13 years on psychotropics

[Luc]

thanks all and Samsara and Luc...

the goal is we heal all, if i feel better, i am guilty that my companions suffer more than i, i want all to be happy, not only i;
sending energy to all!

Please, don't worry, Stan. It will be getting better for us, no matter what. You don't even realize of what great help your recent posts have been for me and for other folks. Reading about the improvement/windows, even if sometimes not yet fully complete, but auguring well for the future, helps to pull through the worst.

[Junior]

Stan this is very caring of you . My wish for you is to one day be fully recovered and have a full and happy life.

What she said ^^^^^ - with bells on!

[Cindy]

i am not recovered and have many problems, some are heavy, but i lived a state which i can reach in the future, tension is back but maybe more less; you have taken 3,5 years !!! I will need 10 months more to reach your famous 42 months; so we will approach the 3 , 4 years to be better; at the beginning i thought 18 months, then 24, then 36, and finally will have to wait 42 months... i never thought this before;
and i think i will have to wait then 5, then 6 years
incredible!!! long termer are really devastate!

Stan, I understand what you are saying...when I first came off of the drug I was originally told 18 months. The reality is that the recovery takes much longer, but different symptoms come and go at different times and some let up while others persist until you are finally recovered (flux et reflux (waves)). I didn't mean to upset you with the 42 months, but that was the timeframe that the worst of the muscle tension let up for me. Just keep in mind everyone's timeframe is different.

Also, I keep saying it, but it is very important to “accept” the withdrawal and try to go on without dwelling on it as much as possible...easier said than done I know. Claire Weekes explains the adrenaline/anxiety very well in her book “Pass through Panic”. I don’t know if you can get the audio in French (I’m sure you can the book), but I highly recommend it. Even though our problems are drug induced I found her explanation very helpful.

[Samsara]

Stan, I understand what you are saying...when I first came off of the drug I was originally told 18 months. The reality is that the recovery takes much longer, but different symptoms come and go at different times and some let up while others persist until you are finally recovered (flux et reflux (waves)). I didn't mean to upset you with the 42 months, but that was the timeframe that the worst of the muscle tension let up for me. Just keep in mind everyone's timeframe is different.

Also, I keep saying it, but it is very important to “accept” the withdrawal and try to go on without dwelling on it as much as possible...easier said than done I know. Claire Weekes explains the adrenaline/anxiety very well in her book “Pass through Panic”. I don’t know if you can get the audio in French (I’m sure you can the book), but I highly recommend it. Even though our problems are drug induced I found her explanation very helpful.

Cindy........

forgive me IF I've already posted to you (but I can't remember if I thought about posting to you or actually did so) but I wanted to truly thank you so much for sticking around to provide support to those of us who are still going through WD. It really does mean a lot and I have benefited from your posts to others and thus, I wish to sincerely thank you!

No doubt you are moved by a compassionate spirit and please know that I recognize and value this!

BTW, I'm so glad you had made the journey through to recovery and I wish you an amazing life!

P.S. Very sorry you ever had to experience the journey and sorry for all you have suffered.


Samsara

[stan]

Cindy, thank you as always,

to add what Samsara says, i appreciate much more the truth than silly encouragments, i think your periods will be globally as mine, i can better plan mi life;
for the CLAIRE WEEKS I tried to find it in Paris big bookshops, i will buy it by internet (i do not much like buy by internet, but i will be forced, many have spoked me about this book)
many thanks

[Samsara]

Cindy, thank you as always,

to add what Samsara says, i appreciate much more the truth than silly encouragments, i think your periods will be globally as mine, i can better plan mi life;
for the CLAIRE WEEKS I tried to find it in Paris big bookshops, i will buy it by internet (i do not much like buy by internet, but i will be forced, many have spoked me about this book)
many thanks

Stan.........

what is the truth is that recovery time-frames vary considerably. As you know, this has been seen time and time again on so many forums. Really, I've seen people C/T off multiple drugs and recover sooner and with less problems than some people who have tapered.

There is no predicting who will suffer, how intensely or extensively one will suffer as well as how long one will suffer. Of course, as you know there are some general time-frames that many people fall into but there is no predicting who will fall into which time-frame.

One thing I do know is that many who do not recover at the 2 year or 30 months mark DO recover by the 3 year mark. I"ve seen this on many benzos forums for years now and continue to see this general pattern. However, as with anything else there will be people who will recover beyond that point.

Believe me, I know how scary and disappointing this all is. I myself become rattled when month after month goes by and I'm not anywhere near what I expected to be at this stage but I'm going to hold on to the 3 year mark. Many people improve by then Stan (really they do and I'm not giving you false hope). AD despressant WD follows the same non-linear and recovery time frames as benzos. In fact, all psyche drugs run the same course as well as produce very similar WD symptoms.

You've been a very strong man to have endured this battle alone. Believe me, I know how hard it is to have to survive alone during but you are showing good signs of improvment and soon the worse WILL be behind you.

Fantasitic Recover to You Stan!


Samsara

[Samsara]

Dear IAWP Founders.....

forgive me but I'm unsure if it's appropriate to post recovery stories from benzo forums or other forums and if not then I trust you will delete this post.

I have posted this for Stan for review.

Samsara


SURVIVOR!


Day 1,096 days off of benzodiazepines and I feel normal
« on: July 24, 2008, 04:08:18 PM »

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Day 1096 off of benzodiazepine.


I am 3 years off of benzodiazepine and I am completely recovered. I feel good! For me I think it took a little longer to recover because of my previous history of some alcohol abuse prior to my benzodiazepine use. Does recovery happen? ABSOLUTELY!!! I am living proof. I was very sick my 1st year off of benzodiazepine. I was in bed the majority of time. I could not even follow simple television shows. My brain was very disabled. I shook all the time. I missed 90% of all family function for 2 years that includes holidays, family birthdays, etc. My central nervous system was just to fragile for normal life routines.

The key to my complete recovery is that I stayed away from all medication and let time and nature take its coarse. I was offer all kind of brain medication by many doctors but I refused to take them. Medication got me in this mess in the first place. I had a neurologist agree with me staying med free. I think she was a little taken back that it took this long to recover.

At 1 year off I was still very sick and thought I could die.
At 2 years off I definitely seen light at the end of the tunnel. But I still had symptoms but I was slowly improving.
3 years off recovered!!

Remember we are all different. I know many people that completely recovered in a few months after they tapered off of benzodiazepine. What I have notice is symptoms seem to come in waves. A few things I notice that helped with symptoms:

1. Eat every 4 hours if possible
2. Sleep when you can
3. Try to exercise (even if its only for a few minutes)
4. Keep your mind busy (simple games seem to help)
5. Keep a journal or benzo blog so you can keep track of your progress.
(Its always great to look back and see how far you come)
6. Share how you feel with people that understand your situation. (do not bottle up your emotions)
7. Keep outside stress to a minimum. Especially early in recovery.

Remember that your situation is only temporary. You will recover. The recover process can be very slow for some but it does happen. There are no magic potions or pills. Time is the answer.

Thank you Benzobuddies.org for all the support!!

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Get That Giant "Ativan" out of My Life 3.0mg was my highest

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/in...p?topic=8859.0
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3 years post benzo's
« on: January 17, 2010, 04:31:42 AM »

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My my how life has changed a lot, since this journey began! Right now I have the most confidence I have ever had in my life, I feel great! and I'm very happy I made it though withdrawal, even though it was a very tough, long process to get where I am. I have grown a lot since I stopped these poisons. I have over come the anxiety I felt through withdrawal, by just not overly thinking or worrying about anything, just try to have some fun and look on the positives. I have a lot of great friends who helped me when things were really tough, and I feel very greatful for that! I hope everyone here, can make it post benzo's and please if you find yourself falling a bit, don't get discourage, just keep trying, if you don't feel as good as I do at 3 yrs post benzo's don't get discourage, it takes time, good friends, and a lot of positive self talk to get yourself where you want to be, and that is to be happy and living life again after stopping benzo's.

Never give up! Keep trying till you make it! There is a light at the end of the long tunnel!

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Buddie

Offline

Gender:
Posts: 23


3 years off
« on: March 08, 2011, 09:51:05 PM »

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Hi everyone; I hardly ever come on here anymore, but thought I that I needed come back and give an update to give everyone going through this nightmare hope that it does end.

As of Feb.12th, it's been 3 years since I stopped taking all psych drugs. I was put on various benzos and ADs in 2006 due to stress and anxiety; I went through the most horrible, indescribable hell, and I'm here to tell you I survived. It's taken me all of this time to get close to being fully recovered, but I am very close. I only have a few symptoms left, which are very mild in comparison to what they were even a year ago. It's been several months since I've had a flareup, so I hope this is pretty much it. The only things still troubling me are some anxiety, insomnia, mild tinnitus, minor numb patches, the odd wierd thought. But compared to before, this is nothing.

Over the last year I've relocated to another town, got a new job, moved four times. I don't think the stress from this helped my recovery, but I did it. I recently got a promotion which gets me off shift work, and is more challenging. I've been able to handle all of this; it was far from easy, but I forced myself and knew instinctively that it was the right thing to do.

The thing that helped me the most was distraction, distraction, distraction. You have to distract your mind any way you can. And never give up; never stop believing that you will get through it. Because you will. It might take 6 months, 2 years, 3 years or longer, but you will get better. The great truth that you will keep hearing is that time is the only thing that will cure the withdrawal syndrome. Keeping away from stressful situations as much as you can, watching what you eat and drink, trying to relax, and coming to these forums will go a long way to making the time pass less painfully.

To those of you going through the worst of it, hang in there. You are much stronger than you know. You WILL get through it. Peter.


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Ativan and xanax 9 months at various dosages, highest was 30mg V equivalent. C/T both March 07. Reinstated April 07, crossed to V and tapered off. Benzo free Nov.21/07. Drug free Feb.12/08.
Other drugs since 06: Effexor, Buspar, Wellbutrin.

http://www.benzosupport.org/sucess_stories.htm

Other Stories

http://www.benzo.org.uk/stories.htm

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group...ess%20Stories/

http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk/

__________________

[Samsara]

Cindy, thank you as always,

to add what Samsara says, i appreciate much more the truth than silly encouragments, i think your periods will be globally as mine, i can better plan mi life;
for the CLAIRE WEEKS I tried to find it in Paris big bookshops, i will buy it by internet (i do not much like buy by internet, but i will be forced, many have spoked me about this book)

many thanks

BTW, I agree with Cindy re: Claire Weeke's book is well worth purchasing but you can also find much free information on-line via google searches.

Samsara

[stan]

thank you Samsara, i have also read many testimonies of recovery, but what we not see in your examples is the long time taken and what doses meds;
people who have taken 2/3 years are often very better at 2 years and well recovered at 3;

for people who have taken near 7/8 years and more, the time frame is at least 3 years, not recover, but better beginning real recover, and then 4, 5 years and so on... and some testimonies are little wrong in history to trust them
these people i am part, thefore my reasonable goal is not to be healed, only better functional 70/80%; and time will do the rest

[Samsara]

thank you Samsara, i have also read many testimonies of recovery, but what we not see in your examples is the long time taken and what doses meds;

Yes, you're right re: there is no medication history with some of the stories but TBH, I've come realize that it's not as relevant as what we have been led to believe since, it's not always about the number of drugs one takes, how long they have taken the drugs or how they've gotten off the drug. It has more to do with the degree of damage that has occurred not only due to the drugs themselves but also the damage that is created from WD process itself.

The WD process creates it's own form of damage due to many reasons which I won't type out ATM since, that is a whole lengthy subject in of itself.

With that said, I'm certainly not advocating C/T since, we know it can be very dangerous and is the most torturous way to get off the drug.

I believe that WD effects are more brutal and longer lasting when one has developed a severe tolerance to the drugs and most of all, IF one has developed a "kindling" effect upon drug reinstatement. These are the two most difficult forms of WD that one can experience and they can produce much longer recovery times simply because tolerance and kindling effects do create greater neurological damage.

The reason I believe this is because I have C/T off many drugs and I have experienced ALL the different forms of WD that can result as a consequence and believe me there IS a difference. I've also observed in the forums and have come to see that many people who C/T off MULTIPLE drugs SIMULTANEOUSLY can recover sooner than those who have developed severe tolerance WD to their drug and thus, had to taper slowly. One would think that the one who tapered SHOULD recover more quickly, however this isn't always the case since, if one had developed severe enough tolerance to the drug, MORE damage has been done as a consequence.

This tolerance WD type damage seems to take longer to repair. Same goes with the kindling effect (which is actually worse than tolerance effect).

BTW, Stan, please know that I'm arguing with you. Rather, I'm just sharing my thoughts based on observation and unfortunately, too many personal experiences. BTW, I haven't presented all of my thoughts nor have presented them very effectively but I'm just quickly throwing out a few thoughts and beliefs.


people who have taken 2/3 years are often very better at 2 years and well recovered at 3;

Sometimes "yes" and sometimes "no". And I also know people who have turned the corner almost overnight. The main problem in this whole WD equation is that there are so many variables involved and thus, many questions that emerge due to these variable re: has the person ingested any psychoactive substances during WD? If so, which ones and for how long? Also, what is the person's lifestyle? Does the person have a solid support system?

ALL of these factors do influence the course of WD since, stressors of any kind (especially chronic stressors) do significantly affect the CNS, endocrine and immune systems even in the healthiest of people. Those of us who are WD will incur greater damage in these areas IF we have such stressors during WD.

Additionally, HOW we cope with WD and stress is of great importance as well since, our thoughts do directly affect physiological functioning (even in healthy people).

So, IMHO, it's not just a matter of what drug that was taken, for how long and/or how one ceased taking the drug.

Then of course there are genetic differences between people and this also is a very relevant factor (in fact the most relevant).


for people who have taken near 7/8 years and more, the time frame is at least 3 years, not recover, but better beginning real recover, and then 4, 5 years and so on... and some testimonies are little wrong in history to trust them

Yes I understand what you are stating however, once again, we do NOT know WHAT they have been ingesting all along the way in an effort to manage their WD induced symptoms. Perhaps some people have not ingested anything but suffer for a very long time but there is no doubt in my mind (based on my research as well as some education re: biology) that many substances biologically interfere with the recovery of brain and CNS receptors. There really is no disputing this since, it's based on basic biological principles.

BTW Stan, I do know that you already realize this.

There are SO many people, for example, who take antihistamines during WD. This is the equivalent to ingesting another psyche drug. I have research papers to prove this In addition, I myself utilized anti-histamine during my violent taper, but very sparingly (only once in a while) and I tell you, a small dose of Gravol, dampened down EXTREMELY VIOLENT WD symptoms.

That fact that antihistamines were able to accomplish this PROVES that the drug targets the same receptors sites as psyche drugs.

BTW, antihistamines are extremely addictive and one can go through WD syndrome from ceasing such drugs. I had one paper (still buried in my pile of files) where one doctor reported that he had one patient that was so addicted to antihistamines and that the WD were worse than heroine WD.

I do have many other papers regarding antihistamines.

these people i am part, thefore my reasonable goal is not to be healed, only better functional 70/80%; and time will do the rest

I can appreciate that you wish to be cautiously optimistic. That's a reasonable approach to take. Each person must utilize a mental coping strategy that they feel is best.

As for myself, I can't use the same approach since ATM, six months more of suffering is all that I can evision. If I think beyond that point I become afraid, despondent and wish to give up. So, instead, I try to set "short blocks of recovery time to move towards".

HOwever, that's MY strategy and I, in no way, believe that my way is the right way for everyone. :)

I better post this. Take care Stan and hang in there. We will make it through this one way or another.

Samsara