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20 days clean and still feeling awkward!!!!! Pleaase Help???
Hello everyone. Im very proud to say I have 20 days clean after about 3 years of abuse from norco 10-325s. I was taking between 15-20 a day. I felt completely horrible for the first week and now I just hate everything. I have no motivation for anything. Im making myself get up and go to work. I do not want anything to do with those Devils ever again. I just really need to hear about people feeling better. Im still not sleeping well and although Im eating much better and taking vitamins I still have anxiety and horrible mood swings. I remembered when I was on pills I could do anything I felt invinsible. I also remember how productive I used to be before the pills working out all the time always lending a hand to whomever and actually careing about my life. I just feel like the partys over and Im 39 now and I dont drink due to alcoholism. I quit drinking 5 years ago and found the pills about 4 years ago and started abusing them about 3 years ago. I was always a go getter type of person. I just feel extremely lazy and have nothing to look forward to anymore. Im once again going for my dream job that I gave up due to an arrest for being drunk. Im being as honest as possible I just dont feel like doing anything. Im making new friends in AA/NA but i just feel so horrible all the time. I was prescribed zoloft 11 years ago and have been taking it ever since no matter what Im wondering if the norcos somehow changed me? What happened to all my energy and enthusiam for life? I have 2 college degrees and work at a pizza place right now just to get by. I honestly dont know what happened to me. Every morning I want to feel great and tackle my day but Im just depressed or something. Trust me I AM NOT thinking about hurting myself or anything at all I just want to feel normal. I feel so alone because I read all these posts and people taking back charge of their lives and doing many new things but all I want to do is go home and sleep. Im totally broke but getting by right now and am just hopeing the old me will return soon. Am I the only one who feels like this? I know I only have 20 days clean but its the longest Ive ever had and thru GOD I am sober today and these last 20 days. Im just waiting for my life to get better and get me motivated again. Any help would be so much appreciated.
Thanks everyone. I love coming on here and seeing posts. It just reminds me Im finally doing the right thing. I hated myself when I was using and now Im so happy with myself that Im clean. I never thought I would feel again. Its happening slowly but Its happening!!!
I know these feelings and annoying. Sounds like you have some interests and you have to cultivate those interests a bit more intently so you mind can take control again. Keep the mind focused on what you enjoy doing and pay attention to what you have accomplished in your enjoyment. You have got to keep those endorphins pumping so your mind realizes that it can think again with pleasure. Your body just does not like what is being done to it, but your mind will soon take control and intensify those pleasures you enjoy so much. It will pay off in the long run.
HI......hang in there better days are coming for most of us it takes a wile to feel like ourselfs again you dident become an addict overnight its going to take a wile to feel better to dispare your doing fine its just a slow process you may want to try the amino acid protacal or drick whey protein shakes the shakes give you the aminos along with extra vitamins and raw protein al of with
ch your brain needs to heal you can pick up a 2lb can at walmart for 15 buck try that it really helps keep posting for support good luck and God bless.........Gnarly
ch your brain needs to heal you can pick up a 2lb can at walmart for 15 buck try that it really helps keep posting for support good luck and God bless.........Gnarly
Thats totally possible. Maybe the anti-depressent isnt working like it should. But I remember when I went on them It took more than a month to feel better so Im just hopeing that maybe they will start working the same in a similar way? I know I need them as Ive been diagnosed with anxiety/depression. My anxiety gets really bad that the opiates must have been masking it because I totally feel it now.I just want one good day and be able to accomplish things. Im still going to work and doing what I need to but damn I feel like crap all the time. Ugghh. Dont get me wrong Im feeling much better than I was 2 weeks ago but I still dont believe im feeling normal yet at least I hope this isnt normal. People at work are always asking now why Im sad and If I feel like crying and what happened to the outgoing person I was on pills. They of course dont know but I do. I just say Im not feeling well but damn after 22 days youd think Id be feeling some comfort. This is something I will never forget!!!!!
I know how you are feeling, I remember asking 'is this what sober is now' around day 20. It's not. Everything you are experiencing is normal. Even though it doesn't take nearly as long for our bodies to come back from years of abuse, it still does take time. I am actually really impressed that you went to a meeting. That just goes to show your determination. I am sure it was hard to get out of the house to go do that when you were feeling so bad, but you did! Another thing you might want to look at is the zoloft. I was on effexor and found that while taking all that vicodin, it was making the antidepressant not work like it was supposed to. But after I got off the vicodin, I found that the antidepressant just wasn't for me. It was causing alot of unmotivation and lack of energy. It might still be too soon to tell, but maybe part of what you are feeling is the effect of the zoloft and maybe you just don't like that feeling. Hang in there, better days are in store for you:)
It's nice to hear that you are seeking local support! Lately when I've had the blahs, fatigue, or cravings, I just close my eyes and open my heart. God knows the desires of your heart, Norcodude. Let those desires speak for themselves and experience the chills you get as His spirit washes over you. It's amazing
Wow thank you all for your support and advice. It means the world to me. I went to an AA meeting tonight and I am an alcoholic and I brought up pills and someone actually said lets keep it to alcohol. After the meeting 2 people came up to me and said dont listen to that guy hes an idiot and that they were both there to keep off pills. It was cool to have them there and I made friends and people suooprted me. It felt great!!!!
hey, first off, congrats on the 20 days!!! been 24 for me, and I am totally with you on all counts. It takes a full month, so please, hang in and don't think that this crap will last forver. That was the hardest part for me even 5 days ago I thought it, "Oh dear God, what if this is different with me, and this horribel anxiety will never end????" HA! it does. I still get some, I have another week to go myself before I should be much better, and even at day 24 it's so much better htan just a few days ago. I could NOT go near a supermarket, OMG the anxiety, I couldn't even check my emial or anser the phone!!! I had to force myself to post here, and watch TV. I forced myself to do little things like cook something, and clean here and there, and really pushed to throw in a load of wash or clean the litterl box, it was like pulling teeth, and exercize is good, I know, but there was no way i could exercize last week, I couldnt even take the dog out, ok, but justa few days has helped greatley. Still feeling under energy for usre, but at least I don't feel as if the world is coming to and end anymore, or that I am doomed, or that I will never be able to answer the phone again without fear, it is so much better now, in just these last few days.
Give it another ten days, then come and tell us fhow much better it is, and how great you feel, ok?
huge hugs,
Lily
Give it another ten days, then come and tell us fhow much better it is, and how great you feel, ok?
huge hugs,
Lily
Your story and your accomplishments are something to be very proud of. Helping yourself any way you can is the start to a healthy mind and body. The want to do something that the drugs did not, is a great focus. Staying strong is the best medicine and doing what you are doing is the best medicine.
I have gone through detox from fentanyl 50mcg.alone with morphine for breakthrough pain. It was not helping my pain and when I realizes I was down to 108 pounds after looking in the mirror, it scared the hell out of me, so I saw no other choice to go cold turkey. It is now over 3o days clean and it was a rough road but I am doing better. Yesterday for the first time, I seemed to hit a wall of depression. I did not realize it was depression and could not snap myself out of it but tried. I went down to the beach with my wheelchair, put on my music that I like and really tried to get into in and did for the time being but still found myself feeling lousy when I came home. I have handle depression before and it is very annoying. For me I just have to ride it out each day. I don't take any medication for depression but I usually don't get depressed. I did not realize that this is part of the withdrawal I am going through and when that thought kicked in at least I understood why I felt the way I did. Knowing that, I just had to ride it out, but that is just me. It is very hard to get motivated when you feel this way. I wish just going to sleep would help get through the day sometimes but I understand the depression and lack of motivation you are feeling. I am feeling that also. I have to push myself daily to accomplish the house chores that are needed. My understanding of what the body goes through when detoxing is about the endorphins and what they do to help the body heal. It takes time for these endorphins to kick in but exercise is supposed to be the best way to kick these endorphins in to help the body heal. The lack of motivation is annoying and at times feels very helpless and I understand that. I am feeling that now but understand why which helps me know what my body is doing. Sometimes understanding why the body does what it does, helps the mind focus on why and that there can be a better focus of why. The depression and lack of motivation is extremely annoying but it will pass as the body heals. Understand your body is going through a lot right now and the side effects are annoying and hell to go through. I understand that. I can only offer to keep your mind focused on the things you want to accomplish. The daily accomplishments when you realize what you have accomplished will soon register. Look at what you have done already and have you patted your self on the back for what you have done. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and said to yourself, I am proud of what I have done. I am a good person who belongs and I am a part of the world that needs me and I am proud to be a part of belonging. Find an accomplishment that you have done and really look at that and put the pride into high gear. Add some pride in what you have to what you have done. It may give you incentive to accomplish more things that you can add more pride to and feel better as a person that belongs to a world that needs you and the people around you. I know it is a rough feeling to go through and each day can be annoying but each day can be an accomplishment when you find something that you want to do and have done it. Little things count. Waking up and making coffee to start the day. Looking outside to find the sunshine and if there isn't any, create something that will bring sunshine into your life. Keep the mind focused on something positive you have done. It doesn't have to be a world project, just something that gets you through the day. Then you can look back and say I made it through another day and you can add that accomplishment to your list of things you have done.
I wish I could offer more advise and hope you understand what I am trying to say. I know this has got to work for me and I have to make it work for me because I want it to. That is one accomplishment for me to be proud of and to get me through the day. Stay strong and focused and I sincerely wish you the best of luck and proud to know you have done so well. Your post is a message to people who need to understand and your reaching out and helping yourself is something to be very proud of and that is what caught my attention in reading your post. Job well done and thanks for listening. You are an inspiration to me and thanks for helping me understand that I am not alone and that there are people like you that can help people like me understand and feel the understanding you have accomplished. Keep up the good work and I know it will get better, it has to with every thing you have done and the mind will do the rest.
Thanks for listening....
I have gone through detox from fentanyl 50mcg.alone with morphine for breakthrough pain. It was not helping my pain and when I realizes I was down to 108 pounds after looking in the mirror, it scared the hell out of me, so I saw no other choice to go cold turkey. It is now over 3o days clean and it was a rough road but I am doing better. Yesterday for the first time, I seemed to hit a wall of depression. I did not realize it was depression and could not snap myself out of it but tried. I went down to the beach with my wheelchair, put on my music that I like and really tried to get into in and did for the time being but still found myself feeling lousy when I came home. I have handle depression before and it is very annoying. For me I just have to ride it out each day. I don't take any medication for depression but I usually don't get depressed. I did not realize that this is part of the withdrawal I am going through and when that thought kicked in at least I understood why I felt the way I did. Knowing that, I just had to ride it out, but that is just me. It is very hard to get motivated when you feel this way. I wish just going to sleep would help get through the day sometimes but I understand the depression and lack of motivation you are feeling. I am feeling that also. I have to push myself daily to accomplish the house chores that are needed. My understanding of what the body goes through when detoxing is about the endorphins and what they do to help the body heal. It takes time for these endorphins to kick in but exercise is supposed to be the best way to kick these endorphins in to help the body heal. The lack of motivation is annoying and at times feels very helpless and I understand that. I am feeling that now but understand why which helps me know what my body is doing. Sometimes understanding why the body does what it does, helps the mind focus on why and that there can be a better focus of why. The depression and lack of motivation is extremely annoying but it will pass as the body heals. Understand your body is going through a lot right now and the side effects are annoying and hell to go through. I understand that. I can only offer to keep your mind focused on the things you want to accomplish. The daily accomplishments when you realize what you have accomplished will soon register. Look at what you have done already and have you patted your self on the back for what you have done. Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and said to yourself, I am proud of what I have done. I am a good person who belongs and I am a part of the world that needs me and I am proud to be a part of belonging. Find an accomplishment that you have done and really look at that and put the pride into high gear. Add some pride in what you have to what you have done. It may give you incentive to accomplish more things that you can add more pride to and feel better as a person that belongs to a world that needs you and the people around you. I know it is a rough feeling to go through and each day can be annoying but each day can be an accomplishment when you find something that you want to do and have done it. Little things count. Waking up and making coffee to start the day. Looking outside to find the sunshine and if there isn't any, create something that will bring sunshine into your life. Keep the mind focused on something positive you have done. It doesn't have to be a world project, just something that gets you through the day. Then you can look back and say I made it through another day and you can add that accomplishment to your list of things you have done.
I wish I could offer more advise and hope you understand what I am trying to say. I know this has got to work for me and I have to make it work for me because I want it to. That is one accomplishment for me to be proud of and to get me through the day. Stay strong and focused and I sincerely wish you the best of luck and proud to know you have done so well. Your post is a message to people who need to understand and your reaching out and helping yourself is something to be very proud of and that is what caught my attention in reading your post. Job well done and thanks for listening. You are an inspiration to me and thanks for helping me understand that I am not alone and that there are people like you that can help people like me understand and feel the understanding you have accomplished. Keep up the good work and I know it will get better, it has to with every thing you have done and the mind will do the rest.
Thanks for listening....
20 days is huge!!!! while it may seem like a mole hill to you it is surely a mountain in my eyes. it'll get better. Most people have the need for instant gratification....and life doesn't always naturally fulfill that. what helped me was thinking back to being a child and what i liked.......for example when dealing with withdrawal....i would tell myself.."ok get to 3 pm and then go get an iced coffee" little rewards for myself for just doing nothing. You see with pills we always find some sort of justification as to why we are taking them. Replace this with harmless, simple joys....i.e. iced coffee, ice cream...something that will stimulate your senses and reward your brain. Might sound simple, but it has helped me. Lastly, 20 days--huge, HUGE accomplishment.
Dude, I think I see a spark of Joy in you!!
Don't worry about the "old you," that persons future was about to start using drugs, focus on a "a new and improved you."... I might suggest that you go to church, if you don't already, it definatly will not hurt you.. Only great days ahead, not perfect days, but great! We all have given the devil a free ride and free reign long enough,and he isn't worth it! GOD does hear and answer our prayers, in HIS time and HIS way...Keep the faith! Still praying for you! Congratulations!! On I guess now 21!
Don't worry about the "old you," that persons future was about to start using drugs, focus on a "a new and improved you."... I might suggest that you go to church, if you don't already, it definatly will not hurt you.. Only great days ahead, not perfect days, but great! We all have given the devil a free ride and free reign long enough,and he isn't worth it! GOD does hear and answer our prayers, in HIS time and HIS way...Keep the faith! Still praying for you! Congratulations!! On I guess now 21!
Thank you all for the support and all the positive feedback. It seems like some days are hell and others are bareable. Im still waiting for that "good day" feeling? All of you have been so helpful and so kind I can only say thanks and one day at a time. Things in my life arent good right now but I wake up every morning and pray and Ive been able to get through my days without any pills, I cant tell you how much money Ive saved. Uggh I am looking forward to so much I just want this "blah" feeling to away and stay away. I think Its God showing me what I did to my body and to never forget it. Well I will never forget it. I had 10 days clean relapsed one day and now am at 21 days so 3 pills in 31 days and still feel like crap but life is so much better than looking for my next pill only to not get high anymore but feel normal. I will take it as it comes and get my *** back in the gym!!! I know thats what I really need. Thank you all and please keep commenting and I will as well...
I know you don't want to hear this hun but you are right where you are supposed to be. Those "devil" pills as you so rightly called them give us a false sense of energy among other things. After we put the pills down it takes time to get our bodies back to where we are producing our own energy. Time is your friend and time is your enemy. I promise if you stick with it things will get better. They say 90 days to really begin feeling like our old selves again and I found that to be true in my case. It was the longest 90 days of my life but it was worth it. Try and be patient and it will come.
If it is at all possible to do some exercise you may find that it helps quite a bit. Even if you just go for a brisk walk you will find it beneficial and it may also make you tired and help with the sleep issues. It surely can't hurt and you owe it to yourself to try anything (within reason) to get back to your old self.
I am glad to see you posted and you are reaching out for help. that is wonderful. So hang in there and whatever you do---don't use!!
If it is at all possible to do some exercise you may find that it helps quite a bit. Even if you just go for a brisk walk you will find it beneficial and it may also make you tired and help with the sleep issues. It surely can't hurt and you owe it to yourself to try anything (within reason) to get back to your old self.
I am glad to see you posted and you are reaching out for help. that is wonderful. So hang in there and whatever you do---don't use!!
Don't know if you remember but we are almost exactly the same as far as Norcos, the number of years - but I only used 8 to 10 a day. So after 6 months of being clean I can tell you that you're pretty much on track. Keep in mind that the pills dominated our lives; our bodies and minds came to expect them every day for years on end. 20 days is fantastic, but doesnt quite measure up time wise to three years.
After the hell you went through you want "normal" now! I know I did. But I had to wait - sleep was an issue, lack of energy, anxiety. I think I posted more about no sleep than I did when I was detoxing. I also found weekends to be hard because I always had pills to help me pass the time.
I'd say give it another week or two. Each day will get better; sleep returns and one morning you'll wake up excited about what an ordinary day has in store. Great job.
After the hell you went through you want "normal" now! I know I did. But I had to wait - sleep was an issue, lack of energy, anxiety. I think I posted more about no sleep than I did when I was detoxing. I also found weekends to be hard because I always had pills to help me pass the time.
I'd say give it another week or two. Each day will get better; sleep returns and one morning you'll wake up excited about what an ordinary day has in store. Great job.
Hey..I can relate with you and everyone here! This is my 12th (approx.) detox and Im only on day two,. The physical isnt so bad.,,Ive had way worse withdrawals..but its the mental thats scaring the hell out of me. Im so afraid of not being 'me' again. Hell,,,I was superwoman on those things,. Very energetic, productive, fun, social, omg...you name it. buts its a living hell that I am living alone. noone knows I relapsed...and its hell keeping it a seceret and doing it alone., Im afraid people will wonder why Im still "sick with flu-like stuff"..and why im not "myself" anymore. And im petrifried at the thought of feeling real emotion, as I have been masking some very bad emotions with a drug induced haze- I just got out of a 9 year relationship that was going to be the death of me and Im afraid of what my mind will start doing...so far I havent really 'felt" or dealth with it..... uuughhhhh.... Anyway...congrats on 20 days!!! Thats a hell of an accomplishment!
Hey Dude!
SO happy to read that you've got 20 days!!!! YAY! What you are feeling is totally 'normal' (whatever normal is....(:) PLEASE go get some exercise- it truly makes all the difference in the world. I owe so much of my recovery to exercise. You gotta keep moving and not let that chattery brain get you down. The endorphins will be jumpstarted in your brain, and your self esteem will get a HUGE boost. You gotta remember that recovery is a process and you can't rush the steps. Getting sober and living sober mean learning how to live all over again. You gotta crawl before you walk, walk before you run, run before you fly. Speaking of running- whenever I feel the devil on my back I just go for a long run. I wasn't too fast at first but I can outrun him now.
You deserve all the happiness in the world. Keep up the awesome work.
Lu
SO happy to read that you've got 20 days!!!! YAY! What you are feeling is totally 'normal' (whatever normal is....(:) PLEASE go get some exercise- it truly makes all the difference in the world. I owe so much of my recovery to exercise. You gotta keep moving and not let that chattery brain get you down. The endorphins will be jumpstarted in your brain, and your self esteem will get a HUGE boost. You gotta remember that recovery is a process and you can't rush the steps. Getting sober and living sober mean learning how to live all over again. You gotta crawl before you walk, walk before you run, run before you fly. Speaking of running- whenever I feel the devil on my back I just go for a long run. I wasn't too fast at first but I can outrun him now.
You deserve all the happiness in the world. Keep up the awesome work.
Lu
It took about a month for me to feel completely better. I didn't have any desire to take more hydros but I spent many days just laying across the bed, wondering if I would ever feel like getting up and doing anything. I did get up and do some stuff, but I was certainly not the go getter I used to be. I can finally say that after five weeks, I am much better. Not exactly a go getter, but much better. I am in my mid 60's so I really didn't expect to feel like 21 again, but I do feel better each day. Congratulations on your progress so far....and don't give up the fight. Concentrate on making yourself healthy....and you will surely feel better before long.
Hey Dude :)
I am sooo feelin ya!! My brain just isn't right yet....still fatigued as hell, and i have been pushing myself to be social...it's rough.
And its SUMMER!!! gettin out in the hot sun ....with lotsa water/gatoraide...goin fishin , swimming, whatever....it helps.
I am soooo outta shape....its sad. So i have been eating super healthy...a lot of raw/living foods, protein shakes...no soda....and i'm down to 2-3 cigs a day!
I have been exercising at home for now, just to try and build strength....
Holy Crap! I tried Jump Roping.....if u wanna know the shape your in...try that! It DEF put things in perspective for me....I don't wanna be a weakling!!!
Have you seen the new show on TNT, Falling Skies ? its on tonight....google it and read about it....its crazy....To sum it up for you....its pretty much about being controlled by opiates....except in the show aliens attach these vertebrae to you filled with opiates to take over the human race......lol....Sound Familiar??? haha .....
Oh! And Remember.....
ALL GREAT CHANGES ARE PRECEEDED BY CHAOS :::::::::
p.s.......
today is day 21 for me too ..... take comfort in knowing you are not alone!
hughughug
Mama K.
I am sooo feelin ya!! My brain just isn't right yet....still fatigued as hell, and i have been pushing myself to be social...it's rough.
And its SUMMER!!! gettin out in the hot sun ....with lotsa water/gatoraide...goin fishin , swimming, whatever....it helps.
I am soooo outta shape....its sad. So i have been eating super healthy...a lot of raw/living foods, protein shakes...no soda....and i'm down to 2-3 cigs a day!
I have been exercising at home for now, just to try and build strength....
Holy Crap! I tried Jump Roping.....if u wanna know the shape your in...try that! It DEF put things in perspective for me....I don't wanna be a weakling!!!
Have you seen the new show on TNT, Falling Skies ? its on tonight....google it and read about it....its crazy....To sum it up for you....its pretty much about being controlled by opiates....except in the show aliens attach these vertebrae to you filled with opiates to take over the human race......lol....Sound Familiar??? haha .....
Oh! And Remember.....
ALL GREAT CHANGES ARE PRECEEDED BY CHAOS :::::::::
p.s.......
today is day 21 for me too ..... take comfort in knowing you are not alone!
hughughug
Mama K.
Hi Norco, The headaches,Oh those darn headaches. Those were my worst and lingering symptom and I found ice packs,alieve, and most of all massage helped. Good news is they did greatly subside around 20 days! Be careful of isolating too much, I completely understand what your saying, but seems the more active we are the quicker we heal. Also for me, throwing myself back into social things brought normalcy and confidence. Congrats on your 21 days!!!!
You girls are absolutely amazing. Thank you so much. You have made me feel 10 times better I swear. Im kinda isolating myself lately on purpose because its easier to deal with my anxiety right now. I know I need to get out and do what I can but I also know my body is still healing. Godbless you all you are amazing people in my life right now and I look forward to reading this forum everyday. Thank you so much you are helping me save my own life!!!!!!
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