AS and addictions-- No one will listen!

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I have AS, and I feel that I am a drug addict and have lifestyle choice compulsions. The problem is that everything I take (at the doses I take) is prescribed to me by my doctor. Right now, I'm on 36 mg of Concerta 1xd, 2 mg of Risperidone 2xd, 0.25 mg Xanax 2xd, birth control pills, vitamins, and just started to take 27 mg of Strattera today. Even though I don't do it, I often have the urge to take more of the meds because I feel like I need it to function. Instead, I get buzzed off coffee (sometimes spiked with mouthwash), Excederin migraine or Tylenol/Motrin/Asprin mixed with coffee or Lorazepam/Xanax. I have resorted to Butal Bital only twice in my life, though, and that's my family's drug of choice. I am also addicted to TV, internet, and binge eating, which are signs of addictive personality. I can't control my spending, either. I'm in high school and I just found out I piss away 70,000+ dollars a year of my parents' money. Now I might not afford college. I've been taking nose spray now for my allergies, but sometimes I let it go to my head to get a buzz to try and stay awake. I'm addicted to sleeping, too. I also have a tendency to obsessively thing about things that "arouse" me. I have all sorts of rituals and I'm a bit of a hoarder too. I keep everything. I also somewhat self-harm by picking at my skin and hair and pulling out dandruff. The thing is no one will believe that I need rehab!

You should ask to see a counselor that specializes in adolescent addiction. The problem is the 'stop circuits' aren't fully developed in the adolescent brain and standard methods used for adults can be counterproductive with teens.

One thing you might try is avoiding triggers (situations that make you crave drugs) and interrupting craving cycles when they occur (when you get a craving, rather than think about it, go exercise or do something else to keep your mind busy) .

I hope that helps a bit. You really do need to keep after your parents to let you see a counselor.

You're right when you said Addictive Personality Disorder. You probably also have OCD. You should probably speak to a therapist and maybe they can recommend a treatment plan for you.

Yeah I would certainly try to get some kind of help....the coffee is fine, and its not abnormal to have the feeling that you need more of a medication to function(maybe you do and need a med adjustment). But mouthwash is not meant for drinking, most of the indgredients are not meant to be ingested....and the amount of 'alcohol' in it is a lot less than all those other damaging chemicals meant to clean the mouth and bacteria which can only be very hard on the digestive tract. Taking large amouts of tylenol/asprin/motrin just causes damage to the body with no psychological 'buzz' effects to speak of. Excedrin is basically tylenol mixed with caffine....more tylenol than caffine, so it would make more sense just to drink another glass of coffee instead of bothering with that.

Anyways not sure this is any kind of drug addiction, so much as impulsiveness...but seems like you could use some sort of therapy or something because a lot of what you said sounds dangerous.