Oh NO!! I feel like I need a Norco!! EEK!!

[Wildewoman]

I am on day # 4 - I have nothing that I have to do today & yet - I feel like I "need" a Norco. I don't have any - but my mind keeps saying I do.

Is this normal?? I thought I was over all of this.. . .

[Ann2497]

I think work will be good for you because it will keep your mind busy.  Maybe you could "plan" all the things that you wanted to do while you were taking drugs that you never did because you weren't sober.

You will have mental cravings for some time.  Hopefully your therapist can help with triggers.  Hang in there, you are doing great!

[ariley13]

You are different, but in a good way! I am very proud of you for staying busy today and fighting those dang cravings off. You did good! :)

[Butterfly1503]

You are doing awesome!! Remember what you are working forwards! Don't slip now! You didn't work that hard to turn back now! (Hugs) proud of you!

[kyle505]

Smiling makes a good point. Right now the anxiety and drama is over-blown. It's hard to see around it so you worry and fuss. We all did. But in reality you are moving forward with a clearer head and solid resolve. Don't project. It will most certainly be fine.
K

[SmilingBright]

Take this one day at a time sweetheart.  Try not to dread what's to come.  You May actually have a great work week!!! How about That ;) good job on redirecting yourself today!!!  Keep it up'!!!!!

[Wildewoman]

Thanks all.

I feel a little better - took the dogs for a long walk - took the car to the car wash - the one they do by hand - cause it takes an hour or 2. . . .

I was going to take a Xanax - but I'm saving the few I have left for work this week - in case I start to feel anxious.

I'm not looking forward to going to work . . .I keep thinking I look different or sound different or I am different . . . sheesh . . . .

[vicki595]

Hi- A few days ago you were going to check into some meetings. Today would be a good day to go. You need to substitute that craving with something positive or fun...The only way to break an old habit is to get a new one...

The other thing is this:  Hit this thing hard in the beginning. It's important. You need to beat down every single thought or desire about pills; every thing you think that's so good about them. Do it now or you'll be haunted for months...So, read about addiction, go to meetings, talk about it, talk to your therapist and if he / she is not experienced, find someone who is. The addicted brain doesn't heal completely just by avoiding the pills...

Keep in touch and it's great that you reached out about this!

[ricart70]

It will get better and yes it is very much par for the course to want a pill immediately following acute withdrawal sickness. Your brain still needs some days/weeks to adjust. Cravings also will pop up if we just sit around and wait for them and think about them and mull them over. Get up and get moving and take some walks or do some of the things open mind or ariley talked about. Helping people helps. Exercise helps. I go to meetings at a treatment center sometimes so when I look at the in patients I don't have to try very hard to remember where I was and where I will be again if I use any drug or drink even once.   We can try some or all of this stuff ..12 steps fifty steps whatever  ...if it helps then keep it and if it doesn't you can drop it but just try some or all of these things.  I also do a lot of research about nutrition for the formerly addicted and the psychology of addiction. I know another user,Vicourageous,who does quite a bit of research too. All of this stuff helps us and sometimes if nothing else,it gives us hope.  Hang in there and as Bob said ...don't use no matter what ;))  hope this helps  

[kyle505]

Congrats on day 4; you are over the hump. Now comes the hard part - the mental side of recovery.  What you are feeling is very normal; your head is telling you that hey, that detox was really hard and you deserve to reward yourself for getting through it. It's the old "just one won't hurt" mantra that your addict's mind will whisper over and over. Sometimes it backs off but it's always there.
I hit 20 months clean a few days ago. Yesterday I went to listen to some friend who are in a band. And guess what...My head was telling me how much more enjoyable the experience would be if I had a couple of Norcos! Thank goodness I have no source.  
Anyway, on to day 5. It does get better, and life clean is wonderful. As Sarah always says, keep your guard up.  And I'll add, be aware of the voice.
K

[SmilingBright]

4 days is awesome!!!!  Don't look back.  That's why this addiction is so hard to beat.  It talks to u for sure.   You can do this!!!!!!  

[ariley13]

Everyone is different when it comes to recovery. What works for you might not work for me. A 12 step program is probably the biggie. Helps so many folks. Addiction counseling or good old fashioned therapy can help. Some use meditation, yoga, exercise. Giving back is a huge one. I try to get on this site daily. It helps so much to help others. Also volunteering. Anything positive that you can do for yourself, to improve yourself and become more in tune with yourself is a good thing. It does get easier. The cravings still come occasionally, but they are fewer and farther between. We just have to learn how to be prepared for them when they come, cause sometimes they come out of nowhere.

[OpenMind24hours]

What I mean about doing something positive towards recovery:

Get on this site, post, help someone out on here. An addict helping another addict helps both addicts stay clean.  If you decide on meetings hit a meeting. Talk to a friend who is a recovering addict; the recovering addict is our addictions worst enemy. Write to someone on here.  I'm in NA and have a sponsor, I'll talk to him or a friend in the program. Things of that nature. Right now your headed for success. Never forget where you just came from my friend. Keep recovery the most important thing in your life.

Every day I do something. If I don't and let that habit build up, the next thing I know, my old thinking comes back. Then next...I'm thinking my own thinking can fix my own thinking!! My own thinking got me into this in the first place!

[Wildewoman]

Love the rules. lol

What is just so aweful - is that I have been so sick - and now I am not sick - but I want a Norco!! It is like a nagging feeling in my stomach.

I think I will go get in the car & go for a drive - maybe head to the beach . . . .

[OpenMind24hours]

Opiate is crazy stuff. It works on our pleasure center. All we'll remember are the good times after awhile. This is why we take it one minute, one hour, one day at a time. This feeling you have will go away. Rule #1: don't use no matter what. Rule #2: don't use no mater what. Rule....

[ROSYouralright]

Oh goodness I remember feeling exactly like that! (I still have my moments).You just have to push through it. Keep your mind busy on other things... Music helped me tremendously.. I got through the cravings one song at a time!! You are doing GREAT hang tight and always remember that ONE IS to many....

[Wildewoman]

When you say:

"Every day do something positive towards your recovery"

what do you mean??

[Wildewoman]

We have an appointment on Thursday afternoon with our therapist.

It's so weird - I mean - I just went through 4 days of hell - and now my tummy is sayng that a Norco would make the day much better.

Maybe it is anxiety?? It sort of feels like that, you know??

[ariley13]

You are far from being over this. I don't want to discourage you, but cravings come and go. This is a lifetime process. Not to say that you will have cravings 24 hrs a day every day. I am almost at 5 months clean from pills and over 2 1/2 years off alcohol and I get cravings from time to time out of nowhere. It's important to reach out (just like you did. Yay you!), and stay busy. Keeping yourself occupied can really help to distract you. What kind of after care are you doing, or planning on doing? It's very important to work on our recovery in some way every day and to learn to recognize our triggers and ways that we can fight those cravings. You are not alone in this. We are here for you. Stick around and chat all day if you need to. Hang in there, cause it does get better. I can promise you that, as long as you don't use!

[OpenMind24hours]

That is entirely normal. That's your addiction talking to you. This is exactly why you'll hear peeps on here writing about aftercare. Our addiction is always there, but it doesn't always talk to us. Its sneaky, and its very powerful. But the longer you stay clean, the less you'll hear from your addiction if you embark on a continual program of recovery, making it the most important thing in your life. Every day do something positive towards your recovery. That's money in the bank. Our addiction makes withdrawals so we must make deposits.

Great that you posted! Don't ever give in. Those are fleeting cravings and they will come and go for awhile. It will keep getting better and better for you in time.