222 Days clean!

[SotiredIcansleep]

Well this morning marks 222 days off of oxycontins/tramadols/cocaine/whatever I could put into my body.  What a different life I live.  I just returned last week from a mountaineering expedition to the highest peak on the continent (denali) Me and my climbing partner two-manned it and summited in 14 days, 17 days round trip.  We decided to go on this climb as the pinnacle of our climbing experience put to the test.  When we decided we wanted to climb it 8 months ago, I decided it was time to get clean.  I went cold turkey from 240mg/oxy a day, and suffered endlessly for about 10 days, didnt sleep for another 30 (more than 2-3 hours a night) and it was worth every second.  As soon as I cleaned up I started training hard and eating healthy.  I think it important to maintain goals to stay clean, keep your eyes on a far off objective to keep you motivated.  Of all my friends who attempted to get clean after I did, I'm the only one who made it past a few weeks.

I don't think about the drugs so much anymore unless I'm terribly bored or hanging out with friends who still use.  I have bigger fish to fry.  I am currently cutting all bodyfat getting ready for climbing competition which picks up in the fall.  I eat good (very important) and avoid alcohol (Ill drink every few months for fun).  I've since got my **** together and graduated from college, got a good job with benefits and pretty much turned my life around.  I look healthier, I feel healthier, I am healthier.

I put off getting clean for a long time even though I was dissatisfied with it because I was scared.  I was scared I wouldn't be confident in social situations (anxiety) and I wouldn't be able to cope with my life without them.  I was lying to myself.  I am more confident and capable than I ever was on drugs, and people can tell.  My friends and family are amazed at what a difference I've made in myself.

My first step was to confess to everyone I had a problem and I was trying to quit (that helped motivate me, keeping me accountable to everyone I love) it helped me through the first few weeks which are the toughest to bear, mentally and physically.

I hope you guys consider that your life could be considerably better without the drugs and don't put it off another day, make a plan, make goals, confess to loved ones and turn your life around, before its too late.

[sadinmichigan]

Congratulations to you!! That is awesome. thanks for posting with such a positive post..it definitley helps alot of people struggling..take care..

[GoingToMakeIt]

222 is such a nice number. Way to go there.

[marcatj]

YAY!!!!! for you!!!!

Way to go... what an inspiration for all of us.

Congratulations!  I hope you feel PROUD.  I hope you take that in....

:-)
mj

[ochooked]

Wow!!!  I just love hearing success stories.   You give us all encouragement and hope.  Congratulations!!    Ochooked

[LateAugust]

Congrats   You should be so very proud of yourself and your accomplishments.  Thank you so very much for taking the time to share such a great success story,  and one that I hope is read by many people.

Unfortunatley, addiction creates a lot of drama,  and sometimes  the truly powerful experiences get bogged down,  or lost in that drama, and don't receive the recognition that they absolutely deserve.

Reading your post gave me me, once again, great hope,  and a bright ray of sunshine of all of life's possibilities after addiction.

I wish for you always to have such a love for life    and your love for living it strong and healthy.

Again   Congrats!!!!

[LateAugust]

I want to say this one more time,   the success stories, at times,   are passed over for the drama.    A story that 60 people should be saying "great job"  somehow is negated  or perhaps not a "good read" due to what I consider to be a nonproductive debate with hurt feelings.   Yes we are all different,  yes we all have different opinions,  yes we all respond to situations and to words differently, but when does the difference become a harmful rather than a positive experience?   How very sad.

[CR_ST_NA]

WOW. way to go!!!!!!!! 222 days is a summit in it's self. you made it so far, don't look back. Congrats on graduating also, that is an amazing acomplishment............

your post is giving me hope and i am going to be setting some goals for myself as well. i leave for treatment in nine days and am looking forward to giving my progress report.

keep up the good work, you deserve a big bear (((((((((((((((hug)))))))))))))))))

god bless. christina

[wanttobeclean]

WOW.. That's such a motivating story.  Congratulations!  I am off oxy for 12 days now and this helps me keep the big picture in mind.  My life is already to much better for having stopped.  Thanks for sharing your story!

[SotiredIcansleep]

Thanks so much guys. It makes me sad sometimes I can hardly relate to the person I was earlier this year. The things I did when I was using and desperate make no sense to me now. I remember me and my sister were talking next to the fireplace (I went home to be with family for a week when I c/td)  I was about 3 days deep into the withdrawal and I remember something she said that really comforted me.

She said, "Ken when you strive to make major positive changes in your life, great things tend to happen to you, the world starts turning your way."

I've always been someone who thinks happiness is having great things to look forward to, and I still am.  By her saying that to me it just made me instantly peaceful imagining what my new life would be like, and she was right.

P.S something that helped me deal with the weeks following getting clean was surrounding myself with positive influences. That doesn't mean I avoided all my old friends but being alone and being depressed are not great places to be.   Even if you feel out of sorts try to hang out with people, I felt like I was feeding off their energy and got a break from feeling down.

[LateAugust]

And you Ken, are one that continues to enlighten and bring me joy with your posts.     Again, I want to thank you for sharing  your positive experience, sharing your success..........and to be a bit selfish, for giving me one more comment I can share with my daughter, that is an addict, when I think I have ran the gamet of positive comments or words of encouragment.

I am so very happy for you, your decision  and the  incredibly hard work  you had to endure to be where you are today.

My best to you,  and gratitiude for sharing.   Jeanette