After I got home from the hospital, I was in bad shape. I had been cold turkeyed off of the benzodiazepine I had taken as prescribed. My vital signs were stable so I wasn’t in any physical danger, but the severe withdrawal symptoms were debilitating. Hallucinations, weakness, nerve, muscle and joint pain were my constant companion, as were intrusive thoughts, blurred vision, head pressure, head-to-toe tingling, insomnia, formication and burning skin, just to name a few. I spent most of my time either in bed (or on my couch when I could limp down the hallway) resting. I was in no shape to do anything other than just hold on and get through the days.
After three months, some of the symptoms eased up a bit. At four months off I rented an office, ready to return to my career of coaching. I was far from well, but I managed to buy furniture and decorate the office. I even gave a free talk in order to let the community know I was back in business. A few weeks into my attempt to return to work I woke up to a new symptoms. I had hit the “six-month wave.”
It’s called the six-month wave, however, it can occur between three to six months, or thereabout. Not everyone experiences the wave, but for those who do, it can be unsettling. Just as we are getting used to our symptoms and some of the acute ones are fading, we get hit with new ones, or an increase in intensity, or both. We are terrified that the six-month wave means that we are getting worse, we will never recover, or that our pre-existing issue has been resurrected. If we don’t know about the six-month wave, we don’t realize that it is simply part of recovery. It doesn’t mean anything other than this is benzo withdrawal.
If we can keep our wits about us if we get hit with the six-month wave, we won’t suffer as much. We’ll be able to ride the wave to shore without letting it capsize our belief in our ultimate healing. We’ll find ways to cope with our new symptoms, and we’ll role up our sleeves and practice acceptance, distraction, and patience with every ounce of our being. I turned to gardening to cope with my benzo withdrawal symptoms. I distracted myself as best as I could from the relentlless chemical anxiety that coursed through my veins as well as my other debilitating symptoms. I did my best to accept my lot in life, however true acceptance wouldn’t settle into my heart for a few years. It took me a long time to learn how to let go and let life unfold on its own terms. But every day, I practiced and did my best to learn.
If you are newly off your benzo, please don’t worry about getting hit with the six-month wave. You may experience it, or you may not. Do your best to live in the present moment. Don’t future trip! I share the information about the six-month wave not to worry anyone, but rather to normalize it so that anyone who experiences it doesn’t feel that it indicates something dreadful. It doesn’t. It is just part and parcel of benzo withdrawal. Is there anything we can do to prevent the wave from happening? My hunch is probably not, although it is always a good idea to avoid stress, eat healthy, and practice extreme self-care. Looking back, I wasn’t in any shape to try to start back to work, although I don’t think my attempt was what caused my six-month wave to occur.
If you’ve been hit by the six-month wave, know that it eventually fades away. If you are struggling and you’d like to talk about ways to cope, please feel free to sign up for a coaching session. I’d be honored to listen and to help you find ways to best navigate your way safely through benzo withdrawal.
Great article Jenn, I know a lot of people after being n the community for a long while that get hit badly at either the 6 or 8 month mark, and that’s when I and I know others that have gone to other meds, I went on a sedating AD at the 8 month point.. If I’d had this guidance, information and advice then it would of saved me a lot of unnecessary suffering. Thanks
Hi Jenn, I am currently 5 months off and like you were, I too am in pretty rough shape. Thank you for alerting me to the potential of a wave around this time. Unfortunately I don’t get windows or waves my symptoms seem to be stagnant and constant. I have a lot of nerve stuff all over my scalp, face and down my right arm. The only symptoms that really change are my eyesight and stomach they go from bad to extremely bad. I cannot wait until this nightmare is over and even if I can feel like me for a day it would give me hope.
Thank you again for alerting me.
Hugs across the Pond
Jackie
Edinburgh
Hello jen…and Jackie. Thank you jen for another amazing post. Think I may be in that wave. The anxiety is the worst part. I’m trying to remember your advice about it not being the real me. I can’t avoid stress atm as my parents are poorly, but I’m trying to be kind to myself.Jackie. .. you’re doing so well. I’m praying for you every day. You will heal. Much love, Nicki x
Thank you Jen. This is exactly where I am six months. I feel like I went backwards so the past is greatly appreciated in explaining where I’m at. My ears are back to blocked , my teeth hurt , can’t walk straight , and infection has set again. The symptoms I thought were over are back. Thank you for explaining this .. I was getting upset over the set back.
Meant thank you for the POST.
Hopefully, the feelings of having permanent PTSD from benzo withdrawal will fade in time. Many of us felt brutally traumatized, but that feeling eventually went away. I had PSTD before I was put on a benzo. I was so scared that the horror of withdrawal would make even more of a wreck, but the opposite happened. Once I was more healed, my old trauma was erased and I don’t feel I carry around trauma from the withdrawal. I used the first three steps of AA to help me cope with my feelings. I practice letting go and accepting life on life’s terms every day. It helps me understand that I don’t have to be in control and that I can cope with my feelings. Hope you feel better very soon!
Hi, I need advice. I CTd klonopin last August and cut valium from 200 mgs to 90, 70, etc and I’m on 7.5 mgs now. Had horrible sxs, was bedridden, etc.. most sxs are gone but the breathing issues. My diaphragm is incredibly tense and my body feels very dry, everything makes my breathing very hard. I’ve had all tests and I’m fine even though my breathing is horrible, will it ever go away?
Hi Tish . I too have breathing problems. I think my breathing problems are actually from my sinus , which is well documented as part of withdrawal . If I get upset anxiety and panic, I have to remember to breath through my mouth. At times I feel I’m suffocating when husband helps me with calming me down I’m working on this issue. It’s frightening to feel so out of control. Sometimes when I’m drinking water from a bottle I feel I’m fighting for air. I’m only six month into this hell . Wishing youth best
Oh yes Tish.. Also anxiety caused me to feel like my chest was going to blownup.
Pretty tense stuff , but that went away. Yours will too.
Dear Jennifer, It is like a miracle how you contact me when I am feeling weak!I have been downgraded to Klonopin, from a 3mg a day SEVERE XANAX ADDICTION. I still crave this maddening drug, even after 2 months off it. I still take benzo’s, , because if I didnt, I would likely ened up totally crazy, as I have BIPOLAR, PTSD, SCHITZOPHRENIA, AND PANIC DISORDER!!Anyhow, I am proof you can get off the XANAX!!!It hurts all along the way though. My advice, to AMERICA, ban that nasty dangerous drug.Not all BENZOS, JUST THE XANAX!!!!
Stephanie, I am glad you are Xanax free, however, all benzos work as Xanax works, so they are all equally dangerous. They all can cause dependency and withdrawal symptoms, including tolerance withdrawal.
Stephanie I was on Klonopin for 23 years. I went off 6 months ago , with no relief in sight. I can count the good days on my fingers. It will be a long road for me. I’m sorry you didn’t read Dr.Leigh’s blog because she was too on klonopin. My story about these dangerous Benzos pretty much mirrors Dr.Leighs. I wish you all the best , and please stay safe
Oh my! When I read the title I thought it was going to be about the 6 month wave you hit at 2.5 years out. This is good too, though, for people in the early stages of W/D. I’m almost 35 months off and feel like I’ve been in continuous withdrawal because of only having rare,partial windows. I either get slight relief of the mental junk or physical pain, but never at the same time. I’m guessing that a true window is feeling completely well for ANY length of time. Then no, I’ve not had any windows. Thank you for your encouragement to me Jennifer, about the fear eventually leaving. I wish we didn’t have to be reassured EVERY. MINUTE. OF. THE. DAY. ♥
I am wondering if this would still happen if you slowly weaned off the Benzo, in comparison to CT? Also, do you think it makes a difference in how long you were on the drug? I have been tapering for over a year now from Klonopin. I have a few months to go to be done. I was taking it about 7 months (first Xanax then crossed over to Klonopin because it is longer acting) before I started tapering. The most I ever took was 1mg per day (most of the time 1/2 of that or less per day). I hope this doesn’t happen to me! I am getting so low that I want to jump, but I am going to taper till the end. I have more good windows then waves now. I have learned to deal with the symptoms (but of course there are new ones that pop up!!). Wishing you the best!
Waves can happen to anyone. A slow taper can often keep intense symptoms at bay, and perhaps deep waves, but waves can happen no matter how one gets benzo free.
Thank you for your response. All I know is that I want to remain positive. I feel so much better than I did a year ago and even 6 months ago. The key for me is a lot of prayer, good support from friends/family and keeping busy. I have had my share of deep waves, even tapering slowly. It’s like you said, it just takes time and a lot of it. This experience has been the strangest and hardest of my life. Our brains are so sensitive to everything and these drugs should be wiped from the ends of the earth! If only I would have known…glad you are helping others to find out about them. I will remain positive and celebrate the windows when they come and push through the hard waves. If the six month wave hits me, I know it can’t be as bad as the first six month wave!
I was doing great in months 4 and 5 then at 6 months to the day was hit with a wave that hasn’t let up for almost a month. I didn’t know if it’s because I drink a lot of Diet Pepsi or my fate. It feels just like acute again.
I have just been hit with the six month wave. Wow, it is terrible and scary! I’m glad I kept a link to this post, I need it!