Really need ALOT of encouragement

[[pe...]]

Hi..  I am now 11 months off of Clonazepam and 5 months off of zopiclone and I am feeling worse as time passes.  I have alot of anxiety, tense gut, pressure and numbness in head and face (which is causing me more anxiety and leading to depression), insomnia, tinnitus, cold lower legs and feet.  Can anyone relate to this and give me some assurance that it will go away and that I will be normal again.  I am trying to hang on but some days I can barely function only doing what is absolutely necessary.  I have to go out to visit friends and I just don't know if I can.  My husband is a great support but I can see that he is getting tired of this and wants to get on with life.  ANY HELP,    PLEASE 

[Guest [Pf...]]

Realize that you are still early.  Ziclopine is like a benzo I believe, so you really should mark September as you end date.  There are no guarantees, but most people see improvement.

 

Have you had any windowns from this.  A lot of people experience some serious waves a few months after they stop.

[[pe...]]

Thank you for your reply Pfeff.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.  I have had one day windows from time to time but then the waves come back harder than ever.  I am having a very hard time with this since I have been in benzo withdrawal since the end of March and just cannont think that I can take it much longer without seeing some improvements.  I am starting to get very depressed about this.  I am practically nonfunctional, only getting the bare essentials done.  Would an antidepressant help with this?

[[wy...]]

Hi, Pegasus - I hope you don't mind my chiming in.

 

If your issue is truly depression, an AD may help. But in benzo recovery, AD's have never been proven to help much of anything. If benzo recovery is truly what's going on with you, I'm afraid the sad truth is that nothing helps but more time. You really have to dig deep and fight through it. I am just over 5 months off, and I am still having issues also, but I know that trying another medication and adding it into the mix will only make things worse.

 

My best advice is to get checked out by a good sympathetic doctor (a benzo-wise one if possible) and rule out any other potential medical issues just to be sure, and then let your mind rest easy that this will pass eventually. It just may take a lot longer than we'd like unfortunately. And there are books and things that can help while we allow more time to pass. Meditation, body scanning, healthy diet, etc.

 

I wish you continued healing.

[[pi...]]

Pegasus,

 

I am sorry that things are rough for you right now.  I don't know anything about zoplicone but Pfeff said it is like a benzo so maybe you are still going through early recovery.  One thing we know is that you can't rush this process.  Try to accept this and be patient.  Know that many others are in your shoes and many have walked this path before you.  I am 8 months off now and just starting to have some really good days.  It will happen for you as well. 

 

There are some really good books out there to read. Bliss Johns book is a must read and also might help you husband understand what you are going through. Don't worry about what you can't get done, find things to distract you from the sxs you feel.  You are not alone in this and you will heal.

 

Hugs,

 

pianogirl 

[[pe...]]

Thank you so much pianogirl and wylidas.  So sorry to see that you are both still going through this. I hope you are seeing some improvements.  I will try to go on but my days are so long and painful.  I try to distract myself but with insomnia I am very tired.  My husband has been so good and I feel sorry for him because we both want to go on with our lives but right now everything has stopped and we wait.  When I get a better day (not great but better) I feel so optimistic and pray that it will continue but the wave always comes back.  Thank you all for your support.

[[pa...]]

Hi pegasus,  my hubby is now off benzo 13 months, he is still having a rough time, though there have been changes for the positive.  He only had two brief windows last year, 8 and 9 months.  He finally had one the other day for two full days.  The intensity of the wds have lessened.  So, try to hold on, everyone does heal.  I did from my bout in the 80's, my hubby and all bbs will also.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Hugs, pattylu

[[pe...]]

Thank you Pattylu.  I am trying to take this one day at a time but it is so very hard.  I hope your husband's windows become more frequent and longer, he really deserves it.  I think that feeling that I am only 5 months out and having suffered for 11 is really taking its toll and feeling that I have many more months to go  I had hoped that be this summer I might be feeling somewhat better but now I am not sure that I will.  What do you do to distract yourself.  I find that I can't get absorbed in anything because of the facial discomfort ( makes it really had to concentrate on anything).  If that would go away then maybe I could focus on something.  Has anyone else have this symptom and have it go away?  Really need to know.

[Guest [Pf...]]

Did things get worse after you stopped the Z?  From what I was reading, that drug has particulalry nasty withdrawals, and you did stop it quickly.  So that may account for how you are feeling this soon after you stopped that.

[[pe...]]

Hi Pfeff.  Yes things did seem to get worse after I stopped the zopiclone.  I am just so discouraged that I spent 6 months on it after stopping the clonazepam and now I have so much further to go.

[[pe...]]

Is there any hope that I can see some improvements soon?