Yuba,
Lyrica is a tough one. It's a very pleasant feeling- I think I'm so partial to it due to having suffered severe anxiety and panic attacks -long before I even understood what anxiety and panic attacks were.
Lyrica also helps my pain more than any other medication, including opiates--both oral and even IV heroin.
The withdrawal from it, is like no other for me as well. I find the withdrawal worse than opiate withdrawal -- due to the extreme, unrelenting anxiety. I am unable to calm myself for even a minute.
I pour sweat, feel like I'm losing my mind, pace, rock and cry. It's just awful.
I have gone through very severe opiate w/d more times than I could possibly count. I've been through two traumatic, cold-turkey detoxes from opiates. To the bitter end. I still find the withdrawal from Lyrica worse.
If you do a simple taper when you see you're running out, it prevents that horror. Have you ever googled Lyrica withdrawal and read any of the many stories about it?
Some people swear there is no withdrawal from Lyrica. All of it is in our heads apparently. Yeah right! There most definitely is withdrawal from Lyrica. It's just some people don't experience it. I have no idea what the variables are that make it that way.
I hope you're having a great day Yuba. Sending you well wishes