How I overcame FEAR of WITHDRAWAL and a life WITHOUT DRUG use.

[@gabriellebaker4645]

Your videos are helping me as the Mother of a Son who is dealing with Suboxone addiction. My Son is 30 yrs old. He has drained me financially and he has a good job making great money. He is finally ready to get help and has been seeing a Doctor who in my opinion hasn't helped much at all. He took a week off of work (which he didnt have the vacation time to do). They gave him some scripts to help with withdrawl. The plan was to stay clean for 8 days and then get a shot of Vivitrol. With what they gave him he couldn't get through it. He had to go back to work on that Monday so back to the streets to get Suboxone. In the mean time he was told that he owed them money for a co pay that he was unaware of. They would not continue to treat until paid. He just paid that and got an appointment for this past week. Getting hold of these people is a joke in itself. He gets very short conversations with the Doctor himself, it goes through the doctors helper /trainee. The doctor initially didn't want to do a taper since that is the problem. Now that is back on the table. The other options are other meds to help with home detox or in house for a week. I told him I dont think the taper is the way to go because it just prolonging it. The addiction itself is terrible, but the "help" that is out there is a joke. He has so many issues right now....he has no time at work to take off and the cost is crazy even with insurance. The suboxone taper program is $200 a week for a year (dont accept insurance for that ) in house I have no clue if thats covered, and if he opts to try medication and stay home, he will more than likely lose his job. So this whole thing is a cluster f*#*. I just wanted to let you know that your videos have helped me to understand what he is going through. I am the only one who has confided in with any of this, even though he has 3 brothers who are all done with him. He owes them all money and blame him for his predicament. again thanks again for your videos... A worried Mom

[@SAMEntalhealth]

The stupid doctor should've prescribed him suboxone to taper off safely smh

[@CMoore8539]

I was fed up with it too. I really hated going to that stupid quack doctor too, plus before covid19, they were pushing three classes every week about things I already knew!!! It was horrible. The drug made me feel like a different person, a strange person!!! I even took naps every single day! It was absolutely Horrible.

[@gabemccall3523]

Oh I know... I had to see a counselor that seriously was just on a whole different wave length than me. I’d leave in a worse mood abs everything. His advice was weird as heck. Nice guy but it was an absolute waste of my time abs $.

[@geometricheaddress9457]

I felt like a watered down version of myself. And yeah, naps every day. Just weird. Like you're in a gray in between place.

[@SAMEntalhealth]

@@geometricheaddress9457 shoot at least you could sleep. Imagine just going weeks or months with no sleep

[@donnanichols6950]

As you can see Gabe im binge watching your amazing videos..🎯🎯🎯

[@Kyle-dv6er]

Gabe it's Kyle. I'm the one that has the other channel called THE WAY. Im making another attempt getting off Suboxone and I feel I'm ready.

[@franklinfarwell1984]

Thank you so much for making these videos... I’m struggling right now to kick Kratom but you’re insight and honesty esp in terms of your relationship to God... Thank you

[@gabemccall3523]

Thank u very much for your comment. Means a lot when people let me know the videos truly help. I talk to many people trying to kick Kratom man. I talk to a good amount of people who’ve kicked it too. There’s Definitely hope to get off it. How much r taking?

[@franklinfarwell1984]

@@gabemccall3523 I tapered once and got down to about 15gpd... now I’m back up to around 60gpd, it’s sad, I really let myself get off track these passed few months

[@gabemccall3523]

@@franklinfarwell1984 well, you can get back on track. I know how easy it is to slip up, then back slide. It’s truly a war. U know u can get down to 15g a day because you’ve done it. If u can do that again, and then keep going the extra mile. or miles I guess. You’ll get there abs it’ll all be so very worth it. Keep chipping away and have a little victory every single day. It’s hard to stay dedicated day in abs day out as your not feel 100% because of a taper. With God on your side abs you siding with God, HE WILL INDEED give u strength to beat this. God bless you brother

[@franklinfarwell1984]

@@gabemccall3523 God bless you too man!! I’m so glad I found your channel... you inspire me so much to push through the madness of addiction

[@Woedy818]

Yea that’s true the entire thing will be taken if you surrender to God. Fully. It’s amazing how powerful He is and I wish more ppl would talk about that because I attribute getting clean to God personally. When you are weak he truly strengthens. Not to say the process is easy but it is do-able. Everyone needs a daily prayer life. Spiritual warfare IS REAL.

[@navagatingthroughthebeasts2908]

Thank you

[@woodyvanjohnson2297]

Most addicts I know and I am one of them, have this fear of the uncertain what will come afterwards and I would even argue that it is the same for every addict who has experienced that detox is not the difficult part, but that stay clean. get to know yourself and I do not say that gullibly, because that is also a learning process and does not come from one day to the other, but this is where the healing process begins. In the post-acute phase the mind suffers enormously, which is why everyone should start strengthening their mind with healthy and positive things. do the right things 😉. I wish you all, whatever the situation you are in, the strength you need and otherwise only the best 🙂

[@Peaceshiet812]

Here in the UK, we don’t have to pay for it. It’s been 17 years for me , the first 10 years, I was always trying and failing to get off it. Then I sort of made a peace with it accepted being on it , Now I’m free , despite feeling sick & crazy . Despite that I’m so happy & grateful. You are doing a service to humanity with these videos 😊

[@gabemccall3523]

Thank u very much for that. How many days have u been off now?

[@Peaceshiet812]

@@gabemccall3523 10 Days now, do feel im over the worst intense withdrawals, as long as I can function by next week, which means sitting with Dementia patients I’ll be ok , nervous about the PAWs but I’ve got God a wonderful family & friends & your detox videos to help me through 😊x

[@sangeetalambh6389]

@@gabemccall3523 I quit alcohol and benzos feel emptyness and stomach cramps 108 days sober now any idea when I heal

[@SAMEntalhealth]

@@Peaceshiet812 how long were you using and what were you using?

[@Peaceshiet812]

@@SAMEntalhealth mainly buprenorphine for 19 years

[@theway9828]

Gabe man your videos help me so much bro.

[@cornalirrstorationcornali885]

I couldn’t agree more about giving it over to God-once you hand it all over its out of your hands and God will help you through anything!

[@Woedy818]

Also I always feel like it’s important to talk about it because that’s where His glory is. And that’s the entire point. Your testimony matters.

[@TheMannue69]

We had our first child’s wedding Saturday. Busy busy the past couple of months . The one thing constantly on my mind during this time was how I was going to handle my suboxone. Was I gonna be able to make those appointments, with all I had to do ?? Was I gonna be able to get something fir my nerves for the wedding ??? Was I gonna cave to peer pressure and smoke a bunch of weed ??? Well, none of that happened. I made my appointments as usual and got nothing fir my nerves. Took too long to get Over the clonopan and dam certain don’t want to go thru it again. I’ve never been a drinker. Neither socially nor on holidays. Found myself at a liquor store buying all she had in the list fir her wedding. Bought a bottle of small batch bourbon . When the day came, I had a few drinks . Felt good , at the time , until I caught a bad headache. So, will I be chastised for drinking bourbon at my daughter’s wedding ??? Think I really give a crap?? I’m still me and I’m am addicted . I take suboxone and I live my life. And every blue moon I may have a drink. It beats doing a bunch a of pills or chasing the dope man for an 8 ball then do it til all hours of the night in the dark with the tv on while everyone asleep.

[@mattbortz10]

Getting over the fear of tapering and jumping off Suboxone was the hardest part to get over. Once I made up my mind, it got so much easier. Was definitely not a walk in the park, and still isn't with the paws, but each week gets a little easier. It's kind of like a rollercoaster, I have my ups and downs, but definitely would NEVER get back on!

[@michellevaccaro2111]

Hi Gabe. Great video today👍 No matter how down I feel with all that’s going on your videos always keep me positive even make me laugh at times Keep posting I know there helping slit of people Keep doing good and stay clean 🙏

[@gabemccall3523]

I read your comment to my wife. It’s comments like yours that get me pumped up. Means sooo much to me. Stay strong out there. God bless

[@GO-ej1pg]

@@gabemccall3523 I agree Gabe. Even on your worst days you show up for us. That means a lot, leading by example my friend. I really want to share my story with you. I need help. How can I send you a private message? Let me know brother. I need this. Thanks man

[@gabemccall3523]

@@GO-ej1pg hit me up man, my email is [e-mail]

[@gabemccall3523]

@@GO-ej1pg Thank u for your comment as well!

[@robertbearseiii2699]

Gabe, I have been watching your videos since you were getting off suboxone. They have helped me tremendously. I was on heroin for several years and the pills for years before that. I tried the kratom and that sucked, didn't really help at all then I had an incident with naltrexone. I took some too soon with heroin still in my system and went into precipitated withdrawal. Ended up in the hospital on a breathing tube. It was the wake up call I needed. Been clean for over 50 days now and still watching your videos. They really do help. Thanks from a loyal viewer Bob

[@gabemccall3523]

Well thank u very much Bob. Means a lot that u let me know the videos r helping you. Also.... 50 days!!! That’s incredible. How long ago was the hospitalization?

[@robertbearseiii2699]

@@gabemccall3523 I was hospitalized mid February for 5 days. Woke up in ICU with a tube down my throat. The craziest part was when I found out that it was 2 days after I went in. I went through one of those 30 days programs which was a bit insufferable at times but I did it and with zero maintenance drugs. I refused to take any of it and I think I am better off for it. What everyone who is struggling with substance needs to realize is that there is better days on the other side of the withdrawals. It may seem hopeless at times but things get better. You are proof of that and now, so am I.

[@gabemccall3523]

@@robertbearseiii2699 wow dude! I’m gonna mention u in a video coming up here if that’s cool. 52 date off H!

[@robertbearseiii2699]

@@gabemccall3523 right on!!!

[@alexandergallagher1786]

Been watching you a lil bit before covid hit and when im down and struggling i watch your cudeos they help thank you cause making videos arent easy especially when your going through withdrawl much respect

[@gabemccall3523]

Thank u so much! I’m glad they help and glad your watching

[@DAYDR3AMA]

This is amazing

[@gabemccall3523]

🙏

[@SAMEntalhealth]

You really are my absolute favorite

[@gabemccall3523]

Thank u very much for that

[@craig9910]

Awesome video! Thanks for making it! I got about a third of a dose left, and I am in a position where I have to jump. I sorta kinda knew this might happen but wished I had tapered a bit lower, but I think this is my chance, so I am going to take it. This is my one shot, if I fail then I am talking to a doctor about my options. Maybe do inpatient or something. I relate to you on so many thing, from the ben and jerrys and gaining weight. The "me time" thing hits me so hard! I am always trying to schedule things around having to have my time to play video games and take pills. After work, I can't be interrupted with that. I know exactly what you mean. I am also obsessing, it's all I really ever do. It consumes my thoughts so much so that it gets tiring. I'm at the point where I've consumed all the information there is to consume, I've thought about it every which way from sunday. It just comes down to stopping taking the fucking things. That's really it, it's really simple. Just don't take it anymore, otherwise, what the fuck am I doing? All of this time talking/thinking about recovery. If I continue to use, what am I doing? Just wasting my time is what I'm doing. If I know one thing is that I have no future doing what I'm doing, only thing I have to look forward to is an early grave.

[@gabemccall3523]

I just read this! Ok man, U know I’m here for you. Keep me updated brother. I know your probably in bed now. Is tomorrow day one or your last day?

[@ColbyONE]

Can you do a video on how it impacts finances?

[@gabemccall3523]

Will do. Been meaning to make that one. It might have been you that suggested it a while back. Thank u for the idea

[@ColbyONE]

No hurry man. Day 68 here! You’re killing it!

[@nicolasjlorenzo]

It does take a while, I got off pills over a year and a half ago, just got off suboxone 3 months ago, and it does get a whole lot better. Tapered really low for 6 months and came off. Really minor withdrawals, anxious, mild cravings, mild restless legs for about 2 weeks. No where as bad as cold turkeying pain pills for over a month

[@matthewtanner7511]

Getting off subs is much easier than other opiates. It does take longer the post acute withdrawal anyway. A tip, Imodium helps with restless legs. It actually has an opiate effect in it. It just doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier. I can’t remember the exact reason it works but it definitely helps when getting off subs. You can look it up.

[@kerrybearzoavs196]

I was scared as hell untill I got clean 😃

[@AD-dc2ri]

I just said this on my video!!! The first time getting clean I didn't HATE the drug. This time is different I HATE IT. I HATED THE WAY IT MADE ME FEEL AND THE CHOICES I MADE WHILE ON THEM. I DEFINITELY FEAR THE PAWS INTO MY 3RD WEEK AND ITS HITTING ME HARD UGH

[@gabemccall3523]

Oh that’s funny I mention the same! I’m gonna go watch your video now actually. Remember that HATE everyday your off this stuff! We jumped for a reason, we got to this point of jumping off during our lives while working, kids.... it got to a point were we said enough is enough. When it gets tough it’s easy to forget that. Glad it’s at the forefront of your mind

[@Peaceshiet812]

I’m due to go back to work next week, I’m petrified 😳

[@hannahmiller2056]

I have so many questions, wish I could talk to you

[@SAMEntalhealth]

Im going back to treatment today. This time my mindset is different. I didn't really wanna quit recently. I was taking Xanax to get through the withdrawal but I kept failing so now on day two and a half I start to feel the benzo withdrawal. I've only been taking them for about a month and a half and not every night but still I know how bad it can get if I keep going so today I'm leaving

[@SAMEntalhealth]

I'm suing that treatment facility btw

[@codemofficial]

yeah i totally agree on this one, you got to learn to hate the substance this way it will be ALOT easier to kick it, thats the way i kicked weed, i just started to hate it and got bored of it, and it didnt take much effort at all! not to say the withdrawal sympptomes werent there but it was times and times easier when i hated it.

[@dontbefooled132]

Ehat do u think about getting the covid vaccine 💉

[@CMoore8539]

I know that you’re asking Gabe, but I’ve done a lot of research on it. It’s experimental and some people are dying from blood clots. Please do some serious research before taking it.💙

[@gabemccall3523]

Here’s the way I see it. Vaccines usually take 4 years of trial and error so me personally I want to kinda see how other ls r reaching to it. As far as while your in early recovery... I have no idea if it would make things worse. One more thing about the vaccine. For me.. I see no benefit to getting it right now. I still gotta wear a mask. Look at the state of the union address the other night, all the people in there have been vaccinated and they all wore masks and were social distancing? It’s gone through our house and we’re totally fine. The benefits vs possible side effects from a vaccine we rushed through r just not worth it to me personally

[@craig9910]

I was in mild withdrawal from tapering last Friday when I randomly decided to go get mine, as my wife had gotten hers earlier in the day. It did make me fatigued, for a few days. I wasn't really able to distinguish what was withdrawal and what was the vaccine. But it's safe, if you know anything behind the technology behind this vaccine then you'll understand why this vaccine is probably safer than vaccines in the past. Just a tid bit about it, it uses this new ground breaking tech in the biomedical field that's like a once in a lifetime development, called CRiSPR. What it does is basically give you the ability to target the section of DNA you want to alter. Previously vaccines targeted a wide array and hoped it got to the right place, what CRiSPR does is eliminate that and gives you precision. It's been a huge problem, that has been holding up progress in the field. Anyways, literally millions of people have gotten the vaccine, it's very low risk unless you have issues with allergic reactions. Trust the science, and trust the professionals who have dedicated their lives to producing this product. You're going to be fine, it's the right thing to do, in terms of our society, and your own peace of mind. Everyone should get vaccinated, so we can move on with our lives.

[@craig9910]

@@CMoore8539 That was literally 4 women out of 6 million people, so if you're under 40 and a woman and taking the J&J vaccine you have a 1/6,000,000 shot of having an issue with a blood clot, none have been reported with moderna or pfizer. You have a better chance of winning the lottery while simultaneously being hit by lightning than having an issue from the covid vaccine. It's everyone's personal choice, but just thought I'd chime in with some info I had. :)

[@craig9910]

@@gabemccall3523 In regards to them wearing masks and social distancing despite everyone being fully vaccinated, Firstly, I don't think they know that everyone in the room is fully vaccinated and secondly they are just following CDC guidelines and erring on the side of caution, and also setting an example for others, I think. The CDC guidelines are probably a bit too conservative, but when you're talking about general guidelines for hundreds of millions of people and lives are on the line there isn't a lot of room for nuance in my opinion. If I got covid, I am probably not dying, but I might take up an ICU bed, and then that's one less bed for someone else, and then if all the beds are full not only are the people with covid who need an ICU bed not getting it but people who need it for non covid issues can't get one either. If everyone who isn't vaccinated contract covid, and have to have a ventilator, then the hospitals fill up and then people who are in car accidents, or have strokes, or heart attacks can't go to the ICU because it's filled with covid patients, and now those people die because they can't receive proper treatment, when normally they would survive. That's the issue with covid. It's not the lethality of the virus, it's the transmissibility of it. I had your same viewpoint and was skeptical a while back. I actually thought it was no worse than the flu, and thought it was being blown out of proportion, until I learned about what I just described. That's was the whole reason behind the "flatten the curve" initiative. But, I respect your opinion, just wanted to share my thoughts behind the subject, and I enjoy a good, respectful debate.

[@theway9828]

I’m kinda worried about your sparkling water habit

[@matthewwillis2389]

Gabe how long were you on it and how many mg did you stop at

[@morganzimmerglass9925]

See I’m way more selfish with my time and effort when I’m not on subs/opiates. Super lazy, don’t want to leave the house, don’t want to go to family functions, hate sitting in an office for 8 hours etc. when I’m on subs I have energy and motivation for everything and don’t need “me time” really other than the 10 mins it’s under my tongue in the morning then I’m down to do whatever everyone else wants to do. It’s weird to me how people keep talking about how bad they felt on subs. If I felt bad/unproductive on subs getting off them would be so much easier. I’m an incredible athlete on subs. Without anything I can barely limp through a mile run even 20 days being clean from them. I dunno I feel like everyone must be taking too much subs or something because 1.5-2 mg per day feels pretty good. I want to get off them because I’m scared of long term effects and don’t want to rely on something forever but not because I don’t like how I feel on them.

[@gabemccall3523]

Hey there. Appreciate your comment here. I absolutely understand whst your saying. I dink joke how long you been on subs or the longest you’ve gone without em. I can tell u from experience that opioids give u energy... for a while. Then u gotta have it to function. It feels like it gives u energy because it’s sucking the life out of u. So naturally when u take it; it’s gonna make u feel better. When u get off your not gonna have energy for a while and the longer u take it the longer it’ll take to get your natural energy back. I don’t know if your a male? But if you r, it messes with our testosterone and slowly sucks the energy out of you as a whole whole being on it. The people who say their energy is is better after Suboxone r people who have completely kicked it. Your not gonna kick this drug in a few weeks or a few months for that matter. It gets deep into our bodies

[@BradD-qc4ep]

No pain no gain, right?

[@gabemccall3523]

That’s right

[@CMoore8539]

First!!!💙

[@mb4308]

Why do you mak us watch you drink frs just get on with it

[@SAMEntalhealth]

Really? Get over it dude it's a part of his image. You don't like it go watch someone else but i bet nobody is better than Gabe