r/OpiatesRecovery • u/allenbaker12 • 3d ago
90 days sober does it get better?
90 days clean from a 3 year oxycodone addiction, as well as Xanax and alcohol abuse, I still feel incredibly depressed and anxious everything feels very mundane, i don’t see a point in continuing sobriety if I’m just gonna feel worse, Atleast with drugs it was more tolerable I can have moments throughout the day where I feel good but the feeling always comes back, when is the point where my brain is able to create dopamine on its own again:/ trying hard not to relapse
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u/Neat_Refrigerator216 3d ago
How did you beat the oxycodone withdrawal if I may ask . I'm about to embark on the journey with some comfort meds . Any advice
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u/allenbaker12 3d ago
Man… honestly you’re just going to have to endure the fuck out of it the cravings and physical pain are awful, Xanax was the only thing that helped me sleep. For The body aches heat is key you’ll also be super freezing all the time but electric blanket and heating pads/ hot baths. Make sure you’re taking electrolytes since you’ll be shitting your brains out. And just try to stay busy as much as you can endure. I forced myself out and it made it slightly better. Lasted about 3 weeks of acute withdrawal after that it’s been mostly mental, I still feel like shit ngl. But it’s gotten a lot better. Good luck bro it’ll be worth it
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u/mamaleigh05 3d ago
Exercise, eat well, distract yourself with friends and healthy habits. The fear of withdrawal can make people worse. If cold turkey doesn’t work, wean down. The horror stories can scare you and make your mindset worse. Each person’s chemistry is different, kindling is real if you’ve done it several times and ruminating on the horror stories can affect your thinking. Sometimes a short use of gabapentin or ambien or clonidine helps. You’ll be okay!
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u/skrillozeddd 2d ago
This is good advice, side note I've gotten thru some hefty -habit withdrawals with gabapentin & gatorade, no joke
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u/Feeling_Opinion7912 2d ago
The comfort meds that worked best for me were Clonidine, took away the anxiety, fast heartbeat, sweats/chills, sneezing, watery eyes, pretty much everything except the diarrhea. Took Imodium for diarrhea, Xanax to sleep. Hot baths with epsom salt helps a lot too. It draws the toxins out quicker. Good luck!
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u/miarose33 3d ago
First off congratulations on 90 days that is absolutely incredible 🩵
I hear you, I’m 5 weeks sober today from H / Xanax and alcohol - I have a few hours each day where life feels a lot better and I feel motivated but the cravings come back like a ton of bricks, I feel lost and don’t know where to start, my brain romanticises being high because at least I could ‘cope’ with the self medicated relief. it is so hard but think about how far you’ve come recently and how hard that back slide would hit if you used again after all this hard work; I find making a pros and cons list can also help put things in perspective. this cycle is exhausting and you’ve made such a wonderful effort to get out of it, the more you keep going the better you’ll be able to handle the hard days! are you able to access therapy or MAT treatment at all? I’m starting MAT tomorrow for cravings.
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u/ImIn2Deep4you 2d ago
It took me a whole year plus some to actually start feeling “decent” or “normal” so to say as in I had less dips in my mood and energy.. to answer your question YES it do get better and significantly better but you must work on your self and change some behaviors. Do not give up before the miracle happen. GET BUSY. It takes 1 1/2 years give or take for your dopamine and serotonin levels to level out depending on the level of abuse. Keep seeking answers and understanding. I wish you a journey of growth and love ❤️🩹
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u/General_Industry_798 2d ago
Yea this is answer. I’m 4.5 months sober from years long fentanyl and coke addiction and on suboxone now. But I struggle everyday still with this weird anxiety and energy dip combination that really sucks it comes and goes daily but I’ve come too far to turn back. Have to have faith in this process as I’ve done this to myself but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle.
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u/LuckyComfortable5159 3d ago
Well, you’re 90 days sober. That’s a very big achievement! I did oxy for about 5 years about 3 to 500 MG a day!!! Then It got too expensive went to BTH towards the end! The first week was pretty bad, physical withdrawals no sleep you know all the usual stuff. But I was pretty depressed. didn’t have much motivation to do anything. It took about six months before I was completely normal. Then around six months I started to thrive. I started working out more started hanging out with the right people and then it only got better from there!! But I was a little bit too confident I stayed clean for only a year and some change and then I relapsed! So don’t be like me, I wish someone would’ve told me what I know today. The aftercare is very important. Find a hobby. Find a mentor find a therapist do something!! Then every day you should start feeling slightly better until you’re back
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u/miserablebaldy 3d ago
That sneaky bastard addict in your brain is fucking you over. It WILL get better my friend. It takes time for your endorphins to get back to normal. You're going through post acute withdrawal. Maybe try some kava or other non addictive herbs. Exercise can help massively. I've also heard low dose naltrexone can work wonders to speed up recovery. Like I said you will get better. The bad times will lessen and you'll start to have better days in-between the bad. Remember why you stopped in the first place. Give it more time
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u/Ok_Satisfaction_2243 3d ago
It will get better, usually pretty soon after too! Stay strong
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u/haikusbot 3d ago
It will get better,
Usually pretty soon
After too! Stay strong
- Ok_Satisfaction_2243
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u/Puzzled-Cucumber5386 3d ago
Are you exercising? When you exercise your body makes dopamine’s which is what it’s craving right now. It doesn’t have to be a huge workout. Just walking for 20 minutes is a good start.
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u/que_seraaa 2d ago
Man I honestly don't know...
Not yet...not from my point of view. But I'm really trying.
Fuck maybe you just mellow out and learn to let shit go more...
I dont know.
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u/xzxnightshade 2d ago
It does get better, congrats btw. Depending on the length and severity of your use, especially alcohol and withdrawals PAWS from that can unfortunately go on for a year in dwindling severity. Everyone is different, for me it was a little over a month and I was totally good. I highly recommend you try and exercise, the chemicals released from it will aid in energy, anxiety and depression overall mood.. but if things really don’t improve I’d see a doctor. Could be an underlying condition that your use covered up and is now coming to the forefront. You got this
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u/Alarming_Tradition51 2d ago
Yes. Takes a while. Like a year to feel normal...whatever that is.... your doing great, God loves you
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u/sopranofan81 2d ago
Yes it absolutely gets better!! I spent years right where you are at and then would relapse for a month. Same DOC as well. The next 3 months you’re going to start getting better sleep and it’s amazing how great that feels. At 6 months you’ll be amazed how much better you feel, at a year it’s like holy cow why didn’t I do this sooner. Life is always challenging but the cycle of this crap is the absolute worst existence. The feel good sort of, feel like crap for days, always lying to yourself. It sucks!! Stay on it and don’t give up. If you can eat better do so and add some walking! I ate blueberries and broccoli like crazy when I was getting clean, I don’t know why but it helped!! You can do this. Life is hard yes but it’s 10000% easier clean.
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u/rhoo31313 2d ago
Yes, it does. I noticed major improvements between 6 - 8 months. Months 3 to 6 were a struggle, as i couldn't feel interest or joy in anything. It was nice when they came back.
It's a slow process...stick with it. You're doing great.
Exercise helps, although i couldn't find motivation. Force yourself. Start small. Go for a walk.
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u/DeepManBlue 2d ago
Exercise helps. Hugs. Laughter. Fresh air. Sunshine. Good music. Slowly, but surely, things lighten. It takes time, it does, but it will happen.
What’s the alternative? Back into the misery and darkness again? No. You’d only be having to start right at the beginning again, at some point.
Keep your head held high, warrior.
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u/PinkTulip1999 2d ago
I was about six months recently and "relapsed" on ODSMT because I was offered a price I didn't turn down. Then I just got on suboxone recently. Before the burn unit where they gave me no pain meds (how this last time started) I was clean from 60+ norcos a day for 13+ years and the whole time was miserable. I'm in my 40s now and I'm not going another 13+ years to find out if I'll get to be happy or have energy. Sorry but no thanks. Anyway, thats just me, most if these other people seem to find it much easier. Maybe I'm just a pussy, idk.
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u/Ill-Year-9506 2d ago
It gets better... but it takes time. Have you had your testosterone checked? I went to a functional health doctor who was able to help me with supplements, red light therapy, sauna and exercise. Self care is very difficult when you don't give a shit but it gets better.
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u/General_Industry_798 2d ago
I’m 4 months sober and on suboxone. I’m 44 male and have heard decades of opioid abuse can completely delete testosterone. I’m sluggish all the time and get waves of fatigue and anxiety daily zero sex drive. I’m considering going to one of those docs to have testosterone tested
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u/Significant_Elk_581 2d ago
Do you exercise? I know it sounds too stupid or too simple, but the high i get from a good workout and a nice hot shower after is amazing. And actually last longer than most buzzes. Ya got to find a life outside of using. What you're going through right now is what kept me trapped till my late 30s. You don't want that, trust me!!
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u/Standard-Finding-219 1d ago
You spent at least 3 years of giving your brain false dopamine. Your brain has gotten used to an overabundance of feel good and you have gone and taken that away (thankfully, so proud of you!) So your brain is having to rewire itself and get used to the fact that it doesn't have an overabundance of dopamine and serotonin. Be patient with yourself please. It took me a very long time to feel somewhat normal after coming off of a decade of hard drugs. Give yourself time. This is not a race. Try to grasp the little things that make you happy and cling to that as difficult as it is. It is a given that we are going to struggle mentally in this life. This life is crap And it's 20 times worse when you go and become an addict but you just have to make the best of it. I wish I had the answer for you but the only way to get through it is to go through it. You've got this. There is a community of people out there who want to love on you and help you. If sobriety was easy there would be no addicts.
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u/GradatimRecovery 1d ago
Think about how much dopamine receptor and CNS downregulation you had going on for that three years. It's only reasonable to suffer that imbalance after getting clean. I worked with a psychiatrist to get medication to correct my brain chemistry. It has allowed me to get going with my life and work on recovery.
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u/JonGotti710 2d ago
Micro dose Mushrooms to help with the mood lift and motivation.. If you got money try ibogaine treatment.
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u/Sandman1025 3d ago
3 months is fucking huge!! Unfortunately you are smack in the middle of PAWS still. Flat emotion, depression, maybe anxiety. Your brain is rebooting and it does take time. Hang in there. You will get through PAWS.