Hello my benzo buddies!
Thank you to all who have written and offered couches, beds, baths, food and friendship.
I have pinpoints on the map for Calif, Colorado, Texas, Ariz, Fla, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas and Illinois. (I may be forgetting some. My brain is still not up to snuff with memory. But it’s getting there!)
I’ll be researching resilience. I want to know more about what the common core elements are. I’ll be posting stories and video to social media along the way so you can follow and learn as I learn.
I’ll be writing a new book about my findings when it’s all said and done. I’m eager to get started and so very grateful for everyone has reached out with words of support.
It’s amazing to me that I have so many dear friends in far away places that I have never met, yet love and trust so very much. I couldn’t have healed without all of you. We benzo survivors are a family in the strongest sense of that word. I am lucky to have you all.
I’ll keep you posted on the travels. If you know of anyone who isn’t a benzo survivor but has bounced back from adversity and would allow me to interview them and possible video too, I’d be honored to listen to them. Of course I want to hear your stories too! Bouncing back from benzos is a hard life challenge, for sure.
Im reaching out to media outlets like OWN, Ellen, Huffington Post and Upworthy to hopefully share some of the heartwarming stories and inspire hope and healing. More coming soon…..
You can add Iowa to your route. We are right next to Illinois so we could either possibly make the trip to see you or we could treat you to some Iowa hospitality right here in Cedar Falls.We will be in Georgia in Feb. and March so depending when you are traveling you might be in that area as well. We would have more fun down south–not as cold that’s for sure. I would love nothing more than to meet you.
Linnea
Great! I pitched at dart to my map. Gotcha!
I’ll do my best to be there. I am hoping to leave Jan 1. Be gone three months. Still looking for funding and sponsorship opportunities. I have a feeling God is guiding everything here. I trust it will all unfold as it should.
Do you have a pin in Seattle? I would love to meet you! I’ve got a spare bedroom & my husband has become a very good cook!
Best of luck on your journey!
We’ll leave a light on for you Jenn….
Hope you can make it all the way to the Carolina’s. Don’t push yourself too hard, though. Don’t want to risk a relapse. Be safe on your journey.
That’s good news! And thank you. I wish to offer a couch..I just have a small bed and few little chairs but floor space I’d use..idk if good enough..Here in MI. Thought the church I attend, almost a year, would like to hear adversity to healing. Wish it all well in ur adventure n stories of support 😀
Hi Jenn, If you decide to come to Michigan, I can put you at a hotel (I have animal allergies) if you can find one that allows dogs. Email me if interested.
Good news! Thanks for this. Made a comment as I made little chng in email..but..I have small quarters n I have space on floor for me n visitors on twin bed if ok in MI. N luv animals 2. Wish the journey well n look forward seeing stories more of support. My church may like 2 hear 😀
Thank you for the kind offer. I will keep you posted.
Anne
that is so kind of you! Shakespeare is a TBI service dog, so all hotels must accommodate him. He’s made such an improvement in my life.
Thanks Ruth! I’ll get there.. hell or high water…
I can’t remember if I answered this or not.Got a pin in Seattle. It will be the last leg of the journey. I’ll head south and home after that.
I would love to meet you. My daughter has a cute rescue dog with a mildly interesting story. Please put ne down to try to find time to contact whole you’re here & let me know if there is anything I can do for you while in Seattle.
Thanks & happy trails!
Cool, just let me know when you’ll be around. I hope I can meet you and be well enough that day.
What does Shakespeare do for you? Is it anything to do with benzo wd I guess is what I am trying to ask. How do you get a service dog? Just wondering.
Annie
He is being trained to respond to my emotional distress/panic.. to alert me when I am going in that direction and to help things calm down when I am “out there.” he is being trained like other PTSD dogs to lick my face and bring me back to reality. I don’t have that many episodes but its nice to know he is around. He helps me from getting my CNS too wound up. He also is getting a harness handle to help me with my balance. I still have the benzo wooooozies, even while sitting down. They used to keep me closer to home as I felt so out of it when it happened, but having the dog gives me courage to go more places. Obviously! I’m headed across the USA. honestly, had Shakes not come into my life, I wouldn’t be doing this.
I got him at a rescue organization. I am training him myself. He’s a good natured dog so its easy to take him in public. Hes not a nuisance in places. My doctor wrote a prescription for him, and a letter. He knew a service dog would help me a lot.
There are other things he can be trained to do for PTSD and a TBI but for now, this is enough for me. It has made a huge difference in my life! You can read his story at adopteddogsoftheusa.com
We are in Central Alabama and you are welcome here. My fiancé is 10 1/2 months out from a cold turkey. Let us know if your travels bring you this way. We would love to have you stay with us.