Opiate related depression
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 198
Opiate related depression
Hey everyone,
I have been on and off this forum for some time. I wasn’t ready. I am now. I’m tired of the rat race.. the stuff I do to try and chase the high..
I am a caregiver for my mother and moved back home to be there to help with her rheumatoid arthritis and congestive heart failure. She is doing well. Sometimes she wakes up before I have had my dose of opiates and I fake that I was asleep. I’ll say: “Oh let me get an hour of sleep” - when I mean “let me try and get high so I’m in a better frame of mind.”
I have found my depression is pretty bad.. and I’ve been using my legitimately prescribed medicine more to try and be happy while going day to day.. I have a herniated disc.. and have had surgery, but my back is much like my relatives’. We just have bad backs..genetically.
So the prescription lasts a week.. then I use kratom to be happy until I can get my refill. I’m done. I’m going to have my Mom hold my medicine next month and give me the proper dosage. Clearly I cannot trust myself. I’m an addict.
I know all to well the withdrawal symptoms. I don’t care. Once I’m through them I won’t have to do them again. I’m only worried about the depression. I am going to focus on weight loss and find happiness through exercise. It’s a win-win. I lose weight and my back won’t hurt as much while I find happiness naturally.
Why am I posting? Does exercise help with depression? Yes I’ve checked with my doc and she wants me exercising ASAP.
In a nutshell, I need to get my life in order.. a better job - but need to lose weight. Need to stop abusing my medicine and find happiness through a better diet and exercise.. I just haven’t been ready to mentally/nor have I been mature enough. I’m done wallowing in self-pity. I’m just done chasing the high that I don’t necessarily get anymore.. all I get is a level of guilt and shame that I cannot deal with.. the depression will hopefully subside with exercise.. mind you I haven’t really exercised in a few years.. it has to be the answer - right?
Before you ask:
35 years old
abusing ~50mg norco daily
Hoping exercise and diet make me happy and I can utilize my meds for what they are intended to be used for.
What do I need to know? Will exercise and diet help? Looking to find happiness naturally as antidepressants have never really worked. Was always told to exercise but never did.
Thanks for your support and thoughts.
I have been on and off this forum for some time. I wasn’t ready. I am now. I’m tired of the rat race.. the stuff I do to try and chase the high..
I am a caregiver for my mother and moved back home to be there to help with her rheumatoid arthritis and congestive heart failure. She is doing well. Sometimes she wakes up before I have had my dose of opiates and I fake that I was asleep. I’ll say: “Oh let me get an hour of sleep” - when I mean “let me try and get high so I’m in a better frame of mind.”
I have found my depression is pretty bad.. and I’ve been using my legitimately prescribed medicine more to try and be happy while going day to day.. I have a herniated disc.. and have had surgery, but my back is much like my relatives’. We just have bad backs..genetically.
So the prescription lasts a week.. then I use kratom to be happy until I can get my refill. I’m done. I’m going to have my Mom hold my medicine next month and give me the proper dosage. Clearly I cannot trust myself. I’m an addict.
I know all to well the withdrawal symptoms. I don’t care. Once I’m through them I won’t have to do them again. I’m only worried about the depression. I am going to focus on weight loss and find happiness through exercise. It’s a win-win. I lose weight and my back won’t hurt as much while I find happiness naturally.
Why am I posting? Does exercise help with depression? Yes I’ve checked with my doc and she wants me exercising ASAP.
In a nutshell, I need to get my life in order.. a better job - but need to lose weight. Need to stop abusing my medicine and find happiness through a better diet and exercise.. I just haven’t been ready to mentally/nor have I been mature enough. I’m done wallowing in self-pity. I’m just done chasing the high that I don’t necessarily get anymore.. all I get is a level of guilt and shame that I cannot deal with.. the depression will hopefully subside with exercise.. mind you I haven’t really exercised in a few years.. it has to be the answer - right?
Before you ask:
35 years old
abusing ~50mg norco daily
Hoping exercise and diet make me happy and I can utilize my meds for what they are intended to be used for.
What do I need to know? Will exercise and diet help? Looking to find happiness naturally as antidepressants have never really worked. Was always told to exercise but never did.
Thanks for your support and thoughts.
- Josh
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,132
I've dealt with mental health issues all my life. Diet and exercise definitely help, but you are most likely going to be depressed for a while. Stay away from the Kratom. It is worse than the narcotics. I went through living hell withdrawing from Kratom, but I was using large amounts daily. I was treated for major narcotic withdrawals when I withdrew from Krtatom. Chasing that ever elusive high, you know. Don't underestimate antidepressants because nothing says you have to be on them a long time.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 652
Hi Josh,
I don't have any words of wisdom, just wanted to say that 'I hear you'. I was addicted to opiates for many years and I have been a caregiver. It is hard and draining being a caregiver. Exercise will give you some space just for you. Sounds like you could do with that.
Warm wishes
Lucinda
I don't have any words of wisdom, just wanted to say that 'I hear you'. I was addicted to opiates for many years and I have been a caregiver. It is hard and draining being a caregiver. Exercise will give you some space just for you. Sounds like you could do with that.
Warm wishes
Lucinda
Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 28,642
Josh, I will be ob an AD for life, I think- it does not numb me- but gives me a level playing field. Exercise and diet do help me with depression- but they are not all that helps. Of course (at least for me) these are the problems and memories in my brain. That needs counselling, meetings (to recharge sober batteries), journaling, art- different stuff. But exercise and diet is a great start.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,359
You can share your experience Crystal - 'I used this' - rather than recommending someone else do something.
Obviously anyone thinking about taking a supplement they read about in SR really ought to see their doctor and run it by them, or at least do some due diligence on the web.
D
Obviously anyone thinking about taking a supplement they read about in SR really ought to see their doctor and run it by them, or at least do some due diligence on the web.
D
Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 14
The amino acid supplement I took when I stopped opioids was DLPA. I took 1000mg three times a day starting at the point of my taper and I am now three months since taper day and 34 days with no opioids. I have gradually reduced this dosage as I felt my dopamine levels balancing. I just listened to my body. If you listen you will know when to decrease. I am down to only 500mg a day now and will probably stay at that dosage for the remainder of the year since I have decided that I need a full year for my brain chemicals to return to normal. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 198
It’s amazing what I have neglected.. floaters in my eye and high sugar lead me to believe I need to see the eye doctor for the exact same thing my mother was going: injections and laser treatment. It’s genetic. I don’t want to acknowledge the truth and simply want to ignore it. That’s how I became an addict and I’m sure that is what led to diabetes.. just not giving a s#^%. I am having a bad day.. I really didn’t want to post because you all have given me such positivity and all I have is just enormous mountains of pity and self-loathing. Thanks again everyone.. and my apologies.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Western NY
Posts: 1,209
Josh - weightlifting has been super helpful for me. I am not sure how much you can do with a bad back though.
As far as diet goes, I have a calorie target for the day and stick to it. I would imagine the diabetes would need something more complicated than that though. Maybe your doctor could give you advice on how many calories per day to eat and how many carbs, protein and fat to target?
As far as diet goes, I have a calorie target for the day and stick to it. I would imagine the diabetes would need something more complicated than that though. Maybe your doctor could give you advice on how many calories per day to eat and how many carbs, protein and fat to target?
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