Surviving Withdrawal - Link

[lightspeed]

It seems that one of the biggest predictors for achieving sobriety (from any type of addiction-- drug, alcohol, love, gambling, etc.) is the person's ability to endure withdrawal. Certainly there are people who endure the pain of withdrawal and, in a matter of days or weeks, return to the drug. There are even those who have survived withdrawal multiple times. I think the largest group, however, are those who never enter withdrawal EVER.

I have come to believe that enduring withdrawal is nearly impossible when attempted alone. It's just too hard and an addict needs accountability, someone there holding them to the sober line. Addicts turn to the drug/activity of choice to avoid emotional pain of some sort. The use of addictive relationships and substances helps stave off pain from the past that, at the time, we did not have the tools to experience. A neglected or abused child with no parental support is not equipped to emotionally cope. The pain of this remains frozen and forever delayed through addictions. When this person, at age 35, decides to stop the addictions, the pain of that event, and perhaps many other events, shows up presenting a bill. Withdrawal pain includes experiencing delayed hurts... thus, why so many people fear they cannot endure it.

If someone feels they are ready to endure the darkness and pain of withdrawal, then I encourage you to surround yourself with loving and supportive people beforehand. Cut back on other responsibilities and be prepared to show immense kindness and compassion to yourself. Be prepared to cry, rage, and talk, talk, talk. You may want to write about what you are feeling. You may want to exercise or read about what you are going through. Reading about the process is a helpful reminder that the pain of withdrawal is productive and useful. Be patient with the process and know this is only a season of hurt and will yield great rewards when endured.

You have essentially been dropped into the ocean with oxygen, a flashlight, and a compass and told where to go. If you freak out and continually come to the surface, you will never be able to complete this mission. At some point you have to accept that you have all the tools you need to get where you are going. Stay calm, stay in the water, use your tools, and keep swimming.

http://gettotheinside.blogspot.com/2009/04/surviving-withdrawal.html

 

[lightspeed]

Has anyone hear ever been addicted to opiates? How do you get off of them? I need to know, and fast!

 

[Beat Mango]

I don't know but I've been to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting and it seemed pretty powerful - perhaps you should try one.

 

[wadlez]

Has anyone hear ever been addicted to opiates? How do you get off of them? I need to know, and fast!

Why do you need to know and whats with the deadline. I say you relax and go with the flow, if you've made a connection with opiates then let them into your life and see where it takes you. Other people will judge and say what you should and shouldnt be doing (work 9 - 5, excercise, watch this read this, get married), but there ideal is a worker bee and its been done before (too many times). Live life the way you want to experience it, go where your broad creative mind takes you and dont worry about appealing to the small focus of the unelightened simple minded proletariate worker bee. Dont take the squares view of drugs who frown at you for straying from their well worn path to a predictable death, but rather see this as an opportunity of development. Develop your mind and see objects and reality in a new light which allows you to theorise from a higher position, free of the worry, stress, jealousy and contempt which is normally given too much power over our minds.

 

[Da Blob]

Well I am a Substance Abuse Counselor, PM me!

For general knowledge, Narcotics Anonymous, if one is fortunate to contact the right group, is an effective means of achieving and maintaining sobriety. The problem is that so many addicts visit one or two groups and then quit searching assuming all NA chapters are the same. This not the case -it is like saying all personality forums are the same. It comes down to finding a handful of individuals in any given group that truly can be "leaned on"...

There is such a thing as an addiction cycle and once one breaks out of that rut, one does indeed have to deal with the "Ghosts of Christmases Past", so to speak. Which is very difficult for many, because if they knew how to deal with such ghosts in the first place - they may have never became addicts.

 

[lightspeed]

I don't know but I've been to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting and it seemed pretty powerful - perhaps you should try one.

So long as they aren't based only on religion.

Why do you need to know and whats with the deadline. I say you relax and go with the flow, if you've made a connection with opiates then let them into your life and see where it takes you. Other people will judge and say what you should and shouldnt be doing (work 9 - 5, excercise, watch this read this, get married), but there ideal is a worker bee and its been done before (too many times). Live life the way you want to experience it, go where your broad creative mind takes you and dont worry about appealing to the small focus of the unelightened simple minded proletariate worker bee. Dont take the squares view of drugs who frown at you for straying from their well worn path to a predictable death, but rather see this as an opportunity of development. Develop your mind and see objects and reality in a new light which allows you to theorise from a higher position, free of the worry, stress, jealousy and contempt which is normally given too much power over our minds.

I highly respect that you have told me what no one else would, say without exception to a few. I love opiates, and love the creativity that comes with it. However, as many very rich rock stars have proven. It's not a sustainable happiness. If it were sustainable and available over the counter, like say: caffeine. It would be the way to go.

Well I am a Substance Abuse Counselor, PM me!

For general knowledge, Narcotics Anonymous, if one is fortunate to contact the right group, is an effective means of achieving and maintaining sobriety. The problem is that so many addicts visit one or two groups and then quit searching assuming all NA chapters are the same. This not the case -it is like saying all personality forums are the same. It comes down to finding a handful of individuals in any given group that truly can be "leaned on"...

There is such a thing as an addiction cycle and once one breaks out of that rut, one does indeed have to deal with the "Ghosts of Christmases Past", so to speak. Which is very difficult for many, because if they knew how to deal with such ghosts in the first place - they may have never became addicts.

Da Blob: I feel so fortunate we were lucky enough to get in contact. I've had a good felling about knowing you, since I first noticed you on this forum. Indeed, we will talk! Thank you so much!

 

[Tyria]

There are several drug therapies available for people to withdraw from opiates (Methadone is one example). I think that a combination of both drug therapy and a support system would probably be your best bet.