Does anyone have a sucess story on avoiding depression during recovery?

[Rex1]

Does anyone have a sucess story on avoiding depression during recovery?

I can feel it coming as I taper off? I have already gotten some good suggestions, but take any and all ideas...

Rex

[theGolden1]

Take vitamin B ... at one time there was only mega B therapy for depression (or shock treatments)it takes about 2 weeks to kick in, but really helps. I also recommend a good distraction. If it's a sunny day .... just force yourself to go outside and get the sun on your face for a half hour. Our pituitary gland needs ultraviolet sun rays to produce all those good brain chemicals. Breathe deeply ...another good tool, is uplifting music. It does wonders for your moods. I hope all goes well for you. One last thing. Don't project. Keep busy, don't lay around too much and take it as it comes ... it might not be that bad .... just bide your time and remeber it's all passing ... Goldie

[hellbent]

Take action. Go to as many aa/na meetings as you can, reach your hand out. Try to help someone going through what you are.

Not what I wanted to do either, but it worked. Just try it

[theGolden1]

Here, here ..
I just love the program ...

[Bodymechanic]

Biological depression is a major consideration in addiction. Not only do addicts use drugs to self medicate for depression but drug use itself can cause clinical depression.  The link between ectsacy and permanant clinical depression is already well establised.

The addiction doctor that answers questions on this board is an advocate of SMART recovery.  That means he does not accept addiction as a disease but rather a choice. They call it a maladaptive behavior. I disagree with their position. The important thing is that if you have biological depression it needs to be treated. If not, then you will spend your life fighting the addiction much harder than you need to and will likely fail.

[vikequeen]

Christmas music and putting up your decorations early is helping me so far, the last time I got clean I had no time for depression, I was more worried about if the doctor that just fired me was gonna press charges or not(me phoning in my own RX's) luckily he did not. Last tues I was in the same medical park and walked in his office, shaking like a leaf and  apologized in person to him amd his wife(the office manager). They commended me and wished me luck. Where I got my nerve I'll never know. Baddgirl

[hippy]

i tried to kick a 15 a day vike habit for about 2 years
and about a dozen times i would get a week or two, then the
depression would tear me to peices, and back to the  pills i went.
i never had depression before the pills.
when i found this fourm i read about the  L-tyrosine
and b-6 along  with the rest of the receipe, well
to my amazement it squashed the depression, so all i had to
deal with was restless legs and body, and totol stress and lack of sleep. and a hang/over feeling for the 1st 2weeks.
then i started getting better and started to have feelings agian.

peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LizzyM]

Hey there.  Hope you are feeling better.  I hit the hard core  depression also..it was like a rollorcoaster with my mood swings..never cried so hard in my life.  My Doc put me on an anti-depressant called Zoloft and Trazadone for the anxiety and insomnia.  You take the Trazadone 100mg-150mgs at night right before you go to sleep.  Even though these anti-depressants take a while to work..it's worth the wait.  When they do work, you feel like a new person and you may never have a desire to go back to the pills.  That's where I am at right now..finally feeling good...it took 27 days though to get there.  I'm finally starting to see through the fog..If it wasn't for everyone here who gave me advice and supported me, well, then I would probably have gone right back to the pills during my depression.  But, so many people here told me that the depression eventually gets better.  And it did.  But, I am on the Zoloft 150mgs and the Trazadone.  I wouldn't even risk stopping the Zoloft even after I am %100.  Hope this helps a little?  You take care.

[Rex1]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Well I have tapered now to between 2 - 3 norco (Vicodin) per day (2 yesterday, but had to do 3 today because of my back). And man the depression hit me today so hard - I have never felt utter depair like this.

It makes no sense, I know, but I am using everything at my disposal and today nothing worked. Everyone here has told me to taper slowly, and from 10-15 per day down to 3 is tapering, right? And have been doing the recipe for about 5 days now.

So now I need to gather all of my strength and either:

1) Go cold turkey from here starting Monday, or
2) Go to 1.5 (.5 three times a day) for another week, and then CT on the following Monday.

Right now it seems like the best I could do would be the the latter given the depression I had today and Friday, but maybe I should just bite the bullet and start now. Any opinions based on your experiences? Man I hate this....

Tell me again it will pass....

[deidre]

Hey, it will pass. If you are thinking about harming your self, you should probably get to a doctor fast and see about some antidepressants.  If that is not an issue, then I promise, depression will go away.  It may probably come back as well.  Might as well have some tools for dealing with it.  Some things that help is...taking action.  You seem to have a plan for getting off the viacodon. Do you have a plan for pain control once it is gone?  If not, research your options.  Keep your hands and mind busy.  Call someone who you know is doing crappy and ask how they are doing.  Be helpful to others.  Wash dishes.  Take a walk outside, and breathe deep.  Call someone who you think is doing ok, and tell them how you feel.  Call  someone who can relate to withdrawl from pain meds.  Withdrawl from anything sucks, but the sooner it is out of your system, the sooner the mind chemicals can rebalance themselves.  Hang in there, and if it gets ugly, call a professional.

[Pinkit]

I totally understand that this may not be the place to ask this question, but I figured since we are all addics or recovering addics I'm just going to ask.  I've heard of alot of people on this forum saying they would get there perscriptions off the computer.  Is this legal?  I have a very close relative that is also addicted to a opiate pain reliever.  She just signed up for this place on the web that gives you the names of pharmacys that are overseas that she can order medicane from.  She even paid to get this information.  She says she doesnt need a perscription.  I cant see how that is legal.  She said she's not an addict, but I believe she is.  It's not my place to tell her that though.  I did tell her I was worried about her. I don't want to see her getting busted.  So is this illegal? Please respond

[groovygirl]

Hi - I already responded to your question, and it is not a topic the administrators here like....probably because it isn't an ethical practice.  That should tell you something.  There is something wrong with getting Schedule III narcotics overnighted to your door.  The feds know it, but it is a "grey" area or the law.  These places are getting shut down every day, and it isn't because they are following the law.  A two-second phone consult isn't a very good way to determine if someone needs 90 Vicodin shipped to them.  Any underage kid can fax a copy of someone's license to an online pharm, and then walk away with a bottle of Vicodin.  Is that legal?  No, I don't think so.  

You can keep asking the question, and maybe someone will give you the answer you want.  However, it isn't a good idea.  You probably won't get busted, because they aren't interested in the buyer...mostly just the supplier.  You may go to your friendly online pharm one of these days to find it shut down...then what - find another one?  It will just become another vicious circle of drug seeking.  Do you really want to get into all that?

Good luck to you...

[Pinkit]

You seem to be directing this to me.  Thank you for your response, but it's not for me.  It's for a friend that has already signed up w/ one of these places. I'm worried about her... THanks for your quick response.

[Pinkit]

I have a great doctor who is weaning me off these drugs.  I would never take the chance of being busted because I've got two wonderful children here.  I would never pay the fee for those places either. Well, I guess I would if I did'nt have the help of my doctor.  I want to get help so that is not for me.  My close friend on the other hand is.  She's like my sister and I love her, but she wont even admit she has a problem

[vrolijk]

yes, take lots of B vitmanins and other amino acids, that is how the rich and famous get off and stay of the drugs.
I would go they a natural path, to get other information.
B,C, niacimide

Brain food; or amino acids
elglutamine
GaBa
L-phenyl Alanine
lycithine
el-thrypthophine.
and others.
I will look more up in my books
But do not do this by yourself, get some expert advice.

[vrolijk]

Do not forget, good excercise, to get your endorphines going.
Laughter, comics, humor movies, and a good hugh from anyone you can find.

[RobynBanks]

a low dose of Effexor XR works for me (Its been 1.5weeks) Its a relatively new antidepressant. The minor side effects disappeared after 1 week. I have been self-medicating with any opiate.narcotic analgesic. powder.pill etc...since i was 16. I was ALWAYS opposed to antidepressants. I am now 34 and just decided ITS WORTH A TRY. I was so sick of being depressed ..therefore taking a drug to mask it...getting hooked...kicking...Being depressed about being back in the same ole rut blah blah blah. Im not saying its the answer for you but it might be something to consider. Good luck

[groovygirl]

Hi - I tried Effexor about 4 years ago.  It gave me this weird buzzing noise in my head...it nearly drove me crazy.  We tried using different amounts, but it never went away.  Finally, I found Celexa which has helped the depression as well as the migraines.

[Witchywoman]

The amino acid 5 htp totally took away my suicidal depression that happened right after detox. It worked within a day, like a charm.  It is the direct precursor to seratonin. Many swear by it.

good luck,
WW

[Patrice]

It is no longer as you call it thr "gray area" for having doctors prescribed class 3 drugs on the inernet..This is becausee a pott a medic comes to your home, you get a compleat medical check-up, so before you post, read up a litte on this sensitive subject.....


Patrice

[coco loco]

i avoided depression during recovery by exercizing. i quit hanging out with old friends who kept the drug on my mind and i would go to the gym regularly. every so often i woiuld crash but  i think that that is just the result of withdrals.  i still exercize to this day and it has helped me to feel good about my self. i hope that you would try it. even if you are not in to lifting weights, taking a 30 minute walk can help significantly.
best of luck- coco loco

[coco loco]

i avoided depression during recovery by exercizing. i quit hanging out with old friends who kept the drug on my mind and i would go to the gym regularly. every so often i woiuld crash but  i think that that is just the result of withdrals.  i still exercize to this day and it has helped me to feel good about my self. i hope that you would try it. even if you are not in to lifting weights, taking a 30 minute walk can help significantly.
best of luck- coco loco

[groovygirl]

I've read plenty on the subject, and not ALL come to your home.  In fact, probably about 80% prescribe strictly from talking to a person on the phone - phone consult.

I don't know why it's a sensitive subject...I wasn't aware that it was...sorry.