Fatigue and social anxiety.

[[Cr...]]

17 months out and these are my main symptoms right now. I didn’t have these before benzos. Hoping to hear from ppl who had these and then Healed from them or anybody with advice. 

[[Cr...]]

Anybody? 

[[Re...]]

Would be very nice to hear. I have very very bad social anxiety, too. 

[[gr...]]

HI - I'm 15 months out and still suffer from fatigue and awful anxiety some days. It's very hard at times, but I'm hoping someday to be back to my former self before benzos. 

[[Cr...]]

2 hours ago, [[R...] said:

Would be very nice to hear. I have very very bad social anxiety, too. 

It’s so hard to deal with not being able to do anything fun we used to do. How long Have u had you’re for?

[[Cr...]]

2 hours ago, [[g...] said:

HI - I'm 15 months out and still suffer from fatigue and awful anxiety some days. It's very hard at times, but I'm hoping someday to be back to my former self before benzos. 

Have u had any waves or windows or normalcy? And have u seen any improvements? I feel like if my anxiety can ever go away I will be almost normal. Crossing fingers. 

[[Re...]]

I've had this for year, since adolescence I guess. It was not OK but not this bad. It is way way worse since w/d and I think it is connected to trauma and to the place I am, it is so strange. I have had better times, I guess it is improving slowly, but very slowly with flare ups. Strange thing is it is so situational (depends on the environment I am at to an extreme level) , even geographically.

Without this I would be actually somewhat ok (I still have physical symptoms though). 

Edited October 15, 2023 by [Re...]

[[Cr...]]

2 hours ago, [[R...] said:

I've had this for year, since adolescence I guess. It was not OK but not this bad. It is way way worse since w/d and I think it is connected to trauma and to the place I am, it is so strange. I have had better times, I guess it is improving slowly, but very slowly with flare ups. Strange thing is it is so situational (depends on the environment I am at to an extreme level) , even geographically.

Without this I would be actually somewhat ok (I still have physical symptoms though). 

That’s how I feel too! If this anxiety went away I feel like my life would be so much more improved. It’s a good sign that your anxiety is slowly calming down. Anxiety is normal to a degree. Let’s hope ours calms down to pre benzo levels soon

[[Re...]]

Another Buddy had a topic about agoraphobia, but I was the only one who commented on it. Do you have CBT, are you doing exposure or something else? Can it be connected to trauma? I have yet to see such a state of mind like benzo w/d, when the mind is so connected with actual physical symptoms. Very "interesting". Anyway we should keep this thread alive, maybe someone who recovered will comment. 

[[...]]

One year off I have the fatigue. Anxiety not so much.

I think since benzos are a muscle relaxer, and now without them my vessels are constricted too much. BP is running high and strength and stamina are in the toilet. Forcing movement everyday.

 

[[Re...]]

Until benzo w/d I had no idea what fatigue really was. It can be debilitating, I am so sorry, I hope you are getting relief on some days. Did you have anxiety at the beginning, maybe social anxiety, earlier, too? 

I had the same experience as you with stamina and muscle contractions. Have you tried changing your diet maybe to more fibers? You are a year out, that seems to be a huge accomplishment

[[Cr...]]

1 hour ago, [[R...] said:

Another Buddy had a topic about agoraphobia, but I was the only one who commented on it. Do you have CBT, are you doing exposure or something else? Can it be connected to trauma? I have yet to see such a state of mind like benzo w/d, when the mind is so connected with actual physical symptoms. Very "interesting". Anyway we should keep this thread alive, maybe someone who recovered will comment. 

Well I don’t do CBT but I go to work in a busy casino so just trying to push through this wave. 5 months ago I literally had zero anxiety and then I was hit with a nasty wave that has been dragging on. And I don’t think it’s connected to trauma. I believe it’s just my brain trying to balance itself out. It’s like I went to sleep one night with no anxiety and woke Up the next morning with horrible anxiety. For myself when the anxiety really hits my physical symptoms are dizziness and I Feel shaky lol. What about you? 

[[Cr...]]

[[Re...]]

I experience chest pain, tachycardia, mood swings, nausea, OCD, fatigue, neural emotions, paresthesia, numbness in face, many others.. . There is a lot of improvement, these would be manageable. But the social anxiety makes me non functional. I think the fact that you are in a wave is promising as you know it is going to get better and it is temporary, I am certain time is going to help. I don't know if excersise helps with anxiety, or social anxiety, but I don't have many other tools... I was thinking what effect a bit more extensive morning excersise would have... Have yours become better since working out? 

Edited October 15, 2023 by [Re...]
Left nausea out

[[gr...]]

I have found exercise to be very helpful with my WD, especially taking walks. Have moments of such clarity with no anxiety on and off during the day. I believe I will eventually be back to my old self. Just takes time.

[[Cr...]]

Graced333- all we can do is take it day by day and just do our best. I think I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hoping and praying for everyone of us. I have some days of clarity too. For example, last week I had a day where I felt completely normal. Unfortunately the next day I woke up feeling anxious and fatigued again. I knew it was too good to be true lol. 

[[Cr...]]

ReubenRalph- I’m sorry if I asked already but, how long have you been off benzos for? I believe I at one point had all the same symptoms you mentioned except for the numbness in the face. Hoping you’re having a good day. 

[[Re...]]

Hi @[Cr...], I am 4 months off, these have eased up tremendously, but depending on my stress level and emotional state, it changes. When did these pass to you, and the anxiety initially? How is your social anxiety today, have you noticed changes? 

I hope you are having a good day, too, take care! 

[[st...]]

Exercise is the main thing that helps me. I lift heavy weights with two other people. Music is a great distractor. I spend a good deal of time making playlists and play music for hours on most days. I find when I am really bad off that wearing headphones is best.

Also, I like to do the "Tiles" puzzles in the New York Times. It is very easy and requires little thinking just concentration. Sometimes I do the "Connections" puzzles too.

I do think I have become somewhat agoraphobic. I thought perhaps it was related to the Covid pandemic, but it does seem that since I began my taper (in July) it has intensified. 

At first this taper wasn't that hard, but now that I am down to 1 mg of Xanax from 3 mg I am noticing more anxiety, restlessness and depression.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it, but I am staying with it. My psychiatrist is retiring, and I am tired of worrying about getting the prescription. Been on it for over 20 years.

[[Cr...]]

@[st...] I completely agree with you in that exercise is key to feeling better. I go to the gym usually 3 times per week and then if I’m not doing that I’m riding my OneWheel. It def clears my mind and i feel amazing while I’m doing it. The main part that I’m still suffering in is going to work and feeling horrible when I’m stressed and also I feel anxious in public such as busy restaurants and stores like target. It’s sad and I miss my friends and social Life. This wave sucks and it’s lasting a long time. 
 

About the agoraphobia you are feeling, it’s normal to feel that in wd! I had it for months before it seemed to vanish without me even noticing it. Who knows if it will come back someday, but at least it’s gone now. Good job and tapering down to 1 mg from 3mg that it’s a HUGE success already. And I would def say it’s worth it. You don’t want to be dependent on something. And you are doing it the correct way and tapering. Not like me where I cold turkeyed both alcohol and xanax At the same time. 

[[st...]]

 

Thanks for your reply. I am very fortunate in that I am retired. I taught high school English for over thirty years, and there is no doubt in my mind that I would not have been able to do this tapering if I were still working. 

You are doing an amazing job to be able to get off both xanax and alcohol while still working at a job. Just as you said in a previous post, it is just day to day. I let my anxiety get in control when I think too far ahead.

 

Edited October 25, 2023 by [st...]