For many of us, "detox" isn't just something we do once. We often find ourselves "kicking" numerous times. Sometimes we simply run out of money or drugs, other times it's an attempt to get sober, or even a stint in jail. This thread is for you to tell the story of your worst/most uncomfortable detox, if you feel up to it. For me, I think the worst detox was withdrawing from suboxone at Christmas time. I had so many family and social obligations, but it was the only time that I had enough of a holiday I could do it without jeopardizing my employment and income. I was sick for several weeks, felt like I had a small flu the whole time. Eventually I got over it and was actually opioid-free for a number of months, but those several weeks were hellish.
Congratulations on getting through it. Do you think the suffering a person can go through during detox can have any bearing on how likely it is they will relapse? I mean, if it was easier to get off something, could that lead a former user to think "I stopped last time, so why not"?
yes kudo's to you good job. Detox is very tough, but it's so worth it in the end. I think people are just very afraid of the thought of detox that they just shy away from it all together.
@portraitofjs I would have to say the worst detox I have had was my most recent time around. It was back in February. I have been a IV heroin addict for years. Back in December I had to move back in with my parents because of my addiction. This most recent time, my parents found out I was using again and put me on lockdown pretty much. They took my car away, and couldn't leave the house unless I was going to a meeting and even then they would go with me. I told them I needed to get to a detox facility ASAP because I needed something for withdrawls. I have been to several in the past and they were around where I live so it was convenient. Unfortunately all of the facilities didn't have an available bed until 2 days from then so I was freaking out. My withdrawls began with the hot and cold sweats, and just generally uncomfortable. Then progressed to the annoying eye watering and non-stop sneezing. Luckily around this time it was pretty late at night so I just took a ton of NyQuil and tried to get a little bit of sleep. I got a few hours of sleep, but my legs began cramping and hurting down to the bone. The next day I got progressively worse and was constantly throwing up and dry heaving anytime I would drink something or even just take a deep breath. That consisted throughout the whole day pretty much. Then, I remember I was getting up from bed to go to the bathroom and while I was walking there I blacked out and I had a seizure. That really scared me since I have never had seizures before at all. I had a couple more before and then at the detox facility. It was the absolute worse thing ever. Every time I detox my withdrawls get worse each time. Unfortunately, a week after leaving the facility I replapsed and have been using since. Getting clean and staying that way is seriously the hardest thing that has been in my life.
It took me many years to get over my alcohol addiction. My health was already badly affected by all the physical and mental abuse that I sustained in my parental home, and on top of that I had caused myself even more damage by trying to drown my sorrows and pains in alcohol. I suffered for a long time from chronic pain and was tortured by mental afflictions. So, in essence, I can say that my detoxification process only really finished when I managed to recover from my physical injuries, when I wasn't constantly reminded anymore of my past. It's been a long and hard road.
The same here I to grew up in a a home with an abusive alcoholic father. It really caused a lot of mental as well as emotional damage not just to me, but my brothers as well. I found myself drinking as much and as often as I could to numb myself. I had zero self worth I thought of suicide every day. After years of drinking, and self destructive behavior I am finally clean. I know I did a lot of damage to my body, but at least I'm sober now.
You are a survivor, karmaskeeper. You made it, and you can be proud of yourself. I hope that your brothers are also doing alright. You are sober now, and that changes everything. If you give your body half a chance to recover from the damage, you will find that with time, and the right adjustments, such as a healthy diet and exercise, you will gradually feel better and better. The human body is a wonderful machine with amazing abilities to restore itself. As for the mental aspects, give yourself some time, and always remember to be kind to yourself...
My worst was actually from a drug I was legally prescribed (not even a pain medication). I was shaking nonstop and an anxious, paranoid mess for over a month as I tapered off and then was completely off it. Couldn't sleep, all that fun stuff. I'm now back on it because it's one of the few things that helps a condition I have. I've basically accepted I'm on it for life because I will NEVER go through that withdrawal again.
Hmmm. Well yeah I would imagine it has to become a priority. A stint in jail you say. This might be an indication that detoxification should be at the top of the list. If you are worried about your job. Employers actually by law are suppose to allow a person the time they need for proper treatment of their choice. I had a co-worker who left for drug rehabilitation and they held her position. If it is a large company or corporation you would be surprised what they will do. There is like a certain time frame that they have to hold your position for so you can recover. I was kind of surprised by this. It was something like 6 months that they held her job for her.
Ive had to withdraw off of many different drugs and i would have to say Heroin is by far the worst. Being an IV drug user this makes the withdraws worse. The withdraws start off with the hot then cold chills, the yawns, sneezing, itchy watery eyes. Then Puking and extreme diarrhea. The anxiety is unbearable. Lets not forget muscle aches and stomache cramps. This extreme like flu symptoms last for about 3-5 days. Up until day 7 you have no energy and very lethargic. It takes 7 days of Hell before your detoxed. To make matters worse i had to endure this in Jail. No fun at all. This is why so many Heroin addicts will do whatever it takes to get a fix.
Wow, that sounds like a terrible detox. I guess being in a jail you weren't given very good medical care either. I am so glad I was never addicted to anything like that. I have my own addictions that are bad enough...but I hate physical misery and I know I would want to die if I was that sick.
For me the worst detox took place shortly after realizing I had a huge addiction problem to tackle, but I didn't want to let anyone now about, same way I tried to avoid get others realizing I was lost in alcohol, when it was obvious they were aware of it, but playing along with me, pretending to be sober. The fact is that my liver was aching and I had no money at all to undergo detox, so I made a decision for self-prescribed herbal detox that involved drinking a liter of an infusion made with boldo leaves on a daily basis for don't know how long I did such a thing. Boldo leaves taste horribly bitter, but there you had me drinking such a thing that certainly improved my health and contributed to continue then after with an homeopathic detox treatment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boldo
It is the worst thing a person can go through in my opinion. Although to be completely fair, we deserve much worse. My symptoms rarely get that bad. It's usually just a lot of mood swings and tons of cold sweats coupled with nausea and an inability to sleep for days. This seems mild to most of the things I've been told by other people. Honestly I want worse to happen to me, It only seems fair considering what I put my wife through with all of this.
Well we have to get through the bad in order to see the good. It is not going to help us if we are afraid to go through the hard part and not take responsibility for us having to do it in the first place. This helped me quite a bit. Coming to terms with my bad decisions and why I am in this predicament, makes you think long and hard about life. Glad you got through it and really glad you learned from your mistakes.
I had gone through a very rough patch of addiction to alcohol. I usually drunk with cigarettes serving as an accompaniment though I never really got addicted to cigarettes since I never smoked outside a pub. I learnt that alcohol depletes the B vitamins and chose butternuts which are nutrient packed as my mode of detox. I observed a noticeable change in my skin health which is a good testimony of a successful detox.
I had gone through a very rough patch of addiction to alcohol. I usually drunk with cigarettes serving as an accompaniment though I never really got addicted to cigarettes since I never smoked outside a pub. I learnt that alcohol depletes the B vitamins and chose butternuts which are nutrient packed as my mode of detox. I observed a noticeable change in my skin health which is a good testimony of a successful detox.
The worst is when you are sweating so much and you just feel cold. I prefer to sleep it off as much as I can and just let my body do its thing. I know that It will heal itself with some good soup and sleep.
Coming off Methadone 65-70 mg a day for 4 years (never missing more than a day ) also Cold Turkey on my Xanax witch at that time was 1& a half to 2 mg a day for years . Did 18 days in Jail ( Driving Suspended to my clinic ) 15 of witch were sleepless , with restless body syndrome , severe aches , sleeping on a steel bunk with a 1 inch mattress with my 2 towels as a pillow . It was torture , Ill will NOT go through that EVER again , I did 2 + months in 1992 , those 2 months were a 'Cake Walk ' compared to those 18 terrible days . I still dream of that time often. IMO it was cruel and unusual punishment for the simple crime I was convicted of . Wife would come and visit & each time she would say "Man you look more like a Zombie ". Fun Fun Fun ....