How do I stop this emotional mess from norco detox?

I have been tapering from norco for just over a week and I have been very doing amazing.  I was taking over 15 10 mg. norco per day and am now down to 5 per day.  I have no cravings at all.  I think this is because I so ready to be done with these damn pills.  I am extremely fearful of the depression after detox, so after some research, I decided that I will not rush the taper process.  I have had minimal physical withdrawal symptoms, but the emotional part hit me today.  I  was extremely depressed and crying almost all day.  I ended up taking  a sixth pill just so that I could stop crying.  I am going to go back to 5 tomorrow.  I need advice on how to handle the emotional mess that I had today.  What can I do to minimize the PAWS after detox??

[Brightfutureahead]

I know it's hard bc you can feel sluggish as u put less and less opioids in your system...but good ol' exercise ... Even if just for a few minutes....can help get some endorphins flowing in your brain to help combat your sadness...I'm trying to tell myself the same thing ;) hang in there...

[GarbageAddict360]

As you are coming off the pills, you are going to experience all different emotions.  My advice is to roll with them.  Most addicts take different substances to mask emotions because we don't want to feel, but the truth is we are human and meant to feel those emotions.  It won't hurt to have a good cry, you will feel better once you get those emotions out.  While abusing pills, your body grows accustom to not producing normal chemical to regulate mood.  This is why it is very commonplace for a recovering addict to experience heightened anxiety and the lows of depression.  As your brain recognizes the need to regulate these chemicals, these feelings will subside.  You may also want to consult with a doctor because they can prescribe you an antidepressant that can really help you balance the highs and lows.  With doing a taper, you are softening the blow of the physical symptoms, but you are also delaying your recovery from this emotional roller coaster.  All in all, you are taking the right steps to free yourself from this nasty addiction.  Keep up the good work and keep posting :o)

[quitinoxys]

Hey Addictby, take a deep breath and relax. Deox will make your emotins run all over the place so don't worry about it as it's part of the process. Try some Valerian root (tea or pills) which you can get at any drug store. It will help colm your emotions I used it and it worked great for me.

As far as depression after detox as it does happen sometimes but don't talk yourself into it, remember you WILL BE OK. Your doing great so keep it up.

PAWS is usally rare after w/d and only rears it ugly head after 6-9 months after detox so I wouldn't worry your pretty little head over it right now. You have other things to take care of than wasting time on something that may not happen. You are doing great so keep it up.

[overopiates]

Ur lucky that ur feeling"minimal physical w/d" after 2/3rd drop n a week.thats great.Im sry about the mental which is way worse that physi ca eventhough physical is tough for a lot of people(honestly though u sound like u may b1of the addicts who have somewhat tolerable w/d .didnt panick urself about w/d&fear it b4u even started.SO MANY DO).R u taking anything!I do wanna point out though u've been doing great w/ur taper but took an extra yesterday.I get u were just trying2get the mental part under control @the point where when u r feeling bad(motional/mental w/d or the physical w/d)

[overopiates]

My concern is u have pills&YES U r doin great but i dnt want u2think u have total control(u honestly dnt have much at all)also u cant think ur n pain so low on taper or done&1wont.hurt.Im.wont be a big deal.WRONG.I have a few??'
1.have u thought of jumping@5instead of SLLOOOWWW TAPER/I ask cause I actually
couldnt tape&jumped from about what u
started tapering4years)it sounds nuts but I had my supplies,the worst was day3+day4it started2feel better.Just a thought w-the right supplies u can b done w-that part of otur feeling ok w/the drastic+quick drop that moght be surprised.
The mental is way worse&if u realize or  not u self medicated by taking just1to stop crying.Thats a huge red flag.
-DO U HQVE AN AFTERCARE PLAN.U need2 get a plan Right Now.Thats what will help w/thoae awful mental w//d.Ive not known n e1who could STAY sober w/o aftercare which is things like NA.I go2group&c an addoction specialist.She helped me get on cymbalta which does wonders(Id tried@least6other AD meds none did much but cymbata has been a miracle for my deppresion).
D

[SunnysideUP27]

addict, I was in your shoes not too long ago. I am approaching 90 days now. After numerous failed attempts at withdrawal, I found the depression and anxiety unbearable. It will subside. I did a small taper as well but to be honest, we all have to go thru the withdrawals. I dont think that tapering down to 1 over a nice extended time period will take your withdrawals away. It may help with the physical, but that is the easy part, and the part you dont seem to be that concerned with. The depression and anxiety if it is to come about in your journey, will rear its ugly head no matter if you taper or not. Just stay positve, work out and run. Read books and get some goals for yourself. That always helped me. Looking forward to something and  attaining it... Good luck on your taper.

[MIkanik]

I agree..the emotional is probably worse than the physical w/d.  I'm not a doctor, but this is what worked for me.....

Exercise - As soon as I could PUSH (and I mean PUSH) myself to get moving I did!  It starts out with getting up and doing things around the house. I swept the floors, put on some majorly happy music and danced with my broom....yes....really.  LOL  Scared the crap out of my dogs, but I figured it was more exercise than just sweeping!  I then added a little yoga to my day, but only as much as I could until I was tired as heck.  Then, when I felt stable enough, I went outside and took some mild hikes (I live right on the foothills so the trails are just two blocks away) or I'd take my dogs for a walk around the block.  That not only helped with my emotional mess, but also SLEEP!

I also changed my diet...WHEN I could eat. LOTS of fresh vegies and good food...basically the way we SHOULD eat.  I drank alot of those nutrient supplement drinks...Ensure or whatever they're called.  When I was in the physical symptoms, I drank 2 tblsp on organic apple cider vinegar in 20 oz of water throughout the day and a good vitamin sports drink if needed.  

For the emotional part I added supplements...vitamin B twice a day (this helps with stress, anxiety, energy and mood) and a good protein drink with LOADS of Amino Acids that can help "heal" your brain and are just great in general.  That seemed to help a little with sleep too....those darn legs that can't seem to find a comfy position! ;o)

Anyway....like I said, I'm no doctor and I suggest you talk to your doc and tell him what's up.

[overopiates]

Im sry I obviously wasnt done with my post my son jumped on my lap and it got sent and I had2immediately put him back to bed and fell asleep.Ill finish writing in a few I just wanted to  make sure i got back to this post zo u dnt think I just stop n the middle of a post lol

[kyle505]

If you want to taper successfully, then you have to keep to your plan. You can't take an extra pill just because you're having a bad day. If you're not able to control the process, then you need to ask someone you trust to hold your meds and give them to you only as planned. If you don't, your head will push you into taking more when you should be taking less. Without help most of us have a very hard time tapering. Overopiates' concern with you still having pills comes from experience; you will never control the addiction - it controls you. And the moment you think that you are in control is the moment when your head has won, and you are looking at the road to relapse.

[overopiates]

U have been doing amazing with such a rapid taper.Because u have done so well ai dnt c why u wpuld make this a long slow taper(unless c/t is an absolute impossability)U only need4days2gwt the worst phyaical symptoms to subside.Usually the1st day isnt ao bad.If u have immodium,taoe generously u could work through the1st day w/o much issue.Lots of people get.the supplies and amino acid protocol and work during thier whole cold turkey w/d/detox.The distraction of work seems to help a lot of people.If ur gping to taper then u must stick to it adamantly(I know others above said this).If u take ANY extra then ur not tapering properly and if u cant be sure u wont slip&take anymore than ur taper plan its better to flush all ur pills x/t.I get u took the extra because of the mental part&basically uncontrolable crying.The emotional mess/mental w/d is wwy worse.Ur I believe the1st person.who gwts that as they r quiting.Usually people say the physical is worse UNTIL the phyaical part subsides&the mental kicks in(Im giving u a compliment.that u knew the taper,especially1as fast as urs would jave peoplebfreaking ouf&us telling them2slow it down but ur obvi n control of THAT part)that being said u need2realize that the mental part is kicking ur A S S so it doesnt matter if u can maintain the taper(as far as functioning etc)BUT ur honestly taking m extra2

[overopiates]

(UST KEEPS POSTING ON ITS OWN).N E WAY I hate to say but u took extra2"stop crying".1st NO WAY that did what u think it did!!!These pills make us ALL.more emotional.Sux but true.As I see it u wanted2take1but rarionalized it plain&simple.I dnt think u even relise u did but think about ir!!!2nd This is why aftercare is SO IMPORTANT.U WILL NOT GET CLEAN AND STAY THAT WAY W-O IT.I know u wanna quit BUT U WONR GET/STAY CLEAN W/O AFTERCARE(as well as other changes u have2make).At this point of5pills can quit completely c\t (ur n physical w/d anyway u just

[ed1111]

hang in there. must be patient. I came off fentanyl, wheened off. it took 5 months but i am so much better. Really don't think about it. I was so ready to get off that crap. It did just so happen I was suffering from the loss of testosterone levels. Not sure what caused it (opiates, or my MS)both can do it. Anyway, just wanted you to know it is so hard but the rewards are so great. PS. I am a 49 yr old male and I cried for more than a month.

[overopiates]

IM GOING CRAZY MY PHONE JUST KEEPS POSTING ON ITS OWN.
As I was saying u need to focus on the mental w/d because u've made it clear thats much harder than physical w/d that r a few days.ALL OF US HAVE REALIZED LOL.Obviously ur gonna do what u feel is best4U but why r u taking the taper really slow when usay ur physical w/d isnt that bad and u dropped2/3of what many consider a large amount really fast.NO NEED2SLOW DOWN ur taper.I quit c/t from10-15aometimes more c/t w/name brand immoium,otx sleep

[overopiates]

IM GOING CRAZY MY PHONE JUST KEEPS POSTING ON ITS OWN.
As I was saying u need to focus on the mental w/d because u've made it clear thats much harder than physical w/d that r a few days.ALL OF US HAVE REALIZED LOL.Obviously ur gonna do what u feel is best4U but why r u taking the taper really slow when usay ur physical w/d isnt that bad and u dropped2/3rds of what many consider a large amount really fast.NO NEED2SLOW DOWN ur taper.I quit c/t from10-15sometimes more c/t(basically 100-170mg pf lortab)w/name brand immoium,otc sleep aid,a benzo fot my severe anxiety(if u do this take the smallest amount possible4no longet than a week)there r also A LOT of otc anxiety meds:pills+teas if u dnt wanna go the prescription route I was already prescribed them&had a tolerance).excedrin4headaches&if u have a dr.they can prescribe clonidine(a blood pressure med also used4opiate w/d&do wonders NOT NECESSARY BUT DEFINITELY MAKES A  DIFFERENCE),immodium name.brand NOT GENERIC.O took2to3times the regular dose the first4days(helps w/multiple symptoms of w/d as long as u get the name brand preferably the liquid.IM SO SRY4THE MULTIPLE POSTS.Im positive I repeated myself over and over plus all100posts(LOL)could have been l 1 n a coupleparagraphs.

[ImDONENoMore]

overopiates - your posts are really hard to read - all the abbreviating and capitalizations... I guess I'm just old school (actually I know I am lol!) - but very hard to read girl!

[48Candles]

Great advice and very helpful, thank you.