Breaking Open an Ex-Heroin Addict's Warm Message in an Icy?Bottle

Being an Author for Patient.info has allowed me to connect with people from around the world I wouldn’t have otherwise known existed.

People who are the perfect case studies of what self-belief and perseverance can do to us even when we are in the midst of crippling drug addiction. They hold the power to inspire us not just because they have “been there” and “done that” but who are brave enough to bare themselves to the world wearing the t-shirt.

For writers like me who want to show the world what feats humans are capable of, it’s the stuff of storytelling gold. I just so happened to have one fall into my lap, or rather glide into my Twitter inbox.

Sophie Banyard blew me away with her story about how she was able to completely destroy her 5-year addiction to heroin with help of the Wim Hof Method.

You may know of the three-pillar wellness technique. We will get into it more in this article.

Ultimately, its beauty stems from its simplicity. With minimal instruction, almost anyone can practice it and reap the immediate benefits. However, it’s not suitable for people with certain health conditions.

I’d recommend first reading its side effects in the official Wim Hof Method’s FAQ and speaking to your doctor before trying if you’re still unsure about it.

Following this feature I wrote covering Sophie’s story, she kindly hopped on a call with me to answer further questions about her heroin addiction recovery to help others who might find themselves where she once was.

Small wins + time = big life?goals

Me:

When we first spoke, you attributed the Wim Hof Method — more on that later — as one of the major things that helped keep you from relapsing and maintaining your focus. Was there anything else that helped you?

Sophie:

It was exercise. Running was what I started with. I had been a runner for years previously, but I’d completely lost all my fitness over the years that I was an addict. I started running to train for ‘Couch to 5K’ — and I absolutely hated it. But for some reason, I dragged myself around these runs three times a week. I finished the 5K thing… hated all of that. Then I started training for a 10K… and I hated all of that too. And then I even started training for a half marathon.

Somewhere in there — amidst all the hate — I actually started to enjoy running. I just kind of knew that I had to. I had to do it. My thinking at the time was,

“if I can’t get over this small struggle, which is this run right now, how am I going to get over that massive struggle that is recovering from this heroin addiction?”

I just kept going.

Me:

So it kind of gave you a bit of perspective the same way the Wim Hof Method did? Like how you first made yourself take cold showers.

I remember you telling me you had a similar mindset; that overcoming the immediate hurdle of the uncomfortable cold shower would help you build the validation that you can follow through with your goals.

Sophie:

Yeah, 100%. Like you said before, the psychology behind making yourself have cold showers and going for my runs worked together really well. More than anything, I needed some wins. My life was an absolute bin fire.

I’d lost my career, which meant everything to me. I had to move back in with my mum. I just felt like an absolute failure.

Setting these running goals, I could achieve them no matter what. I took back control. From that, I worked my way into becoming a Personal Trainer and created my career out of nothing.

Me:

What would you say is the most important thing someone should consider after they fall off the wagon and relapse?

Sophie:

100% see it as part of the journey and part of the big lesson that you’re learning.

It’s a cliche, but cliches are cliches because they’re true. Relapse is part of recovery — especially with something like heroin.

Nobody just gives up on their first try at beating heroin addiction. You have to just keep banging your head against the wall until finally, you say “right, this is why I don’t want to do this anymore.”

At that point, the balance tips and you’ve got enough reasons not to do it that can kind of carry you through. It’s a massive learning experience. When you relapse, you just need to accept it. It’s happened.

You can learn from it and keep going.

Me:

When did you start the Wim Hof Method in relation to your recovery journey?

Sophie:

Those days are a blur. By the time I started the Wim Hof Method, I was definitely sort of off heroin and onto the replacement drug, methadone, prescribed by my doctor.

I was really struggling with depression. I’d become fixated on what I’d lost and regretted where my life ended up. It put me in a constant state of feeling miserable for no discernible reason.

The first morning I did it, the turnaround in how I felt was so immense, I was hooked straight away.

As mentioned in her feature, Sophie didn’t consult a doctor before starting. Since her circumstances were quite extreme, she didn’t see the need to:

“I’d been injecting street heroin into my veins for a few years (though I was on methadone by this point) — I didn’t see how some breathing and cold water would hurt?me!”

Why Wim Hof resonated with?Sophie

Me:

So, when you first heard about the Wim Hof Method on the radio, what was the main thing about it that drew you in?

What made you think “yeah, this is for me, I can do this”?

Sophie:

I remember I was quite captivated by Wim himself. He has quite an infectious energy and charisma and just talking about all of the insane physical feats that he’d achieved just through the power of cold water and breathing really captured my imagination.

And like you said, it’s so accessible — literally, anyone can do it.

I’m always fascinated by crazy physical challenges. You know, even ones that are actually quite simple at the root. The benefits just sounded amazing in terms of boosting your mood and boosting your immune system.

It could potentially help me kick my heroin addiction once and for all.

I just thought there was really no reason not to try this. I had absolutely nothing to lose. Let’s just give this a go. It sounds amazing.

Sophie told me she adopted the Wim Hof breathing technique and cold shower pillars into her daily routine instantaneously.

It took doing it once for her to decide it was going to form the basis of her recovery journey.

Me:

This might be a tricky one…

How soon after you relapsed would you return to practising the Wim Hof Method?

Sophie:

On the days when I did slip up, I would tell myself “right, tomorrow morning you are sitting down and breathing and you are getting in that cold shower.” It was my response mechanism whenever I would relapse so I could tell myself this was only a temporary thing and I’d be straight back on the wagon tomorrow.

I would make a point to try and slap myself back into action somehow.

Quite often when people are addicted to drugs, they just feel a total lack of all control. Doing this — for me — was definitely a good way to claw back some of the control and know that you do have some power.

It was still humiliating

Sophie explained that once she left London circa 2015 she would never relapse to the point that she would experience severe withdrawal symptoms.

It took 5 years of being on varying doses of prescribed methadone, to a weaker medication, Subutex before she finally broke her damaging cycle of heroin addiction.

There was a real struggle for Sophie, as disclosing her serious heroin habit to her local drug service revoked certain privileges.

Sophie:

By then, I’d relapsed on heroin to the point that it was a dual habit. I needed 70 mils of methadone and ￡50 of heroin a day just to keep me feeling normal — and I couldn’t go without either.

Rather than go to the chemist once a week to pick up my methadone, I had to go in every day and drink it in front of them until I was deemed “trustworthy” enough to take it home.

It was humiliating.

I compared this to going to the clinic as an underage girl and having to take the morning-after pill right there and then with the pharmacist — because you’re too young to be trusted.

Everyone can see you standing there at the corner of the counter and pretends not to notice.

Kind of relatable but a fart in a dust storm compared to Sophie’s experience.

I didn’t think I could become any more of a fan of hers… until what she told me next.

Me:

So, when you first graduated from cold showers and began regular ice baths, how often would you do it?

Do you carry on taking ice baths today?

Sophie:

When I started, I was living in a house that had a bath and I would do it once a month. I’d just fill the bathtub with cold water, go and buy 5 or 6 kilos of ice, chuck it all in and then submerge myself.

It was quite an expensive way to do it, especially in the summer.

Now I live in a house that doesn’t have a bath, so I made an outside set up and I do it every day.

Hold the phone…

EVERY DAY?

No way!?

Yes, way…

Taking ice baths has helped Sophie destroy her heroin addiction

Me:

Ok, wow… so, what’s your set up like and how do you manage to have an ice bath every day!?

Sophie:

I just bought a collapsible bathtub from Amazon for ￡60-￡70 GBP. Then I got a wooden pallet from somewhere, arranged the bathtub on top of it, filled it with cold water, and covered it in a tarp. I just remove it and get in it every morning. You get really cold enough doing that.

That’s such a benefit about the weather here, isn’t it?

Thank you, Britain.

Sophie:

I start work quite pretty early in the morning so I wake up and go straight to the kitchen and put my kettle on. I get in my ice bath while my tea is brewing and it’s there waiting for me when I get out.

I mean, every morning I open my eyes and I’m just like “oh, I don’t want to do it,” because at the time I really don’t want to do it. Then by the time I’ve gathered up my clothes and gone downstairs, I’ve warmed up to the idea and think “what’s the worst that can happen? If you hate it, you can immediately get back out.”

But she never does — the legend.

Me:

Do you still practice the breathing?

Sophie:

Yeah, I still do it most days. It’s best to do the breathing technique on an empty stomach and sometimes I forget and eat my breakfast first. Ultimately, it hasn’t fallen by the wayside but definitely takes second priority over the morning ice bath ritual.

Personally, I think doing ice baths every day more than makes up for it!

Me:

You’re doing brilliant things. And now you’ve got your Personal Training. How is that going, by the way?

Sophie:

Really good! I do one on one sessions and I have a group programme as well. It’s all run online — and it’s sort of amazing! You know, watching people start off on their journeys and being there the moment they realise they’re capable of so much more than they thought they were.

It’s just really amazing to be a part of and I love watching people become really badass. It’s super rewarding.

Me:

Last question — but certainly not least.

If you had the chance, what would you say to your past self who is amidst a full-on heroin addiction?

Sophie:

“You are capable of so much more than you think you are. You’re stronger than you think you are. You can get through this, and what’s waiting for you on the other side is better than you can possibly conceive right?now.”

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You can read more about Sophie’s recovery journey here.

You can also connect with Sophie on Facebook, Instagram and her new website, www.sophiebanyard.com.

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This interview was originally published with Black Bear.