With Suboxone, the withdrawals last longer because of the long half-life. They're also milder than full-blown withdrawals from the full-agonist opiates, but I won't lie, for me personally and for a lot of people I've talked to or who's stories I've read, that doesn't really make a difference anymore when you're two weeks into it and not feeling any better; the days of feeling like hell for a couple days and then it being all over can start to sound not so bad. It can be discouraging, you can start to feel like you're not making any progress and that you'll never feel better... but that's the thing with Sub withdrawals, the worst of it is what goes on IN YOUR HEAD. As long as you can keep reminding yourself that it WILL get better (seriously, if you make it two weeks, feeling better is literally RIGHT around the corner!!) and that you are making progress, because every single day that you go without taking any Sub or opiates is a victory. That IS progress. And it's another day closer to feeling better than you have in a long, long time!!
The great news for you is that you work and you're also a bodybuilder. I'm guessing this means you already live a super healthy lifestyle, that you eat right and you exercise and generally just try to treat your body right and not abuse it (addiction not included). As long as you continue to do these things -- even if you can only exercise the bare minimum -- the length of time your withdrawals will last might very well be cut down a good amount. Your body is used to healing fast and of being in good shape, and eating well/exercise are well-known ways to cut severity/length of withdrawals down even for people who don't live a normally healthy, active lifestyle. You have an amazing advantage there!! Work is usually manageable on Sub withdrawals, especially if yours are as mild as I'd expect them to be for you (assuming you taper first), and as unappealing as it might sound when you're feeling sick, you'll be grateful for it once you get there and have something to distract yourself with!!
I stronglyyy suggest you taper first... 4 mg is a hell of a high dose to jump off from. Explain to your girlfriend that the tapering process is a part of the quitting process, that just because you're still taking it doesn't mean you aren't making a very real effort to quit -- that it's necessary in order for you to be able to quit -- and I'm sure she'll understand and support you through it. If she doesn't understand... honestly then, dude, good riddance. You deserve to be with someone who won't judge you for your particular brand of demon, not if you're actively fighting it... we're all human and even though they may all manifest themselves differently, we ALL have our problems and our battles.
If Xanax helps you sleep, then YES definitely use it!! It will probably be hard to sleep for a little while, so you'll def want the most help you can get!! It may help with some other symptoms too, stuff like the anxiety/restlessness/RLS/depression/akathisia. Basically anything that stems from your CNS, which are arguably the worst of the symptoms to have to deal with, Xanax has the potential to help out with. It's a godsend in withdrawal!!
Good luck
