polymath
Bluelight Crew
Congrats Tripman! 

Not really saying 12 step is bad, I just don't see why it is forced down everyone who is trying to quit, at least for the first time's throat, like it's the ONLY way to go. I think it is possible to people to still use drugs, recreationally, just not their PROBLEM drugs, be it opioids, or meth, or coke, or whatever, as long as they stay away from those, and similar ones to those, I think they'd be fine. With me, weed and alcohol have never been a problem ever, that's why I think, and hope, after I abstain from my opies and benzos, I can still do those on occasion, bc I think I will go crazy if I can't do anything at all, ever.
This is actually a quote from The count of Monte Cristo.
I am feeling better some times but not all the time.
I believe I suffer from severe depression
I think my mind will never be fully healthy
But I am OK with that. I am still happier off drugs.
It is nice not having to constantly inject myself anymore. It's nice to let the obsession die.
I understand why people do not want to use cannabis or alcohol or whatever when they're clean, because they believe it will cause them to want to use or use their problem drugs. Thing is, for me, this has never been the case. In fact, smoking cannabis makes me want to use say opioids even less. Alcohol too. At most, I might get depressed day after alcohol use.
But also, I've been able to do another thing I doubt most people have been able to do. Say you quit heroin via Suboxone and are doing good, could you be around heroin, or watch people shooting up/using said drug, and not only not care about using, but not use at all??? I've been able to do this for many years now, I have no idea why, I assume it is just because the suboxone is doing it's job well enough, plus when I think about using any other opioids again, it freaks me out, the whole cycle, and withdrawal and such.
No, the support groups I've been to were regular 12 step ones, they did not mention SMART but I have read about those. I agree once sober it would help to talk about stuff with other people in same situations, and meet recently sober friends/peers. I just think quitting everyone all at once is too much of a shock to the system, and never doing anything, ever, is too much. Because regular people certainly don't do nothing. They have beers now and then, smoke now and then, whatever. Just stay away from drugs that are similar to problem drugs, or drugs that might make you want to use, and I don't forsee a problem, unless all drugs make you want to do this, for some crazy reason.
I've never been on or quit benzos so I can't speak directly to it, but you have the right attitude in general: just get through today. Beating the acute opiate withdrawal was the hardest thing I've ever done but I did it by focusing on one day at a time. Just get through the current day and the next one will get better, I would say. Here I am at 24 days clean and feel, for the most part, great and better each day.Day 3 off benzos is far more difficult than just lowering a dose -_-.. This is definitely a test of mental endurance for sure. I am sure everything will start to even out after Day 7 so if I get through today I just have 4 more to go.
If anyone has any past history or tips for this last bit I am certainly open to it..
I've never been on or quit benzos so I can't speak directly to it, but you have the right attitude in general: just get through today. Beating the acute opiate withdrawal was the hardest thing I've ever done but I did it by focusing on one day at a time. Just get through the current day and the next one will get better, I would say. Here I am at 24 days clean and feel, for the most part, great and better each day.
One day at a time. You can do it
We're all slaves to this game, but this time, we win!
I understand why people do not want to use cannabis or alcohol or whatever when they're clean, because they believe it will cause them to want to use or use their problem drugs. Thing is, for me, this has never been the case. In fact, smoking cannabis makes me want to use say opioids even less. Alcohol too. At most, I might get depressed day after alcohol use.
But also, I've been able to do another thing I doubt most people have been able to do. Say you quit heroin via Suboxone and are doing good, could you be around heroin, or watch people shooting up/using said drug, and not only not care about using, but not use at all??? I've been able to do this for many years now, I have no idea why, I assume it is just because the suboxone is doing it's job well enough, plus when I think about using any other opioids again, it freaks me out, the whole cycle, and withdrawal and such.
No, the support groups I've been to were regular 12 step ones, they did not mention SMART but I have read about those. I agree once sober it would help to talk about stuff with other people in same situations, and meet recently sober friends/peers. I just think quitting everyone all at once is too much of a shock to the system, and never doing anything, ever, is too much. Because regular people certainly don't do nothing. They have beers now and then, smoke now and then, whatever. Just stay away from drugs that are similar to problem drugs, or drugs that might make you want to use, and I don't forsee a problem, unless all drugs make you want to do this, for some crazy reason.
Wow, sd.h -- you really have done so well! I don't want to unbalance your dedication, so just keep doing what you've been doing -- it's working! Much love!