Been cold turkey for almost 3 weeks

[[PR...]]

After almost 7 months of using Ativan and 13 times to quit im finally past a week with no pills. I haven't taken any Ativan since the 21st and took a xanex the 28th. I was prescribed it in the first place because of my severe social anxiety disorder causing massive depression. I didn't taper down one day I just had enough and flushed all my pills. The physical symptoms are going away but I still very much have the mental issues. The first like 2 weeks I genuinely felt like I was losing my mind, I would just shout random things and think strange thoughts. Now im finally starting to feel and give a sh*t about my situation. Its scary how benzos just make you not feel anything or care about anything even when you are off them. The depersonalization is probably the scariest part. But im starting to feel like myself, even though ive been on Paxil an antidepressent/antianxiety. Im feeling a depressed and very very anxious, especially at night. Im just so tired of letting everybody down with these pills.

[[rm...]]

Thank you,  I'm 15 days into a cold turkey from Valium,  and I did various Benzos on and off for 3 years.  It's good to read that some people are succeeding!

[[PR...]]

Thats great man! Its certainly harder but ive tried tapering 13 times and failed every time. So im just trying cold turkey. Just think you lived without them before you can do it again stay strong brother

 

[[Ch...]]

Personally, I think you're doing really well considering you're only a few weeks off and did a cold turkey.  This is a difficult process and doesn't change quickly.  For me, the physical symptoms were so overwhelming that I wasn't even aware of the mental/emotional ones.  Hang in there, distract as best you can…distraction from the thoughts is really the best coping strategy you can use.

[[PR...]]

Good on you for 4 years, just using music and internet as a distraction. Any idea when the mental symptoms will begin to fade? (the hallucinations mood swings depression anxiety) most of the physical symptoms have gone away tho I still have a headache 24/7 sensitivity to light and sound

[[Ro...]]

I'll be doing a quick taper of 2-3 days on a dose then cutting by 0.125-0.25mg to. I started my taper today on 1mg clonazepam though I have been using more but for me it ususally not a big issue to drop a bit at the beginning. Don't get tolerance withdrawal of any note. First i considered 1.5mg or 2mg as starting level but I know I'd fail and drink in between or take more. So kinda has to be sweet. Then if I can't stay off or get crazy andxiety i will start 300mg Lyrica + before bedtime.

[[Ca...]]

O-M-G! Honestly, I do not see how anyone can get off Cold. I was at a fairly high dosage of Clonazepam (4-6mg./day) for over a year and got to 3 weeks Cold and couldn't take it any more. It was a nightmare of disturbing symptoms - cars and power tools sounding like monsters, sensitivity to noises, acute anxiety, dark depression, insomnia, just feeling like I was going insane. I too was social phobic and severely depressed for losing out socially. I have been on Effexor XR and Gabapentin for many years as well. Later on I did a rapid taper and am now into the 5th month and just a wreck. You deserve a metal for what you've gone through, take care.

[[PR...]]

I feel like If I taper I will fail, actually I know, its how bad my addictive compulsions are. I had the same problem with the social issues leading to depression. I've tried to taper/quit 13 times now and this is the farthest I've gotten. Im just hoping these awful symptoms you mentioned go away soon and I can get back to sleeping normally or at least not needing sunglasses when its cloudy.

[[rm...]]

Me too,  I've had the best intentions every time with tapering,  but I've never been able to follow through.  That's why I'm trying to struggle through the pain of cold turkey this time...

[[PR...]]

Its definitly hard, but it can be done. For me it HAS to be done. If I go back to pills I dont think ill come back. I will say this, after 2 weeks Im starting to feel motivated for change, though I have no confidence its rebuilding. Some days are bad and some are okay, and some are really bad. The people on here with their amazing stories of years and years of benzo use that have now been clean and healed over the 4 years they have been off pills truly have inspired me that remission is possible. Just keep on trending brother!