Disaster

[[Mi...]]

After losing two adult sons 3 years apart, the breakup of my marriage and then being diagnosed with breast cancer, enduring chemo, radiotherapy and surgery I felt isolated, lost, anxious. and depressed. I was prescribed sertraline, mertazepine at night and 10mg of diazepam three times a day. This went on for several months. My mood improved (after quite a long time) and I wanted to get off all the medication. I had started to withdraw from diazepam between doses anyway so being in constant withdraw anyway, began to reduce the dose age gradually. I'm suffering on a daily basis and feel very misunderstood by everyone. Nobody seems to want to know what I'm going through and I feel they just think I'm a nutter!

[[Ca...]]

Hello, Misunderstood - Welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

I am so sorry to hear of your losses.  It sounds as if you are having a difficult time which is not uncommon in withdrawal.

 

I'm so glad you decided to join the forum - you'll find plenty of information and support here. Our members have gone through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal, so you'll be able to connect with others who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.

 

I also went through benzo withdrawal and have been benzo free so I understand some of the withdrawal issues you are facing.  I find this community to be very supportive.

 

Please feel free to post to any of the specialized boards, which can all be accessed from the BenzoBuddies Community Forum homepage. Based on the information provided in your introduction, the following links may be a good starting place for you:

 

 

General Taper Plans

 

Withdrawal Support During Your Taper

 

 

When you have a chance, I highly recommend that you take a look at The Ashton Manual, which is an authoritative source on what to expect during withdrawal and recovery, authored by Dr. C. Heather Ashton, who is an expert in the field. It provides a great deal of information that can be very reassuring during any stage of this process, including a list of common symptoms with helpful explanations on the reasons for their existence.

 

For those who are currently tapering, we suggest reducing no faster than 5-10% every 10-14 days, and some taper even slower than that. One exception: very short-term users of a few weeks or less may be able to taper faster than that. 

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature. This will allow members to see where you are in the process, so that they can better support you.

 

Again, welcome!

 

Carol Jean

 

[[Mi...]]

I've actually read the Ashton manual and am tapering following her advice with the knowledge and consent of my GP. I'm still suffering every day although I've managed to reduce from 30mg a day to 10mg per day. It seems the lower in mg I get the more difficult it becomes.

[[mo...]]

Hello Misunderstood,

 

Welcome. I am so sorry to hear of the losses in your life. You've been through a lot and you're doing a great job coming down from 30mg to 10mg. Stick around, read the positive posts and ask questions. This is a helpful and informative site. You are not "misunderstood" here, we understand and get you! Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.   

 

[[je...]]

Hello disaster, you are misunderstood. I was in three rehabs and no one on the medical staff understood the clinical brain damage done to the gaba receptors by benzodiazepines. If you can find one or two friends who are willing to accept that you are accurately describing the hell you are in, then you have a security blanket. But your biggest security blanket is benzobuddies. Stay close to people here. We believe you. We trust you. And we want you to get well. Hugs and more hugs!!!!