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A Success Story
I just want to encourage other people who are coming off opiates that you CAN do it. I have been clean for 3.5 years. I do NOT stick the label of addict on me. It's my personal philosophy that when you stop living the life of a drug addict then you are not an addict anymore. I know this idea isn't for everyone but it's worked for me.
My story is similar to many people on here. I got addicted to percosets for a chronic pain issue (I fell 30 feet down a rock face on a mountain bike). OUCH! After the percosets I graduated to injection of dilaudid just like Larry Flynt did. That was the peak of my addiction. I went to a detox centre here and wasn't happy with it so I literally dragged myself to the doctor and he delivered 2 cases of Ensure to my door, gave me the clonidine and I had an Elder stay with me and watch me until I was over the 3 weeks of acute withdrawal.
Three weeks wasn't the end. There was still another 6-9 or so weeks of post-acute withdrawal. It was so hard that I relapsed for a couple months.
I went back into my doctors office, who happens to be a top notch addiction professional, and WE decided that he would put me on methadone.
Let me tell you something: Methadone saved my life. It really did. I cannot tell you if I would still be alive today if it wasn't for methadone. I have a wonderful job, a very satisfying life and my family back. I don't slur my words or go on the nod or anything of that nature while on methadone. I'm in the best time of my life at present. All methadone does for me is take away the withdrawal symptoms. I do not get 'high' from it. I have come down by 75 mls last summer and I'm still slowly tapering and doing great.
I just want all of you to know that you CAN succeed. Do not be ashamed of accepting help. We're so tough on ourselves sometimes. Sometimes we just have to speak up and say what our needs are. You know, when we reach out sometimes we are surprised and how many people reach back.
I feel blessed to have every day where the sun rises and I'm so grateful that I told my doctor the truth and allowed him to help me. If there's one thing that's utterly important it's to have solid trust between your doctor and yourself. That makes a world of difference.
Also, I went into addiction counseling. I found out what fueled my addiction so that I could find a solution to that issue. You know why I did opiates like that? Well, one was for the pain but the deep, deep reason was because I felt like nobody loved me. Opiates made me feel loved and this is why I did them.
Once I KNEW the motivating factor I could change it. Once I was honest about myself, I could change myself.
My therapist helped me, my doctor is the greatest, and for me, methadone works.
I congratulate all who are working hard to overcome their addictions and those who are still in active addiction I give many hugs to you. And lastly, I leave you with an Elder's advice: 'Take it one day at a time.'
Blessings
~S
My story is similar to many people on here. I got addicted to percosets for a chronic pain issue (I fell 30 feet down a rock face on a mountain bike). OUCH! After the percosets I graduated to injection of dilaudid just like Larry Flynt did. That was the peak of my addiction. I went to a detox centre here and wasn't happy with it so I literally dragged myself to the doctor and he delivered 2 cases of Ensure to my door, gave me the clonidine and I had an Elder stay with me and watch me until I was over the 3 weeks of acute withdrawal.
Three weeks wasn't the end. There was still another 6-9 or so weeks of post-acute withdrawal. It was so hard that I relapsed for a couple months.
I went back into my doctors office, who happens to be a top notch addiction professional, and WE decided that he would put me on methadone.
Let me tell you something: Methadone saved my life. It really did. I cannot tell you if I would still be alive today if it wasn't for methadone. I have a wonderful job, a very satisfying life and my family back. I don't slur my words or go on the nod or anything of that nature while on methadone. I'm in the best time of my life at present. All methadone does for me is take away the withdrawal symptoms. I do not get 'high' from it. I have come down by 75 mls last summer and I'm still slowly tapering and doing great.
I just want all of you to know that you CAN succeed. Do not be ashamed of accepting help. We're so tough on ourselves sometimes. Sometimes we just have to speak up and say what our needs are. You know, when we reach out sometimes we are surprised and how many people reach back.
I feel blessed to have every day where the sun rises and I'm so grateful that I told my doctor the truth and allowed him to help me. If there's one thing that's utterly important it's to have solid trust between your doctor and yourself. That makes a world of difference.
Also, I went into addiction counseling. I found out what fueled my addiction so that I could find a solution to that issue. You know why I did opiates like that? Well, one was for the pain but the deep, deep reason was because I felt like nobody loved me. Opiates made me feel loved and this is why I did them.
Once I KNEW the motivating factor I could change it. Once I was honest about myself, I could change myself.
My therapist helped me, my doctor is the greatest, and for me, methadone works.
I congratulate all who are working hard to overcome their addictions and those who are still in active addiction I give many hugs to you. And lastly, I leave you with an Elder's advice: 'Take it one day at a time.'
Blessings
~S
Hi!
I went to therapy in active addiction, just prior to me making the choice to stop. The one thing I must say is a good counselor is sometimes hard to find. One of the hardest things for us to do in therapy is be completely and utterly honest.
For example, one therapy session, my therapist said, 'let's go out for a walk and coffee.' I had been seeing her for weeks and this was the first time she took me out for coffee. So instead of being in that environment of 'therapy room', we went out into 'real life' and it was at this moment that I stopped my therapist and said 'The reason I inject opiates is because I don't feel loved.'
She knew that I wouldn't open up to her until we were out in everyday life and she capitalized on that. After that one session we hardly ever did therapy in the 'office'. We'd go to the park and sit next to little waterfountains nearby the office. This made a world of difference.
There's a certain bond you need to have with your therapist. If you don't feel that then maybe another therapist will be better for you. In psychology we say there has to be a good 'fit' between a therapist and a client. If that isn't there then not much will be accomplished.
I hope that you find the right therapist. Just listen really closely to yourself. Can you go without a therapist while you're finding another? Or is it just a matter of opening up more to your therapist? Big questions but answers that are already inside of you!
PS. One more thing. I think sometimes that the better therapists are the ones who have recovered like we are doing. I think they have a better understanding. Maybe you should ask your therapist if s/he has recovered from an addiction.
I went to therapy in active addiction, just prior to me making the choice to stop. The one thing I must say is a good counselor is sometimes hard to find. One of the hardest things for us to do in therapy is be completely and utterly honest.
For example, one therapy session, my therapist said, 'let's go out for a walk and coffee.' I had been seeing her for weeks and this was the first time she took me out for coffee. So instead of being in that environment of 'therapy room', we went out into 'real life' and it was at this moment that I stopped my therapist and said 'The reason I inject opiates is because I don't feel loved.'
She knew that I wouldn't open up to her until we were out in everyday life and she capitalized on that. After that one session we hardly ever did therapy in the 'office'. We'd go to the park and sit next to little waterfountains nearby the office. This made a world of difference.
There's a certain bond you need to have with your therapist. If you don't feel that then maybe another therapist will be better for you. In psychology we say there has to be a good 'fit' between a therapist and a client. If that isn't there then not much will be accomplished.
I hope that you find the right therapist. Just listen really closely to yourself. Can you go without a therapist while you're finding another? Or is it just a matter of opening up more to your therapist? Big questions but answers that are already inside of you!
PS. One more thing. I think sometimes that the better therapists are the ones who have recovered like we are doing. I think they have a better understanding. Maybe you should ask your therapist if s/he has recovered from an addiction.
PAWS is more a psychological result of addiction. You can get confused easily and your thinking process may be somewhat impaired. Your emotions can also be affected. You can have overwhelming emotions of fear, shame, guilt etc. Sometimes though, people don't feel much at all.
This is why a counselor is so important at this time. S/he can help you sort out your feelings and thoughts and help keep you from going into the old 'tape' (as I call it) where you will be more likely to use.
This is why a counselor is so important at this time. S/he can help you sort out your feelings and thoughts and help keep you from going into the old 'tape' (as I call it) where you will be more likely to use.
What an encouraging post. Thanks to everyone!! I'm on day 7 from Oxy w/d' s and I'm determined to make it!!
Great post and it's good to see that someone has made it such a long amount of time. I too feel that you can recover and move on with you life. I went CT over a year ago and I too had a very hard time of w/d and post accute symptoms for 6 months. I had been on and off anti-depressants and migraine preventative medications for many years. In the past 6 months I have been able to get off of every medication. I now take nothing except an Imitrex if I have a bad migraine. I feel better than I ever have in my life. Going through the past year has changed my life for the better.
I hope you are able to come off the methadone successfully. I know its a hard drug to w/d from.
I hope you are able to come off the methadone successfully. I know its a hard drug to w/d from.
Thank-you I really did not feel like I was getting better for awhile either but some how it eventually jelled. I'm glad you are sticking with it and I wish you the very best that life has to offer Limbo
sorry for what you have had to endure...
life just isnt fair IMO, i'm sorry.
i am sticking with it, just want some results...
but thanks for then vote of confidence!!
life just isnt fair IMO, i'm sorry.
i am sticking with it, just want some results...
but thanks for then vote of confidence!!
I went to therapy for a year, my deep problem that has made me chase the high for so long was rooted in the fact that I was molested at a very young age repeatedly,he eventually rapped me at 12 he was my step father. I just did not care what I did to myself I felt worthless. It took a little over a year, how we knew my time was up was when I had nothing else to talk about. He saved my life. I was on a road to slowly killing my-self, A good therapist and doctor are worth their weight in gold, at first when seeing him I always came out feeling worse and wanting to use bad, but that eventually subsided, I hope you keep seeing him, it took awhile to get where I was feeling ok with myself,but getting their I did. I have relapsed using norco and soma, but it is not for the rape but the addiction. I'm pulling for you. and seal congratulations it sounds like your head is in a really good spot I wish you well on your road to recovery Limbo
well congratulations to you!!! i did the methadone thing, learned how to abuse it,, so had to change my game plan...i am on suboxone, which i cannot abuse, and i feel the same as you...what a difference, just in lifestyles alone, eh?
i too am in therapy...i have a good question for you...how long did you go to therapy before you really thought and could tell it was helping or doing its job? i have been going since may and i dont feel like much has been accomplished? any thoughts on this? am i expecting too much? what should i be expecting?
i too am in therapy...i have a good question for you...how long did you go to therapy before you really thought and could tell it was helping or doing its job? i have been going since may and i dont feel like much has been accomplished? any thoughts on this? am i expecting too much? what should i be expecting?
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