Physical and mental dependance for 13 years…….trapped

by Eli

(FL)

Hello, my name is Eli and I am a 30 year old child. At least that is how this dependence I have on benzo’s and Suboxone make me feel.
I also take a generic form of Lexapro for my anxiety and depression. Though the time I was prescribed and diagnosed was so long ago I honestly wonder how I would do without.

In the span of a decade I have been to jail once and from there entered into a detox probation program for a year to get off of Xanax, my first addiction.

I went to three different detox clinics, one of them out of pocket and emptied my savings account to take my life back. I once went a full MISERABLE year of sobriety. For at that time, anxiety controlled my life. I had a bad bad bout with opiates. Roxies or blues. I don’t think they are around anymore but they are just a few notches under oxy.

I shot up twice but did not enjoy it amazingly. Skipping around a lot here to get to where I am now as a 30 year old man. I have been taking benzo’s for nearly 10 years straight and the suboxone was meant to get me clean off the opiates because that was my rock bottom.

At first it was my miracle drug. No sickness and I felt normal again. I know it is something not meant to be taken long term but for whatever reason I feel stuck. When I try to taper off either the sub or the clozapam I get sick, irritable, sweaty and my mind feels like it’s spinning out of control.

On top of all this I drink way more than I let on to my family. And boy can I drink. I can take a handle of rum and within a 2 night span if not one long night will have polished it off myself. I drink sometimes out of boredom or even worse, to make it so I feel I don’t have to take my medication.

I’m ok with the anti-depressant even though I wish I could be all clean but the all things considered….I am killing myself very slowly. My doctor does not give me enough and he is expensive and does not accept insurance AND I have to buy any benzo or sub I can find just so I can make it through my day to day until that next appointment.

This has held me back to the point where sometimes I am pretty much living check to check. When I take the time to think about it I get angry and drink. I’ll even think of dying but never think of acting it out. I feel like a burden to my family. I do pay my rent but sometimes I don’t have enough and sometimes I do.

I know that if I keep at this the way I am going that I will probably consider killing myself in the future or becoming homeless (which I did try and did not enjoy). I have built my own prison and all of this has also destroyed every relationship I have had with a woman as of late.

I never speak of this side of me to anyone. Perhaps a very small amount of people. I used to go to AA/NA but have not in years. Something has got to give……I cannot afford to go off to some detox center again due to cost and my recent and FIRST full time job with benefits. I am surrounded by awesome friends that love to party and we all still act like a bunch of kids but the dark secret weighs heavy on my heart and I stress out every day.

On a daily basis I focus on how many tiny pieces of clozapam or suboxone I can use so I can ration it. This is not living……it’s barely surviving.

Thank you for your time. Any replies are so very welcome.

and Finally Remember:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
– Matthew 7:7-8

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