I teach full time and I have been in a slight state of withdrawal for 75 days.  Mostly, this is goose bumps and cold sweats.  It is also a very teary-eyed experience.  Both biologically and psychologically.  My doctor increased my Pristiq dosage from 25mg to 50mg per day.  I am not sure if it is relevant, but I smoked cigarettes for 25 years and never tried to quit until one day three years ago.  I have not had a craving or a drag since.
I have been on these opioids for 7 years.  I have made a similar decision as I did with the smoking.  It has been a harder choice because of the necessity to keep working while tapering, and the physical symptoms of withdrawal.