• H&R Moderators: streaM Freak

Can I detox on my own without the world noticing?

Rositalih

Greenlighter
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
4
Location
The Pacific Northwest
Hi! This is my first post, and truly don't know where it goes (I have never utilized a site like this)... I hope that I can explain my situation well:

I've been smoking heroin for years recreationally. I have a severe anxiety disorder and honestly, the first time I used when I was eighteen, I thanked God for showing me that I wouldn't always have to be so afraid...this is not exactly on topic...let me see. I have been smoking heroin for years, on and off, never actually getting physically dependent, until this year. I never shot regularly, only once in a while (sometimes not for years), as a special occasion, or a few times when I joined a friend, out of town on a binge, and he injected me. I never knew how to use needles until this year as well.

I went through an incredibly intense period this year where I found out that my husband was not only psychologically abusing me, but cheating on me it a terrible, terrible way, that I cannot go into describing. I moved out but eventually took him back, and forgave him for everything, and believed everything he said, and truly felt that our love could be stronger.

Nightmares reoccurred. He in fact never stopped cheating on me. There are aspects to this story that make it much worse than what may come across as a simple case of infidelity that I should be able to get over, but I am not sure of the level of disclosure which is common here. Long story short I began using in earnest. Daily. But still only smoking (this was about six months ago). I am also in an intensive school program, where I am in class from eight to three Monday through Friday, and attendance is crucial (below 95% attendance for the year bars you from taking your exams and being certified, even if you completed the immense work load). I swear now that the heroin got me through school while suffering through an extremely terrible time with my husband. I can say that perhaps the heroin even kept me from hurting myself in other ways. I became physically addicted after about a month, but was able to detox with suboxone (not sure if that is spelled correctly). I started again fairly quickly. The relationship between myself and my husband is one of horrible contention but much love as well. I don't know if I can ever get over what he did to me. My self esteem has been shattered and I seriously suffer from PTSD symptoms related to things which he did.

A month ago I began shooting it. My husband is waking up so I have to finish this quickly (yes, I have stayed with him, I think, until school is finished and I will be strong enough to go)...I have terrible asthma so I actually can't smoke it anymore (I was hospitalized for lack of oxygen about a month ago). My tolerance has gone up quickly and I perhaps hit three times a day. I am terrified about school (we have been on break for the last three weeks). Will I be able to quite with suboxone and still go to school without the administration or my classmates knowing that I am an addict? If I am able to find a large quantity of subs? I cannot go to a detox or rehab because of school, and because of other reasons I can't share in this post. Before I hit in the morning I feel terrible, very sick. Is it possible? Or am I basically doomed to waste the year of school which I did everything to hold onto? I really hate this addiction now. I feel terrible that I let this happen to myself and often feel incredibly hopeless. I cannot lose this opportunity to work when certified by the association which accredits my school; it has meant everything to me and finally makes me feel like a worthwhile person.

Thank you.

Please tell me what you think. Thank you so much.
 
I've not got enough experience with opiates to say whether or not other people will notice. I do think you can detox by using suboxone, if you are not able to get any or enough of that you can look into kratom. I've heard that many opiate addicts find it useful for suppressing withdrawals. It's easy to find online, cheap and legal in most countries.
 
What makes you think that you can't get on a treatment/maintainance program because of school?

I'm at university now, on both a buprenorphine and diazepam script for treatment of addiction and my uni knows everything.
 
I think it's going to be very hard for you to detox without anyone noticing, and even harder to stay clean if you keep your habit a secret. And especially if you don't change the things in your life that trigger you. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just quietly put it down without anyone noticing or disrupting our lives and just never pick up again? In my experience it just doesn't work like that :(
 
It's possible. But the funny thing is, the whole world isn't there to frown on you if they do find out. It's hard to keep sobriety a secret when you're filled with shame, regret and grief. And there's nothing wrong with holding onto those things as long as you make room for other things. Going to N.A./A.A. might help.
 
Rosita--- From reading your post, it sounds absolutely CRITICAL that you find a good counselor/psychologist/psychiatrist. Your anxiety levels are through the roof, and simply "quitting" heroin (and replacing it with Sub) isn't going to "fix" your self-esteem and anxiety issues (I say self-esteem, because you mention "my husband" so many times, it is as if you see him as being critical to your self-esteem and happiness....when it sounds like he's doing everything he can to destroy it). Learning strength --- on our own--- is truly, I believe, the ONLY way to really kick our "demons." Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication will help....GOOD counseling will help more. Living "crisis-to-crisis" is not really living at all----unless you want to live in hell (I know---I've been there).....Please consider making an appointment.....
 
^^ I agree, good therapy sounds like a great option for you. You can also look into IOP programs and also AA/NA.

As far as others noticing, it really depends on how bad your withdrawals are. There is a certain point where I can get away with pulling off "normal" during withdrawal (though it's still miserable), but past a certain point it is almost pointless to try - you may need to arrange some time off of your normal life while detoxing.

Another option is looking into outpatient detox programs. They usually hook you up with meds like Clonidine and/or gabapentin which will allow you to more or less function normally while detoxing. Look into programs in your area.

Yet another option is something like Kratom maintenance. I personally went on Kratom from an oxy habit while avoiding (or to be more accurate, delaying) most off the withdrawals and then once the oxy was out of my system I then used gabapentin to get off of the Kratom (the Kratom was way harder to get off of than normal because of being directly connected to oxy use then getting off Kratom itself alone was).

I'd say your best bet judging by what you said about your situation is to look into outpateint detox programs in the area, or Kratom. It's usually better to talk to outpatient workers than your regular doctor only because they have more experience with addiction. Typical doctors don't tend to be too experienced with addiction cases.
 
Last edited:
Just my two cents: your recovery is more important than your ego. I understand the million reasons for not wanting different circles to know about your situation, but I've found being more open about my recovery (friends, family) has normalized it where it's able to co-exist with who I'm trying to get back to being.
 
My program is for a specific alternative teacher-training to lead a classroom of young children, and substances are not tolerated in any way. When I started the program I signed an agreement that stated my training would be terminated if I was found under the influence (during school hours), and addiction in any way is not tolerated. I must quit before I begin working in the field. I could not live with myself otherwise. How confidential is this forum? I have another, very important reason that no one can know, but don't know if I can share it.
 
I know. I am just praying it's not impossible. Last weekend I was able to buy five subs. I was only given two with the promise of more, but got through three days of detox and then had to give up because I got ripped off--there were no more coming, and had a final the next morning, and was still non-functionally ill. I feel dejected over it but trying not to get hopeless. Going to try again as soon as I get the opportunity. But now I am running out of money :(
 
My main fear, and what I'm even scared of sharing in this forum, is that I have a young child. He has never been in direct contact with my use, and I have been a good mother (I know this is true, and I do not often say good things about myself). I kept him healthy and happy when my husband left us and when he came back. I have worked so hard for his peace, as I don't want him to ever feel like I did as a child. I love him so much. So I can't risk losing him. I can't let anyone know. I feel totally trapped by my addiction now, though it once helped me get through the impossible. Telling this is terrifying. I was hospitalized for a respiratory problem a few months ago and opiates were found in my system and I immediately was visited by CPS. They tested me for two months and let me go after passing all. THe gentleman assigned to my case apologized for having to intrude in our lives and told me he thought that I was a true and good mother. If I am found out I feel it would be the worst possible thing to ever happen to me and my son. I would be ruined. I don't think I would be able to live anymore if I somehow lost him. I have to get off this stuff.
 
That doesn't mean you have to go through the process alone though. There are lots of support groups out there that can offer you the psychological support you'll need to get onn the road to recovery.
 
Wow. Please know that I mean it in the kindest and, above all, most understanding way, when I say you are a mess. That happens, though; life is messy. I've been a mess on many occasions. I really hope that you have some good friends with whom you can be honest and who can help you through these troubles. Your first post in this thread, not just by content but by form, screams that you've got way too much on your plate. With all that you have to handle right now, I do not see a very good chance for you to detox and stay detoxed without a lot of help from friends and, possibly, professionals. Will the world know that you're detoxing from heroin? Probably not - what is obvious to us flies under the radar for non-addicts. Will people notice that you're not well at all? Likely yes. I'm guessing that you will look and behave like you have a severe flu. Sobo does help a lot, but can become a dependency itself. I wish you luck; I don't know if I really have a point here, except that its clear that you're hurtin' and I've been hurting before, too. Keep your head up.
 
Top