8 hours ago, Raymond said:

Just a thought!

It's amazing how this site supports many people from around the world. It does matter where you from or where you are, we support each other with love and kindness. These medications affects everyone, but the good thing about all of this is that I found new family here where I can feel love and each words and support mean something very special for me during this journey. We haven't seeing each other personally, but the love and support from each one of you, it's what matters the most.

I hope we all one day look back and forget this journey, but keeping in mind those people, who during our journey, helped us and motivated us to continue moving forward.......the day of healing will come and I pray for everyone to get healed and out of this mess soon.

One day at a time........

Beautiful, Raymond, thank you 🤍

10 hours ago, Raymond said:

Just a thought!

It's amazing how this site supports many people from around the world. It does matter where you from or where you are, we support each other with love and kindness. These medications affects everyone, but the good thing about all of this is that I found new family here where I can feel love and each words and support mean something very special for me during this journey. We haven't seeing each other personally, but the love and support from each one of you, it's what matters the most.

I hope we all one day look back and forget this journey, but keeping in mind those people, who during our journey, helped us and motivated us to continue moving forward.......the day of healing will come and I pray for everyone to get healed and out of this mess soon.

One day at a time........

Amazing post Raymond, this community is a ray of sunshine to me in what is often a dark world. One day at a time indeed my friend....

08/22/2026- 21 months, feeling going back ward, bad months...

Well, this week and my last three days I went back to wake up at 4am now within cortisol and burning sensation and anxiety in stomach. When I stand up, it gets better, but when I laydown, it comes back. It just weird and very annoying situation as I just want to feel my body relax again.

I read few post from different people and it seems we all back to old symptoms and issues again.

I spent all day yesterday in my hammock and the weird thing was that my concentration to read books came back, but i still experienced the burning sensation, and no motivation, anxiety in different parts of the body all day. In the afternoon was little better, but still symptoms on and off.

It seems that every so many months, the waves comes. It just little less intense from my last major wave at months 10. So I guess, old symptoms can definitely return and it's possible a deeper healing is coming.

Also, this looping though I'm, came back and it's on the same subject...

Well, let see how my morning goes and day as it passes by.

The good thing is that once I fall asleep around 1030pm, I have been sleeping through until 4am now. I will have to go to sleep earlier so I can have at least a good 5 to 6 hours of sleep.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will heal.

4 hours ago, Raymond said:

08/22/2026- 21 months, feeling going back ward, bad months...

Well, this week and my last three days I went back to wake up at 4am now within cortisol and burning sensation and anxiety in stomach. When I stand up, it gets better, but when I laydown, it comes back. It just weird and very annoying situation as I just want to feel my body relax again.

I read few post from different people and it seems we all back to old symptoms and issues again.

I spent all day yesterday in my hammock and the weird thing was that my concentration to read books came back, but i still experienced the burning sensation, and no motivation, anxiety in different parts of the body all day. In the afternoon was little better, but still symptoms on and off.

It seems that every so many months, the waves comes. It just little less intense from my last major wave at months 10. So I guess, old symptoms can definitely return and it's possible a deeper healing is coming.

Also, this looping though I'm, came back and it's on the same subject...

Well, let see how my morning goes and day as it passes by.

The good thing is that once I fall asleep around 1030pm, I have been sleeping through until 4am now. I will have to go to sleep earlier so I can have at least a good 5 to 6 hours of sleep.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will heal.

Just a quick update.....

This morning when I woke up at 4am with same burning sensation, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety. I went back and laydown as usual, but this time, about five minutes later, my burning sensation disappears and without knowing, I felt back to sleep and even had a dream. Next thing I knew, it was 7am.

Yet, I'm filling upper chest pressure on and off, muscle stuffiness on my upper right arm and fluctuates from one area to next, tired and eyes feels like they want to just drop, but can't go back to sleep, intrusive thoughts and OCD a lot less intense, but still there. Weird!!!!! At the same time energized and ready to go out, crawling sensation moving around in my head and specially on the right side, and stomach feels better which I think all of the symptoms mentioned above were related to the stomach issues I developed again about a week ago and yesterday was the worst with anxiety, bloating, and gasses ...

Let see if I start slowly improving again .

10 hours ago, Raymond said:

Just a quick update.....

This morning when I woke up at 4am with same burning sensation, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety. I went back and laydown as usual, but this time, about five minutes later, my burning sensation disappears and without knowing, I felt back to sleep and even had a dream. Next thing I knew, it was 7am.

Yet, I'm filling upper chest pressure on and off, muscle stuffiness on my upper right arm and fluctuates from one area to next, tired and eyes feels like they want to just drop, but can't go back to sleep, intrusive thoughts and OCD a lot less intense, but still there. Weird!!!!! At the same time energized and ready to go out, crawling sensation moving around in my head and specially on the right side, and stomach feels better which I think all of the symptoms mentioned above were related to the stomach issues I developed again about a week ago and yesterday was the worst with anxiety, bloating, and gasses ...

Let see if I start slowly improving again .

Update...always better in the afternoon and better than yesterday. I had few moments with chest pressure, muscle stuffiness, anxiety. ...

08/23/2026- no cortisol, no burning sensation, no OCd, slept until alarm sounded 630am...

Yesterday was a better day with few anxiety issues lasting less than usual and intrusive thoughts or OCD less intense, no burning sensation. I knew I was better because I was able to laugh and make jokes.

I went to sleep around 11pm and slept until 630am when my alarm sounded to start my day. I have few things to do this morning.

No cortisol, no brain crawling sensation, no panic or burning sensation, only muscle tension on my neck right side, shoulder and back, and few other physical sensation and morning blah feeling but better energy.....also I am having exaggerating OCD due to a situation, but it seems better today.

Definitely, my killer is the cortisol spike when it hits me with the burning sensation and psychological symptoms...

Let see how the day goes as I take one day at a time.

In the name of Jesus, we will all heal...

08/24/2026- three days again with no cortisol issues.

In the last two days, it's being good again with the same minor issues. I was able to have moments of peace of mind and my reading books desire came back two days ago. I pretty much lost it few months ago, but in the last two days, I have been reading and meditating on the things I read.

Last night, I probably went to sleep before 10pm. I just can't remember. I was tired, and woke up at 5am with no cortisol and burning sensation. I don't mind to wake up early. What I don't like is to wake up with the cortisol spike and burning sensation and crawling sensation or the panic. It makes things different, but when I just wake without non of that, I feel q lot better and I can always stay in bed relaxing with no issues.

So far, only mild burning sensation in stomach area, with little head pressure, muscle pain seems to be improving slowly. I am getting these pintches here and there in my body and mainly in the shoulder area.

I currently feel tiredness, but I am working and I feel like I want to work outside under the tree, which I will do. Texas is being really hot. Living in Texas is like living in Australia..... 😂 We have all kinds of dessert animals and the heat in summer time is terrible, but not as bad as my withdrawals journey... 😂.

Well, let see how much I continue to improve. I'm not planning to taper next month since I have a father and daughter small trip....I really don't want to mess this trip. Let see how it goes from now on..... everything is being manageable as long as I don't get cortisol spike, OCD, or burning sensation....I can manage everything else.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I hope for a miracle in all of us. I hope one day, we all come here and say, hey I just feel great and none of us on this situation....

Blessings for all!

1 hour ago, Raymond said:

08/24/2026- three days again with no cortisol issues.

In the last two days, it's being good again with the same minor issues. I was able to have moments of peace of mind and my reading books desire came back two days ago. I pretty much lost it few months ago, but in the last two days, I have been reading and meditating on the things I read.

Last night, I probably went to sleep before 10pm. I just can't remember. I was tired, and woke up at 5am with no cortisol and burning sensation. I don't mind to wake up early. What I don't like is to wake up with the cortisol spike and burning sensation and crawling sensation or the panic. It makes things different, but when I just wake without non of that, I feel q lot better and I can always stay in bed relaxing with no issues.

So far, only mild burning sensation in stomach area, with little head pressure, muscle pain seems to be improving slowly. I am getting these pintches here and there in my body and mainly in the shoulder area.

I currently feel tiredness, but I am working and I feel like I want to work outside under the tree, which I will do. Texas is being really hot. Living in Texas is like living in Australia..... 😂 We have all kinds of dessert animals and the heat in summer time is terrible, but not as bad as my withdrawals journey... 😂.

Well, let see how much I continue to improve. I'm not planning to taper next month since I have a father and daughter small trip....I really don't want to mess this trip. Let see how it goes from now on..... everything is being manageable as long as I don't get cortisol spike, OCD, or burning sensation....I can manage everything else.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I hope for a miracle in all of us. I hope one day, we all come here and say, hey I just feel great and none of us on this situation....

Blessings for all!

Great update! I appreciate your positive mindset which gives me an encouraging boost!

You're doing so well @Raymond may the improvement continue.

Edited August 24Aug 24 by Fullhealing

29 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

Great update @Raymond I appreciate your positive mindset which gives me an encouraging boost!

May the improvement continue.

Same to you my friend....

2 hours ago, Raymond said:

08/24/2026- three days again with no cortisol issues.

In the last two days, it's being good again with the same minor issues. I was able to have moments of peace of mind and my reading books desire came back two days ago. I pretty much lost it few months ago, but in the last two days, I have been reading and meditating on the things I read.

Last night, I probably went to sleep before 10pm. I just can't remember. I was tired, and woke up at 5am with no cortisol and burning sensation. I don't mind to wake up early. What I don't like is to wake up with the cortisol spike and burning sensation and crawling sensation or the panic. It makes things different, but when I just wake without non of that, I feel q lot better and I can always stay in bed relaxing with no issues.

So far, only mild burning sensation in stomach area, with little head pressure, muscle pain seems to be improving slowly. I am getting these pintches here and there in my body and mainly in the shoulder area.

I currently feel tiredness, but I am working and I feel like I want to work outside under the tree, which I will do. Texas is being really hot. Living in Texas is like living in Australia..... 😂 We have all kinds of dessert animals and the heat in summer time is terrible, but not as bad as my withdrawals journey... 😂.

Well, let see how much I continue to improve. I'm not planning to taper next month since I have a father and daughter small trip....I really don't want to mess this trip. Let see how it goes from now on..... everything is being manageable as long as I don't get cortisol spike, OCD, or burning sensation....I can manage everything else.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I hope for a miracle in all of us. I hope one day, we all come here and say, hey I just feel great and none of us on this situation....

Blessings for all!

Morning update.... little anxiousness on chest area. Cognitive slow but manageable. It just takes time for me to comprehend something...

08/25/2026- back to normal waves and stability so far....

Yesterday was another good day. One thing that I experienced is that I did not have any high symptoms of anxiety, chest pressure during a stressful situation I have. My mind was calmed and my chest too. It's being long time that I don't feel on that area normal. Of course, I don't know how much will it last or if I am getting better in this area.

Then, I enjoyed a nice dinner with my wife in a restaurant. I went to sleep around 10pm, but woke up few times during the night until I woke up at 5am again, but without cortisol spikes. I just woke up and stayed in bed meditating until time to work

Currently, feeling like gases on my stomach which produces anxiety on that area, but it's not bad.

So far, it seems that I can concentrate at my work.

Mornings continues to be slow and blah while afternoons gets better all the time. At 21 months journey, I continue with few morning hours feeling blah all this time. Let see how I do in the next few months as many people seeing more improvement after 2 years and half and I'm not even two years yet ..

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will all heal. Let's receive the strength and patience of our Lord...

Sounds like you're making steady progress despite the occasional bumps in the road, @Raymond . Anxiety may try to creep in with some new symptom, but you're handling them as they come. Best of all, you don't seem to be experiencing anticipatory anxiety, where you're just waiting for a new symptom. That's a great sign of healing!

1 hour ago, Raymond said:

08/25/2026- back to normal waves and stability so far....

Yesterday was another good day. One thing that I experienced is that I did not have any high symptoms of anxiety, chest pressure during a stressful situation I have. My mind was calmed and my chest too. It's being long time that I don't feel on that area normal. Of course, I don't know how much will it last or if I am getting better in this area.

Then, I enjoyed a nice dinner with my wife in a restaurant. I went to sleep around 10pm, but woke up few times during the night until I woke up at 5am again, but without cortisol spikes. I just woke up and stayed in bed meditating until time to work

Currently, feeling like gases on my stomach which produces anxiety on that area, but it's not bad.

So far, it seems that I can concentrate at my work.

Mornings continues to be slow and blah while afternoons gets better all the time. At 21 months journey, I continue with few morning hours feeling blah all this time. Let see how I do in the next few months as many people seeing more improvement after 2 years and half and I'm not even two years yet ..

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will all heal. Let's receive the strength and patience of our Lord...

With still bumps that are likely to occur of some degree you are making amazing progress @Raymond slowly and surely you will get there, well done!

Edited August 25Aug 25 by Fullhealing

11 hours ago, Raymond said:

08/25/2026- back to normal waves and stability so far....

Yesterday was another good day. One thing that I experienced is that I did not have any high symptoms of anxiety, chest pressure during a stressful situation I have. My mind was calmed and my chest too. It's being long time that I don't feel on that area normal. Of course, I don't know how much will it last or if I am getting better in this area.

Then, I enjoyed a nice dinner with my wife in a restaurant. I went to sleep around 10pm, but woke up few times during the night until I woke up at 5am again, but without cortisol spikes. I just woke up and stayed in bed meditating until time to work

Currently, feeling like gases on my stomach which produces anxiety on that area, but it's not bad.

So far, it seems that I can concentrate at my work.

Mornings continues to be slow and blah while afternoons gets better all the time. At 21 months journey, I continue with few morning hours feeling blah all this time. Let see how I do in the next few months as many people seeing more improvement after 2 years and half and I'm not even two years yet ..

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will all heal. Let's receive the strength and patience of our Lord...

Update....

I had a really bad issue due to a personal situation and got little anxiety that last for two hours at least. It wasn't highly intense, but bad enough to keep me out of peace. I think, I'm getting better slowly, but few situations still affects me......

5 hours ago, Raymond said:

Update....

I had a really bad issue due to a personal situation and got little anxiety that last for two hours at least. It wasn't highly intense, but bad enough to keep me out of peace. I think, I'm getting better slowly, but few situations still affects me......

Sorry to hear Raymond, makes sense given the extra sensitive brain we are working with but you master it very well.

Keep going, you're doing great.

6 hours ago, Raymond said:

Update....

I had a really bad issue due to a personal situation and got little anxiety that last for two hours at least. It wasn't highly intense, but bad enough to keep me out of peace. I think, I'm getting better slowly, but few situations still affects me......

Sorry to read mate, we have such sensitive systems, little stresses can really throw the cns into a spin, you'll get there, you are slowly making sense of this I think....

08/26/2026- wave, ups and downs....

Yesterday was good, but around 2pm, I had a stressful situation that my wife and I are dealing with her narcissist mother. She had caused major emotional issues and unfortunately, she is not welcome into our house and life. This is a stress I have been dealing and having a sensitive system, it's making things triple..... hopefully, the wave leaves and nice window will come....

I slept well and woke up when alarm sounded 545am for my daily routine. Head pressure and chest pressure. The heart and mind seems calm, and I hope I get better to appoint that I can handle anything as I used to before medication. In the meantime, I have to ride this rollercoaster and let time passes. I felt yesterday like drinking alcohol, but I won't do that.....

Hard to try to focus in something else while system is so sensitive....

Holding at my dose until things settled down again and the stressful situations minimize or resolve....

08/28/2026- ups and downs continues..

I'm the same with my ups and downs. Some old symptoms coming back and others improving, but not every symptom comes at the same time. I could have three or four symptoms one day, then, different symptoms next few days, but these are the ones I still get but not intense..

All my symptoms are on and off and only morning hours. Some days better than others, it symptoms

Muscle pain

Headache

Burning sensation

Stomach bloating and gases

Anxiety

Fear sensation

Tinnitus

Muscle pitches

Sadness

Lack of motivation

Lack of concentration

No interest

Bad mood

Chest pressure

Slowness

Cortisol spike....

I still function at 80% to 85%..... I also don't count my 4 weeks from the cut date. I counts four weeks from the moment I get a wave or withdrawals symptoms. I had one two weeks ago, so I'm holding few weeks...

08/29/2026+ better today, slept until 7am.....

Oh, I'm much better today and pretty much back on business...

I woke up at 5am, but did not remember anything because I went back to sleep until 7am.....

Feeling more energized and a lot better mentally. I might try a nap now since my eyes are just closing....

12 minutes ago, Raymond said:

08/29/2026+ better today, slept until 7am.....

Oh, I'm much better today and pretty much back on business...

I woke up at 5am, but did not remember anything because I went back to sleep until 7am.....

Feeling more energized and a lot better mentally. I might try a nap now since my eyes are just closing....

So great to hear, Raymond—I really hope it stays that way!

Enjoy a good, quality nap!

2 hours ago, Raymond said:

08/29/2026+ better today, slept until 7am.....

Oh, I'm much better today and pretty much back on business...

I woke up at 5am, but did not remember anything because I went back to sleep until 7am.....

Feeling more energized and a lot better mentally. I might try a nap now since my eyes are just closing....

Looooooooongg time I don't experience this want to sleep all day on a Saturday and just relaxing. Mild symptoms, but the feeling is great...

08/31/2026- better days, feeling morning blah and tiredness....

In the past few days, I have woke up 5am, but falling to sleep again until almost 7am. No cortisol, but feeling morning blah and tiredness. Lack of motivation and lack of morning energy. One thing that I have noticed is that my headache has being gone for days now and the muscle pain a lot less intense.

No burning sensation for days now

I'm just better but lack of interest...

Let see in the name of Jesus Christ. We will heal...

7 hours ago, Raymond said:

08/31/2026- better days, feeling morning blah and tiredness....

In the past few days, I have woke up 5am, but falling to sleep again until almost 7am. No cortisol, but feeling morning blah and tiredness. Lack of motivation and lack of morning energy. One thing that I have noticed is that my headache has being gone for days now and the muscle pain a lot less intense.

No burning sensation for days now

I'm just better but lack of interest...

Let see in the name of Jesus Christ. We will heal...

Update..... Another good day so far with same blah symptoms, but no anxiety, no burning, and muscle pain continues to be a lot less intense.

I feel tired, but can't nap as a normal person, but it does not bothers me at all. I have felt my breathing and brain more relaxed....

51 minutes ago, Raymond said:

Update..... Another good day so far with same blah symptoms, but no anxiety, no burning, and muscle pain continues to be a lot less intense.

I feel tired, but can't nap as a normal person, but it does not bothers me at all. I have felt my breathing and brain more relaxed....

Pretty good on the whole, Raymond, even with some hurdles left, one step at a time it'll all even out, well done!

09/01/2026- 21 months, few days sleeping better.

I continue to feel better but blah during the morning hours. My sleep continues to slowly improve. No cortisol, no burning, no panic, no anxiety. Some days, I sleep until 7am, but other days, I wake up 5am, but go back to sleep until 7am. It's being 21 months journey and in the last two weeks, my sleep have improved.

During the day,ls, I continue experiencing same symptoms but less intense. The main symptom these last few days is lack of motivation at work. It's being hard to concentrate, but I'm doing what ever I can to do the job. I pretty much act slow and my cognitive abilities are very slow. There are a lot of things to do around the house, but I don't even have the motivation to do it. I spend time just reading books, going to store, etc, and hoping the desire to do things around my yard comes back. I also feel tired in the morning hours, which I think it's part of a wave...

My cravings and eating habits gone again. No more sugar cravings or eating junks. I think my appetite is back to normal.

One big change......I am not jumping into panic anymore when I think about a specific situation.....this panic exaggerating symptoms are crazy....

Basically, same as usual, no major chances.

I might go from .0700g to .0698g. I might just do it just to feel that I'm finally below .0700g... 😂 And a tiny percentage since I don't want to screw up my trip with my daughter.....she is being looking forward to our father and daughter weekend trip.....

Lets continue asking God for healing....