How Do You Deal With Cravings?

[david0263]

I have made it to day 8 and physically don't feel bad at all.  Mentally I am a wreck.  I can't quit thinking about those pills.  I know what they do to me in the long run and it ain't pretty as I am sure you all know.  I've done drugs all my life but I never really stuck to one thing for very long so I never really got addicted to anything.  For me DOC stands for drug of convience.  Lortabs are different though.  With Lortab there was a physical addition that has lasted for years.  Now that that physical part is pretty much over the cravings are driving me crazy.  I never burnt the bridge with my doctor I just cancelled my last appointment at the urging of my addiction counselor.  Today I called to make a new one but luckily the office closes early on Fridays.  How do you guys deal with cravings?  As many times as I have been in withdrawl and as sick as I got this time I can't believe I am even contemplating getting more.

[kyjobr]

I'm not sure what to tell you about friends since I also have the same issue but with family.  I guess my response would be the typical cliche, if they were your true friends they would love you enough to be proud and support you in improving your life.  If they not support that then they are your true friends.  So much easier said than done, I know...

[road2recovery]

for me craving only lasted a little while..But they came late in my recovery, at least to me..So i would just jump on here and post so friends here could help me, and a sponsor i have.
i know how bad they can get...Try to find CATUF post about them, it made so much sense..i will try to find it for you and post it and hope it helps u..It sure helped me
congrats and keep going
R2R

[david0263]

I am seeing an addiction counselor once a week through the employee assistance program.  I am aloud 6 sessions at my employers expence.  I have 1 session left so it's time to either start paying myself or move on to something different like NA..  I also thought about going to Celebrate Recovery which is a faith based recovery group.  I think for me to get sober I will have to be accountable to someone other than myself.  For me accountability is a great motivator.  That probably comes from my 15 years of active duty military service.

Thanks for your input.  You have much to say that is of value to me.

[IBKleen]

Making new friends is difficult for a lot of people. I DO understand that.

It is especially difficult for addicts to do when they get clean because we are used to "hiding" behind our drug and feeling like a superhero. It was easy then. Then we get clean, and a lot of times anxiety sets in, and now we don't know how to make friends.

I also started using at age 13. Back then I would make friends by lying to them, or embellishing to make them feel sorry for me. After I got clean for the first time I went to counseling and that was a big issue that we dealt with. I was in counseling for 3 years. Amongst other things, I eventually learned how to approach people and found that they liked me for me. That took me a long time.

You asked if the ability to care comes back? I don't believe that we ever lose that ability. It just gets channeled elsewhere during our active addiction.

If you don't mind me asking, have you considered counseling? That may be an easier first step for you then the meetings right now until you get on your feet. You can always start the meetings at a later date, when you are more comfortable. I would hate to see you get pushed into going to meetings, and then get discouraged. It is a wonderful experience and you should get the most out of it, want to be there and feel comfortable.

Thank about it.

[david0263]

You are right when you say "If your friends are using, then what do you have left in common?".  The answer to that for the most part is nothing.  There may be a few friendships that I would be able to hold on to but for the most part, these are people that I have fun with, but that fun always involves drugs. Who wants to be sober around a bunch of people gettin high?  

At the risk of sounding cliche, making new friends is hard for me.  It's not that I can't talk to new people, it's that I have such a hard time fostering the relationship.  Drugs help with that because I am forming a new connection for possible use later on.  Do you think my inability to foster a relationship could be because I started drugs so early in life (13)?  Does the ability to care for another person come back when the drug use stops?

[IBKleen]

Good Morning!

I gotta jump in here and say that my experience with NA has changed my life. I was introduced to the program in 1988. I jumped in with both feet in 1989 and spent 5 years very active until I relapsed with pain meds (NOT my DOC). Now I am back. Again, life changing.

It has been great getting to know all new people who are just like me. I used to love going on commitments and spending the weekends at conventions. Really cool stuff! I hope to get back on board with that son.

As far as your friends...that is a tough one. They say to stay away from people, places and things. If your friends are using, then what do you have left in common? I know I would have a really hard time being around that, so I avoid it. I am fortunate that I have many friends who do not use.

I hope who can get through this and now get past the "weed" thing and the "drinking" thing. I hope you will find your way to live life..drug free.

Take care and Keep posting!

[david0263]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with NA.  I made it yesterday without using but I did smoke some weed to get those thoughts out of my head.  I really want to be sober and smoking weed and drinking is not at all condusive to that end.  I think NA would help me make new friends because with the friends that I do have staying sober will be an impossible task.  What do you do when all of your friends are addicts and you are trying to get sober?  I've known most of these people for many years and they are good people.  I don't want them to say "oh no here comes David put all the dope away"  but I don't want to walk into the house and see a bunch of drugs because of the temptation.  Did you all have to make new friends and let the old frienships fall to the wayside?

[notmenow!]

Why not ask your dr for an opiate antagonist such as naltrexone, it will prevent you from feeling the euphoric effects of all opiates. If your serious then do it--------------Noah

[narc-vet]

Music, dude.  If you are cleansing your mind as well, put in some good stuff to listen to.  Watch the hairs on your neck stand up when it hits you good, it is a true high you will feel.

[beachtowel]

N/A like A/A don't care if you high or drunk while your there it means your not out using at the time..........
I would never judge anyone that I knew was taking Suboxone but I may encourage them to stop once I got to know them a little better.......

I don't know who said they don't like suboxone uses because there not clean that is not true it would not even be true with a Heroin user..........who I have sat next to many times.........
The rules are no guns or weapons at the meetings........

[kyjobr]

I could have swore I responded to this but I don't see it now...

anyway, I went to my first NA meeting last night and it was life changing.  I was so scared that I was crying when I showed up.  Then everyone started hugging me and telling me how much they cared about me and I cried even more.  I'll admit that I did look around during the sharing part and think "I'm better than these people" but only for a second.  During my sharing (which I didn't have to do if I didn't want to) I told them that I was on suboxone.  I was so scared to do that because some people on this board a long time ago (can't remember who), said that NA people don't like suboxone users because they're "not clean".  But I found that to be completely untrue.  At least for the group I went to.  They were immediately like family to me.  As I shared they were nodding because they knew exactly what I was going through!  I can't encourage you enough to go to one.  I feel so much stronger now.  I really don't have much support in the rest of my life because they have no clue as to what addiction really means and/or don't even think I need help (that would be my husband).  There was no judgement at all from these NA people.  Again, I can't encourage you enough to start going.  

[beachtowel]

In N/A when your in the place that your at it says to go to 90 meetings in 90 days.......

I didn't have the fear of N/A like you I thought I was better then they were that they all had a problem that I didn't have........I was better then they were.........

When I went to my first meeting I looked around and all I wanted to do was run right back out the door.......this guy walked up to me and welcomed me and started talking to me.......I remember he told me I looked like a deer in headlites........

I'm glad I stayed the people there really helped me and the biggest advantage is they taught me how to deal with triggers and cravings........so today I can deal with them and that voice that whispers in my ear does not get through any more and the more clean time you get the easier it is to fight.......

[bettie1976]

my bf was a drunk from age 14. He goes to meetings, MAKE yourself go to one. See if you like it. You dont have to talk or stay if you dont want to.

[david0263]

I wish I had the guts to get to an AA/NA meeting.  I really need it.  It's just that without drugs my anxiety is so dang high I can't get myself to walk inside. I've been high or drunk since I was 13 years old and now that i want to get sober it feels so unnatural and scary.  I worry that the way i feel now is as good as it gets.  Sobriety has got to get better than this.

[david0263]

Thanks for the advice guys.  Just reading your replies has helped some.  The intense craving has subsided for now.  I do need to tell my doctor because just knowing that the pills are just one phone call away sucks.

"Do everything you can to make life hell for your evil twin." kyjobr

You know, that is exactly the way I feel, like two people and one of us EVIL.

[bettie1976]

i also talk about it to anyone who will listen. like right here. if i was having cravings id call my sponsor (and I have) talk to my bf, my friends, you guys etc...keep posting and hopefully those cravings will go away!

[IBKleen]

I talk about it..to ANYONE who will listen..I talk about it at meetings..I talk to my sponsor..I call people..I just keep talking till I fall asleep.

It is tough, I know......

Do ANYTHING...just don't pick up. Talk..run..breathe...scream...go to the movies....whatever...Just hang in there. It will get better.

[bettie1976]

Breathe. Think about something else for awhile. The cravings will pass. Taking a walk, riding a bike, reading a book, do anything that gets your mind off of it. Exercise is best tho because it produces natural endorphines in your body and youll feel much better. Just get out there and run a mile. Ok, maybe not that far but you get my point.

[kyjobr]

8 days is awesome!  That's usually about the time I start losing the fight to that little devil on my shoulder.  Call your doctor right now and tell them to never give you a script again!!!!!  You have to burn those bridges or the cravings will never go away.  That is where I screwed up last time.  I knew I had a refill available at the pharmacy and I should have called and cancelled it when I was stronger.  Do everything you can to make life hell for your evil twin.

[Lotsatrout]

They will be there for awhile.  Here's what I "try" to do...  I try to keep myself busy but busy with other people.  When I'm by myself is when I get myself into trouble.  I deal with cravings much easier when I am around other people.  It keeps my mind distracted from wanting to use.  Find things that you enjoy and that you can do with other people.  The cravings are a fight and if you don't fight you will lose.  They will beat the snot out of you.  You just need to be a better fighter than your opponent.  There are all sorts of hobbies that I enjoy but I find that when I'm with other people I deal with the cravings better.  Hope that helps!  

Day 8 is excellent.  Don't throw it down the toilet by getting another Rx....  You've really come a long way!  You're doing great!

Trout