Sugar and chocolate.

[perpetualtravel]

I am finding my struggle with school getting harder and harder as the time passes by. At the end of the semester I'm always so positive I can do better next semester, but next semester comes around and I am doing the exact same, if not a bit worse, than the previous. It's really driving me mad, because I don't know the first thing about how to fix

Comments

[goyascats]

They've done studies where they've found that, if you give rats other rats to play with, along with some toys and blankets and shit, their addictions disappear completely. Even to opiates etc.

Blaming drugs, biology or genetics for addiction are just convenient cop-outs for people wanting to avoid the social and environmental bases for addiction, which are much more difficult to tackle.

I'm pretty sure anyone could tell a scientist or politician this... a six-year-old eats more candy when he's bored or restless. I smoke and drink much more when I'm bored or depressed.

Anyway, hi. I found your journal randomly and thought I'd comment.

[perpetualtravel]

Yeah, it makes sense. But you think biology and genetics has nothing to do with it? You become addicted to drugs because of certain things that are only linked to biology. You start doing the drugs (or binge eating, drinking etc) because of sociological reason - boredom, depression and whatnot. You may even keep doing it after the first couple of times because it offers some form of escapism, but eventually your body gets so used to it that when you try to abstain you experience withdrawal. That has nothing to do with society though.

Thanks for commenting. You don't post in yours very much, do you? Or maybe yours are all friends only or something.

[goyascats]

I don't deny that some drugs alter brain chemistry, or that there may be genetic predispositions which make people more vulnerable to pleasing drug effects. But it's just not the cause. Even heroin withdrawal symptoms subside completely within 36-72 hrs, which makes you wonder what methadone clinics are doing. Give people better alternatives, and they'll usually make better choices.

And no, no friends-only posts... I've just forgotten about lj with school and stuff. Mind if I friend you?

[perpetualtravel]

And with that I completely agree. It's like medication automatically being prescribed to people who show signs of depression. But popping pills s only a temporary relief of the emotional pain. However, they become addicted to these pills because it helps them feel better, yet they never really learn how to be better. Once off the medication, it's all back to the beginning. Certainly your surroundings and society have a lot to do with the initial screw up. Better alternatives would be great... but I only see it going the other way. That might be my pessimistic outlook on life though. Or perhaps my realistic outlook? Heh. Maybe there's a greater connection between pessimistic and realistic than people think.

And no, I definitely don't mind if you friend me. I was reading some of your posts and one from way back in the day said something about getting a ticket to Hillside. Are you from Guelph? Or are there other Hillsides that I don't know about?

[goyascats]

Yeah, I'm from Guelph. Live here, go to school.

You go to Hillside?

[perpetualtravel]

I've never actually been to Hillside, but I've sat on the rocks by the Nature walk part of the conservation area and listened to the music. You could hear it quite well from there, and no one was around, which is a definite plus - very relaxing.