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weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/27/2008 6:11:05 PM   
Greatful

 

Posts: 31
Joined: 12/21/2007
Status: offline 		Hi everyone. i havent posted in awhile.
I would love some support for staying CALM and GRATEFUL in the midst of my weaning off of an anti anxiety drug. The drug is called Ativan and ive been taking 1 mg for over 2 years now. (I initially took it unknowingly.. :My mother sent me some of her pills in the mail saying they might help with my anxiety).

Anyway I began feeling ADDICTED to this drug and I read some horror stories about how bad it is when you take it on a longterm basis---so I wanted to get off of it. The past two times  I tried to get off this drug by tapering off ...it seemed I wanted more and more of it. YIKES!

I am now DETERMINED to get TOTALLY OFF THIS DRUG and not rely on anything other than myself and my "higher Power' to be calm and peaceful.

Have any of you been on this drug? If so...have you gotten OFF of it? Also.. Id love any support during this time of withdrawal.

I really do believe I can use spiritual principals, affiramtions, self talk, prayer etc. to get off this drug and NOT go back to it. Im reading some excellent books too which help enormously. Im also an artist so doing art is very 'healing' for me too.

thanks for any comments or support everyone:)
Michelle
Post #: 1
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/27/2008 6:50:56 PM   
Thankful one

 

Posts: 1855
Joined: 12/23/2007
Status: offline 		Michelle,
Plenty of people have gotten off this drug. It is VERY addictive. Try getting a lot of exercise which will make the coming off process much easier and increase the chances you will successfully quit.

I believe you are strong enough to do this. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and will be sending calm energy your way.

You can do this and you will be justifiably proud of yourself when you do.

I recommend highly watching the It's a Great Day video on this site. I also think many people have posted some encouraging and calming videos on the video thread that I have found to be extremely beneficial for me.

Thankful one
Post #: 2
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/27/2008 8:38:56 PM   
buttington

 

Posts: 2145
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: UK
Status: offline 		Michelle, I would recommend relaxation techniques and meditation to help you stay relaxed. Try deep gentle breathing while listening to a relaxation tape or quiet soothing music.

Concentrating on 'softening' your tummy area while relaxing is important, as, when we are anxious we tighten our tummy muscles and that makes us more tense and anxious.

If you haven't done any of these things before you may have to persevere for a few times until it starts to work.

Good luck,

Jude

_____________________________

Love is the only way
Post #: 3
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/27/2008 9:36:11 PM   
Hildegard

 

Posts: 2639
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: offline 		Dear Michelle,

I commend your determination to get off your medication. I am not suprised that when you reduce the amount, you feel a craving for it. Drug dependency is not only psychological but also physical. I would urge you to dicuss your desire for withdrawal with the doctor who has been prescribing the medication for you. He/she should be helpful or be able to refer you to someone expert in this. I can understand that you want to do it on your own with our support, but you may need more specific personal assistance. Prayer, meditation, relaxation methods, healthy eating, physical exercise as suggested by Thankful one and Jude are all conducive to your goal, while helping you deal with anxiety.
As Thankful one says, you can do this. You will have plenty of support from many in this cyber-community. We all will be rooting for you!

Wishing you everything good,
Much love and warm hugs,
Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!
Post #: 4
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/27/2008 11:21:18 PM   
Hope coach

 

Posts: 445
Joined: 9/20/2007
Status: offline 		Hi Michelle
the resourcesprovided here are all utilized by me as well ,another valuable resource for me has been the 12 step program they have 12 steps in book form, support groups for all manner of issues. A good one is Emotions Anonymous the groups usually are found in hospitals or churches all cities have listings for 12 step programs. The steps as I live them daily help focus me and keep me in the present moment, help me to not project or worry and rely on the Higher Power for help and those beautiful souls he sends our way to guide us. I come from an aritst family background and the depth of my parents was truly powerful...growing up visiting art colonies and art classes gave me a special yet highly sensitized response to experiences....they are doing a lot of research on heredtiy and anxiety my daughters are both experiencing the anxiety issues at the same ages I began too. So there may be someting to that my combining the above tools with talk therapy and behavioral therapy helped me the most...I will keep you in my prayers and meditations as you journey toward finding your serenity and peace. Writing helped me tremendously and I discovered my poems actually chronicalled my journey I self published a booklet of my poems and titled it "Inspirational Whispers" now I offer it as a gratitude gift for those who donate to our REFF Org. work....so many have read it and say it has inspired them...so write often and know one day your journey will help another.
Namaste
Hope coach
Barbara T.

_____________________________

Our Glory Is not In Never Falling
Our Glory Is Rising Every Time We Fall
Confuscious
Post #: 5
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 9:06:43 AM   
Greatful

 

Posts: 31
Joined: 12/21/2007
Status: offline 		Thanks everyone for your responses!

THis is my second day with NO medication in my system. :) WOohoo.

My doctor thinks I should stasy ON this medication and so does my BF (because they both felt I was doing much better ON the drug than OFF).but my GUT tells me that I should definitely get OFF it.

I do feel brave although a bit 'alone'. I appreciate you are all here!

Living in the mOMENT helps me sooooo much to not freak or have anxiety.

Its key' for me. I will remind myself of the following affirmation today:

'THIS MOMENT is all there is. in THIS MOMENT there is PERFECT PEACE'.

Thanx again all.
Michelle
Post #: 6
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 11:11:31 AM   
Alchemist

 

Posts: 92
Joined: 7/26/2007
Status: offline
Michelle

Congratulations on your second day! You have already gone a long way by making the decision. We always know within what is best for us. I would like to give you an easy but powerful meditation to supplement those who have given you that suggestion.

And though it is a bit early, I am also posting Saint Patrick's Prayer for you. It is an excellent way to start off your day.

Alchemist


Sit quietly, and breathe deeply.

As you sit visualize Jesus standing directly in front of you with a smile on his face. As you gaze into his smiling eyes, feel the unconditional love that he is sending you. Breathe in that love, feel it fill your being and expand around you. Feel yourself surrounded and infused with this love as it permeates every cell of your body, warming and flowing like liquid while at the same time energizing you.

Now sit in this feeling for as long as you wish.


St. Patrick's Prayer

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.


_____________________________

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton
Post #: 7
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 2:00:19 PM   
Hildegard

 

Posts: 2639
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: offline 		Dear Michelle,

I, too, congratulate you on being free of your medication for a second day! Don't be discouraged or embarrassed if you have setbacks! Alchemist has offered you a beautiful prayer, and a way of meditating. They should be helpful to you.

I am keeping you in my prayers and sending love and positive energy your way,
Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!
Post #: 8
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 8:17:50 PM   
Thankful one

 

Posts: 1855
Joined: 12/23/2007
Status: offline 		Michelle,
I am impressed that you are now off your antianxiety medicine for the second day. Way to go girl! You have a great attitude.

In honor of the second day, I'd like to send you two flowers to recognize your achievement.



Post #: 9
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 8:51:23 PM   
Greatful

 

Posts: 31
Joined: 12/21/2007
Status: offline 		Thanks soo much everyone. Wow. I really do appreciate all this support and that great prayer! Ive always had a lot of faith in my 'higher power' and in the Unvierse. When I went on this medication ironically it really did help my anxiety and panic. I was on it FAR too long though ( 2 1/2 years).

Today Im SO PROUD of myself. I went in to my art gallery/studio with no meds but a HUGe amount of loving, compassioante 'self talk'. I decided that i was going to LOVE ME today no matter what! I was going to stay CALm today, no matter WHAT!

Well ironically I was  also feeling some pretty severe withdrawal symptoms like ' - buzzing head, all over panicky feeling, back and neck pain, weird foggy brain etc. BUT I stayed true to my self and stayed calm. I practiced some great breathing excersizes and put on some soothing music at my gallery.

Then when I was closing up I realized I locked my keys INSIDE my gallery! GRR.. NOrmally I might have panicked or gotten very nervous but instead I said this mantra to myself...'Calm no matter WHAT'. 

I actually though ofthis situation 'differently'-- as a 'test' to see if I could remain CALM and centered in spite of what normally would have possibly sent me into a panic..I decided NOT to blow it up into something huge.

Then  I calmly called my boyfriend from a neighbors phone in her studio and although he got a bit peeved and started scolding me a bit I REMAINED CALM anyway...and decided I would use this time to do SOMETHING positive. I went on a nice brisk walk around the block and enjoyed the pretty sunny day here in the mountains contrasting the freshly fallen snow on the mountain peaaks bove me. I realized that this WAS a beautiful world!! I didnt HAVe to panic and I COULD do it all WITHOUT the meds! :) I came home and took a long hot bath. It was a very nice day afterall.
Post #: 10
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 9:06:02 PM   
Thankful one

 

Posts: 1855
Joined: 12/23/2007
Status: offline 		Thanks for sharing your story about your awesome reaction to locking the keys in.

I must admit I have done the same thing a time or two myself, but I didn't remain as calm as you did.

Take it one day at a time and you'll get it right.

Thankful one
Post #: 11
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 9:17:35 PM   
Hildegard

 

Posts: 2639
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: offline 		Dear Michelle, thank you for today's "diary entry" which is inspiring, especially that you did not panic when you locked your keys in! You did well! Not long ago I locked myself out of the house with my husband inside confined to his wheel chair. It was early Saturday morning. My neigbor, still in her robe, came to my rescue! I had this knot in my stomach, and I certainly did not enjoy troubling her so early! My husband never realized what had happened, for which I was grateful.
It is always a challenge to remain calm in such situations. I hope your withdrawal symptoms will ease quickly!

Wishing you strength to persevere,
Much love,
Edda



_____________________________

Peace and joy!
Post #: 12
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 9:29:25 PM   
Greatful

 

Posts: 31
Joined: 12/21/2007
Status: offline 		hey thanx Thankfulone.

You said you knew some people who successfully got off this drug. Id love to hear about that. It seems when i do a search online about this drug I get mainly HORROR STORIES about how TOUGH it is to get off. Some say it is harder to quit than heroin etc. etc.

You say you know it is a very addictive drug. I know it is but I also think GOD can heal all. LOVE is a greater healer than anything.. :)

Post #: 13
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/28/2008 11:21:45 PM   
Thankful one

 

Posts: 1855
Joined: 12/23/2007
Status: offline 		Michelle,
First off, it is not harder than heroin to quit. Cigarettes are harder to quit than heroin and many people have quit cigarettes including several people on this forum. The medicine you are taking is much easier to quit physically than cigarettes.

That's not to say for one minute that it is easy. Your medicine is just much more psychologically addicting where cigarettes are more physically addicting. The medicine is a crutch for dealing with the difficulties of life. When you have trouble integrating something like locking your keys, it is easy to just take a pill and relax. You are doing very well at coming up with new psychological ways of dealing with the stress.

Thousands of people have quit taking this medicine, including my uncle after many years of using it. He just got to the point where he said he realized he was addicted. He said he was going to quit and he did.

The trick he found out after talking to many people was to really seriously exercise several times a day and have a person that you agree to talk to before you take any more of the medicine.

I think this forum would be a good "person" to talk to before you take any more to provide some strength.

Not to dissuade you but your toughest days are just ahead. This is when your body is going to go through the most physical as well as psychological withdrawals.

I believe that your attitude is one that will really help you quit. I have to agree with Edda here though. It's tough to quit. Don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. It takes many cigarette smokers several times to successfully quit.

You will have a lower amount of medicine in your system every day until it all washes out of your system. It will become more difficult every day when you have less medicine in your system. One answer is to write in a journal every day or every time you can. It is helpful to look back on the writing you have done and it will help provide you with strength.

Stay connected with this group and they will do wonders to help pull you through tight spots - I speak from personal experience here.

Thankful one
Post #: 14
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/29/2008 12:14:32 AM   
Hope coach

 

Posts: 445
Joined: 9/20/2007
Status: offline 		Michelle
as someone who quit smoking 5 months ago I agree with Thankful One it is hard however, it gets easier each day....nothing is impossible with God. I've seen miracles in fact I beliv any time we overcome a difficulty it is a small miracle. Keep your eyes on heaven, pray read, educate yourself, find resources for support. Gratitde family will support you too.
Namaste
Hope coach
Barbara T

_____________________________

Our Glory Is not In Never Falling
Our Glory Is Rising Every Time We Fall
Confuscious
Post #: 15
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/29/2008 1:50:42 AM   
J1937

 

Posts: 843
Joined: 6/25/2007
From: Austria/Europe
Status: offline 		Dear Michelle,
Here comes one more person to congratulate you on what you have achieved so far and to encourage you! Staying calm after you had locked your keys in really is something - I´ll remember that next time when I get nervous in an unpleasant situation . So you live in a mountainous country, too - I am looking at the snow-covered peaks in front of me right now. I remember what some of my students wrote about them in their essays: how the solidity and firmness of the mountains had inspired them. Wishing you strength and courage!

Love,
Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict
Post #: 16
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/29/2008 12:30:33 PM   
Greatful

 

Posts: 31
Joined: 12/21/2007
Status: offline 		hi everyone! Welll its day 3 here. I woke up feeling some ODD PANICKY feelings, hands shaking, back and neck ache and a buzzing in my head. Im also a bit paranoid. ....

BUT..Im NOT givin in to this!

My BF says I should just 'DECIDE" to feel better and that I wil. He believes that we ALL can change our situations if we just THINK it away! Its a definite 'challenge' being with him. He is a very simple man.lol

He thinks the more I read online about how 'bad' this withdrawal will be the worse it will be. I can understand his point of view BUT then when I have 'real' symptoms I feel a bit CRAZY!

Anyway..Im sittin in here today at my gallery. By the way its in the SMOKEY MOUNTAINS of Tennessee, Gatlinburg. I know some of you wanted to know where I was.

THANKFULLY today its a rainy day so no one has been in. Im sortof happy about that because I dont want to snap at anyone or be 'weird' around people. Thats what my anxiety disorder has been like. I think my biggest fear is that I will say something weird or rude or act in a non loving way towards myself or others.(when I get scared I do act weird, rude and at times snobby to people. I can be very cutting).

ThankfulOne.. Yu said...

quote:

Not to dissuade you but your toughest days are just ahead. This is when your body is going to go through the most physical as well as psychological withdrawals.


To be honest when I read that I felt INSTANTLy worse. Im not saying you arent speaking the TRUTh but why cant it get 'better and better' every day and not WORSE??? I mean with 'GOd all things are possible'.

(Sorry but some days I think its like a self fulfilling prophecy when I read those type of statements--that I somehow take them INto my subconscious which then tells me it HAS to be tough!).

Alchemist. I do appreciate that wonderful prayer too. I didnt thankyou yet , I was raised jewish and I dont really feel comfortble with using the words Jesus or CHrust  but I substituted by own words there. :)

Thanks for listening you guys. Day three and Im ''hangin!". If its ok Id love to keep posting here daily. I do keep a journal every day too plus I make art.

I will look at this thing as a 'blessing' not a 'curse' today. I will look at what is GOOD in this.

Michelle
Post #: 17
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/29/2008 1:11:03 PM   
Hildegard

 

Posts: 2639
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: offline 		Dear Michelle, you certainly can post here every day. I am happy for you that it is day 3! Perhaps you need to stop checking the internet for withdrawal symptoms! You experience what you do and not what someone else does. Not everybody reacts in the same way. I still think you might want to discuss them with your physician or someone expert in the field, if they become too serious or overwhelming. Will power alone won't make them go away. Your body has its own time and way; perhaps some monitoring will be needed. You want to be safe!
Substituting God for Christ in the prayer is just fine. We all come from a variety of traditions; we rejoice in this enriching diversity.

Sending you my love and whatever positive energy I can,
Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!
Post #: 18
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/29/2008 2:00:04 PM   
Alchemist

 

Posts: 92
Joined: 7/26/2007
Status: offline
Michelle

Congratulations on day 3! There is NO reason why it can't get better each day. Everyone's experience will be different. Certainly if you expect certain things, that makes it more likely to happen that way. Hopefully your symptoms will be less unpleasant each day while your body adapts.

You are quite welcome for the prayer and meditation. The meditation was given because it is simple and powerful. It is a template of sorts and you can substitute whatever is most meaningful for you. The same is true for the prayer. Knowing you have a Divine Protector is the important factor and not the name that is given.

Like Edda, I send you the most positive intentions I can.

Alchemist



_____________________________

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that Self may prove to be.
~ May Sarton
Post #: 19
RE: weaning off anti anxiety med:) - 2/29/2008 7:15:38 PM   
buttington

 

Posts: 2145
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: UK
Status: offline 		Michelle, I am sending you lots of positive thoughts too. Congratulations on day 3 !

I agree with Edda that looking on the Internet for symptoms is not helping you, and everyone's experience is going to be different.

Keep going.

Love Jude

_____________________________

Love is the only way
Post #: 20
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