Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I know day 18 is important to you. You can do this. I’ll be thinking of you x
Hi Retroaddic, your GP sounds nice and helpful! Im so glad that the sleeping tablets worked last night. A few nights sleep will really help you.
Motivation is a big issue I must admit. Like you, I was taking pills in the morning to kickstart my work day( work in busy lab). I then took more at my 11am coffee break, my lunch break and to be honest in the afternoon too! Those pills were getting me through the day. So when I stopped I struggled with no energy or motivation in work too.
This lack of motivation lasted a few weeks and it’s tough to battle through. I think we expect the physical symptoms that first week but the emotional aspect continues way past that. Sleep will definitely help with this. Unfortunately, it just takes time and I understand how frustrating that can be. I promise you though once it all clicks back into place, you’ll be more productive than you ever were. It’s only when you stop codeine and get back to your normal self that you realise the codeine was making you slump in the first place during the day to need more codeine. It wasn’t motivating you as such. You just needed it to function. It was just a neverending cycle. Once this cycle is broken and your brain recovers, you don’t get those slumps anymore.
Best of luck for day 17. I know you can do this x
I think you’re amazing for going to work in the first place with hardly no sleep! A good nights sleep will really benefit you so hopefully you will sleep better tonight! X
Honestly, having support is really beneficial so I’m glad you spoke with them. I’m so proud of you for taking that step cause I know how hard it can be. You’re doing everything you can to make this work for you. That takes strength! I hope you get some sleep tonight. And remember I’m here if you ever want to chat. X
Hi Retroaddic, at your point I was sleeping maybe 5/6 hours a night but I would have trouble falling asleep and would wake at 5am. That was bearable but the fact you’re still only getting a hour sleep I agree with getting some help for the insomnia. Your body needs rest to recover. After a good night sleep, you’ll honestly feel so much better mentally.
Lack of sleep is tough on the body. I’ve heard Ziplocone is good and works really well if that’s any help but I’ve no personal experience with it. I’m really glad you’re going to the GP cause without sleep it’s hard to stay motivated as you’re just too tired to deal with it all.
My mind also went into overdrive I must admit. I think any issues we were using codeine to ‘deal’ or ‘cope’ with come to the surface. Sleep helps with that as does time honestly.
I hope things go well with the GP. Best of luck and I’m rooting for you! You’ve got this x
Hi Hriaz, day 15! That’s amazing. I’m glad this forum helped you. The people on here got me through my first couple of weeks last November. Wishing you all the best x
Hey Retroaddic, You’ve done so well to get to day 15. You should be proud you’ve kept resisting the pills cause it is tough. I was still really struggling with sleep at that point too which feeds into the emotional struggles also. You’re tired and you’re fed up of not feeling “normal” so it’s a constant battle fighting the urge to just take some pills. Day 18 will be a huge milestone for you as your conscious of your previous relapse at that time. Take each day as it comes and slowly you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel and be so glad you stuck with it x
Hi 5yearsofhell, be proud of yourself for knowing you need to get off these pills. It can take multiple attempts to actually get off them for good. I don’t drink alcohol either so I found this really hard. I had no way of unwinding without codeine in my life.
The physical part is definitely easier in the sense after the first 4-7 days they’ve eased off. What’s left is this psychological yearning for something to fulfill the calming effect codeine gave you. The thing is your brain is used to codeine. So you feel awful and cannot kickstart your day without it. You feel you need it to be productive. I felt the exact same. I can promise you once you are off codeine a couple weeks you realise you don’t need the pills to do that. The pills make you feel crap to get you into a never ending cycle of having to take more to feel good. Once your brain recalibrates, you feel good all the time so you don’t need pills to get you started. You have your own natural motivation back.
This can take a good few weeks, if not a month, to fully happen so it’s a tough road. It’s hard if you must function for your job as your doing this too. Just know these are all temporary feelings and you do overcome them in time.
Maybe try a different habit in the morning to start your day like exercise? Something to break the usual taking pills routine. Your GP might be able to prescribe something if you have no motivation/depressed without the pills also?
The anemia is most likely due to the pills but you can overcome all this I promise. We’ve all been where you are and felt we couldn’t do it. You find the strength to keep going once you have the end goal in sight. Take it one day at a time x
You’re not on your own. A lot of people feel the mental side is so much harder. It takes awhile to feel ‘normal’ again but it will be so worth it once you’re out the other side. Music does help. I also listened to music constantly( on Maggies great advice!). It’s hard on you when your sleep is affected too. Your brain will eventually start releasing its own endorphins again and you’ll slowly start to feel happiness in things again. Your brain will realise it doesn’t need codeine. Be proud of yourself for doing this. It’s not easy but you’ve kept going x
Hi Retroaddic19, well done on getting to day 13! The worst of the physical withdrawals are definitely over by now. It’s a hard couple of weeks so be proud of yourself for doing it! It really does only get better and better once your past the first 2 weeks.
So the mental side is hard. Once the physical symptoms subside, a kind of depression/anxiety sets in as your brain tries to find joy in the world again without codeine. It’s hard but it does get easier I promise. Try and exercise to release some endorphins as this does help a little. I found sleep took the longest to settle but by week 4 I was back to pretty much normal.
Life is so much brighter without codeine in it once you’ve got through the withdrawals. I’m a way happier person now. I enjoy doing things and the sense of freedom not relying on those pills is liberating!
I’m here to chat if you want. Keep going, you’re nearly there. X
Hi 5yrsofhell, set backs happen. We’ve all tried to give up more than once believe me! The important thing is you’re not giving up and you realise codeine is affecting your health. To be honest, I couldn’t have worked the first week of withdrawal as I was all consumed by it so I can see why you find day 3/4 hard at work. I’m assuming taking a weeks holidays isn’t an option for you as you’re so busy but even the weekend at home should help you get past the worst days. I promise you can do this. When the time is right it all clicks into place and you get through it. Don’t be hard on yourself and just keep trying your best. Best of luck x
Definitely sharing with other people who understand is so important. I wouldn’t have got through it without the support of people on here. X
Hey Clab, glad to hear the tapering is going good. Getting down to only 2/3 pills is amazing, well done! Honestly, once those feelings do pass you’ll feel great x
Hi Jay, well done for getting to day 5! That is such an achievement. Please don’t feel stupid. Codeine lures you in and the addiction creeps up on you. Before you know it, you’re increasing your pills for the same euphoria and it becomes a cycle that’s hard to get out of. It took me 6 years to realise this! As you know from AA, take one day at a time and be proud of every day codeine free. The withdrawals are tough but you’re not far off beginning to feel better. Stay hydrated, take baths for the aches and pains and the anxious feeling will gradually go away after a couple weeks. Your brain is just trying to recalibrate and learn how to cope without codeine. You’ve done this with alcohol and will do it again with codeine. You’ve got this. I’m here to chat if you need support x
Hi5yrsofhell, well done on day 2! That’s amazing! Withdrawal is tough but once you have the motivation to want to be free of this drug, you find a strength to keep going. Take one day at a time and it gradually gets easier I promise. It’s all worth it as Your health and your life will be so much better once you get through it. The lack of motivation is hard. Your brain is trying to figure out what’s happening and needs to recalibrate but it’s all temporary. Keep talking to us as it really does help. You can do this ❤️