Just wonderin-anybody happy and NOT anxious during their taper?

[Guest [in...]]

Hi, Im tapering from valium after a successful c/o from klonopin. I feel good. Im happy and not anxious, most of the time. I feel strong, capable, and ready to roll- although Im going slow with this. Im 50 and menopausal on TOP of trying to taper too! I hike 30-32 miles per week. I drink coffee, and eat as I please, just no alcohol or pop. 

Is there anyone out there feeling good whilst tapering?

[[Ki...]]

I felt pretty much fine except for morning anxiety (the reason I decided to get off) from 3 mg down to .75. I thought I would be one of the lucky ones. Alas, I wasnt. But you might be! Just keep assuming you will be fine and continue on your merry way. I wouldnt check this website too often. I think it may feed your fear.

[[Si...]]

I'm mostly normal. My anxiety is definitely on the higher side from this last cut but that could very well be attributed to me buying my first motorcycle and learning how to ride. Pretty nerve wracking. Also, my cuts are getting larger and larger and I'm debating on reducing my cuts in size but don't know what to do yet. Besides my anxiety I'm pretty much normal. No alcohol or caffeine period though. Slow and steady.

[[be...]]

Hi, Im tapering from valium after a successful c/o from klonopin. I feel good. Im happy and not anxious, most of the time. I feel strong, capable, and ready to roll- although Im going slow with this. Im 50 and menopausal on TOP of trying to taper too! I hike 30-32 miles per week. I drink coffee, and eat as I please, just no alcohol or pop. 

Is there anyone out there feeling good whilst tapering?

 

Count me in. I too made the same switch and I am so happy with the results, so far. Anxiety? Nada. A tad of insomnia here and there but that's it. I'm menopausal too. 

[Guest [in...]]

Do you feel that the taper can hinge on what's going on in your personal life? I feel at this time, peace with my marriage, peace with my child being raised and almost done with college, peace with my business running smoothly. Im confident with who I am now and more in control of my thoughts and emotions than Ive ever been in my life. I feel an inner contentment, and joy. Maybe it's just this time of life? If I'd tried this when I was younger, I'd never have made it. I know there may be rough seas ahead, but yet I know how things change and evolve into even better things. Im looking forward to a life w/o benzos. I feel like Im steering my own vessel, finally! Im an adult now, huh?! Amazing, never thought I'd feel this way in life. Wisdom has come with age...

[[be...]]

Do you feel that the taper can hinge on what's going on in your personal life? I feel at this time, peace with my marriage, peace with my child being raised and almost done with college, peace with my business running smoothly. Im confident with who I am now and more in control of my thoughts and emotions than Ive ever been in my life. I feel an inner contentment, and joy. Maybe it's just this time of life? If I'd tried this when I was younger, I'd never have made it. I know there may be rough seas ahead, but yet I know how things change and evolve into even better things. Im looking forward to a life w/o benzos. I feel like Im steering my own vessel, finally! Im an adult now, huh?! Amazing, never thought I'd feel this way in life. Wisdom has come with age...

 

Ingrid:

 

I have to take care of my elderly sick mom, 24/7. I used to consider it to be an unbearable chore, but now I look at is that I am healthy and can help her, rather than the other way around. I can get up and just go for a drive, even if I have no place to go. I wasn't able to drive for 7 years, so I consider this to be a real treat. I can come home and take a nap if I feel like it; I was never able to do this before. I can perform errands for my brother John, who is swamped with work and has no time to do the errands himself. I can go to the movies, visit with friends or go to lunch where ever I like. But the sweetest words I have ever heard was that a few weeks ago, my very beno-wise pdoc, who never gives out a compliment, said to me, "Betsy, you are extra ordinary. You should be bedridden by now. You'll be just fine. I am so proud of the way you have stuck to the schedule through an entire year, and was never tempted to updose or reinstate." Life's good! I feel at peace. I am not going to worry about the future and may or may not happen, because worrying won't change a thing. Bets

[[Ba...]]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. Many of us suffer throughout tapering, but I bet there are a great number who are doing pretty well. It is nice to see a thread where someone considering tapering will see that there's a large possibility that with a safe taper they won't suffer. I think more commonly people post when in pain so outsiders reading and considering tapering might get discouraged. I would like this post to stay high and visible to give people hope xo

[[be...]]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. Many of us suffer throughout tapering, but I bet there are a great number who are doing pretty well. It is nice to see a thread where someone considering tapering will see that there's a large possibility that with a safe taper they won't suffer. I think more commonly people post when in pain so outsiders reading and considering tapering might get discouraged. I would like this post to stay high and visible to give people hope xo

 

 

Amen Bad.

[[th...]]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. Many of us suffer throughout tapering, but I bet there are a great number who are doing pretty well. It is nice to see a thread where someone considering tapering will see that there's a large possibility that with a safe taper they won't suffer. I think more commonly people post when in pain so outsiders reading and considering tapering might get discouraged. I would like this post to stay high and visible to give people hope xo

 

 

Amen Bad.

 

Agreed!!!

[[Th...]]

I feel pretty good so far!  Yes, i feel some symptoms after each cut, but they are really not that bad.  I had a few bad days, but nothing compared to so many people here.  My mood is good, i do almost everything i need to do, housework is falling behind but that's ok lol!

 

I am happy and excited to be off the stupid benzo. 

 

Glad you started this thread!

[[Ba...]]

Bumping 

[Guest [in...]]

Im glad that we can let others know that this is not the end, tapering is tapering for some and just that. Im not saying I dont have ANY withdrawals at some time. I do. But Im still happy, still sleeping, still hiking. I have had some physical things BUT they get better, or come and go, or just never reappear.

Bets glad your pdoc told you those things. We need to be encouraged by our docs throughout this process.

Bad choices it's also great to hear that you like this thread. I thought everyone would say, well why is she on this site if she feels so great? But I like to share my benzo tapering experience with others just like anyone. And I am going pretty slow with this too, just like most here. 

[Guest [Bi...]]

I feel like the lower on my dose I get the happier I am. I get less cog fog and the constant anxiety seems to be lifting ever so slightly. I even think my memory is improving which is huge for me.

I don't know why I seem to have an easier time than most on here... I still eat whatever, I sleep every night, I drink coffee, I smoke cigs, I work in a crazy environment with an inconsistent schedule. (this isn't meant to brag, I'm just saying I don't take the best care of myself, like I SHOULD, and I still seem to be improving.)

A few weeks ago I made an attempt to cut from 6 to 5.5 mg V and I got ramped up anxiety so I simply went back up to 6 and held and I'm back to normal. This has been the only setback in my taper so far. I'm going to start a daily micro taper soon and I'm actually excited to get on with this! I mean, I'm mostly fine and all but I still want to get this crap out of me.

Cheers to the lucky ones but damn, I feel horrible for those who get hit so hard.

[[Mo...]]

Did any of you reach interdose or tolerance and are still having a pleasant taper?

[Guest [Bi...]]

Did any of you reach interdose or tolerance and are still having a pleasant taper?

Yes!

I was taking Xanax 'as needed' for several years and was kind of losing it towards the end, before switching to Valium. I definately  experienced inter-dose w/d, my whole day was wrapped around when I could take my next dose. Obsessive.

As for tolerance w/d, it depends on who's definition you use. The meds still worked for me, when I would dose I would get relief and function but my dosing climbed from 1mg/day to 6 and I was becoming increasingly depressed with very low tolerance for stress.

The big break came for me when I easily switched to Valium. No more interdose wd AT ALL. I don't even notice when I take my meds. Sometimes I take em right when I get up, sometimes after I shower and eat, makes no difference.

[[ch...]]

I'm usually pretty peachy-keen with the exception of this window between 3-8 p.m. where my withdrawal is always the worst.

[[sa...]]

I am usually just fine, except for some recent morning anxiety which is almost non-existent when I am working becuase I am distracted.

 

My hands are almost 100% I think. They use to be weak and numb. 

[[...]]

Ingrid,

Hi there

 

I feel fine and just went down 1 mg again today and have burning sensation but feel good. I think I like who I am today, I am at peace, I have a real sense of purpose now that I understand what benzos were doing to me and I am happy to come off them, I want to my authentic self again. I feel I am almost going back in age in spite of being 56 and menopausal too. I am doing well and while I was and still am on a high dose and for 38 years, I am proof that an older woman can do this journey well - so far anyhow. Feeling very positive and I think that helps a lot. I am in a good place thankfully and anxiety/fear is not a problem for me now. I am getting better with age and have found the age of wisdom too. My kids are raised, 32 and 30 and I am free now and love my art and writing. This is the best time of my life and if I am unwell with symptoms, I just rest or I go for a long walk or work in the garden, I keep busy. I do voluntary work, I see people who are wheelchair bound, blind, deaf, are really sick on a daily basis with conditions that are not curable. I feel so lucky to have my health and am living regardless of w/ds or whatever, I remain happy and positive with the occasional down day.

 

I am NOT anxious.    :highfive:

 

I do understand people who are anxious and have unbearable symptoms too because I was at that point when I came off Ativan in 1990, it was horrendous as it was cold turkey for a year. Dreadful time and I was not in control of it. My Dutch doctor took me off it and would not give me any more medication. A year later, I had to go back on Valium because I was so sick. I was 31 with two young children in a foreign country. It was the year of hell so nothing in my life could ever be that bad again. I just would not accept it now or put up with it.

 

Moya XXXX

[[Ba...]]

I keep loving this thread more and more.

 

I am hoping I too will be able to contribute to this as I get lower on my dose 

[[...]]

Bad choices,

Wow, you have done amazingly dropping so much since August, well done You are moving and that is such a great feeling. I was on 30 mg and am thrilled to be down 12 mg and continue to drop every 2 weeks approximately. I too don't want to run into problems but I feel better as I taper and this cut has not done anything adverse as yet so I am delighted. I am living a good life in spite of the withdrawals and am just ignoring them because they are only withdrawals and are normal to this process. I am not taking them personally. I want to be benzo free as I was just getting sicker and sicker over the years and it was the benzos.  I am off remeron and other a/d's too - this year has been the year of dawning and I am grateful to know I can do this.

 

Wishing you wellness during your next cuts too.

 

So glad Ingrid started this thread. It is positive and full of inspiration.

 

Moya x

[[Th...]]

Bad choices,

Wow, you have done amazingly dropping so much since August, well done You are moving and that is such a great feeling. I was on 30 mg and am thrilled to be down 12 mg and continue to drop every 2 weeks approximately. I too don't want to run into problems but I feel better as I taper and this cut has not done anything adverse as yet so I am delighted. I am living a good life in spite of the withdrawals and am just ignoring them because they are only withdrawals and are normal to this process. I am not taking them personally. I want to be benzo free as I was just getting sicker and sicker over the years and it was the benzos.  I am off remeron and other a/d's too - this year has been the year of dawning and I am grateful to know I can do this.

 

Wishing you wellness during your next cuts too.

 

So glad Ingrid started this thread. It is positive and full of inspiration.

 

Moya x

 

I agree with BC, good to have a thread that shows positive withdrawal experiences. 

 

Moya, you sound incredibly positive and motivated!!!  And i don't think you are an "older woman" at 56!  50 is the new 35, so you are maybe 40 which is YOUNG! 

 

I am doing well, usually have withdrawal sxs for the first three days after a cut, but they are nothing compared to what some people here suffer thru.  Then i feel great until the next cut.  And so on.  Of course withdrawal is unpredictable, and all this could change.  But right now i feel extremely grateful.

 

Happy Monday, hope everyone has a good week!

[[be...]]

Did any of you reach interdose or tolerance and are still having a pleasant taper?

 

I can't even remember the time I reached tolerance, but I did. I know this because once my pdoc took me off a very sedating drug that made me sleep a lot ~~ Clozaril ~~ that I couldn't sleep at all after that, despite the fact I had 10 mg of kpin in my system. But other than that, I have no troubles except for a bit of insomnia. I never even notice when I make a cut. A bit of a suggestion. Please, never take Clozaril. It's a horrible antipsychotic that makes you psychotic. Most doctors won't even script it because it is so dangerous. Bets

[[th...]]

Did any of you reach interdose or tolerance and are still having a pleasant taper?

 

I can't even remember the time I reached tolerance, but I did. I know this because once my pdoc took me off a very sedating drug that made me sleep a lot ~~ Clozaril ~~ that I couldn't sleep at all after that, despite the fact I had 10 mg of kpin in my system. But other than that, I have no troubles except for a bit of insomnia. I never even notice when I make a cut. A bit of a suggestion. Please, never take Clozaril. It's a horrible antipsychotic that makes you psychotic. Most doctors won't even script it because it is so dangerous. Bets

 

Bets,

 

I hope you will go all the way to the end without much struggle...you ve been thru hell already! I am glad you aren't still suffering! Maybe you ll get lucky and be ok all the way down your V taper too! I hope so! 

 

G

[Guest [in...]]

Not to diminish anyone's suffering here...but my son's fiance emailed me a picture of her parents sitting together, holding hands, big smiles, brave souls. Her father, the man in the picture, is facing death due to cancer. And there they sat, bravely smiling together. I cried when I saw this. I thought-- they are really facing fear, this benzo taper aint nothin'. I want to be strong like they are, I want to face fear with grace and dignity. 

[[th...]]

Not to diminish anyone's suffering here...but my son's fiance emailed me a picture of her parents sitting together, holding hands, big smiles, brave souls. Her father, the man in the picture, is facing death due to cancer. And there they sat, bravely smiling together. I cried when I saw this. I thought-- they are really facing fear, this benzo taper aint nothin'. I want to be strong like they are, I want to face fear with grace and dignity. 

 

I feel the same way. Many bbs wonder how I can power through with the unbelievably hellish syx I have to endure....THAT is why!! I know and acknowledge with every part of my being that I am not dying and this will pass. I am not fighting an illness that could kill me or stay with me forever. There are so many other situations that are much worse in this world. Much much worse. I know people, including me, say this is the hardest thing they have ever been through, and that might be true but the truth is....people heal from wd. Eventually, healing happens and you get to move on. We really can have hope bc it will happen....hope will not always help with other situations.

 

Dig deep bbs and fight!!

 

G