What is your worst symptom?

[[Re...]]

What is the one symptom you wish would go away right now? The one that if it ended would make this process bearable? For me it is crippling depression. It causes hopelessness. It lies to me and says I will never recover, and I'm permanently broken. When it lifts a little my hope is restored and I'm able to tolerate the other symptoms.

[[Ma...]]

Obsessions are my nemesis symptom. I can deal with the anxiety now; still don't know what to do about the obsessions. The Ashton manual says they go away after the anxiety is gone, but I'm still waiting. I think all of our symptoms put us in the same place: feeling alone, sad and scared. Sharing and reading here has helped dissolve some of the lonely and scared.

[[Re...]]

Markidee, I hope the anxiety and obsessions both lift for you soon.

[[Me...]]

DP/DR by far !!! I can live with fatigue and slight sadness.

[[Ma...]]

Markidee, I hope the anxiety and obsessions both lift for you soon.

Thanks, Red. And I hope your depression continues to lift. 

[[Su...]]

I have to say depression also. I have a lot of other symptoms but I think I could deal with them if I didn't have this constant despair. The depression is horrible and this is from someone whose been through regular depression prior to benzos. Benzo depression is unbearable

[[Re...]]

DP/DR by far !!! I can live with fatigue and slight sadness.

 

Dissociation really messes with your mind! I hope this lifts for you soon. 

[[Re...]]

I have to say depression also. I have a lot of other symptoms but I think I could deal with them if I didn't have this constant despair. The depression is horrible and this is from someone whose been through regular depression prior to benzos. Benzo depression is unbearable

 

I've experienced a lot of depression before benzos too. This is unreal! I'm sorry it's so intense for you too. Maybe the good news is any depression after this will be a breeze?

[[Me...]]

Thank you Red Sky. It goes away sometimes which is a good sign but it still sucks to feel this way.

[[Re...]]

Thank you Red Sky. It goes away sometimes which is a good sign but it still sucks to feel this way.

 

That is a good sign of healing! And you're right, it sucks. At certain points DP/DR scared the crap out of me.

[[...]]

The electric buzzing in my head is number one for sure , I still have OCD, dp and dr but once the head buzzing goes I'm sure I can handle the rest . I hope 🤞

[[Me...]]

Thank you Red Sky. It goes away sometimes which is a good sign but it still sucks to feel this way.

 

That is a good sign of healing! And you're right, it sucks. At certain points DP/DR scared the crap out of me.

 

It is scary ! It is there pretty much constantly but goes away for small moments through out the day.

[[Re...]]

The electric buzzing in my head is number one for sure , I still have OCD, dp and dr but once the head buzzing goes I'm sure I can handle the rest . I hope 🤞

 

I've experienced "brain zaps." It's really hard to do anything while that is happening. I'm so sorry.

[[...]]

 

 

I've experienced "brain zaps." It's really hard to do anything while that is happening. I'm so sorry.

 

Thank you , if I may ask , how long did your brain zaps last for ?

[[Re...]]

Thank you , if I may ask , how long did your brain zaps last for ?

 

My brain zaps were a side effect of a different medication. They lasted the whole 4-5 months I was on it. At first they came and went but then they were constant and I couldn't take it anymore so I quit. It seems like a lot of people have this as a symptom of benzo wd. I hope it passes soon for you.

[[...]]

Thank you , if I may ask , how long did your brain zaps last for ?

 

My brain zaps were a side effect of a different medication. They lasted the whole 4-5 months I was on it. At first they came and went but then they were constant and I couldn't take it anymore so I quit. It seems like a lot of people have this as a symptom of benzo wd. I hope it passes soon for you.

 

Thank u so much for replying me , mine started when I got off lexapro . I'm really praying this symptom goes soon too

[[Re...]]

Thank you , if I may ask , how long did your brain zaps last for ?

 

My brain zaps were a side effect of a different medication. They lasted the whole 4-5 months I was on it. At first they came and went but then they were constant and I couldn't take it anymore so I quit. It seems like a lot of people have this as a symptom of benzo wd. I hope it passes soon for you.

 

Thank u so much for replying me , mine started when I got off lexapro . I'm really praying this symptom goes soon too

 

That makes sense! It was an antidepressant I was on as well. I don't remember how long it took for them to go away after I quit. I don't think it was long, maybe a couple of weeks. But then again, I wasn't on it very long either.

[[Si...]]

Obsessive thoughts about my life, regrets, scaring the future.

And depression... but do all the negative thoughts make us depressed? It feels like my life is over, my life is a mess. Weekends are worse because I just do not know how to spend my weekend!!!

[[Re...]]

Obsessive thoughts about my life, regrets, scaring the future.

And depression... but do all the negative thoughts make us depressed? It feels like my life is over, my life is a mess. Weekends are worse because I just do not know how to spend my weekend!!!

 

I know that feeling of hopelessness well. I believe it's the depression lying. Weekends used to be hard for me. Now the days of the week blur together. Our lives are not over they are just on hold. I try to remind myself the symptoms are signs of healing. Signs that the brain is struggling to find balance again. And it will succeed!

[[er...]]

Mine was severe memory loss.  It felt like 85% of my memory had been erased including all of my education - college degree, post bac work, and all job experience I had ever earned.  Short term memory was so bad that if (in the middle of watching a movie or tv) I got up to go the bathroom, when I returned to the tv I would have almost no idea of what I had been watching.

 

Add the dp / dr, and the incredible cog fog, and I was almost completely useless..  some scary stuff benzo withdrawal is..

 

Good news is that I'm mostly better now, but I do believe one has to work for it when one is able to do anything positive.  I believe "God helps those that help themselves."  and, "God does for us, what we can not do for ourselves".

 

Sorry for the reference to "God", but call it what you will, I don't think the saying, "There's no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole" has been said by so many for no reason, and it certainly applied to how I felt in the throes of w/d.. being reduced to a mentally challenged 6 year old was absolutely terrifying.. 

 

Good luck to all!

[[ce...]]

I've only just jumped but the anxiety, insomnia, pounding heart, body weakness and DP/DR are the worst.  don't know if I'm going to get hit with acute as only 15 days out....just hanging on by a thread sometimes.

[[Co...]]

Obsessive thoughts about my life, regrets, scaring the future.

And depression... but do all the negative thoughts make us depressed? It feels like my life is over, my life is a mess. Weekends are worse because I just do not know how to spend my weekend!!!

 

This sounds just like me.  Obsessive rumination and regrets over the past and fear of the future.  I'm experiencing a very dark, dark depression.  This isn't baseline depression for me or anyone - I've had normal depression before, but this chemically-induced thing is inhuman. 

 

I struggle to get through the weekends as well.  The other days are broken up into manageable chunks of time because I'm still working, but the time passes unbearably slow on the weekends, and it's just sheer torment to be at home.... I'm so dissociated I feel like I'm in a stranger's home - it's creepy and scary.  I need to pretend to be "normal" and take care of my kids and other responsibilities, but it's taking all I've got.  I'm very tired, discouraged, and very very lonely; still unable to feel any social connection. 

 

I'm eight months off.  Some physical sxs are better, but I have some new ones, and more muscle, nerve, and joint pain, especially in my legs and neck.  I have more fatigue now, or maybe I'm just noticing it more. 

 

Sorry - I'm awfully long-winded.  Depression is the worst sx. 

 

 

[[Fa...]]

#1 for me is the extreme health anxiety

Coming in close second-insomnia, blurry vision, throat problems and digestive issues.

[[Re...]]

Mine was severe memory loss.  It felt like 85% of my memory had been erased including all of my education - college degree, post bac work, and all job experience I had ever earned.  Short term memory was so bad that if (in the middle of watching a movie or tv) I got up to go the bathroom, when I returned to the tv I would have almost no idea of what I had been watching.

 

We are dependent on memories to function in the world. This is such a rough symptom. It's also sad when I forget people and experiences we shared. Congratulations on feeling mostly better. That's great news.

[[Re...]]

I've only just jumped but the anxiety, insomnia, pounding heart, body weakness and DP/DR are the worst.  don't know if I'm going to get hit with acute as only 15 days out....just hanging on by a thread sometimes.

 

Congratulations on your jump! Huge accomplishment! Just hang on... That's all we can do through the worst parts of this tumultuous ride.