Beginning to heal?!

[[As...]]

I know wd is different for everyone, but can anyone tell me if there is a certain time frame that people usually start to feel better?

Or at least when do the majority of people begin to feel better?

I've seen one guy on Quora once saying that around 2 months of feeling miserable and hopeless one does start to feel much better.

 

I've had many symptoms for this first month after coming off Xanax. Some days it even was difficult writing here on BB asking for advice, like i couldnt get a hold of my thoughts and complete a sentence.

These days now i've been having alot of ups and downs, there are moments that i feel pretty much back to normal, it's actually amazing. Then all of a sudden i feel like i'm back at zero again. But the ups are giving me hope

 

Symptoms

- insomnia

- paranoid/obsesive etc thoughts

- seeing coloured dots and traces

- seeing photos and images on phone/screens move in around my field of sight

- difficulty concentrating on every day tasks or conversations, daydreaming

Etc

[[Le...]]

That is the most difficult part about this process for all of us... not knowing or having any control (besides of course making ourselves worse with bad decisions) on when we heal.  It is great that you list what has improved for you first. GIven that you have seen such improvement in the first month - I would say you are doing very well!  I was in Acute for 6 weeks.... not functional until 3 months.  Then went back into Acute (poor choices) in Month 4.  I am 16 months out and feeling 90 percent healed with waves that put me back at 50%.  The biggest thing you can do for yourself is keep focused on the positive signs of healing and know that this is a nonlinear process so accepting the waves is going to further help you improve. 

 

Good job!

[[ne...]]

Hello buddies! I just found an article that validates that healing can take years. I have read many articles stating that withdrawal can only last for a few months, which is utterly ridiculous as we all know. . 

 

https://www.brainandspinalcord.org/faqs/sci/what-happens-to-the-brain-during-benzo-withdrawal/

 

I read this and it made me feel more inspired to continue to stay the course to obtain 100% healing, so I wanted to share it with you and let you know that it is a long process and that is normal 

 

na-

[[Le...]]

HI Neoapostle,

 

Good find as it confirms that this COULD take years or if you are lucky - just a few months! I hate how they call us "abusers" though.  I think it is important to note that ACUTE is not going to last that long so those in the beginning stages know that there is a lot of good to look forward to without being scared that it will take years.

 

Also, I got your PM last week but can't respond due to the suspension of my replies.  Sorry.  Mindful breathing is definitely helping with symptoms especially when I was in a wave last week! Thanks for asking. 

[[bo...]]

How are you doing after a year off, neoapostle?

[[ne...]]

Leslie, glad to hear you are practicing the mindfulness and breathing exercises! It will take time to get used to it but the more you do it the more natural it will become. Also, I have been doing a fair amount of reading (neurology/biology based books) and what I am discovering about the relationship between the mind and body is AMAZING... I may get preachy here soon (my forewarning ) with a lot of quotes and advice straight from my readings. BUT it really is too good not to share with you guys as it is really life-changing information that is practical and directly applies to what we are going through/have been through. SO... read my posts in the near future as I will be supplying a lot of information that supports full recovery.

 

Boombox, after a year I am doing great! I still deal with minor waves sometimes which include: slight depression, cog-fog, hypersensitivity, minor head-pressure and fuzzy vision.. However, the severity of these symptoms has diminished by 90% I'd say since acute and I have a noticeably higher baseline of wellness which continues to improve weekly. So you know, I went from being in rehab with almost every symptom imaginable (it was BAD  ) to being fully functional and enjoying life again (a life that is SO MUCH BETTER than when I was on benzo's, arguably better than before). I am not 100% yet, BUT I have no doubt that I will be soon, so long as I keep the course of healthy living and positive thinking 

 

Keep up the good work everyone!

 

na- 

[[Ma...]]

I would say most people who tapered should start to feel better within 3-6 months range, and heal mostly within 5 years. This is a smart guess based on what I've seen. Sometimes healing takes longer.

[[th...]]

I would say most people who tapered should start to feel better within 3-6 months range, and heal mostly within 5 years. This is a smart guess based on what I've seen. Sometimes healing takes longer.

 

It is too easy to make statements about how long it is going to take. When I tapered off Xanax the first time, it was a breeze (comparatively). The second time has been sheer hell. It just depends on the person. And, the thing that sucks? You won't know until you go through it. That is the absolutely most frustrating thing. You just don't know.

[[La...]]

The 5th will be 18 months for me and today was first day i could ride my scooter (well its little bigger than scooter)with. Out shaking when i got off it...not healed yet but good sign!

[[Th...]]

Guys I had cog fog and fullness in my head for years without benzo use. I am terrified at what is waiting for me!

[[Le...]]

Greek - you get what you expect.  Instead of being terrified - try being excited as you could be completely healed.  What is the difference between believing the positive verse the negative....  I think AP is going to fill us in on that.  Until you believe that the head pressure will be gone - I will carry the belief for you. 

[[Th...]]

All I’m trying to say is that I was in a pretty bad condition before the benzos. Even going back to my original state would not mean healing for me. Most people in my original state would have been on meds years ago. But that doesn’t mean that healing doesn’t  happen. Everyone has there story and everyone is different. It still baffles me all the time. We all get on these meds for anxiety/depression/ pain/sleep. We come off these medications but are left with our original problems. What happens to our original problems? Please I don’t want to sound negative but if a simple breathing technique can resolve the original anxiety then maybe somebody didn’t really have a true anxiety disorder to begin with. Maybe it was just situational and the person was too hasty in taking a med. It’s different when someone experiences depression and different if someone has a depressive disorder. Some might say therapy helps but what if you had a great childhood and life and got depressed for no apparent reason? Again I’m sorry I always sound negative but I feel at least for me these are valid questions to ask. Again, that’s just my story.

[[Le...]]

I hope that it is OK that I respond to this in that I am NOT lecturing or claiming to be an expert but here is what I have learned.... but first of all - I had major depression and anxiety as a freshman in college and was put on Prozac which I am still on so my experience, like anyone's else's, is unique.  The anxiety that got me put on Benzos was circumstantial.  The intense panic attacks put me in the hospital.  What I am finding out now that I am off Benzos; is that the chemically induces anxiety and depression DURING Benzos use and especially during WITHDRAWAL was 100 X worse than what I ever experienced in life before Benzos.  And now that I have developed resiliency skills to deal with what I went through - NOTHING in life will set me back to that level of depression or anxiety.  That is all I am saying.  We come out better, stronger and more capable of dealing with life circumstances due to this horrid experience.  But I do understand what you are saying about your previous mental health state. I just still believe that your baseline will be much better after recovery.  Take care.

[[Th...]]

Thank you Leslie I welcome your honesty and I hope you’re right