FAMILY MEMBER/PARTNERS SUPPORT THREAD

[[pa...]]

I just want to plead with anyone reading this forum to please continue to support your loved ones. I am in position where I have to hide my withdrawals because my wife thinks its all in my head. I have been put out of the house, and I did not get angry, or react or do anything wrong - I refused to take an antipsychotic that had been put in my tea for 5 weeks without my knowledge. I am not schizophrenic or bipolar. I am suffering from withdrawals from diazepam.

 

I cry when I get a chance in private and I am currently living with my parents. If I show any signs of weakness they tell me that I am throwing away my marriage, my job and my life. I was even told to get a life because I phoned a suicide hotline. The pain of withdrawal is an unbearable thing, but I have 4 young children and I have to make it for them.

 

Please, to anyone reading this, understand your loved ones are going through Hell, and support them through it. I turn 40 this year and all I want for my 40th birthday is for my wife to say, "I love you and I will wait for you to get better" but she cannot give me that guarantee. If any of you believe in God please pray for me, as I don't know where else to turn anymore. We have one counsellor in this part of the world who only understands cold turkey from benzos - and she is the "specialist". I cannot make any of my family walk in my shoes and nor would I want anyone to, but to those loved ones on here supporting your partners / children / parents you are very special people.

 

Hi W,

 

Thank you for your post.  Everything you wrote in a plea to supporters, is truly right on. I'm so sorry you don't have the support that you so need.  Unfortunately, being on this site for some years, I have seen this too often.  The comments you mentioned, I have seen this time and time again.  I can and will tell you, they are totally incorrect.  Unfortunately, they have neither read the information to get a grasp about this process, or just will not accept it.  They are wrong.  As a spouse, and one like BW who traveled this, we know and we understand.

 

I pray that your parents or spouse will read and try to understand what you are experiencing.  They cannot truly connect, as it is unfathomable how a drug can cause this, but it does, and reading the information is available for them to get some type of a grasp.

I hope at some point, someone in your family will READ and support you that you so deserve and need.

 

I commend you so, you are so very strong, and you have tapered so well.  I can only share, stay the course in your taper, hold onto the love of your children.. You will succeed, you will heal and you will get your life back again.  You'll be whole and well, with a new life.

 

P

[[pa...]]

Hi all,

I have been having a very difficult time trying to tease the details of my mom's sypmtoms out of her on a scale of 1-10, 10 being worse.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can figure it out with the way she acts or is there another way?

 

Hi M,

 

It is difficult going through this, though, remember, your mother is just tapering.  At this point, try to back off of trying to scale the symptoms from 1 - 10.  This is too difficult for her.  Read the Ashton manual, understand the symptoms from tolerance to acute, be easy on your mother.  Just let all flow how it must.  Most important, is nothing more then support and encouragement.

 

P

[[pa...]]

ForMyWifeandKids:  I feel your pain and understand where you are at.  I try to hide how bad I am feeling from my hubby.  He is being very supportive.  Unlike your wife, my hubby remains positive and says he will stick it out with me no matter how long it takes.  He does not want me to take anything to help with the w/d.  Not that there is anything that will help other than time.

 

My problem is my 3 grown daughters.  All of them want me to go into detox hospital to get off the V that I switched over to from temazepam.  I w/d from tramadol 10/15/13 and K 11/22/13.  So just have the temazepam to taper from.  My hubby is on board with the taper, children are not.  So consequently they have removed themselves from my life.  This is heartbreaking for me, but I refuse to CT from the V.  I am already in severe w/d from the K.  My hubby is supporting me all the way, we have been married 49 yrs and I am truly blessed.

 

I pray that your wife comes to her senses.  These w/ds are not in your head, they are very REAL but we will heal and I think faster with the help of our families!

xo Overcomer  :smitten:

 

Hi O,

 

I'm so happy that you have your husband's support.  Yes, it is difficult for one to share exactly how they are feeling going through this, that's the fear of it.  Though, from this side of the fence, I always wanted my hubby to be honest with me.  It was a challenge we had to work through, but, the worry of not knowing was worse.  I had to sit with him and share that, and that's when we opened the door in communication.  That helped me supporting him that much better, as I had a better understanding and could be that much more supportive.  Try to sit with you hubby and share...  He's by your side and will be. I know you are worried about the stress that he is going through from this, and it is stressful.  Though, remember, he is strong, loves you and will help you all along to get through this journey...  He's by your side.

 

I'm sorry that your daughters have come to the conclusion that they have.  They have for one reason... they either haven't read the information, or refuse to accept the facts. We went through the same.  They are wrong totally.  You are doing exactly what you need to be doing.  If they cannot come on board at this time, with your husband for you...  Both you and your husband must just go forward, as you are totally correct in how you are doing this.

 

Congratulations on 49 years, we are 38 years...  You'll get there.. just keep going forward like you are.. you will get there, you and your husband will win this battle.

 

P

[[pa...]]

Formywifeandkids,

 

You are doing the right thing and doing the best you can. My husband is close to 100% healed now, but was a completely different person for close to 3 years. He had the full support of myself and our 5 children, but it was still the hardest thing he ever had to do. I wish your wife could give you the unconditional love you need, but if she won't, keep looking elsewhere for it from others to keep you going because when it is over and you are yourself again, it will all be worth it. Your family is worth it. My husband is happy all the time now and our kids love him more than ever. There is a net gain in that regard.

 

My hub has told me he couldn't have gotten through alive without my understanding and assurance of faithfulness, so I'm sure you are feeling quite alone. I'm praying that things change and are made at least a bit easier in that way. So glad that you are staying away from the added drugs...that's difficult to fight against loved ones who think they are helping you. I was the one who bore that burden in our case. This whole thing is devastating to families in so many ways, but the outcome is positive for those who choose to endure & overcome. I pray your wife will have her eyes opened to the truth and ultimately choose life, your life, your future family life, the renewed life that comes after the fire.

 

Here is a page of short videos I found recently that may provide more outside support for you. The one by Baylissa Frederick(Bliss Johns) shows great compassion. At least, you can get some from her as you need it.

http://vimeo.com/cepuk/videos

 

If your wife would watch these, she may benefit also. There's one about how the extra drugs can possibly prolong recovery by years. That may get her to rethink that route.

 

As always BW  :thumbsup:

You've always been the librarian of the links!

 

Love to you...

[[Mr...]]

I just want to plead with anyone reading this forum to please continue to support your loved ones. I am in position where I have to hide my withdrawals because my wife thinks its all in my head. I have been put out of the house, and I did not get angry, or react or do anything wrong - I refused to take an antipsychotic that had been put in my tea for 5 weeks without my knowledge. I am not schizophrenic or bipolar. I am suffering from withdrawals from diazepam.

 

I cry when I get a chance in private and I am currently living with my parents. If I show any signs of weakness they tell me that I am throwing away my marriage, my job and my life. I was even told to get a life because I phoned a suicide hotline. The pain of withdrawal is an unbearable thing, but I have 4 young children and I have to make it for them.

 

Please, to anyone reading this, understand your loved ones are going through Hell, and support them through it. I turn 40 this year and all I want for my 40th birthday is for my wife to say, "I love you and I will wait for you to get better" but she cannot give me that guarantee. If any of you believe in God please pray for me, as I don't know where else to turn anymore. We have one counsellor in this part of the world who only understands cold turkey from benzos - and she is the "specialist". I cannot make any of my family walk in my shoes and nor would I want anyone to, but to those loved ones on here supporting your partners / children / parents you are very special people.

It makes me sad to hear of such abandonment when you need support and love the most.  It sounds harsh, but the stuff you're getting from your wife and parents reflects their selfish need not to be inconvenienced.  Are they willing at all to try to educate themselves about what you're going through?  It was a difficult thing for me to grasp during my wife's first withdrawal.  She did it under medical supervision and was extremely psychotic for seven and a half months.  I understand your call to the hotline.  Mrs. P traveled that path to near success.  Fortunately, she survived.  The fact that someone was giving you a drug without your knowledge is criminal, and they should be made aware of that.  This Hell will end.  Perhaps before that, your family will take off the blinders put there so firmly by all the medical whores that "practice" for our well being. You are going to find wells of strength within you never dreamed you had.  It will take that strength to deal with the shortsightedness of your wife and parents.  Trust me, you are in everyone's thoughts.

Mr.P

[[Fo...]]

I want to thank you so much for the kind comments. I know I will make it, but when my stress levels are already high coming off the drug to think I will lose my marriage is so hard to accept. I could have cried today though because my mother has told me she now supports me and will read about benzo withdrawal. I broke down and said about how I had to hide all of my pain and how terrifying this was to live day to day. My mum spoke about two of her friends who had lost their children to suicide, one of whom begged on the Friday to be admitted to the local mental health hospital, was refused, and hung herself the following Monday. I could not kill myself, not least because of the trauma it would cause my children, but also because it would leave the echoes that I was delusional and that if I had taken the big pharma drugs I would have been better. Even my GP does not believe I am in benzo withdrawal. It is truly shocking.

 

Thank you all again for your support. God bless.

[[Mr...]]

I want to thank you so much for the kind comments. I know I will make it, but when my stress levels are already high coming off the drug to think I will lose my marriage is so hard to accept. I could have cried today though because my mother has told me she now supports me and will read about benzo withdrawal. I broke down and said about how I had to hide all of my pain and how terrifying this was to live day to day. My mum spoke about two of her friends who had lost their children to suicide, one of whom begged on the Friday to be admitted to the local mental health hospital, was refused, and hung herself the following Monday. I could not kill myself, not least because of the trauma it would cause my children, but also because it would leave the echoes that I was delusional and that if I had taken the big pharma drugs I would have been better. Even my GP does not believe I am in benzo withdrawal. It is truly shocking.

 

Thank you all again for your support. God bless.

 

Dear FMWK,

I was looking at your rate of taper.  It seems reasonable, but slowing down just a bit more may lessen some of the side effects.  Mrs. P tapered off 2.5 mg Klonopin over about 19 months using liquid titration.  It made the process much more manageable.  Trust me, your GP is not a good source of information.  They are blissfully unaware of the damage and destruction they dole out.  My wife has been in contact with an 18 year old girl who is currently on four different psychotropic drugs, one being 4 mg/day Klonopin.  How can anyone deal with that level of sedation and brain damage, especially at that age?  It is patently criminal and my personal experiences have placed most western medical practices under extreme suspicion.  Diet and stress management are going to be key to your full recovery, which is why family support is so important.  Keep an eye on this forum, or others that can be found on FB, for example.  The folks who have walked your path, or accompanied someone they loved on that path, understand and won't judge.  It is what has led to successful benzo freedom for thousands of victims of Pharma's quest to keep us all treated, but not well.

Mr. P 

[[Mr...]]

I want to thank you so much for the kind comments. I know I will make it, but when my stress levels are already high coming off the drug to think I will lose my marriage is so hard to accept. I could have cried today though because my mother has told me she now supports me and will read about benzo withdrawal. I broke down and said about how I had to hide all of my pain and how terrifying this was to live day to day. My mum spoke about two of her friends who had lost their children to suicide, one of whom begged on the Friday to be admitted to the local mental health hospital, was refused, and hung herself the following Monday. I could not kill myself, not least because of the trauma it would cause my children, but also because it would leave the echoes that I was delusional and that if I had taken the big pharma drugs I would have been better. Even my GP does not believe I am in benzo withdrawal. It is truly shocking.

 

Thank you all again for your support. God bless.

 

Dear FMWK,

I am sorry you are so rejected in your most terrible situation by your family.

I am glad your mom is willing to learn about what you go through. I found out what is "wrong" with my Mom when She started to show some strange symptoms but my thinking was rejected by Her doctor and my family, blinded by other doctors which they consulted.

Regardless of that I decided to withdraw my Mom from this drug because in one lucid moment She asked me for it.

After half of taper I found this website and got tremendous support and compassion from here.

I based the taper on Ashton manual and when I mentioned it to 2 medical doctors they ignored it totally, saying that She should have been taking the benzo, they would just add some other drugs and it would work.

Well, it did not.

She was totally drugged up with 12 drugs 3 years ago and She was non functional.

I consulted about the drugs with my friend MD - asking which ones are safe to just stop taking (AND I have checked it in the medical databases). Now She remains only on betablocker and tiny amount still reduced from piracetam (this one suppose to reverse some of lorazepam caused cog-fog according to what the MD prescribing it originally thought).

 

She still has a lot of horrible symptoms and suffers a lot in all areas of Her life but is much better than when She was "treated".

 

I never use "strong" word which I see Mr. P. used above and I agree with him this time that the word he chose is correct. Doctors forgot how huge responsibility they have over the patients entrusted them by society.

Unfortunately the prestige and income attracts many unapropriate people to  medical profession.

 

You are RIGHT that you refused taking antipsychotic. You are RIGHT that you don't accept your family need of being compliant. They want to have no problem with your wd so they choose to believe doctors.

Where is their heart?

 

I am glad that your mom is willing to learn about everything.

It is breaking for my entire life to see how much my Mom got harmed by the drug. And you are so loving and generous that you choose to tough it up FOR THEM even they seem be caring just for theirs comfort and you are feeling so horrible inside without even a right to express any need.

 

I hope and pray that your mom will stand on your side. And that the rest of family will SEE that you are saying the truth, not the doctors (sadly).

I will NEVER take any drug without life threatening circumstances after this experience. I will NEVER trust drugs, like I never did, fortunately.  Hang in there. I read your posts from the beginning, did not answer before because I was hoping it will change faster (your family). Let's see how your mom enters the truth about your life now. Please, keep us posted here. You will be in my prayers from now on. Mrubar 

[[Fo...]]

Thank you so much Mrubar for your kind words and your prayers. I asked God for a miracle in all of this, and I may have got it. I hope so. When my wife put the olanzapine in my tea I was on it for a total of 11 weeks including time to get off it and this left me with severe burning in my head. The docs told me it was a symptom of anxiety (could not be drug withdrawal...obviously). I was unable to make any cuts and since I get my diazepam prescribed could not updose, so I looked for natural anti inflammatories and found curcumin. I also suffer from bad depression so I began taking the curcumin, not knowing that it also potentiates diazepam. Because of this my daytime dose lasts longer and I was able to cut again. I realise this is something of a false economy as I am probably on a higher dose of diazepam than I am taking, but it means that I can taper again and still work my way off this drug using a natural substance.

 

I will pray for your mum and wish her a speedy recovery, and one day it will be our privilege to appreciate the simple things in life on a spiritual level that only those who have suffered can understand. God bless all.

[[Mr...]]

Thank you so much Mrubar for your kind words and your prayers. I asked God for a miracle in all of this, and I may have got it. I hope so. When my wife put the olanzapine in my tea I was on it for a total of 11 weeks including time to get off it and this left me with severe burning in my head. The docs told me it was a symptom of anxiety (could not be drug withdrawal...obviously). I was unable to make any cuts and since I get my diazepam prescribed could not updose, so I looked for natural anti inflammatories and found curcumin. I also suffer from bad depression so I began taking the curcumin, not knowing that it also potentiates diazepam. Because of this my daytime dose lasts longer and I was able to cut again. I realise this is something of a false economy as I am probably on a higher dose of diazepam than I am taking, but it means that I can taper again and still work my way off this drug using a natural substance.

 

I will pray for your mum and wish her a speedy recovery, and one day it will be our privilege to appreciate the simple things in life on a spiritual level that only those who have suffered can understand. God bless all.

 

Dear FMWK,

Thank you for your response. I am glad you found the curcumin helping your situation. Your private miracle happened.

Since you mentioned a depression, I wanted to tell you that my Mom found a herbal antidepressant and adaptogen working for Her very well. It is well researched and shows antidepresant strong activity - without its side effects. Maybe you could try it? It is Rhodiola rosea (Arctic root), we used the original one from Sweden but later switched to other brands, easier accesible.

You are doing great in managing all these horrible stresses and betrayals (putting a DRUG to your tea sounds criminal EVEN if your wife thought that you don't know what you were doing. She showed she did not know in fact.

Severe burning in your head is a common wd symptom - I see people complain about it quite often on this forum, strange that doctor did not know it but obviously they really don't know things as much as they think.

THE most important now is that you will get off the diazepam and the rest will be JUST to survive the months after wd. My Mom is in a wave now and there is not much anyone can do for Her - it is so much hurting inside.

Hopefully you will get more understanding and support from your mom.

I truly don't know how your wife can be so cruel. Didn't she say "for good and bad" when she married you?

Well, she maybe need more time to figure things out and will come to help you.

One day they will all appreciate your courage, strength and love shown in your choice of survival this hell alone FOR THEM.

 

 

[[Ca...]]

FMWK

 

If your mother has Internet access she is welcome to join BB and read a lot Of first hand stories.

If not, you could print some of the success stories for her.

Most of them list the depths of the withdrawal but also show that we heal.

 

Just a suggestion .

 

Carol

[[Fo...]]

Thanks Carol, I was thinking this forum would be the best place to start. God bless you.

[[er...]]

 

what word do you not want to use?  criminal?  why not?  it's the perfect word to use in these circumstances .  the more research i do the greater my disbelief.  my hub recently confided in me that at one point he was on 7 or 8 drugs.  and no one thought "hey, maybe the drugs are CAUSING the problems" ?!    a 6 year old would be able to figure that out!

 

most of us, in our jobs, are held accountable.  our mission, whatever we do, is to serve our clients/customers/consumers with their best interests in mind.  that these drsfeel free to make up scientific data and harm and even kill their patients- criminal and nothing less!

 

be well, all

 

erin

[[pa...]]

One of the members on BB recently posted she had a DNA Genetic Test, to test her enzyme levels.  This particular test determines how one metabolizes medications/chemicals.  The test confirmed exactly what was suspected with the problems she encountered from benzos.

 

I read further up on the net about this and found this quite interesting.  I am no advocate for medications at all, though, it's a darn shame no one was given this opportunity before being prescribed this crap or anything else.  I have forwarded the information to a few by PM, thought I should post the link here also:

 

http://www.consumer-health.com/services/NewGeneticTestsHelpDoctorsPrescribetheRightMedicineforYou.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[Mr...]]

 

what word do you not want to use?  criminal?  why not?  it's the perfect word to use in these circumstances .  the more research i do the greater my disbelief.  my hub recently confided in me that at one point he was on 7 or 8 drugs.  and no one thought "hey, maybe the drugs are CAUSING the problems" ?!    a 6 year old would be able to figure that out!

 

most of us, in our jobs, are held accountable.  our mission, whatever we do, is to serve our clients/customers/consumers with their best interests in mind.  that these drsfeel free to make up scientific data and harm and even kill their patients- criminal and nothing less!

 

be well, all

 

erin

 

Erin, I think they are just dumb. Arrogant because of theirs prestigious place in society (low educated society.The lower education is in a country population the easier it is to rule it or manipulate it). I meant the "whores" word. I agree about the right placing it under these circumstances. They are ethically corrupted just like mentioned in above post - for prestige and wealth (in U.S.) they prescribe without checking it out.

Maybe I am too naive but still it is very hard for me to believe that they do it KNOWING what they do. I think they trust the system (money driven - wrong from definition if you want to think about it) because the system MAKES them great. The system makes everything convenient for them, so they just close theirs eyes when they should keep them wide open. They ignore patients report, they ignore other professionals, especially from countries where education field attracts people by theirs sincere interest in the subject they dedicate their live to, not the salary they will get for doing it. Profesisionals like for example  prof. Ashton.

I, personally, don't know anybody who chooses to be a criminal consciously. They want to "cheat" the ethical part of theirs profession, being focused on making money instead of helping people. They are adored and worshipped (and blindly trusted) so majority of them don't feel obligated to check this out and they just being gods in theirs minds.

 

I think the word "criminal" was used to describe the action of drugging someone up behind his back (putting the drug to someone's tea KNOWING well that the person would not take it willingly).

Also, I agree with the use of "criminal" word you suggest. Doctors are obligated to learn about new scientific information. Medical doctors cannot "run" scientific trials. Clinical trials are not a science. Just statistics.

Only in U.S. people believe that M.D.s are educated to be incorporated to scientific institutions team. They are separate professions and the education for both are distinctively different . If you have read/watch U.S. news few years ago, how some high positioned MDs ruined impeccable scientific institution - you would agree with me.

The fault I see in MDs is the arrogance as first - because MANY of them is informed about Ashton work and they ignore it. THey think they know better. They are already gods (they think they are).

 

I was the one who wanted to sew the doc which put my Mom on 12 drugs 4 years ago when everything cad started. When I talked to the lawyer then, he said that I may win but my Mom would never get ANY service from ANY MD in the city She leaves.

I am going to fight as I can against benzos and ignorance of medical community. But I am not a judge, and it is very hard for me to believe that anyone would do this to another human well knowing what he/she is doing.

I don't respect them. I am not using them (unless I need a surgery). I don't use drugs. I will try to push them to learn.

That is how I view it.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

My Mom started today Her 8Th month of recovery. As someone else stated on BBs - I can rate Her improvement from 0-10%, depending of the day. Slow but hopefully irreversible recovery. Stay strong and all the best for you, Mrubar

[[Mr...]]

Just a quick report... Mrs. P continues to improve.  She suffered a bit of a set back when she cut her AD a bit too much.  Mostly physical symptoms, but also some of that wacko head stuff that happens as well.  She improves on some level everyday.  Her fibro pain is still a challenge for her, but the benzo madness is gone.

I notice not much comment lately, and I hope that is a good sign.  I hope everyone here is doing well. 

 

Mr. P

[[er...]]

hope it's a good sign as well.

 

i have been involved with other sites and blogs lately.  these are about overhauling and rethinking all mind drugs.  very powerful ideas- like, the data behind the drugs being skewed and false.  and the following basic notion- why on earth, , to change what you want to improve about your mood/mindset/behavior, would it make sense to chemically alter your brain?!  these ideas i have always held.  i've always believed in "mental health" but never in "mental illness".  i had to get on board a bit because of all that my husband was doing but i was never a believer.  i am getting involved in the political angle- whatever i can do mostly anonymously. for now.  read up, people. we are in this mess because we were bamboozled by the system, by big drug companies and the doctors who are in bed with them. made up science, made up diagnoses...

 

my husband finally believes what i have always known.  he is using  the power of his mind, god given to us all, to change what he does not like.  awesome attititude.  horribly ashamed.  he's 10 months off third benzo taper and just about done with his a/d taper.  he feels more amazing than he has in 20 years. god help this to continue forever.

 

i will post more about his feelings on the other side  when i feel more secure about the future.

 

for now, blessings and hugs and healing to you all.

 

love erin

[[bo...]]

Surely society is over medicated for things like anxiety. I know I was. My own fault. But you don't believe in mental illness at all? Have you ever been around a severely autistic child or a schizophrenic who never took a drug in their life? What about Alzheimer's? Ive spent a good deal of time around folks diagnosed with these conditions and there is something amiss somewhere. Seems like an illness to me. What about neurologic disorders? Because the brain is just a collection of neurons .Do you believe in epilepsy ,Downs syndrome, parkinsons, ms? Just curious and not looking for a big fight. But the position that there is no such thing as mental illness seems a tad extreme. Of course whether it should be treated chemically is another issue entirely.

[[er...]]

hi.  had a well-thought out reply but accidentally deleted it.  will try again-

 

i believe in severe (not weird kid on the spectrum) autism, dementia, ms, anything chromosomal like downs, of course- anything with science-based and objective tests.

 

i know people are at times very sad, overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, jumpy, overly analytic, sleep-deprived.  i do not believe in turning these human feelings into disorders.  i do not believe in GAD, depression, bipolar, almost all cases of scizophrenia  (spelling?) , addiction as disorder...  to change unhealthy behaviors change your mindset, attitude, spirituality, lifestyle, environment.  get help through books, online or other people.  take responsibility.    being able to use our minds is what makes us human and not animals.  to paraphrase people far smarter than i, to pour chemicals on these behaviors is not healing or medicating- it si becoming stoned.

 

wishing you well.  enjoy your day,

 

erin

[[4l...]]

Erin - I disagree respectfully.  You obviously have never been exposed to many people with disabilities, even people who are not medicated or stoned as you define it or children who also suffer.  These people cannot as you say just change their mindset or attitudes.  Mental illness (long or short-term) is a real thing even if you choose not to acknowledge it.  Just because there isn't any current science/objective test to define the tiny nuances of the brain doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

 

It is easy to point fingers at big pharma too when you are healthy (I have done my share as well).  Many people on this forum do take responsibility, they have probably tried to make lifestyle changes and tried alternatives in books, online and others before heading to the doctor looking for help.  My husband did.  Kudos to you for not ever having to take a drug and kudos to your husband for finally being drug free.  I have been blessed as well, but what I have learned from this experience is that yes, drugs are not perfect and are probably over-prescribed; however, they do help many people and perhaps need to be coupled with alternatives, education and monitored for a much shorter term especially with mental illness.  I find your stance to be very narrow minded.  If you ever walked a mile in your husbands shoes or anyone else on this forum, I wonder if your decisions would be altered... I wonder how it would feel.  Let's hope you or I never have to.  I do not judge anyone for taking a pill to feel normal or better again when their pain is a reality.  I also think that while big pharma is completely flawed, it is also trying to heal.  Look at how far they have come with cancer treatments. 

 

Like Bobo, I am not looking for a fight, but find it sad what you said and that you do not believe in mental illness.  I think this is why so many on this forum do feel ashamed and ostracized because people like you do not believe what they feel is real.

 

[[am...]]

To not believe that the brain can have something wrong with it that can cause mental illness is extremely narrow minded. it is an organ just like any other human organ and they can sometimes not work properly just like a heart or a kidney, etc. 

[[bo...]]

I would say that I probably agree about 80 or 90 percent with what erin posted.  Although some people may need medication, most of those mood disorders she listed do not really rise to the level of a true mental illness in MOST CASES and could certainly have been handled without medication.  In fact, I'm certain many would agree with me that I wish I had never taken these stupid benzos and could have dealt with my anxiety with other non-medicinal ways.  That said, given that I have taken the meds, the one thing that drives me up a wall is for the same people who recognize the true poison these meds can represent then to deny the serious damage they can do to the brain, and in effect tell people going through benzo withdrawal to just buck up and use the power of mind over matter to snap out of it.  Sure, some folks can do that but some simply can't.  I'm still tapering but am low in dose and suffer some tough symptoms that I can't will myself out of.  Sure, I can try to stop my obsessive thoughts, or power through my anxiety.  But I can't just will my pulse rate down, or remove the changes to my vision this crap has caused. I'm still working and taking care of responsibilities the best I can, but not all folks can do it.  They simply can't.  Some can't even stand up or bend their fingers. For crying out loud there was a guy on here who was bleeding through his skin his BP was so high.  That's not a matter of will.

 

When somebody tells me to relax and take the bull by the horns so to speak, I do try.  But I can't help but think that sounds a lot like my therapist who told me to just cold turkey, spend a week in Hawaii to deal with my anxiety, and come back good as new.  In this case, the people who hold the "benzos as poison" view sometimes share the same point of view about withdrawal as the psych community. 

[[er...]]

ok, ok.  first of all, the reason i am super qualified to say what i say is that i have walked miles and miles and miles in the shoes of all of you...  if i let anybody diagnose me i would be classic ocd- i have it all- the checking, handwashing, the patterns,  good numbers, bad numbers, analyzing conversations over and over and over and not sleeping much  because of it. the list is endless.    but i know with my heart and mind that all the diagnosing and labeling and certainly drugging and excusing all by throwing every quirk and every unhealthy thought into a big pot of "mental illness" is harmful.  i know which of my thoughts are real and which are irrational. i believe in the power of my mind.  i would never ruin my life, the way my husband and so many others did( with the help of evil drug companies and drug commercials and doctors) by hiding behind a label of mental illness and telling the whole word- it's an illness. just like aids or cancer.  it's not and i know it.  and deep down i think most people know it.

 

i am in fact not narrow- minded at all.  i am honest and open-minded and strong.    i am trying to open people's eyes and show them how strong and resilient they can be.  and btw my husband who put me through absolute hell agrees with me 100%.    but he would never listen to me- he had to discover the truth for himself.  and now he has.

 

i said i believe in mental health.  i believe our minds are powerful and should let us live our best lives.  and  drugs are no part of mental health. maybe in .0000001% of cases.  or something like that.    almost nobody starts out truly crazy.  drugs make crazy.

 

i am so, so pleased that drug companies have come so far with cancer research.  but that does not excuse their criminal behavior in the field of mind drugs.

 

and someone mentioned children... do you know what we are doing to our kids, labeling half with made-up adhd and drugging so many of their developing minds ?!

 

wishing everyone health and wisdom

 

erin

[[da...]]

To not believe that the brain can have something wrong with it that can cause mental illness is extremely narrow minded. it is an organ just like any other human organ and they can sometimes not work properly just like a heart or a kidney, etc.

 

The problem is that is no true scientific way to diagnose and treat with drugs a " mental illness". Alzheimer, epilepsy and others in this category are something else.

Please do not judge so easily somebody as ignorant. Sometimes we take for granted so easily things we hear over and over as mental illness.

By the bible of psychiatry I could be diagnosed as schizophrenic, clinically depressed even bi- polar. Luckily nobody locked me up yet.

[[pa...]]

Just a quick report... Mrs. P continues to improve.  She suffered a bit of a set back when she cut her AD a bit too much.  Mostly physical symptoms, but also some of that wacko head stuff that happens as well.  She improves on some level everyday.  Her fibro pain is still a challenge for her, but the benzo madness is gone.

I notice not much comment lately, and I hope that is a good sign.  I hope everyone here is doing well. 

 

Mr. P

 

Hi Mr. P,

 

You and Mrs. P were on my mind these last few days, wondering, hoping and thinking all is going well for both of you.  I'm so happy to have read your post with all.  I was about to send a PM to you to inquire, and then I read!!  Thank goodness.  I pray all keeps going forward in a smooth direction, and that the fibro lessens, and I'm sure it will, as several have been affected with this pain from these drugs.

 

My best to you both.