One year Off....Words of Hope.

[[Er...]]

Hi all,

 

    As of yesterday I am one year off of Klonopin and overall I have improved a great deal but still have issues.  I have difficulty sleeping sometimes, I still get bouts of anxiety, and occasionally some aches and pains but those have largely improved.  I still have some exercise intolerance but I am now slowly starting to build muscle again.  I have new symptoms too such as very itchy skin.  I am sure more thins will occur along the way as I continue to recover.  All in all I am much better and I am writing this as encouragement to those who are just beginning their journey.  I have learned much during my time in W/D and I have some advice:

 

1. Diet: This one is crucial and one I have struggled with.  During W/D I craved sugary snacks and every time they would put me in a wave.  My advice is to try and eat natural as much as you can.  Things such as whole fruits and vegetables are a good idea.  I did notice that when I ate properly my symptoms were not as severe.  Stay away from alcohol, that seems to be bad.  Also, herbs and other supplements may or may not help.  I would use caution with them. 

 

2. Distract:  This one is very important also.  If you sit and read the horror stories all day about permanent brain damage, 7 years "in" and still in W/D, and a host of others, you will make your anxiety sky high and not help the situation at all.  The reality is that millions of people are on these things and we are a small minority in W/D.  I do not know why that is and neither does any other neurobiologist (as yet) but it is not likely due to permanent brain damage.  It is probably something much more benign and recoverable.  When in acute try to take it one day....hour......minute at a time and know that it will get better.  Also, stay out of the protracted page unless you are truly protracted (18 months or more).  You do not need to be reading such things unless it pertains to you.  When in W/D one is very susceptible to bad news, so avoid it as much as possible.  Instead, read some success stories.  They are very encouraging and will give you something to look forward to when your recovery arrives. 

 

These are just a few things but I want to make this pithy.  If anyone has any further questions they can send me a PM.  I hope you are all recovering well and God bless.     

[[er...]]

Hi Erich

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Congrats  to you 1 years off .. :smitten:

Thank you very much for your help to me and other people on BB  and  for  your very positive post .

All best to you and all of BB friends . :smitten:

[[pe...]]

Hi Erich- congratulations and thank you for this very positive post.  You give me hope.

[[Ca...]]

Eric,

  Thank you for sharing your story....best to you as you continue to heal.

Warmly,

Carita

[[be...]]

Hey Eric, I could have written your post. I  am a couple of weeks ahead of you and we share the same symptoms.

Thank you so much for the positive update, we all need to read these posts.

I wish you continued healing on this journey.

Good Bless.

[[Fr...]]

Wonderful news Eric.  I alway read your posts and am so happy that you're conquering this.

 

L.

[[Er...]]

Thanks everyone, I have seen very many people in W/D and I am convinced that all will recover.  A select few take a long time but that is not at all the majority.  Please hang in there everyone, much better times are ahead. 

[[Te...]]

Thank you, Eric! Very good news that you're feeling better, and thank you for your words of wisdom!

[[Er...]]

I want everyone to know that I truly believe that everyone gets better but I want everyone to consider a point.  If I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and I took Crestor it would certainly lower it.  I would then be embolden to live a certain life......like eating all kinds of junk because my BP is fine.  Lets take away the medicine.  My BP now goes sky high and I sit there complaining that my BP is too high but am not making any real changes.  What will happen?  MY BP certainly will not go down and I will be more and more worried every day.  This is partially true with benzos.  While there are certainly some things occurring that are out of our control (such as the many physical symptoms) there are some things that are in our control which is our behavior.  If one surfs the internet all day and finds horror story after horror story you are influencing a very negative spiral that can get out of control.  I can pull a band aid off a cut very slowly, watching it pull every hair as it goes.  It will be agony.  Conversely, I can be busy cutting the grass under the hot sun and have a friend sneak up behind me and pull it off quickly.  It will hurt like heck for a second then be done.  What is the difference?  It has a large psychological component, no question.  Thus, while I am not saying W/D is purely psychological, I am saying that it makes a portion of it.  The faster and more aggressively that one can tackle that part, I believe that it can help influence recovery by making it more speedy.  This may require counseling by a skilled psychologist.   

[[ma...]]

Thanks Eric and congratulations on one year off!

 

Mama

[[WT...]]

Eric great post but i wonder if there was a difference between someone who used it for 2 to 3 weeks and someone who used it 1 year or more

I am also thinking they got to be mixing something in this pills like ssris or anti psych

 

Look at augmentin mixure of amoxicilin and other crap we do not know many people sick while taking it but amoxicilin alone no issues

 

Bottom line is too late and the damage is done

 

There is not any warning or awareness on this

If it was i and many others would not be suffering

[Guest [...]]

Thank you for the positive perspective.