Well, my personal experience with addiction started with alcohol. I managed to quit for 12 years, it was something I was proud of. After I went through my separation and divorce I picked it up in a moment of weakness, began slowly. I thought I had it under control and it was nice to relax with a really good beer. Of course with addiction it began to control me and the frequency and amount began to increase. After a year I was drinking pretty much every night and eventually it got to the point when I couldn't remember the last time I didn't drink. Somewhere around the 4 year point the depression from drinking was eating me up, waking every morning saying I wasn't going to drink tonight only to get off work and make my daily stop. I had absolutely no control over it. I went to an a.a. Meeting once, it wasn't for me. I have nothing at all against the program and encourage it to anyone who needs it but something about it turned me off personally. I had my moment of clarity one day when I had just had a major repair on my car and was waiting on a direct deposit to my acct. I just so happened to have picked up my kids that day and on the way home realized I forgot to get dinner. Then I realized I was also waiting on a deposit so I told my oldest daughter we were just going to bear eating what we had in the house for tonight, what a proud father I felt at the time (sarcasm). Don't get me wrong, I always took care of my children, this isn't the story of a bitter belligerent alcoholic that treats his children horrible. It is the story of an alcoholic that suffers daily from anxiety and depression brought on by his addiction and the hope of putting it in the past. With that being said my daughter offered to buy dinner with her tip money she got from work that day, I had not bought any beer that day and as much as I needed it I knew I could not, even my weakest moment, buy even one beer with her generosity. So that was the day, the first day in I couldn't remember how long that I didn't drink. And I woke up the next morning feeling ok, so I did it again. I made it a week, I was feeling anxious but better. Everyday got a little easier and every week felt like a huge milestone. I'm nearing the 2 year mark now, I admit, I think about it at times but I'm much stronger and have focused more on what I enjoy in life to ease those moments. I consider myself lucky, many people with addictions never pull out of it and lose everything. I'm so very happy I had the love of my children and the decency to go one evening that gave me the moment of clarity I needed. So, this isn't a story I share often, especially with strangers but who knows. Maybe it may encourage some who stumbles on this to help themselves. Thanks for reading guys.

There might be many kind of different addictions in one's life: alcohol, tobacco .. fast cars, pets, music .. everything which makes life enjoyable for us.
This topic is not meant to be as a shrink's session. Feel yourself free to share your thoughts, comments and a personal experience when it comes to addictions of any kind. Some of them might be funny, some of them tedious, but they're part of your life and what might be better if you're happy about them ..

I noticed recently that instead of reading the morning news as it was used to be, I've started to open up a Mingle's webpage as a first thing in the morning when firing up my PC. And that's the last thing to close down, before going to sleep ..
Wonder .. is it an addiction .. and if so .. how hopeless might be this case ..

Well, my personal experience with addiction started with alcohol. I managed to quit for 12 years, it was something I was proud of. After I went through my separation and divorce I picked it up in a moment of weakness, began slowly. I thought I had it under control and it was nice to relax with a really good beer. Of course with addiction it began to control me and the frequency and amount began to increase. After a year I was drinking pretty much every night and eventually it got to the point when I couldn't remember the last time I didn't drink. Somewhere around the 4 year point the depression from drinking was eating me up, waking every morning saying I wasn't going to drink tonight only to get off work and make my daily stop. I had absolutely no control over it. I went to an a.a. Meeting once, it wasn't for me. I have nothing at all against the program and encourage it to anyone who needs it but something about it turned me off personally. I had my moment of clarity one day when I had just had a major repair on my car and was waiting on a direct deposit to my acct. I just so happened to have picked up my kids that day and on the way home realized I forgot to get dinner. Then I realized I was also waiting on a deposit so I told my oldest daughter we were just going to bear eating what we had in the house for tonight, what a proud father I felt at the time (sarcasm). Don't get me wrong, I always took care of my children, this isn't the story of a bitter belligerent alcoholic that treats his children horrible. It is the story of an alcoholic that suffers daily from anxiety and depression brought on by his addiction and the hope of putting it in the past. With that being said my daughter offered to buy dinner with her tip money she got from work that day, I had not bought any beer that day and as much as I needed it I knew I could not, even my weakest moment, buy even one beer with her generosity. So that was the day, the first day in I couldn't remember how long that I didn't drink. And I woke up the next morning feeling ok, so I did it again. I made it a week, I was feeling anxious but better. Everyday got a little easier and every week felt like a huge milestone. I'm nearing the 2 year mark now, I admit, I think about it at times but I'm much stronger and have focused more on what I enjoy in life to ease those moments. I consider myself lucky, many people with addictions never pull out of it and lose everything. I'm so very happy I had the love of my children and the decency to go one evening that gave me the moment of clarity I needed. So, this isn't a story I share often, especially with strangers but who knows. Maybe it may encourage some who stumbles on this to help themselves. Thanks for reading guys.

Mingle2 was created by the Lonely Hearts Club so that anyone entering would never want to leave because of all the addictive games, forums an endless fake profiles to view, combined with the unlimited money on plastic cards to give those fake profiles... The Site causes those inside never to age, while time goes on at a seemingly accelerated rate outside. Known victims include MrBeeKeeper, ADivorcedOne, 2email4M, SitkaRains, Blondey111 and the infamous Bratz... (feel free to add your name if you are a certified addict) If you ever get a chance to escape, don't take it. The virtual reality here is the best on the internet...

Conrad, Sitka and 2email, thanks for your kind words. On a much lighter note though... Now My coffee addiction is quite strong, oh, and ice cream, I think I could live on coffee and ice cream

Conrad, Sitka and 2email, thanks for your kind words. On a much lighter note though... Now My coffee addiction is quite strong, oh, and ice cream, I think I could live on coffee and ice cream

Well, my personal experience with addiction started with alcohol. I managed to quit for 12 years, it was something I was proud of. After I went through my separation and divorce I picked it up in a moment of weakness, began slowly. I thought I had it under control and it was nice to relax with a really good beer. Of course with addiction it began to control me and the frequency and amount began to increase. After a year I was drinking pretty much every night and eventually it got to the point when I couldn't remember the last time I didn't drink. Somewhere around the 4 year point the depression from drinking was eating me up, waking every morning saying I wasn't going to drink tonight only to get off work and make my daily stop. I had absolutely no control over it. I went to an a.a. Meeting once, it wasn't for me. I have nothing at all against the program and encourage it to anyone who needs it but something about it turned me off personally. I had my moment of clarity one day when I had just had a major repair on my car and was waiting on a direct deposit to my acct. I just so happened to have picked up my kids that day and on the way home realized I forgot to get dinner. Then I realized I was also waiting on a deposit so I told my oldest daughter we were just going to bear eating what we had in the house for tonight, what a proud father I felt at the time (sarcasm). Don't get me wrong, I always took care of my children, this isn't the story of a bitter belligerent alcoholic that treats his children horrible. It is the story of an alcoholic that suffers daily from anxiety and depression brought on by his addiction and the hope of putting it in the past. With that being said my daughter offered to buy dinner with her tip money she got from work that day, I had not bought any beer that day and as much as I needed it I knew I could not, even my weakest moment, buy even one beer with her generosity. So that was the day, the first day in I couldn't remember how long that I didn't drink. And I woke up the next morning feeling ok, so I did it again. I made it a week, I was feeling anxious but better. Everyday got a little easier and every week felt like a huge milestone. I'm nearing the 2 year mark now, I admit, I think about it at times but I'm much stronger and have focused more on what I enjoy in life to ease those moments. I consider myself lucky, many people with addictions never pull out of it and lose everything. I'm so very happy I had the love of my children and the decency to go one evening that gave me the moment of clarity I needed. So, this isn't a story I share often, especially with strangers but who knows. Maybe it may encourage some who stumbles on this to help themselves. Thanks for reading guys.

If you allow any web site to become your main form of social communication they by all means you are addicted.

You have to have balance... work... home life.. social life & web life.

Don't get addicted folks.. life shouldn't be on a screen