Cravings & Triggers

Hi everyone and welcome to my blog about opiate addiction. All is well my way and I hope everyone reading this is doing well as well. Whether you're here because you have or are currently battling an addiction to opiates, know someone who is, or are simply interested in the matter, I welcome you with open arms to my blog. I am trying to post often right now to get the word out there that I'm back to blogging as I have noticed a limited number of page views and comments since I've come back. As many of you may already know, I lost my password to my Google account several months back and was unable to log onto my account until recently. I really hope I can create a solid following in addition to getting back some of my readers who may have thought I quit blogging or went missing.

Alright, so now lets get down to the topic of this particular post. This post will be about the cravings we so often get when trying to quit opiates in addition to the triggers that can lead to these cravings and sometimes ultimately relapse. For those of you don't who know, cravings can best be described as sudden urges that make us want to use again or think about using again. Triggers, on the other hand, are what usually lead to cravings. Triggers are the people, places, sights, smells, feelings, and other things that can give us the urge to use again. A trigger could be seeing or hearing someone mention your drug of choice on television, driving by your dealer's house, hearing someone shake a bottle of pills, suffering physical or emotional trauma that can seem too overwhelming and difficult to deal with, and so on.

Like I have said so many times in the past, everyone is different. Thus, it is important to realize that everyone has different cravings and triggers. Some stronger than others. For instance, someone who is 6 months clean off of Oxycodone may be able to watch a documentary about opiate abuse and feel no urge to use. They may simply find the documentary interesting and may even feel less inclined to want to use again. This same documentary might make someone else watching it feel the strong urge to use again as it reminds them of something they once loved to do; get high. My point is, everyone and their situation is different.

Some Quick Information About Cravings & Triggers

An article found online on the website Everyday Health called Understanding Addiction Relapse discusses how identifying triggers and finding ways to prevent/manage them are critical in one's recovery. Dr. Stephen Gilman states how "a powerful need to stimulate reward centers within the brain can be the trigger point for an addict who is used to getting a certain drug. Both external and internal factors can create the urge to use drugs or alcohol again." This article provides some quick information about triggers and can be found by clicking on the link below.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/understanding-addiction-relapse.aspx

As many of you already know, getting off of opiates is quite a challenge. Staying off of opiates for good is even harder. The saying "Getting clean is easy. Staying clean is the hard part," couldn't be more true. One who quits opiates (or any drug for that matter) can most likely expect that they will experience cravings or triggers during at least some point in their recovery. In other words, it is normal for any addict to feel the urge to use again. Therefore, we must learn how to cope with these urges, cravings, and triggers. Learning coping mechanisms, talking with your support network, building sober support, and attending AA/NA are just a few ways to help combat these sudden urges.

It is also important to find ways to prevent and avoid these triggers. For example, if driving past your dealer's house/area brings upon an urge to use, try taking another route to get to where you need to go. Another example and one that is often very tough to overcome for addicts are the people you surround yourself around. Most of us addicts have friends or know people who also like to get high on our drug of choice. These people can simply be people you know or they can even be some of your best friends. It's very difficult avoiding or telling someone that you can no longer be around them if they are continuing to get high. Trust me, I know from experience. I handled this by being honest with my some of my best friends who used, telling them that being around the whole "getting high and using" scene will only make me want to use again. I was fortunate enough that they understood but will be honest with you guys, it was difficult. These are people who I grew up with for years that I rarely, if ever, see anymore since I got on Suboxone due to my addiction to Oxycodone. It was a tough and somewhat disheartening move, but you have to remember that at the end of the day, your health, reputation, and sobriety is what is most important. If these people are your true friends, they'll understand.

I want to stress this last part as it is not uncommon for people to get clean for awhile only to relapse because they started hanging out with the wrong crowd again. Being around people who use and your drug of choice makes it extremely difficult to remain clean. Some might be able to do it, but I'm guessing for most, it will be the ultimate challenge. I also want to stress that just because these people use, it doesn't make them bad people. After all, most of us were right there with them doing the same thing at some point. It's just that being around these people only makes things more difficult in your recovery and recovery is already hard enough!

How Cravings and Triggers Work

 

You'll have to excuse me on this section of the article as I will be giving you guys a quick and simple explanation as to how cravings and triggers work without sounding like a scientist or doctor. Triggers work by altering how one's mind thinks and reacts to what it sees, hears, smells, feels, and remembers. Everyone has an reward system in their brain which allows us to learn how to survive. For example, we know not to touch a hot stove as we will get burnt, thus injured. When we go to touch the hot stove, our hand is burned thus sending a signal to our brain telling us not to do this. Touching a hot stove results in a negative reward or consequence, giving us experience and knowledge that touching a hot stove will cause harm. A young child may not yet be aware of and know this, resulting in them touching the hot stove whereas an adult will know from experience, knowledge, and observation that touching a hot stove will only lead to pain and injury. This is simple example of how our reward system works and is just one of the many tools the mind has.

 

To give you guys another example, think about a dog learning a new trick. At first, a dog may not know how to sit on command. But when you practice enough with your dog and provide them with treats or encouragement for every time they are successful in sitting on command, they will eventually learn to sit every time they are instructed to do so. It is the reward system in the dog's brain telling them that if they sit, they will receive a positive reward or something they like. The dog will eventually learn that sitting on command will result in something positive for it.

 

 

This is basically how addiction works in our minds and bodies. Every time we put opiates in our bodies to achieve a high, our reward system in our brain is pleased. Over time, we begin to see opiates as something that will lead to pleasure and satisfaction. Once we stop using opiates, our brain and the reward system begins to wonder what happened and why it is no longer being rewarded. To make matters worse, opiates have a very powerful impact on our reward systems and our brain chemistry. Someone saying "good job" to us for some work we accomplished may be like our brain getting a pat on the back while putting opiates in our bodies is like being rewarded a $1,000 for our work. This is why quitting opiates can be so difficult as over time, our mind and body begins to crave, expect, and look for opiates due to their powerful effect on the mind and body.

 

To give you guys another comparison, think about how difficult starting and staying on a diet can be. Each of us has a food or beverage we love to have that is probably unhealthy to be having. For this example, I'll use regular (not diet) soda pop. If you were to be someone who drank a lot of soda and were to suddenly stop drinking it due to a new diet you went on, you'll most likely find that at some point later you will crave the soda. Now imagine that it was your daily routine and tradition to have a can of soda with your dinner while you watched your favorite television show. After a few days or weeks of being off the soda, you may one day sit down to eat your dinner while watching your favorite show on T.V.. This experience may make you suddenly begin craving the soda as drinking the soda was something you used to commonly do and enjoy. The time of day, the meal you are eating, and the television show you are watching all bring back memories, feelings, and emotions that you relate to the soda. This is an example of a trigger.

 

   

 

A real good video that explains triggers can be found below. The video is pretty short and to the point but is very informative. Check it out by clicking the link below.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIxD7Cq2s7c

 

 

The Difference Between Internal and External Triggers

 

Triggers are identified and spilt into two different types; Internal Triggers and External Triggers. Internal triggers are triggers that occur within our mind and body. These include emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Some examples of Internal triggers are boredom, depression, helplessness, and anger. Internal triggers can also include how one feels physically as well. For example, many of us often feel tired and overwhelmed after getting off of opiates making us believe that if we use again, we'll suddenly feel better or "normal". External triggers, on the other hand, are the people, places, things, and locations that can lead one to want to use or think about using. Some examples of external triggers are being around friends or family who use drugs, driving in a neighborhood known for drugs or that you used to get your drugs from, seeing someone taking drugs on television, seeing straws or dollar bills that remind you of snorting your drug of choice, and so on.

 

Below I have included a questionnaire that can help determine what triggers you are having and how likely they are to result in one using again. I think this questionnaire is more helpful for one finding which triggers they have and what kind of triggers these are than actually determining how likely we are to use again. Someone might have several triggers or get triggers often but know how to deal with them and remain sober while someone who has just one trigger may relapse. At the end of the day, it is you who decides whether or not you get or remain sober. The link to the questionnaire is below.

 

http://www.unodc.org/ddt-training/treatment/VOLUME%20B/Volume%20B%20-%20Module%203/3.Clinical%20Forms/2.External_and_Internal_Triggers_forms.pdf

 



Some Good Articles About Cravings and Triggers

 

Like I do with most of my posts, I want to leave you guys with some helpful websites and articles that talk about cravings and triggers. The links to these sites are listed below.

 

 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-about-addiction/201003/triggers-and-relapse-craving-connection-addicts



http://www.rightstep.com/services/intensive-outpatient/class-5/addiction-triggers-for-drugs-and-alcohol/

http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/helping-loved-one-avoid-relapse.aspx

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carole-bennett/the-road-to-addiction-14_b_221160.html

http://www.drchadcoren.com/drchadcoren/Dr._Chad_Corens_Blog__Bucks_County_Therapist,_Mental_Health_%26_Addiction/Entries/2010/6/23_Triggers_of_Addiction.html

http://www.spiritlodge.com/programs/living-in-balance/internal-addiction-triggers/

Conclusion

 

Cravings and triggers are a major part of recovery and are something we must all as addicts learn to understand, acknowledge, prepare for, and learn to cope with. These triggers and cravings can be easy and quick to pass while others may feel like they are there for an eternity and are difficult to overcome. It's part of addiction unfortunately. At the end of the day, we must remember that cravings and triggers are normal and are obstacles to overcome, not reasons or excuses to use again. 

 

I have several reoccurring triggers myself that I have been able to identify, avoid/prevent, and learn to cope with. The most common ones are boredom, stress, having a bad day, seeing or having a lot of money on hand, and being around people who use. A few months ago I made the mistake of being around people who use and who were using in my presence. Well, to no surprise, I ended up relapsing and went on a binge for a few days. I managed to get back on the sober train but am upset with myself for putting in so much hard work, effort, and even pain to get clean only to screw up. The important thing is I learned from my mistake and got back to being sober pretty quickly. For others, a relapse after being clean for a long period of time can lead them to go straight back to their old ways and habits. It is important to remember that relapse is part of recovery but is not something that is necessary and that if you do relapse, to get back on the sober train as quickly as possible.

 

 

I have learned a few ways to deal with, avoid/prevent, or cope with these triggers and cravings as well. One of my triggers is having a lot of money on hand. It makes me think that because I have all this money that I have managed to save up from not using that I can cheat just one day and buy a lot of Oxycodone. To help prevent this, I have opened up a bank account where most of money goes too rather than keeping a bunch of money on hand or in my wallet. I try to stay busy to prevent boredom and have a few methods to keep myself and my mind occupied if I do experience a trigger or craving. For example, I'll throw on a movie, write on this blog, jump on the computer, play with my pets, or go for a run when I feel the urge to use. In other words, I keep myself distracted and my mind occupied.

 

I would like to hear from you guys about some of the triggers or cravings you may experience during your recovery and some of the things you do to combat these triggers or cravings. Feel free to comment in the comment section below about this topic or to ask any questions you may have about the topic or opiate addiction as a whole.

 

Thanks again as always for reading my blog and I hope this post, along with the others, is helpful, beneficial, and enjoyable for you guys to read. As always, remember to stay strong and keep seeing the light!

 

Take Care,

 

Seeingthelight

Why We Got Addicted To Opiates

Greetings everyone and welcome back! This is now my fourth post in my new blog for dealing with opiate addiction. For people who have read my previous posts and are keeping up to date with my blog, I apologize for being repetitive but if we have any new comers here who would like to view my previous posts feel free to check out the following links by clicking on Welcome or My Experience with Suboxone. In addition to my first post which welcomed everyone while providing you guys with some information about myself and the blog (what we stand for, purpose of blog, and rules of the blog), I have also written two other posts. One of those posts talks about Suboxone and my experience with it while the other post talks about Opiate Withdrawals as well my experience with those as well. I've noticed I have gotten some views of my blog after checking my database and am so happy to have gotten some readers. Now we just need some comments to generate some conversations!

Anyways, I really hope this blog can help people in dealing with their opiate addiction(s). As I've mentioned in my previous posts, I suffer from an addiction to the Oxycodone 30 mg pills. I am now on an outpatient Suboxone program that has really helped me in getting my shit and life back together. I also want to reiterate that this blog focuses mostly on opiate addiction (any kind of opiate) but that anyone can read, join, or comment. It doesn't matter to me if you are currently using opiates, just stopped using, haven't used in 20 years, or have never used before in your life. I welcome everyone no matter what path or road you have taken in the past. I simply just ask you follow the rules of the blog. Alright now that we got all that small talk out of the way, I would like to shift our focus to the topic of this particular post, the reason(s) why we got addicted to opiates in the first place.

I have been addicted to opiates (the Oxycodone 30 mg pills) for about 3 years now. While I don't have a long history of opiate abuse, I know how bad it can get from both my own experiences and the experiences of people I know. It really can be an ugly situation to get yourself into and a difficult situation to get yourself out of. So far my posts have discussed ways to deal with getting off of opiates, so I figured we'll make this one be about why we got into opiates in the first place. Basically, the way I'm going to do this post is to divide it into three sections;  (1) The science behind why we develop an addiction to opiates, (2) My own personal story, and (3) What you guys have to say such as your own personal reasons/experiences or any comments/information you may have to add.

The Science Behind Opiate Addiction

The Brain

When I think of opiate addiction, I like to break it down into 2 different parts based upon how they affect us. The first part is the body while the second part is the mind. The withdrawals you experience when you don't use and to an extent the high you get when you do use deal more so with the body. However, the reason these things happen is a direct result of the mind. Confused already? Basically, your brain has an opioid receptor system which is similar to the way other receptor systems in your brain work. For example, when you eat something you like to eat, see someone you like to see, or do something you like to do our brain lets off chemicals which accomplish a variety of tasks in our bodies. When we do things we like to do, our brain and certain receptors in our brain respond positively. Unfortunately, our receptors react the same way when we put drugs into our bodies.

The high we get from drugs directly influences our brain and its receptors. After continuously using drugs (in our case, opiates) for a period of time, our brain begins craving these drugs to satisfy itself. Drugs really are powerful. In fact, some people who use opiates for a long period of time often have a difficult time enjoying things they enjoyed doing before they got addicted to drugs. For example, if someone who loved fishing and did it say every weekend developed an addiction to opiates for a long period of time were to suddenly stop using or seek treatment, they would experience far more then the physical withdrawals we have come to know and love. It would not be unusual for the fishermen to have a difficult time getting back into the groove of fishing and enjoying it. It sucks but this is how opiates, or most drugs for that matter, can alter our brain chemistry.

However, this is not to say that this lack of enjoyment happens to everyone and is always permanent. In fact, most people are able to gain back their enjoyment of things they used to love to do after a period of time. It can be weeks, months, or even years depending on the person and their situation. This is also another reason why it is not uncommon for many former addicts to experience depression, anxiety, and similar matters. Like I always say, this is why it's important to talk honestly and often with your family, doctor, and support network to make sure everything is going well, is safe, and is working properly. Addiction is no joke and must be taken seriously.

The Effects Opiates Can Have On Our Brains

While everyone knows of and truly hates the physical withdrawals we all experience when stopping cold turkey from opiates, few talk about how the mind feels when battling an opiate addiction. The mind is just as sensitive as the body is in this matter and this is why it is so important to develop a strong support network, learn coping mechanisms, attend AA or NA meetings, talk openly with family, friends, and your support network, and to not be afraid to seek help from doctors, consulars, therapists, or psychologist. This is often why people say getting clean is easy but staying clean is the hard part. This is especially true if you are stopping opiates cold turkey. I say this because when you battle your addiction to opiates with Suboxone (like myself) or with Methadone, you are still using an opiate. This is why your mind isn't as "off" as it can be when you stop cold turkey. Please note that I am in not any way saying that Suboxone or Methadone isn't the way to go or that those using these methods do not experience sensitivity to their minds as well. Believe me, as someone who is on Suboxone currently, I know how hard it is to battle opiate addiction no matter what method or route you chose to go on.

I found the following quote online from Wikipedia and think that it says what I am trying to say in better words. Courtesy of good, old Wikipedia:

"Studies show that most opioid dependent patients suffer from at least one severe psychiatric comorbidity. Since opioids used in pain therapy rarely cause any of these conditions, they are assumed to have existed prior to the development of dependence. Opioids are known to have strong antidepressive, anxiolytic and antipsychotic effects and thus opioid dependence often develops as a result of self medication.

Furthermore some studies suggest a permanent dysregulation of the endogenous opioid receptor system after chronic exposure to opiates. A recent study has shown that an increase in BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in rats can cause opiate-naive rats to begin displaying opiate-dependent behavior, including withdrawal and drug-seeking behavior. It has been shown that when an opiate-naive person begins using opiates at levels inducing euphoria, this same increase in BDNF occurs.  Another recent study concluded to have shown "a direct link between morphine abstinence and depressive-like symptoms" and postulates "that serotonin dysfunction represents a main mechanism contributing to mood disorders in opiate abstinence.""

There is a lot of information in regards to how opiate addiction effects both the mind and body, and I simply do not have either the time or space to write all of it as well as the fact that I do not know everything there is to know that is out there (remember when I said I wasn't a doctor?). Therefore, I am going to post below some websites that I feel might be helpful to read if you guys are interested in learning more about this topic. It's really interesting how the mind works and truly how powerful opiates are as well as their ability to alter your state of mind. Anyways, here are the links below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_receptor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence

http://www.allaboutaddiction.com/addiction/addiction-brain-effects-opiate-addiction-heroin-oxycontin

http://www.opiates.org/opiates.htm

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0405a.shtml

http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=103089

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin

My Own Personal Story

Alright, now that we got the science part out of the way, lets take at look at my reasons into why and how I developed an addiction to an opiate. As I've mentioned numerous times here already, I have had an addiction to the Oxycodone 30 mg pills (A215s, M30s, 224s, Blue Vs) that lasted about 2 years. I had been abusing the Oxycodone over a period of 3 years but was truly addicted to it for the past 2 years. I'm sorry to sound graphic but I want to get my story across and be honest. I was abusing the pills and buying them off the street. I did not have a prescription, I was simply taking them to get high. I was also snorting the pills rather then swallowing them but I have never injected the pills, or anything for that matter in my life. I would also like to say that I do not look down upon or judge anyone who snort or injected. That's not the type of person I am and the way I look at it is that we're all in the same boat for an addiction to opiates, no matter what way we put them in our bodies. That's basically the "simple facts and stuff" about myself (if you want to know a little more, see my first two posts).

I am not making excuses for my addiction but would like to state why I believe I became addicted to them. I have always been someone who got bored easily and enjoyed doing things on my own. I was not a loner and I got along with people very well. I had a group of about 7 or 8 real good friends whose company I thoroughly enjoyed. For whatever reason, I was just someone who would rather hang in and watch a movie rather then go spend a wild night out at a club or try something crazy. I have a great family as well who I get along real good with and love dearly. I was never abused nor went through any traumatic event in my life. I had a very good upbringing and my parents were always there for me.

I had my first sip of alcohol when I was 18 years old and smoked weed for the first time when I was about 19. I tried a few other drugs but never really liked them. Then I tried Oxycodone and enjoyed it. However, it wasn't something I became obsessed over and needed to do. At least at first. I went from trying it a few times a year to a few times a month to a few times a week. Then next I knew, I was addicted and using basically every day. Then everyday became using multiple times a day. Then multiple times a day became well, I don't know how to put it but basically every waking minute of my life had to do with Oxycodone. Before my addiction, I never stole, lied, cheated, or acted like the way I did once I became hooked on these small pills. This addiction really made me change (and a lot of my other peers who unfortunately got addicted as well). I hated the person I was becoming. One thing I kept asking myself was why the hell did I even try these stupid pills? Or at least, how did the hell did I let it get this out of hand?

After much thought and finally getting the help I needed, I got clean. I have been on an outpatient Suboxone program for over 4 months now and I have not used Oxycodone once in those 4 months. The Suboxone has really helped me out. I have also been seeing a doctor and consular as well, which has also helped me a lot. I mention (and repeat if you've read my previous posts) this information so you guys can get as good of a picture of myself and my addiction as possible.

Now let me talk about the main purpose of this section of my post, why did I become addicted in the first place. Well, I don't know for sure and I may never truly know but there are some things that I believe did have some impact on it. The first factor I think may have helped lead to my addiction to Oxycodone is that I have an addictive personality. I never knew what an addictive personality was or that it was even really something you could have until I became addicted to the Oxycodone. Basically, when I come across something I really enjoy, I can't get enough of it. I tried the Oxycodone and got addicted. I tried weed and became a pothead. I tried tobacco and now use that on a daily basis. Hell, I tried coffee and drink that on an almost daily basis. I have an addictive personality and have to learn how to deal with it. It sucks, but hey there are a lot worse things out there you can have so I have no right to complain about something this small. Like I mentioned before, I'm also someone who likes to hang out alone and just chill out. I think this is why the Oxycodone was so appealing to me as I would love to just snort a few pills, sit back, and play a video game, watch a movie, or surf the web. Man, I miss those days but at the same time, I'm happy that I'm in a different place now and am clean for the time being.

Another thing that I think may have had somewhat of an impact on my addiction is my family history and genetics. It is still in much debate in the scientific and addiction community but some believe (myself included) that genetics and family history can play a role in someone developing an addiction. While I had a great family who I love so much, I grew up around people who well, liked to drink alcohol. Now, my family members weren't drunk all day, every day or weren't people who were in and out of jail, rehab, or trouble. My family members never did drugs either. In fact, they absolutely hate the thought of tobacco or weed, let alone Oxycodone abuse. They were people who would drink say 2-4 times a week. I truly couldn't stand seeing my parents get drunk and it especially bothered me when they would get drunk at family parties or in public settings. Like I said before, they were never abusive or anything, it was just embarrassing having parents, aunts, or uncles making a fool out of themselves in public. But hey, no ones' family is ever perfect I guess right? My thinking is that perhaps this might have something to do with my addiction but again, who knows.

Another reason I believe may have lead to me becoming addicted to an opiate is the fact that I have a disease. For privacy reasons and to help keep my identity unknown, I would rather not go into much detail about the disease I have. The disease I have sucks to have, but I will say it is not as deadly or serious as say Cancer. It is a disease which totally alters your life and can take a lot out of someone. It's tough to live with, but is something I will have for the rest of my life unless they develop a cure or it magically disappears (if only things were that easy). While I was able to live a pretty normal childhood, the disease did limit me from some things growing up and did make me somewhat subconscious about myself. The particular disease I have also causes me to be somewhat uncomfortable and in mild pain at times (I have good days and bad days). I think this disease I have (and no, the disease I'm talking about here isn't addiction if that's what you were guessing) has affected the way I think and live, and I think I saw the high from the Oxycodone as a temporary way out from reality and as a tool to mask my pain. Sorry, I don't mean to be getting really deep with this stuff. Anyways, I'm learning how to better live with my disease (after all, I've had it nearly my whole life) and to not look to getting high as a way to cope. It's tough, I'm not going to lye, but I'm trying my best to just deal with it without altering my state of mind.

My final reason for getting addicted to Oxycodone (and is a reason for most of us, whether we like to admit it or not) is that I just liked to get high. Plain and simple folks, I fucking loved the high. The high I got from Oxycodone was something I really loved. I would imagine how great it would be if I could somehow have a supply of Oxycodone that never ran out or if I somehow had all the money in the world to buy as much Oxycodone as I wanted. I don't mean to sound dark here or joke with those who have had this really happened to them, but I would always joke with my friends whenever they asked me what I would do if I was rich and famous. I would always respond that I would probably end up dead as I would be doing so much Oxycodone with all the money and resources I would have if I was rich and famous. Dark, I know.

Well, you guys now know a little more about me and my story into my addiction with Oxycodone. My story is a pretty ugly one but believe me (and I'm sure some of you know) there's a lot of uglier stories out there. Despite all the shit I've been through, I still have a good family and group of friends, my health (to an extent), and a future. I have had friends and people I know end up being kicked out of their homes, forced into rehab, locked up in jails, or even dead as a result of their addictions. Addiction is something that can be truly devastating to not only the person who is addicted, but to those around them who often love and care greatly for them.

What You Guys Have To Say

Alright guys, I'm done talking and am now leaving the rest of this post up to you guys. I haven't had any comments yet in my blogs so I encourage you guys to please, please, please comment so we can get some conversations going. Even if its just one person, I'll comment back and will try to the best of my ability and knowledge to help each and every one of you guys who visit here. Like I always say, I really hope this blog can help some people and I was so happy today to see that a few people had viewed my blog recently. So feel free to comment below about your own stories, experiences, or tips you have. I hope anyone reading is doing well and thank you guys for taking the time to read or comment on my blog. I'll have another post coming soon for you guys and feel free to read any of my previous posts. I've listed the links above in the first paragraph. And remember, keep seeing the light!

Take care guys,

Seeingthelight



The Dreaded Withdrawals

Hello everyone and welcome back. This is my third post on my new blog about opiate addiction. I have created this blog to help others who suffer from opiate addiction or who know someone who suffers from this kind of addiction. If you're new to this blog, I recommend you check out my previous two posts (Welcome and My Experience with Suboxone) by clicking on the following links:


I would like to use this post to discuss the topic of opiate withdrawals. If you're reading this site and are addicted to opiates you unfortunately probably know what withdrawals from opiates are and feel like. Basically, they suck and are a pain in the ass. I know when I experience opiate withdrawals I feel like I have the worst case of the flu suffering through the chills, sweats, restless legs, lack of sleep, body aches, and the wonderful diarrhea runs (sorry to paint a graphic image in your minds). Nearly all opiate addicts suffer from withdrawals when they stop their use of opiates cold turkey. Some get it worse than others. There are major factors in deciding how bad your withdrawals from opiates will be. These factors are:

1. The kind of opiates you were using
2. The dose you were taking
3. The length of time you were using these opiates
4. The method of taking these opiates (swallowing, snorting, injecting)
5. And the basic makeup of your body

Opiate Withdrawal Sucks

I would like to get a discussion going on some of the withdrawals readers of this blog experience, what they hate the most and what they can "live" with, and methods we use to help ease these often painful and annoying withdrawals. I really hate withdrawals myself (who doesn't?) and think the worst ones are the lack of sleep, restless legs, and chills. Everyone is different though as some will experience all of these, none of these, or some of these. I like to think of withdrawals as a painful reminder of the damage opiates to our lives and bodies and as a motivation to quit and not use again. Think to yourself "Do I really want to use and go through these nasty withdrawals again when I have to make another attempt at quitting opiates."


I would like to look at each of the 5 factors listed above and how they will affect the severity of withdrawals when the dreaded day comes to stop using opiates. Lets begin.


1. The kind of opiates you were using
The kind of opiates you were using before stopping cold turkey will have quite an impact into how bad your withdrawals can get. Some opiates (such as oxycodone) have short half lives meaning they leave your body relatively fast. The rule of thumb for oxycodone withdrawals is that you begin to feel them anywhere from 8-36 hours from your last dose and that the first 3-5 days are typically the worst with each day getting better after that. I have stopped using oxycodone cold turkey numerous times lasting anywhere from 2-14 days. I will say that after the first week of not using oxycodone has passed, you do begin to feel a lot better, but not great. The withdrawals that commonly last for weeks are the lack of sleep, restless legs, random chills or sweats, and the diarrhea. The longer you are off oxycodone, the better you will feel. As I previously mentioned, my longest time off of oxycodone going cold turkey was 14 days and by the end of the second week I was feeling much better but still experiencing restless legs, lack of sleep, and random chills. I am speaking from my experience with oxycodone however and some opiate's withdrawals last much longer or feel much worse. While I have no experience with the drug, I have heard that Methadone withdrawals is quite unpleasant and tends to last much longer due to its longer half life. Like I said, I have no experience with Methadone and am just speaking from what I have heard or read so this is where readers with experience with the drug may prove beneficial. As I always say, do your own research, talk to others with experience, and talk frequently with your doctor.


2. The dose you were taking
The dose you were taking before stopping cold turkey will also come into play when preparing for withdrawal. Basically, the higher the dose you were taking, the worse the withdrawals will most likely be. I was at a relatively high dose of oxycodone (180-300 mg per day) and can tell you from experience that this is very true. However, it may prove helpful if you slowly wean your dose down over a period of time. Weaning can help a lot but is usually very difficult as it takes a lot of willpower to do. I personally could never wean myself off of the oxycodone as I just didn't have the willpower unfortunately but everyone is different.

3. The length of time you were using
The length of time you were using the opiates for will also determine the severity of your withdrawals. This isn't exactly rocket science as the longer you used for, the more likely your withdrawals are to suck. However this is not to say that someone who used for say 6 months is going to be off the hook. Don't you wish you never used that first time? I know I certainly do...

4. The method of taking the opiate
I cannot really speak from experience much on this matter but more so from what I have read. Based on what I have read, it appears that the method by which you ingest the opiate can affect your withdrawals. Again I am speaking from what I have read. It seems that snorting or injecting opiates hits you faster with the high and also leaves your system quicker than if you were swallow the opiates. Therefore, those who snort or inject opiates will experience the onset of withdrawals slightly sooner than someone who normally swallow their opiates. Personally, I snorted the oxycodone I was abusing and would usually experience withdrawals after about 12-18 hours after my last dose. I have very little experience with swallowing oxycodone and have never injected anything in my life.

5. The basic makeup of your body
As I always say, everyone and their body is different. Some people may experience worse withdrawals than others or the length of their withdrawals may vary as well. Things that can come into play include your metabolism, body size, activity levels, and health. I'm not a doctor so I can't really say much about this matter but there is information out there on the Internet if you would like to know more. You could also talk to your doctor if you are really interested.

While all these can play a factor in the length and severity of your withdrawals, at the end of the day we are going to suffer through some of the pain, discomfort, and agony. I guess it's what we get for abusing these drugs (if you are someone who was prescribed opiates for pain management, please do not take offense to this comment as in my opinion you have every right to treat your pain and have one of the more excusable reasons for opiate addiction or dependence.) I would also like to note that while most will not experience any severe reactions to opiate withdrawals, some people can have very bad reactions or even die from stopping opiates immediately. Whether healthy or not, I believe it is in the best interest of the person to be upfront and honest with their family with what is going on and to talk with your doctor. Some people may fare better going cold turkey, weaning themselves, or using a drug such as Suboxone or Methadone. Once again, everyone is different so make sure you have a solid plan with your support network and be careful with whatever route you chose to go.

I would now like to go over a variety of things that can make it a little more bearable when going through opiate withdrawals. These include certain techniques, activities, hobbies, medications (both prescription and over the counter), and things that can make life a little easier during this shitty time.

1)Keeping busy/active
This is one of the hardest things to do when experiencing opiate withdrawal. However, if you can keep yourself distracted, it will help your mind greatly. Try watching some TV, surfing the web, going for a jog/walk, working out, bowling, reading a book, talking with friends or family, do some house or yard work, fixing up a car, listening to/playing music, and much more. I am not saying go out and run a marathon but rather do something to keep yourself busy and your mind off wanting to use. When we use drugs our body releases endorphins which are what provide us with a high and sense of pleasure. We can also obtain this high and sense of pleasure through things we enjoy other than drugs (ever hear of a runner's high?). While it may seem better, the worst thing you can do is to just sit around on the couch or in bed all day going out of your mind and feeling like absolute shit.

2)Medications
There are several medications out there that can help with opiate withdrawals. I'm not talking medications like Suboxone or Methadone but rather what many doctors refer to as comfort medications. To help with the chills, sweats, and anxiety there is the high blood pressure medication Clonidine. You will need a prescription to obtain this medication but it is well regarded in the addiction community and I have used it myself. I would say it does help but I also wouldn't say it is some miracle drug that will end all withdrawals. Talk with your doctor about it and make sure your doctor is aware if you have any health conditions such as high pressure. To help patients deal with the lack of sleep and restless legs many experience with withdrawal there are the use of certian sleep medications. Be careful when using sleep medications as some (most notably Benzos) can be very addicting and have withdrawals that are worse then what you would experience with opiates. I have tried both Ambien and Trazodone for sleep and found both work. The Ambien is stronger then the Trazadone but can be habit forming so beware. Trazodone is an antidepressant that is now primary used for its off label use of helping with sleep problems. Both of these drugs require a doctors prescription. Over the counter medications that can help with sleep include Benadryl or Unisom.These are a little bit weaker then the Ambien or Trazodone but do work well for some. Like any other medication, talk with your doctor before trying anything. I have also heard of using a potassium supplement to help with the restless legs but I do not have any experience with this myself. Another over the counter medication to help with opiate withdrawals is Imodium, which will help mostly with the upset stomach and diarrhea many experience with going cold turkey. Anxiety is a major symptom many experience when going through withdrawals. There are certain medications such as Xanex, Klonopin, and Valium that can help a lot with this matter but please beware that these medications can also be quite addicting so once again please be careful. I do not have any experience with Xanex, Klonopin, or Valium as an aid to help with anxiety so cannot speak from experience. The use of a medication such as Advil or Aleve may help with the achy joints and muscles many feel when withdrawing. A final thing that may help ease withdrawals is the use of a multi vitamin. Not only will these be beneficial to your overall health but it will also provide your body with nutrients to help it repair itself. I cannot stress to you guys to do your research and talk openly and honestly with your doctor and support network. Please do not try to take matters into your own hands as some of the drugs I just mentioned can be addicting and dangerous themselves if misused or abused. My doctor was good to work with and I was honest with him which allowed to me get some comfort medications that can help a lot.

3) Supplies
I am now going to tell you some things to do or keep around to help with withdrawals. I always find it helpful to have a nice bed or couch to relax on with plenty of pillows and blankets (a heated blanket can feel amazing when your freezing). Most people experience hot flashes and cold chills throughout the day so this can help a little. Wearing comfortable clothing (for me a white cotton tee and soft sweatpants) can help a little bit too. I also find that going in the hot tub, sauna, or even bath to help a lot with the achy joints and muscles. I find drinking a cup of coffee in the morning gives me a little pick up and energy. Avoid drinking alcohol as while it may make you feel good for a little, you'll wake up a hangover feeling even worse the next day. Try getting yourself some video games, movies, or books to keep yourself occupied while you take your vacation to hell. Having comfort foods and beverages can help too such as soups, yogurts, tea, hot coco, ect...

4)Preparing Yourself
Going through withdrawals sucks. There really isn't any other way to put it and the worst thing that can happen to you during withdrawals is when you have a lot of shit to do. I recommend that if you can take time off of work or school, you should so you can focus entirely on yourself. Maybe try going cold turkey over a holiday weekend, vacation period, or random week off of work/school. The added stress of having to work or go to school can make you want to crack. It may also be helpful to tell your family, friends, or spouse what you are going through so they know what the hell is going on and you have someone to keep an eye on you and help you. Finally, try not to think of not using 24/7 as you will drive yourself insane. Take it slowly and keep busy.

Withdrawal really sucks. I don't think I can say that enough. However, you can get through it and will most likely come out of it OK. It's tough work but is doable. I personally went the Suboxone route but I want this blog to be able to help all opiate addicts not just people on Suboxone. I have gone through withdrawals numerous times either as a result of wanting to quit, not being able score, or not having money to score. No matter what the reason is, they are going to suck but there are some things that can make life a little more bearable during this dreadful period of your life. Once again, I cannot stress to you guys to talk with your support network and doctors before making any drastic moves and to not just sit around all day beating yourself up while withdrawing. It gets better, it really does. I know that might sound like a load of B.S. and you've probably (like me) have heard that phrase a million frigging times. But it will get better. Think about it and where you are right now. Can't say 1 month of feeling crappy and not totally normal to get clean be much worse then living a life depending on pill after pill?

I would love to have you guys pitch in some comments on this post (or any other ones, I will always read them and comment back). Talk about withdrawals and what you do to ease them. Talk about how you fear them or talk about how you overcame them if you did. I'm here to help you guys because I know how hard it is being an opiate addict and trying to do the right thing and get clean. I choose to go on Suboxone but have heard of other people going cold turkey and being successful. There are different ways to do this and everyone is different, at the end of the day its about whether or not you were able to do the right thing and get clean.

I would like to end this post by providing you guys with some links that deal with opiate withdrawals. There are also discussion boards online in which people share there stories, tips, and experiences as well that might help you guys. Also try looking up the Thomas Recipe for withdrawals as it is well known and praised for helping others with withdrawal. Even some of things we talked about on this post will show up in the Thomas Recipe. Give it a shot. Like I always say, do your research guys and keep informed. Here are the links that I think might be insightful:

http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-conditions/thomas-recipe-opiate-withdrawal-35169.html
http://oxycodonewithdrawal.com/
http://oxycodonewithdrawal.net/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/oxycodone-withdrawal-symptoms.html


Again, I would like to end this post like my other ones by thanking anyone who reads or comments on my blog. I really hope it can help people. I'll have another blog for you guys soon. Please be careful with your recovery methods and some of the medications I listed above. Talk with your doctor and do your research before trying anything. And remember to keep looking for that light, like always it's there somewhere.

Take care my friends,

Seeingthelight