How you get free from a benzodiazepine and how you cope with any withdrawal symptoms is unique to you. There is no “one size fits all” in benzo withdrawal. But, there are FOUR things that you can do to help yourself a great deal.
- We’ve all heard the phrase, “Patience is a virtue.” It’s so true in benzo withdrawal! Patience will help you better manage your taper. Going slow is best. It’s easy to slip into the mindset of “hurry up” but that won’t help you. It might harm you. Going slow helps avoid/reduce benzo withdrawal symptoms. Going slow can help you avoid protracted withdrawal symtpoms. (Being symptomatic after eighteen months is considered protracted.) Patience will also help you nagivate withdrawal once you are off of your medication. We don’t heal from the damage caused by a benzodiazepine overnight, so don’t worry about symptoms that stick around for awhile. They will lift eventaully. If you can practice patience, your symptoms won’t cause you as much emotional distress. Which leads us into the next “must-do.”
- One of the key belief systems of any twelve step program is acceptance. It’s a powerful tool that allows us to live our lives with less fear, resentment, and anguish. Accepting life on life’s terms is a sign of spiritual and emotional maturity. The serenity prayer can help us become more accepting. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” When we accept life on life’s terms, we aren’t as bothered by our circumstances. We can rise above our ailments and anguish and go about our daily lives with more ease. Accept that you are in benzo withdrawal. Accept that you are healing and go about your day. It is when we try to run from circumstances that we suffer more. There is no way out of benzo withdrawal except through. Time is what heals us. So, roll up your sleeves and do the work you need to do to practice acceptance.
- One of the keys to getting through benzo withdrawal is to distract. Find things that you can do to keep your hands and your mind busy. When we put our attention on something other than ourselves and our symptoms, we suffer less. I gardened to keep myself busy in withdrawal. I also painted, did word puzzles, and wrote. It’s good to have a few “go to” activities that you can do to keep your mind off of your misery. Even if you are bedridden, you can find something to do to distract. The great artist Freida is proof of that! (You can google her story if you don’t know it.)
- “You are what you eat,” is a phrase we’ve grown up hearing. It’s true! If we eat junk food, our bodies become junk. It’s important to eat really clean and healthy in withdrawal. I’m a big believer in being gluten free, avoiding additives, preservatives and colorings. Avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol, of course. Eating whole, fresh, one ingredient foods is best. (Think fresh produce and meats.) Do your food shopping on the outside edges of the store and avoid the center aisles where they offer “manmade” food in cans and packages. Many of us in benzo withdrawal have the MTHFR gene mutation, so you’ll want to include foods that are high in vitamin B 9. Weight loss is a common problem in withdrawal so make sure that you eat healthy foods that will give you the calories your body needs. Seeds and nuts can be helpful.
Withdrawal is a challenge, I know. However, it does come to an end. We can manage our lives through it if we practice patience, acceptance, distraction, and we fuel our bodies with the good foods that they need in order to function and to heal. We can use these tools beyond benzo withdrawal, too. They are good to learn for a lifetime of better health and happiness.
Thanks for all the great information Jennifer. I’ve always wondered if during your long withdrawal whether your ever considered or did any kind of juice detox. I know detox is very controversial with some people. However I have read that a juice detox can speed up the process of clearing out the benzo that is trapped behind the blood brain barrier. I know time is the best healer but I wondered if you had ever done the detox. Thanks Kathy
I juiced, but not for detoxing. I used juices as intense nutrition, instead of taking vitamins.
Hi Jenn, Another interesting post and the virtues are certainly true. I think the lessons I have learnt is that I do need to be good and kind to myself. and listen to what my body needs. I find now though I tend to be over eating, so need to learn to take control again and eat healthy. I’m going to try and get some juices.
Glad you arrived at the farm, you’ve got a well deserved break from driving.
Thank you for keeping me going Jenn, you keep my spirits raised.
Love across the Pond
Jackie
Edinburgh
HAS anyone on here been to REHAB for benzo w /d , Jennifer is strongly against it but I can’t do this on my own , Any thoughts ?????
Dave, would you like to spend 2-3 years in rehab? There are no places for rehab in this country. They are clueless when it comes to Benzo withdrawal. IMO. I was there for 13 days. It was a joke and they tried to get $33,000.00 out of us.
Dave, a rapid detox of this drug is not the way. I’ve been poly drugged for over 20 years. My “doctor” told me just to “stop” the klonopin, that because I was on xanax too, it would be ok. That was 31 months ago, and it’s still horrific!! I’ve during that time tapered off 3 other meds. I’m down to my last small part of xanax. This will take me approximately another 8 months or so. I do micro cuts, very slowly, holding as long as I need, never rushing. It’s totally debilitating both mentally and physically. But CT of klonopin did severe damage and I will not do that to myself as I finish this process. Just my opinion. Best wishes to all on this journey.
Just stumbled on your blog as this is the first day I decided to withdraw…It’s been 34 hours since my last .25 piece of ativan…this is the first time in my life that I am not sure about something. Your blog is great. thank you
Hi Jennifer. I have been searching the net for many weeks trying to find out all about Benzo withdrawal symptoms. Finally I get to your web pages on ‘AddictionBlog.org’ and BINGO you accurately describe my withdrawal situation to a tee!! I just wanted to thank you so much for putting your thoughts and experience on the Net. It has helped me and my wife tremendously. My own doctor does not even believe that I have Benzo withdrawal symptoms. Instead she is accusing me of having ‘mental’ issues. Your comments under ‘Five (5) facts about benzodiazepine withdrawal..’ have completely cleared that mess up and finally the truth has emerged. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Dennis
Jennifer, thank you for your posts. Can you please comment on sleep and how yours was during withdrawal compared to now? Is there any hope that sleep comes back and even the feeling of sleepiness with it? (Not the feeling of tired and exhaustion, but actual “nodding off” sleepiness. A true sign of great healing)
I have all this impossible OCD every night just to barely turn off after hours of trying. Taking 3-4 showers sometimes just to get to bed.
Please reply!
Thank you!
Don’t know about anyone else but I’m getting concerned about Jennifer. It been almost two weeks since we have heard from her and that just doesn’t seem like her at this stage. Don’t know if she is still with family or back on the road. Jennifer, I’m sure you are safe and having a great time, but please just let us know you are ok….getting stressed and worried about your safety…Please just let us know that you are safe.
Kathy, thanks for your concern. I posted on the front page of the website that I would be in Florida on vacation for a week. I just returned and am nopw back at work coaching people in benzo withdrawal. Hope you are doing well!
You are saving my life. Was sure that this was the end result for me, after being in withdrawal for 6 months. Now I know , and my husband read your blog , that time , and patience is key. I feel I’m visiting hell. In important issue for me is to distract myself. My eyes and ears are a foal point:( blurred eyes and clogged , ringing ears.
Thank you Jennifer
How to deal with severe depression and zero confidence ???????
I am so depressed I find it hard to cook , shower get of the couch , you name it , I can’t do it , my personal hygiene is repulsive , I used to shower twice a day , dress to the nines wear hair product moisturiser etc etc now I’m a pig , I don’t even look in the mirror because I disgust myself and hate myself so much ! HAS or is anyone using anti depressants and having sucess with them , I don’t want to use them but am really considering it
HOW do you guys deal with severe depression , suicidal all day everyday it’s getting really painful now and I’m close to just exploding , any advice would be great
Dave, what you are experiencing is common in benzo withdrawal. Sorry that you are suffering so much with it. I tried AD a few times with very bad results. Maybe others have had better results, but I don’t hear of that very often. We have to distract, practice radical acceptance, and have a great deal of patience while in benzo withdrawal. It will get better, in time. You’ll get your body and brain back and you’ll be happy to look in the mirror again. You’ll wear nice clothes and look handsome and be happy. Hold on! Don’t give up.
Tom, you’ll find today’s blog post is about sleep. Hope it helps!
You are most welcome Dennis! Glad my words helped you and others understand that you are suffering from benzo withdrawal and not a “mental disorder.” Withdrawal will end, in time. Keep healing.
Joan, welcome! The void of emotions you feel now will be filled with good feelings, in time. We do regain our ability to have a wide range of feelings. I am sorry you are experiencing the void that is so common in benzo withdrawal, but I can assure you that it will fade away, in time.
i weaned off valium and klonopin. 2/28 was my last day. maybe i went too fast.
what i cannot take is the pounding heart beat that races, along with this horrific tingling.
i am afraid the pounding is going to rocket my heart out of my body.
does that go away? i , too, am thinking of rehab and have started taking measured doses again, to stop the pounding.
i am scared and in a dark place.
Yes, it will go away, in time. Your CNS will heal from the damage caused by the benzo. Sorry you are having to go through that. I know those symptoms can be overwhelming.
Hi Jennifer, I just want to thank you again for your blog and for sharing your experience and everyone sharing theirs. This has been a life saver. I have read your blog since I first went into withdrawal the summer of 2014, and it’s still such a great help. Has anyone ever said they have long term heaviness with their legs? My right leg never recovered, and has actually got worse, along with my dizziness, that left for awhile, but returned the end of last year, affecting my brain processing.