GraceGevin

hello to anyone that may be out there. i have just signed on and have a few questions about withdrawal. can anyone help?

warrens

Welcome!

this is a good place to share and learn. Be aware that withdrawal can involve the need for medical services and expertise. Medical advice is not given here. Good luck on your journey and visit often!

warrens

Aysha

GraceGevin

Thank you both for your welcome. How nice to hear. I am a long-term, part-time cocaine user. I have been up and down, some good years, some not so good, but have always managed to function in society. I realize though that I am not reaching my full potential. That I have to hide and lie in order to continue to use. Wouldn't life be nicer without that? Wouldn't my energy be spent better elsewhere than to cover up, recover, hide etc. God, I hope so!! It's time for me to move on. I'm not 25 anymore. So I have decided to quit. Or maybe I was forced into quitting when my job suffered. It's been 13 days. But it's been an 'easy' thirteen days or easy as far as not getting any b'c I'm not in the town where I live. I know where to get it here, where I am now, but it's never been a part of my life in this town so I'm ok suffering through. I return to where I live on Tuesday. I get cramps in my jaw on a daily basis. My thoughts are consumed with how I am going to stay clean once at home. I've tried before and failed. I'm going to continue to go to meetings and I have a therapist and a good support group but I'm a hider and I know that I can get away with a little bit here and there. My resolve is good but is it good enough? Do any of you have experience with the physical symptoms? That's what I have the most trouble with. The only thing I get is the jaw cramps but it's a reminder and distracting and frustrating and I'm afraid that once I'm back in my environment the triggers will be too great. Any thoughts/advice?

Anna

Hi Grace,

Welcome!

I'm glad you found us and it sounds like you're doing really well. Thirteen days clean is great.

If the town where you live is a trigger for you, then you can try to plan ahead. Avoid certain areas, streets, restaurants, or whatever is the trigger for you. Drive a different way to and from work.

You can do this1

GraceGevin

Thanks for your support. I really think that this forum will help me. I'm so excited about it. Yes, I know to stay away from trigger places and I'm good at it. I've long identified them and I'm fine with working around them. One of my biggest obstacles is my 'core group' of friends. My sister who is ten years younger lives in the same town as me, or I should say city... She uses occasionaly but doesn't have the same issues that I do. She can take it or leave it. Her boyfriend is the same. Our mutual friends are the same. Pretty much everyone I socialize with has done it at one point or another and most of them take it or leave it. I can't say no. I know to stay away from most of them but I can't stay away from my sister. And the other thing I struggle with is that I like going out and hanging with them and I know I have to deny myself that if I'm going to stay clean. But how do I get over the feeling of 'being left out' when they all go. How do I get comfortable with 'missing out', or at least what I feels like missing out cos it's so new. Thanks for your help!!!!

nandm

:ghug2 Glad you are here. Welcome to SR!

ANGELINA243

Welcome! Glad you are here! I am an alcoholic/addict in recovery. I could take or leave coke--but other substances, I could not. One of the drugs I was heavily into caused me to constantly grind my teeth, so I did have frequent jaw tenderness. But when I quit using--it eventually went away. Might want to check with with you doc--if it continues or is bothersome. 13 days is great! Push up!

kitkatmc

Welcome Grace I am new here too Day 5 of my first step of Sobriety you are in the right Place look forward to seeing your posts

:bounce

CarolD

Welcome to SR!

hairgirl

There is no magic solution.You know what you need to do in order to stay away.I think your drug problem is much more severe than you want to accept.If it has affected your job somehowand you are having jaw clenches, it's not a "part time" thing.I think you may want to re-examine the entire situation, and look into a program of recovery.It couldn't hurt.

nogard

Welcome to SR

GraceGevin

thanks all. it's so nice to know that we're all in this together. it helps me stay strong! and it gives me somewhere to go when i'm feeling weak or alone. i appreciate hairgirls comments. way to stick it to me! it's good for me. i have looked into programs and i'm deciding whether it's something that i'm really ready/willing to do... i go to NA and AA meetings for now and see a specialist once a week. if i can't stay clean then yes, i'm in. 14 days tomorrow. waaaahooo! one day at a time damn it. kitcatmc... congrats on 5 days. i have to say that this is the hardest thing that i have ever done. and i'm in it to win this one. i want a better life. i want to be all that i can be. talk soon all. in europe so going to bed. sweet slumber it's always the easiest time and i welcome it. i feel so pure after a good nights sleep and i'm grateful that i wake up feeling good and ready to fight one more day. best to all.

GraceGevin

hey all. i feel so anxious today. i feel nervous. like i'm about to get on stage and act in a play. butterflies and heart racing a little. what does this mean? thinking maybe going for a walk will help but it's snowing! any ideas as to why and how to move through it?

barb dwyer

hi Grace -

welcome a day after getting here - but welcome jsut the same -

maybe head over to the Substance abuse forums, and read the stickies at the tops of the forums over there - them, for more information - go over to the alcoholism forums, and red the information at the tops of those forums. there's a wealth of information about recovery, detox, what we did, and how we did it.

Being in Montana -0 I can relate about not being able to get outside and walk when you need, and I mean NEED to get out of the house. Sometimes - I think you could perform an appendectomy on my floors - because instead of walking on them - I tend to sweep and mop them instead!

have you considered a program of recovery?
or have you made a plan of recovery yet?
What has your doctor to say?

GraceGevin

so funny! thanks for the support. thanks for the advice of the substance abuse forums. i'm not familiar enough with the site yet to use all its resources so its good to know. i'll go check it out. i'm not where i live, i'm visiting out of the country and there are no meetings in the town i'm in (mor like a village really), but i've been going to meetings where i live and get back there on tuesday so only a few more days. i have a doctor at home and he's fully on board. my prob is more coke than alcohol... all related, but that's my downfall... so i guess i should go the narcotics forums?