16 days- FATIGUE

[Goblin666]

Hi Everyone,

Boy am I dragging today!  Fatigue which is making me feel depressed. I called off work today and Monday.  Going to a meeting tonight and going to try and make myself get some exercise today.

Feel like a step back the last few days physically which is mentally making me say "See you need these pills". I know that is not true and that it would make things so much worse.

Any experience on this fatigue thing would be greatly appreciated.

How long did it last?

What should I be avoiding? Obviously the pills but what else?

What should I be doing?

What works for you?

Thanks guys I am already feeling better just sharing that.

Best,
Goblin

[Jerry198]

hahahahaa to funny same here when I was pilling I would do circles not getting half of what I thought I was getting done done!! would take for ever to grocery shop and always miss one or two small things that were really needed for a meal .... SOOOO much better this way PILL FREE

[Danny111]

One thing I noticed towards then end of my using was that while I thought I was getting tons of crap accomplished when I had the pills, I was actually just spending a ton of time getting not much done.  I'd be at my office for 10-12 hours and at the end of the week I had done just about what I used to get done in half the time.  

The other thing I noticed is that I had stopped doing many of the things I used to enjoy.   I coached youth sports for 20+ years but towards the end of my addiction I didn't enjoy it anymore.  I mean why do to practice and either waste your high or be miserable when you're in wd's.

I say this because I notice people get really concerned that they're not getting things done when they're in wd's but the fact is that you'll get a ton more done in the end once you're sober.  You just gotta give it time.  

[Danny111]

You need to let time pass Goblin.  It gets a teeny bit easier each day.  You have to allow yourself to blow off things that can be blown off.  Obviously you have to take care of things that have to be done but don't beat yourself up over blowing off other stuff.  

Try to exercise if you can.  Hikes or whatever you like doing.  It helps in a ton of ways, it releases endorphins, helps you sleep better, you feel better about yourself, you can eat more and not feel guilty etc.  It's also a great thing to go do when you're having dangerous thoughts and need to change your thinking.

[pillguy]

I agree with everything that's been posted.  Most of all NeverAgain127.  It takes time to get back to where we started from.  We focus on the acute WDs because that's our first task and it's difficult, as you know.  That second phase of recovery, dealing with the lack of energy and depression, kept me in active addiction for years.  Have confidence that it does get better.  Slowly but surely your brain heals.  I'm 6 months in recovery and I have good and bad days.  (Wait a minute, that's like normal life)  I feel so much better at 6 months than I did at 1 month and you will too.

Cheers

[NeverAgain127]

Fatigue at 16 days?   Totally normal.   I'm 53, was 52 when I quit, and I STILL get waves of fatigue.   For the first month I was up and down like a rollercoaster.  

It takes more than few weeks, or even months, for our brains to rewire themselves.   Just one day at a time, and it so, so SO good that you recognize that little voice in your head (telling you that you NEED the pills) is a liar.   That is your addiction talking.  Like a little red devil sitting on your shoulder whispering in your ear.  Ignore him; he is a *******.

The only time ANY human being "needs pain pills" is for post-operative pain,  or when a person has a medical condition in which there is TRUE pain (not hyperalgesia induced by withdrawals) that is inhibiting quality of life and/or healing.

That's the thing with opiates:  they were never intended to be taken for energy, but a lot of us ended up noticing, "hey, I feel GREAT on these!...they help me function so much better!"   Until they don't.   And that point always happens.

You're doing so well, Goblin...I suspect you're going to become one of our veterans on here!  

Hugs,
-Robin

[Goblin666]

Thanks all. Went for a three mile walk and seemed to brighten things up.  Now I just feel normal tired and not the sluggish fatigue. Such a weird feeling. I know my brain is just missing the feel
Good  neurotransmitters.  The endorphins help smooth things over.  Definitely going to hit gym in the morning.

[iluvmycorso]

16 days, great job!! Sunshine, citrus essential oils, swimming. Swimming helps get a good nights sleep.

[tramuser99]

Exercise really does work miracles, especially when you are past the physical stuff but dealing with that bored unmotivated feeling that leads to depression. It was really hard to get myself to workout at first but I would take a pre-workout drink, basically caffeine and other stimulants to boost my physical and mental state. After working out I feel like a different person, not only does it get you out and distracted but it produces the feel good chemicals that we turned to pills for. After working out was the only time I actually felt good. The key is just to get the heart rate up, so even if it's just walking around the block it will provide the most relief you can possibly get and speed up your mental recovery process. The things we dread doing the most will usually provide the most relief after accomplished. If you need a pick me up get a 5 hour energy shot and use the temporary boost to get out and exercise, even staying inside and doing a workout involving stretching helps, just look up a short yoga style workout on Google or YouTube.

[Krissy_123]

Yup totally normal! You're doing so great! Love you're going to meetings. I was also having depression up past a month. It wasn't every day though. It came in waves with the lack of energy. I just got up and got moving right away. But I'm old too. Just turned 35 this year. So ppl in there 20's probably bounce back quicker. Even at 8 months clean I still have some of this. But the good days are starting to out weigh the bad! Hang in there. You rock!!

[TikkiTT]

Like dominosarah said, this is extremely common.   It took me about a month, but I am kind of old.    Well, kind of....hell, I am old.   I took supplements and vitamins and tried to eat better.   When I did finally start feeling good again...after about a month, I felt better than I had in a long, long time.   I had to make myself get up and get active.   If I could make myself do something for 10 min., I'd lay around for 20 if it helped and then make myself get up and move again.   The more you move around, the better you will feel.   I know you don't feel like it, but, honeslty, it does help.

[dominosarah]

This is normal and will pass.  Get up and exercise.  Go for a walk, sit in the sun for a bit and drink fluids.  You are clean now so you can get thru anything!   Look around at all you have to be grateful for~