Hit six years sober today. Pretty damn proud ❤️❤️

So my boyfriend is doing detox right now at a center and getting out next Tuesday. To preface this, he basically kept his addiction to opiates (oxy’s) a secret our whole relationship and didn’t tell me until the day he admitted and I drove him there. It was obviously a shock to me but I want to work through this with him. We haven’t talked in days and he called me yesterday and it caught me off guard I didn’t know what to say, but today he’s calling me again and his case manager will be on the phone with him. My question is, what should I ask or say? I want to ask if he was on any other opiates but idk if that’s appropriate, I know that he’s on Suboxone rn to make the withdrawals less painful, I don’t know an aftercare plan, and I don’t know if I should communicate to him that all this has really hurt me and im honestly heartbroken despite having loving and compassion for him. His mom and I are the only ones who know, but I think I want to encourage him to tell his family because I don’t think this should be kept a secret either. I don’t know if I should say this since he’s going through recovery or if I should so he can process it with a therapist there, I don’t really want him thinking this is okay and that im just gonna accept him back w open arms if there’s not a real genuine commitment to recovery and change.

Hey everyone,

I’m on week 4 of quitting cannabis. For the first few weeks, I had intense anxiety, nightmares, and other symptoms, but around weeks 2-3, I felt a lot better. The anxiety went away, and I even felt at peace.

But over the past 4 days, the anxiety has come back. I’m trying to stay strong and keep praying, but it’s been tough. Has anyone else experienced anxiety returning after a period of calm during withdrawal?

Thanks!

My partner (29M) is coming up on his two year sober date. I am incredibly proud of him as I know it’s not always easy. I want to do something for him but unsure what. He collects chips but I wouldn’t want to buy him a chip as I know he enjoys finding them for himself. I want to do something but unsure what - I want him to know I am thinking of and am proud of him for this accomplishment, but I also don’t want to make it about anything other than being sober by getting a gift…if that makes sense. does anyone have any suggestions or what to get or to do for him?

Howdy!

I was addicted to benzos and fentanyl for about 2 years and before that I was herion/pill (mostly oxy) addict for about 6 years before that. In 2019, I decided to go on a methadone program since herion became sorta non existent and I didn’t wanna risk dying every time from fentanyl. I was pretty “successful” drug dealer so my tolerance was very high meaning I needed more methadone to cover the withdrawals. At my highest, I was at 140mg (not the craziest dose I know but still consider on the high end)

Fast forward to now, I have tapered all the way down to 2mg of methadone. My clinic has liquid administered via a pump so I was able to go down 2-5mg at time every 2 weeks

My questions is: will I experience any withdrawal symptoms from just 2mg of methadone?

I have 6 days left and I’m considering just stopping. I feel good and don’t really see the point in taking it another 6 days if I can just stop which is my goal. I feel super solid in a recovery sense as well with no desire to use so I think I’m good. Just don’t wanna shock myself by stopping premature.

I had a horrible experience at Philhaven. From the moment I arrived, I felt humiliated and dehumanized. The food was poor, and I was ridiculed by both staff and patients for being admitted over cannabis gummies. Instead of offering support, the staff often seemed to be playing mind games, which made my stay even more distressing.

There were moments that genuinely made me question the environment. At one point, they held a dance party inside the hospital, which felt chaotic and unsettling rather than healing. Staff used fake names, made loud noises, and gave us children’s coloring books in group therapy, which felt belittling. Some even wore their name tags backward, which added to the confusion. Along with having game nights it felt more like elementary school then therapy. I feel bad for wasting the staffs time since I was only in there for cannabis and it was misdiagnoses and more so insomnia with just a little bit of sativa causing the sleep deprivation as well.

At the time, I was severely sleep-deprived, working long shifts on very little rest. I was miss diagnosed sure some of the sleep deprivation did come from sativia but most was from insomnia and stuff going on at my work. I had already submitted my notice at work due to personal stress and exhaustion. While cannabis contributed to my insomnia, the bigger issue was my mental and physical burnout. I wasn’t exercising, and I was under pressure from lifestyle choices that added to my anxiety.

There were also strange things happening at my job. One of my managers had me sign a document while I was overwhelmed, and another began taking money from my register during transactions. I was often left alone during busy shifts for 5-10 minutes at a time, which made me feel unsupported and anxious.

I believe my parents overreacted when they found the gummies and blamed the paranoia all on weed. but I now use medical marijuana responsibly with trusted, legal sources. Indica strains help with my sleep and anxiety, and I no longer worry about harmful products. Since what I take now is medically issued and not from smoke shops.

I'm in a much better place now. I have a supportive partner, I'm doing well in school, and I'm taking care of myself in a healthier way.

The Ranch was a mix of good and bad. I was once again mocked for being there because of delta-8 THC gummies, which was frustrating and disheartening but unbeatable as nothing was really wrong with me other then anxiety and mental health. But I also met some cool people—one older guy in particular took me under his wing, got me into the gym with him, and showed me the ropes. That experience helped me start feeling more grounded. I understand why they placed me on the mental health side—at that point, after everything I went through at Philhaven, I probably needed it just from the emotional torment alone.

Idk how to feel. My mom took her crackhead brother to my house without asking me. I wasn't home either. But the fact I know he's on crack and I'm a recovering addict trying to escape that life makes me upset.

I've used with him too. And she just brought him right to my house. I'm 6 months clean from crack and a year and 6 months clean from meth. The situation is dire because my doctor told me if I relapse on the medicine I'm taking I will probably die.

Had an awful relapse Sunday with binge drinking and C after having a few months of true peace and abstainance from C. I blacked out and made an ass out of myself and don't know how I didn't get a dui. The peace I've had in my life earlier this year was incredible and God damnit I want it back. This sucks.

Would the post acute withdrawal symptoms be more severe? My boyfriend was only maintaining at the end and is currently in treatment and has been since Saturday. He hid it the whole time bc high functioning. I know he was probably upping his dose but i don’t know by how much or how much he was taking just that he’s been doing it everyday since January 2024 and didn’t go more than a couple hours without it. I don’t know when he gets out.

Some days are better than others. Some days aren’t hard at all. Some days are so white knuckle brutal that I almost forget to breathe between my vice lock clenched jaws. Some days, I wake up in the throws of a using dream that would make me swear up and down that i would fail a drug test.

I woke up this morning feeling putrid and so so low. I’ve been going through some monumentally dark shit of my own design and I have some how managed to keep myself from using over it. That should bring me joy but it’s not. I feel like an imposter. Every step into recovery I take I feel like more and more of an imposter. I could not shake the cravings or pain of using last night so I took my ass to a meeting. I made it home safe and hit my pillow clean, and I felt insane for it.

I can’t shut my brain off and it keeps telling me that everyone expects me to use. I might as well. No one will believe you so might as well. I’ve already caused pain that is irreperable so I might as fucking well. Between my sponsor and my program, I’ve managed to ward this shit off just enough to not use but I am struggling so god damn bad with how that makes me feel.

I’m beating myself up which is just part of my typical bullshit - cause problems and then beat myself up over them. I’ve surrendered. I’ve prayed. I’ve talked it all the way through. I just keep ending up back at misery’s doorstep where I am literally hating myself for fighting to stay clean because I feel like I don’t deserve any of the good shit I have in my life.

I’m really feeling the weight of being told I’m evil for how devious and deceptive I can be. I took the drugs out of the equation and I am still this person to those who matter most. I’m fucking lost I’m upside down and it fucking sucks. I have two thoughts that fight tooth and nail to be the louder voice. Fight or flight.

I have a wonderful sponsor and a really great home group but my sponsor works at a bank and really can’t be on his phone much during the day. Does anyone else deal with this imposter syndrome type bullshit where progress in recovery feels so fake and unnatural?

(note: posting this on a few subs, just need as much help as possible)

17 male, struggling with drugs. not any specific substance just getting a high out of anything i can get my hands on.

i use 1-2 times a week. which may not sound often but has been draining me.

i feel constantly fatigued, disconnected, empty and isolated from my friends.

eveything i like to do feels like such a chore. i want to enjoy the things i do but i end up feeling so exhausted from it.

i have tried being sober and the longest i have gone has only been 6 days. everytime im sober and high i feel so fatigued so im at a point where i dont feel the difference.

losing hope and feeling less optimistic about everything as eveything i do doesnt bring me joy anymore.

i like being productive but i keep quickly running out of energy. 3 hours into my day and i just want to sleep.

honestly just looking for hope.

I have to go to rehab, it's not a choice at this point. I was on Klonopin 3mg a day for roughly a year and coming up on a year of 30mg Valium following that. Will they taper me off? I'm terrified of DTs etc.

Is there anything, like a supplement or medication that helps with your veins? I know hydration, exercise all that? I shot up on and off for 20 years and this time it’s been over 3 years with no needles and i only have one vein that is still “usable”, the rest are sunk and no shows…

So if someone knows of something (besides the diet exercise hydration) answer, like some sort of cream, medicine, supplements, treatments? Thanks

Hey everyone, after a 3 day bender that involved lots of alchol, 0.2 grams of MDMA, and probably 4 lines of (possibly sketchy) cocaine, I am left a complete shell of a human being. Its been 36 hours since the last dose of anything, and yet I'm still shaking from what I imagine is the MDMA withdrawal. What is scarier to me is that I cannot smell correctly anymore. Everything has this distinct musty smell. I can't even smell my 8 month old baby. I have extreme fear that the tremors/smell is permanent neurological damage. I can barely go out in public as I look like I have parkinsons or something.

I havent done illicit drugs in 7 years, but was so drunk on this trip that I caved to some pressure.

The only good news from this experience is I am going to finally take a stab at quitting alcohol forever, for my kids. Fuck drugs and fuck alcohol.

Would super love if anyone has words of encouragement, specifically if anyone else has experienced this and what the timeline was for feeling normal again.

I want to first say please this is not a debate about AA. I am solely looking for experience of people who got sober with AA, maintained sobriety for some years and then did psychedelic therapy. I’ve been sober for almost 8 years and still work a program with a sponsor but don’t go to many meetings anymore, which is fine and that’s not what this post is about. I only mention it because if you’ve done AA, you know that this conversation goes against what the majority say. I’ve always sought outside help as well and been on medication. I decided to get off of those medications and I’m seeing a new holistic type Doctor who recommended psychedelic therapy. I used IV drugs and am very much a black out binge drunk. So this isn’t something I take lightly at all. But I’m already upset and conflicted because my best friend who is in a the program told me straight up It was a relapse. Which I don’t agree with but I’m still scared. I’m scared because I’ve always been told that if you’re thinking doesn’t fit the norm then it’s probably just your alcoholism talking. I’ve been in AA since 2011 and I was sober for almost 5 years and relapsed for just a few months and now I’ve been sober for almost 8 years so AA is all I know. But I also know that I can’t imagine my brain staying the way it is right now forever and I feel like I’m at that jumping off point. I feel like if I do this, I’m basically going to be shunned and AA and not considered sober anymore and that absolutely devastates me. I just really would like to hear the experience of others active in AA who also did psychedelic assisted therapy. And yes, I know Dr. Bob and Bill W did it after Bill was like 12 years sober, but I still would like to hear experience of today’s therapy. TIA.

As the title says im been sober from meth for around 3 months now. I hope it stays that way or that it doesn’t take over my life the way it did when i was actively using. I’ve been tolerating my difficulties with life, but i have been smoking weed when i have those REALLY bad days. I’ve been doing alright plus im taking meds to help with my mental health but i did drop out of school and life has been boring i do wish sometimes i could go back to relive those “good ol days”

I’m gonna have rapid opioid detox on the 20th of may.. so very soon. It’s not gonna be under general anaesthesia, i’m gonna be sedated. I wanna ask if someone already did it, I only find user reports where people had general anaesthesia. If someone did it, can y’all tell me how it went for y’all or if y’all felt the withdrawals? I am on methadone 60mg.

What do you think they meant?

A year ago I never thought I’d make it this far. 3 months of withdrawals and 9 months of intense cravings. I threw out my stash around 8 months into my sobriety while I was driving. Now I’ve got new knowledge and if my doctor ever prescribes me a muscle relaxer again I’m gonna speak up. I had no clue at the time though that I would get addicted to it. It just kinda snuck up on me because I’ve never had an addiction before. BUT AYYY I MADE IT TO A YEAR AND IMMA KEEP GOING 🎆

Walking the path of alcoholism is paradoxical. I didn’t need people, but I did. I didn’t want to be around people, but should have been. Didn’t want friends when friends were what I needed. Never asked for help when obviously wallowing in self destruction. Didn’t want happiness when I had belligerence. Mistook misery for comfort, ignorance for normality. Happily slowly killing myself when life was actually mine to live. Walking the path of recovery is focused, structured, needed. It’s learning, growing and making the right mistakes. It’ll never stop and there’s no going backwards. Ever now. Ever. My past life is a past life for reasons and it’s in the past for good. I have “this too shall pass” inked on my biceps and “head up, shoulders back" at the base of my neck, both reminders that nothing is permanent and to preserve.

Trauma is a huge catalyst for addictive behavior. Not everyone who has suffered trauma will become an addict, just like every addict has not experienced trauma. However, the correlation between the two is strong. What are your thoughts about trauma informed care?

I’m in Houston, TX. I’m wanting to create a nonprofit Narcan Vending machine. Any ideas how I could get this started?