I believed I would never heal...I was WRONG!

[[Buddie]]

That's Incredible!! congratulations on your recovery. nothing but beautiful days ahead can't wait to join you guys through the finish line

Thank you so much for your reply. I’m now 5 years and 5 months off and just randomly popped back on here. I don’t log on much these days because I’m out living my life. I can safely say I have zero remaining symptoms, even background tinnitus is gone, even sensitivity to alcohol is gone. I feel exactly the same, in fact even better, than I did before this mess began. I thought I would be disabled with symptoms for life but gradually my brain healed itself. It took soo long, so if your at 3+ years and still get symptoms, I was there too, but I still healed COMPLETELY. Never give up hope

At which month would you say you were 100 % healed without symptoms ?

[[Buddie]]

I think it took me till 5 years out to really feel 100% better. Tinnitus was the main symptom which stayed for the longest time. Fatigue left me at around 4 years out and a lot of the other symptoms started dropping off after 2.5 years. After 4 years I was feeling pretty good but occasionally would have mild setbacks. Now I’m completely back to normal

[[Buddie]]

I think it took me till 5 years out to really feel 100% better. Tinnitus was the main symptom which stayed for the longest time. Fatigue left me at around 4 years out and a lot of the other symptoms started dropping off after 2.5 years. After 4 years I was feeling pretty good but occasionally would have mild setbacks. Now I’m completely back to normal

Thank you. You give me hope.

1. At which month did your windows and waves start ?

2. Which symptoms except tinnitus did you have from month 48 - 60 ?

3. Do you mean with setbacks, windows and waves ?

[[Buddie]]

I think it took me till 5 years out to really feel 100% better. Tinnitus was the main symptom which stayed for the longest time. Fatigue left me at around 4 years out and a lot of the other symptoms started dropping off after 2.5 years. After 4 years I was feeling pretty good but occasionally would have mild setbacks. Now I’m completely back to normal

Thank you. You give me hope.

1. At which month did your windows and waves start ?

2. Which symptoms except tinnitus did you have from month 48 - 60 ?

3. Do you mean with setbacks, windows and waves ?

I’m glad the post gives you hope because you have a lot to be hopeful for. It’s a beautiful feeling when you get your life back, you just appreciate everything so much more.
1. I don’t remember exactly when my windows started. I think I got very brief mini windows in second year where I felt somewhat more normal although not completely symptom free, but they only lasted a few hours or so and were extremely rare. After 2.5 years off I started getting real windows where I felt quite a bit better.
2. Tinnitus was the only symptom I got after 4 years on a regular basis. Although if I was stressed, sleep deprived or had something with alcohol in it I sometimes would have a few symptoms like fatigue, weakness, slight dizziness for a few days. I guess i just still couldn’t handle stress well without mild symptoms returning
3. By setback I mean a return of some of my old benzo withdrawal symptoms, usually only temporarily and with less intensity

Edit: Fixed quote

[[Buddie]]

I think it took me till 5 years out to really feel 100% better. Tinnitus was the main symptom which stayed for the longest time. Fatigue left me at around 4 years out and a lot of the other symptoms started dropping off after 2.5 years. After 4 years I was feeling pretty good but occasionally would have mild setbacks. Now I’m completely back to normal

Thank you. You give me hope.

1. At which month did your windows and waves start ?

2. Which symptoms except tinnitus did you have from month 48 - 60 ?

3. Do you mean with setbacks, windows and waves ?

I’m glad the post gives you hope because you have a lot to be hopeful for. It’s a beautiful feeling when you get your life back, you just appreciate everything so much more.
1. I don’t remember exactly when my windows started. I think I got very brief mini windows in second year where I felt somewhat more normal although not completely symptom free, but they only lasted a few hours or so and were extremely rare. After 2.5 years off I started getting real windows where I felt quite a bit better.
2. Tinnitus was the only symptom I got after 4 years on a regular basis. Although if I was stressed, sleep deprived or had something with alcohol in it I sometimes would have a few symptoms like fatigue, weakness, slight dizziness for a few days. I guess i just still couldn’t handle stress well without mild symptoms returning
3. By setback I mean a return of some of my old benzo withdrawal symptoms, usually only temporarily and with less intensity

Thanks for you answer. I am always happy when I find a success story that is longer than my current "number".

When you gave me this answer, you marked / quoted incorrectly. So the answer does not appear clearly on this page.

I'm 25, male. I am at month 35. I had reduction in symptoms at month 4, 6, 18 and 32.

I have been unemployed most of the time due to PAWS and even after the last reduction I still do not want to work.

My current symptoms are: social anxiety, anhedonia, brain fog, fatigue, low energy, low motivation, low libido, no morning wood, weak bladder and urine stream.

I used to have worse symptoms like DPDR, paranoia, panic attacks, deep depression and severe anxiety.

Stress, little or bad sleep, too much sugar and some social situations, worsen my symptoms. So I avoid them as good as I can.

Fatigue, anhedonia and brain fog are my most annoying symptoms.

PS: I read all of your posts today. What do you think ? At which month do most heal 100% ?

[[Buddie]]

I honestly don’t know which month most people heal. Most people aren’t protracted for starters. I once read this study which had the percentage of people healed at certain months off. 6 months was about 40%, 18 months was about 60-70%, 3 years was 95%. I don’t know how accurate this is to be honest, but I’m pretty sure I’m in a minority

[[Buddie]]

I honestly don’t know which month most people heal. Most people aren’t protracted for starters. I once read this study which had the percentage of people healed at certain months off. 6 months was about 40%, 18 months was about 60-70%, 3 years was 95%. I don’t know how accurate this is to be honest, but I’m pretty sure I’m in a minority

This is currently written on your profile:

"Xanax 1mg for 8 months for insomnia.
Switched to Valium for 2 month taper. Jumped 17th June 2017.
M1-3:Horrific withdrawals, Hallucinations, extreme panic/anxiety, deep depression, DP/DR, blurred vision, heart palpatations, nausea, confusion, fatigue, flu-like feeling, not functional at this time.
M4-M6: Bad acute-like waves.
M7-12: Slight improvement but had killer wave at 10 months off
M13-18: Fatigue nearly destroying me, spent most time on couch or bed
M19-24: very slight improvement, but anxiety and tinnitus still there
M25-30: Fatigue lifting a little, muscle pain horrible though, not much improvement
M30-36: Major healing, started having long windows
M37-48: Much better, working+exercising normally. Occasional flare ups"

--- >

Could you possibly update that ?

PS: I am happy to any post or comment from you. It's just a pleasure to read when someone who is healed writes something.

[[Buddie]]

I am so sorry you went through this. I am glad it is over, and you are back to living a full life. Your experience gave me hope tonight. Thank you for sharing it. I would love to read any other updates you post. How are you doing?

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...],

thank you so much for your story! As I was reading it, it felt like I was the one who had written it. It helped me feel less alone in this awful journey that I'm going through. I just started month 22 post jump and I feel so stuck in my pain, the internal tremors just won't go away. Your story of perseverance has given me strength.
Thank you and I hope I can come back soon and tell you that I also survived this.

Happy New Year!

[[Buddie]]

I think it took me till 5 years out to really feel 100% better. Tinnitus was the main symptom which stayed for the longest time. Fatigue left me at around 4 years out and a lot of the other symptoms started dropping off after 2.5 years. After 4 years I was feeling pretty good but occasionally would have mild setbacks. Now I’m completely back to normal

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️