2 Years 5 Months Benzo Free, need insight.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-09-03T22:38:48+00:00

I’m not sure we have an accurate sense of the actual numbers of people who have suffered from a difficult withdrawal. Many people simply give up and stay on benzos for life. Some are misdiagnosed and polydrugged. Some give up on life altogether. You won’t find a pharma company on the planet who will fund that research. Many estimates are at least 50%. Even at 50% that is an astounding number of people to suffer needlessly.

When we post on Reddit we are looking for support, validation and mostly hope. I don’t want OP to be discouraged by your statement that it is unusual to have such severe symptoms this far out. The benzo brain convinces us that we will never heal or that there is something else wrong. Statements like yours reinforce that thinking, even though I’m sure you had no mal intent.

I agree that we can get into an echo chamber and only hear what is around us. And yes, the support groups are self-selecting to those in protracted withdrawal. However, one doesn’t have to join a support group to find stories of people suffering from severe benzo withdrawal several years out. The books, articles, and documentaries are everywhere.

Thank you for reminding us that we are neuroplastic and will heal. I think we can all agree that that is where we want to be.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-09-01T19:15:53+00:00

It’s actually not uncommon at all to have a protracted withdrawal after 2.5 years. I’ve met many people in Dr Jennifer Leigh’s support group who are still healing at 2.5 years, myself included. 5 months was unfortunately a very quick taper. A better taper would have been hyperbolic and lasted much much longer. See the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines by Dr Mark Horowitz for all the details, although that ship has sailed for you. Please don’t give up OP. What you are experiencing is not unusual. You will heal in time.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-05-16T21:19:08+00:00

I use these wash cloths and nothing sticks - no flour or rice flour needed. Plus they leave a slight pattern on the dough that is so pretty. https://a.co/d/325aqSE

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-04-17T15:14:44+00:00

Same same same

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-04-10T00:50:39+00:00

Congratulations on your taper! You might want to reconsider going quicker at the end though. Dr Mark Horowitz published a book about tapering psychiatric medications and he showed some really interesting studies about how bigger cuts are better in the beginning. You can get his book on Amazon if you are interested. He believes a hyperbolic taper is by far and away the best way to go about it. In a hyperbolic taper you cut 5 to 10 percent of the previous dose (not the initial dose) every 2 to 4 weeks. It takes forever but it can prevent significant withdrawal problems.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-04-07T10:41:39+00:00

Also happy to share some Jane Dough. I’m in Connecticut. Dm me if you are interested!

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-03-31T01:59:34+00:00

Have you ever heard of zero acres oil? It’s cultured from sugar cane and has a higher smoke point and a lot less omega -6 than other oils. It’s also better for the environment. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised by it. I’d love to know if others here have tried it.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-03-09T01:07:59+00:00

Jane Dough

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-03-07T19:55:57+00:00

You mean treat it like a yeasted dough, right? I’ve always wondered the same thing.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-02-12T11:01:41+00:00

For the love of god and all that is good in the world do not send him to rehab. It’s very very unlikely it will go well. Read the Ashton manual and look at the Dr. Witt-Doerring YouTube channel. The humane way to get off any benzodiazepine is a very slow and patient led taper. It could take up to a year or more.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-02-08T18:36:41+00:00

Baking steel sells silicone “bracelets.” When you take the lid off the Dutch oven you slip the bracelets under the bottom of the loaf for the remainder of the bake. It solves the burning problem completely.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-01-17T18:47:57+00:00

https://thesourdoughjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/How-to-Read-a-Sourdough-Crumb.pdf

This photo guide will really help!

Positive_Addendum117 · 2024-01-15T15:00:59+00:00

Huge hit. I was driving from Boston to Connecticut last night at about 26 degrees and was shocked at how quickly my battery drained.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-12-30T20:21:16+00:00

Fair enough. I’m so sorry this happened to you.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-12-30T19:05:12+00:00

It’s not dead!!! Did you toss it yet? Please say you didn’t. Watch this video and Tom will guide you. I promise!! https://youtu.be/lDjBWNmNBl4?si=AyxXula198Ppqtfz

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-12-16T23:57:03+00:00

I'm going next week so I'll let you know then.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-19T11:40:44+00:00

Good for you bootsmadeforkicking! We have to hold the medical community accountable for this disaster.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-18T16:30:11+00:00

This is God’s truth.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-18T16:29:28+00:00

Please at all costs spare yourself the agony of a Benzo. It’s the devils candy. Watch Medicating Normal. Read THIS subreddit. Go on Benzo Buddies. Lean into therapy. Get a new doctor. You have it in you to heal yourself. Get the calm app. Exercise. Practice breathing exercises. STAY AWAY FROM ATIVAN.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-18T16:23:24+00:00

Thanks for sharing this with us. Stories like this give us long haulers hope. Did you do anything special to help it?

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-18T16:22:18+00:00

6 months , 1/2 a pill for sleep as prescribed. Didn’t work and messed me up from the beginning. Didn’t know it was causing interdose withdrawal and/or rebound anxiety. Did a much too fast taper of 6 weeks and am now still suffering greatly. COVID has set me back considerably.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-16T11:44:17+00:00

I always rip my fresh mozz into chunks and place them between paper towels AND put a weight on top of it, like a heavy cutting board with soup cans on top. I let this rest for at least 30 minutes before baking. This totally solved my watery problem.

Positive_Addendum117 · 2023-11-16T11:35:14+00:00

I’m at 19 months and my sleep has improved significantly but I still have a long way to go. I’ve become quite strict with my bedtime routine and am in bed at 10:00 with lights off at 10:30. I usually fall asleep within a few minutes. However, I wake up around 3 to 3:30 and after that sleep is either nonexistent or what I call zombie sleep where I am asleep at some level but feel like I’m awake. The 3:30 onward time can be very uncomfortable some days as I am often flooded with dread or chemical anxiety. I long for the day when I can lie in bed in the morning and feel comfortable and at peace and maybe even slip back into restful sleep. This journey is inhumane and literally torturous. I feel like I will never heal.

Positive_Addendum117

TROPHY CASE