1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Do you think the tide will turn after 12 weeks?

Every week I feel like next week will show some improvements, but it seems to be getting worse

I'm sorry Steve. Unfortunately no one can tell you when you will start to feel better. I think Finni is just suggesting that you pick a date relatively far out and commit to holding until then. It's a bit of a mental trick some of us use to try to stop the daily ruminating about why you aren't feeling better, when you'll stabilize, etc. For example, I just passed my six month holding mark and I've now committed to holding another three months. So I know I just have to pass the time until then, and when I get to the three month mark I'll check in with myself to see whether I've stabilized enough to start tapering.

Edited October 8Oct 8 by SarahMc

4 minutes ago, SarahMc said:

I'm sorry Steve. Unfortunately no one can tell you when you will start to feel better. I think Finni is just suggesting that you pick a date relatively far out and commit to holding until then. It's a bit of a mental trick some of us use to try to stop the daily ruminating about why you aren't feeling better, when you'll stabilize, etc. For example, I just passed by six month holding mark and I've now committed to holding another three months. So I know I just have to pass the time until then, and when I get to the three month mark I'll check in with myself to see whether I've stabilized enough to start tapering.

I agree 100% im getting close to the year mark with my current hold and ive decided to hold till im not busy with my school stuff. Sometimes holds just have to be very long but its nice to give ourselves these goals when it comes to holding. For example getting through a few more months and checking if its wise to start tapering after.

Just hope I miraculously start to see some windows soon

33 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Just hope I miraculously start to see some windows soon

Are you able to distract with any activities? I know sometimes distraction isn’t even an option and it’s more like survival..

But distraction can be a wonderful tool when you’re able to do it

Edited October 8Oct 8 by Finni

Hi @Finni yes I try to distract myself by doing jobs, walks etc....buymt its so hard.

The thing I find difficult is trying to work out the predominant driver of my current misery....withdrawal or activation.

Hope you are having a better day x

Had appt with Dr...he didnt agree I was suffering from either withdrawal/activation and it was my existing anxiety.

Would love some windows to appear soon. Nearly 9 weeks holding at 5mg

3 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Had appt with Dr...he didnt agree I was suffering from either withdrawal/activation and it was my existing anxiety.

Would love some windows to appear soon. Nearly 9 weeks holding at 5mg

So many of us have heard this from our doctors. This is exactly what my psychiatrist said to me. Funnily enough my "underlying anxiety" has really faded steadily as I've held my drugs at the same doses 🙄. My psychiatrist now has no explanation for why I've been feeling better lately. I think his latest words were "I guess it's just time and rest." We really need to trust ourselves -- we know best what's happening in our own minds and bodies.

Hoping for some nice windows for you soon too.

Thanks @SarahMc do you think holding is the right approach?

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Had appt with Dr...he didnt agree I was suffering from either withdrawal/activation and it was my existing anxiety.

Would love some windows to appear soon. Nearly 9 weeks holding at 5mg

I think most people suffer from this. My doctor tells me, 'There are no withdrawal / activation symptoms , and your condition isn't psychological, but you must take Librax because it doesn't cause problems' (just to make the problem worse). Sorry about that, but if you want to keep tapering down your dose, tell your doctor that you absolutely love having this medication in your life—because then he will either change it or cut it off completely Unfortunately.

1 hour ago, Steve1 said:

Thanks @SarahMc do you think holding is the right approach?

I think so. There's no quick fix for what we're going through unfortunately, but I think the nervous system will often settle given stability and lots of time. It sounds to me like your CNS is still reacting to your cut from 10 mg to 5 mg, so holding seems like the way to go.

Is it too late to consider a small increase say 5 to 5.5mg? Will this potentially have a negative effect?

18 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Is it too late to consider a small increase say 5 to 5.5mg? Will this potentially have a negative effect?

just keep holding ❣️

How long would you hold for @Lighty ?

2 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

How long would you hold for @Lighty ?

untill you feel stable enough, which you are not as you see yourself, and you keep being told, this is a long journey

Still holding at 5mg. 9 weeks today, no relief so far

Is it "normal" for withdrawal to ramp up steadily from about week 4 of a reduction?

@Steve1 Anything can happen unfortunately and withdrawal symptoms can be delayed by weeks, even months. Yes, they absolutely can ramp up 4 weeks after a reduction. Hang in there and don't make further changes until things settle. You made a big drop from 10mg to 5mg, so having quite significant withdrawal symptoms would not be unexpected. The doses that psychiatrists tell patients to increase and decrease by are often not tolerated by sensitised nervous systems and reductions need to be much less.

Thanks @Sminismoni I felt I had no choice but to reduce to 5mg as 10mg gave me akathasia.

Still a bit confused if 5mg is still semi-activating or if it is all withdrawal now.

19 hours ago, Steve1 said:

Thanks @Sminismoni I felt I had no choice but to reduce to 5mg as 10mg gave me akathasia.

Still a bit confused if 5mg is still semi-activating or if it is all withdrawal now.

You did what you thought was best at the time, and honestly I think it was the right move. If you were reacting to the higher dose, making a big cut early on rather than betting stuck there at 10mg reacting to it, wasn't a bad move IMO. 10-5mg RO isn't as extreme as say 5mg to 0mg.

What is happening now is tough to say. It could be WD from the drop, it could you are reacting to the dose still. It sounds like it may be more WD. As you are unsure, holding makes the most sense. Once your nervous system settles down from the cut you'll be in a better place at the lower dose hopefully and can then taper cautiously. Be reassured that holding can take many many months of patience and just because it's been x weeks doesn't mean you are doing the wrong thing.

Thanks @Chippy . I'm still holding, this morning feels terrible. Just hope the body knows what to do to get some sort of improvement without messing about with a dose adjustment.

In theory @Chippy whether it is activation and/or withdrawal both should settle down if I continue to hold?

1 minute ago, Steve1 said:

In theory @Chippy whether it is activation and/or withdrawal both should settle down if I continue to hold?

Honestly, if it is activation I think the body is going to have a harder time stablising at the dose. However it seems to me this is more WD and so holding makes sense and is the correct balance of the two. I think reducing to 5mg has likley dialled down a signifcant part of the activation making stablising easier then it would have been at 10mg. We cant be sure of anything in WD. But you have 2 choices really here (decrease or hold), and based on what you are saying holding seems the better route. Try to be at peace with this and trust your body.

Thanks @Chippy apologies for the multiple posts.

It helps to rants and seek reassurance!

9 minutes ago, Steve1 said:

Thanks @Chippy apologies for the multiple posts.

It helps to rants and seek reassurance!

No appolgise needed. Post as much as you want my friend.

Feel like there is no end to this suffering. Still holding at 5mg coming up to 10 weeks.

Body is clearly unhappy at something but unsure what exactly. Feel like I will never get better

Edited Wednesday at 10:04 AM2 days by Steve1