Overwhelmed

I been reading all the posts & this just seems like a miserable process Even when wds over ther is supposed to be aftercare. Is this for everyone or do some do without. It just seems like expending more energy on something I want to forget about. Does anyone ever feel better? Been tapering & just very discouraged right now. Sorry to be so negative just getting hit w/ a lot of other things & I am struggling.

[avisg]

I feel great !!!!! I feel aftercare is a must ,if you dont get any unfortunately your chances of relapse is very high to certain .Alot of people try it without many relapse before I started getting therapy I relapsed. There is a wonderful drug free life out there .I can tell you I am much happy not using then I ever was using.
avis

[dominosarah]

The miserable part was using for me.  We dont forget about our addiction as we learn to deal with it head on. It gets easier as times goes on.  Keep telling yourself you can do this.  Are you taking any vitamin supplements??  Those really help.  I know this is a struggle and takes every ounce of energy you have but it is really worth it in the end.  Keep hanging in there and posting.  We are here for you.  Stay strong.       sara

[joann1975]

I understand being overwhelmed.... aftercare has not been an option for me. I can't take my toddler....I know it sounds like excuses to some but my husband works 6 days a week 10 hours a day so I can stay home w/our son and stay clean... I use this forum, I read on the NA website and I read books on addiction....I also journal. Maybe those things could help you some if you don't feel you could go to NA.

Avis...when you say aftercare is that just NA or am I missing something here? Maybe there is other options I don't know about!

JoAnn

[marcatj]

hun, it's way less miserable than staying on the pills..

nothing will EVER feel great while you're using.

so if aftercare is required, it is.  if you had diabetes or cancer, you'd go to the doctor regularly.

this is no different.  it's your life you're talkin about....

trust me - once you get clean, things are gonna feel a whole helluva lot better... by leaps and bounds...

-mj

[avisg]

Jo ann,really anything I see a therapest .I have nothing against AA it just was not a fit for me .A pastor can help .There is a program called SMART recovery I have been hearing oe go things bout that as well.

[lifesaride]

i know just how ya feel, i couldnt taper, i went suboxone route. thats all i wanted to do is forget about it all. like i never did an oxy! i havent done any after care, just keep myself busy working my a ss off. my down time  i have some veggies growing in the garden, and i been doin alot around the house, i listen to alot of music just to keep my mind on anything other than pills, it is a miserable process, so find some happy things to do, eeryone is different ya gotta rediscoer what makes ya happy, without the pills. as far as the aftercare ya gotta know why ya did your doc to figure out what to not do.for me i had too much time on my hands doing nothing, i accually looked forward to my ritual of getting my pills, crushing them, sniffing them,figuring out when my next hit was.it really was a sad life. the best way i can describe it is EMPTY! weird cuz then ya quit the pills and that seems EMPTY too. so ya gotta fill the empty with life. so get happy and start living.Teddy

[wannabefree330]

For me, when I started slacking on aftercare - which for ME was AA/NA meetings, talking to other addicts/alcoholics, and volunteering at a drug rehab facility - I relapsed twice when I stopped going.  

Just because you stop doing the drug/or drinking, doesn't mean you don't have the disease.  It is a lifelong illness and you have to treat it, as there is NO CURE.  What works for some, doesn't work for all.  But, DO something.  This site is fantastic, but face to face interaction with another addict is very valuable.  Even if it's just grabbing a cup of coffee and talking about what is going on in your life.  Some need meetings, even if it's just once a month.  Some, use counseling, some work the steps of AA/NA using the books of these programs and a friend.  

But regardless of what you decide is best for you, DO something to stay clean.  I know first hand what happens to me when i don't go.  I have to take responsiblity for my recovery just as much as I have to take responsibility for abusing drugs. I am not ashamed of being an addict.  I can't help it and cannot change it.  But I can change what I do in the future and have a choice now whether to use or not.  If i leave it up to myself and become introverted about my disease, I'll use every time, because the guilt, shame, and cravings become profound.

Great question!

[joann1975]

That was a really good post...it puts alot in perspective for people.