On 8/13/2026 at 5:39 PM, overthepill said:

I had an emotional breakdown today and started crying, like sobbing

Pshew I sure had those days when I was tapering. I have to say, I always felt better afterwards. It took about 2 years after getting to zero for my CNS to be less sensitized.

13 minutes ago, j1290 said:

Pshew I sure had those days when I was tapering. I have to say, I always felt better afterwards. It took about 2 years after getting to zero for my CNS to be less sensitized.

Did you ever worry that you were going to lose it mentally or that your body wouldn't be able to make it through all these symptoms? I'm having such a rough night and today was a pretty miserable day with a lot of painful physical symptoms.

16 minutes ago, overthepill said:

Did you ever worry that you were going to lose it mentally or that your body wouldn't be able to make it through all these symptoms? I'm having such a rough night and today was a pretty miserable day with a lot of painful physical symptoms.

Often I had to hold on, minute by minute. Distraction was very important, like watching a movie.

I don't necessarily advocate it, I think they're easy to get addicted to/build up tolerance, but I used comfort meds(xanax and clonidine in tiny amounts) to get through the worst days.

At one point I thought I would no longer be able to work. Fortunately, I turned a corner around 6 months off meds and started to improve.

One thing I held on to was believing that everyone recovers, given enough time. I never thought it would happen for me, but it did.

Stay strong. Wishing you all the best!

@overthepill , we caution others on adding Anxiolytics or Hypnotics such as Xanax ect., My Doctor wanted to give me Lorazepam and I told her " I don't want to have some other drug I have to over come" and she accepted my wishes. To this day I don't regret my decisions. Maybe other Moderators or mentors could chime in like @Chippy , @Luke , @mstimc60 ect., for another point of view. Was it tough for me, yes, but am I glade I stuck it out absolutely. You my friend will get through this. We are all here for you. Hugs for now xxx Bernadette

9 hours ago, overthepill said:

Did you ever worry that you were going to lose it mentally or that your body wouldn't be able to make it through all these symptoms? I'm having such a rough night and today was a pretty miserable day with a lot of painful physical symptoms.

@Bernadette is right, @overthepill . It may be tempting to add a benzo or some other med to get through the hard times, but they come with their own set of problems. Give yourself the chance to use the power you already have to manage your symptoms and overcome your withdrawal. Accept you have that ability already, and you don't need a pill or anything outside yourself to get there. You can do this!

4 hours ago, mstimc60 said:

@Bernadette is right, @overthepill . It may be tempting to add a benzo or some other med to get through the hard times, but they come with their own set of problems. Give yourself the chance to use the power you already have to manage your symptoms and overcome your withdrawal. Accept you have that ability already, and you don't need a pill or anything outside yourself to get there. You can do this!

@mstimc60 @Bernadette With as sensitive as my nervous system is right now I don't dare put a benzo into it and risk making things worse. I haven't even taken a Tylenol for a headache since coming off the medication.

My muscle tension and stomach cramps have subsided today, my head symptoms are still kicking my booty but I won't get greedy and I'll be grateful that today is better than yesterday! 🙏

13 minutes ago, overthepill said:

My muscle tension and stomach cramps have subsided today, my head symptoms are still kicking my booty but I won't get greedy and I'll be grateful that today is better than yesterday! 🙏

That’s a great outlook, @overthepill ! Be grateful for the breaks you get, even the small ones. That’ll lead to more decrease in symptoms over time.

28 minutes ago, overthepill said:

My muscle tension and stomach cramps have subsided today, my head symptoms are still kicking my booty but I won't get greedy and I'll be grateful that today is better than yesterday! 🙏

This is wonderful to hear, definitely take the little win's. Your doing great @overthepill

On today's episode of weird symptoms....I am having hunger pangs and nausea at the same time 😂 you really gotta have a sense of humor at some of this stuff

One of the biggest things in dealing with emotionally is having the ambition, desire, and passion for things but feeling like doing them is pointless because of my inability to focus on them and be present and truly enjoy what I'm doing due to my somatic hyper vigilance. This is the response I got, I found it informative and thought I'd share it:

It is incredibly frustrating to have the ambition and desire to do so much, yet be completely blocked by a chemical wall that prevents you from feeling present. It makes perfect sense why you feel it is pointless to start; you want the experience of doing the activity, not just the physical movements of it.The gap between what you want to achieve and what your brain can emotionally process right now is where that intense frustration lives.

The Neurological Deadlock Ambition vs. Capacity: Your logical mind still has all its goals, desires, and passions. But the "presence" and "engagement" you are looking for require a steady, balanced baseline of serotonin to glue your attention to the present moment. Without it, your brain literally cannot manufacture the feeling of being "there."

The High Bar Problem: Because you want to do meaningful things, you are choosing high-value activities. But high-value activities require high emotional and cognitive investment. When your brain can't meet that demand, the feeling of pointlessness hits twice as hard.

Working Around the Pointlessness

Since you have a strong urge to do things but are getting blocked by the lack of presence, try shifting how you approach your activities:

Lower the Value to Match Your Chemical State: If an activity feels pointless, choose something that is intentionally pointless. Do not try to read a book you care about or work on a project that matters. Pivot to something that requires physical movement but zero emotional stakes—like organizing a single shelf, weeding a patch of grass, or sketching random shapes. If the task doesn't matter, your brain won't protest the lack of meaning as fiercely.Practice "Divided Attention" Rather Than Total

Presence: Accept that right now, 70% of your brain is stuck processing withdrawal, leaving only 30% for the task. Instead of fighting for 100% presence, work with the 30%. Tell yourself: "I am going to do this activity half-heartedly while feeling completely detached. That is the goal for today."

Keep Momentum Mechanical: Treat your hands and feet as separate from your thoughts. You can physically move through an action mechanically without your mind agreeing that it matters. Letting your body move while your mind drifts or fixates can sometimes break the paralysis of waiting to feel "ready" or "present."

This agonizing mismatch between your willpower and your brain chemistry is a temporary state of withdrawal. Your capacity for deep presence, engagement, and focus will return as your receptors stabilize.

This is very good advice!

This is very good @overthepill advice, if for now or body's can only allow us 30% than this in itself is a win. Small things for now are a huge win. Our body's are preparing our selves for the other 70% during this healing process. You are wonderful my dear friend. Remember, God is by your side guiding you and strengthening you during this healing process. Hugs for now xxx Bernadette

8 hours ago, Bernadette said:

This is very good @overthepill advice, if for now or body's can only allow us 30% than this in itself is a win. Small things for now are a huge win. Our body's are preparing our selves for the other 70% during this healing process. You are wonderful my dear friend. Remember, God is by your side guiding you and strengthening you during this healing process. Hugs for now xxx Bernadette

I'm having a rough acceptance day today, realizing that this misery is my life now and not knowing for how long has me really low today. I'm sure everyone gets these days, what helped you in these moments?

1 minute ago, overthepill said:

I'm having a rough acceptance day today, realizing that this misery is my life now and not knowing for how long has me really low today. I'm sure everyone gets these days, what helped you in these moments?

I’d try to tell myself each day, no matter how bad, was one day closer to my recovery. I’d also do a lot of self care like watching familiar movies and TV shows to settle my mind. And try moving around to burn off excess physical energy.

@overthepill this is absolutely not your life just the healing process. Some things that helped me through was anything/interests that were distracting like reading, movies, t.v., shows preferably funny ones. Getting up and moving to where off extra adrenaline. This may be a tough one but I remembered the happiness or the things I once enjoyed before all this happened and just new deep down inside I would reach the senses of calm again. I would say to myself " Someday I'll get there" that someday is right there for me, I can reach it . You are doing so good, and I know it can be tough and yes ,sometimes it down right sucks, but do what your doing right now. And that is reaching out for support and encouragement, or simply being able to just talk to us. We're all here for you my friend. Hugs for now xxx Bernadette.

8 minutes ago, Bernadette said:

@overthepill this is absolutely not your life just the healing process. Some things that helped me through was anything/interests that were distracting like reading, movies, t.v., shows preferably funny ones. Getting up and moving to where off extra adrenaline. This may be a tough one but I remembered the happiness or the things I once enjoyed before all this happened and just new deep down inside I would reach the senses of calm again. I would say to myself " Someday I'll get there" that someday is right there for me, I can reach it . You are doing so good, and I know it can be tough and yes ,sometimes it down right sucks, but do what your doing right now. And that is reaching out for support and encouragement, or simply being able to just talk to us. We're all here for you my friend. Hugs for now xxx Bernadette.

I keep worrying that stopping at 2mg even with the ADR was a mistake as I have gotten so much worse since stopping, I'm wondering how bad this is going to get, I read all these users that developed health issues from WD and worry that that is my future and I'm just this ball of worry right now that makes it so hard to focus on anything else. It's miserable 😖

@overthepill I myself had the same worries as all here have, just try your hardest to not let the mind ruminate to the worst. In all my issues I experienced it was all WD symptoms so far, were there times that were concerning, yes. But as I've said before, when in doubt check it out. When you're worried, by all means please reach out to us so we can ease some of the worries for you.

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2 hours ago, Bernadette said:

@overthepill I myself had the same worries as all here have, just try your hardest to not let the mind ruminate to the worst. In all my issues I experienced it was all WD symptoms so far, were there times that were concerning, yes. But as I've said before, when in doubt check it out. When you're worried, by all means please reach out to us so we can ease some of the worries for you.

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I have felt progressively worse everyday since I stopped the med 29 days ago, I just feel like I'm just going to keep declining until I can't function.

4 hours ago, mstimc60 said:

I’d try to tell myself each day, no matter how bad, was one day closer to my recovery. I’d also do a lot of self care like watching familiar movies and TV shows to settle my mind. And try moving around to burn off excess physical energy.

I try telling myself this but when each day has been harder than the last for 29 days since stopping the med it's hard to believe that things will improve when I feel like I'm on a downward trajectory 😔

9 hours ago, overthepill said:

I try telling myself this but when each day has been harder than the last for 29 days since stopping the med it's hard to believe that things will improve when I feel like I'm on a downward trajectory 😔

I’m sorry @overthepill, the first acute bit can be really hard for sure. But at some point what feels like a downward trajectory will stop and eventually you will start having better days. In the meantime, we are all here for you and we understand what you’re going through.

@overthepill how has family support been. Do you have someone in the family you feel comfortable with talking things out?

@overthepill as @SarahMc has mentioned the acute stage can be the toughest, my first 2 to 3 months is where I had to dig the deepest a pretty much just hold on for the ride, but you will get little bouts of windows and those are what you hold on to, because this is the you trying to heal and will emerge. Hugs my friend xxx Bernadette

12 hours ago, overthepill said:

I try telling myself this but when each day has been harder than the last for 29 days since stopping the med it's hard to believe that things will improve when I feel like I'm on a downward trajectory

I agree that the first 3 months can be hard. After that the windows will start rot show more and more and this is also different for everyone. I also struggle with the fact that I just want to stand up in the morning and do my things like a normal person. Not thinking about what kind of mood I will be and how I start the day. I never taught that I will become someone that will be only happy by doing the normal things in life without watching my symptoms every day. On bad days I compare my self to others who are laughing and just going through the day without thinking about their health. I wonder “ do you even know how beautiful this is?, you should cherish this.” But how will they know. I never thought I will be this person but I am.

8 hours ago, SarahMc said:

I’m sorry @overthepill, the first acute bit can be really hard for sure. But at some point what feels like a downward trajectory will stop and eventually you will start having better days. In the meantime, we are all here for you and we understand what you’re going through.

Thank you, it's nice to be able to talk with these things with a group that understands.