My Visit to the Addiction Counselor

I went to my first appointment with the Addiction Counselor today.  It was a wonderful experience.  I was honest with her and told her the amount of Lortab I am taking daily.  We decided on an intensive outpatient detox.  It will allow me to work during the day and go for several hours of one on one and group counseling every night.  I am going to detox cold turkey since at least for me there is no sense putting off the inevitable.  WD's are goona happen and I've done it so many times that they don't scare me any more so just getting it over with seems the best route for me.  

I am out of Lortabs and my wife has taken what's left of hers and keeps them at her office so I will have no access to them.  My wife told me she wants the man she married back and my kids want their father back too.  It's time for me to Man-up.  

Long term maintenance is something that will be important for me.  Tomorrow I am going to a Celebrate Recovery meeting to see if I like that better than NA or AA, but whatever I do it will definately have to consist of some type of group meetings on a regular basis.  

I am convinced that my addiction counselor and I will find something that works for me.  I want my life back and the only way that is going to happen is for me to go out get involved in living.

I know this plan sounds pretty ambitious but ambition is one thing these pills have taken away from me and I won't get it back sitting around the house doing nothing.

[beachtowel]

Hey sounds great.......and it sounds like you have a solid plan.....

sorry for yesterday evening with my schedule sometimes I get so tired and I let my cranky side speak for me yesterday....please except my apoligy......

beach

[Savas]

Congrat's...and ambitious or not, you can take it one piece at a time.

I'm impressed by your attitude towards the withdrawal, that alone speaks of an ability to succeed. It sounds like you've come to terms with the idea of being in pain, something that most addicts have a real problem with.

[IBKleen]

WOW! Congrats! It sounds like you and your counselor have a plan, and a good one at that!

Stick to it. Please let us know how it is going.

Be good to yourself.....

[david0263]

I'm sorry as well, and apology accepted.

[beachtowel]

Your right it takes courage first to see an addiction counselor and a lot of courage to stop using C/T

[david0263]

Thanks guys, for the first time in a long time I have hope.  I've felt hopeless for so long that I forgot what it feels like.  Now I can look forward to this recovery meeting tomorrow instead of trying to score some pills.

[beachtowel]

David with 21 months of clean time I can assure you that it gets better and better........
Give yourself time to heal and please keep up with a support group and after care of some kind.....
It sounds like your on the right track...

May I ask how often you intend to see your addiction counselor?

[david0263]

I plan on seeing her for at least 6 weeks once a week and then every other week for 6 more visits.  After that I'm not sure because my insurance won't pay.  They offer income based pricing but I'm afraid that wont help me much.

[beachtowel]

I think thats awesome........I really do some one here who has stopped using and is seeing an addiction counselor for after care to stay clean....
Your posts are a real treat to read........

Keep it up and hopefully you will inspire others to follow you.........

[beachtowel]

Go to some N/A meetings and find a homegroup that your comfortable with......

Then volunteer for some service work and get involved........you will feel really good doing it.......