Thanks guys- what a beautiful surprise to read your replies! I sort of expected I’d be writing in to an echo chamber. I feel really supported by your comments and I wish I had more than love to send everyone who is struggling. I wish there was a magic wand but I’ve realised that there’s only one way out of this, and it’s to go through it. I used to wish I could just go into a coma for a week and sleep through the withdrawals but I think the suffering is part of the process. That said, I hate suffering (haha- who doesn’t?!) and I’m not very good at it. Your comment resonated about living life without a protective bubble of codeine- that’s the real challenge isn’t it? The CT is just the start. I can see how life’s ups and downs have made me reach for my reliable buddy time and time again. It’s scary to think about doing life with no shield. I don’t drink and I’m not about to start. I guess most adults use alcohol to cope and numb, which is mostly more ‘acceptable’ than codeine.
Anyway, thanks for your replies guys. It means the world to me, here in the late sunshine in beautiful West Sussex