2 minutes ago, Raymond said:

@mstimc60 definitely! Eventually, I will have to try it out. I think I'm in a good position.....I am holding now until I come back from my vacations. I am on vacation from may 9 to the 24. This is plenty of time to settle down in my new dose before tapering again ...

Great attitude 🩷--enjoy your vacation!

2 hours ago, mstimc60 said:

As I got down to really low doses, I had the same concerns. What will life be like without a drug I've been taking for seven years? What if it wasn't really the drugs? Anticipatory anxiety sucks but it will be worth the journey!

How long it took you to come off at 5% Taper? Did you experience bad set backs?

I see tapering slow is the way out, but going from 4.78g to zero a very slow speed it might take me 20 years and withdrawal. Is it better to just continue trying to come off even if withdrawal hits..

I have been doing well and manageable but taking 20 years to come off and still experiencing waves, not good. No good I think...

Well, this just me, but it took about three years from start to full recovery. When I got to really small doses I just kept going and dealt with the symptoms as they occurred. I just wanted to get off.

31 minutes ago, mstimc60 said:

Well, this just me, but it took about three years from start to full recovery. When I got to really small doses I just kept going and dealt with the symptoms as they occurred. I just wanted to get off.

Yes, that's what I think. As long as it's manageable, I can continue testing more reductions and see how my body reacts.

So far, every time I reduced, I feel better despite the withdrawal symptoms which are manageable. I feel like my body is trying to tell me to reduce bigger percentage but no more than 5%. I have only done 1.4%

Let see when I come back from vacation, I need to try and see what my body tolerates..

9 hours ago, Raymond said:

04/04/2026- sleep good, little cortisol, recovery process

Yesterday was a great day in the longest time ever. I have had great days feeling at least 90% percent better with few issues before, but I kind of lost it in the last 6 months. I had a great day all day with the morning blah feeling and muscle pain, but no big deal.

Last night, I slept from 11pm to 5am straight without waking up multiple times per night. I woke up with a minor cortisol spike and feeling little anxious. Mind feels relaxed. I feel a tiny little fear sensation in the background.

Let see if I can sleep just a little bit more before standing up to work. I am currently taking my dose at 7am.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I will healed. Miracles do happens.....

Afternoon update.

Left side headache is there but it doesn't want to come out.....weird!!!!!

Fear sensation is also like it's there but it doesn't want to come out.....

Muscle pain is actually a lot better today.

Other than that, I'm good.

05/05/2026- fear sensation, intrusive thoughts recovery process....

Yesterday was ok morning and good afternoon. I did have the left side headache returned for like 30 minutes.

Today, I woke up at 5am with mild Intrusive thoughts and mild fear sensation again. They don't stay and fades away quickly, but it's a on and off sensation.

On the other hand, I have noticed other symptoms that have been gone so far for weeks or months now which are stomach blosting, glasses, burning sensation, anxiety sensation, hot sensation.

Let see how I do to day in the name of Jesus Christ who can still heal.....

4 hours ago, Raymond said:

05/05/2026- fear sensation, intrusive thoughts recovery process....

Yesterday was ok morning and good afternoon. I did have the left side headache returned for like 30 minutes.

Today, I woke up at 5am with mild Intrusive thoughts and mild fear sensation again. They don't stay and fades away quickly, but it's a on and off sensation.

On the other hand, I have noticed other symptoms that have been gone so far for weeks or months now which are stomach blosting, glasses, burning sensation, anxiety sensation, hot sensation.

Let see how I do to day in the name of Jesus Christ who can still heal.....

Morning update....

The only symptom that bothered me today was the background fear sensation between 7am to 9am. Then, it faded slowly again. It's the one symptom I will love to be gone for sure.

Other than that, I'm ok and good feeling sleepy, but I have to work....

05/06/2026- ok and good with little bumps along the way.

Yesterday was a good day with bumpy areas here and there but nothing major..

Last night, I woke up around 2am due to a situation with my dog who was acting bad. After that, it took me probably like an hour to fall asleep again. Then, I woke up due to my alarm at 6am to start my day. I was just little anxious between 7am to 9am. Now I have just like a little head pressure but nothing big, and I also feels like sleepy. Fear sensation is very low, but still there in the background on and off. I have seeing that every time I switched my mind, it just gone. It seems that I can control my mind a lot better.

I can concentrate at work, which it is good. Overall, another ok to good day

In the name of Jesus, let's continue this journey and healing process...

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are making steady progress!

8 minutes ago, Raymond said:

05/06/2026- ok and good with little bumps along the way.

Yesterday was a good day with bumpy areas here and there but nothing major..

Last night, I woke up around 2am due to a situation with my dog who was acting bad. After that, it took me probably like an hour to fall asleep again. Then, I woke up due to my alarm at 6am to start my day. I was just little anxious between 7am to 9am. Now I have just like a little head pressure but nothing big, and I also feels like sleepy. Fear sensation is very low, but still there in the background on and off. I have seeing that every time I switched my mind, it just gone. It seems that I can control my mind a lot better.

I can concentrate at work, which it is good. Overall, another ok to good day

In the name of Jesus, let's continue this journey and healing process...

Wonderful @Raymond you continue to improve with only a few small stones along the way, great work, so pleased for you!

11 minutes ago, mstimc60 said:

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are making steady progress!

It seems, there is progress even though my mind is not there yet....

I hope that I continue improving, so in the next three weeks, I will do my first 2% cut... hoping for the best.

11 minutes ago, Raymond said:

It seems, there is progress even though my mind is not there yet....

I hope that I continue improving, so in the next three weeks, I will do my first 2% cut... hoping for the best.

Slow and easy is the best path. Do what you can when you can. In the long run its a lot better than rushing. You're doing great!

8 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

Wonderful @Raymond you continue to improve with only a few small stones along the way, great work, so pleased for you!

@Fullhealing . You will also be in great position too. Just hold and don't make changes.

..

1 hour ago, Raymond said:

@Fullhealing . You will also be in great position too. Just hold and don't make changes.

..

Thank you for the encouragement @Raymond slowly I'll get there 🙏

05/07/2026- brain anxiety, Cortisol again...

Yesterday was an ok and good day after 10am as usual. I had the background fear sensation. My muscles pain got better and only felt it more like little pinches in few areas on and off.

Today, I woke up again with the brain anxiety around 5am. It goes away when I open my eyes and stands up. Few parts of body feels the crawling,/anxiety sensation. My back right side of ribs feels like pain.

Tinnitus - it is back again and my ears being pooping air out constantly.

Mentally, I have seeing improvement and few stressor can be handled better, but I'm not there yet. I continue to feel between ok and good.

Last two days, I have woke up between 5am to 530am with the anxious feelings. It usually resolves between 9am to 10am....

I'm almost 17 months on this journey.

Lets continue praying and let Jesus Christ heal us...he is the only one who can do the miracle..

It seems your symptoms are becoming less frequent and less intense. You're well on your way to full recovery!

2 hours ago, mstimc60 said:

It seems your symptoms are becoming less frequent and less intense. You're well on your way to full recovery!

It seems that way. One thing I noticed is the less intensity in the symptoms that bothers me the most. Some symptoms are lasting like 2 hours and those who last little longer are just less intense.

For instance, the headache is not every day and when it comes is less intense and shorter periods while anxiety or burning sensation stays little longer, but not intense....

Definitely improvement

05/08/2026- good with little bumps ups and downs recovery process....

Yesterday was a good day. I had minor issues between 7am to like 10am.

This morning, I woke up with few intrusive thoughts around 439am, which I ignored and went back to sleep until 640am and rushing to take my dose.... No cortisol with brain crawling or anxiety sensation. I just little anxious with minor head pressure, and weaker little fear sensation in the back ground.

I'm starting my vacations today after work and I'm hoping in the next two weeks that I get better and better...

As time passes by, it's when we heal.

Today is my 18 months journey, which relatively speaking, it is still not enough time for CNS to fully recover. However, I have been doing well thanks God.

My mornings are little better but still feels blah between 7am to 10am most of the time ..

Let's continue praying that our healing will continue improving until one day, we just wake up feeling amazing and this journey just be part of our past...

Blessings to all

2 hours ago, Raymond said:

05/08/2026- good with little bumps ups and downs recovery process....

Yesterday was a good day. I had minor issues between 7am to like 10am.

This morning, I woke up with few intrusive thoughts around 439am, which I ignored and went back to sleep until 640am and rushing to take my dose.... No cortisol with brain crawling or anxiety sensation. I just little anxious with minor head pressure, and weaker little fear sensation in the back ground.

I'm starting my vacations today after work and I'm hoping in the next two weeks that I get better and better...

As time passes by, it's when we heal.

Today is my 18 months journey, which relatively speaking, it is still not enough time for CNS to fully recover. However, I have been doing well thanks God.

My mornings are little better but still feels blah between 7am to 10am most of the time ..

Let's continue praying that our healing will continue improving until one day, we just wake up feeling amazing and this journey just be part of our past...

Blessings to all

Sounds great @Raymond except for a few stones in the road that you know how to kick out well, wishing you a wonderful vacation as symptom-free as possible, enjoy, you well deserve it!

05/09/2026- moving forward being ok ..

Yesterday was a good and it's being relatively good so far since my small cut with few normal WD but not intense.

Today, I woke up at 439am since I'm on vacation and doing a long road trip with family and heading to my wife yearly leadership conference.

Overall, I continue improving and stable so far. My first two three hours in the morning are my issues, but it is not the entire morning. Somehow, it has reduced and weaker symptoms. I won't complain and enjoy the ride...

In Jesus name, we will heal...

05/10/2026- time zone changes, brain pressure and jolt like panic when trying to sleep..

Well, I'm in a different time zone and I have been waking up up with this brain pressure/jolt every time I try to sleep. I woke up few times and it's 4am and trying to sleep more, but this jolt/ panic wake me up.....hope it goes away...

47 minutes ago, Raymond said:

05/10/2026- time zone changes, brain pressure and jolt like panic when trying to sleep..

Well, I'm in a different time zone and I have been waking up up with this brain pressure/jolt every time I try to sleep. I woke up few times and it's 4am and trying to sleep more, but this jolt/ panic wake me up.....hope it goes away...

Bad night - 1130pm woke up with this sudden right side brain panic jolt. Opened my eyes, and it went away. Closed my eyes and it just returned. I was able to sleep until 340am then 430am and since then the cycle repeats..

When my eyes start to close, I get this repeated pattern of sudden jolt panic fear, then brain pressure with feelings like if I'm breathing rapidly for just like a second. Then, opened my eyes it's gone, close my eyes and cycle begins. I didn't have this issue in the longest time ...I hope it resolves because I'm tired and when trying to sleep, it just walks me up....

2 hours ago, Raymond said:

Bad night - 1130pm woke up with this sudden right side brain panic jolt. Opened my eyes, and it went away. Closed my eyes and it just returned. I was able to sleep until 340am then 430am and since then the cycle repeats..

When my eyes start to close, I get this repeated pattern of sudden jolt panic fear, then brain pressure with feelings like if I'm breathing rapidly for just like a second. Then, opened my eyes it's gone, close my eyes and cycle begins. I didn't have this issue in the longest time ...I hope it resolves because I'm tired and when trying to sleep, it just walks me up....

Bad night and morning feels tired and I can't sleep because of the brain jumping with sudden fear. Body feels exhausting and can't sleep. I can't even pray....fear sensation...

Frustrating. I hope as afternoon comes, I feel better...I experience this at the beginning of my journey and a lot more intense and now it came back ......even little fear of praying.

7 hours ago, Raymond said:

Bad night and morning feels tired and I can't sleep because of the brain jumping with sudden fear. Body feels exhausting and can't sleep. I can't even pray....fear sensation...

Frustrating. I hope as afternoon comes, I feel better...I experience this at the beginning of my journey and a lot more intense and now it came back ......even little fear of praying.

Afternoon update....

130pm, and I continue on this brain fear sensation. The only improvement is my energy. Having both energy and fear and tiredness at the same time...if close eyes to rest, I get the fear and jolt a little bit....

A mess today.....

Hope today is better for you @Raymond