Happiness after addiction

[Broken_Chest]

Hello everyone. After one year of strong painkillers following a huge accident and surgery, I weened off, only to suffer horrible withdrawal. I did all this exactly as planned out by my doctor. I am now on an alternative painkiller and am about to start weening off that. I am worried that because I have only felt happiness for the last year after a dose of the strong prescription medication I won't be able to feel any happiness. Does this make sense?

[smallwolf]

hi and welcome to beyond blue.

I hear that after suffering withdrawal from one medication you think this might happen again with you current medication. And that does make sense. Perhaps not a real pattern (yet) but because of your previous experience you think either the same will happen, or because of the better feeling you have with the medication that my taking away the medication you might lose that better feeling.

It would be nice if we could look into the future. However...

There is also a chance that weening off the medication will have not effect on your mood - that is, you could still feel good.

Have you spoken to your GP/doctors about your thoughts?

Even as you weening off the medication... keeping the conversation open. Seeking support is also OK if you feel things are not working. I like to think of the medical people that help me are all part of the same team which ultimately is quality of life (for me).

Listening to you.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Broken Chest,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your post. Kudos to you for coping and working with the withdrawals; while I don't know much I hear that it's hell for people so I hope you are giving yourself some major credit for this.

Your question absolutely makes sense, and it's definitely made me think. I'm not sure if there's a right answer though, so don't mind me as I ponder it a little. I believe that you will feel happiness again, but I think that it might feel and look a little different to what you are used to.

What are the sorts of things that made you happy? What did happiness look like for you? Did you find that it felt stable or was it a little up and down due to being on the meds? You don't have to answer any of these questions of course, but it might be a little food for thought.

There's definately some unknowns, but I hope in the midst of that you can be a little more curious rather than hesitant; you deserve to figure out what this new life without these meds looks like for you and I hope you'll give it a chance.

rt