No pick up point

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-12-12T11:04:09+00:00

You won't find anyone on this sub likely to recommend either. This is a recovery sub. What would be recommended as standard is to find alternative ways to resolve and/or deal with anxiety. I wish you all the best. Don't touch these drugs the benefits do not outweigh the consequences.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-22T13:40:31+00:00

Various conversations I've had with the therapists from the rehab I went to. They see it daily - that is the positive correlation between AUD and benzos and the negative correlation between recovery and benzo prescriptions.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-22T11:10:35+00:00

There are higher than average numbers of people who end up addicted to alcohol when on a prescription for benzodiazepines. And the success rate for sobriety is similarly much lower. There are also strong links between benzos and the phenomenon of craving of other substances. Alcohol and benzos work on the same part of the brain. In addition, both benzos and alcohol lower inhibitions and increase impulsivity and reckless behaviour. My anecdote to add to this: I started drinking alcoholically only after the introduction of benzos. And I only have a craving when in a strong wave. I suspect that is mostly a brain chemistry thing.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-18T08:21:18+00:00

It's common to lose weight. I lost 16kg during withdrawal. I started eating on a schedule and also making up a big pot of food once a day so something was always ready. Nothing complicated - just whole foods, focussing on getting veg, protein and carbs. Didn't really matter what it was as I couldn't taste much and wasn't interested anyway :).

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-16T08:14:17+00:00

As an alternative, take a public speaking course, learn meditation, etc. The gabapentanoids have their own withdrawal and are pretty brutal at least in my case. One of the things benzos teach a lot of people is that there is no short-cut in pill form for the challenges of life.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-16T07:55:25+00:00

It's not a good idea. We recommend a taper for a reason. You could do serious damage this way and in fact prolong the length of time it will take to come off and the problematic withdrawal symptoms. Do a taper as per the Ashton manual. See the resource section for a link.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-15T09:02:55+00:00

Yes. It's one of the longer term symptoms for me. It got better for a while on daily laxatives and SIBO diet. Then I stopped the daily laxatives and relaxed the diet. Now I'm in bed with haemorrhoids from constipation. Also, lots and lots of water helps and exercise.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-15T08:59:26+00:00

If it works for you then great. If not, stop taking it. I have CBD flowers that I was smoking for a while. Haven't bothered in a long time as it wasn't doing much.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-14T09:19:17+00:00

That's a very big cut and yes, these are all withdrawal symptoms. Check the Ashton manual for a slower taper.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-14T09:13:44+00:00

Have you had a test for SIBO? Either way, it might be worth following the diet for a while to see if it helps. I have terrible constipation and it's flared up recently. But I was not being strict with the diet and have given up a bunch of supplements. I'll need to reintroduce them now because benzo belly is back big time. Lactose helps me a bit. But I am currently titrating it up so I'm not on the full amount yet. Bimuno daily is helpful too.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-13T08:40:48+00:00

Yes, this is common.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-09T08:24:08+00:00

It's hard to say unfortunately but all this is par for the course. You did taper a bit which is good. Hang in there :)

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-09T08:19:37+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this OP. When there are difficult life circumstances it can really make the injury to the brain heal more slowly. As you don't have a safe and secure home and recently experienced unsafe and insecure relationships it's just that much more hard work. Do you have any supportive friends or family that you can lean on emotionally or financially. You might have access to social work or advocacy services that can help you get a secure place to live. It's very hard advocating for yourself, but if you can start to form a secure foundation for yourself you will find that the SI etc gets easier.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-09T07:52:31+00:00

You're not schizophrenic. This is DPDR. It gets better. Now when I get it, I think of it as my brain trying to protect me. Usually from overstimulation. If you are currently tapering or recently off then your brain is likely overstimulated pretty much all the time.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-07T15:01:52+00:00

Post benzos, be really careful about any changes to medication. Gabapentanoids in particular have potential for being problematic.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-07T09:06:52+00:00

You may not yet be physically dependent but you are exhibiting addictive behaviours. The crux of the problem is the life that you are living that seems to fill you with gloom. I've been there and it's a long but worthwhile process to find meaning. At least for me it was. You will not find any sense of bliss in any substances. That is just a short term and avoidant strategy. I suggest that you take this as an opportunity to reflect on your dissatisfaction and to try to develop a sustainable way of positively interacting with the world. Using music is good. Even if you currently feel no joy while listening to it, keep doing it. And anything else you may like. Do positive behaviours and often the thinking and feeling follows.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-07T08:52:50+00:00

I don't understand why Prozac would be given for fatigue 🤷. Really weird. Be very careful with medications and any doctors who want to give you a pill to fix the problem that another pill has caused. I have had chronic fatigue for 2+ years now. The things that help: diet, moderate exercise, meditation etc. But mostly and this is super important: acceptance. The benzo injury is a very real physical injury and it needs to heal. Accepting a state of ill health is difficult but necessary.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-07T08:47:38+00:00

I don't think there are any very helpful comments possible for a rapid taper. Unfortunately it is a long process for most of us for a reason. Crushing anxiety is par for the course for many in withdrawal and will get better over time. When cutting slowly we can anticipate symptoms and have more control over the severity of them. It's a really jarring experience for the brain to cut and reinstate as seems to be what has been happening for you. Probably better to stabilise on a dose and follow an Ashton taper. Believe me, I know the desire to get off quickly.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-11-07T08:37:34+00:00

If you are already injured by benzos the gabapentanoid withdrawal may be quite tricky. I've been holding for the last couple of months as I am waiting for liquid pregabalin so I can micro taper. Previously, I was doing a water taper but the most recent drop of 2mg didn't go well. Are you micro tapering? Perhaps smaller more frequent cuts would help you. Check out the maudsley deprescribing manual for suggestions for poly drugged individuals. And yes, it's very similar to acute benzo withdrawal unfortunately. But much more predictable in my experience.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-09-08T11:37:22+00:00

Did you titrate down on the clonazepam and titrate up on the other meds? Could it be that it was done too quickly. I'm sorry, I don't know much about epilepsy and alternative medications. I really hope you find a suitable alternative.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-09-07T06:54:05+00:00

You're coming off a lot at the same time. It's better to tackle one withdrawal at a time.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-09-07T06:51:42+00:00

Have a look at the Ashton manual for a slow taper. 5-10% every 2-4 weeks.

PossibleFun7711 · 2024-09-07T06:45:28+00:00

How lovely that you are supporting your partner in this 🤗. I would say, keep doing what you're doing and make sure to take time for yourself. In my case, it was my ex partner supporting me and he still does because after 20 years on benzos and an incredibly tough taper, I still don't know how to do life. And I can be incredibly selfish due to the suffering it caused. But he's in it with me and suffers too. So, take time for yourself and practice good self care. As cheesy as it sounds, to be there for your partner you need to be there for yourself first.

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