@Sophia The best way I can describe how my brain feels a lot of the time is having brain fog:

• Trouble concentrating or staying focused

• Forgetfulness or losing your train of thought

• Slower thinking or reaction times

• Difficulty finding the right words

• Mental exhaustion and fatigue

I don't experience it specifically in my forehead and I'm actually able to feel sleepy/drowsy. In fact the last few days, I typically felt tired between 2 and 4 pm in the afternoon and then it disappears. At times, I feel so tired I could take a nap but when I try to, my mind doesn't let me and I jolt awake with a slightly anxious feeling in my gut. It's really annoying 😅

Hi @Niels91

Hope your doing ok buddy

Everyday is a step closer to full recovery.

Ive seen a load of anhedonia recovery’s on Benzo buddies it so common and basically everyone i have read they have healed. Mostly 1-3 years. Send me an inbox if you wanna read these stories they bring so much hope.

👊🙏

Edited September 1Sep 1 by Richie

Hi everyone,

Currently not doing well at all unfortunately even though I wish I could report the opposite.

I'm back in a wave since yesterday and it's a rough one. Feeling exhausted and drained. My mental and even physical capacity is so low and I wish I could just take a nap for a few months 😅

My mind has gone into overthinking mode once again and it wants answers and certainty. But don't we all after months of being in this sensitised state? ☹️

I'm at a loss. Even now I wonder: What the hell is going on and how much longer is this going to take? Hope went out for a stroll it seems lol.

No one should have to go through this and yet here we are. Marching on and hoping for the best.

It cannot stay like this. It has got to get better eventually.

Edited September 11Sep 11 by Niels91

How much I understand you, @Niels91, yes, this Hell cannot stay like this...

Waves and windows @Niels91! Remember your very positive update from just two weeks back. You'll get back there and you'll improve beyond that baseline. One day at a time 💜

Hello @Niels91 ☺️ !

Well, I genuinely empathize with you.

I support you 100% 💯 . Those periods of relentless lethargy are so difficult... but as you know, thankfully, they are temporary.

Apparently, it is a sign that the central nervous system is trying to stabilize itself, just like the periods of hyperactivation. We may see it as the body fumbling its way through, but I actually believe that the body knows exactly what it is doing.

It’s just that it has so many things to deal with that we apparently have to experience every imaginable symptom until it manages to “sort them all out.” You just have to let yourself be carried along by the process.

Try to stick to a consistent routine and brighten up your day with little things when this happens, even if you don’t feel anything and it seems completely pointless.

I think it gives the brain real “reference points” to tell it: “See? The conditions are favorable for healing, even if I feel like you can’t see it!”

Then again, this is just a hypothesis, but I’ve sometimes noticed the lethargy after periods when I think I’ve pushed myself too hard. So rest is very important. Are you able to take holidays fairly regularly?

What helps me during these periods is listening to podcasts about subjects I’m interested in. (And since practically everything interests me when I was normal, I’m spoiled for choice; and I’m sure you have plenty of passions in life too.)

I wouldn’t be able to give you even the kind of summary a primary school student could give afterwards, but at least I avoid complete intellectual emptiness. I tell myself that it’s like planting seeds for later. Who knows?... 🤷‍♀️

Yes, it can’t stay like this forever, and it won’t, because you have improved.

In the meantime, though, THIS waiting is the cruelest thing for a human being, isn’t it...? 😥

Thank you @SarahMc and @poulette38 ❤️

On 9/11/2026 at 10:20 PM, poulette38 said:

Then again, this is just a hypothesis, but I’ve sometimes noticed the lethargy after periods when I think I’ve pushed myself too hard. So rest is very important. Are you able to take holidays fairly regularly?

Yes, absolutely, I've noticed the same. Pushing too much does that but in the past month, I've noticed the same when I do too little for too long. I'm trying to find a balance 😊

I'm able to have paid holidays fairly regularly since I didn't take any earlier this year. I try to scatter them in order to rest and take things a bit slower.

On 9/11/2026 at 10:20 PM, poulette38 said:

What helps me during these periods is listening to podcasts about subjects I’m interested in. (And since practically everything interests me when I was normal, I’m spoiled for choice; and I’m sure you have plenty of passions in life too.)

I wouldn’t be able to give you even the kind of summary a primary school student could give afterwards, but at least I avoid complete intellectual emptiness. I tell myself that it’s like planting seeds for later. Who knows?... 🤷‍♀️

I do this as well in the form of Youtube videos and watching documentaries 😊 Very hard to do when barely anything feels enjoyable or pleasurable but the idea of planting seeds and just showing our body and soul that these things are nice and good for us helps us to heal in my opinion. Even though the joyful feelings are still mostly muted, the interest to do/try/research things is increasing as time goes. It's promising.

On 9/11/2026 at 10:20 PM, poulette38 said:

In the meantime, though, THIS waiting is the cruelest thing for a human being, isn’t it...? 😥

It is, indeed... The progress is terribly slow and the uncertainty remains but we have to keep going. All the success stories out there point towards recovery 😊❤️

Hey guys,

Sharing an update since month 16 off the meds starts tomorrow.

I had a window on the 12th of September followed by a dirty window between the 13th and 16th. Since the 17th, things have been quite a bit worse because my colleague got sick and all of the work came onto my shoulders. The workload and stress combined with my depressive symptoms and sensitised NS are making me feel so bad.

I talked to my parents and they want me to go and find a psychiatrist and to look for a solution.

I feel completely lost at the moment.

How is all of this even possible? After all this time being off the meds. I feel like this isn't even withdrawal syndrome anymore. The anhedonia, the anxiety, the low libido, all of it. Why is this still going on? What am I supposed to do or believe at this point? 😞

21 minutes ago, Niels91 said:

I talked to my parents and they want me to go and find a psychiatrist and to look for a solution.

Do yourself a favor and cease talking about this with your parents. They may end up forcing you into a psych appointment and take stuff that will make you much worse. Trust me.

It may or may not be withdrawal. The work stress may be adding on, but that will pass. The sun will eventually rise again.

Hi @Niels91 as we all now deep down the solution is "Time" followed by a lot of acceptance, patience and knowing that our bodies are trying to give us this balance back.

I just recently hit my 23 months from zero, and I had a very bumpy patch caused by some stomach issues, which of course flared up my CNS, even this far out it did kick me down a bit. I do understand the stress thing from work, as I have worked full time through this whole process, believe me when I say it hasn't been easy. I recently had to finally take 21 days away from work to settle my system down again. So contrary to what others believe, we here know that Time is our friend and when to learn to be gentle with out already disrupted CNS, . Just reading your thread you have had a great deal of improvement and yes, is there gonna be hiccups along the way that we have to navigate, of course there is, but just know all this healing that is going on, no matter how uncomfortable it can be is necessary, cause when when the windows are longer and the light is brighter you'll know the joy in the end will be so profound. So for now keep the strength and just know your body is working overtime to get there.

Hugs my friend xxx Bernadette 🤗

@Niels91 I think you know deep down that this is still withdrawal, compounded recently by life stress (which can certainly make things worse). Drugs won’t help you and there is a good chance they will worsen you — if you look around this forum you’ll see several examples of more drugs only adding to people’s problems. You’ve already had lovely windows and your CNS is still healing. Time is the answer.

14 hours ago, Niels91 said:

Hey guys,

Sharing an update since month 16 off the meds starts tomorrow.

I had a window on the 12th of September followed by a dirty window between the 13th and 16th. Since the 17th, things have been quite a bit worse because my colleague got sick and all of the work came onto my shoulders. The workload and stress combined with my depressive symptoms and sensitised NS are making me feel so bad.

I talked to my parents and they want me to go and find a psychiatrist and to look for a solution.

I feel completely lost at the moment.

How is all of this even possible? After all this time being off the meds. I feel like this isn't even withdrawal syndrome anymore. The anhedonia, the anxiety, the low libido, all of it. Why is this still going on? What am I supposed to do or believe at this point? 😞

Sorry to read @Niels91.

Your nervous system is sensitive the additonal work likley has caused a wave. Your parents have your best interests at heart, however I think you know deep down seeing a professional will lead to more drugs and more drugs will most likely see you further harm, for which they will blame your underlying condition. We see all the time families get involved it get worse, then you are left on your own again dealing with the mess that is caused. You are in the driving seat, this is just a wave, waves and windows better days will come. Hang in there.

@SarahMc @Chippy Honestly, I just don't know anymore... Nothing about this makes sense and I'm tired of waiting. I need some certainty that things will get better but I can't feel it, even when I read/watch success stories. I feel so little and I want to feel everything again.

Yes I have made progresss but it's been limited. I haven't felt like myself in 3 years now. 16 months off meds should be plenty to see improvements for a lot of people and yet I'm still in this hole.

Sorry for being so negative but I am absolutely done with this situation. So incredibly done!

F**** this emotional blunting, I can't even feel properly angry. What a load of ****.

33 minutes ago, Niels91 said:

Yes I have made progresss but it's been limited. I haven't felt like myself in 3 years now. 16 months off meds should be plenty to see improvements for a lot of people and yet I'm still in this hole.

I think we should all collectively agree never to use the word "should" in withdrawal. "Should" is where I see a lot of people getting into trouble. People say I "should" feel better by now, I "should" have stabilized, I "should" be over this wave, and then they start trying new drugs, changing their dose, adding in supplements, and they get worse.

There is no "should". Everyone is different. There is only your unique body and the time it needs to heal.

Regardless, you have improved. Less than a month ago you posted on here that you were in a lovely window. Everyone gets into waves and feels like they haven't improved, or they're going backwards, and then they come out of the wave and they can see how far they've actually progressed. I have no doubt the same will be true for you.

1 hour ago, SarahMc said:

I think we should all collectively agree never to use the word "should" in withdrawal. "Should" is where I see a lot of people getting into trouble. People say I "should" feel better by now, I "should" have stabilized, I "should" be over this wave, and then they start trying new drugs, changing their dose, adding in supplements, and they get worse.

There is no "should". Everyone is different. There is only your unique body and the time it needs to heal.

Regardless, you have improved. Less than a month ago you posted on here that you were in a lovely window. Everyone gets into waves and feels like they haven't improved, or they're going backwards, and then they come out of the wave and they can see how far they've actually progressed. I have no doubt the same will be true for you.

100% this @Niels91 you’ll get another window. It’s normally to feel frustrated in a wave try to be ok with that and remind yourself this too will pass. Find that acceptance again. Resisting and fighting only worsens the suffering and keeps the nervous system more upset. You’ve got this mate.

Thanks for all the replies and the support you all give.

Right now, I just can't seem to believe that things will get better, especially after such a long time. The doubt and uncertainty increases so much during these waves. So does the anxiety, hypervigilance and other symptoms. It feels so unnatural and extreme.

That's why I feel like I'm missing something and I want to fix it so, so badly. I never thought I would experience the things I do. It's unbelievable.

I really just want to get well and feel everything again! I wish I would get some real evidence.

22 minutes ago, Niels91 said:

I really just want to get well and feel everything again! I wish I would get some real evidence.

Evidence of what?

That this is withdrawal? You started these drugs for anxiety and since coming off have experienced tons of new and very typical withdrawal symptoms, as well as the waves and windows pattern of recovery. This is textbook withdrawal.

That you'll recover? The evidence is the many, many people who have walked this path before us and recovered, and the doctors and coaches who work in this space and report almost universal recovery among their clients, given enough time.

On 9/23/2026 at 7:05 PM, Niels91 said:

I talked to my parents and they want me to go and find a psychiatrist and to look for a solution.

😑.

9 hours ago, Chippy said:

Resisting and fighting only worsens the suffering and keeps the nervous system more upset.

@Chippy is 100% right about this. The only sensible thing I was ever told by an online psychiatrist while I was going through acute withdrawal was this: “You shouldn’t focus on the symptoms, because that makes them last longer. The brain focuses on whatever you think about.”

It’s almost as if they’re better at predicting what comes after than they are at actually taking proper care of you when you’re going through it. Those ********. True sadists: “I’ll beat you up, but don’t worry, I’ll come and disinfect the wounds afterwards…” 🙄

The most inconsistent people in all of Creation.

I’m sorry, @Niels91 . As you know, some people feel awful for a very long time, but then get better in a very short period of time. I hope that will be the case for you soon.

13 hours ago, Niels91 said:

Thanks for all the replies and the support you all give.

Right now, I just can't seem to believe that things will get better, especially after such a long time. The doubt and uncertainty increases so much during these waves. So does the anxiety, hypervigilance and other symptoms. It feels so unnatural and extreme.

That's why I feel like I'm missing something and I want to fix it so, so badly. I never thought I would experience the things I do. It's unbelievable.

I really just want to get well and feel everything again! I wish I would get some real evidence.

This is EXACTLY how you felt last time things were bad. You had a good window. You will get another one. Acceptance is hard, looking for proof and doubting only hurts you, as I said it is fixing and resisting. Please use the energy you are using doing this to research and work on the continued practice of radical acceptance. It will serve you, this fear will not x