And here we goooo....

[bdomihizayka]

I'm headed back to America today. Live in an awesome "ritzy" suburb in South Jersey.....yet 5 miles from Camden X-(
Going to a meeting tonight as soon as I get back, not even going straight home.
I'm clean for a very long time in a "safe" environment in Russia, which was absolutely impossible to get drugs....now it's time to face the music and get on with my life.

Have any of yous done anything similar? Leaving your old stomping grounds then returning at some point? Was it hard? Did you make it?

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I'm headed back to America today. Live in an awesome "ritzy" suburb in South Jersey.....yet 5 miles from Camden X-(
Going to a meeting tonight as soon as I get back, not even going straight home.
I'm clean for a very long time in a "safe" environment in Russia, which was absolutely impossible to get drugs....now it's time to face the music and get on with my life.

Have any of yous done anything similar? Leaving your old stomping grounds then returning at some point? Was it hard? Did you make it?

I had to move away from the places I used to use in, to avoid being triggered on a subconscious level.

I haven't gone back to my old "stomping grounds" so to speak. I don't know how I'd fare if I did.

However, congratulations on getting the opportunity to go to Russia in order to get clean, and I'm glad you did it.

I'm sure when you get back to New Jersey, as long as you have a support network set up with friends/family members who know what you're going through and who want to see you stay clean, you should fare well. Just remember to reach out for help when you need to. Don't be afraid to, don't feel ashamed to need to reach out, just do it, and you'll be so glad you did. This is also a huge problem for me (I never reach out to others when I need to) so I wanted to make sure you don't make the same mistakes I do (feeling too ashamed/embarrassed to ask for the help I needed).

 

[herbavore]

Good luck and stay involved here. I'm glad you made this thread as a way of getting support. You can also use this thread as a daily check-in any time of day or night. Remember that having sober friends in your life is one of the best things that you can do to stay on track. Do you have plans for positive activities that you feel excited about pursuing?

 

[pskyhighatrist]

Beware of the crab in the bucket problem where when one crab crawls out the other crabs pull him back in. Good Luck

 

[mrflowers00]

i moved but it only lasted a month and a half because i couldn't take being in pain and sober so i moved back

 

[neversickanymore]

Is there a discussion going on in your head rite now? if so what are the two sides saying.. Support Network, you may have wanted to have this set up testing yourself is another word for getting ready to score

Edit: really like this

Beware of the crab in the bucket problem where when one crab crawls out the other crabs pull him back in. Good Luck

 

[Sepher]

Beware of the crab in the bucket problem where when one crab crawls out the other crabs pull him back in. Good Luck

I really like this analogy too. And worse, there's the danger that the bucket starts to look all too appealing again from the outside again and the crab climbs back in all by itself, it's a comfort zone thing. Trick is to find a new and better comfort zone so you can resist the pull of the old, rubbish one.

Bdomihizayka, support networks among none-using friends are gonna be pretty crucial I think, start work on them soon as you land. Doesn't matter where you find them and what they're made of so long as they're away from any drug scene and positive. Find something you enjoy doing that has a social aspect to it: check meetup.com, go climbing, go to meetings, join a meditation group, or a gym, start a part-time college course, volunteer with a soup-kitchen, anything at all, doesn't matter. Just do something that will fill your time and make you happy. Good luck!

 

[bdomihizayka]

Hey guys.... so this is my second night home..... been doing great.... stayed clean, even drove past Camden on the way home from the airport and went straight to a meeting. I really appreciate all the support and suggestions. You guys are awesome. I am definitely staying away from that crab bucket and even found a sponsor at an NA meeting.

Honestly, the whole flight home, there was a huge discussion in my head. My opiate tolerance is nonexistant. Just one use to celeberate. I won't get sick. Come on, let's get there already.... I need to get high. And then the rational Patrick was fighting back telling me this was the reason I went to rehab and then relocated in the first place.... remembering all the pain and suffering it caused.....it was a straight up schizo-fest in my head the whole way home.

I joined a gym, bought some healthy food, and started weight training again. And oddly enough, as soon as I got off the plane, an old friend of mine texted me, one of whom I haven't seen in forever because he was pissed about my drug abuse. So now I have more reason to stay straight.

And I checked meetup.com and it looks awesome! I joined and am going to utilize it.


Wish me luck guys..... Thank you and God bless you all and your own personal recoveries!

 

[herbavore]

So glad to hear that the Rational Patrick was in good form!

Sincerely, I am so happy for you. It sounds like you survived the first big trigger (coming back) and that you have put a few things in place to change the landscape (connecting with a sober friend, meet-up.com). We are all here for you.

 

[Sepher]

Yeah, I know just how easy it is to let yourself lose that just this once for old times' sake, what can it hurt argument so think you can call that a win. Keep at it, get some momentum going behind the positive start. Wish you well.