Do we really realize how tuff the mental part of quitting opiates is.

[D30]

Getting through the physical was 3-4 days. I am now entering into months of trying to overcome the mental part. The mental part has sent me to the emergency room, to my family doctor crying and finally to a psychiatrist. As you guys know I have had a horrible time with depression and anxiety after quitting Vicodin. The psychiatrist has put me on klonipin for anxiety, but I can't take those due to them putting me to sleep. The Prozac has seem to curve my emotions for the better. I have had people try to tell me they think it is a mechanisim of the brain trying to put me through so much mental torture so I will relapse and make it go away. There is no way in hell I will or would want to start this process over and go through it again.

It has been a tough road and I pray to GOD all this mental stuff ends soon.

[D30]

I am glad I am not by myself. I thought maybe something was going wrong with my brain. I have been off Vicodin ES now for about 3-4 months. I am tired of felling so depressed. I think as stated earlier I would take a pill when I scraped my finger or used the bathroom. My brain is trying to get me, but like I said I am at the end of the tunnel and I will not go back.

[road2recovery]

I agree with you 100% ..The physical was bad, but when it is gone, that is it..But the mental is a whole other ball game..I had to get help for that...I agree with the 3 months, not everyday being bad, but like one said, just a rollarcoaster..I have a great counsouler, and don't think i could have beat the mental part without that help and this forum...But your attitude sounds great..DON'T go back to the opiates, and have to go through that stuff again...Time will heal ,
I promise you that.....Good luck
r2r

[ginsa]

Yes... just keep hanging in there. I felt so bad for three days it was scary. But Today  is another day and I feel pretty good. I've been clean for 17 days and it's a roller coaster up to this point. Take heart and keep posting.

Ginsa

[refusingbondage]

Definitely the mental can get you.. the depression and anxiety almost broke me even more than the physical. Plus it kind of feels like your just stuck.  The awesomeness of finally getting over physical withdrawal wears off and your left trying to deal with life without your drug.  Its hard.  Think about it - everything revolved around drugs.  Having a bad day - take a pill.  Having a good day - take a pill.  Its raining - take a pill.  Im upset - take a pill.  Stressed- take a pill.  Happy - take a pill.  Broke a nail - take a pill.. you get the point.. it was a coping mechanism and buffer as well as an objective.  There was one ultimate objective - take a pill. . And nothing bothered us and when it did - take a pill.  We have to learn to re-live life without that buffer.  Its not easy but its better than being a prisoner to addiction.  

I dont know if you have depression issues with or without withdrawal/addiction bringing it on.  I did not in the past, but suffered severe depression for a while after quitting drugs.  I swear there were times I wanted to just die-very suicidal which is so opposite of me.  But I did get better.  One day it was just gone.  And I, like you, was very close to a breaking point..  Please just hang in there .. going back to using will not make it better.  Time heals.  Good luck.

[jollyman069]

I beleive anyone coming off of opiates knows or finds out how hard the mental part gets. I think that is why when someone does relapse they are afaird to stop because they know what the menatl part is like..as worried said it takes our brain time to heal..so you have to stick with it and exerise your brain

[worried878]

how long ago did u quqit?  I do remember u but cant remember when u quit...it took about 2-3 months after i quit hydros to feel good mentally ..AA has a saying 90 meetings in 90 days and this is why..takes that long for our brains to heal...also..we had underlying reasons why we used..depression etc and those issues have to be worked on...be safe with the klonopin/being a benzo/and take it a day at a time...seek suipport and try not to cave...we r here when u need a sounding board so keep posting