From hell to happy

[[da...]]

Hi there

I'm not a huge poster here, but reading other posts when I was at my worst really helped me, so I thought I'd contribute my success story.

 

Over the past few years I was sleeping very poorly indeed. I'd have trouble getting to sleep or I'd wake up after only an hour. I'd also have bouts of extreme anxiety, and occasional panic attacks. I was a mess, barely keeping it together at work.

 

I went to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with GAD a couple of years ago, and I tried the whole gamut of benzos before I settled with Xanax and Alprazolam (similar to diazepam). At first things were great, but after a couple a months I found I had to keep upping the dosage as my tolerance increased... then about a year ago I started getting side effects... I'd have horrible neck pain, dizziness, tinnitus, and paradoxically, worsening anxiety, among others.

 

After some research I found out about long term benzo use and decided to taper down. I made the mistake of tapering too quickly though; I cut my dose in half one day and the sides were bad, like, seriously bad. I was so dizzy I couldn't walk straight, ears were ringing, my palms were constantly sweating and my anxiety was through the roof.

 

I read the Ashton journal properly and worked out a slower taper, which took about 2 months. Even after getting off the stuff I still had many bad days, but with time they became less frequent, as did the severity of the sides themselves.

 

I can now say after 8 months of being benzo free I'm 99% side effect free (sometimes my right ear feels a bit funny but that's all, and will probably go away altogether soon). What's more, I'm sleeping well again, and my anxiety is under control through breathing exercises. Virtually back to normal!

 

I just want to say thank you for all the other stories on here that encouraged me to keep going because that's what you need to do, whether you're tapering or still going through withdrawal... you can do it! Thanks for reading and good luck

[[ma...]]

Thank you for the story

[[be...]]

That is great news. I am so happy for you! 

[[Fi...]]

Well done! 

[[Lu...]]

Thank you for the positive story. It's so scary when you feel the withdrawal symptoms and are on the verge of a panic attack all the time. I am down to 5 mg Clobazam every other day and wish to taper more. So looking at titration and reducing by 1 mg every two weeks, or maybe .5 mg every two weeks. I have to read more and discuss with my Dr. Looking forward to get off of this stuff and deal with the anxity through breathing exercises, exercising, yoga, healthy food and stress management.

 

 

Lulu

[[Co...]]

Wonderful news!  Thank you for sharing - you know how important each bit of encouragement is. 

[[li...]]

Great news!

Thanks so much for sharing your story.

Lib 

[[Ne...]]

Congrats!! Story's like this make my process a little bit easier.  Thank you and Congrats again! 

[[NY...]]

Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and share.  I'm at seven months and suffering from a terrible wave, and feeling quite hopelesss, so really needed to read this today.  Thank you again. WR

[[on...]]

NYC- I am at 8  1/2 months out and thought I was in the homestretch symptom wise only to get swept under by a wave yesterday that is as bad as ever- surges of anxiety  dizzy, anxious, tingling feet and hands..thought I was finally past these symptoms so I am very discouraged to say the least. Felt like weeping today I was so devastated!  I am trying to remember how much better I was feeling before this setback and hoping that good feeling will come back...but I totally get how discouraging it can feel to feel crappy at 7 months out. Hang in there!