My struggle with vicodin did not start in a medical setting. I was simply introduced to the substance on the street by a fellow drug user, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, moreso than my previous drug of choice, cannabis, which had begun to get the best of me. I abused hydrocodone for about one year, and my doses (once tolerance and physical dependence grew) ranged from about 50-100mg a day, usually around 70mg. I have been clean now for 77 days and I have a few questions. Firstly, let me say that since stopping drugs (cold turkey) I have been attending personal therapy weekly. I take many vitamins (Multi-vitamin, L-Theanine, SAM-e, B, C, Fish Oil, and Melatonin for sleep) and I drink protein shakes daily. My concern is the lack of progress I feel I've made. It is possible that due to a tense household situation, I developed some form of depression and/or anxiety disorder prior to my addiction, but I'm not really sure. Specifically, I can't really enjoy much in life, I feel disconnected from reality, and I have relentless social anxiety. I don't know what else to do aside from going to therapy and learning to become desensitized to it, but maybe someone could help with other suggestions. Also, I want to know if this is directly related to my drug use, despite having stopped for almost 3 months now. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Background information: I also abused cannabis for a few years, and this eventually caused me to experience extremely unpleasant anxiety and paranoia. I am 18 years old, and have a history of drug addiction in my family. I do not attend any meetings, and although my therapist was once a drug counselor, I am not actually in drug counseling. I am not on any prescription medications (should I be?) and my daily routine consists of going to college classes (I live at home), doing homework, playing guitar, and going online. My social life is fairly non-existent, and I used to consider myself a fairly personable guy.

jeez don't all answer at once now

There isnt much you can do other then what your doing already.You were a fairly heavy user like myself and it took close to 10 months for me to feel about 90% back to normal.The anxiety and the lower back pain is what took the longest in my case to ease up.One thing that comes to mind that helped me was drinking alot of water and I took milk thistle 3 times a day because my dr said my liver levels were elavated.Hope this answers your question.Good Luck

Opiates Kill,

YES THEY DO AND WILL IF YOU DON'T GET HELP.
Hi, Im Sara and I was in the same boat, Im older, in my 30's. Always been an addict. When you are serious about quiting. Treatment center. Not a detox at home, not a detox at the hospital. Im talking at least at 30 day treatment center.

Ive been sober for 37 days and Ive been told by addition doctors it takes up to a year to stop hurting from the detox from opiates.

Please let me know if I can help you in any way because I wish someone was honest with me back when I was 18 or 19. Although I had to do 16 more years of research but Thanks to God's grace I didn't die before I caught my snap.

Take care,
Sincerely,
Sarandipity.

Sarandipity: Thanks for responding...

"When you are serious about quiting. Treatment center. Not a detox at home, not a detox at the hospital. Im talking at least at 30 day treatment center."

I'm not sure how to decipher these fragments, but let me say that I AM serious about quitting, I detoxed at home successfully, and have almost 3 months of sobriety to this date.

As far as questions, I'd just like to know what these addiction specialists tell you, and any personal knowledge you might want to share with me, or basically anything at all related to addiction that you think might help me, enlighten me, etc.

Dsny: Thanks for responding...

Feeling 90% better after 10 months is something I'm glad you told me about. Right now, things have gotten a little better (I think my vitamin intake has been helping with my anxiety/mood problems) but I'm still nowhere near feeling like "myself". It's just comforting to hear actual personal stories about recovery, sometimes when my therapist tells me that it can take from six months to a year, I don't take it to heart, but now that I know someone has actually experienced this, it's a lot more re-assuring. My liver levels were checked and they're fine, so unless milk thistle has another benefit I think I'm okay as far as that is concerned. Thanks for filling me in, any other words of wisdom that cross your mind are welcomed here.

It takes awhile to get back to "normal". The anxiety and depression is normal. I fight my anxiety/depression by attending meetings. I don't agree with everything in AA/NA but I do benefit from the group therapy. Just talking to people who have "been there" helps. Sure there will be some AA/NA "nazis" who are hardcore in the program but there are others who are just suffering and trying to stay clean. AA/NA are spiritual programs and that is tough for many to swallow. They talk about a "higher power of your understanding" which helps some. You might want to give meetings a try....couldn't hurt.

It takes awhile to get back to "normal". The anxiety and depression is normal. I fight my anxiety/depression by attending meetings. I don't agree with everything in AA/NA but I do benefit from the group therapy. Just talking to people who have "been there" helps. Sure there will be some AA/NA "nazis" who are hardcore in the program but there are others who are just suffering and trying to stay clean. AA/NA are spiritual programs and that is tough for many to swallow. They talk about a "higher power of your understanding" which helps some. You might want to give meetings a try....couldn't hurt.

Ever try to get on a non-addictive anti-depressant like Zoloft? It helped me through some very difficult times. Good Luck and I hope you stay clean. ;)

Ever try to get on a non-addictive anti-depressant like Zoloft? It helped me through some very difficult times. Good Luck and I hope you stay clean. ;)

I've considered using an anti-depressant (like Zoloft or Paxil) but my therapist told me that it's not necessary and that I should try natural alternatives (vitamins and minerals and exercise and diet etc.) I have to say that things are improving somewhat, and I'm not a complete nervous wreck all the time, but I just feel so awkward in my own skin, and I'm just realizing all the personal destruction this caused for me (I don't have any friends really, and no social activities or anything like that.)

I think I want to wait for 6 months clean before I consider medication, but if I ever feel like I can't make it, then I'll definately get on some anti-depressant...do you think this is reasonable, or am I just suffering needlessly when I could be addressing the depression directly? Let me know, thanks for the input.

I think you should consult a psychiatrist regaurding the possible depression and anxiety. There Are medications that can help with that. I beleive my husband was suffering from depression and anxiety when he began to self medicate with opiates (vicoden, oxy, etc), which turned into an addiction. He has abused for about 2 years, and is trying a detox facility. He is now receiving medication for the depression and anxiety. Hopefully this will work. Good luck to you.

Do you go to any NA meetings? You really need to get a support system in your life...of people who are clean and sober and are enjoying life who can show you how to do it. I too struggle with enjoying life without my drugs. For me, opiates made EVERYTHING better. Now, I don't like to do much because I'm depressed and miss my drugs a lot. But I force myself to do normal things, and I also go to a meeting at least five times a week and have made friends in the meetings. It is great to have friends who understand EXACTLY how I feel when I say I am craving. And it is great to see people who have felt like me in the past and are enjoying life now.

I do think that some sort of program, like NA, is integral to recovery. And that's the key word...recovery. Not just not using, which is abstinence, but making your life better and moving on. After all, if you are clean but miserable, what's the point?

Go to meetings. Make yourself introduce yourself and make yourself give some of the people a chance. If you don't like the first meeting you go to, keep trying different ones. They're not all the same.

i've also been told and have seen that having a strong spiritual connection is vital. That's something I struggle with because I don't feel I have it, but I have seen how people who do are really happy and content without their drugs.

No Zoloft for me, thanks. Anti-depressants might be for some people but not me. Check out the new research regarding brain dope(anti-depressants).....it is very scary. I like my "brain chemistry" just as it is. Anti-depressants are needed by some.....not this fellow.

You're depression/anxiety might be due to a lack of social life. Get out - meet someone of the opposite sex. Join a club, a country club...just something.

I feel a lot better when I'm around other people. I go crazy if I'm by myself too much. But I enjoy being alone sometimes.

You're depression/anxiety might be due to a lack of social life. Get out - meet someone of the opposite sex. Join a club, a country club...just something.

I feel a lot better when I'm around other people. I go crazy if I'm by myself too much. But I enjoy being alone sometimes.

Not so easy when you have social phobia.

I havent even been clean for a month. For a month or two I have withdrawled (sp) from pills, but the depression kills me. But now even when I take norco I'm depressed. I have heard tons of advice, exercise, which i dont do. Don't have time to do, vitamins, which i havent bought...etc. My girlfriend went on methadone, because she couldnt get off. I can but now, because I was abusing them for so long I'm a addict. I can get off, but staying off...I dont know. Im going to see a doctor on the 22nd. If I dont feel better, if I cant stop. I'm scared of anti depressants too. esp zoloft. My g/f was on it at one point and she basically felt nothing. no happy, sad, love, nothing. But I know they arent all bad and everyone is different. I just need to talk to people. I've considered NA and im going to go b/c she has to on the methadone program. I guess we shall just see...wallowing in self pity isnt going to help *****. Good luck to you. After 3 months though, considering i cant stand three days of depression, i would try anti depressants.

My struggle with vicodin did not start in a medical setting. I was simply introduced to the substance on the street by a fellow drug user, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, moreso than my previous drug of choice, cannabis, which had begun to get the best of me. I abused hydrocodone for about one year, and my doses (once tolerance and physical dependence grew) ranged from about 50-100mg a day, usually around 70mg. I have been clean now for 77 days and I have a few questions. Firstly, let me say that since stopping drugs (cold turkey) I have been attending personal therapy weekly. I take many vitamins (Multi-vitamin, L-Theanine, SAM-e, B, C, Fish Oil, and Melatonin for sleep) and I drink protein shakes daily. My concern is the lack of progress I feel I've made. It is possible that due to a tense household situation, I developed some form of depression and/or anxiety disorder prior to my addiction, but I'm not really sure. Specifically, I can't really enjoy much in life, I feel disconnected from reality, and I have relentless social anxiety. I don't know what else to do aside from going to therapy and learning to become desensitized to it, but maybe someone could help with other suggestions. Also, I want to know if this is directly related to my drug use, despite having stopped for almost 3 months now. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Background information: I also abused cannabis for a few years, and this eventually caused me to experience extremely unpleasant anxiety and paranoia. I am 18 years old, and have a history of drug addiction in my family. I do not attend any meetings, and although my therapist was once a drug counselor, I am not actually in drug counseling. I am not on any prescription medications (should I be?) and my daily routine consists of going to college classes (I live at home), doing homework, playing guitar, and going online. My social life is fairly non-existent, and I used to consider myself a fairly personable guy.

The feeling you have is fairly normal given your history of drug abuse. Social interaction will definately help alot with your feelings of isolation and feeling disconnected. Did you ever attend Church? AA meetings? NA Meetings?

Also some rigorous excercise will help alot. Get those neurotransmitters firing everyday and you will feel alot better. The exercise will eliminate much of the situational anxiety that you feel. This may sound funny but buy a "muscle and fitness" magazine and read an article or two and it will motivate you to exercise, and I can assure you that you will feel alot better. no joke. I am not just talking shooting some baskets or lifting some weights, but a good ole fashion hardcore workout, just make sure that your doctor approves and when I say rigourous I mean rigorours, however that does not mean lifting more weight then you can handle and sprinting for an hour. If you belong to a gym talk with a trainer and have them put you on a good program. Discipline is the enemy of depression.

Time, exercise, and a social setting will help you to feel much better.

As far as meds go, that is between you and your doctor to decide.