Intense cravings

[rakenshake]

Swim usually doesnt do opiates/opioids because of work but, a friend gave him some instant release oxycodone two weeks ago.

Since then swim has been driving/walking around poor neighborhoods looking for dealers and messaging all his friends trying to

locate something. It is like something got turned on in his head and, is now ordering him to find opiates. swim is thinking of

driving to the big city to find something and, doesnt know how to prevent it. swim has a history of drug abuse and wonders what

he should do to fight these strong cravings.



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[Tommyboy]

You just have to let these cravings pass, and not act on them. The longer you go without using, the less frequent, and the less intense these cravings will be. You need to give yourself reasons not to use, and focus your attention on other things. Don't become preoccupied with the thought of getting high, and when you start to think about it, don't dwell on it. It is easy to trick yourself into thinking that you need the drug, so you have to talk yourself out of it, and do something else to get your mind off of drugs.

Is there something else you can do when you start to crave drugs? Something like a hobby, or something else healthy for example.... When you start to crave, just start doing one of these things instead. Some people go jogging, or do some other form of exercise, or just talk to someone that is not involved with drugs.

By the way, we don't use swim here.

 

[rakenshake]

Thanks for the reply. Guitar his a hobby he enjoys but, all the music he listens to is about getting drugs or doing drugs. He has friends that dont do any drugs but they dont understand him. They joke about his drug use and take it lightly. He works every day mon-fri. He exercises every week but, every night he cant stop fantasising about that feeling he gets. He has taken expensive therapy, joined sports and clubs but still no luck.

Is there a reason why cravings are so bad at night? and what should he say instead of swim. Thank you

 

[herbavore]

Just say "I". Does your job keep you really busy all day? The reason I ask is that maybe the cravings are worse at night because you actually have down-time in which to be more aware that you are in need of an escape. It sounds like you are looking for release from some kind of pain--can you identify what that is? Loneliness? Depression?

Just because you have had therapy in the past doesn't meant that you couldn't benefit from it again at this point. Therapy is just a tool to be used when needed; it's not like it "fixes" us necessarily but hopefully it can shine a little light into whatever current darkness we find ourselves in. There are also many forms of therapy and as many nuances as there are therapists. I wouldn't rule it out as a failure simply because you have done it in the past.

It's great that you are both playing sports and exercising, but it sounds like even that is not enough to fill your time and keep you from having those empty hours when the cravings are all-consuming. What about breathing techniques and meditation? If you have never tried either they can be life-changing. It may be that one of the clubs you belong to has classes in mindfulness meditation. If not, check community centers and any local Buddhist resources for availability. (In my area there is a Buddhist retreat center that offers classes specifically for dependence and addiction issues.)

I really think that the key for you is going to be examining honestly what it is in your life that makes the effects of opiates so attractive. While I have no doubt that you are experiencing physical cravings, overcoming abuse of drugs is only going to last so long if you don't address what is creating the need in the first place.

 

[the real yeti]

The cravings seem worse at night because you have less occupying your mind to distract you from your body's desire for opiates. Tommyboy is right, you just need to go as long as you can without using; the longer you can resist, the weaker the cravings will become. Also, herbavore hit on a good topic: your habits seem very good, but it still sounds like you have a lot of downtime where those pesky cravings lurk. Try occupying your time with something entertaining and distracting. Pick up that guitar and try to write a song a day or something, see what you can come up with. Do you have an Xbox or a Playstation? Kill some time on that, try to collect a set number of achievements or trophies. Find something on the internet that interests you and research it. What I like to do is sit down with food and pens and a notebook and just write; nothing in particular, just whatever is running across my mind. Sometimes it's a rant, sometimes it's an argument, sometimes I can even come up with a little story. It'll be much easier to resist your cravings for opiates if you can take your mind off the desire for more.