Withdrawal: Psychological aspect

[sixflat1]

I tried ustse, couldnt find anything relatable, sorry if this has been covered.

I was wondering about the effects the mind has on withdrawal. Sure the physical parts suck but the depression is what really gets me back to square one. It seems sometimes though, that I build WDing up in my head, thinking its going to be the end of the world.

I am not as far along as some members here (90mg oxy or 24 mg dillys a day for 4 months)but when I have to WD it seems to be largely in my head. I do get insomnia, rls, chills (my worst one), the shits, and back pain.... But it's not that bad. I've had alcohol hangovers that, although much shorter in duration, are physically worse. It's the mental aspect that really makes WD suck for me. Don't get me wrong WD sucks alltogether and I loathe it. The worst WD's for me are when your connect falls through and you have no choice but to go though the sickness unexpectedly.

My question is about the mental aspect and easing WD's with a positive attitude. One thing that has me convinced is something we all have probably experienced. Your out of your DOC and have no way to score and you feel the sickness coming. I'll start with the yawns, watery eyes, and sneezing. Knowing I can't get anything makes it so much worse. Then the phone rings.... "come on through".

It's almost as if my WD symptoms completely disappear. Just knowing I can score tremendously helps the sickness. My question is in regards to this effect. If WD symptoms can disappear like that, has anyone had any luck using meditation or mind exercises to keep WD away. I realize it's unlikely to completely eliminate them, but this has always intrigued me

Any input would be greatly appreciated
Thanks y'all

[dioxyhyrdoheroin]

IMO the mindset is the most crucial part in determining w/d symptoms...

I find that if I'm on the way to get drugs (like once you get the "all cool roll thru" call) *SICKNESS LEAVIN ME*
almost all symptoms alleviated by the simple pleasure of knowing soon i'll more than likely have an injection of HOT DRUGS in my arm.

THEREFORE...

w/d must be mostly psychosomatic...



that being said meditation and mind exercises probably wouldn't stop the beast from screamin' at you at but it might tone it down a little...
like if you were some Buddhist monk and you prepared mentally for the ultimate kick. (like visualized you eating your opiate addiction for breakfast everyday for months leading up to this/got pumped up like ROCKY.) maybe. just maybe.... your mind would help you more so if you had more control of your thoughts and such... so not gonna help most average joe American's but remember that monk that set himself on fire to protest vietnam war?

if you can overcome and be still through that...

you could take a couple days of w/ds like a walk in the park...http://www.vietnampix.com/bilder/fire5e2.jpg

[More Feen]

For any drug that can cause a physical withdrawal, there's bound to be a psychological withdrawal as well.

In An Optimal Scenario:
1. Person has time & enough DOC to wean themselves down to low levels before WD-ing,
2. Person has sufficient rescue meds to use at low doses (sub-euphoric), at critical points during WD,
3. Person has various activities to occupy their time during WD (for the psych. aspect).

In A Nightmare Scenario:
1. Person is cut-off from their DOC at a point in time where their tolerance is high (like in jail),
2. Person has no rescue meds to use at critical times during WD,
3. Person has little to no activities to divert their minds from the psychological need for their DOC.

My personal belief is that a little bit of self-control is necessary when actively using, to keep tolerance from getting too high: If a person is cut-off, for whatever reason, they will be in a very bad way.

As most people know, when WD-ing, one's libido returns as does their ability to enjoy sex. One of the many activities to occupy their mind.

I cannot stress enough that some form of PHYSICAL ACTIVITY has the dual benefit of:
1. Up-regulating opiate receptors, and
2. Increasing endogenous opiate production, and
3. Occupying your mind with other activities (the exercising itself, or cute women working-out near you).

* Okay, that's not a dual benefit but a TRIPLE benefit!

All things being equal; quiting during the wintertime has ALWAYS been more difficult than quiting during the summer--there's just so much more you can do during the summer that beating the psychological aspect of WD is much easier.

M F

[michellebaines]

Just having spent the last 24 hours hanging over various trash cans, I can definitely say that the psychological aspects are far worse than the physical.

I'm used to feeling horrible occasionally no matter what I do. My body randomly decides to go to war with itself without warning so. But if I can distract myself, and manage to keep functioning I do much better. The fact that I'm on psych meds that boost dopamine production help too, when they stay down lol.

I also seem to get better just at the time I get in the car to go to the doctor on refill day...go figure. Certainly can't walk into the doc's office looking like a feigning junky can i?

[smokey]

The mind is a powerful thing, can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. ATM i am on speaking terms with my mind, lets say, because a few days to 5months in I still get temptations and mind fucked like a mother fucker from time to time(its not from the site, H actually turns me off when i read H & IV in the same sentence). Its the psychological shit, on numerous occasions just the thought of hooking/using dope has made me go in physical WD(cold, goosebumps, throwing up, diarrhea outa no where etc...), the mind ay, can be a motherfucker.

And as if just the foul temptations is not enough, the dreams produced by the subconscious mind creep up as well, and it takes a hell of a lot to not act out on them for me. And, the day i found a booger of tar under my bed, ha i never found dope under my bed in the YEARS i was fuckin using, bed ridden, fucked. My hand was shaking while i was flushing that shit down (~3months in).

Its a motherfucker I know, but it can be alleviated. See I had this problem for like 7-8 months, I wanted to quit real bad, I would go through a 3-5 day physical wd, then use, over and over again. Why? because the psychological aspect was more powerful than the physical. The funny part is all the while i was feeling like shit, kicking like a motherfucker, the thought of dope made me cringe, but as soon as I started feeling a little better, the temptation/romanticize would set in 5th gear. And I dont want to leave out the all known fact of when you do not want dope it becomes free, right?

If you want to do it you can, I eventually did, and even though it still gets under my skin, these days i get more mad then tempted lets say. Listening to non drug related tunes, watching sports, a movie puts my mind off it. The fact that i told every user in my life to get at me when there not using, and changed my # helps a lot. And meditation is KEY, what ever way you do it, IT GIVES YOU PEACE OF MIND. something i craved for years, today i can say without a doubt that I have.
I can right more when it comes to my corrupt mind on this subject, get at me if u need n e thing op.

[sixflat1]

Thanks smokey, I definitely can relate to quitting, getting through 4-5 days of physical WD and then the dealers seem to come out of the woodwork. Deleting numbers is perhaps the best way to stay clean, for me anyway. If I can't easily get it... I don't. I think this is because I always want to quit, but when your dude calls you and says.... I got this and that and can deliver. I am much too weak.

Getting your mine right is the key to most anything, but for some reason when I have to go through WD, I do the worst thing possible. I lie in bed and throw myself a pity party. A shower, breakfast, walk around the block, and a good book outside does wonders....when I can manage to drag myself outta bed.

Thanks for the replies
Peace