My story. Hope it can be of some help

[[ul...]]

Recent stresses in life turned me onto benzos. I was an opiate addict for 3+years, quit many times but it got worse over time. I was high functioning, completed a tough degree and have started working a job that is high pressure with high stakes and long hours. My relationship of 6 years ended recently and that has damn near killed me.

 

To summarise:

Took opiates for 3+years

Stressful life circumstances took their toll

Used 20-30mg valium a day for 3 months to get off opiates

Joined benzobuddies to learn more about benzo withdrawal and the horror stories terrified me

Quit valium basically cold tukey (not advising this, I am not qualified to). A rapid taper from 30mg to 0 over 5 days.

I do not feel that I have suffered benzo withdrawal. It is different for everyone, but maybe you will be lucky like me. Don't lose hope from reading horror stories. Do your own research and make an informed choice about what is best for you

 

 

[[Ch...]]

Hi ultragamegaok.

 

Wonderful to hear! This is a double congrats for you.  We rarely hear this sort of story although we hear it does happen.  One thing to keep in mind for the future is the issue of kindling...which is the (mostly anecdotal in benzodiazepines but strongly related to alcohol kindling) tendency for subsequent withdrawal to be more problematic.

 

Otherwise, sounds like you’re good! Feel free to roam around the forum and do let us know if we can help in any way.

 

Take care,

Challis 

[[ul...]]

Thanks for the response.

 

One post I read on here (while still a guest) was pretty helpful in giving me hope. I forget who posted it. The basic theory was that there are potentially many who take benzos for a certain amount of time without experiencing too much distress afterwards, trouble is, they aren't likely to visit a site like this and share their experience. I would assume the overwhelming majority of people who visit this site are people who are experiencing trouble.

 

Thanks for the advice about kindling. I don't really drink alcohol, very rarely. Today I had to deal with a situation that made me uncomfortable, so I took 10mg valium and I felt ok. I'd not taken any for a couple of weeks before this. Life will always throw stuff at you, we're not supposed to be happy all the time. Harness the bad days. Turn fear into motivation. I know it is easier said than done. I have accomplished more in certain times of distress than contentment, sometimes it is a driving force, sometimes it means you can't get out of bed. And that's ok. Who you are at this very second is not who you will be forever.

 

I do not feel great. But after 3 years of opiate abuse and a few months of benzo abuse I know that I'm not supposed to feel great, especially when taking into account the breakup, job and the fact that I have neglected healthy behaviour and discipline. However, I do not feel the benzo use has made this worse if that makes sense. I do not feel great, but I don't feel any worse than before I ever took a benzo

[[Ch...]]

There’s someone here who might benefit right now from your experience. If you’d like to post some reassurance to her, here’s the link to her thread. She’s online right now: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=236958.msg2594026;topicseen#new

[[Bi...]]

Recent stresses in life turned me onto benzos. I was an opiate addict for 3+years, quit many times but it got worse over time. I was high functioning, completed a tough degree and have started working a job that is high pressure with high stakes and long hours. My relationship of 6 years ended recently and that has damn near killed me.

 

To summarise:

Took opiates for 3+years

Stressful life circumstances took their toll

Used 20-30mg valium a day for 3 months to get off opiates

Joined benzobuddies to learn more about benzo withdrawal and the horror stories terrified me

Quit valium basically cold tukey (not advising this, I am not qualified to). A rapid taper from 30mg to 0 over 5 days.

I do not feel that I have suffered benzo withdrawal. It is different for everyone, but maybe you will be lucky like me. Don't lose hope from reading horror stories. Do your own research and make an informed choice about what is best for you

Maybe you're going to be one of the lucky ones. Don't worry about the horror stories. This is all results based anyhow, if you feel well you are well.

Let's just hope you slip through the cracks