In Need of Reassurance....Again

[[ch...]]

Well, here I am, I'm on the third day of my cut and I'm starting to really feel it. I have to convince myself that this is not permanent and that I won't become brain damaged or worse. I know the anxiety caused by the withdrawal can cause me to think this way. But I still need to be told. It's hard when you don't get support and people look at you like they feel sorry for you.

 

I want to get better and I have to believe that I can.

 

 

[[me...]]

The way you feel is perfectly normal at this point, but your fears are false and are a result of benzo withdrawal.  Feeling that you'll never heal and are permanently damaged are what we call "benzo lies."  Learning to distract yourself from these thoughts is all important.

 

When I was in acute withdrawal, I was suffering from dreadful physical and mental symptoms.  I truly felt I was going insane, and was at a low point I'd never imagined before in my life even though I'd had plenty of experience with anxiety and depression.  When I started to have intrusive morbid thoughts I couldn't control, I knew I had to do something, and "distraction" is what came to me.  I don't mean the kind of distraction that one only does "if they feel like it."  I somehow knew I HAD to do this, and to keep doing it until I got through the acute stage. So, I distracted myself relentlessly and obsessively, using whatever worked in the moment and then switching to something else as soon as the previous thing stopped working.  I used my very obsessiveness to do this. It was a stream of consciousness thing where I made use of whatever popped into my head (there was no preplanning of what to do next).  I distracted myself this way over and over until it became a habit.  It was my main "job" every day, and it was serious business.  Interestingly, it wasn't long before I actually started looking forward to my favorite distractions!  I kept doing this for many months, and in time my symptoms began to fall away one by one.  It was a long process, one day at a time, and there was no knowing how things would eventually turn out.  But I just kept on doing this, moment by moment, day by day, and eventually at about 20 months off I healed

[[be...]]

The way you feel is perfectly normal at this point, but your fears are false and are a result of benzo withdrawal.  Feeling that you'll never heal and are permanently damaged are what we call "benzo lies."  Learning to distract yourself from these thoughts is all important.

 

When I was in acute withdrawal, I was suffering from dreadful physical and mental symptoms.  I truly felt I was going insane, and was at a low point I'd never imagined before in my life even though I'd had plenty of experience with anxiety and depression.  When I started to have intrusive morbid thoughts I couldn't control, I knew I had to do something, and "distraction" is what came to me.  I don't mean the kind of distraction that one only does "if they feel like it."  I somehow knew I HAD to do this, and to keep doing it until I got through the acute stage. So, I distracted myself relentlessly and obsessively, using whatever worked in the moment and then switching to something else as soon as the previous thing stopped working.  I used my very obsessiveness to do this. It was a stream of consciousness thing where I made use of whatever popped into my head (there was no preplanning of what to do next).  I distracted myself this way over and over until it became a habit.  It was my main "job" every day, and it was serious business.  Interestingly, it wasn't long before I actually started looking forward to my favorite distractions!  I kept doing this for many months, and in time my symptoms began to fall away one by one.  It was a long process, one day at a time, and there was no knowing how things would eventually turn out.  But I just kept on doing this, moment by moment, day by day, and eventually at about 20 months off I healed

 

All right Megan. Now I can't make a reply because you said the same thing that I was going to say. Cheeker, I'm sorry you are at this stage but Megan's advice is right on. If you want to PM me, feel free to do so. Hugs, Bets

[[Ao...]]

I am at that stage too where I am so scared that I'll never be well again. Never be free of this physical pain. Im beginning to be able to distract myself a wee bit but many days are especially hard.

 

Just know that you are not on this road alone and in time we will be healed. Over this past year I keep telling myself ' this is not me, its these medications'.

[[ch...]]

Aoibherose,

 

You know it seems like these symptoms are different for everyone. I feel some aches but mostly it's palpitations, dizziness, severe anxiety...all head symptoms. Some would say it's just anxiety but I know some of it is withdrawal because I never had palpitations before. And yet, I don't have much pain. Weird.

 

But what I should've mentioned first is, I'm sorry for your pain. That must be very difficult.

[[Ao...]]

Cheeker

 

Thank you for your sincere words.

 

Yes , I think we all know our own bodies enough to know what anxiety and stress is and what really is withdrawal.  Some days of course, it can be so much harder than others when we are dealing with the dreaded head symptoms.

 

When we believe that we can get better , then by golly we will.