Good morning folks! Happy Friday!

No crypto posts today (sorry! tomorrow I'll provide solid TA & this weekend I'll finally write my much anticipated, long overdue 10 golden rules of trading which I've been wanting to for a while now)

... as for today I wanted to take some time to focus specifically on something that almost killed me (more than once) and is an issue that I'm very passionate about: that is

THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

So I've read so many misconceptions about how opioid addiction really works; and it's perfectly understandable where those misconceptions stem from: a lack of understanding & ignorance of their effect on the brain.

I thought I'd explain it in a way that even the most basic, clean, non-user can understand: now I succame to this epidemic around 2009 and suffered for many years to about 2013 and it was BAD; yet I survived and cleaned up through BRUTE FORCE, DISCIPLINE & SHEER WILLPOWER: If you're a non-user / non-addict and don't understand how it works; imagine this: you're dehydrated and starving to death. you have access to food and water yet it's poisonous and can kill you.

Eventually; you'll give in to your compulsion and you will EAT/DRINK the food & water out of instinct, because your brain is convincing your body that you need to do this to stay alive. But it's not true. The truth is what you're eating is like pure fiber; it just makes you more hungry/thirsty and digs the hole deeper rather than climbing out.

To get clean you have to FORCE YOURSELF TO STARVE for days - weeks and while you're starving you are also being physically tortured. Opioid withdrawal is a perfect example of Newton's 3rd law.

It's the equal/opposite reaction to the high you received while on opiates. Just the universe balancing itself out. Your brain refusing to produce endorphins because you've introduced artificial ones into your receptors for so long; that it takes a few weeks for your body to realize you're no longer providing yourself with these artificial endorphins (this is infamously known as the withdrawal period) before (like any wound that heals) it starts SLOWLY producing it's own again.

This illustration best demonstrates and provides imagery as to the scientific explanation for opiate dependence

It takes A LOT of support from a network (whether it's friends/family or NA/AA, whatever works for you) But don't be the type who thinks he/she is strong enough to do it on his own and doesn't need help. Because you do. You just haven't realized it yet (love you family, i'm forever grateful, i owe you my life)

Next you'll need to summon an insurmountable, GREAT deal of strength, willpower, self-education, and have TIME to mature (Each case is different depending on cirumstance.) as well as an innate DESIRE AND NEED to convince yourself "i'm better than this; i'm not going out like this."

That's only if you're fortunate enough to survive that long and aren't killed by it first; it takes a process and a great deal of suffering to realize all this. The sad truth is unfortunately many OD and die before they've had the chance to hit their bottom which is what is needed to overcome this hell of an addiction. As soon as you understand that what you're doing is not your own wants/needs but rather you have a compulsion and will eat at ANY COST. Only than you can take that first step in acknowledging you need help.

But for those who say "i can't stop" is absolute BS. you're just NOT ready yet. you haven't hit rock bottom. It took me almost 4 years of pure suffering to realize that. I've been clean & sober off all opioids (and everything else including alcohol; with the exception of cannabis for anxiety) for almost 5 years now. It feels like a distant dream. The 'cravings' are all but gone.

It was pure hell; but it made me so much stronger, passionate, and determined to accomplish something before I die. It's true when they say the cliche, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I managed to take something good out of a complete nightmare. My experiences/life during that time also stripped me of my fear of death. I wasn't afraid to die anymore; I even WELCOMED it at times.

I was afraid to LIVE.

If you're still stuck or trapped in that hole. I and many others are praying for you; but listen to me: DO NOT EAT/DRINK the poison. It will alleviate your hunger but it will come back worse, just FORCE YOURSELF (use OTC medication & buprenorphine to help if necessary) to GET yourself off IMMEDIATELY. I know; easier said than done, but nothing worth having comes easy.

I've always felt that although very brutal, cold-turkey was the best way, because the more you suffer from W/D the less likely you are to return to the drug. Once you get through that phase, after a couple weeks of absolute torture; you're no longer hungry. Your energy comes back. You feel a bit depressed; known as PAWS, a.k.a. Post-acute withdrawal syndrome which will last for up to a month, but that will go away just like your cravings and your withdrawal after another few weeks.

You feel almost like you've had an epihany; and are given a new life like a newborn child. Once you get through that phase; you're no longer hungry. I highly recommend exercise; although you will have no energy, things like eating (even though you have no appetite) sex (which you always have an appetite for =D) and exercise (which you have NO energy for) are some natural/traditional methods to produce endorphins and alleviate withdrawal.

MORE IMPORTANTLY:

Don't ever give up. You will get through this. It might not seem like it now; and suicide might seem like an appealing way to opt out. Ignore that devil's voice in your head and DON'T do anything stupid. Do not be selfish and realize there are people who love you and care about you and don't want you to die. But more importantly, you have to want to live. You can't just do it for others. You've got to do it for yourself. Dig deep and really find that discipline to push forward.

Everything might seem pointless now, like you're in an abyss and surrounded by darkness; but there is a light at the end. You just have to be willing to reach it. There is hope for you. I'm living proof of it.

If you live in the U.S. (particularly these states) or even abroad (because this epidemic is not restricted to America only) than you should be very concerned:

Even if you're not a user; you don't know any users, it's referred to as an 'epidemic' because it still impacts your life. It impacts everyones, when it's being used on such a large scale. It's a socio-economic structural problem. So there's a reason to care if you don't have one already.

God bless you all. Peace & Love. For those still trapped in the darkness; I'll continue to pray for you:

• @a1MTarabichi