Archive for the ‘benzodiazepine withdrawal’ Category
Panicking? Listen to this.
Posted by: HSP Woman on: September 18, 2008
Wow! Two posts in one day. It’s a record. Speaking of records, you must check this out. It’s a song written especially for when you’re feeling anxious or panicky. I love it! Really clever. Catchy, too. What do you think?
A Change in Blog Direction
Posted by: HSP Woman on: February 11, 2008
I have missed sharing and recording my experiences here. I have missed the accountability and the clarity that comes with clicking “Publish.” Mostly, I have missed the connection and dialogue with my dear blogging friends. But, I haven’t gone away, really. I am still here many times a day, poking about, responding to visitors, leaving [...]
Update: Four Months Benzo Free
Posted by: HSP Woman on: December 10, 2007
Wednesday will be my 17-Week Benzo-Free anniversary. Well, that’s not exactly true… About Week 14, I was feeling all worked up and stressed out over some remodeling issues going on at home. I allowed myself 1/2 of a 2.0 mg tablet of Valium. Mind you, this was after three previously stressful days when I picked [...]
Challenging Agoraphobia
Posted by: HSP Woman on: August 27, 2007
www.ecomagic.org/fruition/supermarket-1.jpg
A Time Out is Okay
Posted by: HSP Woman on: August 22, 2007
As I stay at home, healing, these words remind me it’s okay to take a “time out.” The truth is that your value is your consciousness, your ability to perceive and experience. The value of a human life is that it exists. You’re a complex miracle of creation. You are a person who is trying [...]
Coping with Coming off Psychiatric Drugs
Posted by: HSP Woman on: August 17, 2007
Here’s a taste of an eye-opening article called Coping with Coming Off. It’s about the experiences of people getting off of psychiatric medications. It highlights the lack of information and support for people wanting to stop taking medication. The drugs mentioned in the report: • SSRI antidepressants (Serotonin Specific Re-uptake Inhibitors). A similar drug, Effexor [...]
Benzo Free, at last!
Posted by: HSP Woman on: August 16, 2007
Quick Update: Yesterday was Day One Benzo Free! Approximately 6,670 days since taking my first benzodiazepine, I am free! I am full of emotion (and some withdrawal effects, unfortunately). I am rather speechless that it’s over. I won. I really won! More later, I promise!
Benzo-Tainted OTC Sleep Aid
Posted by: HSP Woman on: July 20, 2007
I just wanted to share this health advisory, especially with my Canadian friends! Can you believe it? Advisory July 18, 2007 For immediate release Sleep supplement found to contain habit-forming drug OTTAWA – Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the sleep supplement product Optimum Health Care Sleep Easy, because it contains the undeclared [...]
Almost Benzo Free!
Posted by: HSP Woman on: July 16, 2007
It’s been two weeks since I started my final tapering off of Valium. I’m so close to benzo freedom, I can taste it, feel it, envision it. Let me tell you, benzo freedom tastes a whole lot better than the bitter drug water I drink every night! Here’s a quick recap of how I got [...]
My Alopecia
Posted by: HSP Woman on: June 18, 2007
When I was 12, I started a new school. It was hell. All the other kids had been together since kindergarten; I was an outsider. Somehow, I eventually became a member of the so-called popular group (as unpopular as I was). Thinking back, I am sure it was because I helped the others with their [...]
Maybe I’m Not Alone
Posted by: HSP Woman on: May 28, 2007
Dove Video She is mesmerizing somehow. As I ruminate on my lethargy, weight, alopecia, lack of being understood — this video makes me feel less alone, less strange. How can I be so tired? I’ve been 5 days now without any morning benzos. Aren’t I supposed to feel wired? My perception is indeed distorted. I [...]
Xanax: How (and Why) I Quit
Posted by: HSP Woman on: May 23, 2007
A post dedicated to anyone who takes multiple doses of benzodiazepines daily and wants to stop. I’m now convinced that crossing over to Valium was the only way I could successfully get off Xanax. Too bad I didn’t do the same with Klonopin. I made the mistake of tapering off Klonopin by dry cutting (using [...]
My Brain is Waking Up
Posted by: HSP Woman on: May 10, 2007
Some people during benzodiazepine withdrawal report feeling unsteady on their feet; sometimes they feel they are being pushed to one side or feel giddy, as if things were going round and round. An important organ in controlling motor stability and maintaining equilibrium is a part of the brain called the cerebellum. This organ is densely [...]
Update on My Benzo Taper
Posted by: HSP Woman on: May 3, 2007
Dr. Heather Ashton – Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Dr. Heather Ashton is my hero. She has been researching the negative effects of chronic benzodiazepine use for over 25 years. I so admire women who are ahead of their time. Women who fight for what’s right and readily put their reputations on the line for a worthy cause. [...]
HSPs and Instant Arousal-Stopping Medication
Posted by: HSP Woman on: April 29, 2007
People frequently ask me “What is a highly sensitive person (HSP)?” This is an excellent question, and, considering the theme of this blog, one that deserves further discussion. Here is a quiz from Dr. Elaine Aron’s web site identifying traits she believes represent HSPs. See how many statements are true or somewhat true for you. [...]
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