the mental part IS withdrawal

Hi Hope everyone is having a good day.
I just wanted to make a post about something I have been thinking about lately.I see on quite a few posts where people who recently quit talk about waiting for the opiates to leave their system or how can they get them out faster.It is not that they are still in the system and causing some kind of toxic reaction but it is quite the opposite.They have left the system and that is what is causing the reaction.In using and abusing pills we have created extra receptor sites and stretched out the existing ones like an overstuffed grocery bag.The sites we stretched need to shrink and the extra ones need to close.That takes time.This is what causes the mental torture that most of us go through and it is not paws but really still initial withdrawal symptoms.I did not know about this for a long time in my early years of using and thought after the first few days were over that this is how I am going to be forever.For a few lucky people it takes hours but for most of us it takes days weeks even months to return to normal.I also know that people also suffer from depression and other disorders(as do I) but I can really tell a difference between my normal depression and the pill induced dread,gloom and anxiety.
I guess the point of my post is for people with ten or so days clean to just know that you are healing and getting better every hour and every day that you hang in there and do not cave and shove a pill in your mouth to take away the mental anguish.It took me around 50 days last time and I am sure it will take even longer if there ever is a next time.If you chip here and there by taking a few then you will remain in limbo as I did for years. Just hang in there and give it time.Time seems to lessen the effects of most things in life good or bad.In this case it is on our side.Thanks for reading and have a good day  Thank you   ric

[Andie015]

Excellent post. Many who are just starting out want to know a timeline for when they will feel better. It's impossible to answer that because everyone is different. As you said you just have to give it time and know that every clean day that goes by you are repairing yourself...even if it doesn't feel like it.

[VICourageous]

Hi yes that is somewhat. That is why I always want people to check out all the info regarding the disease of addiction. I watched alot of videos in sept when I came clean and it has been a big part of my recovery. I am on a roll. My dr just loved what I have learned. The best one I liked was "Pleasures Unwoolven the disease of addiction" Then a dr in my small town in idaho helps people with there addiction and I ran into him and got some hot info he got off of HBO. I also surf the web for it....I know a head DR whom I was talking to and he claimed it can take a year or two for the dopamine to go back down and the endorp, seritonion and gaba ect ect to go back up. It is HOT stuff a good one is Addiction and the Brains pleasure Pathway: Beyond Willpower. I can not spell the tech stuff. It is good keep on searching for the info. I wish I would of known this when I went to school instead of a frekin egg being fried in the pan. But dr said info is comming out more and more....
God Bless You for this post lets spread the news..
vvic

[ricart70]

Yeah timelines are not really applicable in this.I have a friend who swears that his withdrawal anguish is only about an hour or two but He keeps going back to it over and over again every 3-4 days.He has been doing this for years.Needless to say,he has nothing now.
I also forgot to mention that a good cardio exercise session 30 min. every day helps a ton with mood and with getting your energy back.There is always the elliptical machine if you have knee problems.I also believe it decreases recovery time. It is the most important part of my recovery program but not the only part.

[VICourageous]

YES ricart I was comming back to say that the dr also said exercise will help heal the brain faster by getting those transmitter ect going in the right direction. Its Hot Stuff to know..ALOT of people encourage exercise on here I guess they know why....so true....
vvic

[toothfairie]

thanks for the posts!!  good info!

[Enuffisenough]

The only thing that helped me a bit was exercise and blast some good music also sitting in the sun and letting it soak in. The hardest for me is the lack of energy and motivation.

[overopiates]

Great post and ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

[ricart70]

enuffisenuff   I read a while back that sunlight makes the body produce more testosterone than lifting weights or sleeping or anything else.lol watch out.
hang in there! it takes time. Exercise forces your body to produce endorphin in however little amount in the early days

[Sweetness91]

This is some awesome info...I didn't really think of it like that. Very enlightening and a great post!! :)

[ricart70]

The reason why I posted it is because some of the people with time say on posts that the physical is easy and  the mental battle never ends.I know what they mean when they say that.They mean you have to keep up your guard and the urge to use can come back from time to time and when we are stressed but I don't want people who are newly clean to misinterpret those statements and think that the horrible mental pain they are feeling is "never going to end"unless some sort of supernatural miracle is granted to them if they are one of the lucky few.It will end and the struggle will be easier to deal with given the proper amount of time.We also get used to our feelings over time when we get up every day and go through the day without pills it becomes more normal for us to be without them than it is to take them.The physical part for me was not easy but it was easy to forget about how bad it was after it was over.lol that's why I have to keep my guard up,not spend time with people who use,and stay healthy,I hope this helps someone who is struggling with all of this and that is the main reason I put it out there because I rarely post. If I have a problem lately it's usually because of something I did or said or did not do or did not say.lol  

[dominosarah]

Great post!  So many worry about the wd's when it is staying clean that needs the attention.  I know wd's suk the big one and they are miserable but they go away, the brain keeps playing games.

[vicki595]

I'm glad you brought this up ric...it's going to be very reassuring to new members who feel so beaten down by cravings, lack of energy, depression, etc...it's all normal and it mostly passes with time. Some people require AD's and I hope they try a more natural approach first.

I try to talk about minerals and amino acids and urge people to look into the dietary supplements; they really work. Magnesium is huge for brain health; there's something for every symptom in the supplement department. And if you don't believe that...all the more for me!!

[selfinduced]

So true Ricart.....every word.

[clean_in_ks]

"because I rarely  post. If I have a problem lately, it's usually because of something I did or said or did not do or say"

Thank you for posting today!!  I always gain from reading what you write and appreciate what you have shared today~

[adexec181]

Hey there..thanks for the advice.  I am following a holistic program, eating all the right stuff I've researched on adrenal function/brain/amino acids and doing homeopathic liver flushes etc....but my biggest problem is that I have a disease called Freibergs...and the bones in my feet have effectively died off.  Very painful...and I've already had most of my left foot amputated and now having the same problems with my right foot.  Have been in a cast since Christmas and a few cortisone injections...have bought something called "yoga toes" which seem to help a but if i can get them on and am really trying everything i can naturally, but will not EVER use pain meds again...not even for surgery...am totally done with that.  Everyone tells me how exercise helps with the energy depletion ( and at day 21 am still suffering huge problems with that despite the supplements and eating incredibly healthy).  Does anyone have any ideas for getting some cardio type activity while I can't walk?  Have considered swimming, but just don't have energy to get into a suit and go to a pool...while trying to cover a cast.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

[vicki595]

Actually, swimming is by far the best exercise but I'm trying to think of something else you can do and I'm coming up with ZERO!  I can tell you that Curad makes cast covers and they work really well if that's what's slowing you down. Walgreens has them and they're about $15 for a box of two.

You're working hard at this and I wish you the best!  You may need to really push yourself though to do the exercise thing. I know I did and I was not happy but that passed quickly.

[OpenMind24hours]

If someone asks "when will this be over?", All I can answer with is a basic generalization of my own experiences. And about the only thing consistent with my three WD sessions was the fact that the heavy stuff kicked in between 24-36 hours. The duration of the heavy stuff depended on how much I used every day it seemed. And indeed, the older I get the longer it takes to get back to 100%!  Been clean for 129 days and I think this last one really took a toll on this 66 year old hippy.

[ricart70]

thanks all ! I hope this encourages someone.I have full on adopted the protein shake that gnarly always talks about.It has all the aminos and lots of vitamins and it feels like it helps.I use the muscle milk one.I drink it before bed and I think it usually gives me nice dreams.lol
@ adexec-yea as vicki said supplements are great and also it is kind of a interesting experience researching them and finding out what they do and trying them out. swimmng is great -way more of a workout for me than my running and in a few more days when you get feeling better I would give it a try.

[BarbRTR]

I'm really glad you posted this. It's fear of the unknown that's the greatest fear of all.

I am beginning to wonder, for myself, how much is psychosomatic.  I came to this board knowing nothing, and following advise of those that have succeeded.

What's funny is, I'm at 6 weeks, 3 days clean. About two weeks ago, I was reading some posts about all the sweets and opiates.
I'm not a sweet eater, an occasional sweet every three months or so.

But since I read so often two weeks ago that opiate addicts love sweets, I can't stop eating them. So, if reading I'm supposed to love sweets, and now actually craving them, I believe the same thing is happening when people with lots of clean time post how good they feel. I truly believe I am going to also.

No one size fits all works, but your all's happy stories are sinking in my brain at least, and probably other's as well.

Thank you!!

[adexec181]

I have just come to love sweets too....absolutely hated them before this, would never eat candy if my life depended on it. Now all I want is Hershey's with almonds!  Makes getting into a swimsuit that much harder!! :)

[adexec181]

And despite all the healthy eating....have decided to declare Haribo Gold Gummi Bears as a separate food group!!

[VICourageous]

I had to come back to this post to read what was up since I posted this AM
Yes vicki great info I push the natural stuff too. Its all out there the infor. Adexec hot stuff too followed your post this AM All of it above is GREAT Lets keep it up. down the line it will be so helpful for the next..Ricart more good info..
Keep on Truckin and do not look back. Hope you guys find some of the info I posted here it is good info.
vvic