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2003 sobriety invitation/challenge concept - we are all off the pills by Jan 1!
by Rex1, Nov 30, 2002 12:00AM
I have been kicking around this idea - please give me your opinions - positive or negative on this concept.
What if.....we all got sober together over the next 4 weeks!!??? That's right everyone on this forum. I believe we could do this for the following reasons:
1) Starting tommorrow - Dec 1st, anyone here still using can start their tapering schedule with Jan 1st as the ZERO usage day - plenty of time for a slow taper.
2) We can each support each other, and report each other's progress here.
3) We can use the holidays as a source of strength, encouragement and as a valid goal.
4) This is (typically for most people anyway) the slowest time of the year work-wise, which will give us time to focus on the plan.
5) When is the worst period for withdrawal? The last week, right? If we all start tommorrow (or next week anyway), that last week will coincide with the break in between Christmas and New Years day, when many of us will be off work, or at least in a work slowdown. Yes, I realize this may be a busier period for some, so for those folks, the rest of us will lend daily support and prayer
6) Finally, this gives us a rock solid goal of Jan 1st, 2003 to reclaim our lives.
Everyone, please tell me if this plan is all wet, or if you think it will work. It will take a tremendous effort for some here to do it, but we agree it needs to be done.
Together, I truly believe each and every one of us can pull this off!
If a large enough group says they like the idea, I'll put together a schedule an post it , and we'll refine the details of the plan.
Rex
What if.....we all got sober together over the next 4 weeks!!??? That's right everyone on this forum. I believe we could do this for the following reasons:
1) Starting tommorrow - Dec 1st, anyone here still using can start their tapering schedule with Jan 1st as the ZERO usage day - plenty of time for a slow taper.
2) We can each support each other, and report each other's progress here.
3) We can use the holidays as a source of strength, encouragement and as a valid goal.
4) This is (typically for most people anyway) the slowest time of the year work-wise, which will give us time to focus on the plan.
5) When is the worst period for withdrawal? The last week, right? If we all start tommorrow (or next week anyway), that last week will coincide with the break in between Christmas and New Years day, when many of us will be off work, or at least in a work slowdown. Yes, I realize this may be a busier period for some, so for those folks, the rest of us will lend daily support and prayer
6) Finally, this gives us a rock solid goal of Jan 1st, 2003 to reclaim our lives.
Everyone, please tell me if this plan is all wet, or if you think it will work. It will take a tremendous effort for some here to do it, but we agree it needs to be done.
Together, I truly believe each and every one of us can pull this off!
If a large enough group says they like the idea, I'll put together a schedule an post it , and we'll refine the details of the plan.
Rex
Well, I still have some mountains to climb! I want next to stop taking everything, I mean no more pills period (other than Vitmains).
For me, that means pitching the Ibuprofren, Excedrin, and Zanaflex I use for my back, and letting my body's natural defenses take over. This will NOT BE EASY.
For those who accept my challenge, I will support you and lead the effort here, while you go walk through the fire.
I will do anything to support you guys when you accept!
But just imagine - WHAT AN AWESOME YEAR 2003 WILL BE if you put your mind to this plan over the next 4 weeks!!!
Rex
Suzie
The snow is really coming down today. We're suppost to get 7 to 10 inches today. Geesh!!! I promised my kids I'd take them sledding today so I'm going to force myself to do it even though I'd like to just sit around and be depressed because I havent had many pills today.. I'm from Michigan, Way up by the Upper Peninsula. Where are you from?
Great schedule We'll all hopefully be clean by the New Year...
I am in San Diego, so no snow today. I wish there was - we have to go up to Big Bear or Idylwild to see snow, but it's only 45 minutes so no biggee. Lots of Sun today, as usual!
When I lived in georgia, my neighbors across the street were yoopers, they even had a license plate with YOOPER on it.
Well all I can say is "Gosh yoo all soore getta a lotta sno up a there. That upper Mich is tough to do in web post.
Glad to have you on board, along with Suzie.
Start thinking about recommendations you want to give to everyone over the next week or so. We'll need all the help we can get.
Rex
(75 degrees & Sunny)
I am very fearful of withdrawal. I appreciate your posting of wut is workin for you in Thomas' recipe. "Esp prayer", i like that!
Thomas is a cool guy. He has given us all so much with his knowledge!
Okie talk at ya later...
Suzie
P.S. I was born in Kalamazoo, MI but now live in sunny FL since i was 5!
2) Born and raised in Miami, Fl. Lived there until I was 22.
I was South Beach, before South Beach was cool...
Rex
lee.
when i hear that i think of alcohol , i have not had a drink
since 1984, so i could say i have been sober a long time.
but when it comes to pills percs and vikrs i have been clean
since late march , thanx to the heip he at the fourm and the
receipe, i was claen from 1984 to 1998 from all drugs.
but then i had operations on my rotator cuffs.
one thing that was funny was i always hated the way opates
made me feel, but i wound up addicted to them.
when i was a kid i was a bibig qualude freak and methampetmine
guy. along with two-ee's , pickels, purple -s's.
anyway your idea about everyone getting clean at the same time is great, i think all of us that are not in extreem pain
are all trying to get and stay clean , thats why we are here.
but as we all know it is not as easy as it seems.
to me it always seems like we need divine intervention.
i go to na meetings during the week.
and read the fourm here everyday.
as far as boozze go's i have never had a craving for beer or wine or wiskey, having watched it destroy so many lives in my famly.
the pills i hat to but the withdrawls were always a bithch.
i have read people talk about being addicted to the high, i must say after taking them for a year there was no high anymore ,
i was always just trying to get to the feeling of okay.
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Been lurking around here for a few months. Battling a 4 year run on oxys, up to 4-80s a day at one point. Vicodin, percocet, any opiate, you name it. Even did liquid morphine and at one point was wearing 2 75mg duragesic patches at once.
I'll try to post from time to time.
Bets of luck to you and everyone else who has accepted your challenge.
I've been to many sites like this and have learned a lot in the last few years.
I really suspect bodymechanic may be correct in his hypothesis.
GL all!
One observation I would make is that the FEAR of withdrawals is much greater than the actual w/d. Believe me I know.
When I went through w/d's coming off 320 mg oxy a day I prayed to die. Prayed to God on my knees to please help me. Five minutes later my supplier called. Still not sure what that meant.
Since I am not a Dr, any ideas, advice, suggestions that you can give us before we all start as a group will be most appreciated.
My plan is post a taper committment post that encourages people to consider Jan 1st as their Zero day, then work backwards from there. If Jan 1st you're on 0, then what do you want to be on the last week of Dec? This will be different for everyone, right? If your on 10 per day now, then maybe the last week, your on 3/day 2.5/day 2/day 1.5/day 1/day 1/day 5./day, or something like that for someone who is 10/day as of now. Working backward again, what would the 3rd week in Dec look like, maybe 5/day 4.5/day 4/day etc etc etc. You get the idea..
Does that sound reasonable and more importantly "doable"?
Rex
Rex
--------------------------------------
OK, so I have gotten so many positive responses to the challenge concept, that it is hereby declared a GO! (My follow up post will spell out how to build your taper schedule)
I have given this a lot of thought and here, in my humble opinion, are the key points to keep in mind.
----------------------------------------------------------
2003 SOBRIETY CHALLENGE - HOLIDAY TAPER PLAN -
Dec 1st - Start
Jan 1st (or sooner) - End
----------------------------------------------------------
The idea is that everyone here, as a group, start our tapering plan today, and we support each other in our efforts such that, by Jan 1st, 2003, we are all at a ZERO dosage with our drug of choice.
There are several key points that I have gleaned from everyone here, plus other sources:
1) Accept the fact that you will be in some pain. Deal with it in any way you can without narcotics! Notice that the 2003 sobriety challenge says nothing about being pain free! Accept the fact that you will be dealing with pain without pain killers by the end of the tapering process! There are so many weapons at your disposal - use them all. More on those in a follow-up post.
2) We are powerless over substance abuse - We cannot do it alone! This is the basic premise of AA,NA, ect. Asking for help from a doc, a spouse, or others here is not important - IT IS A REQUIREMENT! We should put our tapering plan down on paper or in a spreadsheet/calendar program and then share it with someone, so we will not deviate from it. I showed mine to my wife and said "Heres my plan, help me stick to it!" Letting a medical professional in on the plan is a great way to build an extra security net, and get advice from a pro, of which I am not.
3) Most (not all) agree that Tapering is easier than cold-turkey! Tell ourselves over and over - "If I don't cut my dose, day over day, week over week, what am I setting myself up for?"
The answer of course is something far worse, like in-patient detox, or a week of cold turkey. Which would we prefer? Tapering must be easier. See my next post for how to do the tapering schedule.
4) Your higher power wants to help. Will you let Him? This is potentially the most controversial subject for some here, so-reminder-this is just my opinion. However, all AA/NA programs use this as their core concept. God wants us to be sober, no? If you beleive that, then He already has a plan for your life, and all you have to do is ASK for help. Prayer works folks - I promise it does, and millions of people swear by it. Remember, in the entire history of mankind, it is only in the last 30 years that America and the world has kicked God out of our lives. Before that God was the underlying reason to be living, and was a key concept in the founding of the United States. In the last 3 decaded though, we have been told we can do it ourselves! And look at where we are, what we have become. God is there for you. Turn to face Him, an ask for help.
5) Use the Thomas recipe - it really works!
6) Do the opposite of what we have been doing while using. If we go to this street corner where our dealers are, do the opposite - go as far away as possible! If we go to three docs in one month, go to ZERO docs in one month. If we use at a friends, well is he our friend? Go somewhere else. In other words - let's throw our narcotics-enabling habits away starting right this instant!
7)Dedicate the month of December to this problem if possible. Think of all the things that we do during the holidays, and let's tell ourselves that unless it ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to do, this month, we're not doing it - NOT adding it to our plate of stuff to do. I know this will be difficult for some. But wherever possible, clear out the **** on your upcoming calendar, and write down the words TAPER TO ZERO in the December calendar in your minds. "This month my number one goal is BECOMING DRUG FREE BY January 1ST!"
8) Once we clear our calendars of unnecessary junk, and focus on Tapering to zero, now we need to stop focusing on it ;-0. Distract your mind and put it on something positive and stress