anyone else's brain feel like mashed potatoes after quitting benzos?

[behindblueeyes]

Hello all.

It's been close to 2 months after quitting klonopin use, and although the acute withdrawal is over, my cognition function is still to a great deal hindering many aspects of my life. For example:

-My concentration and focus is horrible, and forget multitasking.
- It's difficult for me to maintain an intellectual conversation.
- I'm more emotional in some aspects, and more numb in others. It's still very hard for me to find pleasure in social activities (except shopping, that's about the one thing that gets my dopamine going).
-My general anxiety is still pretty high, although there's definitely noted improvement from a few weeks ago.
-I'm so freakin tired (although I did move to the nightshift, but I find myself chugging energy drinks and coffee a lot).

I'm not sure if this is me returning to baseline or still damaged from the pill popping.

I know it hasn't been that long, but is there anything to help things along?? I feel like it's hindering my social interactions quite a bit, and some tasks at work that require brain function are like pulling teeth for me to get through.

I go see my doctor in a few days, and am getting desperate for something to help me along (of course nothing illegal or more benzos).

Thanks!

 

[CosmicG]

I am in the same boat right now. Though I have not completely stopped I have tapered to the point where I probably could go without. I had always heard taking benzos damages cognitive abilities while on them, but they actually improved my focus and concentration at work. Now that I have cut back its very difficult for me to perform the same. I am experiencing pretty much identical symptoms as you are coming off of Xanax and Etizolam. Glad I saw this thread, I literally was about to post an identical one.

 

[behindblueeyes]

I am in the same boat right now. Though I have not completely stopped I have tapered to the point where I probably could go without. I had always heard taking benzos damages cognitive abilities while on them, but they actually improved my focus and concentration at work. Now that I have cut back its very difficult for me to perform the same at work. I am experiencing pretty much all of the same symptoms as you coming off of Xanax and Etizolam. Glad I saw this thread, I literally was about to post an identical one.

How long have you been on them?

I know it gets better with prolonged abstinence, and I can say with experience that I'm noticing improvements as time goes on (subtle, but there), but with regards to performing duties at work it's very frustrating. I'm pretty sure people look at me sometimes like "wtf is she trying to say??" I sometimes wonder the same thing about myself.

 

[CosmicG]

I have been prescribed Xanax for about a year now, before that Ativan so two years total on prescribed benzos. I was still having anxiety issues or so I told myself, and instead of talking to my doctor about it I began self medicating combining Etizolam with Xanax. That has been going on for about four months now. I ran out of Etizolam for a few days and had to stop cold turkey bringing on horrible unexpected withdrawals that I was not prepared for. Xanax didn't really help much as technically Etizolam is not an actual benzo, though it may as well be.

So now I am down to taking 1 milligram of Xanax per day, .5 taken in the morning and .5 before bed. I have Etizolam again because I ordered more while going through withdrawal, but have only been taking a milligram here and there to help me if my xanax isn't cutting it. I am prescribed ninety pills a month but blew threw thirty of them in four days because the Etizolam withdrawal was so bad at least for me mentally. So now I am limited in the amount of Xanax I can take otherwise I'll run out before my next refill at a pharmacy that I am already red flagged at I am assuming.

I want this cycle to end. I want my life back! But back on topic I am right there with you. I am passed the worst of the withdrawal but still not quite myself. I think time is the answer. I know Klonopin is much longer lasting so it may just take a little longer.

 

[bingey]

Negrogesic should be in this thread , he used to have a +500 mg IV diazepam habit (I know sounds crazy) and I think he was left with permanent tics/twitches after tapering down to zero.

 

[nygiants1313]

Only quit opiates before not benzos but just wanted to say you should be extremely proud of yourself and just maybe you need a lot more time, and should really work the brain hard when it comes to memorization along with other areas. The brain is amazing and im sure eventually you'll get back to your old ways.

Keep up the great work im sure it was beyond fuckingg difficult and you deserve mad props.

I just air fived you!!!

 

[nygiants1313]

Negrogesic should be in this thread , he used to have a +500 mg IV diazepam habit (I know sounds crazy) and I think he was left with permanent tics/twitches after tapering down to zero.

Holy fuck balls thats some shit.

 

[CosmicG]

Yeah that does sound crazy. I could definitely see how a habit like that could leave you permanently damaged. However I still feel that over time the brain will heal itself given the necessary reprieve.

OP, how long have you been taking the Klonopin and in what dosages? I can relate to the stresses of work making things more difficult. Just forming complete sentences can be a struggle, as sometimes they come out sounding like half-thoughts. I know what I want to say but can't think of the correct words to use though I can feel them on the tip of my tongue. Or I just get tongue tied and end up sounding slow. Which is honestly how I have been feeling. I have always been spacy but...