Pierce College Addiction Studies Club

03/22/2024

I asked AI about my Suboxone/Naltrexone depression theory. Here's the response (slightly redacted by me to remove the excess waffling. I also added a relevant note):

Your theory is grounded in the understanding that opioid receptors are indeed part of the brain's reward system, and medications like Suboxone and Naltrexone work by influencing these receptors. Long-term use of these medications could theoretically affect the natural functioning of the reward system, potentially leading to mood alterations such as depression.

Research indicates that long-term opioid therapy may increase the risk of incident, recurrent, and treatment-resistant depression.. ...Moreover, studies have shown that depression is a risk factor for long-term opioid therapy and contributes to adverse opioid-related outcomes such as dependence and overdose. (NOTE: This is exactly what happened to me after taking Suboxone off label for two years, the second year being when the depression hit me. After a year of not being able to experience joy, I was desperate to do anything other than take drugs, so that I could experience some form of emotional elevation. I chose Sauvignon Blanc.)

Naltrexone and the Naloxone in Suboxone are opioid antagonists that block opioid receptors and are used to prevent relapse in opioid dependence and alcohol use disorder. They modulate the effects of contextual information on emotional attributions in patients with depression, which could potentially alter the reward processing in the brain.

While there is evidence supporting the idea that interfering with opioid receptors can impact mood and reward, the relationship between opioid receptor activity and depression is complex and involves many factors. It's important to approach this topic with caution and to consider individual differences in response to these medications...

08/29/2023

My mentor read me a portion of this book the other day. It actually brought me to tears! It's a simple book, seemingly written for children but also for adults. It contains the most important message of all messages. It's written in Dr. Seuss-like prose. A Whobody is a special person who shines above the rest. This book is a poem about hoping to encounter a Whobody in your day.

But there's more to it.

I think there's an unspoken subtext here.

There's an implication that all people are capable of being a Whobody, yet they don't. Why they don't is a curious notion to entertain. I'd suggest maybe it's the fault of the social constructions for which they hide behind, and are too deeply identified with. Sometimes Whobodys fall prey to addiction and depression and can't be a Whobody because they are too sad. Or maybe they're just too timid to be themselves and open up to the beauty that is underneath. It's in us all, yet when we are amongst others, we often hide behind a barrier. Barriers aren't always introverted barriers. Barriers can be extroverted narcissistic barriers. Whobody's don't hide behind barriers.

None of this deeper exploration is in the book, rather just my thoughts about the message. It doesn't have to be so complicated. The book itself is exceedingly simplistic. Make what you will out of it.

The candy thing is a bit outdated. Candy was quite a thing back in this era. I'd say update it with sugar-free candy! Or a homemade keto brownie. You don't want to knock a Whobody out of ketosis, that's for sure.

The book is out of print and quite expensive for a used copy. I was able to find one for about $45 that has highlighted sections and notes! I can't wait to see some other person's handwritten notes about this message!

08/21/2023

Humans are literally makers of themselves by virtue of the thoughts for which they choose. So, choose wisely, and consider listening to this audiobook for additional guidance and inspiration. It's 40 minutes long, so maybe bookmark it, and break it up into 3-4 chunks if that works better for you.

I especially recommend this to people who are not religious folk, people who are not believers, or who are not yet believers. It is something that can help you, as you are certainly going to need help as you trudge through this life without a power greater than Self.

A mentor of mine when I was much younger gave me this book. It blew my mind when I first read it back when I was in high school drowning in my own thoughts. There are obvious connections to be made to the New Testament message however, they don't necessarily need to be made for one to benefit.

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08/19/2023

If you are struggling with alcohol and want to stop, please PM me. I will tell you about Suboxone or Naltrexone. Imagine no longer craving alcohol! What a freedom it is.

In today's video I will be sharing some quit drinking motivation. If you are trying to get sober from alcohol and want it to be an easy and effortless decisi...

08/10/2023

I exercised last night. Again.

I don't think I'm quite past the Hump of No Return, but very close to being so.

Here's the thing about cardio and psychology; most of us know that consistent cardio throughout the week is a powerful antidepressant. I would say more substantial than even an actual antidepressant. But there's more to this. Just the knowing that I followed through and exercised last night has a significant impact on my psychological state today.

I have come to believe that the brain needs to know it's in repair for it to fully maximize its neuroplastic repair potential. The knowing in itself is more powerful than what we might think.

I'd be curious to run a between-subjects group study on depression and cardio with positive/negative hypnosis as the independent variables. One control group and two experimental groups. One experimental group would take part in cardio + negative hypnosis; a hypno script that would say you didn't exercise well, or maybe you didn't exercise at all even though you did. The second experimental group would be cardio + reinforcement hypnosis; a hypno script that reinforced how well you exercised the night before. The purpose of the IV being to ensure one group is thinking positively about their exercise and the other thinking negatively about their exercise. I guarantee you, the positive group would not only reflect improved cardiovascular health at the end of the study, but also improved psychological health, over the other IV group.

My point being, cardio causes positive neuroplastic changes in the brain. Yet these changes are split 3/4 of which come directly from the physical exercise, and the remaining 1/4 comes from just the knowing that the exercise is taking place.

08/05/2023

25 minutes of cardio, check. ✔️

🙏🏻🌈❤️

08/01/2023

If you are one of my fundamentalist friends, please don't be so quick to dismiss this. It doesn't have to conflict with your belief system. As far as my Christian belief system goes, I certainly can modify my prayers along these lines in the way of solution-based instead of problem-based. In fact, there is biblical support for doing just this.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

I've spent far too much time focusing on the problem in my prayers. I've spent a year doing this with my depression and I haven't made much progress, despite my faith and belief. So maybe, I'm somehow missing the mark...

I feel God has delivered this simple message from to me, and now maybe from me to you. (?) Thank you, God and thank you, Astral Emmet. 🙏🏻❤️

I'm going to make the adjustment in my prayers; stop repeating the problem over and over again! I've already atoned for my part in it. I've taken it to the cross. So there's no need to keep going over it! I'm keeping myself stuck in it! In fact, my consistently repeating the problem over and over again in my prayers, my thoughts and conversations, is me taking it back off the cross. I'm preventing the cross from being able to do what it is designed to do!

It's time to focus on what is good and what I'm grateful for! Trust in the cross and act "as if" if necessary.

I'm also going to incorporate some Christian-based self-hypnosis. My conscious mind is fully aligned with Grace, but my unconscious mind may not be. How much time and energy might a believer waste, possibly years, maybe even a lifetime, stuck with unprocessed junk in the unconscious? Such that the Trinity cannot fully function in one's life. I'm going to pray on it, write a hypnosis script, and record it for playback at night. All the while being sure to not get two neurotic over all of this stuff. There's so much peaceful, loving grace in this very moment. I'm looking forward to tapping into it.

By the grace of God, let the reprogramming begin. ✝️🙏🏻❤️

Complete Audiobook - The Golden Key to Prayer by Emmet Fox.Scientific Prayer will enable you, sooner or later, to get yourself, or anyone else, out of any di...

07/17/2023

09/13/2017

Hello AS students have if you are motivated by the AS program please take over this page. Please advise if you are open to taking on this page. Best LS

07/01/2017

Happy July everyone! Post positive pics of how your summer is going! Be safe and stay cool! 😎

05/13/2017

Congratulations 🎓 Graduates!

05/12/2017

Pre-Ceremony festivities 🎉🎉