I came home from a gentle walk and laid down on the couch. A wave of fatigue washed over me. I could feel every cell in my body react to it. It was almost as if my spirit was leaving my body. It was more than uncomfortable, it was creepy and scary. I had never in my life experienced such a bone crushing fatigue. Little did I know, that from that day forward, fatigue would be my constant companion, for a very long time.
Benzo withdrawal fatigue isn’t like any other fatigue that I know of, and I’ve known a lot of it in my life. In my teen years, I battled mononucleosis. I battled it again for six months in my late forties. I’ve known the exhaustion from sleepless nights from having four children, three-years-old and under, including a set of infant twins. I’ve known the malaise from major surgeries and I’ve lived through the weariness of heartbreak. Everything pales in comparison to the fatigue of benzo withdrawal.
Fatigue is one of the most common benzo withdrawal symptoms. Almost everyone feels it to some degree or another. Doctors are quick to diagnosis us as having CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but we probably don’t. What we have is chemical brain damage that affects nearly every system in the body and the only known cure is time. Lots, and lots, of time.
What can we do if we suffer from benzo withdrawal fatigue? We can respect it and allow our bodies the rest that they need to heal. We can avoid telling ourselves scary stories about it—we don’t let our minds run wild with thoughts of fatal illnesses. We just rest. We curtail our activities to match our current abilities, and we do our best not focus on how small our lives have become. We do our best to focus on the things that we can do, and we give thanks for them.
One of the reasons people turn to vitamins and supplements in benzo withdrawal is to overcome fatigue. However, vitamins and supplements rarely work and they often increase our symptoms. Good nutrition (one ingredient food), rest, gentle exercise when one is feeling up to it, a caring community, a positive attitude, and a dash of creativity and purpose (if we can muster them) help us to ride out the long months of fatigue. Once we turn a corner, we are respectful that our bodies are still healing and we don’t push ourselves to do too much. As enticing as it is to quickly return to pre-withdrawal activities, we need to use caution.
Fatigue is one of the of the benzo withdrawal symptoms that can linger for a very long time. Once it goes away, it can creep back in or reappear suddenly. Don’t let its return scare you or overwhelm you. Ride it out by taking good care of yourself. Remember that benzo withdrawal isn’t about a drug leaving your body, it’s about recovering from the damage that a drug caused. It is a collection of symptoms, a syndrome, that will in time, fade away. Healing isn’t linear in most cases, and setbacks, or waves, can happen. We don’t need to fear the waves; we just need to know that they are a possibility and do our best if they occur.
One day there will a spring in your step, a gleam in your eye, and a smile from ear. In the meantime, take good care of yourself and don’t worry about the fatigue.
Jennifer, thank you for another supportive post! You are so amazing in your efforts to help us along this trip.
Now: “Fatigue is one of the most common benzo withdrawal symptoms. Almost everyone feels it to some degree or another.” I know I have felt a lot of fatigue and mixed with other effects it really robs motivation in many areas.
Thanks again and God bless you and all the folks like me who follow you for your love and support. Dan
Thanks Jennifer for blogging on this symptom, one of my worst. You hit the nail on the head when you said “we do our best not to focus on how small our lives have become”…my sentiments exactly. It’s hard to spend your life between the couch, bedroom and bathroom. I’m unable to exercise or walk much because I have a lot of foot pain so my world is indeed very small. I still find it hard to watch tv or read so I spend a lot of my time in my mind thinking of all the things I plan on doing and accomplishing once I get well….I know it will come one day and I just have to be patient until I can do more. As usual, thanks for all the encouragement and advise that you give us all going through this crazy healing. You give us all hope for a better future
EXACTLY HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR YOU IM 1 1/2 YRS OFF CLON AND GETTING WORSE–EVERYHTING IS SQUEEZING ON ME I.E.LOW BACK, CALVES PERCOLATING. BACK OF HEAD PRESSURE EYES BURNIGN AND WATERING AND MORE
My comment is regarding lamictal. How common is it to add Lamictal when a person is tapering their benzo? Is lamictal effective?
It’s usually considered a better practice of NOT adding more psych meds while in withdrawal. They con’t stop the symptoms and they can make us much worse. Many of their own nasty withdrawal syndrome to cope with as well. A doctor who is educated about withdrawal will usually not prescribe more meds as they know that the only true healer is time.
It can take quite some time before we feel better. I am sorry you have those symptoms. I hope you turn a corner soon!
Your blog on fatigue came a day after I suffered the most debilitating fatigue I’ve ever felt.
I have been off Klonapin for 2 months and am tapering off of the Gabapentin that a Psychiatrist gave me to help with withdrawal.
The Gabapentin withdrawal is just as bad as Benzo withdrawal.
Thank you for your insight.
I thought I was losing my mind!
Hello,
Thank you for all your post. I just found your blog on internet and I am benzo free since july 2012, 4 and half year from now. I am french.
I am still suffering from this extreme fatigue (I had this symptom with anxiety, fears and depression during my withdrawal), that goes away sometimes. At the moment, I am through a very tough one.
Thank you for this post, because I couldn’t find a person who explains so well what I was experiencing. It is so different from a simple fatigue, it is just that I am exhausted as soon as I wake up even if I sleep 8, 9 or 10 hours a day. This fatigue can last sometimes for months. Do you feel that too?
Kind regards,
I just found your blog. My husband is coming of this terrible drug and it’s wrecking havoc on all of our lives. I keep reaffirming him that he will get better and things will be better for us. I’m not letting this drug destroy my marriage or my family! Thank you for this blog
Dear Dr. Leigh,
I am new to your blog. I read an article in the Huffington Post about your experience with withdrawal, but I can’t seem toexperienc find the information about your experience. Also, when I read the blog post about fatigue — written in 2017 — it was scary — because from what I can tell, you went through withdrawal in 2011. Are withdrawal symptoms continuing this many years later? How to I find your original story (and the symptoms you experienced) on your website? Thank you so much.
Terri
My pain management physician prescribed 2 mg of clonazepam for 16 years daily prn to treat RLS following multiple back surgeries. He abruptly took me off it after only 2 months as prescribing regulations in Georgia changed this year. I have come off oxytocin twice (voluntarily ), and I have never experienced anything like this clonazepam withdrawal. It’s been 5 months and I have struggled through every day. I am so weary of fighting this incredible exhaustion. I’m going by to my family practice physician to make sure there is nothing else wrong with me. I’m 59 and my health was pretty good before all this. I’m angry that my doctor got me addicted to this drug and then suddenly took me off it.
Thank you for your article.
Had missed this post earlier… came across it today and what perfect timing ! I have been feeling so fatigued, more so recently at 16 months out than previously. I wake up drained feeling so tired, unplugged, no surge. With very little energy, getting through the day is very challenging. It had been mentioned to me that it was just due to getting older…. give a break… I am 61 not 80 ! I was concerned that it may be a serious health issue . Comforting to know the extreme fatigue is Benzo related and will fade in time. Thank you once again Jennifer for the reassurance 🙂
With Gratitude, Jerry
P.S. Have had extensive medical tests, great news I am healthy and well so the Drs. say.
Jerry, that sounds exactly like what I have been going through with fatigue. It is a relief to hear that it will eventually go away. I’m glad to hear you’re healthy! Dan