Don't let your mind get the best of you while your brain is healing!

[[...]]

As we all know, our mind can get us in some trouble as folks with anxiety. It is important for us to keep our minds in check. This is what causes pre-withdrawal symptoms. While you were NOT tapering, have you ever thought, "Oh no! I think I forgot to take my pill!" and symptoms of withdrawal started to show only for you to then realize you did, in fact, take it and it was all the power of your mind? Let us remember that as we taper. Yes, we are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, however it is very likely, especially if you are micro tapering, that a good lot of these effects are created in our mind. This I find quite reassuring. These you can get a handle on and get to stop. The others of course will stop as well with time.

 

I noticed that I can send myself into a state of high anxiety, feeling really weird and disconnected, negative thoughts, extreme fear and paranoia, and full panic attacks all because I think a lowered dose is affecting me. But the other day, I lowered my dose more than I meant to BY ACCIDENT and since my mind did not know this until after the day was well over, I had ZERO symptoms. Funny thing the mind.

 

So, I think it should make us feel empowered in a way to recognize that we can totally stop a lot of this by getting in the right mind set. Stay off the internet looking for symptoms. If one pops up say "My brain is healing." and even "nah, my taper is too slow to have any effects." Even if this is NOT TRUE, we can trick our minds to a degree and the placebo effect can work. Again, to a degree, but isn't it best to have everything we can in our arsenal? Create your own placebo effect.

 

This whole time I have been on clonazepam that I have been obviously tolerant of, I have managed my anxiety. The pill was only working as a placebo. So now, for instance I am carrying around Ashwaganda and I will tell myself "This will make all symptoms go away". Every little thing we can do to make our minds work FOR us not against us is great.

 

It's HARD to do, especially when your brain is going wild trying to heal, but we can at least try. And we can help each other doing this. So if I come on here and am like "Guys!!! I'm freaking out. Nothing is real" or whatever, you can remind me that I might simply be creating this due to the anxiety I have about tapering. We are so used to being dependent on the benzos. We have lived for so long with the belief that the drug makes everything ok and without it we are going to go through hell. Change your beliefs. It can help. We are going through real $%^&, BUT again, use your mind to work FOR you. Ever hear of the Law of Attraction? Your beliefs create. Might sound woo woo, but it's psychology too. Truly BELIEVE that you will hardly feel any symptoms if any and you increase your chances of that being a reality. And when you do feel something, it will be much easier to just say "oh, ok, there's a symptom. Ok, brain healing!" Instead of spiraling ourselves into a deeper hole and creating more symptoms from our anxiety.

 

This was long. But I just wanted to write it cause I really need to keep this in mind as I do this and stay positive with my mind chatter in check!

[[Jo...]]

For me, there is alot of truth to this. 

 

Before I started my taper I would sometimes forget to take my daytime dose.  Hours later I would start to feel uneasy or very slightly off and realize sort of matter of fact - oh, I forgot my pill today.  And carry on without worrying about.  Now, deep into tapering, missing a dose sends me into instant anxiety, when I realize it.  I inadvertently down dosed twice last week, amd didn't notice it until I calculated things later.  Uhm, maybe thats why I feel so shitty today.  Oh, no, cue freak out. 

 

 

 

[[...]]

For me, there is alot of truth to this. 

 

Before I started my taper I would sometimes forget to take my daytime dose.  Hours later I would start to feel uneasy or very slightly off and realize sort of matter of fact - oh, I forgot my pill today.  And carry on without worrying about.  Now, deep into tapering, missing a dose sends me into instant anxiety, when I realize it.  I inadvertently down dosed twice last week, amd didn't notice it until I calculated things later.  Uhm, maybe thats why I feel so shitty today.  Oh, no, cue freak out. 

 

 

Haha cue freak out! Isn't it amazing what our minds do? Tapering may be easier than we are allowing it to be. Because of the hype we read. Because of other peoples experiences. Because we DO have anxiety, and we create it. So if we all have each others backs and just remind each other, its totally fine. Just brain healing, Its cool, I think we will calm down a bit and do better

[[...]]

great advice just wish i could follow it at present. i am withdrawing and freaking out about lack of sleep - very hard to accept and hard for me to believe it will get better - did you have major insomnia when withdrawing? do you have any advice? XOX

 

As we all know, our mind can get us in some trouble as folks with anxiety. It is important for us to keep our minds in check. This is what causes pre-withdrawal symptoms. While you were NOT tapering, have you ever thought, "Oh no! I think I forgot to take my pill!" and symptoms of withdrawal started to show only for you to then realize you did, in fact, take it and it was all the power of your mind? Let us remember that as we taper. Yes, we are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, however it is very likely, especially if you are micro tapering, that a good lot of these effects are created in our mind. This I find quite reassuring. These you can get a handle on and get to stop. The others of course will stop as well with time.

 

I noticed that I can send myself into a state of high anxiety, feeling really weird and disconnected, negative thoughts, extreme fear and paranoia, and full panic attacks all because I think a lowered dose is affecting me. But the other day, I lowered my dose more than I meant to BY ACCIDENT and since my mind did not know this until after the day was well over, I had ZERO symptoms. Funny thing the mind.

 

So, I think it should make us feel empowered in a way to recognize that we can totally stop a lot of this by getting in the right mind set. Stay off the internet looking for symptoms. If one pops up say "My brain is healing." and even "nah, my taper is too slow to have any effects." Even if this is NOT TRUE, we can trick our minds to a degree and the placebo effect can work. Again, to a degree, but isn't it best to have everything we can in our arsenal? Create your own placebo effect.

 

This whole time I have been on clonazepam that I have been obviously tolerant of, I have managed my anxiety. The pill was only working as a placebo. So now, for instance I am carrying around Ashwaganda and I will tell myself "This will make all symptoms go away". Every little thing we can do to make our minds work FOR us not against us is great.

 

It's HARD to do, especially when your brain is going wild trying to heal, but we can at least try. And we can help each other doing this. So if I come on here and am like "Guys!!! I'm freaking out. Nothing is real" or whatever, you can remind me that I might simply be creating this due to the anxiety I have about tapering. We are so used to being dependent on the benzos. We have lived for so long with the belief that the drug makes everything ok and without it we are going to go through hell. Change your beliefs. It can help. We are going through real $%^&, BUT again, use your mind to work FOR you. Ever hear of the Law of Attraction? Your beliefs create. Might sound woo woo, but it's psychology too. Truly BELIEVE that you will hardly feel any symptoms if any and you increase your chances of that being a reality. And when you do feel something, it will be much easier to just say "oh, ok, there's a symptom. Ok, brain healing!" Instead of spiraling ourselves into a deeper hole and creating more symptoms from our anxiety.

 

This was long. But I just wanted to write it cause I really need to keep this in mind as I do this and stay positive with my mind chatter in check!

[[...]]

well said - still sooo hard to put that attitude into practice.. but am trying..

 

For me, there is alot of truth to this. 

 

Before I started my taper I would sometimes forget to take my daytime dose.  Hours later I would start to feel uneasy or very slightly off and realize sort of matter of fact - oh, I forgot my pill today.  And carry on without worrying about.  Now, deep into tapering, missing a dose sends me into instant anxiety, when I realize it.  I inadvertently down dosed twice last week, amd didn't notice it until I calculated things later.  Uhm, maybe thats why I feel so shitty today.  Oh, no, cue freak out. 

 

 

Haha cue freak out! Isn't it amazing what our minds do? Tapering may be easier than we are allowing it to be. Because of the hype we read. Because of other peoples experiences. Because we DO have anxiety, and we create it. So if we all have each others backs and just remind each other, its totally fine. Just brain healing, Its cool, I think we will calm down a bit and do better

[[be...]]

Nice post. I try to follow much of what you said on a regular basis. We tend to totally freak ourselves out or get freaked by other even if innocent comments. Thing is this is something to literally practice. Words alone don't cut it for me. So I have to practice non stop. Practice makes perfect? Maybe not but it sure helps. Insomnia. I've been hit with that too before. I just accept that I'll sleep in time. It's in our nature to finally sleep but it's not a pleasant symptom. It does pass though. In time our bodies settle down. Read, watch tv. Anything. Time is your friend. B

[[Ca...]]

Omg!!! -not only great advice and perspective...

BUT -u reminded me i havnt taken my valium today!!!

(Am swapping from am to pm...) thanks!!!

-but after your words, i may not have noticed!!! Lol.

Cheers... -onwards and upwards...

[[...]]

Great post.

I do daily mindfulness which helps calm the mind.

Deep abdominal breathing and repeatedly telling myself it's just a symptom, I am healing.

[[...]]

great advice just wish i could follow it at present. i am withdrawing and freaking out about lack of sleep - very hard to accept and hard for me to believe it will get better - did you have major insomnia when withdrawing? do you have any advice? XOX

 

 

It WILL get better. I have just started again after a failed attempt three years ago because I cut too much. This time it's liquid titration so I can go very slow and the side effects, IF EVEN FELT , will be manageable. They will be mild enough to where I CAN be like, ok, I'm totally fine. It's simply the process and my brain remembering what to do. If I go too fast, I know my mind is so ill that I am incapable of reasoning with it.

 

For insomnia, I know supplements don't work for a lot of people, but I say, what can it hurt? I would stay away from anything that messes with GABA and the healing process but for me, I researched the crap out of a lot of things to take for better healing. I tried them all out before tapering so I know they don't cause anxiety. And if they do while I withdrawal, it's in my head and I can tell myself I'm being dumb. Haha.

 

Have you heard of Ashwaganda? It's an ancient Ayervedic medicine. It's all natural. I have that in my bag at all times as it promotes calmness. It may be a placebo effect, but again, what works works!! Also, I have magnesium stocked. Its Natures Calm or something like that. It's a powder. I remember when my insomnia was the worst I took that every night and two weeks later I was finally sleeping. Ya never know what might work for you

 

Just remember the power of positivity IS a POWERFUL medicine in and of itself. Perhaps the most powerful. It shouldn't be underestimated. Read articles about what people can do all with the power of their minds. Maybe that will help! People have cured themelves of things much worse than this. We can do this!!

[[...]]

Omg!!! -not only great advice and perspective...

BUT -u reminded me i havnt taken my valium today!!!

(Am swapping from am to pm...) thanks!!!

-but after your words, i may not have noticed!!! Lol.

Cheers... -onwards and upwards...

 

Haha! You might not have! You got this!!

[[ti...]]

:DGreat advice.  I have to admit some posts scare me, but yours did not

[[...]]

:DGreat advice.  I have to admit some posts scare me, but yours did not

 

They scare me too so I try not to read them. I KNOW how my mind gets carried away with things and I swear if I read them I start to think "Hmm, am I feeling that too? Oh,no, maybe... wait, yeah I am!" NO I WASN'T! Haha I keep telling myself how we are so much more powerful than we think. We think we are victims to this drug but WE are more powerful than a stupid little pill. We got this. The mind is wonderful if we believe in ourselves. Seriously. If you start looking at the things people can do all because they thought they could *cue Little Blue Engine* it's astonishing. Even curing cancer! We need to put the power back in our hands!

[[bb...]]

Thank you mdh. I really love your post! It really makes sense to me and I need sense right now. Wonderful post. We need more posts like this!

[[Fi...]]

I appreciate your positivity too, as well as your pep-talking and I'm right-on with all of that, seeing and understanding why you would take a "coach's" can-do attitude to it all. Very necessary.

 

The difficulty I have is, which bit of "me" is "my mind"; who is the "I" that is wondering which bit of me is my mind and where does my brain fit into all of this.

 

Is "I" and "my mind" not the same thing, for instance, and wasn't it "your mind" (the same one that fools you into believing silly things) that came up with the OP?

 

As I say, I'm all for positivity too; we're a pretty positive bunch Me, Myself and I, but there seems to be global confusion about which element is which and a great lack of clarity about "we and our minds"  :laugh:

[[Fe...]]

Great advise! A good reminder since I'm not that good in telling myself it's just a symptom! Thank you

[[...]]

I appreciate your positivity too, as well as your pep-talking and I'm right-on with all of that, seeing and understanding why you would take a "coach's" can-do attitude to it all. Very necessary.

 

The difficulty I have is, which bit of "me" is "my mind"; who is the "I" that is wondering which bit of me is my mind and where does my brain fit into all of this.

 

Is "I" and "my mind" not the same thing, for instance, and wasn't it "your mind" (the same one that fools you into believing silly things) that came up with the OP?

 

As I say, I'm all for positivity too; we're a pretty positive bunch Me, Myself and I, but there seems to be global confusion about which element is which and a great lack of clarity about "we and our minds"  :laugh:

 

Ah, I love this. The mind and the brain are two separate things but now we are talking philosophy. Have you ever read The Power of Now? It goes into that. Amazing. Have you ever caught yourself saying something like "I think that I know more than I think I do" or something to that effect? Which "I" is you then? This could get deep, but I am going to just say I firmly believe we are more than our brains. Our brains are the operating system. Our minds can help it to heal. And still there is something even deeper than the mind that oversees all of that even and THAT is what made me post this. That is YOU at your core level. SO many levels. But again, that's for a different forum haha

[[Ca...]]

Lol... u guys r doing my "brain" in, yet my "mind" is interested, and I know "I" need this...

For now "I" will say, -I can do this... -"we" will get better... -what can "I" do, to help "me" "mind" get better!!

Loving it...!!! -and i will get out of bed one day, -even if it is just to buy a new one...

[[...]]

Lol... u guys r doing my "brain" in, yet my "mind" is interested, and I know "I" need this...

For now "I" will say, -I can do this... -"we" will get better... -what can "I" do, to help "me" "mind" get better!!

Loving it...!!! -and i will get out of bed one day, -even if it is just to buy a new one...

 

Haha! This is great!

[[Fi...]]

Ah, I love this. The mind and the brain are two separate things but now we are talking philosophy.

 

I think, therefore I am?

 

Have you ever read The Power of Now? It goes into that. Amazing.

 

Eckhart Tolle is a very endearing gentleman who has arrived at certain methods that, he has found, serve himself and some others in their struggles with anxiety and depression. But I don't see his general view as having any authority - at all - when it comes to the nitty-gritty of teasing out what is "mind" and what is "I".

 

Have you ever caught yourself saying something like "I think that I know more than I think I do" or something to that effect? Which "I" is you then?

 

I don't think I know more than I think I do, I know I know more than I think I do  My mind and I seem to be on the one page about that - whoever we are 

 

This could get deep, but I am going to just say I firmly believe we are more than our brains. Our brains are the operating system. Our minds can help it to heal.

 

You're definitely right about that. But it's also where we run into problems of understanding what the mind is - which is why I posed the question to begin with 

 

And still there is something even deeper than the mind that oversees all of that even and THAT is what made me post this. That is YOU at your core level. SO many levels. But again, that's for a different forum haha

 

Let me know when you've nailed the answer...lol 

[[Ca...]]

Lol Which Witch, can i try...?

Ummm, u have a motorbike (brain). And u have a rider (mind). -together u have a bike rider(u could have a dozen of these, -all similar by title)... but each one has a different attitude and style, capabilities and reactions... -this is the "you" seperated by individuality...

Errrr... -good mornink... -think im awake now... lol

 

[[Mi...]]

Very well said!

[[Ca...]]

Y, -thank u miss Mercy...

-and i feel safe... -my avitar is already a frog...!

-pls Fizzle, can i be a handsome prince...!

 

[[Fi...]]

Y, -thank u miss Mercy...

-and i feel safe... -my avitar is already a frog...!

-pls Fizzle, can i be a handsome prince...!

 

Kaaaaazzzaaaammmmmmm!

 

Anything happen?!  :D

[Guest [su...]]

I had reach to the point when I forget to take my meds. I guess it is a good thing in some way, not desperate to take my pills but I also cut now since 6 days. After 10 hours I found out when was going to add pills for the rest of the week in my medicin box. I had forget my morning dose. I decide to change to night dose instead and see if it can help for my insomnia. This maybe is placebo but I get tired when I took them later than morning dose. Does the sedative effect returns?  I have now taking my meds at 7 pm for one day and will do it today to, and will take them at 9 pm tomorrow. Maybe not the best idea cut and change time for taking my meds with 12 hours during the same time..I feel little sxs but it is my w/d I guess....

[[...]]

Lol Which Witch, can i try...?

Ummm, u have a motorbike (brain). And u have a rider (mind). -together u have a bike rider(u could have a dozen of these, -all similar by title)... but each one has a different attitude and style, capabilities and reactions... -this is the "you" seperated by individuality...

Errrr... -good mornink... -think im awake now... lol

 

OO! I like this Cantfly! I think of the deeper underlying part I was speaking about as the spirit of the person, some say soul, whatever word you want to use. Now I am trying to think of what that is in this analogy! I LOVE this though!