Comments for What Winners Do - An Addiction Recovery Blog

Comment on What Winners Do Is Proud To Introduce The Suboxone Help Spot by Tonya

Tonya — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:53:04 +0000

Wow I just came back to see what these boards were like now and saw my own post from a year ago. I am Tonya and was on 24 mg a year ago. Now I’m doing great on 8mg a day. There seems to be a lot of negativity surrounding it but I’m totally grateful for the option. With the suboxone and great therapy I finally made the changes I needed to (divorce). I’ve never been happier and take it day by day. If I taper in the near future or stay on it the rest of my life that’s ok. I’m surrounded by narcotics in my job and don’t want to lose the profession I love. Good luck to you all. Do what’s best for you and what is a healthy option to keep you well!

Comment on What Winners Do Is Proud To Introduce The Suboxone Help Spot by john

john — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:40:04 +0000

I read on a website that you shouldnt take suboxone occasional. I’m wondering why this is, because i have used it on a “as needed” basis. Well it would be greatly appreciated to have this question answered. thank you, your friend slomo

Comment on In Every Life There Is A Little Self Doubt… Right? by jewelryart

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Comment on Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret? by Patricia Rusnak, RN

Patricia Rusnak, RN — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:02:36 +0000

Hi Rachel
I hope that I can help you with some of your questions regarding Cymbalta. It certainly is not what it is advertised to be. There are safer alternatives. Discontinuing Cymbalta is truly a horrible experience. Ultimately, it needs to be done at a very slow taper under the supervision of a knowledgeable physician. Not every physician is aware of the appropriate course of discontinuation. Plan to taper off the drug when you have some down time at school….perhaps summer break. This process will really be exhausting…physically and emotionally. Recruit friends and family for support and know, going into this, its going to be a rough ride. You do not have to stay on Cymbalta forever, but you can’t stop it…just like that ! It has been 5 weeks since my final dose, and I am almost there. Each day, it gets a little better, but the progress is very slow. I still feel some withdrawal symptoms, although they are significantly milder. I never experienced brain zaps…I don’t think everyone does. If you encounter suicidal thoughts, you seriously Must be monitored by a physician! Several OTC items were helpful to me…Dramamine for dizziness and nausea, Benadryl for sleep and various other symptoms, and most recently, 5-HTP for headaches, anxiety and anger. Research the 5-HTP, as well as discuss it with your physician….to determine if it is right for you. Rachel, you can do this if you have the will to feel better, just please do it safely. My best to you.

Comment on Avoiding Isolation In Addiction Recovery… It Aint Easy by chris

chris — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:33:44 +0000

Hi Raj, that’s my problem, I find it difficult to stick to a personal change. It always happens that after some time, my old bad habits return.

Comment on Avoiding Isolation In Addiction Recovery… It Aint Easy by chris

chris — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:32:31 +0000

Hi. I’m a medical student from the Philippines. I read your blog because I was searching for a story about isolation and and how people recover from it. I have this tendency to get depressed and socially withdraw myself when under overwhelming challenges. Lately, I joined a fraternity and mixed with med school, it was quite overwhelming for me. The sad thing is, instead of facing these challenges, I started out by escaping my new responsibility as a frat member and felt depressed and slept throughout most of the day. This habit worsened as I alienated myself from my old friends and other fraternity members who were my friends before I joined the fraternity. I used to be very jolly and friendly, and used to joke a lot, that’s why people loved me, but now I am this quiet person who doesn’t interact anymore. When it’s time for lunch, I just go to my apartment and lie down until the next class. I look forward to nothing than to just lie down in bed, regardless if I sleep or not. I even skip classes just to lie down literally the whole day. I don’t know why I’m writing this. Maybe I just feel that you’d understand my situation.

I’ve been seeing a main psychiatrist and 2 others (not that often) who are family friends. They all did their psychotherapy and given me medication to combat my depression. Now, all they say is that it is up to me to break this isolation habit and reach out to my friends. Well, I find it hard. I just wish I never joined the fraternity at all because before that, as I said, I was OK. Now, I don’t interact with anybody, and I think I am addicted to lying down, and I am so hopeless, but somehow, I try to talk to people, but I avoid frat members and places where the frat people hang out. I just miss my old life.

Comment on Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret? by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:31:33 +0000

Hey guys. I’ve read all.. well most of the posts.
I am a 19 yr old female and have suffered from depression/anxiety basicly all my life (my psychologist just told me I had a severe anxiety disorder after I went nuts that I had spent hundreds of dollars on sessions but felt like I had got nothing out of it) I also suffered from terrible short term memory loss in the lead up to seeking proffesional help.
I have been on Cymbalta for approx. 6 months. First side effects were insomnia… no sleep for 2 days and still feeling awesome, then when sleeping I had weird nightmares.. that all stopped after a few weeks.
I have been feeling fantastic when I remember to take the pill… but if I forget to take it then the next day I am completely dizzy, tired, suicidal, irrational.. the whole deal.. worse feelings than prior to taking Cymbalta. Luckily my memory is slowely returning.
The psychologist tells me I need to get off Cymbalta before I can deal with my anxiety disorder…. but due to University and commitments there is no way I can do it at this point in time.
I too wasn’t fully informed about the withdrawl complications, but I can definately see how bad they can be considering how terrible I feel if I only miss one or two pills.
Just wondering if anyone else (who wasn’t suicidal prior to treatment with Cymbalta) has felt that missing or weening off it can cause suicidal thoughts… The only time I have got tot the mind frame of being ready to commit suicide was when I was having a downer after missing Cymbalta two days in a row. Also, these mind Zaps??? Please explain!!!
Maybe I should just stay on this drug forever?? Help!

Comment on Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Being Kept Secret? by Missy

Missy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:12:54 +0000

Seriously.. grow up. I think you need to go back on the DEMON DRUG to stop you from annoying the rest of the world.
Sure, voice your opinions and experiences.. but do you really think arguing with someone who is trying to give you some answers (whether they are useful or not) is worth it? I just hope you don’t speak to your children the way that you spoke to Carlos… as annoying as he is, making someone feel like crap when they are having their say is both rude and ignorant.

Comment on Instant Gratification Is A Huge Part of Addiction by Bobby

Bobby — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:42:09 +0000

Thank you for your observations. You are absolutely right about instant gratification. With all the technological advances, instant gratification is at everyone’s fingertips. Our society has become so acclimated to the ability of acquiring anything almost instantaneously that waiting for anything has become a burden. This is very dangerous. Kids get instant gratification from video games and adults get instant gratification by always being connected to some sort of communications device. Along with the latest technology, we also need to develop new skills to stay sane.

Comment on Avoiding Isolation In Addiction Recovery… It Aint Easy by Edward

Edward — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:20:05 +0000

isolating over years just got me my own apartment. my wife reached a critical point and I agreed and left.

But recovery has been ongoing and we are talking some.

It’s not over yet. Fellowship with a new group within church and others is making a difference.

Life means more and I am living versus hiding and turning inward. Thanks for your insight.