1 week clean

Question

I.ve been completely clean (cold turkey) for 1 week. Just wondering how long it will be before I am able to wake up without thinking about taking something. Any advice would be Greatly Appreciated!!

dominosarah · Answer

Congrats on 1 week clean!!  You are doing great.  I would check into some sort of aftercare.  It really does help.  This is a "we" thing, not an "i" thing.  Surrounding yourself with clean sober people is very good for us.

dj47 · Answer

your post was so helpful even though it wasnt to me :)....im on day 15 and feeling better everday but i still have those cravings...thank you...god bless

17mthssober275 · Answer

Hi, congratulations on your clean time, great job. Been clean and sober almost 2 years and still think sometimes of when I was using, like when I am camping. But I just remember how awful the obsession was, and how now I am free of it, and it stops me in my tracks. It is so good to be free of it and have a normal life. My thinking is clear. I went to recovery and studied the twelve steps and continued to go to meetings. I have learned so much, have support and have new clean friends. I have learned to have faith in God and pray for strength. I have become a much better person practicing the twelve steps and have found peace. I practice being calm and peaceful at night and reading helps to sleep. Go to meetings and get a big book, it helps so much. Find a sponsor, who can help teach you the new way to live and think. It is a journey, but it is worth it. Best Wishes

conhall · Answer

yes it does help I promise you that it is the difference between staying clean and not 
“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”
That quote was something someone said to me when I was wondering if aftercare really was for me.

You have to set yourself up for success and also have a plan when the anxiety and mental stuff sets in

Jessica8252 · Answer

Surprisingly, this time the withdrawal symptoms weren't bad. The worst part has been the insomnia. I don't go to any support groups, might try and see if there's any around here. Does it really help?

conhall · Answer

congrats one being clean 1 week , everyone is different but I do promise you that everyday that passes it does get easier to deal with, you have to have a plan in place to deal with the mental part of detox many people think if they can just get past the physical part they are home free but thats not true the mental part is harder because you anxiety attacks at least I did and cravings, aftercare helped me so much just being able to talk in a group of people about what I was going thru and having them help me get thru each day!
I feel that relapse happens when you dont ensure that you stay clean because what happens is you get past the physical part and our minds play tricks on us  like the mind will say one pill isnt going to hurt you it will help you get thru the day but we both know one pills leads to 2 then 3 and so on , one pill is never enough and neither is a 100 pills.  Get rid of your pill source get support by telling your secret so that relapse isnt so easy and you have accountability and last but not least and very important seek aftercare weather it be NA or counseling or group meeting . You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to guard your sobriety.  I know a week in you just want this fog to lift and wake up and not be the first thought in your mind the pills believe me it will happen but try and just worry about today not tomorrow or next week because they will come and if you set yourself up for success it will come and you be another day clean! Stay positive and keep posting you can get thru this stay on track and keep your eye on the prize! ;-)

ciccio788 · Answer

that was very well put. amen to that.

FourJays · Answer

Congratulations on 10 days clean!  I think that the withdrawal process, the recovery time and cravings vary from person to person and can also depend on the amount and length of time you were using.  I personally used for a pretty long time (about 15 years), at very high doses.  When I did my c/t quit I was ready; I really wanted it.  Once I got through that first week or so the cravings lessened quite a bit.  If you can do things that keep you busy and concentrate on getting healthy again, this will help.  Exercise, even short walks to begin with, will make a big difference.  Natural endorphins are great; I found myself thinking more about getting fit, eating right and just taking better care of myself in general.  You start to see little changes/improvements and then the motivation kicks in; you want more of these 'good' feelings.  Aftercare, i.e., meetings, therapy, counseling will help too.  Try to identify what your triggers are and make a point to avoid putting yourself in those situations (such as being around friends that are still using).  Time has been a big factor for me; it definitely has gotten easier as the weeks and months have gone by.  But even so, you must always be sure to keep your guard up . . protect and cherish your sobriety.  Make yourself accountable by telling your 'secret' to someone close and cutting off all of your sources.  These actions can make the difference between success and repeated relapses.  In any case, so much of this is a mind game.  Keep yourself busy and keep your mind occupied with other things.  Every little bit helps as does time.  Congrats again on your 10 days . . keep it up; you never have to go through the H*** of detox and w/d again :))

ciccio788 · Answer

ohhhhh hey jessica i meant to tell you that its totally normal to think about using. its who we are so dont be too hard on yourself. we are who we are and the faster you accept that the better you are. and talk about your thoughts and feelings dont keep it in. youll be ok

ciccio788 · Answer

hey jessica first congrats on getting clean. and hey just a lil something i have to say everyday you have clean you have won over your disease. i am only a month clean from shooting subutex for a year but in all honesty i only have today clean if you understand that concept. this might be a hard concept to grasp or understand but if your a addict you will always think about using from time to time it just gets easier the longer your clean. i have gotten clean a few times and the most i had was 9 months but it is the most rewarding and free feeling. the exact question you asked about waking up and the very first thing you think about is how to get high that day or where to get it, to me was one of the worst feelings and i will be honest this time it only took about 3 weeks to get over that feeling and that i feel is because of the physical part. but i will say this the most important thing you could possibly do is surround yourself with all positive things. i know that might sound hard but meetings for anyway are a blessing. also your mentality must be pure meaning that you really got to want to be clean you have to tell yourself you are really tired of hurting. jessica you should read this and smile and be soooooo happy and proud that your not high or drunk today. be proud of yourself. this thing is HARD but its also beautiful because you get to feel the freedom of being clean. what drug are you clean off of anyway? maybe i can help a little more if i know a little more. congrats and remember to smile

Jessica8252 · Answer

No one knows about this,  so I don't really have any support. I'm don't this alone. Cannot believe I even posted something.

VICourageous · Answer

Hi Jess & Congratulations on your days. I guess this can very from person to person. For me If I get up and get going with something else I can re-direct my self from my thinking. I am a long time user and it can be very frustrating at times but the rewards of not using will over weight the days of using. My biggest Triggers are wanting to get my work done inside or out. My tape in the brain will mess with me and want to get the big Lift to get it all done like yesterday. There can also be waking up in pain. Or even feeling down. This is where Support from ALL areas in life come in. Have you been to any meetings yet? This is also why I always say that the detox part was the easy part (which it was long & hard) but fighting the Beast of Addiction is the hardest part. It should ease up a bit in time. How much time I can not say. I will tell you I have not had a Alcohol drink in many years and I do not crave it at all. But I do know I have to stay away from all Substances. Just give it time. Time is the Greatest Healer Here. Keep Stepping Forward and do not look back.
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