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Opiate Recovery

christylynne

Greenlighter
Joined
Jun 14, 2014
Messages
1
Completely new here. (My 1st post) I've been clean from opiates for 86 days. When will my desire to do things, hobbies, just everyday stuff return. I find myself so uninterested in anything. Does anyone have any advice?
 
Hey christy and welcome to Bluelight:)

I think that six to seven months is a good estimate for the PAWS to go away. There are allot of things you can do to try and expedite this, exercise, meditation, proper nutrition, good sleep hygiene are some of the best ones. Here are some good links for battling the PAWS.

PAWS LINKS
Why We Don’t Get Better Immediately: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
Post Acute Withdrawal (PAW) Excerpted From “Staying Sober” By: Terence T. Gorski
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome Wiki


Chemicals and supplements to recover from opiate addiction
Managing depressive thinking

it is a powerful thing to keep our thoughts possitive and here are some threads many of us use to help us do this.
Good things about being off drugs/getting sober
Share something POSITIVE from your day!
Today I Am Thankful For... Ver. 3: Earth, Wind and Fire!
Here is the mindfulness thread.


congratulations on getting and staying clean.. very nice work!!=D
 
Links above for PAWS, but sometimes you just have to motivate yourself. Try some stuff out and find out what there is in that big, wide world that turns you on! You might surprise yourself because the world is a pretty amazing place when you're not fixated on putting drugs in your body.

For me it's fighting (martial arts rather than street fighting), and I couldn't recommend it more highly. Thoughts of using or everyday life worries evaporate very quickly when you've got some beast trying to kick your head off or choke you to death. Also....respect (self and others)/discipline/fitness/spirituality/confidence....sound familiar? That's all the stuff I don't have when I use and training at a good gym gives it all to me.
 
PAWS is probably the most difficult part of getting better, you think you're out of the woods once the physical symptoms go away but you're really only just getting started. Keeping busy and having a support group is what kept me sane. Try to make friends with people who live sober lives and stick with them, it will help immensely to just have fun with people you can enjoy being around.
 
First of all, congratulations for over 80 days free of opiates. That's an acheivement.

One of the most important things I can offer you is simply to try and be gentle with yourself right now. Opiates rewire our brains to crave them, and the desire is sometimes, unfortunately, more potent and strong than the desire to do the things that used to bring us pleasure. When I say "be gentle," I mean to eat healthy foods--give your body as many vegetables and fruits, and as much rest, and fluids as possible. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, and make it effortless for you to socialize.

When you aren't focusing on healing your body, then you can move on to your mind/brain. Do puzzles and math to give your mind some exercise. Art is very healing during this time. Look at paintings, listen to music, and read poetry. Try to read as much as you can--you'll find some genre that won't bore you or seem too daunting. Reading is wonderful for the recovering opiate addict because it works your brain while it both gives you pleasure and occupies you. It distracts you from your negative thoughts and does miracles to transport you somewhere else.

I wish you luck and healing in the days to come.
 
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