Symptoms cropping up during stressful events?

[[An...]]

Do any of you find that if you're in a situation that makes you really nervous that you notice your symptoms more? For example, I'm in a window right now and have felt ok for about two days aside from a few things here and there but today was my son's first birthday party and we invited my family and almost all of my siblings haven't been speaking to me since my whole ativan experience. I was so nervous and I started to feel so dizzy again and muscle twitches. It was like this for me at my son's baptism as well-I was so super dizzy and had some of my other symptoms too. Is this typical when we are stressed while still in withdrawal? I'm just hoping this isn't going to happen once I'm healed from the withdrawal if I'm in a stressful situation. Thanks to anyone who reads and shares their experiences!

[[De...]]

Hi there,

 

Yes, I would say this is very typical, I always notice an increase with symptoms if I'm going through a stressful period, I think this is the case with most members until they fully heal. I'm sure that it wont always be like this though, once we are fully recovered I dont think that we'll have a problem, we just seem to be very susceptible to stress while we're still healing.

 

I hope this helps,

 

Debbie

[[no...]]

I experience symptom reving at stressful events too and for a long time now the littlest things have been stressing me out to an unbelievable degree. From what I have read it seems that it is common in withdrawal to be unable to handle stress and to get increase in symptoms when stressed. I have also read from people that have healed that they are able to handle stress normally again.

[[An...]]

Oh thank God!! Thank you both so much for letting me know that  I'm so happy to be able to post questions on here as they arise and as I heal!!

[[Ba...]]

Stress does make symptoms flare up for me. I have to keep things pretty low key right now. However there is no predicting when I'll have a wave.

[[lo...]]

Oh yeah. The most surefire way to rev up my symptoms is sprinkle some stress during my day. Then all hell breaks loose. What's interesting is that our bodies/brains don't really differentiate between good and bad stress (i.e. loud bday parties (good!) or a loud work meeting (meh)). It's all stress. So even if something great is happening, it can also regrettably cause a flare up.

[[Cl...]]

Stress is without a doubt, by far the biggest cause of symptom increase for me and has been since day 1. When I went into w/d my girlfriend got real pissed and eventually the relationship ended but not without being brutal in the process. The stress I went through from that basically kept my recovery stagnant or moved backwards for at least 5-6 months.

Once you are able to calm back down though the symptoms will return to normal and you will be back on your way to healing.

[[We...]]

Yes. I am going on almost a year off all drugs and this happens to me all the time.

 

One thing which is sort of unrelated to your question. For me, when people use the term "window", it's like saying the benzo state is the normal state and the "window" is when the abnormal state is in session. Instead I use the word "wave"  which indicates that the benzo state is the abnormal state which is interrupting  a normal state. I know it seems silly but for me, the way I look at things means everything. When people say "window" I think they are subconsciously reinforcing the notion that benzo is the normal state.

 

For example:

 

Benzo benzo benzo benzo window benzo benzo

 

Verses

 

Normal normal normal wave normal normal normal

 

The second method of seeing the situation creates a mental image of normal being interrupted by abnormal which is my preferred model.

 

You will hopefully learn with time that these symptoms can last for years and that it's not mainly about beating the physical and mental symptoms, but more about learning not to let them own you and run your life.

[[hi...]]

yes...

 

I was trying to figure out wtf this was ( pardon the language )

it had me pissed. I would get stressed , but then waves of sx's would follow.

I find that meditation , in general aside from doing it during stressful situations, truly works .

being calm amidst all that bs....is everything any person healing from w/d would want.

it's a journey, plus easier said than done , but we could achieve that & get calmer ...we should be patient & relax.

which is already a hassle for any anxious person, let alone a person w/ding from benzos 

or walk away from the situation....woooooh-sah or let that situation sit , relax then handle it later if you could.

 

 

[[An...]]

Thank you all very much! And Weevil, the way I understand it is that when people say wave they mean they are going through waves of withdrawal and when they say window they mean a time that they are feeling better and having minimal to no withdrawal symptoms. So a window is a glance into how you will feel when fully healed and a glance into how you used to feel pre-benzo.

[[Bl...]]

Yes, stressful situations also bring back symptoms of withdrawal even though is has almost been 2 years off Xanax for me.

 

Blue

[[An...]]

Bluebell, are you fully healed outside of withdrawal coming back under stressful situations? Or are you still going through withdrawal? Thank you!

[[Bl...]]

I am not healed, but I think the worst of the withdrawal is over.

 

Blue

[[An...]]

Thank you! I hope it is all behind you soon 

[[si...]]

Oh yeah. The most surefire way to rev up my symptoms is sprinkle some stress during my day. Then all hell breaks loose. What's interesting is that our bodies/brains don't really differentiate between good and bad stress (i.e. loud bday parties (good!) or a loud work meeting (meh)). It's all stress. So even if something great is happening, it can also regrettably cause a flare up.

 

I am the same as LDR. Good and bad stress, it will flare my sx. I am getting a little better at coping with the waves each time it happens. I really believe that part of my healing is the ability to cope with the nasty sx. The calmer I am, the quicker the sx are calmer.