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      "body": "Congratulations @tewpoint0! You received a personal award!\n\n<table><tr><td>https://steemitimages.com/70x70/http://steemitboard.com/@tewpoint0/birthday3.png</td><td>Happy Birthday! - You are on the Steem blockchain for 3 years!</td></tr></table>\n\n<sub>_You can view [your badges on your Steem Board](https://steemitboard.com/@tewpoint0) and compare to others on the [Steem Ranking](https://steemitboard.com/ranking/index.php?name=tewpoint0)_</sub>\n\n\n###### [Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=steemitboard&approve=1) to get one more award and increased upvotes!",
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      "author": "curranwood",
      "body": "@@ -1994,8 +1994,116 @@\n he case.\n+%0A%0ASOURCE:  http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/painkiller-discovered-coffee-that-stronger-morphine-lasts-longer-1485238\n",
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      "author": "curranwood",
      "body": "Researchers in Brazil found opioid peptides in coffee over a year ago. Biotechnology Resources Division and the UnB successfully \"identified previously unknown fragments of protein - peptides - in coffee that have an effect similar to morphine, in other words they have an analgesic and sedative activity.\"\n\nThose peptides, the note said, \"have a positive differential: their effects last longer in experiments with laboratory mice.\"\n\nThe two institutions applied for patents to Brazilian regulators for the seven \"opioid peptides\" identified in the study.\n\nBoth mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are structurally different from any opioid we have today. In fact, there is a much greater separation of side effects due to the fact that these two alkaloids do not recruit Beta Arrestin, which means it's impossible to overdose on and does not cause respiratory depression. \n\nMany substances have binding affinity for opioid receptors, such as sugar. In fact, people often get addicted to sugar and/or food. Those people abuse food because of the effect it has on their brain reward system. There's a myth that addiction is a result of a given drug or chemical when in reality addiction is a symptom of a deeper issue. Whether a person abuses kratom, sugar, food, alcohol or nicotine the problem is the relationship the person has with the substance. Plenty of people, myself included, take kratom to manage chronic pain because there just aren't any other options for us. Chronic Pain is already under treated as it is because the CDC and DEA together have tied the hands of doctors. Why? Because someone took pills that didn't belong to them and overdosed on them. So the Chronic Pain patient gets to suffer. If you look at the rate of addiction for the entire planet, it's about .05% according to my textbook on Chemical Dependency. What that means is that the other 95% of the human population does not have a Substance Use Disorder. We legislate for the minority and this should not be the case.",
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      "body": "Just a piece of advice. I would avoid plagiarizing your own content. It appears lazy.  Take some time to write fresh new content that's different from what you have on your website. Also, much of this is anecdotal and when you're discussing these kinds of issues it's always helpful to back up your claims with evidence.",
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      "author": "billdozer",
      "body": "Congratulations on beating withdrawal and finding yoga. I have books and guided meditations from Kripalu and they are one of the good traditions to check out. \nNewbies to yoga should be aware that there are many lineages and a lot of non-lineage instructors. You might find a well trained yoga teacher at a health club or you might get an aerobics instructor who knows enough to fill in the yoga slot at the franchise. A good class should welcome beginners and give them a little extra attention. It should include some grounding techniques at the beginning to shift focus from your busy day to the present moment. Not all classes can include full meditation periods at the end because of time constraints but if you don't finish with some version of \"corpse pose\" then you are being cheated out of the core of yoga practice. The reason you tame the body with all that stretching is so that it is quiet while you begin the inner work of learning about your own mind.\nPlease forgive my lecture, I'm not a yoga teacher. But I am a yoga nerd who has been practicing and researching for over 15 years. \nAlso I have to say that yoga is for all body types. I am obese, not svelte, and compact not willowy but I learned that the correct form of every posture is dependent on the breath not the vehicle.\nThanks for sharing your journey.",
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      "author": "tewpoint0",
      "body": "Imagine your everyday thoughts and behaviors as a cloth–woven together in intricate patterns–each thought and behavior like a thread, interconnected and often repeating in similar fashion. By examining these complex patterns, you may start to discover many things about yourself. During such contemplation, examine perceptions, triggers, urges, thoughts, values, behaviors, rewards, consequences, rituals, addictions, and so forth. Each of these threads create the fabric of your external and internal environments. You may begin to see how a sequence of events has lead you to make the relationships you share with the people and objects around you. You may also trace the sources of how your personal concept of “self” has been formed over time.\n\nAt some point in your life, you began weaving the threads of kratom use into this cloth. Little by little, you began to use kratom more frequently. As more of these threads were added, eventually a routine of regular kratom use was established. A pattern of triggers, thoughts, behaviors and rewards continued to emerge, until this sequence solidified into addiction. From which point, your relationship with kratom became a major aspect of yourself and the world around you. I know how this process happens, I too was addicted and the thought of losing kratom felt overwhelming…almost like losing a part of myself. Fortunately, this feeling was just an illusion.\n\nNow just take a moment and consider the many ways your daily life is effected by this addiction. I would guess you’ve found a kratom vendor who you buy from on a regular basis. Nevertheless, you might still spend time shopping around for better products or better prices. You likely have a place to store and measure your kratom; a method of mixing your kratom; and a time when you take kratom. Also, you’ve probably developed a diet and lifestyle which help produce stronger effects of your drug use. Undoubtably, there are things you enjoy doing–and things you do well–while kratom is in your system. You most likely wake up and look forward to using kratom–and when you finally do take your daily dose(s)–you enjoy the feeling you get from the drug. All kinds of rituals and routines can be created around kratom use, and I’m sure you have been creating them for some time now.\n\nJust know, I’m not judging you in the least. I only know these things, because I used several tablespoons of kratom everyday for over a year. It’s a sneaky little drug. At first, it seems nearly impossible that addiction could ever become a problem with such a mild herb. However, you and I are not alone. Addiction seems to surprise many of us in the same sneaky way. Fortunately, there are ways to remove the unwanted threads of kratom use from the fabric of our lives, and I’m here to help you figure out how to do just that!\n\nWith these things in mind, you’ll notice, a transformation is required in order to quit kratom successfully. You must change the repeating patterns in the fabric of your everyday life. The good news is, you’ve already entered the first stage of said transformation. Anthropologists often look at transformation as a three phase process: the pre-liminal stage, the liminal stage, and the post-liminal stage. Essentially, there is a preparation for change, a rite of passage to mark the transformation, and a reincorporation into life with an altered identity and way of living. Because you’re reading this article, you have already entered the pre-liminal stage–preparing for your transformation. You are currently a regular kratom user; however, you have begun making arrangements (doing research) to cease this way of life and will soon undergo a period of unpleasant withdrawals. During withdrawals, you’ll neither use kratom nor feel recovered from the prior drug abuse. It’s a difficult adjustment period, and you may feel cravings and sadness for a few months. While struggling in-between addiction and recovery, you’ll be in the second phase of transformation–the liminal stage. To be successful, it’s important that you stay the course during the uncomfortable time of transitioning; and to do that, you should prepare for the liminal stage by creating a formal plan of action.\n\nSo what can you do to prepare for the next phase of transformation? Before you can figure that out, it’s important to understand certain behaviors will make the liminal stage of transformation more effective than others. Interestingly enough, the fact it will be challenging and stressful, will also ensure that it’s truly transformative. Once you take your last dose of kratom, you’ll soon feel overwhelmed and unsettled. Overcoming these feelings of distress will be important in restoring your brain to its healthy functioning and will also help you to emerge with a new view of yourself as someone stronger and wiser than you once were. So there are two goals here: First, restore and improve your brain’s ability to function without kratom. Second, transform your view of self into something stronger than you were before the addiction took hold of you.\n\nRestoring Your Brain’s Ability to Function:\n\nAs I’ve discussed in some earlier articles, regular kratom use alters the brain’s ability to produce the proper amounts of endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline. After chronic use of any opioid, it is common to experience depression, irritability, and many other unpleasant emotional and physical sensations until recovery is complete. If rain was the only thing that could make you happy in the world, during kratom withdrawal, you’d likely feel as though the world had become a harsh desert landscape. There can be days without a cloud in sight. You must keep in mind, when the drought is upon you, and you’re desperate for rain, kratom will seem like the best solution because it’s the easiest solution. But we both know, quick and easy solutions are usually not the best solutions. In this case, there are other ways to start attracting some happy rain clouds your way–things that can force your brain to naturally produce endorphins dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline without using kratom.\n\nBecause you will likely feel depressed and overwhelmed at first, it’s good to start small and to schedule your activities (I used my smartphone calendar). The goal is to become absorbed into an activity that stimulates your brain and keeps you in a state called “flow.” That is to say, to remain in a positive state where you are fully immersed in an activity until you feel an energizing focus and enjoyment in that moment. After such an activity, it is good to reward yourself–even if that simply means telling yourself, “good job!”\n\nForcing yourself into a state of flow is difficult when you’re not feeling well. Flow seems to be easily achieved when kratom is flowing through the veins; but when you’re in withdrawals, it take some willpower to find the motivation. This is why I suggest creating a list of things you can do to achieve flow. Each activity can be done for short lengths of time, and you can build on them with practice. These activities are like new threads to weave into the fabric of your life. Below are some activities I believe are good for your recovering brain.\n\nAbove all other practices, I highly suggest meditation. I also think prayer can help. Although I’m not a religious person, and don’t want to turn this into a discussion on the origins of the universe or something off topic, prayer and meditation have some very similar qualities. I simply would like to encourage you to intentionally perform the act of sitting in stillness and focusing your mind. There are many methods of meditation. For beginners, there are countless videos on YouTube and apps that can be downloaded to your smartphone. One app I enjoy is called “Insight Timer.” The app has many guided meditations to help you learn and to keep your mind focused on a positive message. It’s a well made tool and there’s enough quality content to keep you interested for years to come. Also, Insight Timer tracks how long you meditate and has large social communities built-in. If you were wondering, I have nothing to gain from promoting their app and there’s dozens of others out there–if you’d rather find something else, I’m sure you won’t have a problem. Also, it’s important you make the experience of meditation as enjoyable as possible. I suggest using incense or an essential oil defuser; listening to calming sounds or music (such as Native American flutes or singing bowls); and setting up a comfortable place to sit. In short, formal and deliberate meditation is the best place to start your recovery. It’s simple to get started, you can do it at home or in nature, and you’ll quickly notice improvements in your mood if you practice regularly.\n\nThe next few suggestions don’t require a lot of explanation. When you’re feeling at your worst, try taking a shower. Experiment with the water temperature. Many people claim a cold shower will force the brain to produce more endorphins–definitely something worth trying! A hot tub or sauna can provide a similar effect. When I was going through Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)–which is the long period of depression after quitting opioid use–my wife and I would  go on walks throughout my neighborhood. During one of these walks, I discovered a labyrinth on the property of a beautiful old Episcopalian church near my house. I would often walk to the labyrinth and follow the path, again and again. This is a form of meditation and very soothing. Similar to walking, taking a long drive can be helpful in calming the mind. Drive peacefully through the country, near the ocean, or in the mountains. Hopefully, your drive can lead you to somewhere beautiful–perhaps you’ll end up on top of a mountain, at a scenic beach, or near a waterfall if possible! If you live in a city, there’s likely some magnificent architecture nearby. To look up at the high ceilings of an old cathedral or to look out from a tall building are both excellent methods for creating a sense of awe within. These awe inspiring moments are exactly what you need during recovery.\n\nAs you begin to progress, you may seek more intense activities. Perhaps you can visit your local pool and jump off a diving board a few times. Hike a path to a waterfall or to the summit of a small mountain. I highly recommend challenging your ability to balance mind and body during a yoga class or doing yoga at home (see my article on yoga). If you can, push yourself a little out of your comfort zone, but not too far. Attend church or volunteer in the community for an hour. Having some social support is always a good idea. Attending your local Narcotics Anonymous might help with keeping you on track. If you like sports, consider visiting your local recreational center to play basketball or see what other sports might be available. An hour at the driving range or an afternoon of fishing might be less draining, if your energy levels are still flatlined. If you have a gym membership, hit the weight room or jump on a cardio machine. Of course, you can always run outside. During this time, I found that listening to rhythmic tribal drums while exercising had a positive impact on my mood. There’s something powerful about tuning into our ancient, primitive instincts while healing from depression or apathy.\n\nIf all of these physical activities aren’t appealing to you, try painting or writing. If you’ve never written in a journal or expressed your thoughts with poetry, here’s your chance! If you play the accordion or kazoo–do that. Perhaps, try a new video game or board game that interests you. While recovering, I enjoyed sitting in my local book store cafe. I could have a latte, listen to peaceful music in my headphones, and write or read. Any of these activities can be used to enter the mental state of flow that I described earlier. Of course, if none of these things are bringing you happiness, keep searching and being patient…things will improve eventually. These ideas are simply recommendations to help kickstart your brain again. It’s important not to overdo it. There’s no reason to run a marathon or go skydiving right now. Even a vacation may be too much stress. You can do those things another time. For now, keep it simple and within reason! Time heals all wounds and consistency will see you through this.\n\nTransforming Self:\n\nThe transformative power of formal rituals and cermonies shouldn’t be underestimated. For all of recorded history, people have used rites of passage and ceremony to mark important milestones and changes in life. Weddings, funerals, baptisms, and so on. I remember my college graduation well–simply moving my silly hat’s tassel was a symbol to show I was now an “educated” person. Bootcamp was a rite of passage I endured in 2001. Tribal people in Africa have killed animals to show they’re no longer children, and the Maoris of New Zealand have bungee jumped from tall trees to enter manhood. A list of ceremonies could be made for every culture on earth. Why? Because humans have always recognized rituals as powerful transformative symbols.\n\nThis all might seem a little crazy, but that’s kind of what I’m going for here. You can create a memorable experience that brings you out of your normal, mundane life. I highly suggest you pick a day to dispose of your entire supply of kratom and that you ritualize the event. You make a “kratom sacrafice,” so to speak. So what does that mean? The following is an example of what you could do.\n\nNext Saturday, before the sun has come up, you wrap all of your kratom in a white piece of fabric and tie it up with some twine. You drink a ceremonial cup orange Gatorade (some cultures would drink alcohol or take hallucinogens–but might not be a good idea). The color of the Gatorade is a symbol to do the opposite of drinking green kratom. Your breakfast consists of white rice, egg whites, and white cheese melted over the eggs. The food symbolizes the new purity of what you consume. Each bite of food is chewed slowly and with complete mindfulness of what it represents. You shower well and dress in comfortable, light colored clothes. Completely refreshed, with the kratom in your backpack, you leave your house and head to a local trail. You have a playlist created on your smartphone. The music includes sounds of singing bowls and Native American flute music. This music plays as you walk the path, repeating, “God or Universe, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” With each step, feel the ground under your feet. With each breath, feel the air passing through your nostrils. After a somewhat challenging hike, you arrive at a cliff over a river. Sorry environmentalists–I normally wouldn’t suggest this, but this is a very rare occasion. You step up to the cliff. You look down at the river and thank it for its beautiful, cleansing power. Then you throw the kratom off the cliff and into the river. You watch the kratom sink to the depths of the river. After taking a deep breath of relief, you sit in meditation with an incense stick burning next to you–sending its smoke high into the heavens. There you sit in peace, feeling gratitude for your ability to change and grow into a stronger, more wise person. All of this, symbolizing your desire to face addiction and to call on forces more powerful than yourself to assist in overcoming the challenges that await.\n\nThis of course is just an example of how you might dispose of your kratom. But the point is, make it a rite of passage. Make it strange. Take time to demonstrate your deliberate effort to make a huge change in your life. It doesn’t matter what religion you are, Christian, Buddhist, Atheist, or Muslim…I don’t think that matters here. There’s no proper way of saying goodbye to kratom–so be creative and include the important aspects to ritual transformation. Make the experience symbolic, meaningful, challenging, and deliberate. Once you have disposed of your kratom, don’t waste your time looking back. You will feel better before you know it. Begin focusing on what the new patterns of your life’s fabric will look like. Once the new you has emerged, you’ll be forever grateful kratom is no longer your crutch in life.",
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      "body": "<p><br /></p>\n<p><img src=\"//www.quitkratom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/yoga.jpeg\" /></p>\n<p><br /></p>\n<p>Friend,</p>\n<p> I won’t sugar coat this for you; coming off kratom is brutal! I know  because I have been through it. The suffering can last weeks or even  months. Of course, many people don’t want to face this simple fact:  kratom is an opioid and the withdrawal symptoms are similar to other  opioids. For two months after quitting, I felt like the world had become  a torture chamber designed for my personal punishment. Mother Earth  didn’t approve of my foolish abuse of the Mitragyna plant, and now a  harsh lesson was in store for me. There were days when my depression was so bad, the apocalypse would  have been a relief. Come to think of it, I suppose this is why I watched  the entire Walking Dead series as my tolerance grew and insufferable  cravings took hold of me. Luckily for all of us, the world had not come  to an end. There was no zombie apocalypse; and though I felt like a  kratom-drinking zombie, I still had a lot of life left in me–I just  didn’t know it yet. So how did I survive the suffering? At first, there was no method to  the madness. I failed at quitting numerous times and managed to land in a  psychiatric hospital for attempted suicide during the process. My  mental health wasn’t good before I became addicted to kratom (PTSD,  anxiety and depression), but it was infinitely worse while going through  withdrawals and Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). Nevertheless, I  kept fighting to find something that could help me; and to my surprise, I  did. Not a quick fix by any means, but I found the ancient wisdom and  practices of Yoga to be very helpful during recovery. And though I no  longer have kratom withdrawals or major depression, the wisdom of Yoga  is still something I emerse myself in to find inner peace and  tranquility.  The techniques discovered thousands of years ago have proven to calm  the storm within the mind. Unfortunately, there’s a stigma with Yoga.  The practice has been commercialized, sexualized, and made to look very  mystical and bizarre. In actuality, millions of Americans have tried  Yoga (at least some aspect of it) and there almost never a cult  initiation required (99999.9% of the time). It’s not witchcraft or new  age silliness; it’s simply a time tested method used to calm our most  unsettling cravings, aversions, and delusions. Fear and self-doubt can  leave us frozen and Yoga provides a system to regain freedom from those  feelings. Trust me on this, a crisis is the perfect portal to enter the  practice. No need to change your faith or become a vegan…just breathe,  my friend. Breathe. And breathe again…nice and slow. See, Yoga feels  good, right? At this point, it would be beneficial to ask yourself some questions.  To seek the honest truth about why you started using kratom in the  first place. For me it was medicine. But for what? I was depressed and  was having panic attacks at work. Why was I depressed and anxious? Could  I face this question? Apparently not…so I used kratom to medicate  myself and failed to deal with my mental/emotional hurricane. What about you? Do you have similar tangled up knots within your  mind? Things that are lurking just beyond the comfort zone of everyday  thinking? Regrets from your past or fears about the future? I would bet  $100 you do, and it’s probably why you fell into the kratom trap like I  did. Our minds are fantastic at creating excuses, delusions and all types  of mechanisms to protect the ego. Because much of this brain activity  happens on a subconscious level, we are unaware of it. Imagine our mind  like a puppy with no leash. Its running here and there. Its distracted.  Its untamed, untrained, and unable to evaluate or observe its own  innermost workings. Its out of control. An out of control mind means  there is a lack of focus or concentration. Distractions can easily lead  us from getting to know our own afflictions and why our behavioral  impulses arise. This state of mental chaos creates all kinds of  challenges for someone who’s quitting an opioid. Within the practice of Yoga, meditation is used to observe the mind.  By withholding judgment and observing, one can learn about an inner  world over time. Rather than trying to fill a bottomless pit with things  such as kratom, food, sex, or alcohol, we can learn to comfort  ourselves from within. What we’re lacking and how to comfort ourselves.  We start this process by training the “wild puppy” mind during regular,  sitting meditation. And at times, we meditate while holding a variety of  poses. It takes time and effort to train the those stupid puppies. When  the mind starts running around like crazy, we bring it back to  observing our breath or a mantra. This process creates a sense of  stillness within the mind. We learn to focus our energy on observation  rather than resistance and avoidance of pain. Eventually Yoga provides  us the tools to calm ourselves without running, hiding, or turning away  from our afflictions. There are no magic potions. No bad tasting green stuff from Bali,  Thailand, or anywhere else will ever fill your emotional voids. We must  stop running away from our pain. I suggest reading the book, The Wisdom  of Yoga: A Seekers Guide to Extraordinary Living. Stephen Cope is a  fantastic author and a psychotherapist. He’s also a senior Scholar in  Residence at the Kripalu Center for Yoga in Lenox Massachusetts. In his  book, Stephen breaks down an ancient Indian text known as the  Yoga-Sutra, and he teaches us regular Westerners the eight limbs of  Yoga. In short, Stephen shares thousands of years of research on how to  achieve the optimal human living condition within 300 pages. Just taking  some time to read will help keep you motivated and provide a positive  activity while your brain heals from kratom addiction. Traditional Yoga is composed of eight important components and it’s  not practical to describe all of them within a blog post. The important  thing to know is, yogis have practical views on our ethics, behaviors,  physical bodies and our minds. There are plenty of interpretations and  various practices, but they all share a few things. And while going  through this process of quitting kratom, I suggest you spend time in  meditation, controlling your breathing, remaining mindful, and  practicing all of those challenging poses and stretches Yoga is known  for. I guarantee, your brain will thank you! Your mind will draw out  many impurities in the process–and it will challenge you! But you’ll  always find it’s better to face your demons and purify your mind than to  live in denial and in mental chaos. I made it through the withdrawals and the torture of PAWS. If I can, I  know you can too! Yoga has brought me inner peace by guiding my mind  through introspection and stillness. Give it a try and see what you  think. I have even included some useful YouTubes at http://www.quitkratom.com/?p=51#more-51. Namaste!  </p>",
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      "body": "Friend,\n\nDoes it ever piss you off to get online and read what people have to say about kratom? It seems there are endless comments on sites like YouTube, where angry kratom defenders almost protest, “kratom is a natural cure for everything!” It’s so obvious to me now…but let’s think about this claim real quick. Could there really be a non-addictive herb that provides feelings of euphoria, relaxation, increased energy, and pain relief? In addition, could this herb also prevent cancer; cure addiction to other harmful substances; and improve overall sexual function? According to the endless comments on YouTube, kratom has all of these benefits, plus more! And guess what? These defenders claim kratom is less addictive than coffee and comes with no side effects! Sounds a little too good to be true, right? That’s because……..it is too good to be true.\n\nWhile kratom can be used to help people recover from more dangerous substances–and that alone is incredible–I’m guessing you’ve already come to realize, kratom can also be addictive. And when the time comes to quit, the withdrawals (and acute post withdrawal syndrome) are absolutely miserable! If you’re not convinced, read the many discussions at: https://www.reddit.com/r/quittingkratom/\n\nIt can feel lonely in your quest to quit using kratom. With so many people out there claiming it has no side effects or addictive qualities, you may start doubting yourself and questioning if you really should quit. I know I went through that phase of questioning.\n\nBut let me make this clear; and there is no debate in the scientific community about this:\n\nKRATOM IS AN ADDICTIVE DRUG AND OPIOID ANTAGONIST.\n\nSo, go ahead and put your self-doubt to rest and trust your instincts; your rational mind; and some sound advice. Take a deep breath and realize–although it might not feel like it now–you’re going to be okay, and you will get through this. I’m here to help you along the way, and there are many techniques to help you recover. With time, your motivation and willpower will gain strength, and things will get easier. For now, just keep reading and doing what you’re doing; all the answers you’re looking for will be found. I can assure you, the simple act of doing this research is taking a step in a positive direction. Good job!\n\nUndoubtedly, you’ve noticed the more you use kratom on a regular basis, the less effective the herb works. This increased tolerance, means you have developed a dependency on the opioid compounds found in kratom. Essentially, your brain is no longer proficient at independently producing its own “feel good” chemicals, called ‘endorphins.’ At least for now. Currently, your brain is trained to rely on kratom for producing happiness and motivation. But don’t freak out! This condition is completely reversible–your brain simply needs time to heal and regain balance from the drug abuse it has experienced.\n\nAs my tolerance built, I began to feel very moody and lost much of my enjoyment in life. Eventually, the only thing giving me a slight feeling of fleeting pleasure, was a hefty dose of kratom. Just to avoid the unpleasant feelings of withdrawals, I was dosing multiple times a day. At which point, I decided a long tapering program should help me control the situation. Surely, I thought, tapering would be the least painful method to quit.\n\nAs it turns out, tapering was extremely hard. It was a long drawn-out process. Which–in my current opinion–was completely unnecessary. While tapering, I was moody, grouchy, and glued to my bed for several weeks. I craved my precious green powder all day; only to be disappointed when the small dose did little to satisfy my depression and lethargy. Over and over, day after day, the smaller doses failed to provide me with the warm, opioid happiness I once knew and loved. Tapering only increased my cravings, and the constant temptation frustrated me beyond words.\n\nAt the end of two months of tapering, I decided to reward myself. I went to my closet and dug into my gigantic bag of red horned kratom. I mixed up a two tablespoon dose; and said to myself, “Good job, Me! I’m going to get ‘high,’ one last time.” I drank down the nasty sludge–and to my surprise–I didn’t get the strong, long-lasting euphoria I hoped for. But as you might have guessed, I quickly returned to regular kratom use anyway.\n\nObviously, this was a very discouraging event for me. I had suffered a lot with my taper, and I felt it was all for nothing. Of course it wasn’t for nothing. There is one positive outcome from this failure; I learned a valuable life lesson:\n\nPICKING UP OLD HABITS IS EASY!\n\nLooking back, it was a terrible idea to keep a large supply of kratom sitting around the house. I had been constantly craving a full dose of kratom for two months. The nagging feelings were like an itch that couldn’t be scratched. With all that pent up desire, my habit came rushing back worse than it had ever been. Whats more, the taper failure put my self-doubt at an all-time high as well.\n\nSeveral months of kratom abuse continued. This ongoing habit lead to my experience with disturbing hallucinations. Yep, this herbal drug–so often thought of as harmless–left me seeing nonexistent spiders on myself; on my bedroom walls; and even crawling on my wife while she slept next to me! At least five times, I had these terrifying hallucinations while taking excessive amounts of kratom. I was feeling absolutely numb, and my sexual life was suffering too.\n\nTo make matters worse, this wasn’t my first problem with severe mental issues while taking kratom. Approximately five months before these hallucinations began (and before I realized I was addicted to kratom), I attempted suicide after not taking kratom for several consecutive days. Unbeknownst to me at that time, feelings of extreme depression are common for people when quitting habitual opioid use.\n\nI reflected on all of these experiences. After several days of internal debating had ended, I became very determined to quit. This time would be different. I had to do it cold turkey. And I had to quit, for good!\n\nI went to my wife about the problem. She was actually surprised at how severe the addiction had become. She thought my unstable mood and depression were caused by something other than kratom use. I assured her it was the kratom and she was very understanding. Quickly, she  disposed of all my kratom (as a former kratom distributor, I had nearly five kilos on hand).\n\nFortunately for me, my wife was beyond supportive and happy to help in many ways. I informed her that I would likely be depressed for several months, and I needed her to keep me from purchasing more kratom. I also asked her for additional comfort while I was at my worst. She agreed and promised to keep me from doing anything unsafe. I am forever grateful for her help during that difficult time!\n\nThere were many withdrawal symptoms. But mainly, a long-lasting depression and desperate craving to use kratom again. For almost four months I struggled to regain my ability to find happiness without kratom. My brain had been injured from kratom abuse, and it was very apparent. At times, I would sit and remissness on  being a kid. I could envision myself outside with friends on a hot sunny day, playing baseball or swimming at the pool. I thought back on laughing, blood circulating through my body, and feeling life’s possibilities were endless. Those days seemed so far away. I missed times like that, and I wanted to know if I would ever get that feeling back? Could I ever feel joy again without using a substance to get me there?\n\nI realized something during those times of meditation: The road back is long and challenging, but it’s available to all of us. If you’re willing to commit to change and reach out for help. You will find your way back. Just remember, once the journey has begun, do not look back. Remain patient during the rocky traverse through recovery. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you in the end. I can assure you of this, because I have found my way back–and its a beautiful thing to enjoy life with complete sobriety!\n\nWritten by TewPoint0",
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      "body": "I’m guessing–if you’re anything like me–you remember a very pleasant first experience of getting “high” on kratom (Mitragyna Speciosa). Or, if it wasn’t a euphoric high, perhaps it was a relieving or stimulating feeling. Whatever your reaction to that nasty green powder, you likely enjoyed yourself as anxiety, depression, and/or physical pain melted away. Perhaps withdrawals from another substance, such as heroin or prescription pain killers, were soothed. Kratom, like other opioids, can be very relieving and satisfying when first used. Unfortunately, as a result of repeated exposure to opioids, that feeling of relief and euphoria is fleeting for regular users.\n\nThere are many paths which brought us to kratom dependency, but the perceived benefit from drug use is usually similar. Kratom masks our suffering. All drugs hide reality from us. We take a substance and forget our fear, struggle, and suffering. Drugs provide an easy method to achieve a feeling of well-being and comfort. The alkaloids (naturally occurring chemical compounds) in kratom are capable of mimicking our brain’s own “feel good” chemicals–neurotransmitters known as endorphins. Mitragyna Speciosa contains over 25 alkaloids; some of which are responsible for its similarities to morphine, codeine, opium, and oxycodone.\n\nFor me, kratom relieved anxiety while boosting energy and improving mood. As a new user, these effects could last several hours. While suffering with clinical depression, kratom was like a miracle substance. Many kratom users claim the drug provides enjoyment during work or studying; I definitely found this to be true. In fact, my move from Hawaii to Virginia was fueled by the power of kratom. My wife enjoyed my kratom highs; I was a cooking, cleaning, talking fool. Our new house in Virginia ended up looking better than our old one in Hawaii ever had. And this I attribute to kratom. It’s great while the superhuman effects last…your significant other may even enjoy it. But trust me friend, those superhuman days are numbered. If you started using kratom as a relief from depression, you’ll likely be surprised when it begins to make your mood worse than it ever was.\n\nPrior to my first use, I read quite a lot about kratom on the internet.  I also watched a plethora of YouTubes from overly confident people who probably don’t know shit about the effects of psychoactive herbs, such as kratom. There was one younger guy with a beard who seemed to be benefiting from regular use…I remember he was influential in my choice. Everything I read was overly positive. People were claiming kratom changed their lives in so many ways. My opinion formed quickly and I viewed kratom as a natural product with very few side effects and low potential for addiction. This is partially true, but there’s an evident bias online.\n\nEventually a quick Google search lead me Oahu’s premier kratom vendor (a total ripoff, actually) . There was just one smoke shop on the island selling kratom, a cool little head-shop called Smokey’s. My wife and I took a short trip across the Island to Honolulu and picked up my first 20 gram bag of green maeng da. The guy working in Smokey’s gave me a quick rundown on kratom use and even prepared each of us a weak cup of hot kratom tea–even put some honey and lemon in it! I was a little nervous at first, but the kratom seemed to take the edge off. I was excited to get home and experiment with a higher dose.\n\nLooking back at that night, I wasn’t overly impressed by the effects of the exotic herb powder… I basically remember it tasting like shit and it leaving me feeling somewhat sleepy and disconnected from reality. Nevertheless, the experience was enough to keep me interested. I’d been struggling with depression and alcoholism and kratom seemed to have taken the edge off.  I tried kratom several more times until I found the perfect dose. I realized kratom’s potential after downing two heaping tablespoons of red maeng da on an empty stomach…I felt completely relaxed and euphoric. Interestingly, I also was motivated to work and socialize. An added bonus: my chronic knee pain was almost nonexistent. Quickly, my kratom position shifted from skeptic to believer.\n\nMy legal opioid/stimulant worked so much better than the depression and anxiety medication doctors had prescribed. I could use kratom any time. I was my own doctor. Plus, kratom was cheap, essentially harmless (and natural), and completely undetectable on drug tests. I began getting this giddy feeling of excitement when I was about to dose. I knew I was moments from enjoying euphoria and relief. I call this time period, my “infatuation phase” with kratom. Everything in life was so new and beautiful with kratom! My drug and I were a match made in heaven. I had a beautiful relationship with my super herb!\n\nAs time passed. I kept reading online. Occasionally I read tolerance can build quickly and kratom can be mildly addictive. But the examples of addiction weren’t very worrisome and my drug addict denial was functioning well. I didn’t want to face reality and I didn’t understand how opioids work. I believed I could handle kratom once a week, then twice a week, then three times, five times…etc. Eventually, I was dosing during work, before working out, before dates and while watching TV for hours. After a year, I was using kratom every day…sometimes even two or three times. I even became a vendor and sold kratom to people all over Hawaii. Kratom became a complete obsession at that point.\n\nThe road from using weekly to daily is a little unclear in my memory.  I believe, however, the withdrawals began once I started dosing approximately three times per week. I mistook the withdrawal symptoms as normal feelings of depression. During this time, I would ignore my children and lay in bed feeling teary and isolated from the world. Withdrawals and kratom “hangover” eventually kept me from enjoying the gym and the beautiful Hawaiian beaches near by. It was a very gradual path to addiction, and during this process it seemed kratom was there for me. In the end, I discovered the drug was just pulling me deeper into a pit of despair while giving me a false sense of contentment.\n\nEventually, having suffered a mild panic attack at work, I decided I would do an experiment; I would use nearly two tablespoons of kratom every morning before work. I knew while using kratom I was capable of public speaking, accomplishing many tasks, and maintaining good relationships with my boss and coworkers. The risks of kratom seemed minimal and the rewards seemed endless! So why not try using everyday? I was desperate. I was being paid well to be a leader at work and having panic attacks while public speaking is not a good way to keep your job. Kratom was a solution, so I took a risk in desperation.\n\nSure enough, the experiment seemed to work–I did perform excellent for those two weeks. I was a top performer during that time. I felt like I was on fire! Sure enough, I was extra productive, I was social; and most importantly, I unafraid to speak in front of a room full of people.\n\nBut what did I do to my brain during those two weeks of drug abuse? Was the risk as low as I had estimated? Was I curing my anxiety and depression? Or, was I simply dulling my emotions and creating new issues? These were questions I was subconsciously asking myself. The answers to these questions would eventually come to light… Unfortunately, it would take a mental breakdown and failed suicide attempt before I could see how addicted and damaged I was from kratom abuse.\n\nSo what do I now know about the pharmacology of kratom and how plants’ chemical compounds (alkaloids) effect the brain? Well, I’m not a scientist, but I’ve read enough (and experienced enough) to understand some important things when it comes to this herb’s addictive properties. However, even researchers haven’t answered many of the questions about kratom.\n\nStudying kratom’s chemistry is complicated due to the large variety of alkaloids contain in plant material. Also, there’s several strains of Mitragyna plants–each with a unique pharmacological profile. Other factors, such as the plant’s age; country or origin; and season when harvested, determine the quantity of alkaloids present in plant matter.  Essentially, to know the chemical make up of your kratom would require an at home laboratory for testing each batch you consume.\n\nThat said, research has shown at least two of the alkaloids in kratom can act on opioid, dopaminergic, serotonergic, GABAergic, and adrenergic systems in our brains. The effects can range from psycho-stimulant to sedative-narcotic. In short, taking kratom at a low dose produces a stimulating “cocaine-like” reaction, while kratom taken in higher doses brings about a “morphine-like” reaction.\n\nThe two primary psychoactive alkaloids found in kratom are Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragine. Both of these alkaloids are opioid receptor antagonists. And while these alkaloids are not generally thought of as dangerous; if taken in higher doses, they are quite powerful. In fact, 7-hydroxymitragine is 17 times more powerful than morphine! Fortunately, there’s only traces of these opioids found in kratom leaves.\n\nIt’s often said on internet message boards, kratom is a plant closely related to coffee and not as addictive as a strong opiate such as morphine. Fair enough, but coffee is not an opioid and kratom is. This is important to understand when making sense of kratom addiction. While kratom may be a closer relative to coffee than poppies, the way our brain responds to kratom is much closer to morphine than to a double shot americano . For this reason, quitting regular kratom use can produce withdrawal symptoms much like quitting stronger opiates such as morphine. Anyone who doubts the reality of kratom addiction, is either uninformed or inexperienced. An opioid is an opioid–morphine is addictive; kratom is addictive. If done long enough on a regular basis, the withdrawals from even kratom can be extremely agitating and deeply depressing. I can attest to the severity of withdrawal symptoms felt while quitting kratom use, and so can many others. Don’t believe me? Check this out: https://www.reddit.com/r/quittingkratom\n\nWhen we ingest kratom, we induce a chemical reaction within our brains (much like if we were to ingest a low dose of morphine). With kratom, we use the alkaloids Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragine to activate opioid receptors. The result of these chemical compounds binding to our opioid recptors is immediate perceptions of pain relief, euphoria, and relaxation. Under normal circumstances, our opioid receptors are only activated from internally produced neurotransmitters known as endorphins. Our bodies naturally produce endorphins to to provide us with mild sensations of well-being (psychological rewards) and for pain relief. Feelings of well-being and pain reduction (or numbness) are associated with both naturally occurring endorphins and with opioid use (such as kratom).\n\nWhen we continuously use kratom (or drugs like morphine), we keep our brains in an unnatural state of confusion and imbalance. Essentially we use kratom to mimic our natural, internally produced endorphins–and we do it to the extreme. Our brains can’t tell the difference between opioids (such as kratom) and the endorphins our brains produce from things like going for a run or having sex. What’s more, taking kratom regularly overloads our brains with these fake endorphins and our body makes every attempt to correct what it sees as an  imbalance and oversupply of endorphins. Or body is always fighting to maintain homeostasis and this leads to what is called ‘down-regulation’ or ‘desensitization.’ Or what we may call, ‘tolerance.’\n\nWhen this down-regulation takes place, our brains restructure themselves–building additional opioid receptors. With these additional receptors, it will take more kratom (or naturally occurring endorphins) to provide us an equally rewarding feeling of happiness or pain relief. Unfortunately, our bodies do not begin to produce additional endorphins to meet this increased demand. Our brains actually begin to depend on an external source endorphin-like chemicals (opioids); and as a result, less endorphins are produced within the brain. This is the body’s attempt to find balance. This process is how tolerance is built and withdrawals begin. The brain has restructured itself to become dependent on a drug to do what it once could do on its own.\n\nOnce these changes to the brain have taken place, it may feel like there’s no need to work out. Why look at the beauty of a sunset? We don’t need to breath through our pain. We don’t need to heal our emotional wounds with counseling. Addiction to kratom is an obsession with the pleasure induced by drinking a disgusting plant-poweder, mixed in a cup of water! We eventually don’t feel pleasure from normal things; and who needs our own endorphins when we have kratom, right?\n\nAfter all, getting our brains to produce their own endorphins takes work. And work is just so much easier when you take kratom!",
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      "body": "Fellow Kratom Addict,\n\nConsidering the incredible amount of harm drugs cause, it’s maddening to understand why they remain so popular. Are addicts delusional in denying the harmful effects of drugs? Can drug users actually lie to themselves that well; believing they are immune to the known dangers of substance abuse?  Or possibly, users are aware of the effects and simply enjoy harming themselves? Even some captive animals habitually participate in self-harm. Maybe it’s just an instinctual impulse handed down to us from our ancestors. Regardless of what the answers may be, the risks of drug use are not worth the rewards. Even the habitual use of kratom can produce very unpleasant side effects and stress–which is likely the reason why you’re reading this article, on www.QuitKratom.com\n\nAddiction and self-harm is universal, and it’s nothing new. There’s evidence opium was being abused 5,000 years ago, and there are dozens of examples of wild animals seeking out inebriating substances. We don’t yet understand what psychological and sociological conditions contribute to such urges. Obviously, drugs seem to mask pain and change our perception of reality. There’s no way of saying exactly what drives all addictive or destructive behaviors. But what we can definitively say is, drug addiction is real and quitting drug use is scary as hell! Even if the drug is the relatively safe herb, mitragyna speciosa (kratom), it’s good to have support when the time comes to stop using.\n\nSome may say I’m exaggerating, but kratom is an insidious little bastard. It’s not as dangerous or as intoxicating as many other substances. It’s legal in most places. And it has has this reassuring quality of “naturalness.” For me, kratom initially seemed to be a benign substance. I would often use it without anyone suspecting l was under the influence of a drug. But I came to realize, kratom is not much different from other drugs. Why? Because when I first started using kratom, I was in control. I used it on occasion, and there were little to no side effects. But as I continued to use, kratom took total control of me. The cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms slapped me around effortlessly. My emotional state was dictated by an herb.  I was at the mercy of a stupid, gross tasting, plant-powder. When I began using kratom, it made me feel better than normal; in fact, it made me feel great! However, once  tolerance built, I needed a hefty dose just to keep me from feeling moody, angry–and eventually–suicidal.\n\nOften times I thought recreational use of kratom was alright. I thought I still had control. But like Trojan horse of Greek mythology, kratom found a sneaky method to deceive my rational mind and proved more powerful than I expected. Every time I thought I could use recreationally, I found myself back in the pattern of habitual use and self-doubt.\n\nAfter kratom is ingested, the plant’s chemicals (alkoloids), begin to cross the blood-brain barrier. The brain reacts by producing  large quantities of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline. The user then experiences the cascading effects of the drug; physical and mental stimulation, euphoria, and a sense of wellbeing.  But once the “high” has dissipated, the brain is left in an imbalanced state, and attempts to restructure itself to regain normal function. As a result of the chemical and structural changes in the brain, the user is often left with an unpleasant feeling. And with repeated use, a sense of craving and dissatisfaction will become common. Ultimately, when a regular kratom user discontinues their use, they will experience psychological and physical suffering until their brain can regain balance.\n\nHealing from kratom (opioid) addiction is a very slow process. When I finally quit (for good), I had to be patient and accept the pain, cravings, and depression that lasted several months. I thought about using again nearly everyday, and I kept considering if recreational use would work for me. However, I knew from previous failures that I must not give-in to the urge. During this time, it was important that I had someone to keep me from making a bad decision. I must say, “thank you” to my supportive wife who got rid of my massive supply and talked me out of using at least 100 times. I owe her something special. Because of my hard work and my supportive wife’s help, I once again find satisfaction in other activities besides habitual drug use. And it feels amazing!\n\nThe initial high of drug use is not worth the suffering on the backend of addiction. Once the suffering begins, the user realizes he or she has made a mistake. This is a truth I have found about addictive drugs–and it’s a truth I have learned the hard way.  I should have chose to be sober and face my life without a chemical crutch. But you know what they say, “hindsight is 20/20,” right?\n\nIt’s easy to look back and say what we should have done. I’m sure, just like me, when you started using kratom, you had no idea it was a Trojan horse. Although kratom use lead me into a mental health crisis, during my time of recovery, I have discovered many things about myself. And for that, I am grateful. I’ve found meditation and Yoga to be a very important tools in managing my self-destructive urges. I’ve learned to face reality and to feel grateful for my sobriety. I learned to enjoy the natural endorphins my brain produces from a workout or spending a day in the sun. I enjoy life again–and in some ways–more than I ever have. I didn’t believe I would, but I do. So keep up the good fight, my friend! You’ll be glad you did!\n\nP.S. You already know, kratom (or any addictive drugs) will never be something we can use recreationally. 😉\n\nWritten by TewPoint0",
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