what is the best thing i can do for my boyfriend whose going though heroin withdrawals? He's been using for 2-3 years now , smoking it & would like to give it up & i want to help him out but hearing him go through it is hurting me i just want to take the pain away for him.Please give me some advice.
Dear Geri.
First and foremost, it has to be him that wants to give it up. If he really does you can go down one of two routes.
1st: You can have him admitted into a detoxification unit. The methods used vary but the goal is the same. To have him free of all heroin within his system. Once detoxed, he should then go into rehabilitation. Much of the problems in giving up heroin lies in the fact that for all that time, this one drug has been central to his life. Rehab will serve to enable him to learn not just to say no, but how to say yes. How to rebuild his life. Focus on the root cause behind the choices he made and most importantly, once out in society how not to make the same mistakes again.
2nd: You can do this at home. It is not a pleasant experience (if you read my very first post on "am in hell", I describe in excruciating detail what cold turkey entails. To give yourself and him the best chance of succeeding preparation is all important.
a)get him to reduce the amounts he is consuming to the barest minimum.
b)He will need a warm, secure and comfortable environment and must have 24hour supervision and no access to funds whatsoever.
c)In the acute phase of the withdrawal, he will want to bolt. He will be climbing up the walls. He must have people around him that understand and are symapthetic but that will stand firm. Nutritious soups and stews are all he will probably be able to eat for the first few days.Plenty of fluids and warm baths may help when he's ready. until then he will need a warm bed and privacy.
d) The acute phase reaches its peak at about 72 hrs from which it starts to subside. The main difficulty is the insomnia.
e) The insomnia is merciless and he may go up to 10 days without sleep. It is what drives many addicts who've been through the worst of the withdrawal process (myself included on many many occasions to relapse) This can be mitigated somewhat. I found that occupying my mind with books and listening to music really helped. Get him out into the fresh air. It will help tire him out and help him get back to sleep.
f) Once the physical symptoms have passed, the real battle begins. Boredom,listlessness,depression,anxiety,mood swings will set in. This could last for weeks. What I and many others have found helps is to have something to keep the mind occupied. What did he enjoy doing before. I used to love playing my guitar in a band so I made it my mission to get a band together and play the local pub circuit. Things like that. It can be anything. Mountain biking, whatever. The one warning I will give you is keep him away from alcohol..I have seen so many ex-junkies swap gear for drink.This is because both substances work on the brain in very much the same way.
g)Last of all, keep him away from all his old using friends. They will just be waiting for the slimmest of opportunities to get him back in. He will in effect need to rebuild his life.
If at any stage you feel that he is not coping or that you're not coping, get to a gp or a drug counsellor(you can find out where they are by ringing your surgery) for some additional support.
I hope I've answered your questions as completely and succintly as I can. If you want to follow the ups and downs of giving up heroin with none of the details spared, the mistakes,the denials, and solutions I found through the help of many many people, follow my story. It's called "am in hell".
Best of luck.
Reshie.
First and foremost, it has to be him that wants to give it up. If he really does you can go down one of two routes.
1st: You can have him admitted into a detoxification unit. The methods used vary but the goal is the same. To have him free of all heroin within his system. Once detoxed, he should then go into rehabilitation. Much of the problems in giving up heroin lies in the fact that for all that time, this one drug has been central to his life. Rehab will serve to enable him to learn not just to say no, but how to say yes. How to rebuild his life. Focus on the root cause behind the choices he made and most importantly, once out in society how not to make the same mistakes again.
2nd: You can do this at home. It is not a pleasant experience (if you read my very first post on "am in hell", I describe in excruciating detail what cold turkey entails. To give yourself and him the best chance of succeeding preparation is all important.
a)get him to reduce the amounts he is consuming to the barest minimum.
b)He will need a warm, secure and comfortable environment and must have 24hour supervision and no access to funds whatsoever.
c)In the acute phase of the withdrawal, he will want to bolt. He will be climbing up the walls. He must have people around him that understand and are symapthetic but that will stand firm. Nutritious soups and stews are all he will probably be able to eat for the first few days.Plenty of fluids and warm baths may help when he's ready. until then he will need a warm bed and privacy.
d) The acute phase reaches its peak at about 72 hrs from which it starts to subside. The main difficulty is the insomnia.
e) The insomnia is merciless and he may go up to 10 days without sleep. It is what drives many addicts who've been through the worst of the withdrawal process (myself included on many many occasions to relapse) This can be mitigated somewhat. I found that occupying my mind with books and listening to music really helped. Get him out into the fresh air. It will help tire him out and help him get back to sleep.
f) Once the physical symptoms have passed, the real battle begins. Boredom,listlessness,depression,anxiety,mood swings will set in. This could last for weeks. What I and many others have found helps is to have something to keep the mind occupied. What did he enjoy doing before. I used to love playing my guitar in a band so I made it my mission to get a band together and play the local pub circuit. Things like that. It can be anything. Mountain biking, whatever. The one warning I will give you is keep him away from alcohol..I have seen so many ex-junkies swap gear for drink.This is because both substances work on the brain in very much the same way.
g)Last of all, keep him away from all his old using friends. They will just be waiting for the slimmest of opportunities to get him back in. He will in effect need to rebuild his life.
If at any stage you feel that he is not coping or that you're not coping, get to a gp or a drug counsellor(you can find out where they are by ringing your surgery) for some additional support.
I hope I've answered your questions as completely and succintly as I can. If you want to follow the ups and downs of giving up heroin with none of the details spared, the mistakes,the denials, and solutions I found through the help of many many people, follow my story. It's called "am in hell".
Best of luck.
Reshie.
withdrawl sucks, but if he really wants it he will do okay. itsonly a couple day of feeling like death. i found hot showers or baths, like every 10 min help. imodium ad, advil, alka selter.
i used flexeril(muscle relaxer) and sat on the beach for the week. getting away while trying to clean up i found helps. when you can't get it you don't feel as bad. food will most likely be last on the list of wants, but chicken broth will help settle stomach a little. by day 4 you need to get your vitamins, i drank orange juice. just alittle bit so i didn't throw up up. but by day 4 thing start to feel alittle better.
just remeber it won't kill you to withdrawl(unles there are medical problems)
you will feel like death and want to die, but it will pass. sleep is the worse i'm afraid. i still didn't sleep 2 weeks into it. i think i was at about 1 month before i could even lay still in bed. and probably more till i actually slept more than 2 to 3 hours.
if your afraid you(he) can't do it look into medical detoxes in your area. most are only 10 days, but recomend you go to rehab from detox.
goodluck to both of you
raerae
i used flexeril(muscle relaxer) and sat on the beach for the week. getting away while trying to clean up i found helps. when you can't get it you don't feel as bad. food will most likely be last on the list of wants, but chicken broth will help settle stomach a little. by day 4 you need to get your vitamins, i drank orange juice. just alittle bit so i didn't throw up up. but by day 4 thing start to feel alittle better.
just remeber it won't kill you to withdrawl(unles there are medical problems)
you will feel like death and want to die, but it will pass. sleep is the worse i'm afraid. i still didn't sleep 2 weeks into it. i think i was at about 1 month before i could even lay still in bed. and probably more till i actually slept more than 2 to 3 hours.
if your afraid you(he) can't do it look into medical detoxes in your area. most are only 10 days, but recomend you go to rehab from detox.
goodluck to both of you
raerae
Two yrs of smoking - - He,ll get thru that with good nutrition, even though he isnt going to feel like eating >he should.
He has to really want this** I mean , not want this a little bit- - or not want to clean up because someone else wants him to- This has to be a total commitment. In my opinion, (and my experiences with trying to get clean) he can get through the misery he is going to feel physically if he stays focused, and accepts the fact that he is going to go thru a period of Hell.
The deal is after a few days clean -the cravings start all over again. The mental part of kicking can last a long,long time.Dont forget he is changing his lifesytle - altering a part of his life that gave him a feeling like no other. He,ll need to stay away from all things dope- & Im guessing after 2 years ,he pretty much has smoking dope incorperated in his every day doings,
He,ll need support from people who are going thru what he is, or have been thru it. Im not a big 12 step guy- but thier success speaks volumes- - and at least they listen and all have been there in one way or another
If he has to work everyday , that could help after the physical misery has subsided. He,ll need to focus on other interests- - the things he enjoyed before heroin took over.
I guess you get the idea from this,and all the others that posted.
alltheBest*
jack
He has to really want this** I mean , not want this a little bit- - or not want to clean up because someone else wants him to- This has to be a total commitment. In my opinion, (and my experiences with trying to get clean) he can get through the misery he is going to feel physically if he stays focused, and accepts the fact that he is going to go thru a period of Hell.
The deal is after a few days clean -the cravings start all over again. The mental part of kicking can last a long,long time.Dont forget he is changing his lifesytle - altering a part of his life that gave him a feeling like no other. He,ll need to stay away from all things dope- & Im guessing after 2 years ,he pretty much has smoking dope incorperated in his every day doings,
He,ll need support from people who are going thru what he is, or have been thru it. Im not a big 12 step guy- but thier success speaks volumes- - and at least they listen and all have been there in one way or another
If he has to work everyday , that could help after the physical misery has subsided. He,ll need to focus on other interests- - the things he enjoyed before heroin took over.
I guess you get the idea from this,and all the others that posted.
alltheBest*
jack
Ger, Nothing to add as these fine folks didn't miss a thing.
Only to add again, it's unpleasant for you as well.
It plain s*cks. You feel awful. Most people moan, complain, and cry like a two year old. Not everyone as we have had some good people here who took it on the chin. Constantine was a tough cookie. She may be by to weigh in.
Echoing everyone else he needs to want this. Jack, is right it's that mental part after the "pain" that often does us in.
Thinking of you, Ger and call back if you need us when he starts.
Only to add again, it's unpleasant for you as well.
It plain s*cks. You feel awful. Most people moan, complain, and cry like a two year old. Not everyone as we have had some good people here who took it on the chin. Constantine was a tough cookie. She may be by to weigh in.
Echoing everyone else he needs to want this. Jack, is right it's that mental part after the "pain" that often does us in.
Thinking of you, Ger and call back if you need us when he starts.
