5 Weeks But Scared

ChangingLanes · Newbie

Hi all, new to these parts. Smile

I was a daily user for about 7 months and then quit cold turkey 5 weeks ago and am SO GLAD that I did. However, my recovery is not going so smoothly. I'm new to this so please chime in with advice.

Since week #1 passed, I have daily anxiety to the point that I have pains in my hands and arm and feel dizzy sometimes. I went to my primary care doctor and got a clean bill of health but she put me on some anti-anxiety medication to "ride out" the withdrawals.

The meds have helped and the anxiety has 'toned down' a bit but it's still there and it drives me nuts. Will this last forever?

I don't have weird heart beats anymore (after about 2 weeks ago) and I feel healthy but I don't feel like myself.

I don't have ANY cravings to ever go back to using. None.

Any advice for riding this out? What should I do?

~CL

lucyb · Helping Hand I

CL-
Welcome to the site.

I am impressed with your ability to quit cold turkey. I am sure that you can expect some physiological as well as psychological difference in yourself now that your are not filling your body with a lethal substance.

I am glad your PCP gave you a clean bill of health. And very glad to hear that your heart is beating correctly.

Ways to get rid of anxiety? How about exericse? How about volunteering to help out in your community, helping those less fortunate then yourself? Reading? Meditating? Writing? Posting supportive posts to those in need at cocainehelp.org?
I think if you will search you will be able to find effective ways to help decrease the anxiety you have.
Look beyond yourself and into the world, there is so much out there if you just will see.

Turn your anxiety into energy, you can do this.

Best wishes and take care,
Lucy

Best wishes with your continued well being.

ChangingLanes · Newbie

Lucy,

Thank you for your kind words! I decided to start a daily regimen of swimming today and it really did make a difference. The anxiety went away for hours. I'm paying close attention to my diet and my mental health as well. You made some wonderful suggestions. I do plan on monitoring these forums and helping when I can.

It's so reassuring to see so much kindness out in the community. What a difference this makes.

CL

ChangingLanes · Newbie

One quick question - I was doing some reading online today and found sources that say the anxiety symptoms I have are part of the "withdrawal" phase and last about 10 weeks. Is there any truth to that given my short (but daily) habit? It would be great to know that in five weeks or so I'd be pretty close to "back to normal". I miss the old me - the happy and anxiety-free me. :-)

CL

..Michelle.. · Resident

That is really amazing and inspiring that you quit on your own =)I am just 1 day into my recovery but I have a lot of info on the "recovery process." I have learned that there are 4 stages in cocaine recovery 1-withdrawl lasts (0-15days)2-honeymoon(16-45 days)3-the wall (46-120days) 4-adjustment (121-180days). Im guessing your at the wall which they say is a major hurdle in recovery, but you will get through it and the next stage is when life begins to feel like its getting back to normal. Keep yourself busy and take it one day at a time, start a new hobby? I hope everything goes well for you, you should be very proud!!! My counselor recommended herbal supplements like l-tyrosine, B vita and DLPH (?) they are supposed to enhance the neurotransmitters that cocaine depletes. Hope some of this may help, good luck!

ChangingLanes · Newbie

Thanks for that information Michelle! Yesterday was a VERY good day for me, and I've found that the key to beating anxiety is to keep my mind busy at all time and not stop moving. It's when I'm staring at the walls that the thoughts start popping into my head. I'm just glad that I don't think about the drug anymore. I hope that after I'm 100% back to normal I can start helping a few friends make changes in their lives too before it's too late (ie they end up in the hospital!!)

CL