I owe, I owe, so it's off to work I go....Anyone back to work after withdrawal?

[[Le...]]

Anyone returned to work after a year off benzos.  Did you take a easier job or go part time to build back up? Was it hard to go back? I know it's time for me to go back to work but I am overwhelmed by the process? (This is a thinly veiled plea for support-to tell you the truth I'm just scared to start :-).

[[La...]]

Hi Leigh,I have been off work unrelated to benzo withdrawal but decided it was a good time to also quit the benzos  but my timing was off as I will probably be going back just at the end of my taper and the start of withdrawal,I am truly scared to go back so I hear you, I work part time so I am fortunate that way, I read the posts from those working throughout and how tough it is, I care for others in my profession and can not make mistakes so I need to be clear headed and have my memory and all my wits about me when I go back, I know that if that is not the case I will not jeopardise others, lets hope we are capable to return to work , healed in body and mind

[[BY...]]

I returned to work shortly after my C/T I'm not suggesting that for everyone. There was no choice for me, if I didn't go back, would have lost everything.

 

Try not to focus much on the people around you, unless it's your boss . Just try to focus on the task at hand and you will do just fine.

 

The first day will be a little rough, as usual, then each day you go back will be easier and easier.

 

Good luck,

Mike

[[...]]

I never stopped working. It wasn't hard in terms of it being harder than just sitting at home would be--I would still feel like sh*t whether I was at home, work, or on a beach in Hawaii. So in that regard I preferred to work (well, I didn't have a choice, but if I had I still would have worked). It was extremely hard in terms of actually competently doing my job, though.  I mean, I was competent, but only barely, hah.

[[bl...]]

I am working through my w/d and cannot imagine any situation otherwise since I have a career. It's not easy though, particularly since my job is a career, with seven-day-per-week demands and constant personal interaction, including public speaking. But I am managing, although I'm taking it a bit more slowly than I might otherwise. I will continue to work after my w/d.

 

[[no...]]

Have worked two jobs and attended grad school during taper and w/d. Do not recommend the overload, as it may be contributing to the hell of a time I have had lately, but for me..being distracted and around others greatly normalized the weirdness of w/d and has kept me from being broke, homeless, hungry:)

There were times of white knuckling it, but I do not regret it.

North

[[mo...]]

I've been working the whole time. Some days it's hard, but the distraction is good. And it helps to just try and get the reins of my life back.

 

Good luck to you! You'll do great!

[[Ho...]]

I have been unable to work this past year, and in May I will need to get a job. I'm also pretty terrified about it! 

[[Le...]]

Thanks for the responses.  It gave me a lot of confidence. One foot in front of the other.

[[br...]]

I'm like North. Worked 2 jobs through WD.  I did take 2 weeks short term disability early on when I thought I had some kind of killer jungle flu. Turns out I was in tolerance from the tiny dose I was still on.

 

Now been one year since I've missed a day of work. Don't ask me how. As hellish as my experience has been, I can only assume it wasn't as bad as some here. (which is truly frightening.)

 

 

[[bl...]]

I also did take one day off when I had severe d/r and d/p plus light visual hallucinations and got a substitute instead. My last class, which I feared, went great! Perfect. I think that I am adjusted, after almost six weeks, to this new, lower dose. That must be it.

[[Me...]]

I was off work for 15 months due to chronic fatigue and recurrant respiratory infections.  I was treated psychiatricly because they couldn't figure out the physical issues so thus dependant on benzos. 

 

They tried to get me back to work, but my physcal condition deteriorated so now I am off the rehab program and they won't want me back for another year, so that gives me some time to get off the benzo ( my pdoc is giving me about 4 more months)

 

I will have time to recover from that and manage the new diagnosis of arthritis.  Apparently it takes about a year to recover, once you start being treated from this particular disease, so the timing is all about right. 

 

I will be back to work, bankrupt by then, but I don't think I will work full time again.  I have totally downsized my life. 

 

I think I can work part-time and be happy with that income.  I have an very generous disabilty income and good health benefits to boot, so I have nothing but gratitude right now and I can't see anything changing that!  (unless I hit a wall... maybe this is my "window" I heard someone else say?)