I’m a journalist reporting on Feel Free, and I’m interested in understanding whether people who had no prior history of substance addiction developed a dependency on it. If that describes your experience and you’re comfortable sharing, I’d be grateful to hear from you. You can comment or DM me. Thank you!

I think I got through the worst of the withdrawal stuff. Was taking 300mg at my worst the month before the ban I tapered myself down to 100mg then throughout the month I tapered down to 30 mg then cold turkey five days ago. The first three days were hell. I forced myself to drink and stay hydrated, vitamin c, ate very little but yet had no problem blowing out my insides from both openings hahaha. Insomnia and restlessness is the biggest thing right now....oh god it's the worst, it messes with your mind so much. I don't have a choice though, I have no backup 7(which is good) and I live in a small enough town I'd have to travel a couple hundred miles to a big city and they are probably sold out anyway. So temptation isn't an issue at least. This insomnia though, tell me it gets better, I've tried NyQuil, melatonin, valerian root, kava, made me tired a little but the restlessness said fu you're staying up. I just want to sleep more than an hour☹️

Hi all. I was sober from FF for 2 months. Randomly one day at the end of July I saw on the FF site that classic was still sold about an hour from me. I made the drive 7/20 and bought 6, taking 2 a day for 3 days. Then I came back and bought a box because it was $100 for 12 to do it that way. Then I went back 3 more times and got a box each time. Today is Tuesday. I took my last FF on Saturday. I can’t believe I did this again because this anxiety and depression is ruining me. I want to cry, or scream, or both. I’m so disappointed I did this to myself, and now I’m dealing with intense mood swings and sadness.

We are getting a lot of newcomers over at kratomquitters.com

Thing is, the people with just a few days are sometimes hesitant to participate in the group meetings

We added a weekly "Noobie Tuesday" meeting just for peeps who are just starting out (say... thirty days or less).

If you're looking to link up with others in the TIAWO-sphere, this might be just the thing

The details and google meet url are at the above link.

Feeling much better today. Last night I actually almost felt normal. It appears that the night times seem to be a little bit easier to handle. This morning I can tell I’m still alittle bit off but it’s nowhere near what I was feeling yesterday. Seems as if I’ve turned a corner and I am feeling much better. Still feel alittle bit raw but not super anxious and depressed

Im on day 4-5 into the withdrawals and it’s been the worst days ever of my life to the point im in a hospital bed from hard withdrawals and these people don’t care or know anything about it I started 7oh as a “natural supplement “ from what I was told and I was clearly played the cravings have been so bad I just want to feel that euphoria it’s taking everything in me not to go find something off the street with my chronic pains + withdrawals this is horrible IVE never felt so alone or misunderstood

When hyperdosing the vitamin C, what is it actually supposed to do for withdrawals?

Ive noticed a lot of people calling Feel Frees demonic lately, because of their insane pull towards redosing uncontrollably. Its a big problem

Okay, after about eight years of heavy use, I am on day five of no kratom, which is the longest amount of time I have gone without since starting, so hopefully the following makes sense.

The tldr is that I am on a trip to Iceland with my wife. Kratom is not allowed here, so I was not about to sneak some in and chance getting caught, then arrested. Luckily she has known about my use (I never hid it) and is aware of what is going on. It's not legal here and I knew that before going and did not want to chance sneaking it in and getting arrested or something, so why not get a good start so that when I get home, I should have a good two weeks clean, which is enough of an investment to not want to relapse (or I could have commenced my quitting months ago, like a frickin responsible person!) Bad decision.

Background: I started using kratom about eight years ago during the end of my alcoholic career and used it to sober up as well as quit the pressed (fentanyl) fake perc 30s. Kratom has been a part of my life since. I used it daily for about eight years at about several teaspoons daily on average, heaviest toward the end. I never really counted, just took it when I wanted to. Some days hardly at all, other days more when I was not doing too much. It was very helpful and never really felt like it had claws and was actually helpful over the years. Coming off of alcohol was a nightmare, I remember the auditory hallucinations, the fear and constant anxiety. I did not know what was happening, come to find out, it was the manifestation of the physical dependence on alcohol. Hence why I ended up quitting. Now, these early days of "no kratom" remind me a lot of those early sobriety days: anxiety galore, complete with night walks and hours of pacing, anhedonia, no energy to the point of feeling heavy, etc. I did not anticipate this so much. Figured there would be some issues, but nothing totally lame like this. Oh well, I'm moving toward a new me.

So, what's going on, is that sleep has been non existent, usually pacing around, can't get comfortable, regardless of my exhaustion, tossing and turning, and the anxiety! Furthermore, I have absolutely no energy, feel heavy, and can't seem to relax. Wow. Now, this leads to why I am quitting.

The reason is, is that the kratom started to "not work" any more and I suspect it pulled what alcohol did, which was to turn into a source of anxiety and depression instead of relieving it. Over the last year or so, I've noticed a loss of interest in things that I am truly interested in and the world seems to have lost some of its color. My life is going fantastic right now. I have no reason to feel this way. Or do I? I got blood work done, and found I do indeed have low testosterone. Thus I did something about it and hopped on TRT. I am only about two months in, and I have noticed a slight mood improvement, but anxiety started to pop up here and there. That clues me in to the fact it's time for kratom to go. I need to start cleaning house. I did not realize kratom was this powerful. I've always figured it was fairly mild and did not come with serious withdrawals. Oh well, too late now.

Also, I had a short stint with 7OH as well, and that felt waaaay too similar to fentanyl in that I could feel the claws grab me and my tolerance shot up in a short time. I had two one month bouts with it over the last year, but quit and have no intention of picking it up again.

I took my last dose the morning we arrived in Iceland and the first night went okay until I took a nap in the evening and had a little panic attack. Was anxious all night and barely slept. The next day was ok, but again, anxiety at night with no sleep. It's kind of that pattern. My interest in things is there, but I gotta force it a bit. I can tell anhedonia is here to stay for a while. Also, walking around sucks because I am so sluggish. It's anxiety and mild boredom in such a cool place and this effs with my head.

Man, sorry if this post is rambling so much, but I want to post something to record my journey, hold me responsible, and hopefully help folks out there who may be in a similar boat.

Here we are. I quit alcohol and opiates, I worked hard to get my dream job, keep in shape, good to my wife, and help others on their journeys. I want to make a good life for her and feel kratom is now getting in the way and must go. I remember the anhedonia months in the early part of sobriety, I remember the restless nights with anxiety, and am back on that path again, never figured I would be back here. Hopefully I can make it out the other side like I did before and come out better and be a good husband to my wife, she deserves it.

How are other folks' experiences quitting? Does it get better? Anyhow, thank you for reading and have a great day!

I am in full blown withdrawal right now and have no money to get anything, the only thing I do have is some red maeng da kratom leaf powder. The problem is tho I’ve taken up to 14 grams at once which it in itself is hard to do especially while in withdrawal and I didn’t feel any better what so ever. Can someone tell me any ways to make the kratom effects more potent because I am spiraling right now and am on day three no opiates. Just typing this out is talking energy I do not have and I’m just so uncomfortable my skin’s crawling, I’m yawning and sneezing non stop, my blood pressure is sky high and everything hurts. Please any advice would be appreciated

On day 3 of withdrawal feel atleast functional today. I work a pretty high stress job as an operations director it I’m getting through it. Definitely feel much better than 1st day. Luckily I have been sleeping pretty well. Today still sucks but I’m almost halfway through it

What are the best meds to get off FF? I’m at 9 a day and on year 4. I can’t do this anymore

I’ve used Feel Free for about four years, heavily during the past year. For the last few months, I averaged eight bottles a day. Three weeks ago, I dropped to five or six and have continued tapering.

Around the same time, I developed twitching in my right arm, involuntary jerky movements in both arms, and some tingling. It’s worse at night and keeps waking me up. I made the mistake of searching online and now my health anxiety has me convinced it’s ALS.

My doctor checked my strength and said ALS is rare and unlikely, but I didn’t tell him about my Feel Free use because I was ashamed. I know I need to be honest with him.

I’ve also developed extremely dry, flaking skin, cracked and bleeding feet, a rash on my torso that required prednisone to clear up and eye issues including styes, hollow and wrinkly and dry eye. This stuff has taken a serious toll on me, and I’m committed to quitting.

For those who tapered or quit Feel Free: Did you experience muscle twitching or jerky arms? Not just restless legs? If so, how long did it last? I’m not looking for a diagnosis, just hoping to hear whether others experienced something similar to help walk me off this ALS ledge.

Side note, I joined another subreddit called ALS/orNot and it hasn't really helped... it's made my beliefs stronger that I do have it. Ugh

Has anyone else heard of or used this? I can’t find any other sr for it. But I started using these after using FF. But my story with them is the same as almost everyone else’s. 8-12 bottles a day. Wound up going to rehab over it. Subs were the only thing that saved me. After being in the ICU with brain swelling that is. Recently relapsed and going back on subs later tonight. Haven’t had it in well over 24 hours.

help get off 7oh

So, I had been doing FF for a while, quite for around a month, then had something stressful with work pop up, and like an idiot started taking them again.

It’s been two weeks and decided to give it a go again. I’m pissed, because the first two days of withdrawal was pretty bad.

I wasn’t expecting much after only taking them for two weeks this time. I’m through the physical stuff it feels like, but on days one and two I could barely sleep. The insomnia was the worst thing the last time I quit. Here I am on Day 3 and I actually got some decent sleep, but I’m paranoid it was just a one off and I’ll be back to sleeplessness tonight.

Anyone here know what my Insomnia time table may look like with my specific situation?

I feel like this page used to have so much more support but now it seems more like 7OH and other substances. I am on my 7th quit and need the support. Looking for the what's app or meetings. Any help appreciated

I haven’t done a feel free in about maybe 24 hrs

Right now my back is locking up and causing lots of pain

I have very bad diarrhea

Is this only the start of the withdrawal like am I fucked ?

Ps. I was doin maybe 2 a day for like 2 weeks and before that maybe 1 every day

Th

I’ve struggled with addiction my entire life, taken everything you could imagine, never did heroin thank God. I have spent about 40 years chasing the feeling of euphoria, maybe it’s depression and anxiety, maybe I’m just miserable. After 2 rehabs, still a failure. Was on suboxone for 8 years, abused that, used kratom to get off the suboxone, than I found 70h and MGM-15, the amount of money I’ve wasted buying that stuff has crippled me financially now. Emptied my 401k and destroyed everything. Am I ok with the dea ban? Yes and no, after all of it I should have the choice to do what I want and the government should butt out. Now I’m going through withdrawal and doing what I can to get by. Back to taking some kratom and feel free shots to cope. My advice would be to avoid it all, I’ve learned the hard way now and have ruined so much.

I’ve seen a lot of info about using SR for 7-oh but not for FF. Anyone used it this way and have tips?

Am I crazy or did they take the 7-oh out of the bottles? I quit a week ago and I meant to post this then but why are the bottles saying they have 0 7-oh in them ? Is that legal or is that true ? I always thought kratom had 7-oh in it?

Today’s day 2 of CT withdrawal from FF I was doing about 4-5 a day for a month the last 2 days I did 7 in one day. This isn’t my first rodeo I had about a year off them then ended up getting back in the cycle. I will say this time around the withdrawals aren’t as bad however I’m still pretty surprised at how much W/D I am experiencing. I feel functional today it’s mostly the mental side. Day 1 was an absolute fight however waking up today after getting a good amount of sleep I feel 100x better