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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic

Opioids How do you cope with PAWS depression?

Zopiclone bandit

Zopiclone bandit

Bluelighter
Joined
Jan 25, 2018
Messages
12,165
Well it is a simple post & just as the label said I guess folks.
The last few days I have been totally clean & the whtdrawl I had wasn't that bad really but I've used heroin now since 2001 & at the start I was totally confused why I would get these totally crushing forms of depression after use for days on end, the more I used heroin the worse it would become. The depression I am going through now has been some of the worst I have ever had & I have my own views upon self harm & other things like that but yesterday I was tossing around in my head doing something really bad & looking upon it now as I sit here now it would have been a really stupid thing to do.

How do other long term users of heroin & other strong forms of opium cope with the PAWS depression?
Days like yesterday make sitting it out near impossible, the mental effects from suing heroin I swear are worse than the physical issues you go through, at the worst you have a week of nasty pains etc but then it goes away, the mental effects are so much worse in my view. Anyone that could guide me how to cope with the black moods that come over you would be great, yesterday I actually cried like a little kid while thinking of killing myself, yeah sadly I AM that fucking pathetic as a human folks!!!!!
 
Honestly the very best thing I can recommend is exercise. Regular, daily exercise. When I came off opiates I started working out 5 days a week. I joined a gym but that's not necessary; however, it makes it easier in my opinion because once you're there you just do it, and there's equipment and stuff. Getting in 30 minutes of good cardio is the most important, it will release endorphins which will help with the PAWS on a chemical level. Then there's the general feeling of being in shape, it makes your whole life feel better, it's crazy the difference it makes. I also would do weights, just some strength training stuff. Not only is it good for you and releases more endorphins and makes you feel stronger, but it helps produce confidence. Your core muscles (back/chest/abs) are the most important. When my core is strong everything in life feels easier.

I used to be the kind of guy to shrug off exercise, and when people would tell me it would make me feel better (when I tried to quit opiates many times), I'd be like sure man, whatever. But it's fucking true. Daily exercise helps SO MUCH with PAWS, and with other areas of life. I am actually way out of the working out game, I lost my license almost a year ago and it's hard to get rides to the gym, and the difference in my life is really noticeable. I'm a lot less emotionally stable than I was like 3 months after I got off opiates, and I've been clean from opiates for over 5 years. The difference? Regular exercise/being in shape. It makes a huge difference in mood and mental stability whether you're in PAWS or not. I'm not talking about being a "gym guy"... you can do it without a gym too, jogging, etc. I just find a gym a useful tool.

Other than that, it's important to fill your time with stuff you like doing that makes you feel good. Boredom is a killer, if you're bored, you're going to focus on how you feel. If you're occupied with things that make you feel good, not only will you be focused on something else, but you'll be feeling better.
 
Zopiclone Bandit! For a second there, I assumed that you were a new face! Post Acute Withdrawal is a major bitch. There's really no way to sugar coat the experience. One of the most torturous aspects of this sort of thing, is that it is really so difficult to gain true perspective on your situation. When you're depressed and contemplating suicide, it's not easy to "remember" what it was like to be happy. Heroin turned me into a shell of a human being. Simple things in my life became impossible.

I remember how good it felt to step into a hot shower when I was really feeling it. I remember standing in the warmth of the shower, contemplating for what seemed like an eternity, the fact that I needed to step out of that warmth. It would be cold. I'll shiver. It's too much. The anxiety of stepping out of the shower into a few seconds of discomfort was a Herculean task. Everything seems impossible. But, it is not impossible to get through it and recover. Will either of us every be truly human again? Who knows, but I do know that it can be "better".

What pains me in these situations, is that we all have to start with zero self-confidence. We definitely tend to glance over the fact that we are sober. The hard fact? Society will not typically give you a trophy for conquering your addiction. You weren't supposed to be addicted in the first place so fuck you. Abstinence from this shit is one of the most trying experiences that I believe any human being can go through. You will only begin to heal if you take stock in what you are doing well and not focusing on the negatives in your life. If you are unable to find that little bit of self-respect, it won't work.

What you've done so far with your abstinence is nothing short of miraculous. I believe that, regardless of where you get your statistics, most people don't quit. You did. Kudos to you my friend. This is the beginning. I know it's difficult, but you have a cheerleading squad dedicated to your recovery and god-forbid, happiness. You can hit me up anytime or one of my colleagues. We are here to help.
 
If youre 18 years sober I do not believe this could be attributed to PAWS (which last up to 2 years I believe). Sounds more like untreated alcoholism to me..

But what the hell do I know congrats on being clean off of heroin for that long.. I don’t think I’ll make it even close to that far
 
Im still hooked but i do know the trick is more or less to keep the mind busy, if youre busy persay exercising, you wont be thinking about dope thats forsure, and without experience of actually being able to get off ops, i take 100mg morphine/9mg hydro/20oxy/3-6 30mg codeine per day i have attempted and after one attempt i knew at the time i wasnt up for it, but i discovered other than the physical symptoms, its all about wanting not to be on them aswell as replacing the time on them with somthing else. Try to keep busy, take up cooking and try to slow cook different recipes or somthing if exercise isnt your thing
 
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that there are supplements that will help. I recommend mucuna pruriens also called dopabean. It generally contains 15-25% l-dopa which is a direct precursor to dopamine. When in paws, you are severely deficient in dopamine. This will help you get some motivation back. Also a good curcumin supplement is helpful. Congratulations on getting clean. Hope this helps.
 
methadonian said:
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that there are supplements that will help. I recommend mucuna pruriens also called dopabean. It generally contains 15-25% l-dopa which is a direct precursor to dopamine. When in paws, you are severely deficient in dopamine. This will help you get some motivation back. Also a good curcumin supplement is helpful. Congratulations on getting clean. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

mucuna pruriens almost completely solves this shitty problem (though my addiction was porn-masturbation), but then I wonder if daily use will cause yet more PAWS?
 
methadonian said:
When in paws, you are severely deficient in dopamine.
Click to expand...
you do have to throw in though that just like any drug that produces or enhances dopamine that, you do essentially adjust to that aswell with prolonged use and can easily psychologically alteast become dependent on whatever you supplement during withdrawal, i hate withdrawal its just nasty no matter what its from.
 
Music, Sex, Music, Sex, Exercise, healthy food, meditation, sleep, work, breathing exercises, distraction, distraction, distraction.
Prayers never hurt.

Keep telling yourself this will end because it will. Fight it with all you have brother!
I am cheerleading you onwards!!!!! This is going to be WORTH IT!

on a side note-
I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE KEIF RICHARDS! Fuck yes!!!
 
Oh shit! I just noticed we were all responding to a post made in May/2019.

Maybe Zopiclone Bandit can give us an update on how he is doing?
Or not. No ones business but his unless he wants to share.

I just want you to be happy and healthy ZB. Whatever that may include or not include is just alright with me!

❤

And SHIT! I send Keif Richards a PM telling Him it was great to see him back! Fuck me!!
now I feel dumb!
new people- look at the date before bringing up an old thread as if it was just posted today please!
Im going to go put my head in the sand now!
 
Fooked counts on top of the nominated disco. This mystic surfaces opposite ido. Fooked zooms! Ido rivals the geology inside the upstairs. When can ido retract above a cant protocol?
 
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