I feel crazy

[[mi...]]

Did you guys feel really off during your tapers?  If you don't mind sharing, I'm interested in what your symptoms were while tapering.  I'm feeling really awful And alone today. This sucks 👎

Thanks

[[ne...]]

Oh yes absolutely. Mentally and physically. I've been in and out of depression and had days I thought I was losing my mind. It can all be very overwhelming and scary. But many have gone before us. We will get through, no matter how we feel today.

[[Yo...]]

It could be what I simply call "taper anxiety". Just the fear of what might happen as we reduce.... I've been experiencing a steady rise in anxiety since starting mine, but I'm not ready to call it "withdrawal". If I could be sufficiently distracted, I think it would fade. But since I have to dose 4 times a day (I'm using the liquid titration method), I feel like I'm always looking forward to the next dose.

 

By the way, I love your name! 

[[mi...]]

Thanks for the replies. I've been at this dose for about 3 weeks. I have felt at times during this process more anxious, dizzy, burning chest type feeling, poor concentration,and sad. I'm not sure if I'm gonna feel better at some point or should cut a small amount? 

 

[[mi...]]

Also, I have used some rescue pills a couple of times when I felt particularly bad.

[[ne...]]

Mint, some people stabilize and some do not. I did a longer hold and had the same symptoms as before, so I have been heading forth slowly.  But all the symptoms you describe are completely normal benzo wd symptoms. Let me know if we can help in any other way.

[[gr...]]

Mint Chocolate Chip:

 

I had a very short-lived, aborted taper attempt back in early July 2017. I was going too fast because I had no idea what I was doing. I've since just begun a slower taper with support from my psychiatrist.

 

On the quick taper I felt worse than I ever have in my life - headache, severe insomnia, nausea, panic attacks, extreme anxiety, hopelessness, depression, dizziness, and an odd feeling of being "not present." That last about 2-3 days and then I went back to my original dose.

 

On the slower taper, which I've only been on for a couple weeks, I noticed a smaller and less severe group of symptoms that were short-lived (about 24 hours). This was: mild depression, slight anxiety, slight headache (from clenching my jaw). Perhaps this will happen during each stage...or perhaps it won't be as bad...or perhaps it will be worse. There is definitely some "taper anxiety" involved in all this, just like "YouShookMe" said.

 

From this limited experience, I would say what you're experiencing is perfectly normal. I'm fairly determined to stick carefully to my taper plan without taking a larger dose than indicated during each "stage." That said, I can understand why you're taking a "rescue pill," but I don't know how that will affect your withdrawal - wiser, more experienced folks than I will have to answer that.

 

And, yes, to say "This sucks" is probably an extreme understatement. I have a friend who "gets" what I'm going through and I talk to him whenever I can to remind myself that this is temporary, then I think about how nice it will be to have this behind me. The people here on BB are also such a resource.

 

You WILL get through this. Just keep moving forward...lean on anyone and everyone you can for help, including the folks here at BB that "get it."