[jp...] Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 My sister put together a taper plan as she is now benzo free for several years and doing fantastic. My anxiety started 2 years ago after a financial crisis. i held it together for 6 months and than everything went crash. they put me on Clonazapm and than Lorazapam, AND NOW ON MY TAPPER DIAZAPAM. i had extreme social anxiety and paranoia and felt very disconnect with not only with my friends and family and my immidiate family including my 2 boys (at that time 5 and 3 years old.) Going out for dinner and having conversation with anyone including my wife was so hard as i felt like everything should revolve around financial recovery and good times were on pause untill we were back on our feet. Well its been 2 years and i am on my benzo tapper plan with the below schedule. CURRENTLY ON STAGE 7 financially we are back were we wanted to be plus more yet strangly i am having extreme difficulty in social settings to feel relaxed and not paronoid. i feel like every thing has to revolve around serious discussions. Laughter and light hearted chat which i know from experience is were its at as i have been there before seems like such a forced effort. any time that is not work related including family time creeates feeling anxious and somewhat parnoid. these symtoms have not left now while on the taper and before i started the taper. i work extremly hard from sun up to sun down and it seems thats all that mattter which i know is NOT TRUE. I long to have connection and feel comfortable with my wife and boys Setting a good roll model for my boys is very important. i have read alot of great postive thinking books prior to starting benzos and was living what i had learnt and felt set up. now, i often feel like i lost all the good knowledge and am starting over. i know its inside somewhere yet my voices inside are so negative that i'm constantly focusing on myself and making more $$. my goal starting this week is to shut down work at dinner time and change focus on other aspect of life. honestly this make me nervous..... but i know its part of changing my habits that will be the answer to getting things back to .....LIFE IS A DANCE vs. LIFE IS A BATTLE. anyone have thoughts on what would help me thorugh this journey? My Taper plan: tappering down 1 once a week. CURRENTLY ON STAGE 7 Hope123 Buddie Posts: 12 4 years Benzo free ! Taper plan - withdrawing from 1mg Clonazepam « on: February 14, 2012, 02:46:50 AM » Quote Here is the taper plan that I put together for my brother. He is on 1mg Clonazepam. I am reducing the dose by 1mg and by less once he gets under 1 mg. Start dose: Morning .5mg Lunch .25mg Dinner .25mg = 1mg Clonazepam Stage1 (1week) Clonaz .5mg Clonaz .25mg Diazepam 5mg (crossover the 3rd dose) Stage2 (1 week) Clonaz .25mg Clonaz .25mg diazepam 5mg (start the crossover of 1st dose) diazepam 5mg Stage 3 (1 week) Clonaz .25mg Diazepam 5mg diazepam 5mg (crossover the 2nd dose) diazepam 5mg Stage 4 (1 week) Stop clonaz Diazepam 5mg Diazepam 5mg (fully cross over 1st dose) = 20mg of Diazepam Diazepam 10mg Stage 5 Diazepam 10mg Diazepam 4mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce 2ND dose by 1mg) =19mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 6 Diazepam 10mg Diazepam 3mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce 2nd dose by 1mg) =18mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 7 Diazepam 10mg Diazepam 2mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce 2ND dose by 1mg) = 17mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 8 Diazepam 10mg Diazepam 1mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce 2ND dose by 1mg) = 16mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 9 Diazepam 10mg Diazepam .5mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce 2nd dose by .5mg) = 15.5mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 10 Diazepam 10mg STOP DIAZAPAM Diazepam 5mg (reduce 2ND) = 15mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 11 Diazepam 9mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce AM dose by 1mg) = 14mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 12 Diazepam 8mg Diazapam 5mg(reduce AM dose by 1mg) = 13mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 13 Diazepam 7mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce AM by 1mg) = 12mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 14 Diazepam 6mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce AM dose by 1mg) = 11 mg of Diazepam *Taper 1/2 done! (1-2 wks) Stage 15 Diazepam 5mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce AMdose by 1mg) = 10 mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) AM PM DOSE NOW EQUAL Stage 16 Diazepam 4mg Diazepam 5mg (reduce AM dose by 1mg) = 9mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 17 Diazepam 4mg Diazepam 4mg (reduce Dinner dose by 1 mg) = 8mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 18 Diazepam 3mg Diazepam 4mg (reduce am dose by 1mg) = 7mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 19 Diazepam 3mg Diazepam 3mg (reduce dinner dose by 1mg) = 6mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) AFTER BOTH AE AT 3mg, taper the am entirelyy first Stage 20 Diazepam 2mg Diazepam 3mg (reduce am dose by 1mg) = 5mg Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 21 Diazepam 1mg Diazepam 3mg (reduce am dose by 1mg) = 4mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 22 Diazepam .5mg Diazepam 3mg (reduce 1st dose by .5mg) =3.5mg of Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 23 stop Dizapam Diazepam 3mg (stop am dose) = 3mg of Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 24 Diazapam 2.5mg (reduce dinner dose .5mg) = 2.5mg Diazepam (1-2 wks) Stage 25 Diazapam 2mg (reduce dinner dose .5mg) = 2mg Diazepam (1-2wks) Stage 26 Diazapam 1.5mg (reduce dinner dose by .5mg = 1.5 ,mg (1-2 wks) Stage 27 Diazapam 1 mg (reduce dinner dose by. .5mg = 1 mg (1-2 wks) Stage 28 Diazapam .5mg (reduce dinner dose by .5mg0 = .5 mg (1-2wks) Stage 29 Diazapam STOP DIAZAPAM. TAPER COMPLETE. CELEBRATE. (1-2wks) >Report This Post< Logged I tapered from Ativan, .5mg Clonazepam and Lamictal 4 years ago - Now trying my best to help my brother taper from 1mg of Clonazepam. I want him to be free like I am, It's so worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[su...] Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hello jpeter, First of all, everything you are experiencing can be attributed to benzo w/d. I do not have input on your taper plan because I am tapering from Klonopin. I will however, put together some information that may be helpful regarding some of your symptoms. I do my best to keep things light and stay in the moment. I think taking time to get away from work and relax is a great idea. Love to you, Summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[su...] Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hello jpeter, I saw your question and put together some information that may be helpful. I am the type of person who seeks to know what is happening and why, it brings comfort to me. I hope it does the same for you. “Benzo-Wise, A Recovery Companion” by Bliss Johns, 2010 Paranoid Ideation “Another bizarre symptom of withdrawal is a preoccupation with unfounded, suspicious thoughts. The person may read negative meanings into innocent remarks, perceive some form of threat or persecution, or have delusions that others are plotting against him or her. There is an expectation of being harmed or exploited and the person is hypersensitive to any form of criticism.” “As is the case with the other psychological symptoms, these paranoid thoughts will disappear when the neurological balances are re-established. Accepting that the symptom is present and that it is a result of temporary changes in the brain, can help with coping. Also, being able to detach and observe any thoughts of perceived threats while acknowledging that they are irrational, should prevent inappropriate retaliatory behavior.” “The Accidental Addict” by Di Porritt & Di Russell, 2006 Paranoia “The fear that other people are talking about or laughing at you can often be heightened during withdrawal. There is also a tendency to worry excessively over things said or done because you are sure you have offended someone or make a fool of yourself.” “The Ashton Manual” by Heather Ashton, 2002 BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS Paranoid thoughts Summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[su...] Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hello jpeter, I am the type of person who seeks to know what is happening and why, it brings comfort to me. I hope it does the same for you. “Your Drug May be Your Problem, How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications” by Peter R. Breggin, M.D., 2007 (a Psychiatrist) Chapter 3 Your Drug May Be Your Problem-----But You May Be the Last to Know Common Adverse Effects on Your Thinking, Feeling, and Behaving “Emotional Blunting and Insensitivity. The highs and the lows of your emotions may have been leveled off by the drug you are taking. You don’t care about anyone or anything as much as you used to; your feelings often seem blunted: your internal landscape is bland and less colorful; you feel “blah”. This drug-induced diminished responsiveness and loss of vitality if given many different labels in the medical literature: including indifference, apathy, lethargy, and diminished or blunted affect. Other labels for this overall flattening of the mind, spirit, and energy level include fatigue, malaise, and depression.” Summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[su...] Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Hello jpeter, I saw your question and put together some information that may be helpful. I am the type of person who seeks to know what is happening and why, it brings comfort to me. I hope it does the same for you. “Benzo-Wise, A Recovery Companion” by Bliss Johns 2010 Chapter 5 Managing Psychological Symptoms Obsessive, Unwanted Thoughts “This can be the most distressing symptom for some, especially in cases where the thoughts are scary or repulsive. I am aware of individuals who were told they had obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) only to later confirm that it was just a withdrawal symptom. The thoughts were withdrawal-induced, triggered by temporary neurological imbalances, and faded as recovery progressed.” “Fighting the thoughts will not cause them to go away; attaching fear to the idea of having the thoughts or their content will intensify them. Accepting them as a symptom and acknowledging they are false is the first step.” “If you are having obsessive thoughts, try not to give them too much energy. Don’t panic or even be surprised when they surface and don’t dwell on the content or the fact that it is happening. See if you are able to place them into the same category as you would a skin rash or any of the other physical symptoms.” I hope this is helpful. Summer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[On...] Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 jpeter, I'm not real familiar with "taper plans". I quickly ran down the reductions and they seem like they are reasonable, but someone with more experience might be able to chime in with something more specific. I am familiar with your withdrawal symptoms, as I too experience the social anxieties and anxiousness that does not seem to allow you the fun that you would normally be having. Because of this anxiousness, how could we not be serious. These are feelings we are having from a temporarily malfunctioning nervous system, it doesn't mean any of it is really real, it just means we feel them, just like all the other erroneous signals our body is getting. The same goes for our sore muscles. Does it mean we "worked out" too hard or strained a muscle? No, it doesn't, it's more bogus signals sent from are nervous system. The paranoia is the same as well, it's your thoughts that are lying to you, it's really not that clandestine out there. I know it's not easy, but the best we can do is know that "they are only symptoms" of this drug withdrawal, and that they can't hurt use and we can choose to try and ignore them the best as we can. The ones we can't we have to try and "go with the flow" with them. It helps if your partner understands fully what the symptoms are so that you can cue them that your doing badly at the moment with the particular symptom. It really helps when other people aren't expecting too much. I never shoot for any real big achievements during a given day. Heck I'm just happy that I'm one more day closer to being better again. I just don't like all the social interaction because it's going too fast for my slow brain much of the time. I just assume observe or stare off into daydream land when in social situations. By the time I've got something to say the topic has moved on anyway! Anyway, I think your on the right track, it's just a matter of dealing with the withdrawals and time. This is a case where "patience really is a virtue". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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