sex violence etc. It was like taking my own dose of drugs and rotting my brain and my soul
- Trevor H

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 9:18:59 AM
well my boyfriend has been having some anger problems and last night my friend and him were getting into a fight and i think that if he gets really really mad then i am the one to deal with him and i don't want him to start yelling at me and all this and i get really scared when i talk to him so will you please help me i need help really really bad please help
- hillary p

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 9:18:03 AM
I am not addicted to anything, but one of my close relatives is. She has not been officially diagnosed with alcoholism, but most of the family thinks she is. She used to (when I was young) go through at least a six pack in one afternoon, often falling down drunk by sundown. I have many vivid and horrifying memories of my childhood because of this. Being around someone with this disease has affected my life greatly, and those of her two daughters. I think I would be, and they would be, very different people if this had not happened. Or was not happening.
- S.

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 9:17:20 AM
I was listening to your show once on the way home one night, and heard somthing that hit me hard at home. if i can rememeber a young man had called in and was talking about his father had nothing to do with him. You know I am 40 years old and i have a son that i have not seen since he was 2 --18 yrs ago. You know there are a good many of varibles in this situation yes like the my wife of 15 yrs and my 3 children with her. She has a compulsive obsesive disorder and i know it is not my sons fault, but there is a real chance that if i was involved with my first born than i would lose the chance to raise these one i can not go through that again. Just because i have not been in touch with him through out the years that i do not love him nor does it mean that there is a day that goes by that i do not think of him. I will not get into the piticulars for it would take several days and nights and beside that i do not even to this day know what went wrong but blame the courts for driveing child support so high that a man cant live off what is left over. please remember that there is always a reason for thing people do sometimes they may not be right but there are reason for it.
- haunted dad

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 9:16:30 AM
Dawson......one of my friends got addicted to drugs.....a little while later....she had sex while she was high....she got pregnant.....she stayed on drugs while she was pregnant.....the baby was born with developement problems.....her addiction ruined her life and the life of her baby....
- Kaitlyn

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 9:16:15 AM
what's wrong with addicotions?? is people think that when they do it the frist time they wont get addicted to it but what they truley know u do it then ur addicted to it they think that they wont but then they really will and know one knows how not to stop with out usein a patch like for smokin or go to somethin else that they will get addicated to!!!!! they best thing for them to do is just not do it!!! krystia
- krystia

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:15:55 AM
ok so my mom smokes and that messes up my life becouse 2nd hand smoke is worse then 1st so my sibs and me r getin more hurt out of it then me. and my own addition that i now have control over, if u ever really can, cuttin messed up my life becouse now my parents don't trust me and my friend and classmates r i don't really no different around me.well luv yah we really need more ppl like u in this world.
- Kaylei

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:13:26 AM
yes they have messed up with my life!! i dnt have a regular addiction tho. i wansnt adddicted to drugs of drinking or what ever else.. but i was addicted to a guy. from the first time i say him i could never be away from him!!!! adn by being soooooooo all over him i lost him.. adn it was the worst thing that happened to me EVER!! i cut my self adn i wanted to die soo bad!!! but i dnt i finally got over him after 1 year.. but now my realtionjship life sucks.. cuz i am all waya afriad of comipting.. cuz i am afraid i will lose another persoon i luv!! wat should i do I NEED UR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
- kelly

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:12:49 AM
Some people stay in an addiction becuase they feel they have no other choice or way out. They may feel they need to live the cards life delt them.
- Shorty

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:12:38 AM
There's nothing wrong with addictions. Nothing. Any of you drink coffee every morning? And when you don't drink it, do you get a headache? That's an addiction. I'd guess that millions of Americans are addicted to caffeine and there is nothing wrong with it. The problem isn't with you. See if you have an addiction then its your problem. The problem isn't yours its the substance, alcohol, drugs, whatever. To think that a problem is your own is the first step to finding it overwhelming. First, realize that its not your addiction that you're fighting, you can't fight yourself. You're fighting the drugs or the alcohol. Second, you're not alone. Its not a battle for control of your body, its a war, for the control of your body and thousands of others. Never think you're alone, and never think that God has abandoned you in the fight. Third, Fight. Again, this is not against yourself, or for yourself. This is you helping friends and neighbors with the addiction, whether its something you've faced or not. Fight for your friends, help them in their battles, and you'll find that when you're fighting your battles, whether against drugs, alcohol, or any other temptation, you're not alone.
- Derek

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:10:47 AM
i have had my own addictions but none of my own effected my life like a friend of mine's did. she was addicted to cocaine. it started out as a weekend, party thing, and turned into a daily need for her. every thought and reaction was based around it and she wasn't the same person. she lost weight and started missing a lot of school. it was the end of her senior year too and she got very very close to not graduating, even though she was an honor student before. even after graduating she spent every bit of her graduation money on it in less than a week.. that was over a thousand dollars. she had to lie to her parents about where all the money went too.. eventually she pulled herself out of it, because she hit rock bottom. she lost her true friends, not to mention a reputation, and a lot of money she needed. it's been worse for other people but that's just one example of someone i know that let her addiction get the best of her and learned the hard way to stay away from things of that nature.
- meagan b

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:10:10 AM
I've been addicted to cutting for 3 1/2 years. Now that i've been addicted for awhile somewhere in the back of my mind i keep thinking i wish i would have never of started this 'Crazy Train'. This 'Crazy Train' is like that Energizer bunny on the Energizer commercial, It keeps going and going and going and seems to never stop. The thing thats wrong with this 'Crazy Train'is that once your on the 'Crazy Train' its hard to stop. It's like there are no brakes at all.
- Emerald

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:09:48 AM
I have a couple friends who are into cutting. It's messed up thier lives because they feel they can't trust anyone and thier frineds have backed away not knowing what else to do. Both of these friends were co-workers at one time. One would talk about it the other avoided it like the plegue. Niether one has changed.
- Shorty

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:09:29 AM
Thanks for helping teens and all that. You're a great guy!
- Kim

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 2:08:40 AM
I feel so alone. my family is making me so angry i cant even describe it. my dad is always yelling at me and grounding me for things as stupid as leaving the phone off the charger. there is only one person i can seem to turn to and thats my friend alex. please help me
- Kendall

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 1:27:25 AM
My addiction with cutting has messed up my life so much that i feel like i'm drawing a way from God, and my parents don't even know what to say any more when i do cut myself. Addictions are the worst thing you can have b/c they are so hard to get off of once you get on them.
- Stacey

Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 12:34:08 AM
I admit that I am starting to have an addiction with pornography and I am trying to get rid of it. But my curiosity for sex has just been driving me everywhere I go. Im a high school student and all I ever hear is who had done "it" with who. I don't want to end up like those kind of people. But like I said my addiction drives me and I want it to stop. But the good thing about addictions is that it makes you feel like you are free and pretty much that is what porn is doing to me but I want it to end.
- Paige C

Friday, Aug 17, 2007 - 2:19:03 PM
i love your radio station
- tiffanymeahan

Friday, Aug 17, 2007 - 2:19:01 PM
People stay with addictions because they begin to get attached to their addiction and can't imagine their life without it.
- Trevor