Can't stop the cravings...

[Probing Tranquility]

Swim is trying to be opiate free but can't stop thinking about it. Every second of everyday swim thinks of opiates. Swim uses for about 3 or 4 days out of the week pretty heavily but still not as much as what he use to do. Any advice on warding away cravings?

[Junket]

Try switching up your daily routine. It can be tough at first but if you are doing something new, hanging with new people it can often bring a different attitude about.

[Probing Tranquility]

That might be swim's problem, hes around the same people everyday. Swim knows he should stop sometime but he doesn't know if he really wants to stop. Opaites make it seem like swim can tolerate all the bullshit off life.

[Junket]

I've said it in another thread and I will again..

If you are trying to stop gambling, don't hang out at a casino.. if you know what I mean.

Questioning use and saying you don't want to stop because it seems to be benefiting you at the time, is usually a classic sign that you should try to slow down or stop using altogether for a while.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Straight to the point. I agree.

[Probing Tranquility]

Everyone swim works with is into drugs, mostly weed, coke, and mdma. There are a couple who are into opiates. Swim can't quit his job because of all the bullshit that it would cause. Swim is planning on going back to college to be an RN so that should help, swim is also checking into the methadone clinic option.

[Junket]

My friend had a coke habit which was slowly turning into an addiction, he realized that just wasn't a life he wanted to live. Who wants to be controlled by drugs???

Looking at co-workers who are abusing, are they productive and doing big things with their life? or are they spending all their money on drugs and hoping something will change on its own?

Simply recognizing a growing problem is a great first step to being well on your way. A methadone clinic would probably be a good option if extra help is needed.

Good luck.

[thebige]

Swim is not alone many people are going through this as you read....Swim is not a MD so don't belive everything you read,Swim could try saying to himself that he is going to put as much effort into living straight as he would doing his drug of choice.Or try a exorcism............

[Probing Tranquility]

Originally Posted by thebige

Or try a exorcism............

The power of christ compels you!! The power of christ compels you!! And on a side note most of the people Swim works with are better off than me with more money in saving and checking accounts than swim has ever had, and they are all working their way up in the world. Swim is checking into badgercare which is an insurance type thing in WI. If swim qualifies for it then he thinks everything will work out as it will cover the cost of treatment and he will be reimbursed for the 120 mile round trip everyday until he can bring his weekly doses home.

[sbt8080]

Exactly which opiates is SWIY using, and how much?

SWIM understands the problem of cravings. The way that SWIM has quit in the past was by doing what others in this thread have suggested: changing something in his life. SWIM decided to pick up a new hobby the last time he quit, and started learning to play piano. This is just one example.

Of course, SWIM's problem has always been relapse... SWIM might stop craving for a while, but eventually these cravings come back. This, unfortunately, is part of life as we are fickle humans with short attention spans.

The key is trying as hard as one can not to be bored. If one finds one's life is starting to get boring again, one is more likely to start using again. SWIM found himself in this position many times - bored with his job, friends, etc. - and because he was once an addict, his brain plays tricks on him and makes him reminisce about his drug usage and only remember the "good times"... the times when SWIM was not bored while on opiates.

Stay active, and keep changing. Read a book, bake a pie, do a paint-by-number, write a story in Spanish, build a bicycle, play a new video game... basically pick something random you've never done before that can occupy your time and mind for a while. If it's boring or SWIY is not interested, try something else. This is the ONLY way that SWIM has ever been able to successfully quit.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	excellent information on cravings and relapse and how to prevent it
	Quality Post. Sound advice. I hope the piano playing is going well.

[thebige]

Hey Probing T,just joking about the exorcism......I don't want to get the thread off-topic but 120 miles to the methadone! Would it be a possibilty to see a local doctor and explain that the trip everyday is unrealistic(fuel cost) and it would cause problems with work?At that distance, a local doctor could might just prescribe you methadone from the get go.Or look for a closer Suboxone prescribing Doctor. Just a thought,I hope all works out for you.

[JaWill88]

swiprobing tranquility should maybe consider suboxone/subutex. suboxone.com has list of doctors there may be one close to swiy

[Probing Tranquility]

Originally Posted by thebige

Hey Probing T,just joking about the exorcism......I don't want to get the thread off-topic but 120 miles to the methadone! Would it be a possibilty to see a local doctor and explain that the trip everyday is unrealistic(fuel cost) and it would cause problems with work?At that distance, a local doctor could might just prescribe you methadone from the get go.Or look for a closer Suboxone prescribing Doctor. Just a thought,I hope all works out for you.

tried that, they said they weren't liscenced to do that kind of treatment. Swim supposes hes lucky he still gets his darvs.
To sbt8080 in swims hayday at least 40 -80mg of oxy or 60-240mg of morphine sulphate. now its around 60mg of hydocodone just to feel it or 40mg of oxycodone in percs. the darvs he usually takes within a week or so(its suppose to last 20 days) Swim plays guitar and is working in 3 bands at the moment, this keeps swim pretty occupied, he also works 6 days a week, but everyone at work smokes heavily and drinks even heavier. swim has never been much of a drinker and smoking is bad cuz swims on probation and thc stays in your system forever.

Probing Tranquility added 0 Minutes and 36 Seconds later...

Originally Posted by JaWill88

swiprobing tranquility should maybe consider suboxone/subutex. suboxone.com has list of doctors there may be one close to swiy

that would be cool pm me and let me know

[beena]

SWIM has used opiates of some nature almost every day over the last two years (started with tramadol and then Oxycontin, then Fentanyl, then diamorphine and then morphine/MST's and then about a year ago she turned to heroin). Before that she was taking crack-cocaine for eight years so she has a pretty checkered history right now of addiction and drug-use. SWIM went on methadone to try and stop using heroin and at first it was going really well but then she fell back into old ways and was using both heroin and taking her daily dose (50mls) methadone. SWIM decided this was just dumb and made a decision to come off methadone. She stopped four weeks ago with the intention of using morphine tablets to bring herself off with relatively few withdrawal effects (this worked well btw) but she did use heroin quite a bit still in that first week.
The only way SWIM felt she could stand a chance of getting off opiates and not relapse was to take herself well away from the situation. SWIM is quite lucky though as she has family that live in another much nicer area than from where SWIM is currently located/based and she was able to arrange to stay with them for three and a half weeks. If SWIY is able to get away for a period of time from the area he is currently living it really would be SWIM's advice to do just that.
As for cravings SWIM has to admit she is still craving every day - some days are worse than others though - SWIY (and SWIM!) just has to take the rough with the smooth. Try and keep SWIY-self as busy as possible - it is really hard sometimes to take the mind off drugs but it's not impossible ...
good luck.

[Mrs. Brownstone]

Swim can't stop the cravings either so he/she is just going to try and focus on working out again as swim used to be in great shape (before heroin of course!) Swim just tries not to be too hard on herself. Swim takes it day by day, and that is the best swim or swiy can do. Good luck.

[dyingtomorrow]

SWIM was on suboxone for a month, and his cravings felt as bad on day 30 as they did on day 1. Now his life at least revolves around the 1-2 times a week he can sneak away and scrounge some money to get some H, which at least takes a little off the top of his overwhelming depression and at least gives him a day to day goal.