Pre-existing?

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How am I suppose to know what is benzo W/D, and what is pre-existing anxiety, fear, and panic?

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@[Go...]I too have been curious about this questions and don't have the exact answer, but rather thoughts that may make sense. Before you started benzos, what things caused you anxiety and panic? After benzos and being introduced to WD what types of things cause anxiety and fear (i assume basically everything?) With these thoughts in mind I think you can help yourself decide what is WD and what is your "normal" anxiety. WD exaggerates your anxieties and fears, and in may case has introduced things that I would have never thought possible. Depending where you are on your taper it may be worth a hold. If you are off hopefully someone who is also off can help provide some reassurance. 

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7 minutes ago, [[d...] said:

@[Go...]I too have been curious about this questions and don't have the exact answer, but rather thoughts that may make sense. Before you started benzos, what things caused you anxiety and panic? After benzos and being introduced to WD what types of things cause anxiety and fear (i assume basically everything?) With these thoughts in mind I think you can help yourself decide what is WD and what is your "normal" anxiety. WD exaggerates your anxieties and fears, and in may case has introduced things that I would have never thought possible. Depending where you are on your taper it may be worth a hold. If you are off hopefully someone who is also off can help provide some reassurance. 

That's a tough one.. but I think if you look up benzo wd sxs and compare them to what you're feeling now or what you are used to in terms of your anxiety it might give you clarity. For me I knew the difference. My WD symptoms were very distinct and not hard for me to tell the difference. Wd for me came with a bunch of other sxs along with anxiety. I know that's probably very helpful but I'll sure someone here might be able to answer that better for you. 🙏

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Jen Swan’s YouTube benzo videos address some of this. Her take is that it doesn’t really matter which it’s from, you approach it the same. Try to not engage with it when possible (some days it just blows you over), and edge towards normalcy. Check her stuff out - She’s a therapist in the middle of a Xanax taper. She throws 25 years of clinical experience into deciphering what the heck is going on with us in this. She’s very calming to listen to. 

link to her channel https://youtube.com/@jenniferswanphd?si=lMQOAlqgcX5VAY2k