Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can’t tell anyone in real life

221 replies

Catchmeifyoucam · 11/03/2025 07:32

I’m actually shaking a bit writing this because I’m so scared of the comments to come but I need to tell someone because I can’t tell anyone in real life.
for the last 10 years I’ve been addicted to opioids, taking uncountable amounts every day & spending upto £1k a month on tablets from the black market.
im FINALLY clean; did it all by myself by weaning off slowly and im so proud of myself. None of my friends and family know and from the outside looking in I don’t think you would have guessed.
I just feel so amazing, I have so much more energy, I’m not in as much pain anymore and life just feels more colourful as cliche as that sounds. I’m just so proud of myself that I beat this horrible addiction that’s had such a hold on me for a decade. I’m so scared I’ll relapse but I’m determined. Thanks for reading if you got this far!!

OP posts:
Cojones · 12/03/2025 22:31

Well done OP. You’ve got this 💐

Flamingoknees · 12/03/2025 22:30

DahliaBlooming · 12/03/2025 21:53

Well done!! That's fantastic! Be gentle on yourself, it's still very early days so do whatever is necessary to nuture your sobriety... At the beginning it helped me to picture being clean / sober as like having a small, flickering candle whose light I must protect at all costs. It's been several years for me now, and over time that little flame has grown to be more like a boiler room with a furnace that quietly roars away in the basement without me even noticing!

Nurturing yourself means doing whatever makes you feel good, happy and safe... Treat yourself to posh fruit and quality cake. Splash out on a fancy nutritional supplement. Indulge in a luxurious body cream.

Good luck, and keep posting on here x

Well done to you too - that's fantastic

Flamingoknees · 12/03/2025 22:29

Well done OP!
Would you consider doing some relapse prevention work with a professional?

fudgesmummy · 12/03/2025 22:22

Fantastic, that truly is an achievement to be proud off.

Debtfree212 · 12/03/2025 22:13

What a brave thing you have done, in stopping and in starting to tell people. Do get help, it will make you more accountable to your sobriety and it will keep you on track. You can’t go back to it, so in life’s shaky moments you need support systems in place. Well done to you x

DahliaBlooming · 12/03/2025 22:05

goodnightgrumble · 12/03/2025 21:16

My husband was addicted to opioids the past ten years and I only found out fairly recently. You have done amazing. I don't want to put a dampener on it but he said he had stopped before by weaning off and was off for a few months. However, he ended up back on them when some crisis happened. He is off them now but only because he told me and he is now accountable. With anti depressants and counselling he has done it. I really hope this works for you but if you do relapse please get professional help. Good luck.

Good advice here. You've done amazing to get off opioids... the challenge now is staying off them. Try a support group or 12-step meeting, there'll be loads of stuff online. Hopefully you can find a good counsellor or therapist. Maybe browse the self-help / recovery section of your library or bookshop and see what calls to you.

Fatloss · 12/03/2025 21:54

Congratulations OP
please tell someone irl. Partly for a celebration and so that you can go to them if you have problems.
You need it on your medical records so that GP and hospital are aware in advance when considering treatments.

DahliaBlooming · 12/03/2025 21:53

Well done!! That's fantastic! Be gentle on yourself, it's still very early days so do whatever is necessary to nuture your sobriety... At the beginning it helped me to picture being clean / sober as like having a small, flickering candle whose light I must protect at all costs. It's been several years for me now, and over time that little flame has grown to be more like a boiler room with a furnace that quietly roars away in the basement without me even noticing!

Nurturing yourself means doing whatever makes you feel good, happy and safe... Treat yourself to posh fruit and quality cake. Splash out on a fancy nutritional supplement. Indulge in a luxurious body cream.

Good luck, and keep posting on here x

Ohnobackagain · 12/03/2025 21:53

Catchmeifyoucam · 12/03/2025 07:40

Again, thank you so so much for all of the encouraging messages everyone. You’ll never know how much they mean to be. It’s nice to have people cheering me on! I’m going to my first NA meeting on Friday and I’m working up the courage to tell my best friend and get it all out in the open!

If you were my friend confessing this to me I’d be in awe of you. It’s lovely to hear a positive thing like this. Well done!

MerylSqueak · 12/03/2025 21:46

Congratulations OP. What a fantastic achievement.

BananaPalm · 12/03/2025 21:42

Woooow! Massive congrats 🥳

EnjoythemoneyJane · 12/03/2025 21:39

Late to your thread, OP, but just wanted to say congratulations - what you’ve done is bloody amazing 💐

Bitofanchange · 12/03/2025 21:38

You are a bloody ⭐️

IhateBegonias · 12/03/2025 21:31

Wow! Amazing! You got this far do you can continue! Good luck 💐

Sunshine1500 · 12/03/2025 21:26

Well done 👏

HappyKatieA · 12/03/2025 21:21

Wonderful, well done!👏🏽
You've been on a really difficult journey, I hope life gets much easier for you now.

Mrsvicarage · 12/03/2025 21:18

Bloody hell OP that us amazing. Super human xx

goodnightgrumble · 12/03/2025 21:16

My husband was addicted to opioids the past ten years and I only found out fairly recently. You have done amazing. I don't want to put a dampener on it but he said he had stopped before by weaning off and was off for a few months. However, he ended up back on them when some crisis happened. He is off them now but only because he told me and he is now accountable. With anti depressants and counselling he has done it. I really hope this works for you but if you do relapse please get professional help. Good luck.

Purpl · 12/03/2025 21:04

Congratulations that must have taken some doing. Keep going and have the most deversrd holiday in centre parcs

Didimag48 · 12/03/2025 21:03

Well done you! You are really a strong person to have got clean on your own. Big Internet hugs.😘

IButtleSir · 12/03/2025 21:00

You should feel incredibly proud of yourself, @Catchmeifyoucam.

AlleycatMarie · 12/03/2025 20:51

What an amazing achievement OP! I do hope you can find some support going forward and maybe somone to talk to in real life if you need it (a group of you don’t want to tell friends?).

You should be so proud of yourself and Inam sending you so much love and best wishes for your future x

OrangeAndFizz · 12/03/2025 20:32

That's a great achievement. It will be hard to keep up so as has already been advised, do seek support. You will be fine from now on!

NoisyLemonDog · 12/03/2025 20:00

Well done! Such a tough thing to do but you did it. You should be really proud of yourself 💪

TreesAtSea · 12/03/2025 19:56

I haven't RTFT but have read all your posts, OP, and just want to add my "Congratulations!" to all the others.
You deserve to be incredibly proud of yourself.
I know how hard it is to beat an addiction.