questions after being clean?

[dogged]

i was just curious, ive heard that after you have been clean for awhile, you never get enjoyment from everyday stuff( with cocaine addiction)_ is this true? or do most people have to be put on anti- depressent medication afterwatrds? if somone cantell me what and how you feel after you have been clean from cocaine and if its a struggle to find enjoyment in everday life.. what is common of what you go through? do you still fight the cravings after several years of being clean?

[best]

You may get more answers and get them faster if you ask on the substance abuse forum.
I can't speak on coke because I have never touched it but what I have found in other areas... any change requires an adjustment and while the adjustment is going on, things may not be enjoyed as much as they should/could. If you think of the change as moving to a new state and living out in the middle of nowhere, till you find new friends and learn how to adjust to the new life... things can be blah, thus not enjoyable.

[Rarly Harley]

It took time and effort, but I'm enjoying my life now way more than I ever did while drinking and using. You couldn't pay me enough to go back there, even for a visit....Jump on in and join us. What have you got to lose, except your pain and misery....?

[Sav]

Originally Posted by dogged

i was just curious, ive heard that after you have been clean for awhile, you never get enjoyment from everyday stuff( with cocaine addiction)_ is this true? or do most people have to be put on anti- depressent medication afterwatrds? if somone cantell me what and how you feel after you have been clean from cocaine and if its a struggle to find enjoyment in everday life.. what is common of what you go through? do you still fight the cravings after several years of being clean?

I had a friend I did the same drug with him as you do back when... when I finally decided to stop, I was basically okay shortly after.

For him, though...well, I got the impression he was having a hard time adjusting. It took him a while, and even though I lost touch, when I last heard of him, he'd been doing pretty good. But apparently he'd had *alot* of stuff to work through (I can relate now, I'm going throughj that later in life than he...now, in fact).

I'd say if you really feel you need to do something like that, talk to a doctor, but set a date when you'll absolutely stop using the anti-depressant. If you're still having trouble after that... well, you can cross that brdge when you come to it.

But I'm finding it's more of an attitude adjustment thing than a medication thing. A learning to change how you view the world.


I should look him up... we used to ride together until I had my big wipe out. He was very hard-core (all his buddies were bikers) and I think I've finally got my leg back to where I can support a bike again. Hopefully...

[BillJ]

The way I understand the reading I've done on the subject:

In some folks, addiction apparently screws up their body chemistry, bringing on depression, and they may need meds to maintain balance. In others, addiction is a way of self-medicating an existing depressive or manic-depressive (bi-polar) condition, and they may also need meds.

Either way, a 'script for anti-depressants isn't likely to tear up a person's life the way active abuse of coke, alcohol, or other drugs will. Given my druthers, I'd druther be C&S on Elavil than back out there self-medicating myself with booze!

[Sav]

Yeah, you're right, an anti-depressant is definitely better than the drugs/alchohol we screwed ourselves up with.

Just be REALLY careful with which one you get. Some of the things doctors are pushing as anti-depressants ARE addictive, and if you get a bad one, it could really screw up your recovery by making you worse.

Just do some research and pick the one that sounds most promising. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a crap shoot no matter what, as everyone has different results with these medications in the end. Be prepared to have it not work well, and go straight to your doctor to get an alternate if it doesn't. A lot of people I know relapsed when they had a bad reaction/unsuccesful first experience with their first try.

Just keep trying, and you will get it right...eventaully!

[recoveringnky]

I can share some ESH on anti-depressants. I take Celexa 40 mg a day. I do not have any bad side effects with it and by no means do I feel any relapse-type symptoms. I do not, however, wish that I would just die and I no longer sit around all the time on the couch with a blanket over me wishing the world would just go away. I do now enjoy life and am thankful that I'm alive, that I'm moving around and participating in life and that I found AA.

I started Celexa before I admitted that I was an alcoholic. With my doctor's guidance, we attempted to go off the meds thinking that maybe it was just alcoholism itself and nothing more. After a little while, the feelings of suicide came back and I called the doc. She put me back on them and I've been fine ever since. I wanted to so much to NOT have to take anything, but I'd rather take the AD and enjoy my sobriety, ya know?

So, for me, Celexa works great. Thanks for letting me share and I wish you the best!

Hugs,
Kym

[Rarly Harley]

I got hit with depression when I was 10 years sober. I was fine up till then, I don't know what brought it on. It just came. I too, could not muster myself off the couch, so I went to the Doc. I was sure to explain to the Doc that I was a recovering alchoholic & drug addict and that I would not take any meds that might trigger me. He put me on 60mg Celexa and 450mg Wellbutrin. That was over 7 years ago and I've been fine ever since. Check out my Avatar. Does that look like a guy who isn't having fun in sobriety....? LOL

[toad]

I was an IV meth user for the last five years of my active addiction. Being straight was a total bummer. I had been on anti-depressants for years prior to my last five years of using. Being a Vietnam Vet, the VA dished out anti-depressants, valums, and sleepers upon request. When I got clean and sober in September of 98, I made the decision to not use any meds, man, I wanted to be totally clean. I don't recommend this for anybody without a program to counter act the depression. My road to sane recovery was exercise. My drivers license was revoked for 10 years and I had to ride a bicycle everywhere I went. I started enjoying riding, and rode for pleasure every day. I tried to ride at least 20 miles a day. Even though I drive and ride my scoot today, I still ride my bicycle. I have ridden over 40,000 miles in the last nine years..........When we exercise our bodies produce a chemical called dopemine (spelling), this gives us a small high and a sense of well being. Also by exercising we sure up our endorphins and endorphin receptors which will allow us to sort our thoughts properly which helps in working through depression.

Possibly a combination of exercise, vitamins, meds, prayer, staying clean, and going to meetings..........stay in touch my friend.

[Jazzed_N_AZ]

Originally Posted by dogged

i was just curious, ive heard that after you have been clean for awhile, you never get enjoyment from everyday stuff( with cocaine addiction)_ is this true? or do most people have to be put on anti- depressent medication afterwatrds? if somone cantell me what and how you feel after you have been clean from cocaine and if its a struggle to find enjoyment in everday life.. what is common of what you go through? do you still fight the cravings after several years of being clean?

One of the best questions I have ever seen here. Everybodys answer is the right one because everybody is different.
I think that whenever you remove a thing from somewhere, there is an empty space there untill another thing is placed there. I put service in my space until I "DEVELOPED" a full life outside of the actual rooms. Now, I have to say no to good things sometimes because I am too busy from all the options a clean life has blessed me with.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Jazzed_N_MD

I am too busy from all the options a clean life has blessed me with.

One of the many blessings of sober living - a life overflowing with possibilities!

[Jazzed_N_AZ]

Originally Posted by Jazzed_N_MD

One of the best questions I have ever seen here. Everybodys answer is the right one because everybody is different.
I think that whenever you remove a thing from somewhere, there is an empty space there untill another thing is placed there. I put service in my space until I "DEVELOPED" a full life outside of the actual rooms. Now, I have to say no to good things sometimes because I am too busy from all the options a clean life has blessed me with.

In my case, wellbutrin was prescribed. I knew that I did not want to rely on any substance for feelings, even medication prescribed and taken properly. I still experience depression but I do not suffer from it. I am diagnosed cyklicle/chronic depression. This means I will always experience it and that it will come regularly,(for me every 60-90 days). What I have done to get off meds is to really take recovery to every area of my life. An inventory or a self searching to know myself can be more than behavior. For me it also showed me the warning signs of an on comming bout of depression. Recovery has taught me to get out of my own head, to do something deliberate for a change to happen.
When I feel the blues/blahs coming I can go for a ride, go to work, get into someone elses day (pick up the phone),think of my daughter/son/wife, change the radio station,...ect.

Or, I can open the resentment door and vent!! Of corse, to do this I better be alone otherwise the men in the white suits carrying nets come.
Understand, that recovery will be experienced by those in recovery. Dont pick up, no matter what!! and tell us what it is like with you. (ESH)