I celebrated 16 months of benzo freedom on October 23. I am far from healed, but I am seeing good improvement. I am working doing odds and ends jobs for TaskRabbit, and slowly, very slowly, stepping back into my role as a coach, workshop leader and educator. I had attempted to open my office at four months out, and had NO idea what was in store for me. I am glad the first year is behind me. Oh so very very glad.
I won’t list all of my remaining symptoms, as I have many, but I am better, which is all that matters. I am not sure if I will heal 100% but as long as I can function with out too much trouble I will be happy. I pray that one day these drugs are not handed out for long term use. I can’t imagine that none of my doctors informed me that I should not be on this medication for a long time. I was on for 19 years. It did a lot of damage. I have some severe bone and nerve pain still.
There is hope that we get better. If you are in the first year, especially after a cold turkey, hang on. It will get better.
Some days all I could do was to sit in my front yard on a chaise lounge. I was hit hard with both body and mind withdrawal symptoms.
Those who are farther down the healing line tell me that it took two years for things to calm down and three or four to see the most healing.
Matt Samet, the talented author of Death Grip, his tale of benzo madness, took three years to feel better. He still has a few lingering issues but they don’t bother him often. I urge you to pre order his book on Amazon. It’s going to be a wild, luscious read!
You won’t see too many more posts from me as I am getting back into my old career slowly.
Blessings to you all as you fight for your health. It will return.
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer what are your symptoms? I hope you get better I heard it take time but have you try exercise or sauna you have to sweat does numbness is your symptom as well?
I still burn, tingles, have bone pain, muscle aches and tightness, sweats, fatigue, head pain, head pressure, crazy thoughts, numbness in my arms and hands, tight band on head, bottom of feet pain, blurred vision, depression and anxiety at times, and just a general all over feeling of illness. Like I have the flu or mono. I can’t exercise yet. When I walk up a flight of stairs my legs burn and feel heavy and my heart races. I feel 100 years old sometimes.
Im four month off I still have those symptoms you have to sweat drink a lot of water it takes times Don’t be affraid to walk for 30mn after sauna i get better I sat for 15 mn
Can you drive?
Yes. I had a hard time at first as my DR was pretty bad. I felt like a stroke victim on acid.
I have had a challenging time when I drive into San Fran, as I hate the high rises ( I have a fear of another earthquake. I lived through the ’89 quake and was severely traumatized) but I do get out. My method for coping with all of this was to push, push, push through my fears. Fear is after all, just an emotion, just like happiness is.
Hi dr Jennifer sorry I ask this question are people going through benzo w/d able to a gage to sexual activity will it hurt or make the symptom or can it help you?
Like everything else in wd, it is an individual thing. I am not in a relationship so I can’t speak for this issue. But I have head it revs up some, and soothes others. You will have to find you own way with this one.
Why do this symptom feel like stroke and heart attack will they harm you my doctor me I’m ganna be ok I’m young nothing will happen but I’m still scared of these intense weird symptom this pressure on the right side of my head scares me have you also experience numbness on your left side of your face and chest pain heart feel weird
TU for your feedback…Im 14months off mine and sure helps
to hear your feedback on all this. I still have many of the
symptoms you describe on and off and I dont feel myself yet
either….. you are right you have to push yourself and just cope
the best way you can with living a normal life and do all you can
to make yourself feel better. I also hope the doctors put a stop to
this drug as it is so harnful and I too trusted the doctor that put
me on this and it has made my life hell and recovering from it has
been the worst thing I have ever gone through. So hang in there and
like all of us going through the same issue… we just have to
believe and trust in time it will get better. We should go on 20/20
and let the world know how awful these drugs used for helping
people are not good… and do not help!Thanks for sharing!
Do you sometime feel like a burning sensation in your chest or your heart?
Yes. Often. I get it in my chest, back of arms and spine mostly. I have learned to live with it. Hope it goes away. Have you listened to Bliss Johns video on Youtube? it is soothing and helps you understand it is just wd.
Ok i will watch it
Hi Jennifer I am so pleased to hear how well you doing. You have been an inspiration to use all. Please don’t forget us completely 😉 drop us a post to let us how you are doing. For now god bless and good luck. Xxxxx
I need some help and advice with benzo’s.I live in the us. thank you, Rob Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2012 15:59:55 +0000 To: rtg57@hotmail.com
Hello Jennifer,
I’m a 36-year old psych survivor recovering from an 8-year consumption of various psych drugs, mainly antidepressants but there were also benzos and neuroleptics on the menu. I m 39 months out and still suffer a great deal physically although i feel mentally 120% better. The symptoms you describe sound strikingly similar to mine. I would be very glad to share with you my experience.
Please contact me.
best regards
I am 5 years and 2 months from being forced into an abrupt withdrawal by a psychiatrist who decided my other psychiatrist had been wrong about the diagnosis. I still experience many/most of the symptoms you have described. Add vitamin D3 on the advice of someone dealing with MS has made the most difference besides eating a green diet (no sugar, limited carbs from plant foods, limited dairy). I can function for the better part of many days but still find myself back in bed on some.
Do any of you dealing with symptom like stroke like numbness chest pain head pain specially on the right side left side numbness back pain left arm and leg pain chest tightness enable to breath. Pls
sorry to hear your healing is taking so long, but it does for some of us. Glad you are on a good diet and taking care of yourself. Its a crazy ride, that is for sure.
Could you find anything to alleviate the bone pain? my most distressing symptom at the moment… Any kind of therapy?
Thank you; glad to have found your site as a resource.
I refuse to take anything. I juice with a lot of ginger. I am now resting more and not just pushing through. The only thing I know that helps is time.
Thank you for your response! So you haven’t tried anything “esoteric”, like gluten-free diet, reiki, shamanism, etc….
i had a very good window this summer, but i m now in the midst of an acute wave . I hope the duration of my withdrawal problems (39 months ) didn’t scare you off ; i m really an extreme case and took a laundry list of psychotropic poisons. I was really ill-informed about the dangers of those meds. The most frustrating thing is to feel mentally recovered but impaired by this physical maelstrom!
I m looking for recovery phone buddies at the moment. If you’re interested, feel free to contact me , otherwise, it s perfectly fine!
Hi dr. Jessica how are your symptom now?