HELP! How long is mental withdrawl???

[tphelp]

HI, I am in desperate need of some answers.  I was taking 6-8 vicodin per day for about a year and just finally confessed to my husband and doctor.  They successfully have weaned me off, and I have been off them for 10 days.  I feel ok physically...but mentally I can barely function. I am off work now and have to go back soon and I am scared to death that I am not going to feel any better.  It is all I can do to just take a shower...I am having MAJOR anxiety and crying most of the day...Does anyone go through this?  How long does it last?   Shouldn't I be better by now????

[mama23babies]

Great post. I wish you would have wrote that early in my recovery. I too felt sure I would end up in the hospital for the rest of my life because of losing my mind. I had so many panic attacks b/c I didn't know how to deall with all the anxiety. I did go to an inpatient treatment center for the anxiety for awhile. They just gave my antidepressants which made me way worse. The only thing that helped was the xanax so I take that as needed but hardly at all now. I am 108 days clean from hydrocodone and still deal with some anxiety but it's alot better than the first month. I just didn't realized how much I messed up my brain while using. I thought I would be 100% normal by now. One day at a time I guess. Good luck to you on your road to recovery.

[ZJILLIAN]

Yes to all your question. THIS WILL PASS and it is very difficult. The anxiety was terrible for me when many years ago I WD cold turkey for the first time. The anxiety had me so terrified. I had no survival skills at that time and felt trapped with intolerable anxiety, which probably is the worse feeling there is. I thought it would never go away, that I had injured my brain and would end my days on a back ward in a state hospital for the insane! But it stops and in the meantime: 1. realize this is just your body freaking out and means nothing about YOU. 2. Listen to calming music and breath very deeply. The thing about anxiety is that it builds on itself so you need to interrupt the cycle. This IS possible but it feels like the opposite of what you want to do. You can get a grip on the feeling by relaxing EVERY MUSCLE in your body. I know this is corny but really it works. Lie down and say to yourself "my body is heavy and warm" it is like self hypnosis. A relaxed muscle cannot feel anxious. Take your time and slowly go from body part to body part deeply relaxing and breathing deeply. There were days when this was all I did all day long. Try it. it does help. Also if you have any relaxation tapes...again corny and again they work. 3. Stay away from stimulation (this can be people, places, tv. noise) Keep quiet and warm. Drink relaxing tea. Take warm baths with bubble bath. And realize that this is just physical and that you can control it. Think of things that you can hold on to. A phrase (mantra) mine is "Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes."
Good luck you are not alone you are almost THERE.

[toxictome]

CONGRATS on 10 days!! umustbdreaming gave you good advice. AFTERCARE is soo important. (NA /AA mtgs., therapy, some kind of support group)

It took me about 9-11 weeks to feel back to normal.(whatever that is).....lol

If you can push yourself  to EXERCISE...I think that will really help. it did for me.

Lack of energy was my biggest thing...but my emotions were all over the place for awhile.

Try to keep your self busy and exercise...that 's my best advice.

If you think you are depressed, you may want to see a Dr. or therapist.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[umustbdreaming]

hi there and congrats on quitting!!! The easy part is quitting the hardest part is staying off the d.o.c.!  Im currently 81 days clean and i still have cravings.  Unfortunetly it varies person to person.  The mental part of addiction is the toughest.  Aftercare, talking to someone, and time is really the only thing that helps with the mental part of addiction.  The anxiety still tugs at me once in awhile but nothing like it used to. I luckily had no depression thank god,but it does vary from person to person.... I really and honestly felt better around day 20.  Most addicts have anxiety and depression during and especially after wd's.  It is very common you just have to have a plan on staying clean.... aftercare,aftercare,aftercare!  Look into some options like NA it is essential for a sucessful recovery. I feel great now almost 3 months clean but mentally it really can last for months or even years depending on how addicted you were and how long you used for.


  Trust me it is very worth it and it does get better.  Some time from now when you look back at this 'episode" you'll be glad you feel like **** right now ,when you have your life back. lol Hang in there and get a new hobbie keep your mind busy it will soon pass and with each day it will become easier and easier!!!!  Keep us posted please