^Hey, no problem - and thank you for responding to my post. It's actually pretty rare that someone directly thanks a poster for their personal contribution. (or maybe that's just my experience, because my posts are often longer than most, which seems to cause people to zone out and skip them!)
You know, with all the info you've given, it sounds like you've been really controlled and conservative with you benzo/opiate use. Not an easy thing to do.
I know you said you almost never depressed, but do you think it's possible you actually do suffer from depression? Have you every taken anti-depressants? (personal question - feel free to skip it or PM me)
To me, it doesn't make sense that etiz would make you feel depressed. Most people who use it infrequently say they feel better the day after using it.
Also, you mentioned using tramadol and feeling better. Did you know that tramadol has an SNRI effect? It is an atypical opioid, as it has two functions - analgesia achieved through a weak opioid function, and through SNRI function. The response you had to that (you percieve that you even look physically better), and the other info about chipping and being very careful with benzos/opiates (then becoming bored after sustained abstinence) sounds familiar to me.
I used codeine via CWE for about two and a half years once to two times a week without giving in, but I eventually caved and actually made a conscious decision to use more often and even let myself become a full blown opiate addict. You don't hear people saying they chose to become completely depdendent often, do you?
The reason for this in my case was that I have suffered from depression basically my whole life, and until my early twenties I didn't even know it. All I knew was that I drank more than my friends, and frequently did it alone (actually, I preferred drinking alone). Then later I raided my mum's temezepam supply (she was a night duty nurse and was scripted them). Then later again I found out about CWE and it changed my life.
Depression, even hardcore, life-long genetically encoded version, isn't a;ways obvious and doesn't show up in the stereotypical ways: people not getting out of bed, being withdrawn, "looking sad", etc.
I am in my mid-thirties and have only just know been properly diagnosed by a psych as having 'Treatment Resistent Major Depressive Disorder". I am considered to be high functioning because I've had a pretty fill life - career, travel and living abroad for a total of six years, long term partnerships, etc. But I have always struggled to function, and I've always used drugs and alcohol (basically everything - first drink at ten, weed at 12).
OK, this is too long already.
Take care