Week 3! Thoughts on sleeping and depression to share...

[Missy2008]

Just checking in and giving an update since I started Week 3 yesterday.  

What I say below may work for some people, nothing works the same universally, but I thought I'd share in case it even helped 1 person.

As of Day 9 my sleeping returned to normal and I no longer had to take Flexeril to sleep after the first week. Things I think that helped - avoiding caffeine after my 1 morning cup and I've been avoiding sugary stuff.  I also exercise before 7pm so I'm not amped up from the exercise when trying to go to bed.  I never nap, even if I'm tired.   The more things you do to 'unnaturally' control sleeping or disturb the sleep cycle (like afternoon naps), I think the further off you get.

I've seen other people mention taking Benadryl to sleep and it not working.  In case you haven't read it in other posts - Benadryl doesn't make everyone sleepy. It makes a lot of people hyper.  So don't assume your 'not sleeping' is automatically the w/d, it could be what you're taking to help you sleep.

Even natural stuff like Sleepytime Tea isn't an automatic relaxer. Any type of tea doesn't sit well with me and Sleepytime Tea makes me very jittery.

When I was a lurker, I'd see people post really scary depression warnings like "YOU WILL BE DEPRESSED FOR MONTHS, EVERYONE IS!'    It was one of my bigger reasons for being afraid to stop taking my pain medication (the other of course being the fear of being unable to live with my residual accident pain).   Now that I made the leap, I have to say that the Depression component is VERY subjective.

If you're like I was - fearful of life without pain meds because how would anything get done, while being depressed about having to take pain meds and missing out on life because of the meds, the pain, etc (anxious over having your meds and the whole refill process, planning your life around the meds and your doctor appts) then there's *a good chance* you might actually be LESS depressed when you get off the pain meds.  

I haven't felt this clear, free, happy, unburdened, excited about the future in over a year!  

I faced a fear and conquered it - that's empowering.
I don't have to plan my life around my meds - that's freeing. I can go on vacation and not think about "will I be gone when my refill comes up?"
I don't have to think about the damage I am doing to my body that will impact my future and potentially take me away from my children - that brings great relief and HOPE.
I am FAR more connected with my family than I was taking Norco - that's made me happy (sad to think about how I was in a fog before, but happy that it's behind me and every day forward is a new day).

"When the fear of staying the same is greater than the fear of change...we change."

That is still my favorite quote.  If you're more scared of changing, maybe you'll be depressed after, but if you're more scared of life staying the same or getting worse because of the pills, you may feel much better after putting the pills behind you.  

Everyone is different.   Use this site to get informed and be prepared. Don't assume it will be easy, but don't assume every horror story will happen to you.  

Heath Leger's death is a very motivating example of why a future WITHOUT pills should seem like a positive, relieving choice while continuing on pills is the depressing, anxiety-ridden choice. If you're staying on pills because you're afraid life will suck and you'll be too depressed, really re-think that.  

How did I get the nerve to start...

Ending up dead and leaving my kids without their mom was the most depressing thought I could think of. Then I asked myself - what can I stop doing to make sure that doesn't happen prematurely?  

Heath Leger's daughter, as young as she is, will only remember him from photos and videos. Don't let that happen to your kids. Find the courage, use the support here, and make some healthy changes in your life before it's too late.

Missy

[SotiredIcansleep]

I'd have to agree on a lot of things, I can relate to the fears of getting clean, I dealt with a lot of that myself, it turns out there was nothing to fear but fear itself (CLICHE!).  I would disagree on some respects that depression is related to ones "outlook" on the meds necessarily. A lot of people suffer from chemical imbalances after getting clean, some don't.   I did for the first 5-6 weeks or so of being clean, but two of my friends were fine after two weeks.  Everyones different.  However they have both relapsed and I'm on day 57, perhaps I'm more worried about relapsing because my journey was a long painful one and I learned a good lesson, who knows.  Congratulations on a few weeks under the belt, time goes by slow at first then the weeks just start flying again.

[jim811]

Hi...I'm almost at 17 days and feel good as well...no depression, sometimes mood swings (i'm usually mellow)...and, like u, exercise and eat well....

thanks 4 your post.....

motivating :-)

Peace,

Nick

[enemy48]

Thanks Missy.  Congrats on entering your 3rd week!

I believe that we created so many obsticles for ourselves when we were messed up on dope.  Getting off the dope is the biggest step, but doesn't make life too much easier if you're dealing with trying to mend your past.

I believe setting goals to overcome your past and fix whatever is fixable, is a start to slowly get out of depression.

I'm on day 29, and definitely suffering with depression which brings in the low energy level.  Yesterday, I believe I've conquered one of my biggest problems and it's a hugh weight off my shoulders.  I have many more to challenge, but can already feel an improvement in my mental status.

I think trying for improvement sits better then just expecting it to come naturally since you are clean now.  A try is not a failure.  You only fail if you don't try.

I hope for more positive responses on the depression part.

[anewbeginning]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!! I am on day 15 & I feel GREAT! Life is soooo much better without the fog! EVERYBODY CAN DO THIS!

[allaboutmary]

NIce Post.   Some very good advise.   Congrat's on 3 weeks !      Mary