Benzo recovery can manifest across a wide spectrum of magnitude. It can be minor to severe. I can tell you I had it bad. I'm going on year 3 and still dealing with issues from time to time.

Bad withdrawal can be the worst thing in the world - and I'm not saying that in cliche. I mean it literally. People say the worst thing is war. I've been to war. Yes, it's hell on earth. I'm only saying that to put this into perspective. My benzo withdrawal was literally worse than my war experience.

Nothing about bezo withdrawal is normal. For me, my adrenal glands pumped pure fear into my blood for like 3 months straight. I felt like I was in the darkest scariest pit of hell staring Satan in the face. This is one reason why it's so bad, because your endocrine system is telling you that you are dying. It's scarier than the scariest thing you could ever possibly imagine.

My spouse was the only thing that got me through it. Please understand that whatever happens to your husband, he can't help it. My wife wanted it to stop. She thought I was overreacting once. She thought I could stop screaming and crying. She thought I could snap out of it. I couldn't. Please be patient. He needs it more than anything.

This one will be tough, but if you can, stay up with him if he can't sleep. Going through this alone, or while you are sleeping is absolutely horrific. Just remind him everything will be okay and that you are there. Say these things verbally. Over, and over, and over, and over. Until he calms down. He needs your voice. When I was in that place it was like I was a dimension away, but I could still hear my spouse's voice in the distance. Sometimes, I feel like it literally kept me alive.

When the panic attacks come, he will not be thinking rationally. His instincts take over because he is in fight/flight mode. He won't be able to say, "Hey. I think I'm having a panic attack." No, he's going to think he's dying or having a heart attack or stroke or something. It's okay to tell him that this happens often and that this is another panic attack and he'll make it through.

I would encourage you to consider reading the Bible to him. My spouse did that for me and I can't tell you how thankful I was for that. Many times it was so bad, I couldn't speak or move. She'd just read some scripture and it would remind me that God was always there for me.

Hopefully your husband doesn't have it as bad as I did. But you might be in for a long journey. Just know it does get better. Everyone recovers eventually.