In Withdrawal?…Love The Pain!!!

I wouldn’t consider myself a mystic and have never wholeheartedly subscribed to the notion of holistic medicine. If you have any pre-conceived notions about someone who sells nutraceutical products over the internet, I’m probably the opposite of what you’re thinking. In any case, what I’m trying to say is that in general, I usually have an open mind and I don’t have any particularly demonstrable leanings as far as politics or spirituality. I believe in what works. So what I’m about to tell you to do might sound a bit…strange.

I’ve been through probably a handfull of complete, Grade A, acute opiate withdrawals in my lifetime and they were all my fault. I could have tapered, not taken so many, kept to my schedule, etc. etc. but I didn’t so I got a heaping helpin’ of withdrawals. One thing that would sometimes work for me is to try different “mental approaches” to my sickness.

When you are in acute withdrawal, there’s always that push, that incredibly strong gravitational pull that seems to come from your bed…“C’mon George, look at me..I’m so comfy and soft; just take a load off for a little bit. Just for 30 minutes. Come to me George…now.” And 9 times out of 10, I would heed the call and just lie down in a heap of depression and despair on the bed. But sometimes, lying on the bed is NOT an option and you either have to get something done or you’re just sick of feeling so bad that you’ll try anything to feel even just a little bit better. Well…Love The Pain!

The process of withdrawal is a moment of catharsis in every sense of the word. Your brain is shedding its dependence of opiates, the reward center in your brain is re-booting itself and trying to find another source for pleasure and the insane levels of dopamine that your habit has been feeding it. You are also ridding yourself of the depression and harmful addiction that got you into all of this trouble to begin with. So it makes sense that withdrawal is painful because without pain there is no joy right? So for a moment if you can, love the pain and welcome it.

Here’s what I would do on those days when I felt like I could not take any more…not one minute more. If you filmed it, either you would think I was totally nuts or really pathetic…or both. I would say out loud to myself..“C’MON MR. WITHDRAWAL, IS THAT ALL YOU CAN GIVE ME? IS THAT THE BEST THAT YOU CAN DO??? THIS IS NOTHING. I DARE YOU TO GIVE ME MORE DIARRHEA!!!! I’M NOT SWEATING ENOUGH! I WANT TO BE SWEATING MORE THAN SHAQ IN THE 4TH QUARTER…I WANNA BE LIKE ROBERT DOWNY JR. IN LESS THAN ZERO!!!

And you know what? This method would work quite often and also put things in perspective. Withdrawal is actually a bitterly joyous experience for you because you are truly on your way to being happier and more active…you’re on your way to living a better life. What’s 5-7 days of being sick compared to months or even years of being depressed, lethargic and basically unhappy with your life? Bring it on baby…bring it on.

-George