Imagine if everyone suffering from benzo withdrawal made a video about the nightmare they are having to survive. Maybe then doctors would take notice that they are harming people, and sometimes killing them, with these drugs.
Lisa faced her fear of someone finding out she was on a psychiatric drug and going through severe withdrawals. She posted this video on Facebook. I post it here with her kind permission.
I hope more of us recovering from the brain damage these drugs cause will speak out about the dangers and speak out about the horrific withdrawal process.
Thank you Lisa for the courage it took to make this and post it. It will help many!
So scared to start the taper. How much clonazepam was Lisa taking per day? And how long were you taking it? I know it affects everyone differently, but I just need to gather as much info as possible…it helps my anxiety to have some facts from a real person who is going through withdrawal.
Thx, Jan
Lisa is one strong, brave woman with a wonderful heart. I am proud to call her (and everyone going through benzo w/d) my friend. The suffering of benzo w/d stories needs to be heard over and over by those who have never known the suffering just as healing stories need to be heard over and over and over by those in w/d.
Bless Lisa for making that video. Clearly she’s still suffering. Thank the good Lord that time does eventually take care of it. I will had her to my prayer list.
It’s painful to watch this video because I know exactly what Lisa is talking about — but it does end! It does. I’m feeling almost as good as new 17 months after stopping .25 Valium. Stay strong everyone. It does end.
Wow!! This is incredible to just hear someone else verbalize so eloquently the hell of what banzos can do to someone. You will be in my prayers, Lisa, andd I too beleive that God cares and He willl see you through this dark night of the soul (and body). Thank you so much for sharing yourself with us. I won’t forget you or your courage.
Thank you Lisa. It is so hard for us to explain the suffering to others , and so hard for others to even begin to understand. What you did took so much energy and determination and compassion, and it really really helps. Ty Lisa x
It is so nice of her to make that video for the public while she is still suffering so. I can relate and am still battling to recover.
Incredible bravery… Lisa brought tears to my eyes. I know this story so well – who else could ever understand suffering such as what we’ve had to endure? Thank you… I know how hard it must have been to make that video, and I am so grateful.
Thank you Lisa very much and Jennifer for sharing. Very familiar ; ( Scary for sure!! Frustrating 2 : / The sleep still bothers but try to think its that n Its OK and will be.
Posted this on Lisa’s video but want to put it here so she sees how brave she is.
10 months out. You’re a hero for posting this. Please keep doing it for all of us who have and are going through this. I’m very much healed–considering where I was just a few months ago–but still some pretty severe issues that tend to get better every month or two. Never thought I would see the light of day. It was survival. I don’t know how I am alive. I don’t get it. It is indescribable. I feel your pain and struggle, beyond words.
Please know how much love we have for you and when this is over, we will come together and spread the word and sit with each other, knowing that we are survivors–not only survivors, but that our lives are beautiful once again. Distract, distract, distract, and surrender. So much love.
——
Whomever is reading this–YOU ARE NOT ALONE YOU ARE NOT ALONE YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Strong video, and so true. Been there and still healing. Peace to all.
Such courage. You can tell she is still suffering and has anxiety, it was a bit hard to watch because it
is still a strong memory for me about how I was last year. But Thanks for posting this so we and hopefully many others will be touched by her suffering and never take another drug and will spend the rest of our lives telling others to never take them either. Hoping you are well.
Karen
What happened to the link in the video?
Jennifer, thanks so much for sharing this on your blog which is so helpful in itself. God bless you. 🙂
Lisa, it was so brave and courageous and so compassionate of you to share what you are going through with all of us so we could benefit from it. Thank you so much. We are all there somewhere on the journey. I just started my taper and I can associate with some of your suffering. Let’s all keep praying for each other. And never lose hope! We WILL get there. There is this beautiful dialogue by a kid in this movie Martian Child (Lisa please feel free to remove the link if you think its irrelevant here :)) which I derive great inspiration from – especially from 1:29s- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2BhUAXUgwo