depression/addiction

[Dane74]

Do you think that depression is related to addiction?  I was never depressed before pills, using pills i was happy and energized, and then the pills turned on me and the depression/isolation kicked in and now after 4 plus months clean, still feeling blue.  Does it ever go away? Will we ever feel like we did before using?  I feel like this is a lifetime battle with addiction and depression, and i have NOTHING to be depressed about.   Ugg its so frustrating, i just want to feel normal and not think about a pill and go on my merry way. Sorry for my whining, i am just feeling sorry for myself today.

[Bearclaw2]

This article may help understand. Google... 'The 100 Day Hangover' After growing impatient myself at how long it was taking, this article explained that it just takes time for the brain to re-set itself. I was much better after 80 days clean but some days I still felt sad and re-reading the article helped. Now at 103 days clean the sad days are gone and I feel great.

[dominosarah]

Dane, Be a good girl and call the doctor in the morning.  You dont have to continue feeling like this.

[akitagurl12]

trust me I know all about those kinds of thoughts:(  Have you researched cymbalta at all?  To maybe see if others have this problem too.  It really could just be a chemical thing going on.  I do know one of the side effects of all antidepressants is depression. (???)  And maybe now that you are clean from the opiates, you dont need any?  I have suffered from depression my whole life and my parents both have it very bad, so i have been on and off different meds since i was 14 because that was what i was told i needed by doctors.  But now that i am not taking any drugs, illegal or legal, i feel so much better.  Hang in there, you will get this figured out. Just keep your guard up and remember taking opiates will not help at all & just make everything worse.

[Dane74]

i was on wellbutrin and that was well lets just say, effected my sex life.  So the dr switched me to the cymbalta.  I have no side effects with this med other than feeling like poop.  akitagirl, OMG, i would love to feel just half the joy your feeling, i am trying to so darn hard not to feel like this i just can't seem to shake it.  I am so happy that you are feeling so much motivation and enjoyment in life, as for me, i get dark ugly thoughts running through my head.  

[akitagurl12]

lol, gosh, i just reread my comment, i hope i dont sound like i am having a mania episode or something.  i am just really excited that my mind wants to really live again and today is the first day i am not having bad w/ds from getting off my med.  

[akitagurl12]

Hi Dane, i agree, maybe it is the cybamta (i know thats spelled wrong but i am too lazy to see how to spell it, sorry)  I took myself off effexor about 2 weeks ago and the first positive thing i have noticed has been my motivation to live and enjoy life again returning.  I am serious, i have all these ideas and goals for myself now that are completely unrelated to drugs and i haven't felt this motivated about living is years. I know it is directly related to that A/D I was on.  It was making me live on autopilot before. I blamed my depression on the vicodin, which did play a huge role, but this effexor screwed me even more and I never noticed until now.  This might be something you want to discuss with your doctor, a possible medication change or getting off it all together.  

[ImDONENoMore]

Dane maybe it's not the right AD for you?  I know a lot of times the Dr.'s have to try different AD's to find the right one for someone.  It might something as simple as trying a new med.

I took St. John's Wort for the first six months after I quit and I attribute that to my experiencing very little depression.  So even though that worked for me, it doesn't necessarily work for someone else.  Please talk to the Dr.  You have made such great strides these last four months and I hate to see you suffering like this.  It's true - you do have a lot to be grateful for, but remember honey, depression, like any other illness (addiction), needs to be treated as well.  Call your DR.!!!

[IBKleen]

Doomed is a pretty strong word. If I thought I was doomed I would have never gotten clean. I did go through a period of feeling blue I guess you could call it but it was short lived. To be honest, it took me a good solid 3 months to even get an ounce of energy back and probably a year to get back to what I would call normal. That was after almost 40 years of abusing drugs. I would say I was pretty lucky. Yes, I do believe that you will get back to whatever your normal is. I also believe that the disease of addiction plays mind games with us and a lot of what you may be feeling is mental. Your disease wants you to use. I have to suggest that you spend less time thinking about it and more time doing "normal" stuff. The more you ignore the voices the quieter they become....

[patrick65]

I am on day 6 tapering off lots of ups and downs i have been here before so i know what to expect is there any one out there tapering off for support cheers

[Dane74]

Thanks guys, Vicki, if we had that discussion about opiates/depression i don't remember.... LMAO  Another side effect i have,  no memory.  I am on Cymbalta, doc says its for depression and bone pain, if you ask me it doesn't do a darn thing.  
IBkleen, does our brain chemistry ever return to normal? Or are we just doomed?  

Pat, i agree, i rather  be angry not depressed, at least i can let off some steam somehow,  i can get creative...LOL  I feel like depression is a sign of weakness and i already know i am weak i do not need yet another reminder.

[IBKleen]

Opiates change our brain chemistry and so many people suffer from depression after years of use. I suggest that you see your doctor for a good check-up and see what is really going on. You should not have to suffer. After all, you did a great thing by getting clean so now take care of yourself. If you are suffering from a chemical imbalance your doctor may be able to treat it with a non-addictive medication. There is no shame in that hun.

Let us know how you are doing.

[vicki595]

Hi Sweetie-  I have my opinions about opiates and depression and I think I discussed this with you before?    

Anyway, I know a lot of people feel depressed after becoming clean and sometimes it lasts. I wasn't that way in that i didnt stay depressed. Are you taking any AD's now?   You might try that although I'm not so sure they work all that great...

I wish you didn't feel like this.

[Pat1956100]

Dane, I am feeling sorry for myself today too but I am more angry than depressed.  I would rather be angry.  Depression really s u c k s.
I dont know how old you are but you should talk to your doctor.  I don't think anyone should have to live their life like that.
I imagine someone else with more clean time will come on and give you better advice.  Maybe it is just another thing we have to go thru to get clean but I hate to see anyone feeling sad because I know how hard it is.
Read my post today and some of the comments that people made my make you smile.
Hugs
Pat