What Is the ‘Cult of Busyness’?
These days, it seems like nearly all of us have become members of what has come to be known as “the cult of busyness.” For better or for worse (mostly for worse), it has become something of a status symbol to be able to demonstrate just how busy you are.
If you are busy, you must be important, right? And if you are really busy, you must be really important.
Well, maybe (though probably not).
One of the many downsides of membership in this “cult” is that it can undermine your ability to relax. You have probably experienced this yourself. Maybe you are watching a movie but you lose track of the plot because you are thinking about all the things you “should” be doing. For some people, activities that should be relaxing are actually extremely stressful because they feel guilty that they are not doing something productive.
That level of stress—when you are stressed because you are so busy and you are stressed anytime you attempt to take a break from your busyness—can be extremely difficult to manage. Out of desperation, a person might turn to drugs or alcohol in an effort to slip into a state of relaxation they otherwise have difficulty achieving.
For our purposes here, let’s imagine that the drug they decide to try is GHB.
What Is GHB?
The full name of GHB is gamma-hydroxybutyrate, though, understandably, you will hardly ever hear anyone call it that. What you might hear, however, is someone telling you how good the drug makes them feel.
That’s because GHB can provide a sense of tranquility and euphoria—two things that are certainly in short supply for members of the cult of busyness. As an added bonus, the drug tends to boost the user’s sex drive, which can be quite appealing to someone whose high level of busyness has had a negative impact on their sex life. For a person struggling to manage all of the stress in their life, GHB might seem like a great solution. They get the tranquility, the euphoria, and (potentially) the sex without any of the guilt they usually experience when they attempt to relax.
Sounds pretty amazing. But you know what they say: When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
That is certainly the case when it comes to GHB.
Symptoms of GHB Abuse
As users of GHB find out quite quickly, tranquility and euphoria are not the only things they might experience while taking the drug. Symptoms of GHB misuse include:
- Nausea
- Sweating not caused by exertion or a warm environment
- Hallucinations
- Losing consciousness or falling into a coma
- Amnesia
We should note here that it is its tendency to cause amnesia that gives the GHB its reputation as a date rate drug. Those will bad intentions use the drug to make their victims less able to prevent sexual assault—and less likely to remember the details of what happened. This, of course, is reprehensible behavior. And a person who is misusing the drug themselves might be tempted to slip it to someone else given the opportunity.
In any event, the negative symptoms that come with GHB abuse cancel out any perceived benefits. As a result, a user may well decide to quit taking the drug. Unfortunately, that can be a significant challenge.
Withdrawal Is Not a Euphoric Experience
Once your body has become habituated to taking GHB, it will let you know in no uncertain terms that it is not too interested in having you stop using the drug.
For some, the resulting withdrawal symptoms are mild enough that an outpatient treatment program may provide all of the support a person needs to make it through. But for other people, withdrawal symptoms can be quite strong and hard to withstand. Intense cravings for the drug may cause a person to keep using GHB even when they know they should—and sincerely want to—stop.
So the question is: What is the solution to this dilemma?
And the answer is: Going through detox and rehab at a fully-certified treatment center.
French Creek Recovery Center Can Help
If the quest for a little relaxation in a world that over-emphasizes busyness has led you down a bad path, we can help you get back on a better road. At French Creek Recovery Center, we offer expertise and compassion and will develop a personalized treatment plan to see you through detoxification and rehabilitation.
In rehab, you will have the opportunity to learn strategies, gather resources, and set goals that can help you start your recovery journey with confidence. We will address any co-occurring mental health disorder that may be contributing to your difficulties—and we will help you find a range of healthy ways to manage stress that do not involve turning to drugs or alcohol.
If you are struggling with GHB, you can count on French Creek Recovery Center to help you reclaim your sobriety—and your life.