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Is this normal

I'm 3 weeks out from detox at home from oxycontin - not a whole lot of fun.  While I no longer want the drug ever again, I'm now depressed.  Is this normal?
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You are such a great help Bitty, thank you for your support, Jan
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52704 tn?1387020797
very normal.  

pay as close attention as possible to diet (make sure it's balanced, avoid junk and drink lots of water), exercise (get lots of that too), and sleep.

read up on PAWS and be aware that it's a normal part of recovery.  for a good article, Google

it will really help if you can jump-start your brain chemistry.  look at End Your Addiction Now, by Charles Gant, and/or The Mood Cure, by Julia Ross.

Go to meetings . . . i went to at least one meeting a day for over six months . . . it helps.  try lots of different meetings, because each one is different, and give AA a try, as it might be a better fit than NA

above all, don't change your clean date, no matter what.

CATUF
2498
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Avatar universal
Hi Jan, I'm 32 days out and still not normal, some days are better than others, although my sleeping is finally coming back I still feel down a lot and get overwhelmed easily, I keep coming back to this site and reading, exercise 4 to 5 days a week and it does seem to help, hang in there hope this helps you.
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Avatar universal
HI Welcome to the forum as for your question yes it is very normal to not feel right for some time this is why N/A says do 90 meeting in 90 days thats aprox how long it takes the brain to get its normal chemistry back now as you go along you will startto feel better but you will have those days that are ruff this is why we recamend aftercare so highly on the forum give yourself some timew in a few mo if thingsd are still gloomy go to the doctor for a A/D med I would wait it out a wile and let your own brain come back on line first good luck and God bless.......Gnarly
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Avatar universal
Unfortunatly,,yes. This is very common. There are so many chemical changes happening in your brain now. The pills made your brain "lazy" and your brain quits producing the chemicals needed to regulate mood,,affect,,etc.( the pills produced it) Take that away and then suddenly your brain doesnt know what to do and has to figure it out again. Which takes time...Are you able to start exercising? ( Im one to speak I never do) but that will help get the endorphins moving (the happy chemicals). It just takes time. hang in there and great job on 3 weeks!~Bkitty
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1801781 tn?1461629469
this was shared with me when I posted much the same,  I hope it helps..it helped me start to understand what the stupid devil pills did to me.  Still working on it.  

You have to remember how opiates work, and why you feel depressed etc. when you quit taking them and after you are over the withdrawals.

Opiates bound to the opioid receptors in your brain and body. They release their artificial endorphins to them, and block the bodies natural endorphins. After a while the neurons that produce the body's natural endorphins disappear. There is no need for them so they just don't rejuvenate like they would normally.

When you stop taking the opiates,  they leave your opioid receptors bare, and they are calling out for your body's natural endorphins, but there isn't any there at first. You body has to repopulate the neurons that make them, and this takes time.

Endorphins like dopamine  control your moods, anxiety, sadness, anger, happiness, pain etc.

You will slowly get your "old self" back as these neurons repopulate and begin increasing their endorphins production. After being off the opiates for a month, they should be about 45-50% of normal, and be back to normal within a year.
So hang in there, you will feel better and better as the months roll by.

Try keep busy and keep your mind focused on positive things instead of dwelling on the depression, anxiety, etc. that are only temporary and will disappear as your endorphins return to normal.

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Avatar universal
OMG!  Yes its normal-your whole system is out of whack-I am in the tapering phase right now and I am so depressed some days I just cry all day!!!  I exercise and in between breaths I just SOB-but when I'm done-I feel a whole lot better!  Hang in there!
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Avatar universal
Yes, your body isn't getting that rush of serotinin and endorohines anymore and it takes awhile for your body to regulate making them on your own.
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