Permanent Damage?

[[K-...]]

Hello there.

 

I recently celebrated 2 entire years off klonopin.  Before that, I spent nearly 10 months tapering off it.  I am approaching 3 whole years since my journey began.  I am still with a lot of withdrawal symptoms, including lots of physical pain and soreness in my neck, back, shoulders, and spine.  I also have a lot of other withdrawal symptoms that are hard to explain, but they are likely due to old insecurities that I worked hard to be free of that have returned because my amygdala is one of the many parts of my brain that are overworked and healing.  For example, I used to be extremely shy, but I worked on it, and it mostly disappeared, and now it's hard for me to make eye contact again.

 

Anyway, there is a part of me that has switched.  Although I am still with a lot of withdrawal symptoms, and although I experience far fewer these days than in previous months/years, I think I have begun to have acceptance over the likely fact that the damage that has been done is permanent.  This may be a natural part of the healing process where we begin to feel hopeless.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Thanks.

[[Je...]]

I  am approaching 15 months off and don't know if it is permanent but have talked to so many survivors that say this thinking is what many have and then one day you are healed. I am hoping you feel better soon. You have made it so far. Some people take longer but they do heal. I took the mess about 18 years so I worry as I have slipped so far backward. But I try to keep telling myself that I will heal as long as I keep going. I admire you for your strength and perseverance!

[[ro...]]

Alot of evidence points away from benzo withdrawal being permanent but honestly I think believing that it is permanent could possibly benefit some people into fighting it less and putting less energy into a battle that only time can wager with and possibly speed up the healing process a little quicker by stressing yourself out less.

 

I would have relapsed after 2 years of this for sure, i was at my wits end after a week and am now about 85% after 2 months. Im lucky I quit it after using for about a month and realizing i had a dependence otherwise I would be on this crap for my entire life probably. I extremely admire your dedication to healing.