Depression anyone?

[[dj...]]

I’m five months out and struggling a lot with depression.  For the record, I’ve struggled with it for a long time but at some point in 2018, I felt as if I had no feel good chemicals left.  I really couldn’t get up for anything.  Was hoping getting off the clonazepam would help fix this.

 

Anyone else deal with this?  Total lack of motivation, no interest in anything, no energy?  I know there are others on this board who have experienced this but would like to get some input.  At 5 months out I was hoping to see some improvement but if anything it’s gotten worse.

[[th...]]

Was it a pre-existing condition to taking benzos? If so, I don't know if there is any reason to believe that it will go away after cessation. Have you talked to a doctor and/or therapist?

 

Hope you feel better soon.

[[dj...]]

Yes it was pre-existing benzos.  I see my psychiatrist often.  The ADs help me from getting too low, but I just can’t seem to get excited about anything.  Part of that is the withdrawal and just feeling blah all the time, or dealing with the fear and other symptoms.  I’ve talked to friends of mine that were alcoholics and unsolicited they told me they didn’t have interest in anything for the first six months they were off booze.  One of my friends was an editor for a music magazine and he said he couldn’t enjoy music for a long period and quit playing guitar.  Just curious if there are folks here with a similar experience. 

 

There is apparently a chemical explanation for this as well.  Repeated use of certain substances exhausts dopamine, even benzos and it takes a while for dopamine function to return to normal.  Keep in mind I took about 3mg of Klonopin every day for 18 years and I didn’t start feeling this total depletion of “feel-good chemicals” until 17 years in, although it had slowly been getting worse over time.  That’s why I got off of them. 

[[de...]]

Yes, Penny.  Have felt deep depression in withdrawal.  No motivation to do anything, no joy, no nothin'.

 

I had depression pre withdrawal, but nowhere near the same.  I'm 7 months out Valium and it is  improving. 

 

Dee

 

 

[[th...]]

Yes it was pre-existing benzos.  I see my psychiatrist often.  The ADs help me from getting too low, but I just can’t seem to get excited about anything.  Part of that is the withdrawal and just feeling blah all the time, or dealing with the fear and other symptoms.  I’ve talked to friends of mine that were alcoholics and unsolicited they told me they didn’t have interest in anything for the first six months they were off booze.  One of my friends was an editor for a music magazine and he said he couldn’t enjoy music for a long period and quit playing guitar.  Just curious if there are folks here with a similar experience. 

 

There is apparently a chemical explanation for this as well.  Repeated use of certain substances exhausts dopamine, even benzos and it takes a while for dopamine function to return to normal.  Keep in mind I took about 3mg of Klonopin every day for 18 years and I didn’t start feeling this total depletion of “feel-good chemicals” until 17 years in, although it had slowly been getting worse over time.  That’s why I got off of them.

 

Gotcha. I'm amazed at how much worse my anxiety is after benzos compared to before. Probably 100x worse. So, it might makes sense that depression after is going to be worse for a while.

 

Really sucks.

[[...]]

Someone on another board said Earl Gray tea helped them with depression (because of the bergamot in it.)

[[Pe...]]

My depression lately had been off the charts. A very deep scary depression.  I know I wouldn’t take my own life but I get so down that I become so frightened for truly wanting to die. Like there is no hope in anything. Nothing I can even imagine bringing me joy. Not even my ex (who is the only thing that I even imagine bringing me joy) I am struggling to stay in school and work. I do both from home but I can’t even find the motivation for that. It’s scary. I was depressed before klonopin but nothing this heavy. I’ve always worked out religiously and that is last on my list of what I should do. Showering is a chore.

[[un...]]

I’m five months out and struggling a lot with depression.  For the record, I’ve struggled with it for a long time but at some point in 2018, I felt as if I had no feel good chemicals left.  I really couldn’t get up for anything.  Was hoping getting off the clonazepam would help fix this.

 

Anyone else deal with this?  Total lack of motivation, no interest in anything, no energy?  I know there are others on this board who have experienced this but would like to get some input.  At 5 months out I was hoping to see some improvement but if anything it’s gotten worse.

 

Yes it was pre-existing benzos.  I see my psychiatrist often.  The ADs help me from getting too low, but I just can’t seem to get excited about anything.  Part of that is the withdrawal and just feeling blah all the time, or dealing with the fear and other symptoms.  I’ve talked to friends of mine that were alcoholics and unsolicited they told me they didn’t have interest in anything for the first six months they were off booze.  One of my friends was an editor for a music magazine and he said he couldn’t enjoy music for a long period and quit playing guitar.  Just curious if there are folks here with a similar experience. 

 

There is apparently a chemical explanation for this as well.  Repeated use of certain substances exhausts dopamine, even benzos and it takes a while for dopamine function to return to normal.  Keep in mind I took about 3mg of Klonopin every day for 18 years and I didn’t start feeling this total depletion of “feel-good chemicals” until 17 years in, although it had slowly been getting worse over time.  That’s why I got off of them.

 

 

Not sure what sort of anti-depressant you are on, djej, but I had been on either Paxil or Prozac (SSRI's) for many years (pre-benzo) and what I have found was that while Paxil reduced my depressive symptoms, it also limited any positive feelings as well. Once I was able to taper off the Paxil, I noticed that I had access to my emotions again. While not on the Paxil anymore (and in wd), I still do experience the lack of motivation, interest and energy you described and also have again lost access to my emotions. I'm wondering if the AD you're taking might be ineffective in treating your depression which in reality may be another form of withdrawal symptom.

 

 

 

 

[[bo...]]

I woke up today very depressed. I'm 18.5 months off now. It doesn't seem to be letting up much at all. I've basically done all I can life wise to improve my situation and nothing has helped. The only thing I can do now is leave my wife and daughter, but I almost guarantee it won't help. I haven't started any new psych meds, but I've tried a number of supplements through this. None of them have touched the depression. I've had depressive periods in my life but nothing like this and nothing that lasted this long. This just goes on and on. No breaks and no relief. If the depression does let up, I'm dealing with anger and anxiety.