I talked with two friends today. Both prescribed benzos. Both may/may not understand the gravity of this issue, as they may not be sensitive to this kind of medication. We really can't project that other's will have difficulty with this medication because not everyone does. Talking to so many others leads me to believe that there are certainly MANY MANY of us however, I have also personally witnessed people getting off in a matter of 6 weeks with NO issues. Life is unfair sometimes.
The one friend has struggled with many medical issues. Now she can't sleep. She's been on .25 of klonopin and another med for the better part of a decade. The time recently when she did get off all of her meds, she was bedridden. I told her, maybe, just maybe her med was the problem. She said it wasn't. She and many say I am obsessed with this issue and now see it everywhere. I do. And I could be wrong. However that 'small' dose really isn't so small, especially when she's been taking it for a decade. She's no longer functional. Very depressed, fatigued and can't sleep. I am sure it's the perfect storm of benzo, hormones etc etc. My other friend is an alcoholic. She was on benzos and alcohol for about a year several years ago and went to rehab. They pulled her off .5 of xanax. She had a touch of discomfort. Now this is several years later. She's been on a benzo again and drinking. This time she lost her prescription and was out of meds for four days. She had horrific brain zaps and seizure like symptoms. She was pacing. She didn't FRY because it was only four days. God, how I wish I wasn't so stubborn and hard headed and let myself FRY for close to 4 weeks. What have I done?? She plans on getting off in a month despite my warnings. She is raging, can barely parent or get to work. She isn't tapering and she doesn't have the extreme physical symptoms that I currently have. But still. Two more examples of this mishandling and misprescribing and minimization of these meds. I do believe that the meds ARE their problem. I have tried to warn them and point them in the direction of BB and other resources. I actually wish I had never found BB. While it helped at first, now the stories are seared in my psyche. Because they ring so true. It was a blessing at first but then it became all consuming and haunting really. Sorry to say this but it's true. It's just been my experience. Positives I went on a walk I pushed myself to get up and make kids lunch I sat around I am going to push myself to go to the store Ignoring my symptoms -ignore ignore ignore. Another day. Let this nightmare end for all of us soon. Let their be somewhere that is created to help those struggling with this pain and disability. Let there be some research done around this issue to help those struggling. Our current methods are outdated and harmful. Let the educators, teachers, therapists, psychiatrists, doctors, anyone and everyone who has witnessed this in others or gone through it themselves help raise awareness. Let us rise above our pain and transform it when we are physically and mentally able to.
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AuthorSomeone who found themselves accidentally dependent and suffered an iatrogenic injury from medications that were prescribed. Sharing experience, strength and hope with others. This is written as a person on this winding path and NOT as a professional. Please contact a licensed professional for any medical/psychological care or advice. This is NOT a substitute for medical or psychological care. What is written here reflects my own personal experience ONLY. Archives
November 2018
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