Help from someone clean longer than a week

[H3Girl]

It has been 7 days without anything. Day 4 & 5 were great but the past two days have been horrible. Sweats, skin crawling, aching etc. Why am I feeling bad again??? I would like to know when things will get better and stay better. I tappered for weeks before going C/T. I don't know that tappering made any difference in this process. What do you think. I would like the opinion of someone who has made it longer than a week.

[CATUF]

In my experience you don't need to worry that the symptoms of active addiction and/or w/d will never go away.  I believe that the key is treating the brain chemisty, which in any addict is a) certainly messed up from using and b) likely to have been messed up in the first place.  

I suggest the followinig books:

1. End Your Addiction Now, by Gant
2. Staying Sober, by Gorski & Miller
3. Staying Clean & Sober, by Miller & Miller
4. The Mood Cure, by Ross

Also be ready for PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) which generally hits in waves down the road (30, 60, 90 days, etc.) after the initial (acute) withdrawal is over.  It can FEEL like hitting a wall that's just too high to get over and too long to go around - it presents a clear and present danger for relaps if you're not expecting and ready for it.  But it does pass, and each the strength of each wave seems to lessen.  After the initial few events, it seems to lessen in frequency too, moving to intervals of 6 months, then 1 year or more.  An great primer on PAWS (actually from Gorski & Miller's book) is on the web at http://www.tlctx.com/ar_pages/paw_part1.htm

[MissAngel]

Oh no that is really scary. They never go away? I feel sick at the thought.   :-(

[CATUF]

What kind of supps are you taking and what is your diet like?  The Thomas Recipe (sans the valium or benzos) really helped me.

Have you looked at the book End Your Addiction Now, by Charles Gant?  It has some very good detox and recovery formulas that focus primarily on the amino acids an addict requires to recover normal brain chemistry.

As soon as your able, a little bit of exercise also helps a lot.  However, this needs to be started slowly - do not rush into too much.

[beetlybug]

I have talked to many friends and family who have been through similar stuff during the past 3 years, they say the symptoms never really go away, they just get more tolerable, once your brain is imprinted with an opiate drug, it never ever forgets it.  It will get better though!

[texasrebecca]

I'm only at 4, but I just came to offer a giant  
(((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))).

I'm thinking of you!

[1911]

The W/D symptoms go away.  Probably different for each person, but here is my story to help reassure you:

I am starting Week 7 C/T.  I am my old self again, getting 8 hours sleep, some fatigue at the end of the day...but, most importantly I am really enjoying life and the people around me are glad to "have me back".

If you go back through the archives, I have a listing of all the good stuff that comes within the first few weeks.

It is amazing how the body and brain can recover in a few weeks from years of abuse by Rx.

I assure you, the W/D symptoms will subside.  Just remember, "Nothing good happens fast."  W/D is slow like a layaway plan, not fast like a credit card purchase."

GEORGE
DAY 42  

[MissAngel]

Thanks for sharing your story. I am hopeful that eventually I will be back to normal.

[Marce4]

I'm sorry with so many new people, remind me what you were taking.  I was at day 7 before I felt somewhat like my old self. Day 8 I went back to work and felt very nervous and shaky...cold sweats, anxiety, depression. It really did get better day by day, little by little.  Still some bad bouts but nothing like the first 4 days!  I am on Day 29 c/t and feel almost like me again, before drugs...I still do have cravings so that is now the hard part for me. I still take my EmergenC which really helps with my energy levels.  It will get better. You are strong and are getting your life back...Stay tough and realize how nice it will be not to let the drugs rule your day to day living!
Marcie