Do you need help quitting pills?

[Pat1956100]

Please let us help you.  It doesn't matter what you have posted previously or how many times you have "failed", lots of us have been there too and we aren't going to drag up your old posts or call you out because you didn't do what you said you were going to do.  We just know how hard it is to change your life and to stop using pills.  That's it, period.  We also know that it is so much better once you can get through it and live without them so we want to help you.  Don't be afraid to post and say you need help.  Nobody ever gave up on me and that is why I am clean today.  I promise, I won't give up on you.

[JephWyte]

I spent nearly 10 years addicted to opiates (percs at age 15 IV heroin use by age 17, got clean shortly before turning 24) and at LEAST the last 6 years I wanted every single day to get clean but could never do it. By the last 3 years, I wanted every single day to kill myself and I blieve today that my higher power didn't allow it. I must have tried hundreds of times to get clean before anything stuck. The difference this time was, I was willing to do whatever it took to get clean. I had nothing left and I just had to set my ego aside, admit I'm not the smartest man in the world, be humble, and LISTEN TO OTHERS!! You never know when it will stick people, just remain open to help and advice :)
   God bless,
      Jeff

[Pat1956100]

You are a softy lol.  Your wisdom is all over this forum and you have been very supportive of me, no matter what.
I am just hoping a few people decide to post and go from there.
First step is getting clean.  Yes, then the hard part begins.  Staying clean.

[Fireby29]

So true, let all the newer folks embrace this.

To be short, detox was nothing compared to the slog of healing my brain.  The good news is I am halfway there (data and science shows it takes about a year) and it gets better every day!  Still crave, but it gets easier to control.

Bottom line is the slog is SO worth it!  I feel like I have won myself back, now I have to protect myself every day.

Tell your secret, red flag yourself from narcs at doc, dentist and pharmacy, and get aftercare.

Bryan

[Teresa1717]

Great post Pat. I hope this post touches someone enough to encourage them to at least THINK seriously about putting their DOC down. Nobody will judge here. I know that was my biggest fear and  but its always been the opposite.  

[YesLife4Me]

100% agree!    I didn't understand that piece of the puzzle the first hundred times I tried to quit on my own.   Some people wake up feeling better and then feel lost.   Their whole lives were centered on every few hours taking or obtaining pills.  Now we need to restructure our lives with new coping skills, changing our routines in our day, etc.   That's when we find ourselves again.  And that is the miracle!  

[dominosarah]

The biggest misconception about this addiction is once the pills are gone it is done and over with.  It is only beginning and that is why we say getting clean is the easy part, staying clean is the hard one.  When we are sick from the wd's it doesnt feel that way, i fully understand that.

[YesLife4Me]

Try several meetings at different places until you find the one that works for you.   Also if you go back to the one you went to, there will be different people that may have something to contribute.   I go to AA meetings during the day and I always hear something I needed to here.   Like the people here, they want to help you as well.   They are always glad to see someone new walk through the door and begin the journey.  

[YesLife4Me]

I'm glad to help anyone going through the same struggles I've been through myself.   Yes, the pills messed me up emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, financially, you name it!    What a mess I was.   The withdraws are like having the flu.   We have no control over when the flu hits us, right?    We just surrender to the fact that we are going to be sick for a couple days.  Try to look at it like that.   And when the physical part is over, then you will look back and think "it wasn't that bad".   At least no compared to the rest of your life!    A few days of feeling yucky is worth it for the rest of your life being your true authentic self.    Embrace the withdraws as moving forward in your life free of pills.   Each minute, hour and day that passes is a moment to celebrate that you didn't use and you are getting toxins out of your body!   You CAN do this!     Post here frequently for questions and support too!  

[cork712]

Thanks for the encouragement! Quitting and relapsing is difficult, but it seems to make it clearer how rotten using is. It really helps to read that I'm not the only one who's done it, and that achieving sobriety leads to a better life. How has NA helped anyone? Went to a meeting last week; not sure if it's for me but will try another...

[dominosarah]

Your right noone ever gave up on you even us hard core ones.  I do remember where i came from and i will not glamorize this addiction or sugar coat it.

[jonmom2012]

Thank you so much for this.  Tomorrow is my last day of my taper and then the real fun begins...   Dreading it.  My main motivator was the change in my personality...I have become volatile, unpredictable, combative, agitated...I want to get back to the kind, empathetic person I am.  

[YesLife4Me]

To anyone quitting,

I know you are scared of withdraws, I know you are feeling about as low as you possibly can, I know you want your life back free or pills!   This people here have not only helped each other, but as people continue to join, those people start cheering on others and all the help and suggestions help ALL of us!   Don't be discouraged if you have tried and failed.  I have done it many times.  Eventually it sticks and you learn something new about yourself and your reovery.  As Pat once told me "you eventually get sick and tired of being sick and tired".   24 days here this time and it feels good to wake up and not reach for pills!   :)  

[toothfairie]

that's awesome Back2Me!!  if you mean you are stopping??  sorry i know it will be tough but you can do it!  you have all our support from here!  

[toothfairie]

just wanted to lend my support NewFaith!  keep posting and reaching out for help....this site is awesome...it's helped save my life.....so please post and and ask for help when you need it!  we are here for you!

[Back2Me]

This will be me after tomorrow :/

[littlebit667]

I was you.  The hardest thing was admitting I had a problem!  Glad you are here.  

[Pat1956100]

Aww sweety don't ever give up.  The fact that you want to quit speaks volumes.  If you didn't succeed your first time doesn't matter.  Just keep trying and I believe you will get there.  We need compassion here and not hard core crap.  We need to remember what it was like when we attempted to quit so many times and had trouble doing it.
I remember and I know that I am still struggling.
How about we just say that we aren't going to use today?  Would that help you?

[Sonrissa]

Please don't worry! We have been there and done that! I know exactly how it feels! We won't judge or criticize! Only listen and help!

[NewFaithToday]

Thank you for posting this. I have been reading on this sight for hours trying to work up the courage to admit I failed on my own post. Now after reading your words, the tears started pouring. I hold this site dear to my heart because here, 4 days ago, was the first time in 5 years I admitted I had a problem to anyone and that I wanted help. Again thank you for giving me that push of courage/strength.

[Sonrissa]

Well said, Pat! I hope that if there are people out there reading this, and they are miserable, and frustrated, and sad, and lost, and most of all, feel alone, I pray they will post their story, and reach out for help and support!

I know that I failed many times! It was here that I found the courage and the hope that I needed to stop the misery. It hasn't been easy, it still isn't sometimes, but here I found the caring advice and support I needed to get through it!

Thank you!