Almost ok but not ok yet

[NiBa5]

I have recovered a lot from the terrible antidepressant withdrawal. It took years. I now feel I'm almost ok but my brain is still not functioning as it used to do. Something is still not totally right. I suffer anxiety recently. I almost had a panic attack right now. I'm alone with a cat....it's hard to keep myself calm.

[Agora1]

Hi NiBa5, Withdrawals symptoms can last a different length of time for each person.

According to how long you were on the medication, what your weaning process was like, did you ever go back up on the medication for a while etc.

When I was weaned off my Benzos after 30 years, it was a long, slow but safe process.

The cut in meds was done minimally every 2 weeks. Never to go back up on the dose.

There were times that it felt near impossible to continue but I did and yet it took me

2 years to be completely off the meds.

Then another year for my brain to heal and produce the chemicals needed on it's own.

During that last year, sensations and symptoms of withdrawal got easier until it leveled out.

The feeling of being Benzo free has been amazing and was worth every last minute of enduring the physical and mental pain throughout the process. xx

[NiBa5 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you for your wonderful comment. It means a lot to me. Actually, it took for me for 2 years to get rid of the terrible withdrawal symptoms. It's been a year since my brain seems to have started healing very slowly but I'm still not totally myself yet. I've worked in the mental health for 3 decades. So I thought I knew the process. But it was much much much worse than I expected.

I know how hard it is to come off benzo even if I've never taken it. I'm very proud of you with your determination.

Hugs

[Jay2O]

Why not just learn to BE NiBa difficult as this may feel . Perhaps you are trying to rush things. Time will be your healer. Allow panic to wash over you . Wash over you then fade. Remember you can STILL DO THINGS despite the sensations. x

[NiBa5 in reply to Jay2O]

Thank you for reaching out for encouragement. Truly appreciated it. Hope you're doing OK. Hugs.

[Hidden]

Anxiety is so difficult to handle! It will probably take more time and learning how to handle anxiety. Maybe exercise and calming meditation would help? I think it’s so wonderful you got off your meds and that you are healing from them.

I honestly have not heard of someone getting off long term meds before (not that I’m generally talking to people about them because I feel like I’m the only one on them that I know). I take an MAOI which is a really old drug and I’ve been on them since I was 25. I’m 57 now. I’ve tried very slowly several times to get off of them and I’ve just felt like I was going to have a seizure or something. It was too intense to continue. I’d really like to get off my meds!

[NiBa5 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for reaching out. It was the real hell to come off a long time use of antidepressant. I don't remember well how I went through all the horrible withdrawal passage.

I've worked in the mental health for decades. But withdrawals were so much much much worse than I've expected.

Hope you're functioning ok with MAOI.

Hugs

[Hidden in reply to NiBa5]

Thank you. Glad you made it through. I function ok. I work and have some friends. I still get depressed and anxious some but it’s manageable. Hard to know how it would be different since I’ve been on them for so long. Even if I never do it it’s good to k ow that it’s doable!