Missed this thread. Great reading everyone’s responses- anything I would’ve said mostly got hit.

Ex-opioid addict here and AAS/PEDs 100% contribute to my quality of life more than they take from it.

Your definitely not alone my friend..But as some of our homies here have stated, a little self reflection can ease us out of this equation..So for me, I was doing the strongest opiates known to mankind or atleast the strongest I could find, along with phetamines too. Although my main poison was the fent/heroin bullshit. Id steal your shit, then help you look for it, not even joking. I know that when I was running the streets, I had to have hit that "FUCK IT" button a long time ago. Nothing positive about it, at any point. On the other hand, when I started dipping my feet into this world, everything was from a improvement perspective, or growing prospective if that makes any sense. I thoroughly do my own research on different compounds I'm considering, it's like there's another layer of responsibility, and self awareness because your tuning your own body, hormones, just trying to get the absolute best "You" you can achieve. And if none of that helps lol... We are all part of the "Recovery Lounge" and I can say whole heartedly that the guys in here (myself included), will never and I mean never, steer you in the wrong direction, and are here to talk to one another about situations, feelings, pressure, that different stages of recovery, being sober, brings.

This was a good read. I definitely don’t feel like the two even compare like everyone stated. The only thing I noticed as fare as being quote unquote addicted to peds wasn’t the feeling but just injecting almost daily bc of using hgh, peptides, or different cycle schedules. I was never an IV drug user. Never injected anything before I started TRT or peptide/hgh cycles. For some reason I noticed I looked forward to days I injected something and the days I didn’t I was thinking about it wishing it was an injection day. Now those feelings went away after 6-8 months. I no longer feel like im looking forward to injection days like that anymore. I think it was just my addict brain hoping I was using a mind altering substance again. All in all my life and health have been better on peds then my like ever was drinking and drugging.

First of all there have been some very good things shared in my opinion. But for me and my truth ive never stole cheated or lied or called in sick or lost jobs because of PEDS. Im still of service to others and a way healthier version of my self. Mind, Body, and Spirit ya know. My heavy cycle days are over Right now just running a lil Test P, Mast P and hgh might throw some orals in but not for very long. Im not driven by size today but what do my labs look like ya know. Hope this helps! Keep Coming Back.....

I agree with everything already posted in this thread but want to add that the neurochemical effects of AAS are so wildly different from drugs and alcohol that you in no way can compare their effects. Drugs and alcohol tend to release dopamine, along with some other neurotransmitters that are drug-dependent, in a way that is dose-dependent and moderated by the chemical itself. In other words, the drugs themselves release the dopamine. AAS work via hormone signaling which is by definition a progressive and slow process. There’s no “rush” like you get with drugs to get addicted to. Can you get addicted to AAS? Yes, of course but it is more similar, at least chemically, to social media addiction or food addiction. My personal measure is whether or not something interferes with my spiritual program. AAS does not currently. I don’t lie and steal for AAS. If my stash disappeared today it would be a bummer but I wouldn’t consider robbing a pharmacy for a vial of test.

The Best thing to do is look at the 2 different versions of yourself both on Steroids Vs An Alcoholic/Drug User.

I am pretty sure you will find as with myself that when you are dedicated to the gym and training, eating correctly, acting with responsibility and being considerate and caring towards other people Vs An Erratic Selfish asshole who's sole mission in life every day is to source bottles of Drink and drugs and then waste the day away in and out of consciousness and to try and get as far away from reality as possible then you will see for yourself the 2 entities are completely different to each other. Just because you take gear it doesn't make you a bad person, its your actions and words that determine that part when you are on them. There are plenty of sober people in life that don't drink or do steroids that are horrible people, its your character that determines who you are.

I’ve never been one for heavy cycles, many would would laugh but my heaviest was 500mg test, 300mg deca, and 200mg masteron with a couple hundred mg of orals in the beginning and end. My alcohol abuse was a different story, it would go up and down, but when I had both feet into it were talking a fifth to a liter a day, typically vodka. This would start at 6AM in the shower when I woke up to lose the shakes, twitches, throwing up, and feeling like I was going to die. I drank so much that people around me didn’t know I even drank. Here’s the thing, I’ve always been one for regular doctor visits, more so when I started TRT at 40 (I’m 49 now.). I got lucky after my final bender, bloods actually weren’t terrible, a few markers were just over the normal range, I’m talking tenths of a point, the physician regarded them as normal. During that aforementioned heaviest cycle my blood markers were perfect, everything within all ranges. Keep in mind alcohol was at a minimum and I had gone 3 weeks without any, diet was perfect, everything dialed in and I felt great. Now before the steroids and taking my diet seriously, exercise was always taken seriously, I had some blood tests that were awful. Liver was elevated, white blood cells up (mine are typically high end of normal or just over), glucose was up there, cholesterol was fucked, the list goes on. Being an analytical person, it was easy to see that the drugs, in that amount, coupled with a good diet and exercise, were actually quite beneficial. Alcohol on the other hand, is a very strong toxin. It’s literally poison to a human body. Take from that what you will, and for the record I’m not mad at alcohol, I’m not mad at myself, it feels like I never drank at all actually, it’s just something I don’t consider. Don’t feel bad about using gear if it’s not affecting your life negatively, in fact for some it’ll get you much healthier, look at and use it medicinally. All seriousness aside and to keep a laugh involved like I like to do, the Klonopin the Dr had me hooked on is a different story, I’d 100% live to have a few of them or some Valium ready to go only because after getting sober people’s general stupidity and nastiness get to me badly. If you pay attention like me, and really look at the world through sober eyes, many people are sick, dangerous, conniving individuals that will destroy your life to better theirs, 10mg of Valium here and there would definitely take the edge off lol. Take from all this what you will buddy, your milage may vary, just remember sober is better and you’re very much not alone.

Follow the steps. Does AAS make your life unmanageable? If so then maybe rethink the matter. If your life is not unmanageable because of AAS then you have your answer. Hope this helps. That’s why there are people out there that can drink or whatever and stop after one. I can’t with alcohol and street drugs but I can with my Pepsi and my food addiction, pasta. Hope this is clear as mud. Love you brother and if you’re asking then you are on the right track.

Well, for me is not the same. Not even close.

When I was doing street drugs, pills and alcohol I was an unhealthy mess. I was a liar a cheater and a thief. I only cared about myself. I could not be trusted and was the definition of being a miserable and unhappy man.

Now I live a healthy life. I'm stronger than ever. These drugs don't make me lie, cheat or steal. I care about others and have become a trustworthy person. I can honestly say I'm a happy man.

Caffeine is a drug, but it doesn't make you steal from others. I don't see myself mugging someone in order to get a vial of Test. The problem with certain drugs are the bad consequences they bring to us and the ones we care about. The only bad consequences I've gotten from PEDs are the occasional but normal pip and sometimes sensitive nipples. I can see way more good consequences coming from this if it's done right.

Stick to specific compounds. Always run background checks, always pay for encrypted security networking. NEVER go for cheap products.

-Buy electron microscope, and temperature controlled electronic vibration plate
-Learn chemistry
-Purchase LLC corporation title for research purposes
-Conduct professional research
-Rest assured that your detailed processing is furthering science, health, and nature.
-Seek research grant opportunities, become involved in fractal legislation.

Nothing to worry about now. You have a registered research facility with security clearance. Lol.

Im with you on this thought my friend. I was conflicted for years about hopping on a cycle. The use of needles, the mood altering substance, all of that. But to perfectly honest Ive never been happier or more accomplished in my entire adult life. It is perfectloy natural that you feels these things. Just keep in mind if youre living a progressive lifestyle and not "overindulging" than odds are youre wayyyy better off than when drugs and or alcohol by a long shot! Keep making gains and stay progressive my friend! Much love to you and yours!

I won’t lie I get the same feeling , but I also try to limit myself on the harsh PeDs unless I’m going to compete … like I really don’t need a syringe full of tren cuz I can…. Now if I am focusing on dieting and utilizing the compounds and not an abundance of them. Then I feel I’m in a good state of mind…. I would to think if any of us are dosing ourselves just cause it’s bad…. Not saying high doses are bad either I’m just saying like , if u are just shooting off to mars for no reason have no diet goals or any real plan… that’s addicted behavior… but st the end of the day I do feel it is blah all around … just acceptable enough lol

I life the lifestyle diet , blood work, cardio. I'm healthier than I have been. While using drugs we were never healthier , never had self respect, self worth, on the highs followed by lows. My life has never been better they with peds. That's how I do it.