I’m going to get straight to the point: Being stuck on opiates is no fun. If you’re still taking prescription opiates, heroin, Suboxone, Subutex, methadone, etc., and want to get off but are afraid of getting sick, then this article is for you.
Here are 5 steps you can take to help you end your opiate dependence like a boss.
1) Change Your Neuro-Associations
The key to quitting opiates and staying quit is to change the way you feel about opiates. Everything we do in life is either to avoid pain or gain pleasure. Also, we will do much more to avoid pain than we will do to gain pleasure.
A fundamental concept to quitting opiates is this:
You must link up in your brain ultimate, life-ending, massive pain to using opiates, and supreme, life-enhancing pleasure to being clean.”
That’s the secret, however, most people have mixed up or disempowering neuro-associations. Most people on opiates still link pleasure to using them. Others link both pleasure and pain to using opiates.
And for the few that link only pain to using opiates, they link even more pain to being clean, and so many are stuck in this cycle because they haven’t changed the way their brain thinks.
I’ve been clean for over 4 years now, and the main reason I’ve been able to do this is that I no longer link pleasure to using opiates. I associate being addicted to opiates as a total failure and a horrible life ruled by fear.
Also, I link MASSIVE PLEASURE to being clean. I used to hate being clean because I never felt comfortable in my own skin. I needed opiates to feel normal, and so I linked a lot of pain to being clean since they were actually my antidepressant and anxiety medication.
Exercise: Write a list of the pros and cons and start visualizing all of the pain that will result if you continue to use opiates over the next 1, 5, and 10 years. Then visualize what your life could be like if you quit opiates now, then stay clean for the next 1, 5, and 10 years. Figure out what you need to do or think to change your neuro-associations so you link massive pain to using opiates, and massive pleasure to not using opiates.
2) Consider Taking Mega-Doses Of Gabapentin To Come Off Opiates with Ease
After years of studying opiate recovery, I’ve learned some amazing stuff. Awhile back I read some impressive studies that showed the medication gabapentin to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Then I wrote an article on it, and over the next few months the comments and emails I received BLEW MY MIND. Many individuals have written me to say that large doses of gabapentin taken a few times a day completely stopped their opiate withdrawal symptoms!!!
I was absolutely amazed and intrigued. By the time the tenth person wrote to me testifying to the awesomeness of gabapentin, I knew for sure I needed to tell more people about this method.
3) Register For Ultimate Opiate Detox 2.0
I have an online course out called Ultimate Opiate Detox 2.0. If you haven’t registered for it yet, I highly recommend doing so. The course is broken down into 4 main sections, and each section is broken down into a series of activities. Below is a sneak peak of what you’ll learn in this course (course outline).
Lesson 1: Introduction
- Welcome New Students
- About Matt
- My Story Of Addiction And Recovery
- Setting Your Intentions For The Course
Lesson 2: Intro To Opiate Dependence
- The Opiate Addiction Plague
- How Opiates Work In The Body
- How People Become Addicted To Opiates
- Why It’s So Hard To Quit Opiates: The Hijacked Midbrain
- Medication-Assisted Treatment: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
- A Moment To Reflect
Lesson 3: How To Get Off Opiates With Minimal Withdrawal Symptoms
- Your Individual Starting Position
- Building Motivation For Your Detox
- Detox Plans
- Opiate Withdrawal Remedies
- Studies On Medications And Natural Remedies For Opiate Withdrawal
- Coming Up With A Plan
Lesson 4: How To Stay Off Opiates, Increase Energy, Boost Mood, And Reduce Cravings
- Understanding Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
- Bio/Psycho/Social PAWS Treatment Plan
- Creating The Life Of Your Dreams
- Your New Purpose
4) Work With An Addiction Specialist
Opiate recovery is not easy. Trying to get clean and stay clean all by yourself is totally possible, but it can be helpful to enlist the help of an addiction specialist.
The following professionals could help:
- Addiction Psychotherapist
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Hypnotherapist
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner
- Recovery Coach
Note: I’m an Opiate Recovery Coach, and I love working with motivated clients over the phone, FaceTime, or Skype. Click here to check out my coaching packages. What’s more, if you sign up for any coaching package, you also get lifetime access to Ultimate Opiate Detox 2.0 for free.
5) Make Getting Off Opiates A MUST
We don’t always get our “shoulds” in life. If your attitude is “I should get off opiates,” then maybe you will, maybe you won’t. However, if your attitude is “I MUST GET OFF OPIATES,” then you will do so. It’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.” Making it A MUST can really help you shift gears and commit to getting clean no matter what. Check out the following definition of the word “ambiguity.”
ambiguity – a lack of decisiveness or commitment resulting from a failure to make a choice between alternatives.
I can’t tell you how many people are out there that are ambiguous about getting off opiates. On the one hand opiate addiction is causing them significant negative consequences in their life, but on the other hand opiates are giving them benefits…otherwise, they wouldn’t still be using them.
If you relate to this ambiguity, then I encourage you to take measures to tip the balance in favor of commitment. Once you are clear in your mind that you are 100% committed to getting off opiates no matter what, then coming up with a plan and taking action will be easier.
If you’re still on opiates even though you would rather be off them, the only thing really holding you back is FEAR.
I know what you’re going through, as I was once in the same position. Quitting is scary, and I want you to know that you’re not alone. But to overcome opiate dependence, you’ll have to break through that fear. This is where courage and faith come along. If you could use a little more of these, click here to watch some videos that can help you manifest these resources.
Hi Matt
Can you tell me how much a mega dose is? I am trying to get off of Percocet. I have gabapentin but I don’t know what the dose would be.
Help
5 years ago I was prescribed Percocets and Gabapentin for two engorged slipped discs and I refuse surgery and opted for physical therapy. Always having a bad back before then they had tossed me a few Norcos 500 or 7 fifties for a few years back. Ihigh prescription so far for the last three years has been four 750 a day. I need doctor told me that he thought the codene was actually causing me more pain and that he wanted me off of all codeine. I promptly made an appointment to a pain management Recovery Center which is not for another 3 weeks. 4 days ago I went cold turkey I have no pills available I have to say after the first 24 hours it was pretty miserable. I am very hard headed though and for me it is a mindset. My timing has been good since it is A3 Day weekend. On Friday I was able to do half of the things that I was supposed to do and the others I was able to work around them. Not saying it’s not as scary as f*** but when I wake up I take a Xanax to calm my nerves and my l Tyrosene along with a V6 and I finally ate something this morning and took my multi-vitamin. I’m not hungry I’d rather not eat as I have not ate anything since Thursday and it is Saturday morning now. In my head if I can kick this before my appointment I can cancel it and write this off. My initial problem with my back was there was an accident back in 1998 where I had a broken lumbar that was never dealt with infused itself back together incorrectly. But when you’re young I don’t know you just kick back faster butt 5 years after the fact I was seeing a chiropractor and my GP for the pain. I hate the Percocets I called them Satan’s drug I’m sure that I will never ever take those again. Am I an addict probably but I’m a very hard headed one and knowing that per my GP within the next couple months they can’t even prescribe codeine do you have to go through a pain management clinic. I do not have time to be driving 45 minutes to and from one of those places once a month to go and have a 50-50 shot of getting something. For me this is more about ease of life. One that I don’t have to start worrying if I’m short on pills one month and how I’m going to make it until my next script is filled. I think that feeling is worse. I never tried any other drugs 2 get myself through. And I am happy to report this does suck, but with the correct tools. Imodium some Clonidine and a strong will, definitely a bathroom close by and determination it is doable and God bless all those who are trying for the 1st or the 50th time. It is a courageous thing to do. I have two days after today before I go back to work. I’m a bit weak but it’s like my mind wants to do things my body just doesn’t want to follow through. Hoping this l-tyrosine helps out
Thanks for sharing
Day four going into day five. Been perscribed pills starting from low dose Loratab to 10mg Percocet for about ten years. Been bounced from Doctor to Doctor regarding my chronic pain widespread. Final diagnosis fibromyalgia , which unfortunately most people don’t believe. Finally found a pain management Doctor started me on Gabapatin increasing the dose each visit. She also continues to taker me down off my percocets, however she always ask if I think if the new medicine Gabapatin is helping. So this may be stupid but I quit Percocet cold turkey. Day four going on five I don’t feel to bad I have cravings and fears of the pain that is flooding my body and tired a lot. Is it going to get worse or am I past the worst part. I need to stay off the Percocet to see if the new drug helps. And only use Percocet for serious stuff. Any answered it supportive comments help.
After years of bouncing from methadone and suboxone programs, I went on a month long spree leaving me in desperate shape. Now with 3 days off H with the help of suboxone I’m actually contemplating ending suboxone treatment once and for all. I have lost my job and have a few weeks I can have to myself. I’m a grateful for that. This opportunity to detox without having to worry about work may not present itself again.
You can do it.
i have been taking oxycodone for twenty years for a neck injury. i went from 100 milligrams to 30milligrams. iam a pretty tuff guy, but this struggle has taking me to my knees. i had 4 days clean and the withdraw was terrible. i prayed for relief, but it never came.now iam back on 30mils a day and ready to go for it again. what iam doing wrong. thank you for any advice.
Hi Stephen,
I’m sorry for what you are going through. It’s tough, and I’ve been there too. There are many things you can do to get off oxy with minimal symptoms. Studies have shown many medications and some natural supplements to lesson symptoms. I encourage you to review the following to blog categories to find some info that could be relevant to your situation:
Natural Remedies For Opiate Withdrawal
Medications For Opiate Withdrawal
HI I know what you are going thru I’ve been on opiate from 2001 180 pills of 10 mg . I read about kratom and found it to help me not get sick from withdrawals. Found a site that sells it by the kilos for $70. I use the red by putting a spoonful in my mouth and swish it down with water. I tried many times to quit but always ran out and suffered the withdawals until I found the kratom. I don’t get sick and been off for 14 days . Thanks to the kratom maybe kratom could help you like it’s helping me