Best Advice

[dgm10907]

What are the 5 best things you have done for yourself in regard to anxiety attacks while on methadone?

[dgm10907]

When you hit a wall it is really hard.  It hit me at Thanksgiving and am only now back to normal.  The anxiety of hitting the wall makes you constantly fearful of going back into that bad time.  The work thing is really hard.  You are right we have to keep the main goal in sight.  I was only going down 2-3 mg every two weeks so I can image what a decrease of 10 mg would be.

[helpingmymate]

It's been a really tough road. He was at 150mg and tapered down 10mg every 4 days which was way too fast. He went off completely on Friday but had such bad withdrawal symptoms that the doctor told me to just give him 10mg and we will work on tapering him much more slowly. We felt very defeated yesterday, but we know this is just a road block and we'll get to our goal in the end.  We might just have to work a little more slowly so he doesn't have quite so severe a withdrawal. He had terrible dizziness (room spinning). If we knew that it would just be a week of feeling poorly, it would be fine, but he can't afford to take off 3 weeks from work. We have a 3 month old baby..he wants to get clean not only for himself, but also for his daughter...he doesn't want her to have an addict for a daddy.

[IwillDoThis]

I do Kundalini yoga - it is a gentle form of yoga that focuses on breathing, meditation and floor movements.  If you are not in a major metro area you likely won't find a class for it.  I do find going to a class is key for me, as much as I try to do it at home I'm just not as focused.  There are books about it, you can youtube it.  It works for me because you honor your body, you don't push yourself into poses you can't do, if something hurts you don't do it which is different from other forms of yoga. Even if you just start out with breathing you will find benefits.  best wishes

[dgm10907]

What have your husband's experiences been?  

I was at 140, wishing now that I hadn't gone up that high, and now am at 80.  Had been at 70 and hit a wall head on---over time went back to 80 and am stable.

How successful has he been with the tapering.

[helpingmymate]

my husband has a list of things that he does when he is anxious. IHe is also tapering off methadone. The thing that seems to help him the most are guided meditations. I found a few free ones online that I burned to a cd and he uses them a lot.

Also, my hubby's counselor had him make a list of all the things that he enjoys doing...it gives him a go to list when he is really anxious and can't think. Its a lot of simple things like playing with our daughter, meditating, taking a hot bath, listening to music...things that he can turn to when anxious.

[dgm10907]

This is what I take, any opinions from your experience
Multi-Vitamin
Fish Oil-I take 2 high cholesterol
B
D
SamE

I will look at the 3 in 1 you are suggesting. I don't think the multi has calcium.

Thanks,
DGM

[dgm10907]

What type of yoga did you do was it a restorative yoga or more strength, do you find going to a class more helpful than doing it own your own

Thanks, I will do this

[gnarly_1]

sorry bout the typo it 3 in 1 vitamin

[gnarly_1]

HI  get up to walmart and pick up there 3 in 12 vitamin calcium/magnesium/zinc start taking 4 in the morning and 4 with dinner in a few days this will really help with the withdrawals this is magical for methadone it has worked for me and many members I have recommended it to you will find your taper has a lot lest speed bumps in it will using this
it only 6 bucks for 250 get the walmart brand I know the dose to give you good luck with your taper I came off 150mg in 8 1/2 mo with the vitamins.........Gnarly  

[IwillDoThis]

I can tell you from my detox to get through the anxiety yoga has been a huge help, even if you don't go to a class you can still benefit from the breathing.

I visualize a color (for me indigo is so soothing) so I picture a rolling meadow with a beautiful tree on the right hand side (don't know why it is so specific but it works for me - REALLY imagine your safe place) it is all bathed in this calming indigo light.  I breathe in 7's (or 5's when you start) so I inhale through my nose in 5 beats, I hold it for 5 beats then I slowly exhale through my nose for 5 beats.  Repeat.  

Like Gnarly said - really great tea. I found this delicious tea brand called - Hari Tea - flavors like Rose & Hibiscus; Honeybush & Rosemary - they are really unique and strangely comforting.  I drank them through detox and they helped calm my insides a bit.

thats 2 things - hope in some small way this helps.

[dgm10907]

Thank you for your ideas my taper has been from 140 to 70 then hit a terrible wall---increased slowly back up to 80 and now getting stable at that level.  Will start the march to a lower level at the beginning of May.

[lulu747]

Hi DGM

I can't speak to methadone specifically, but I can tell you that the best things I've found for anxiety are deep breathing, yoga, and cardio exercise.  Physically.  Most anxiety symptoms are caused by shallow breathing and not getting enough oxygen to our brain.  The underlying causes of anxiety are best discovered in some form of counselling, therapy, or support meetings such as NA/AA.  Everything has a physiological, psychological and emotional component and it is important to address all of them.  

Are you tapering off methadone?  Anxiety can be crippling unless we do the work to discover the root cause.  Welcome to the forum and know that you will be supported here....
Keep posting!
Lu

[dgm10907]

79 mg
Thanks, gnarly_1

[gnarly_1]

exercise helps as do deep breathing also they make a really good tea....YOGI kava stress releving tea you can get it at dome wolmarts ours carys it or you can order it on line
seep 2 bags for 10 min put a dpoon of sweet n low in it and enjoy its very aromatic its got like 8 different herbs in it and 15 min after you drink some you will be relaxed try that and see if it helps what dose of methadone are you on ???