Heroin Hmmm Prolonged Withdrawal?

[ilikedrugs77]

Hey all, first of all I wanted to thank my fellow blue lighter's for helping me get through some hard times in the past and ALWAYS responding to my threads which I greatly appreciate. It's been a rough year for me in every way including addiction.

So, I was addicted to heroin for about 6 months (shooting), about 3 months ago I quit cold turkey. I got withdrawals, but they were actually not that bad?.. (weird right?) Hoever, I definitely withdrawled. During this period of time (about a week to two weeks) I was drinking HEAVILY every night to help. I got chills for about a month. Intense chills... very uncomfortable. Besides this, the first week my body was very sore, I was very restless, but very tired, very anxious, depressed as hell, sweating like crazy, emotional liable (I would randomally start crying all the time for about a week) craved like a mofo, but I WAS able to go out and do stuff, it was just extremely uncomfortable.

So.. I considered myself lucky, I quit, and I have only relapsed 1 time in the past 3 months (got some dope and did it over a 2 day period, then stopped even though I could have kept going.), I don't even crave dope anymore (though I still want it sometimes.)

Anyways I'm going off topic a little, but here's my question.. Could it be possible that even though I don't crave dope or anything anymore that the INTENSE anxiety I have been experiencing lately (especially social anxiety) could partly be due to a kind of prolonged-opiate withdrawal? It's been 3 months, 1 month since my short relapse, but my anxiety is very intense and I can't figure out what is causing it. I have always had bad anxiety, but not like this, I can barely talk to my friends anymore.

So could heroin be the reason why this is happening? Has anyone else experienced stuff like this?

 

[carr90]

Its s bitch ! I am in a similar situation as you. As far as time clean and what not. I believe it has to do with the endorphines you are forcing to be released when using opiates. I would suggest trying out a light benzo, but i know for me personally that it is a slippery slope. Just take it one day at a time and good luck in your recovery.

 

[Sepher]

Yeah, anxiety is one of the classic symptoms that come under the Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome umbrella. Though you've got through the physical withdrawal symptoms your brain is still adjusting and it can take some months for things to start coming properly right after detox. Partly down to neurotransmitters being out of whack and not yet back to some sort of 'normal' balance, but perhaps more important IMO/IME is the fact that as an opiate addict you've been used to medicating strong emotions, particularly negative ones away. You're not quite used to the intensity of those emotions any more and kind of have to relearn how to deal with them without the opiate crutch. That can be difficult, no two ways about it, especially if you're carrying guilt or living with the negative consequences of things you did while an addict. They're also self-sustaining to an extent: you get anxious about being anxious.

I would not recommend you try to self-medicate for it with benzos or whatever. That's what's caused the problem in the first place! You need to give your mind and body more time to recover. It tends to do that quite well all by itself given enough clean time. Diet and exercise are often helpful, search for 'PAWS' or 'post acute withdrawal syndrome' on here for more suggestions. Most importantly stay away from opiates of any description. Even infrequent use will interfere with recovery, but otherwise things will begin to improve in time. Just hang in there. Best of luck!

 

[Bill]

I don't even crave dope anymore (though I still want it sometimes.)

I'm pretty sure that's a craving lol

So could heroin be the reason why this is happening? Has anyone else experienced stuff like this?

Yes it's the PAWS (post acute withdraw symptoms)
Think about it, you were addicted to one of the strongest downers there is, your body got used to it, it's only normal for your body to be out of wack and super anxious and whatever else now

It doesn't last forever though but the more times you relapse the longer you're going to have to deal with the anxiety and stuff because you have learn and try to adjust back to normal ie with out any opiates at all and it doesn't just happen in a few weeks or so

 

[rocketqueen]

Yeah, anxiety is one of the classic symptoms that come under the Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome umbrella.

I second what @Sepher said, friend. What you are experiencing is post acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). Google it, then is a TON of information about it. After floating on a warm fluffy cloud of oblivion for six months, there is going to be some fallout. Your brain must adjust to making endorphins again, (as it did not have when you were providing artificial endorphins through the heroin) and intense anxiety is indeed a very normal and natural thing for you to be experiencing!

That being said, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, FRIEND, WAY TO GO! Good on ya, man, you have gone a place where angels fear to tread, you made it through heroin withdrawal! If you slip, hey, it happens, but do not let a slip (one time use) turn into full blown relapse. Please don't. Your brain has changed, you see. The neural pathways in your brain are seared like a steak on a barbecue pit. Anytime you introduce opioids into your system from here on out your brain is going to welcome the opioid home warmly and with arms wide open like greeting a dear old friend. If you break your leg and they give you Vicodin? If you chose to take the Vicodin you are playing with fire, with relapse. And you do now want to go through this again, do ya? Do not end up like me, on methadone for over twenty years...

 

[pyro2525]

I've been told by a reputable source that your brain (i.e. the neurotransmitter balance) will return to baseline after 6 - 12 months depending on your history of drug use (don't know if you've used other things before etc), so you could find normal coming back sooner than that.

The other problem lies in the brain being very adaptable (neurotransmitter/receptor ratios changing leading to drug tolerance) and it being able to remember those things for a fair amount of time. IME even if I am past withdrawal and I relapse with even a very small amount I will withdrawal again, not badly but I can definitely tell for a few days. This negates your dry time and keeps you in post-acute withdrawal where you will be generally more sensitive to everything until the brain adjusts.

 

[Coraline]

Anxiety is very crippling. The best advice I could give you other that relaxing and focusing on visual imaging like your favorite vacation spot or something really calming and pleasant , is to talk to your doctor. They can help give you the best advice to help you with your situation.

 

[racerriderj]

I've been told by a reputable source that your brain (i.e. the neurotransmitter balance) will return to baseline after 6 - 12 months depending on your history of drug use (don't know if you've used other things before etc), so you could find normal coming back sooner than that.

The other problem lies in the brain being very adaptable (neurotransmitter/receptor ratios changing leading to drug tolerance) and it being able to remember those things for a fair amount of time. IME even if I am past withdrawal and I relapse with even a very small amount I will withdrawal again, not badly but I can definitely tell for a few days. This negates your dry time and keeps you in post-acute withdrawal where you will be generally more sensitive to everything until the brain adjusts.

This is consistent w/my experience. Anxiety and Depression are the parting gifts of acute withdrawal for me. The only thing that I've found makes paws go away and/or pass more quickly is exercise. You can almost feel when your body starts making it's own morphine again -- the "runners" high of a good workout returns and it feels soooo blissful.

Lot of good advice in this thread. Be patient, it will get better.

 

[pkt]

I have come off heroin several times in the many years i was abusing and the last time i stopped using with bupe like i had done the time before with almost no withdrawal, but this time i was sick for like 2 months after taking my last dose of bupe and it just felt like withdrawals but i still went to several hospitals and got all the exams done but doctors didnt find anything and just told me it must be psychological.