DUEL with the DEVIL
Viewing comments for Chapter 41 "DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 41"The problem of creating a non-addictive painkiller
16 total reviews
Comment from BethShelby
This addiction seems to come back awfully easily. It is like common sense is suspended and that you can't remember how out of control like was during the last addiction. Julia had good reason to cry before she left two months before. Things did change in a bad way.
reply by the author on 27-Sep-2024
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This addiction seems to come back awfully easily. It is like common sense is suspended and that you can't remember how out of control like was during the last addiction. Julia had good reason to cry before she left two months before. Things did change in a bad way.
Comment Written 27-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 27-Sep-2024
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I think it's somewhat akin, but maybe worse even than when an alcoholic takes a drink after being sober for a while. It just draws them back in, and they seem almost powerless to stop it. It's baffling if you haven't experienced it. There is a definite genetic component to addiction, and those who don't have the addiction gene may have a hard time understanding it.
Comment from Cindy Decker 3
Jim, this is an extraordinary account of your addiction. First of all you must've been in my messy apartment; I went through the same thing until my young niece rescued me.
You once wondered how I got off hydrocortisone; I simply ran out and my doctors knew I was addicted to pain killers and refused to give me more. I have to confess I turned to over-the-counter thc gummies for awhile, they aren't really addictive. I don't have the need to use them any more.
I hope you win your battle, Jim. Life eventually looks and feels better without painkillers.
God bless,
Best wishes,
Cindy
reply by the author on 26-Sep-2024
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Jim, this is an extraordinary account of your addiction. First of all you must've been in my messy apartment; I went through the same thing until my young niece rescued me.
You once wondered how I got off hydrocortisone; I simply ran out and my doctors knew I was addicted to pain killers and refused to give me more. I have to confess I turned to over-the-counter thc gummies for awhile, they aren't really addictive. I don't have the need to use them any more.
I hope you win your battle, Jim. Life eventually looks and feels better without painkillers.
God bless,
Best wishes,
Cindy
Comment Written 26-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 26-Sep-2024
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Thank you very much, Cindy. This isn't really an account of my addiction which was to pot in my 20s. That was not for pain, but purely for pleasure and was a psychological addiction I was able to quickly get over when it started impacting my health (chronic bronchitis) and I started having kids. But it did give me some insight into Brian's addiction.
I have taken opioid painkillers several times, including hydrocodone (Vicodin), for back and other pains, but I've always been able to taper off them when the pain was gone, and they never made me feel high, as Brian's do.
I'm sorry your doctor cut you off cold turkey, because that is definitely not an ideal way to stop because of the withdrawal symptoms. He should have given you just enough to taper off without having to undergo withdrawal.
Comment from lyenochka
Oh-oh! She came home early! And then she will see the full impact overdosing on Dipraxa has had on Brian. I recall some the fridge contents from the beginning but I also recall that the electricity had been turned off so I guess that's coming after Julie confronts him. Scary stuff!
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2024
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Oh-oh! She came home early! And then she will see the full impact overdosing on Dipraxa has had on Brian. I recall some the fridge contents from the beginning but I also recall that the electricity had been turned off so I guess that's coming after Julie confronts him. Scary stuff!
Comment Written 25-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2024
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Great memory, Helen! I actually changed that, and the electricity was no longer shut off.
She will be confronting him over the course of the next two chapters. Let me know by the end of the next two if you think everyone remained in character.
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Jim,
I think I must be on some kind of drug I didn't know I'd taken. I've tried to review this three or four times and each time I'm almost done and end up wiping it out. I was going to give some brilliant answer for a review, but at this point I'm just hoping to finish this. It's going to be interesting to see how Julia handles this. He obviously has an addiction problem. Love can conquer a multitude of sins, but it will be a tough one to overcome this time. I hope somehow there is some redemption. Well done my friend.
Blessings,
Tom
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2024
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Hello Jim,
I think I must be on some kind of drug I didn't know I'd taken. I've tried to review this three or four times and each time I'm almost done and end up wiping it out. I was going to give some brilliant answer for a review, but at this point I'm just hoping to finish this. It's going to be interesting to see how Julia handles this. He obviously has an addiction problem. Love can conquer a multitude of sins, but it will be a tough one to overcome this time. I hope somehow there is some redemption. Well done my friend.
Blessings,
Tom
Comment Written 25-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2024
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Wow, you've really been thinking a lot about this. That is music to my ears, my friend! Please let me know after you finish reading the next two chapters if you think everyone stayed in character as you perceive them. I would like to have made this one and the next two one big chapter, but due to length, I had to split it up, but they are all part of the same scene, and it's hard to judge until all three have been presented.
Thanks very much for those 6 stars too.
Comment from royowen
I recognised when I stopped drinking and drinking, that I had a propensity to be a good target for addiction, my passion for things that rule out living with commitment to others and to feed what makes me be in touch with what I considered important like other people and sheer responsibility, Brian is me, believe it or not. Beautifully written Jim, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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I recognised when I stopped drinking and drinking, that I had a propensity to be a good target for addiction, my passion for things that rule out living with commitment to others and to feed what makes me be in touch with what I considered important like other people and sheer responsibility, Brian is me, believe it or not. Beautifully written Jim, blessings Roy
Comment Written 24-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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I guess that means there's hope for Brian still. You certainly were able to overcome it, Roy. We all need help from time to time.
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The only way was to stop, God asked me to stop, and I did, the only way for impulsive, compulsive characters like me is abolition.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This all sounds a bit worrying Jim, this miracle drug may have a downside that kicks in at anytime and I hope poor Brian does not crash! It sounds like he has let himself go a bit too! It that a picture of his bedroom! Oh dear, things are going south, another fine chapter Jim, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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This all sounds a bit worrying Jim, this miracle drug may have a downside that kicks in at anytime and I hope poor Brian does not crash! It sounds like he has let himself go a bit too! It that a picture of his bedroom! Oh dear, things are going south, another fine chapter Jim, love Dolly x
Comment Written 24-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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Yep, that's his bedroom. He has really let things go to pot. He may not be at the very bottom yet, but he soon will be.
We'll get to see how Julia processes this in the next chapter.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I'm glad Julie is back and can maybe help Brian. He seems to understand he needs help. I am curious how easy it is for him to get off of Dipraxa. Maybe harder than he thinks. Can't wait to read more.
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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I'm glad Julie is back and can maybe help Brian. He seems to understand he needs help. I am curious how easy it is for him to get off of Dipraxa. Maybe harder than he thinks. Can't wait to read more.
Comment Written 24-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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Yes, it may be harder than he thinks to get off it. Although it may not be physically addicting, there's the psychological addiction which can be just as strong. Brian is going to need all the help Julia can give him if she's willing to give it. Do you think she will be willing?
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She loves him. I think she will. Of course, there's always a chance that she might be afraid that he'll never completely to be free of this problem.
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Nice analysis. We'll know soon enough.
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
You certainly sound like someone who has been through their own addiction. Or know someone well who has. You write about it well. I have known quite a few, that can justify their over consumption to a startling degree. good work. Karen
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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You certainly sound like someone who has been through their own addiction. Or know someone well who has. You write about it well. I have known quite a few, that can justify their over consumption to a startling degree. good work. Karen
Comment Written 24-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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My addiction pales in comparison to Brian's. I would say I was psychologically addicted to pot back in my 20s, but I had quite an easy time getting off it when it started impacting my health (persistent bronchitis) and I started having kids. Still, it gave me some insight to the problem with drugs and addictions.
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The way you said things talking to yourself about starting fresh tomorro w, and you may as well go out with a bang. I have heard that stuff before.
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Yep, that's addicts' way of thinking.
That's often what I say when the holidays are just about over and I've been stuffing myself. "After New Year, I'll begin losing weight, but let's just finish these cookies and other snacks now."
It makes my body feel like crap, but gives me extra resolve to mend my ways. I can lose weight anytime I want to. I've done it hundreds of times!
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I had a good system of keeping weight down. I eat a snack every four hours. i maintained my weight and sugar levels. Then, menopause came and went four times. I put on thirty pounds eating exactly the same way. This is why women lose their minds and get vicious. :-)
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Brilliantly done! I think I counted 'tomorrow' 5 times! I always wondered how you were going to get back to the prologue so seamlessly and credibly but you absolutely nailed it with that accidental dose and then your very stylish euphoric experience (which must have been fun to do!). The description of his woeful decline in his appearance and habits is excellent and achieves the aim of 'grossing out' the reader and drawing them back to the start of the book in a satisfyingly cyclical way. And what a great hook at the end after reinforcing that 'tomorrow' so many times. Reality begins today. Well done, Jim. Debbie
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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Brilliantly done! I think I counted 'tomorrow' 5 times! I always wondered how you were going to get back to the prologue so seamlessly and credibly but you absolutely nailed it with that accidental dose and then your very stylish euphoric experience (which must have been fun to do!). The description of his woeful decline in his appearance and habits is excellent and achieves the aim of 'grossing out' the reader and drawing them back to the start of the book in a satisfyingly cyclical way. And what a great hook at the end after reinforcing that 'tomorrow' so many times. Reality begins today. Well done, Jim. Debbie
Comment Written 24-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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You pick up on so many of the nuances of the story, Debbie. I try to lull the reader into the fact that he will enjoy his last day of binging and will start being responsible again "tomorrow" but they hit you with the surprise that she comes back early and reality will begin today.
When I first wrote the prologue many months ago, I didn't have the whole concept of the story in mind, nor the character of "his wife" at all, and it read like she had gotten fed up with him and left two months ago. As the character of Julia developed and their great love for each other became so clear, I decided to change that, which I thought readers might enjoy seeing how that shifted to a completely different context. I was hoping people would pick up on that, and I'm not at all surprised that you did, Debbie.
I also loved your comments on how we got back to that scene from the prologue which started two months prior with the accidental double-dose and the euphoric scene as the drug started taking its full effect. You're right--that was fun to write.
Thank you so much for those 6 stars and for the way you really think about and analyze this story, Debbie.
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An absolute pleasure! One of your best chapters yet. This story holds together very well which must be difficult given all the content you want to convey.
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I wish I could have combined this chapter with the next two to give the entire scenario because they all go together. But it would have been too long, so I made it into three chapters.
I think these three chapters are perhaps the strongest in the story--certainly the most emotional (and very loosely somewhat autobiographical).
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Really! I would never have guessed that this is even loosely autobiographical other than the degree of detail.
Comment from jmdg1954
Oh boy, here we go again... Brian had a break through drug that he developed by his hard work, perseverance and love from Julia and professor.
I'm surprised though not surprised by his downfall. Surprised that he was so meticulously keeping accurate records testing on himself, not surprised that one sli ip caused his immediate downward spiral.
Let's see how strong in fact there love is or isn't now that Julia sensed something went south and came home unannounced!
Let the merry-go-round begin!
Excellent, cliffhangerish conclusion!
Cheers,
John
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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Oh boy, here we go again... Brian had a break through drug that he developed by his hard work, perseverance and love from Julia and professor.
I'm surprised though not surprised by his downfall. Surprised that he was so meticulously keeping accurate records testing on himself, not surprised that one sli ip caused his immediate downward spiral.
Let's see how strong in fact there love is or isn't now that Julia sensed something went south and came home unannounced!
Let the merry-go-round begin!
Excellent, cliffhangerish conclusion!
Cheers,
John
Comment Written 24-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 24-Sep-2024
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I love that, John--"I'm surprised though not surprised by his downfall." Perfectly stated, for that was my intention. He is an addict after all, and it will always be with him. It's like a disease, and the best he can hope for is a lasting remission. This story is a test of his true character. He will be taken down repeatedly, but can he get back up again and eventually triumph?