BENZO FREE!!

Wow...I never thought I'd be making this post!

I took my last .125mg of Klonopin on November 27th, 2008. I think I'm still feeling some withdrawals, but I do feel better than I have in a long time. It's really eye opening to realize how even a tiny dose of a benzo can affect you. I'm not saying I'm 100% recovered - not by a long shot. But I'm finally starting to feel like myself again - like I'm getting my brain back!

I was on 3mg Ativan for about two and a half years. I did a straight crossover to 2mg Klonopin (stopped Ativan one day, started taking Klonopin the next day). I was on the Klonopin for about a month or so before I started tapering. My full taper schedule is below. It was all done by dry cutting .5mg pills.

I just wanted to mention a few things that really helped me:

1) I always remember this line from the Ashton Manual: "Do not become obsessed with your withdrawal schedule. Let it just become a normal way of life for the next few months. Okay, you are withdrawing from your benzodiazepines; so are many others. It's no big deal."

2) Claire Weekes. I cannot stress enough how her books and CD have helped me. The biggest thing during this process is NO SELF PITY! Accept what is happening to you, don't shrink from it. Learning to accept was probably the single most helpful thing I did for myself.

3) This site really helped me when I was starting my taper. Coming here and getting support and reading other people's stories helped to provide the motivation and determination I needed. At the end of my taper I had to stop coming here because I realized I was focusing on my symptoms too much. So use this site for support, but don't become obsessed with your symptoms (see #1 above)!

I hope that someone else can read this and realize they too can do it. It's not easy, but as the saying goes:

"Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well." -- Theodore Roosevelt

And a quote from Claire Weekes: "Strength is not born from strength. Strength can be born only from weakness. So be glad of your weaknesses now; they are the beginnings of your strength."

2008-04-04: Started Klonopin 2mg (switched from Ativan 3mg)

2008-05-14: Cut .25mg (1.75mg)

2008-05-27: Cut .125mg (1.625mg)

2008-06-03: Cut .125mg (1.5mg)

2008-06-10: Cut .125mg (1.375mg)

2008-06-17: Cut .125mg (1.25mg)

2008-06-24: Cut .125mg (1.125mg)

2008-07-01: Cut .125mg (1mg)

2008-07-08: Cut .125mg (.875mg)

2008-07-22: Cut .125mg (.75mg)

2008-08-04: Cut .125mg (.625mg)

2008-08-18: Cut .125mg (.5mg)

2008-09-01: Cut .0625mg (.4375mg)

2008-09-08: Cut .0625mg (.375mg)

2008-09-15: Cut .0625mg (.3125mg)

2008-09-20: Reinstated .1875mg (.5mg)

2008-09-30: Cut .125mg (.375mg)

2008-10-16: Cut .125mg (.25mg)

2008-11-06: Cut .125mg (.125mg)

2008-11-27: Cut .125mg (BENZO FREE!)

Hi r3v0lt!,

Well done!!!  Thank you for coming back and making a great post!  It should give many the will and inspiration to continue on. 

You will continue to heal, come back and let us know how you're doing. 

TS

  That is awesome r3! I've been off a little over 5 weeks now, still having a few w/d symptoms but know they will subside in time. From a fellow Oregonian - congratulations! 

Lynne 

Hey, good to see you again. 

Congratulations!

Claire Weekes's works are wonderful.  Her book 'hope and help for your nerves' was my bible thru some tough nights. I even posted a passage of hers on the insomnia board.

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=7416.0

Take care!

This is great news and wonderful for someone who is still tapering....like me

Yes, recovery is there for the taking....but it does take time

Hey r3v0lt,

Thanks for the inspiring post! And......WELL DONE!! Congratulations on being benzo free!!!

[move] :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:[/move]

Please come back and keep us updated on your total recovery....

Lori

Great job REVOLT    Treat yourself to something nice, you have earned it. 

Keith

Wow, how did I miss this.  Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!!!!!!!  Thank you so much for the great, inspiring update.  I found that being on the forum during my taper kept me focused off my symptoms because I was helping others.  Go get your happy life.

Hugs,

Patty  xoxoxoxox