The Hissing...

[[Se...]]

... in my ears/head is driving me insane.  My God, this is the worst symptom by far.  Even worse than the breathing issues, because the tinnitus probably won't ever go away  :'( :'( :'(  Feeling of pain/pressure in ears on & off, too.  WTF?

 

Does anyone else have this?  How on earth do you cope?  It only really slammed me about a week ago and since, I've not been sleeping much.  I wake up to all the crazy sounds in my head and can't relax at all (who could?)  I'd been sleeping relatively well before the tinnitus hit.

 

Please help... is there any hope with this debilitating symptom?

[[Se...]]

Anybody?  The w/d is enough of a beast to try and live with... then the excrutiating tinnitus on top of it?  I don't want to die... I want to live and see a brighter future... but I'm so low right now with all of this... that I brought it on myself by taking this awful, life-killing drug... makes it so much worse... I'm also destroying my family... Such a loss of hope right now.  :'(

[[Mi...]]

Serenity, I am right there with you: loss of hope, seeing this destroy my family, and knowing I did this. My daughter is having panic attacks and crying a lot because she is worried about me; my son's personality has changed because of the shock of what has happened to me in coming off this drug.

 

I don't have tinnitus, but I do have all kinds of weird pains and pressures in my head. I do not sleep unless I take Benadryl or Vistaril, and sleep is still only a few hours and not refreshing. How can doctors not know that this crap destroys lives? I went to my primary care doc, a neurologist, a sleep specialist, an addiction psychiatrist, and they all said they never heard of a withdrawal lasting so long. They pegged me as anxious and tried to give me an RX for more meds--even benzos (even the addiction psychiatrist!)

 

I am six months out. There have been a few slight improvements, but I feel so physically weak and am emotionally numb. I am afraid this is going to severely damage my children emotionally.

[[Se...]]

Oh, Misty...  :'(  Same here, love.  My previously happy daughter is experiencing tremendous anxiety now as well because of MY condition.  These f*&^%#* poisons.  I am so angry and sad.  Things are magnified because I tried to end my life already once because of this, and the kids know... they were there when the ambulance came to my home, saw me in hospital, etc.  I had to explain everything to them.  I used to be a terrific mother, and my kids were happy & healthy.  Supportive husband is now getting tired of me talking about this, although I've held off talking about it a lot in the past couple of weeks; tend to keep it to myself mainly, and just keep pushing through.  Eff my life.  Seriously.  I don't see a bright future for me or my lovely family right now.  And then the constant ear-hissing on top of it.  I am reaping my karma in spades, I guess.  I am barely holding on with a thread.

 

Thanks for responding.  At least I am not totally alone in this living hell.  Blessings to you & your family.

 

P.S. - I'm doing what we're all "supposed" to be doing... I've been practicing being as positive as possible, reading positive books, cultivating hope through prayer (I'm not a religious person, but I'm very spiritual), forcing myself to get out and do things I used to do (within reason), loving my kids as best I can (even though I can't yet connect with them at all), going to therapy, continuing to eat and sleep as best I can, etc., etc.  I always feel there is a pinpoint of hope.  Yet... days like today, when my daughter is still suffering and my family is falling apart... well, my very worst nightmare has been realized.  I think I really need to turn my thinking around or something.

[[Mi...]]

Serenity, are you in England? The way you said "in hospital" instead of "in the hospital" made me think so.

 

I bumped a success story, From Hell To Well, by Lizzie for you. She was in a terrible way and has healed. Read it for some hope.

 

I think about taking my life, but I don't because I have been told that increases the risk of suicide in your children. I stay around in the hope I will get better. I was a terrific mom, too, and now someone who didn't know the situation would think I was just a lazy uncaring woman.

 

My supportive husband is at the end of his rope as well. I have devastated my family by taking these pills for my anxiety, but I can't devastate them more by taking my life. My daughter was crying this morning and I asked if she wanted to come in and snuggle with me. She is 15 and clung to me like a child. She is so worried about me.

 

Keep in touch. Hold on.

[[Se...]]

Thank you, Misty 

 

(No; not England... Canada  )

[[mi...]]

Hi Sn.....I have had the hissing in my ears for 7 mos now........it can make you crazy......If I feel the self talk go sideways, like (I can not take this one more SECOND) I must stop myself!! Otherwise it gets worse....I just start talking to myself with anything I know about the w/d that comforts me, such as success stories and my pharmacist telling me that all of this will absolutely go away. We will not be stuck with the hissing it will pass..

 

Sorry you are felling so bad.......m

[[Se...]]

Hi, Minnie.  Thanks.  Your pharmacist says you won't be stuck with the ringing?  Can you tell me more?

[[Ra...]]

I have tinnitus here and there. It kind of goes away when I don't focus on it. Distraction is key I think, at least for me.

[[mi...]]

Hi Sn.....Yes he said the noise would all go away if it was not there pre benzo......he actually said  ALL of everyones s/x will ABSOLUTELY go away usually in the 6 to 18 mo. range. He said the people who have w/ds are sensitive to meds. that is why some of us unlucky ones suffer so much. He also said it did not matter how long or how much you took if you are sensitive you will go thru w/ds.

 

Hope this helps, he is a great guy and has been a pharmacist for many years. Actually all three of the pharmacists there have been very supportive during my withdrawal, they have been my pharmacists for 14 yrs. I completely trust them......

 

I hope the hissing is easing for you....m