Happy Tripping TAC

*Depending on the state you might want to not read this post*
Finally decided to up and get a benzodiazepine RX - lorazepam specifically. I don't expect that it'll become a problem, particularly because I've decided to use it for strictly medical/therapeutic reasons, and only on important occasions.
It's good that it's at least a limited script. The trouble comes when you come into a large quantity of benzo in which you're free to self-medicate with. At first I used it just like you said, then it became a weekend thing; a replacement or potentiator for a friday night opie. Then it became the evening beer, first thing I do when I walk in the door. That's pretty much where it stabilized. Some particularly bad times precipitated by something would see me consume 15mg diazepam in a day, but normally it's about 7 total; 3.5 when I get in, maybe a bit more later.
The thing is, if I'm somewhere for a prolonged period of time and I don't have it; I'm Screwed! Also it makes waking up harder, to some degree. Sometimes it's not apparent and sometimes you feel like a lead weight. Even short half-life benzos/non-benzos (zopiclone) do it for me. Another important to mention effect of benzos I've read but not seen much on hereand felt quite a bit first-hand, is the propensity for them to give symptoms
just like the flu; and not from w/d or taking too much, just a regular day. Weakness, upset stomach, guts inside out, cold sweats, hot flashes, rapid heartbeat. It's definitely not the actual flu, as it occurs often enough (but not regularly).
Basically if you feel like a lead weight in the morning, or feel any flu-type symptoms, back the f-off; it's a pandora's box of a slippery slope. Once you get going on it, it sort of takes care of itself.
Word. Hell... one of the most shocking, eye-opening, transcendent experiences of my life was had completely sober. (I woke up from a nap, and directly thereafter for some unknown reason proceeded to have an INTENSE DMT-breakthrough level spiritual awakening.)
Ya no kidding, my most powerful experiences are either dreams or catalytic life events (just had one). I always found with psychs that a low dose would show me just as much as a high dose would; it was all a matter of how receptive I was and what was in the air at the time.
You don't want it to become a problem. Benzos are great when used occassionally, I find them to be far superior to any other class of meds for anxiety and panic, but getting off them after getting addicted is not something you want to experience.
True words. For chronic anxiety benzos are definitely not the way to go; you need a preventative med, a benzo is just for acute attacks, and even then kinda suck. Keeping the attack from happening is so much better than trying to numb it out. Also I thought using benzos as an alcohol replacement was the way things worked with me, as my whole family drinks in the evenings, but alcohol just isn't my thing (too many side effects, fast metabolism, hangover in the middle of a drinking session, etc.). Well it does relax me, but it's taken me a ridiculously long time to realize how much my congnition has been affected. I used to have an amazing memory, and now, as my grades reflect; not so much. Still smart, can talk a prof's ear off about something most in the class don't have a clue about, but remembering every lecture slide when it comes exam time isn't something I can do like I used to be able to.
After the last 2 week's events I saw a shrink, agreed that pregabalin and mirtazapine were no good for me, admitted my self-medication of diazepam, and sucked up the fact that maybe I should inhibit some serotonin reuptake. Obviously this leaves my empathogens off the list of things I like to experience around the holidays, and for the next long while. After a few days, I already feel a bit better (could be placebo), but I find waking up in the morning isn't as dreadful or terror filled, I'm generally less anxious, but without the dulling effect akin to benzos. I've begun tapering the diazepam, and I know I have a way to go but I hope to be done by the time the next semester begins. Without the SSRI I doubt I'd be feeling like this, or feel completely able to drop the benzo. Even if it is placebo, the SSRI gives me a feeling like something else is in the works, and I'm not depriving my system of something it 'needs'. It's a substitution, but a good one, and in time I'll drop it too.
Funny of all things, school is what makes me realize what benzos actually do. Outside school I'm completely functional, to the best I ever was, but higher level processes and memory are more easily affected. Just be aware; grades are a better indicator than you'd think. OTOH, as we all know; they're complete bullshit.
I feel as though I've really gotten to know some of you and even tried to cheer you on in tough times and congratulate you for the better ones. Rarely do I get to have an honest, non judgmental talk with someone about psychedelic use; usually people either don't wanna talk about it or if they do they only wanna hear the more theatrical terrence mckenna style tripping stories with the whole shebang rather than have fully fledged meaningful conversations.
What i'm trying to say is- I love you guys

Ditto man,
I know what you mean. Even with smart people who aren't completely absorbed in myth, I'll talk about psychedelics and therapeutic use and they'll say something along the lines of "Now there's a good idea for Christmas; we can serve MDMA instead of wine and dance around the fireplace". Meaning well, and they're just joking, not belittling a proven therapy, they have no perspective of what the experience is actually about. I'm not sure how long it's going to be before psychs are known to have more to do with quiet introspection/thoughts/feelings than 'crazy colours'.
The other side are the ones who treat them like stimulants; like taking 40mg of 2C-E and going to a party or running around the streets; jeesh. In a way I wish I had more of that in me, lack of fear/inhibition.
No winter break for me yet, I am working my hiny off to finish off my to-do-list before the end of the semester. But overall, despite the occasional requisite bummer day, I am doing very well, & feel very successful.
Good to hear man. My first semester was my best; I did have 2 arts courses so the workload wasn't as intense, but I think the initial enthusiasm helped too. It does wear off though, second semester I had harder courses, and was getting used to the place. My marks dropped off because I just lost that initial drive, you gotta try to keep it going, or at least don't just let yourself flop down and relax.
I've got a physical chem exam in a couple days; scared shitless. Had the worst prof too; just droned on reading his course notes. Phys/chem/math courses have to be done with active examples; reading theory and formulas is absolute garbage. Anyways I'll be glad when this one is over. Don't take phys chem unless you have to. If Roger's around he'll likely back me up on that one

Hope you're well buddy, saw you might be leaving for a bit, no need to reply for this, much love bro
So I've been gone a while, first it was mid-terms and assignments, and it just flowed into the last 2 weeks. My best friend was in a major car accident and has a major traumatic brain injury. It wasn't known for sure if he was going to live, and the jury isn't fully in on what kind of recovery to expect, but that the timeline will be long. So that sent me for a loop, he is my oldest and at times has been my only 'real' friend. We've known each other since we were 3 and I can't recall much time in which I didn't know him. He's always been the one I've gone to when I was down an out and didn't have anyone else in the world. He still lives in my hometown and we don't see each other too often anymore, but the thought of him not being in my life at all was absolutely devastating. My tear glands got one hell of a work out for a solid week there, and then I kind of turned around. It took time to sink in that he is in fact still alive and in time I will be able to see him again.
I was a complete basket case and when I got back to uni I got an appt. with a shrink, and spilled my mental history and diazepam. He didn't ask about stims/psychs and I didn't tell; seems kind of irrelevant anyway. Going in there I knew the only thing that is going to be of any good to me is an SSRI. I've been through the SNRI thing a long time ago; too edgy, no benzos obviously. It took me a few years to let the SSRI hang-up go. The idea that they numb you out, make you emotionally flat, third hand gossip about supposedly irreparable damage to the 5-HT system; basically all the reasons you read about on BL about why they're bad. Oh, and you can't trip on them.. doors bang shut.
Oh well, I'll sacrifice my sporadic empathogen use and see where this takes me. Obviously a few days is not enough, and any effect I feel now is likely caused by getting over the crest of bawling my eyes out all the time.
I do notice waking up is much less sharp, or filled with dread. It gives me a method to actually get off the benzos. It might be placebo, but I don't think lack of fear upon waking would be present in that case. Either way it seems to work and hopefully it keeps ramping up while the benzo ramps down.
What is that?? I've seen it before, and in course material, but I can't for the life of me remember its name.