Need help with withdrawel

I'm new here. I wanted to join as I have just kicked my DHC & Co-Codamol addiction and I want people to know how possible it really is.

I've read so many posts which I could relate to.

My story is I'm a 23 year old guy, I went through a difficult breakup when I was 20, I was torn apart.. I took 2 co-codamol for a headache one night and felt amazing, I just remember thinking I wanted to feel like that all the time. It masked the constant feeling down and depressed. But obviously the feeling wears off after a couple hours, so I wanted more and more and more.. You's know the rest. 

Before I knew it, I was up to about 10-12 co-codamol per day and they weren't cutting it, I should mention that I was getting these pills off of my very unwell Dad, who has Parkinson's and I am ashamed that I continued to take and even stole off him at some points as there was him in chronic pain, really needing the relief but selfish me didn't want to listen, all I wanted was another pill or 10. Anyway, the co-codamol weren't doing it anymore on their own, so I seen some other pills in my Dad's medicine cupboard, googled them and it was DHC 90mg, I started off by taking 2 of them, I didn't feel anything for ages and then they kicked in, I was sweating, itchy, had a dry mouth but couldn't remember a time where I had felt so good in my life. So I continued to take some more day after day until my Dad finally caught wind he was low on meds. I didn't even feel guilty when he caught me, I just felt bad for myself cause it meant it had to stop.. But it didn't obviously, I told him how bad not taking these pills were making me feel so he would give me a few 30mg ones per day to keep me feeling 'okay' as well as this I'm taking co-codamol that are prescribed to me about a back problem I lied about to the doc. Anyway, I found about 15 websites online that I could easily buy DHC off, it was the 30mg ones, 100 for £63, I'm sure many of you know the websites. So I would write up fake stories on the consultation about a sports injury that left me with cracked ribs so they would keep sending the DHC out to me (for a price obviously, it only costs the NHS 7p per tab as well, did you know that?) ...  Before I knew it, I was crunching up 10 30mg DHC in the mornings before my work, another 5-6 at lunch and then another 6 around 7pm, along with co-codamol. This was the case for little over a year. I lost my job because the states I was in when I was out my face and then when I didn't have any, the withdrawals were so bad, I couldn't face the world.

I knew I had to get help before I killed myself, before I ruined my son's life who is only 2 years old. My family could see how bad I was, my Mum says she just wanted her son back and they couldn't believe they had created an addict although this is not the case, it was my choice to get out of hand with it and steal! I am not a selfish person, I am very generous and would give people my last, I have so much love for the people close to me but the DHC took over my life.

Anyway, sob story aside.. I spoke to my GP, he asked what it is exactly I wanted to do? I said I ultimately want to stop taking DHC and co-codamol. He offered up a reduction plan which I agreed to, I got myself down to 4 per day eventually, barely felt any withdrawals or cravings for more, I just needed that 4 to 'level me out' .. Then I went back to see my GP, I told him I feel like I could stop taking them altogether now, he prescribed me Lofexidine to take over 6 days which help manage withdrawal symptoms - I call them life savers - and 6 days later, I hadn't had a DHC or Co-Codamol, I felt sharper, healthier, more ALIVE. I was playing with my son, making jokes again, I had so much energy once and was so happy with myself that I could feel good without the aid of drugs.

So please, listen to a silly 23 year old, who isn't trying to lecture I promise. You are strong, you can do it, withdrawals are often mixed up with anxiety. The worst will pass after 72 hours, naturally everything gets better, take the Lofexidine, ask your doctor for it, they really do help you get over the worst. The rest is up to you, with a positive attitude and a will to stop this, you can do it. Do not ever feel ashamed of yourself as you have an addiction, it is not your fault, it's chemicals in your brain that you cannot control. But you can stop. If a weak, 23 year old, depressed Mummy's boy can stop, so can you! 

I wish each and everyone of you my very best. 

Gaz.