Melatonin

[sharonver]

Has anyone had any luck with melatonin for anxiety and sleep? I am looking for something to take the edge off the W/D's and to help me sleep at night.

Sharon

[liquidgal]

Hi there! :-)

I'd be more than happy to email you - but as I'm on my way out the door. I'll just reply here for now.

TBH - I gave up smoking the "easy" way - I was pregnant!
Being pregnant is probably the best incentive one can get to give up the smokes. I did taper - I was on 1mg/lite ciggies. Went from 12 a day to 10, to 8, then 6 & 4. I smoked 4 a day for about a week & then bit the bullet & stopped.

I think the reason why they encourage to give up other addictions 1st is that it is better to get ride of the "bigger, addiction 1st (& though ciggies is a big addiction in its own right - it is also legal - more freely available). Also - & this is JMHO - with an addictive personality - like no doubt alot of us have - it is hard to give up a big addiction & have nothing on the other side .....with continuing smoking, once you give up the opiates, you'll atleast still have an unwinder/destressor....

....I can certainly say that I have thought more about having a drink, a cigarette, even a smoke of dope in the last week, since coming off the methadone & on to the BUP.


I am beginning my BUP taper on monday. Wish me luck!

I HTH's - like anything if you really want to stop, you will! (& it will be when YOU are ready - not when someone tells you)

All warmth, care & goodluck, Liquid.

[Bungee7]

I went to my first NA meeting tonight. It was way different than I thought it would be. I feel so relieved to have made the first step. I definently am going to go back. I did however take 2 pills before I went to the meeting, but next time I will go sober. I think that this NA group will be a good thing for me. They gave me all kinds of info, and some of the guys even gave me their phone numbers. My boyfriend came with me for support which was so wonderful. I think next time I will go alone though. Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience with all of you because you all have been so great and you all have been so helpful and understanding...I wish I could give all of you hugs especially Suzie,Marie,Andy,Rex,and Lizabet. Thank you all so much,

-Anthony

[lifeisbetter]

Prayer worked for me. I didn't know it at the time or even who I was praying to. I guess it must have worked I made it to one year Dec. 23. Nothing else can explain it. Just thought I'd mention it.

[suzieneedshelp]

Hey!  How did u quit smoking?  Ive heard thats one vice i should not try to quit yet until a while after my detox. Can u e-mail me plz?
Suzie
***@****

[suzieneedshelp]

Excellent man!  Glad u got in touch with NA.  Get the Thomas recipe!  
People is it posted recently?/ cuz bungee is new...
Thomas if you see this..well you know dear wut to do!
Keep in touch Anthony!
I am soo proud of you!
Suzie

[liquidgal]

GOOD LUCK!  - you'll be fine!

Well done for setting a date, going to NA & seeing a drug counselor! WOOHOO for you! :-)

The only tips I can give you is - the sooner you accept the pain of w/d, the easier it is to go with it & get it over & done with. Try not to look at the clock & know that when it feels it can get no worse & you feel can go no further - that is when it is its hardest & from there it WILL GET EASIER.

BATHS & movement are good. Drink alot of water, try & eat & though I've yet to try it - the infamous Thomas Recipe sounds GOOD!.

You are in my thoughts - as are you all.

With warmth, Liquid.

[lisabet]

Rex....Steven Wright - you really are a "nerd", aren't ya? (OK-OK, I like him too....just dont' tell anyone...) smile.  .

Bungee (Anthony) - Hope your NA meeting meets your needs; Also thank God you have a companion to stand by you. Good luck, sweetheart.  

Love/hope everyone has a good weekend, Lisabet

[Bungee7]

You guys are all so great. I smile each time I read this forum. You all make me feel so much better, because I know that all of you are going/or have gone through what i'm going through, and I feel like you are all there for me.

On another note...I'm finally doing it. My first NA meeting is tomorrow night at 7pm. Then next Thursday I have a meeting with a drug counselor. Then starting next friday I am going to go cold tukey(taper in the mean time). I am going to stop friday go the whole weekend and take Monday and Tuesday off of work...So I will have 5 days to withdraw and detox. My boyfriend will be home with me all 5 days(he is going to call in sick just for me:).*Any tips for detoxing will be helpful*. I am very hopeful and confident that I can do it. My plan is to detox and then continue to see the counselor and go to NA at least once a week. Wish me luck,

-Anthony

[Rex1]

way way way too much pop culture!

Steven Wright - look up some of this guys stuff and you will realize drugs have been around a long time for him!

Rex

[lisabet]

You're so full of it!  Quit complaining and go back to work!... hee-hee...'nuff said.  (Although, I have to admit - the proofreader for skywriting was a stroke of genius!)...smile  Where in the world do you get this stuff????  Love, Lisabet

[Rex1]

Yeah I went back to work. Must be why I am depressed today!

I think its time for a new job, or I could go back to my old ones:

Narrator for bad mimes
Proofreader for a skywriting company
Sand salesman to Iraq
Combination lawnmower repair/life insurance company

And finally -

Alligator tamer (based in Anchorage!)

My ideal job?

JetSki rentals - Kanaapali shores, Maui. (free sunscreen with each rental!)

Rex

[lisabet]

Hey percs - I'm hanging in there, thanks for asking. I'm not doing too bad - down to 4 vics a day, the "wanting" is the hardest part. I actually had the "restless legs" this evening so many talk about....dammit-if I hadn't read about them on here and knew what they were, I would have thought I was having a seizure. Gary (my "boo") :)  massaged my legs and it helped alot, then I had my last vic for the day a little while ago so I feel better now.  (Of course, Gary doesn't know the reason for the RL's); just told him my legs hurt. Isn't it awful you can being so honest with strangers and can't tell the ones you love what's really going on?...smile.

suzie - I'm so very-very proud of you, sounds like you're doing great; I know in the past you've struggled so much. I think of all the people on this forum, I've pulled for you the most, I think, mainly because you've fought so hard for it. Good things don't come easy, right girl?  Love ya!

Rex - my "cheerleader"...smile.  You're always there with a word of encouragement.  Every little battle won (from 5 vics to 4, etc)., I think of you.  PS: Didn't you go back to work yesterday...how did it go?  It will probably do you good to get back into the "swing" of things, but hope you still have time to post.  You're a "valuable commodity" here....smile.

Love to everybody - to all you "lurkers", please don't be afraid to post....so much encouragement here, and everyone's life experiences is valuable to everyone.  Love, Lisabet

[Jennibean]

Thank You for continuing to come here. At meetings etc. it is quite scary when all of the people there seem to have just weeks or a couple months sober. Makes you think either everyone relapses constantly or the poeple who have a year or more just aren't there anymore. It makes you feel scared like maybe there is nobody with any time under their belt. You give me great hope that it can be done. Congrats to you at this time I cannot imagine the freedom you must feel, to wake up and not need a drug to feel "normal" and I suppose after a year even the thoughts of getting the drug you know the obsessing about it that we do in early recovery, I imagine those times are fewer and further between. You are strong and so so inspiring. Thank you so very much for continuing to come here and give us all so much hope. You have no idea the power that gives me or at least makes me think I have more power which is all that matters. I believe now that it can be done. I want to be free too!
Jen

[suzieneedshelp]

Wow gurl wut an accomplishment!  Hats off to you!  Hugs and salutes and balloons and flowers and confetti too all to make you feel great, as you should!
It is my day 12 now and i will be off the ultram now totally!  So i cant wait to be able to say i am drug free and heading towards such milestones/ accomplishments as you have achieved!  You are such an inspiration!
PErcs thx for sharing that with us!
Talk to ya soon!
Love,
Suzie

[peaz]

I got home from work and found this wonderful thread of congratulations and it almost brought tears to my eyes....I don't talk about my addiction or subsequent recovery very much--only to my group therapy people, my AA home group, and you guys here online.  I suppose the shame factor is still alive and well, plus I find most non-addicts just don't understand addiction. (and they're scared to find out!) Plus, I seem to have lost all of my previous "friends".......Okay, Peaz--GET TO THE POINT!!!  What I'm tryiny to say is, that after a year of sometimes hiding and sometimes doing acrobatics to "appear" normal, I can't tell you what it means to read these posts of ACCEPTANCE , PRAISE, AND ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF A JOB WELL DONE!!    Well, I realize the struggle isn't over, and the so-called "job" isn't really done, but you know what I mean...And if  I have inadvertently  helped one or two of you (New Orleans Lady and Liquidgal) then I am SO  grinning from ear to ear to think that I gave you the hope that someone had undoubtedly given me when I was in your shoes not all that long ago.  You've heard it before, but what goes around DOES come around!!
    I wish you all the best and KEEP POSTING. If one doesn't know the answer to a question, someone else will, or we will pool resources and FIND OUT. No question is too stupid or silly (Just like math class--but they were not prepared for some of mine...:-)  However, Percs just makes things up as he goes along, so WATCH HIM.....(JK--he's the BEST!)
    My love and support goes out to each and every one of you tonite.  THANKS!!!!  Peazy

[NEW ORLEANS LADY]

WOW THAT IS FANTASTIC--I REALLY-REALLY NEEDED TO READ YOUR POST! I AM 22 DAYS INTO RECOVERY AND FOR SOME REASON THE CRAVINGS AND MIND GAMES WERE UNBELIEVABLY STRONG TODAY--AND WITH IT CAME THE OLD FAMILIAR HIGH ANXIETY--SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A BATTLE FOR MY SOUL GOING ON-AFTER READING YOUR POST ABOUT LIFE GETTING BETTER A SENSE OF CALM CAME OVER ME--CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN--I PRAY THAT I CAN CELEBRATE A YEAR OUT OF HYDRO-HELL--LOVE
PEACE, AND PRAYERS!--THANKS AGAIN FOR JUST BEING HERE!

[pammy0690]

I have never posted here until today.  Many of you know me through email. I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you Peazy.  Your post about life is better without opiates has inspired me.  You should hold your head up proudly knowing that you have overcome this beast.  Good luck with the smokes!  Pamela

[liquidgal]

THANKYOU! - what a terrific & inspiring post! :-)

WELLDONE to you!.

(hang in there with the ciggies - I gave up 3 years back....IT IS *GREAT* to be free of nicotine addiction)

WOOOOHHOOOOOO for Peazy!

Warmth, Liquid.

[peaz]

You are a doll to remember....I told Pat I was going to celebrate by getting hammered, and he laughed and laughed.....(Maybe laughed a little TOO HARD, if you know what I mean?  Perhaps I made him nervous.)  Anyway,  I DO feel really good about everything.
    So now it has been 14 hours (but who's counting?) since I had a cigarette...The cravings are pretty bad--even worse than w/ vikes.  But maybe the magnitude of narc withdrawl has faded w/ time, I don't know.  I'm psyched--I WILL DO THIS!!
  I've gotten several emails congratulating me.  You guys are great!  To anyone who is just now detoxing, or has a few days, weeks, or even months under your belt: LIVING A DRUG-FREE LIFE   IS WORTH THE PAIN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH NOW.  Never forget that.  It DOES get better, the sleeping, depression, finances, friends, jobs,--ALL of it will work out eventually.  I'm not saying my life is without problems now, or that I am never down or upset.  But dealing w/ those things sober and not in a fog is a helluva lot easier!!
     I could not have made it w/out the continued support of Pix, Bill, Pam,MrM, Chezz, Thomas,Methmike(I'm sure there are others) and last but not least, my good friend Percs who has stood by me from day 1 at this forum.  I love all of you!  Peace---Peazy

[sharonver]

Hi,

I tried it last night and I did get some sleep, of course I am holding now at 6mg it has been a few weeks now at 6mg. I think I am starting to get used to that dose because I don't feel too bad today. I think I will give it another week or two then go down to 5mg. Wish me luck...

Sharon

[percsnomas]

Hi Sharon.
Both my mother-in-law(who recently detoxed from coke, vikes and xanax) and myself(5 mths off percs) have had success with 3mg/night of melatonin as a sleep aid. We try not to use it too much, alternating nights, etc.
My mother in law is absolutely amazed at how well it has worked for her; as she was most skeptical in that is was not a "heavy-duty" drug.....like her xanax.

OFF TOPIC: THIS IS A GREAT BIG HUG/CONGRAT. TO ONE OF THE "VETERANS" HERE, PEAZ, WHOM TODAY REACHED 8,760 HOURS(okay okay, 1 YEAR) OFF OPIATES!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR INSPIRATION

lol
Percs No More

[oxic]

Hey you mangy dog, how are you doing?(that cracked me up)
Percs

[Nod]

Conrgats on 1yr.  Thats sure is a long time.  What I am more impressed with is that you still are on the board.  That shows how important it is - once an addict always...  I have gone clean 3-6 months at a time but always fall off the wagon (and this site..)  You have recognized the nature of the beast and use the tools to help you stay off.  I hope to one day to be so fortunate.   Still fighting.   Again, great job, you must feel great.  Stay that way!   Nod

[Nod]

Conrgats on 1yr.  Thats sure is a long time.  What I am more impressed with is that you still are on the board.  That shows how important it is - once an addict always...  I have gone clean 3-6 months at a time but always fall off the wagon (and this site..)  You have recognized the nature of the beast and use the tools to help you stay off.  I hope to one day to be so fortunate.   Still fighting.   Again, great job, you must feel great.  Stay that way!   Nod