Drug Rehab Options Blog

Hi Folks,

I'm sober twenty years in AA and NA. I've recently discontinued antidepressants (last Winter I ended Zoloft which I'd been on/off for 8 years). I then was on Cymbalta..then Welbutrin. I also discontinued Klonopin. I'd been on .5 mg to 1mg / day at bedtime for sleep. I tapered to .75mg, then to .5 to .375mg to .25 to .125 This was over the course of 5 weeks (the taper from .75 to .125 mg)

I am curious about klonopin withdrawal.I've read everything I can get my hands on and the range of information on the net is disorienting. My simple question is how long do the more acute symptoms last. I see a kind of consensus of one to two weeks..with other people going longer (few months) or others going shorter.

I am having acute anxiety in the morning. I wake up and cover my head in blankets and can't get up to do basic things. I pace. My arms ache. My hands ache. Strangely around 6pm (after waking at 8am) I feel myself. I can't figure out this body rhythm. I feel scared all day, wanting nothing more than to be back on medications and yet by 6pm I feel I can make it through the next day. One day at a time. i feel like I'm getting sober again...meaning like the first six months of sobriety.

I guess I am looking for information, useful anecdotes about how other people felt going through klonopin withdrawal and staying off of the klonopin. When did the worst feelings of separation subside. I'm convinced that an even slower taper would not have helped. When I moved my dose down , even by .125, I immediately got bad symptoms that have been no better from .5 mg downard.......so I'm toughing it out.

Thanks

Hey all unfortunately where im at its been difficult finding AA/NA meetings to attend so i happened to stumble across this site and well here I am...after 2 trips to iraq a diagnosis of PTSD and traumatic brain injury i fell into alcoholism and managed to lose 3 ranks in 1 year with alcohol related incidents Ive attended an in-patient program which didnt help along with numerous counselors/doctors/therapist etc..the only thing that has helped me so far is helping others in my situtation. I've only been sober 2 weeks but i feel the best ive felt in a long time, i honestly dont know why im writing this? maybe an affirmation of my sobriety? or loneliness? up on a soap box?even though we all arent here together physically reading everyones postings is comforting to me, im looking forward to becoming an active member of this group and contributing my thoughts and experiences to others. One day at a time!

That's a good thing. I've had 30 days so many times before...I'm really trying to keep it in the one day at a time mind set. I find it a lot easier to stay in the present and focus on whats in front of me today. To stay honest...I continue to take Antabuse daily ( monitored ) I know the use of antabuse is somewhat controversial but it helps me...I'm going to confront that issue later on...right now I'm just trying to stay sober and get some time under my belt.
Anxiety, for whatever reason, has been a huge struggle this past month. Much more so than I remember experiencing before. Pretty much daily episodes of sadness...panic...doom and gloom thinking...I call it "catastrophizing"...seeing no way out of things or getting really regretful and focused on things I can't change or can't change right now. Getting caught up in worries about the future..."what if" scenarios...financial worries...impending heath crises...anybody else get that??
I guess it could be PAWS symptoms...but drinking is not an option. Thanks

Here it is day, 3...I would be drinking by now, because this would be the "other" day of my "every other" day drinking binge. This has became a routine of mine since my hubby and I lost our jobs a little over 2 months ago. We just got back from the store and I'm getting ready to make some taco salads...yummy. Still hanging in there and taking it "A Day At A Time". I'm so happy that my hubby is supportive of me and he doesn't like drinking that much anymore. He used to enjoy drinking about a year and a half ago and just did it mostly out of boredom. Me on the other hand did it out of boredom, for fun, when I was stressed and mostly for the buzz...I enjoyed doing it no matter what. It sure made everything more fun...like cleaning house, dishes, doing crafts and just plain hanging out at home. But I would have such terrible guilt the next day, even if everything went just fine the night before. I just wanted to check in and let you know how I was doing and that I haven't had a drink since New Years Eve. Right now I'm drinking a Diet Pepsi w/Wild Cherry flavoring...."Cheers, here's to another day and here's to today". :dance8::dance8:
Let's just see what tomorrow brings, because it is another day.
I would love to say no more for me please, never doing it again...but that is just to scary to think about. That is why I'd rather deal with it a day at a time. Besides, I think I would be pleased with myself if I did just cut back to once a month compared to the every other day routine.
Thanks for Listening and God Bless!!!
Take Care,
XOXO

I'm just coming in to say hello....I'm on day 2 and just taking it one day at a time. I am getting to the point that I really need to cut back. I could drink about 12 beers every other day, this has become more and more like this since my husband and I lost our jobs a little over 2 months ago. We both were working for the same company and they went out of business, we had there 18+ years with them. I'm learning to deal with it a little better these days, now I just need to learn to deal with not drinking so much.
I wanted to introduce myself and thank everyone that is coming to this wonderful place. Your support is a blessing, Take care!
XOXO
:Val004:

Well, I figured since there is a parent check in- I would start a check in for those who deal with addicts on the spouse/dating/intimate relationship level.

MY HB is in rehab after a 2mo. run (good)
He did it on his own (good)
I didn't enable (good)
He is making amends to return my stolen jewelry/get out of pawn (good)
He has plans to how he will recover (good)
He is willing to listen to my pain and how he hurt me (good). For the first time he stuck around long enough to hear how he damages relationships.

I'm depressed (bad) but working on it everyday by going to support groups and seeing a therapist (good).
I still hold onto hate for his actions (bad) but learning that's what addicts do (good).
I have set up boundaries (good) and was able to verbalize them without remorse or feeling bad (good)

Only one day at a time. I have stopped planning how my life will end up and giving it a time frame. Live for the moment and enjoy each day as it comes. Brace for the ups and downs and NEVER be surprised by another one's actions.

Happy New Year!!

Finally got clean and sober when I left for The Virgin Islands. I have 24 days today. One day at a time. Gotta say, if a guy can stay clean and sober there he can do it anywhere. Now the insomnia is kicking in. I wake in the middle of the night and cant go back to sleep.

Hi all. Not sure if the correct new comers forum, but wanted to introduce myself. I am the significant other of someone in recovery from alcohol abuse. Three days in rehab and so far so good.

My parents were alcoholics, my older brother was and now sober for many years, another brother was addicted to pain medication. A lot of history and emotions to deal with. I thought I was finished with all of this as 33 years not being around any type of substance abuse and now I am knocked over by how far gone 'my guy' really is.

I am scared to death of relapse when he gets out and comes home. One day at a time!

Not what I expected for a Christmas present (he wanted to propose):Xmasistar, but instead admitted he has a problem and went into rehab! Could not ask for a better gift.

Enjoy your day everyone and sorry if I posted in the wrong newcomers forum.

We're partners in a construction company in a major metropolitan city. Our offices are located downtown and there's an alley that runs behind them.

There's a homeless woman named Linda who, with her 40 year old son, have slept in makeshift tents in the alley for many years. She and her son are alcoholics and like most homeless, have suffered a lot of abuse. This city has recently done a major clean up regarding the homeless and tent cities, but there aren't enough facilities to house them.

You know those sheds you can buy for your backyard, use for storage? Some of the partners decided to buy a shed for Linda and her son, it's 18ft x 10ft. They've put it on our lot, behind one of our buildings, and I sent a couple of sleeping bags this morning.

They deliberately didn't tell me about it until this morning because they figured the first words out of my mouth would be "enabling." I admit I went round and round with it inside my head, then finally gave in. This woman has been on the streets for at least 20 years and we're all pretty certain she and her son have mental illness. At least they'll be warm and safe because our lot is locked. They have to be there when we leave for the day or be locked out. It's their choice.

Part of me is so proud of all of them for their generous spirit but the other part is wondering what can of worms have they opened? I guess we'll just deal with it as it comes along, one day at a time.

There wasn't much of a turn out last week for the Step Meeting and this Wednesday is Christmas Eve so we will not be having the Wednesday night meeting, 8PM in the Chat room.

The next week is New Year's Eve. Please let me know if you all "WANT" a meeting next week or "DO NOT" want a meeting. I want to go ahead and say that there will be none but I can chair it if there will be people attending.

If not we will resume January 7, 2009, Wednesday evening @ 8PM. We will do Step Two or Three. For now I'm leaving it up in the air and as well to see how you all feel.

Thank you in advance. Hope you all are enjoying the Holidays and doing it One Day at a Time. :)

:Xmasba