2 weeks benzo free today! But....

[agepoyo]

So finally I'm off benzos.

I was on 40mg Diazepam daily in January and tapered down to 5mg by the end of March. I stopped taking them on the 6th! :D
I'm incredibly proud of myself, and I feel much better for not taking them anymore but all of a sudden I've started feeling extremely anxious and agoraphobic, like twice as bad as before. I feel tense, shaky and I'm worried about everything, I don't know what to expect at all from this point forwards. I know in my heart I do not want to take anymore benzos as they've caused me more harm than good but it has been a crutch to me for the past 2 years.

I just want to calm down and to feel somewhat 'normal' - I didn't expect to feel 100% but again I've underestimated them. Just feeling a bit hopeless rn...

 

[FAD]

nice. stay strong and give it at least 1 year to recover...it should pass....but if u feel really hopeless and depressed, maybe AD treatment is needed perhaps.

 

[cire113]

its normal to feel hopeless, agoraphobic, severely anxious, and like shit for 100+ days real bad when i quit valium last year; it was utterly horrific how long the bad feelings lasted;

its normal ; settle in for the ride

 

[Jabberwocky]

I am a long time heroin addict in recovery, but i cannot imagine how bad benzo withdrawal must be like. Im so impressed OP, keep up the truly AMAZING work!!!

 

[w0w0mg]

Like the above posters have said - It passes after a few months - sometimes sooner depending on how long + much you were using.
It seems like you're experiencing some nasty PAWS.
Try to do light/moderate work-outs to tire your body.
Also drinking some calming tea would not hurt!

 

[manboychef]

Whatever you do, do not use. It will just prolong this problem.

I tapered down from 10mg xanax, and 90mg temazepam. It has been quite a while and I still have problems with motivation and memory. Hold on, just know it gets better.

 

[AnythingEverything]

Good work. Unfortunately the worst of benzo withdrawal hits a lot of people around week 2-3. Not to be negative but it is normal for things to get a bit worse before they get better. I never got to the better part as I eas completely bedridden and unable to walk for weeks......but you will!!!! Your taper was quite quick but as your dose was quite low so hopefully you will get through the worst of it fairly quickly. Best of luck.

In the case or acute panic attacks or major anxiety, I find beta blockers work extemely well. I take propanolol which was first given to me when I ended up in hospital with a major panic attack. All I wanted so desperately was xanax which of course, due to my history they wouldn't give me but the beta blocker worked amazingly. Within 15-20 minutes I was better. Best thing is, they are non addictive (though I am careful as I worry about my heart becoming reliant) and they don't give you any high but just stop the body physically from being able to reach a state of panic (keeps the HR and BP below a cetain level.)

I wouldnt wish benzo withdrawal on my worst enemy, my latest taper has taken me 3 years to get down to 20mg a day (from 500mg valium or combo with xanax.). Well done and take care of yourself. And keep talking

 

[Moreaux]

I had a 10 year Xanax script that said for me to "take as needed", which I did. When I went to rehab in 2010, I was cut off them cold turkey. I didn't really start feeling bad until around the 40th day, and then things went south quickly. You weren't on them for nearly as long, so your experience shouldn't be as bad as mine. I found that I declined for about 6 months, hit a low, and then it plateaued at that low for another 6 months, then I slowly started to feel better.

When you feel bad, keep in mind that this is temporary, and things will eventually get better. My biggest obstacle was anxiety, it got insane for a while, and then got better. Now, I don't even use medication to manage it. I guess that is the one positive for a hellish benzo PAWS, it forced me to learn how to cope with stress and anxiety lol. Whatever you do when things get tough, do not take a benzo. I recommend seeing your doctor and getting a prescription for Indural (propranolol) as that helps to stop the adrenaline reaction that causes anxiety. It's a beta blocker and not addictive. Use it when you need it - it works better in preventing anxiety attacks than stopping one that has started (because it takes like 20 minutes to start working). Feel free to pm me with questions or to vent, as another poster said, you're in for a ride, but it WILL get better. If at all possible, exercise, eat healthy, and get at least 8 hours sleep (I know, easier said than done), it really does make a world of difference. Good luck!