Is 26 too old to have to suffer through a long recovery?

[[Mb...]]

Hi friends,

 

I guess I am coming to grips with my setback, and realizing that I may in fact have another long road of recovery ahead of me. I just feel like at my age (26), if I have to be sick for a year or two before I regain my life, I will have missed out on so much time after fighting this battle all over again. Theoretically speaking say I suffer until I am 28.5 or 29... to me I just feel like I have wasted so many years that I will never be able to live a fulfilling life.

 

Do you guys struggle with feeling you will be too old when you heal?

 

M

[[gr...]]

We all do. Its no easier for those of us that are older. Its a waste of life for everyone if they are suffering.

[[dr...]]

No time is a good time. I lost 43-46 so far and now I'm finally having better days.  If I count the years I was in tolerance withdrawal that were subpar it can be very depressing.  :'(

[[Mb...]]

Do you guys that are older feel there has been a lot of life for you after 26? One of my only motivators is the thought that I have only hopefully scratched the surface of life. I'm hopeful that my 30s are amazing.

[[gr...]]

Of course there is. Your still just a puppy. You have all the time in the world left to enjoy life. Think of it the other way like Drew said. Its very hard to already have a totally established life, kids, careers and lost them or watch them suffer along with you because you cant be there for them. Ive lost so much. I wish i was your age so i had more time to rebuild.

[[be...]]

You are so young. You have so many years ahead of you. I just went through a horrific cold turkey withdrawal. I healed in a year. I am 55 years old.

[[Si...]]

This thought tortures me all the time, bordering on obsessive. I'm 27, I wasted 24-25 in tolerance, 26-27 in withdrawal and floaxed with Cipro and other antibiotics, and I still have a ways to go, maybe years if I'm unlucky. If I count 16-23 when I was also in withdrawal from various psych meds/had tons of side effects, but mostly functional, I want to weep and hide under the covers.

 

Anyway, what Drew said: no time is a good time for this. It can feel like the end of the world regardless of your age, but it is not.

[[hu...]]

Sinnerman,

My history  is similar to yours, was put on drugs and cold turkeyed multiple times since I was 17 or so. I've barely survived 17 through 27, it's mostly been a blur with a few happy moments due to withdrawal or side effects from psych meds.

 

Hoping my 30's onwards will be healthy and happy.

 

[[ma...]]

I feel like this a lot. I'm 20 and I've been on and off medication since I was 12. Even when I get off meds I'll always have mental health issues to learn to cope with. It sometimes scares me thinking about the future and how this will affect it. But like everyone else said, i think we're lucky this happens to us so early in our lives. We have a lot longer to get over the withdrawal and rebuild ourselves after it.

[[Si...]]

Hurtbrain,

 

I'm sorry you've gone through this, too. I sure hope that my 30s will be much better than this. How are you doing these days? Although I've seen some improvement here and there, I'm still in the thick of it at 5 months off

 

Magicbun,

 

I wish I had been as clever as you to realize at 20 how much the meds were effecting my life

[[hu...]]

Sinnerman,

 

I'm dealing with bad head pressure, the severe tight vice like grip is driving me insane, followed by dr/dp and fatigue and a few others. There has been improvement in other symptoms compared to 3 months back.

At 5 months off I was in the thick of it too, not uncommon but it's good that you can notice improvements in your symptoms.

No matter how much I try to look at the bright side it's hard to ignore that we are losing our younger years to this unbelievable illness. I hope we live long and healthy enough to forget this miserable period and avoid having to take any psych pills in future.

 

Health, humor and happiness - one of my old teachers used to wish us on birthdays .

[[Fi...]]

Mbasch--Seriously?  Is there enough life after 26 to be worth the struggle?  I'm 63 and basically nothing happened in my life before 26 compared to everything that's happened after.  And I'm not done yet!  You younger ones don't know what it's like to be older, but we know what it's like to be younger, so you should pay attention to our perspective.  In the old days and in some other cultures this was referred to as "the wisdom of the elders."  You should all stop debating whether it's worth going on and just hang in there and live through this.  You will come through it with some hard won wisdom and maturity and sense of compassion for others that will help equip you for the rest of what will hopefully be long, happy and productive lives.

 

I hate it that you're suffering.  But we all are.  So, seriously, stop debating and agonizing over this question.  It will not help or speed your healing one bit.  And it's a downer for anybody over 30 clicking on this post.  I think this is what is referred to as "ageism."

[[Si...]]

Sinnerman,

 

I'm dealing with bad head pressure, the severe tight vice like grip is driving me insane, followed by dr/dp and fatigue and a few others. There has been improvement in other symptoms compared to 3 months back.

At 5 months off I was in the thick of it too, not uncommon but it's good that you can notice improvements in your symptoms.

No matter how much I try to look at the bright side it's hard to ignore that we are losing our younger years to this unbelievable illness. I hope we live long and healthy enough to forget this miserable period and avoid having to take any psych pills in future.

 

Health, humor and happiness - one of my old teachers used to wish us on birthdays .

 

Amen to that.

 

Head pressure? Tell me about it. I spent my late teen years going to doctors, naturopaths, magicians, etc. with head pressure, never realizing that it might be because I was in w/d from 5 (6?) psych meds. I'm having it right now. Almost like an old friend, eh?

 

Mbasch--Seriously?  Is there enough life after 26 to be worth the struggle?  I'm 63 and basically nothing happened in my life before 26 compared to everything that's happened after.  And I'm not done yet!  You younger ones don't know what it's like to be older, but we know what it's like to be younger, so you should pay attention to our perspective.  In the old days and in some other cultures this was referred to as "the wisdom of the elders."  You should all stop debating whether it's worth going on and just hang in there and live through this.  You will come through it with some hard won wisdom and maturity and sense of compassion for others that will help equip you for the rest of what will hopefully be long, happy and productive lives.

 

I hate it that you're suffering.  But we all are.  So, seriously, stop debating and agonizing over this question.  It will not help or speed your healing one bit.  And it's a downer for anybody over 30 clicking on this post.  I think this is what is referred to as "ageism."

 

Thanks

[[lo...]]

Hi folks

 

I lost a decade of my life to depression (my 20s).

 

Had to give up college and was unable to work most of that time.  It was dreadful.  :'( :'(

 

I rebuilt my life in my 30s and 40s and 50s!!

 

Went back to college, then to university.

 

Had a reasonably satisfying professional career in research. Had a good salary.

 

Have my own home.

 

Unsuccessful on the relationship front!!  :'(

 

I know how hard this is when you are young.  It really is not the end of the world. People rebuild their lives all the time - after accidents, illness, divorce, bereavement etc.

 

Life is not a smooth path for most people. It is hard to see all this when young. Now that I am 60, my lost years seem rather unimportant now. I made up for it. Chose a career I was much more suited to. Chose subjects at university I enjoyed so much more. Made good friends with students of all ages. Lots of plusses.

 

Young people are marrying later, having children later, all in your favour.  People are living longer and working longer and are more likely to change jobs/ careers.

 

Many young people are unemployed here in the UK. I expect it is the same in the US.  You won't be unusual in having time away from work.  The labour market might be better by the time you are well. 

 

Don't worry. Life is a long haul !! You have years and years ahead of you.

 

My dad died at 97!! I could have another 40 years to go. 

 

Hugs everyone

 

LF 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[hu...]]

Amen to that.

 

Head pressure? Tell me about it. I spent my late teen years going to doctors, naturopaths, magicians, etc. with head pressure, never realizing that it might be because I was in w/d from 5 (6?) psych meds. I'm having it right now. Almost like an old friend, eh?

More like an old enemy, it's the same with me, have always carried this crazy head pressure for years not knowing it was a symptom of w/d. Always ended up at doc's office begging for pills to make it go away, and they fed me with more klonopin saying it will relax my muscles. I would take some punches in the face and lose a few teeth if it could make the head pressure go away. Sick of this symptom.

Have a nice day.

 

LF,

 

Thanks for sharing that, that is encouraging, hope it all works out well as time goes.

[[lo...]]

Thank you , hurtbrain.

 

I hope the head pressure diminishes as mine has over the past 14 months. It is horrible.

 

Hugs to all you young folk

 

Life will get better 

 

LF 

 

PS When you are young you want to get on with life. At my age you want it to slow down  but not this slow!! 

:tickedoff:

[[I ...]]

No age is good to lose a year or more of your life.  The part that bothers me more I lost time with My  daughter who is 5.  I can never get that back.

[[lo...]]

No age is good to lose a year or more of your life.  The part that bothers me more I lost time with my daughter who is 5.  I can never get that back.

 

No, we can never get it back but we can make the most of the time we do have.

 

I am sure your daughter won't remember that you were ill.

 

Hugs

 

LF 

[[be...]]

My most notable accomplishments were after the age of 30.....some of the best times in my life were in my 40's. Life is not just for the under 30 crowd! 

[[Qu...]]

I've lost 42-60. The last 3-5 years most acutely. Once I'm through I'll 20-30 years left.

 

You'll have 60 years left. So - chin up ! Time to go for it.

[[wa...]]

Iv'e  lost so many years to benzos,  I'm 64  but I won't give up!!!!

There's life in the old dog yet.       You are so young,  keep going,  you'll be glad you did.

[[As...]]

I've been dealing with benzo problems since I was 17, except I didn't know it until I was 28, now I'm almost 30. I sure wish I didn't get mixed up on them as a teenager, or knew that they were aggravating my anxiety all those years, but there is nothing I can do about the past cause it's past.

 

Age is a state of mind, I've seen people who are 20 but act like they are in their 40's, or 60 year olds who seem to act like they are still in their 30's.

[[be...]]

Do you guys that are older feel there has been a lot of life for you after 26? One of my only motivators is the thought that I have only hopefully scratched the surface of life. I'm hopeful that my 30s are amazing.

 

I was just beginning my life at the age of 26. Man, don't you realize that you still have your whole life ahead of you even if you are 29? I would switch places with you in a nanosecond. Your 30s will be more than amazing. The best years of my life was when I was in my late 30s, early 40s. You tend to be not such a fool when you have a bit of experience under your belt.