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I am 70 years old and I am suffering with all this too.  I read from Ashton that it is even worse for the elderly and we tend to be more sensitive.  I can attest to that.

 

  I also tapered way too fast and got hit hard. 20 mg in less than 4 months.

My BP was 220/155 for three weeks.  I was fortunate I did not have a stroke or death or organ damage in that long period of time.  NO, Cardiologist could not get it down......tried THREE Beta Blockers......they made me worse.  I took extra Potassium myself and Magnesium which kept it at 160 till it will spike again.  Had no choice but to HOLD which is NOT what I wanted to do.

 

  During the HOLD I slowly began to stabilize.  Now I am tapering at 5% and hoping and praying to increase to 7% from 10mg.

 

  I said all that to say this.......I REFUSE to keep naming my problems.  We have something in the brain called the Amygdala which is the Fight or Flight Primitive part of our brain and that is what is unbalanced thanks to the Benzos.  That is what is causing all this.  However, I have done much research on this and the Amygdala HEARS everything you are saying about and to yourself and to others.  And when you talk about the sxs all the time......ALL THE TIME.......then the Amygdala goes into action by making your FRIGHT much, much worse. 

 

  Don't believe me.  Do the research on it. 

 

  We have two choices.  The First choice is to realize that our MINDS are NOT part of our bodies.  The MIND is not an organ.  SO we can choose not to GIVE IN to these fears......and we can CHOOSE not to even speak them.  That helps immensely and to think about good things while you are feeling terrible.  While you are shaking and tremors, you say out loud or in your Mind how good you are going to be when you are off the Benzos and that you WILL HEAL.  The body and brain has amazing abilities to heal itself.  Think about how you are healing while you taper.  Think about good things and do not go to the REGRET world.  That will only FEED your fears. 

 

  Going back is only going to make you worse.  Worrying about the future will also make you worse.  Think about only the good things in the past that made you feel good and send yourself there in your MIND and ENJOY IT.....smile.  Sing.....do things you enjoy even if you feel rotten.  FORCE yourself to do so.  MEDITATE.  Whatever Meditation helps you than you do that.

 

  I believe in the LORD JESUS so I pray and that helps me.  We are all different, so you have to find what helps you.

 

  Talking to good friends is good but not all about our problems bcuz again that will FEED that PRIMITIVE Amygdala in your brain and make you MUCH WORSE.  DO NOT FEED THAT BEAST!!!  GOOGLE Amygdala.......learn everything you can about it.

 

  This is the way to overcome it day by day. Live in the Present but think and watch and do things that please you ...you can do this.  It's going to take WORK and Exercising these manifestations and thinking daily.  Work on being positive even when you feel bad bcuz this will not last.  THIS WILL NOT LAST!   

 

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This is interesting. I will look this up today.

 

You have good will power to have this outlook on this experience.

 

I have become negative over the last couple months. I have not meant to but its hard not to do. I will try to start thinking more positively going forward.

 

I hope you get well soon.

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Thank you Ocean.

 

    I have had a lot of physical problems in my life time.  A father who beat all EIGHT kids till we all left at an early age.  Working hard to get any kind of education by ourselves.  I was in a severe car accident that broke my Pelvis knocked it out of place and told I might never walk again and Jaw broken...all me teeth broken at a young age.  I have gone into Anaphalactic Shock FIVE TIMES and once was from the dye on the outside of an aspirin.

Nearly died through all this stuff.  Lots of other stuff I won't go into. 

 

    By FAITH I was healed from the car accident but had to have extensive Dental work to get my teeth and Jaw back but the Jaw is still bad to this day.  I have pain continually but I have learned to live with it. 

 

  SO this makes my point.  Through all this I learned that complaining and living in that NEGATIVE WORLD or world of REGRET got me no where but BAD.  It made me worse, MUCH WORSE.  I am so glad I learned this bcuz it is helping me now with tapering off this stuff.

 

  I am on 5% bcuz I tapered too fast...now I have to slow way down.  That was NOT my plan either.  However, I have CHOSEN to take one day at a time.  Not to go to those places or think those things that just weigh me down and pull me down.  And telling someone else sometimes helps BUT.......they cannot help us.  We can do more for ourselves than anyone can with controlling and rewiring our MINDS and that's where the help is for us all. This is what will get us through plus our FAITH.

 

  And yes, there are times that are extremely difficult.......so you do what you can in those times.  Sometimes it can be so bad I just pray, "Jesus help me."  And I trust He will answer and He usually does later. 

 

    Being Knowledgeable about the Brain and how it works is POWER to help us overcome and to kind of BIOHACK that Amygdala.  To trick it.  So when it tells you to Panic and run, you tell it you are happy, you are healthy and healed and this won't last long......that you are HEALING and happy about it.  It will lessen each time we do this......it works.

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Thank you Zack!  I wish everyone the very best during this taper and victory and HEALING for us all when we get free from it.  AND WE WILL!
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Thanks Hope - this Amygdala stuff is very interesting to learn about and you are very right. It makes sense.

 

I have bad days, like yesterday, and OK ones, like today - but I just do not post about my s/x and ask members if they have them too. It's as if writing them down and hitting "submit" is giving them power. I also don't think it will make anyone else feel better to know that while I taper, I feel bad. And there is no real magic pill to make it go away, so no one is going to say: "pop a ______ and it will all be better." I only log the way I feel in my buddie blog to keep a record of it that I can refer to.

 

I am a positive person by nature and try to be the same on here too. Sierra7, who is awesome, said that BBs is like having a party in prison - pretty true. Our situation is not ideal by any means, but we need to make the best of it and cheer each other up, root for each other and most importantly, support each other.

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When we surround ourselves with Negative things it affects our Amygdala ..the part of our brain that is PRIMITIVE and sets off the Fight or Flight symptoms making all the taper sxs much worse, setting your CNS ON FIRE.

 

  So I avoid all of it.  I watch only movies (which are hard to find) that are uplifting.  And I listen to music and even how I speak about my sxs to myself or others......I pretty much try to ignore them and tell myself I am healing when I get hit with them.  I tell myself good, positive things about how much I love myself, how much God loves me, How much I am healing and will be free soon.  I FLOOD my MIND with good thoughts and I FIGHT to be around things that inspire me and encourage me.

 

  Complaining will FEED THE BEAST (the Amygdala).  SO do NOT FEED THAT BEAST!

Starve that Beast till it gives up controlling your MIND.  You DO have Control over your MIND bcuz it is NOT a part of your body ..it is NOT an Organ, it is part of your SPIRIT.  So you CAN control it.  Practice these methods when you get hit and tell yourself you are happy and healthy and healing and encourage yourself just like you to do others in here who are hurting.  Be your own best friend. You are WORTH the FIGHT to help yourselves through this and you WILL WIN ..you will have the victory, dig in your heels and do not give up.........it will take time and lots of PRACTICE but you can achieve this and you can and will overcome ...and each time you succeed, the attacks of FEAR will lessen.  That is a PROMISE!  You CAN REWIRE your MIND.  YOU HAVE THAT CONTROL.  So use it.

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Thank you Ocean.

 

    I have had a lot of physical problems in my life time.  A father who beat all EIGHT kids till we all left at an early age.  Working hard to get any kind of education by ourselves.  I was in a severe car accident that broke my Pelvis knocked it out of place and told I might never walk again and Jaw broken...all me teeth broken at a young age.  I have gone into Anaphalactic Shock FIVE TIMES and once was from the dye on the outside of an aspirin.

Nearly died through all this stuff.  Lots of other stuff I won't go into. 

 

    By FAITH I was healed from the car accident but had to have extensive Dental work to get my teeth and Jaw back but the Jaw is still bad to this day.  I have pain continually but I have learned to live with it. 

 

  SO this makes my point.  Through all this I learned that complaining and living in that NEGATIVE WORLD or world of REGRET got me no where but BAD.  It made me worse, MUCH WORSE.  I am so glad I learned this bcuz it is helping me now with tapering off this stuff.

 

  I am on 5% bcuz I tapered too fast...now I have to slow way down.  That was NOT my plan either.  However, I have CHOSEN to take one day at a time.  Not to go to those places or think those things that just weigh me down and pull me down.  And telling someone else sometimes helps BUT.......they cannot help us.  We can do more for ourselves than anyone can with controlling and rewiring our MINDS and that's where the help is for us all. This is what will get us through plus our FAITH.

 

  And yes, there are times that are extremely difficult.......so you do what you can in those times.  Sometimes it can be so bad I just pray, "Jesus help me."  And I trust He will answer and He usually does later. 

 

    Being Knowledgeable about the Brain and how it works is POWER to help us overcome and to kind of BIOHACK that Amygdala.  To trick it.  So when it tells you to Panic and run, you tell it you are happy, you are healthy and healed and this won't last long......that you are HEALING and happy about it.  It will lessen each time we do this......it works.

 

I know a little of what you have suffered thru - I had a father that beat us as well. And I have had health problems on and off thru out my life none probably to the extent you have had.

 

I appreciate you being on here and posting this stuff. I think sometimes there are signs that God puts out for us to see when we feel like we are having a hard time and the last few weeks I have been having a pretty hard time.

 

It helps me to get on here and see posts like this.

 

I have watched several things about the power of the mind healing the body and I tried it at first when I was first tapering but I have fallen off. I still pray. But I need to start meditating again and trying to use the power of my mind.

 

Thanks for reminding me.

 

 

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Oh Sober,

 

  I never hear you Obsess on your sxs.  I am talking about those who obsess about it which releases that horrific fear.  You don't do that.  You react normally as do I.  It's okay to talk with friends and keep a blog.  That IS POSITIVE and that is a Positive way in dealing with it instead of not dealing with it.  Not dealing with it is not healthy to be honest. 

 

  We NEED to lift one another up that is a fact and that is healthy for all of us.  I am talking about those who just Obsess on it continually.  You are one of the most positive person's I've met in here!  That is a Fact. 

 

    But it's good to recognize that BEAST called the Amygdala that wants to release those horrific symptoms which are REAL........to cause us tremendous fear and horrific symptoms.  We have to learn how to starve that Beast and that is fighting against the REAL SYMPTOMS we are experiencing by saying just the opposite to ourselves when we are alone and awake at night not able to sleep.  By NOT giving into that FEAR..........we ARE Starving that Beast, which is the plan.  Biohacking that Beast ..tricking it by not letting it HEAR your words of FEAR or thoughts of Fear. 

 

  That's all I'm stating and it does work.  And with each time we do this, that FEAR and those Symptoms have less and less power over us.  Because our Minds are stronger than we think they are.  Seriously.

 

  You are in the lower doses and you are a strong person bcuz you are staying positive and from what I've observed, it's very difficult to say the least at this level. 

So your battle with this Beast is a lot harder for the present.  But you can make it........you are stronger than you think you are.  You will Beat this Beast and you will WIN! 

 

  I admire your strength and how giving you are in the midst of this taper level, which we all know is extremely difficult.  Know that I am praying for you but I know you will WIN and have the Victory. :hug:

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Hope - YOU are the BEST! Thank you so much for the kind words. I love how you said we need to biohack the beast - so well said! We are going to slay the benzo best - each and every one of us. And we will slay it together because there is power in numbers.

 

I admire you right back Hope - the feeling is 100% mutual!!

 

:smitten:  :smitten:

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I have spoken to several  friends in recent time, about positive thoughts and my use of tapping whilst saying out loud, positive words. This I base on  the latest thinking that the brain learns from both positive and negative messages, which is more or less what Hope is saying I think.  I therefore start each day with a set pattern of tapping or  EFT , The words used are your own and apply to you, they are repeated as you move to the next area to tap. There should be no negative words used.  This I presume teaches the brain eventually that when you tap those areas it will automatically go back to the positive words it has learnt. I have found it helps with the early waking cortisol dread, but as yet I cannot make it last all day, maybe it takes time and one day I will find all I have to do when anxiety is rising is tap on any of the relevant points. It is worth a try. Of course we are still challenged during withdrawal until our bodies have rebalanced but in the mean time we will perhaps have taught our brain to think in a positive manner.

Just as an added extra, I have started using inversion as this increases the blood supply to the brain, which can only be a good thing as long as you don't hang upside down all day.

Should you be interested there are many videos on you tube regarding tapping.

 

 

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Hi Hopeforrecovery,  My experience has been different.  I do avoid negative unpleasant things as much as I can however I cannot avoid them all.  I used to try to control my response and reaction to them but I realized, that often backfires and they become stronger.  It's kind of the story with my benzo use actually.  There are coping mechanisms that I use like positive affirmations and engagement in positive activities, exercise, meditation, etc. and these are helpful but I no longer try to control the thoughts.  I let them come, think about them nonjudgementally, thank them, and then let them pass.  Or at least that's what I try to do. I'm honestly getting better though.  I've learned a lot about this in therapy and I agree with this part of therapy or at least it's been true in my experience and as we learn more in psychology, I will try to integrate that as well.  You might be interested in CBT and/or ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) or some information about mindfulness.  Best.
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This is great! I completely agree. Declaring victory through prayer and meditation or simply words of affirmation. This is exactly what the Dynamic Neural Retraining System and the Gupta Program are about, two different but theoretically similar lambic System programs for healing the flight or fight response for diseases.  I truly believe this works.

 

SoberHope- Pete, you rock brother. Thanks for always being positive. We got this! All of us do if we focus on the light ahead or above!

 

Pete

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http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/tried-everything-im-desperate.5459/

 

This comes from a website that helps people overcome chronic pain caused by fear. The response is from a therapist, Alan Gordon, who specializes in helping people overcome pain.

 

(TMS stands for Tension Myositis Syndrome which is a term invented by Dr. John Sarno from New York University School of Medicine. He's the author of the book, Healing Back Pain. He discovered as a rehabilitation specialist that many times emotions, like fear, are what's causing people's pain.)

 

Here's another page from a self-help program put together by Alan Gordon that deals with the role of fear in pain.

 

http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/day-4-breaking-the-pain-cycle.16459/

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Hopeforecovery,

At this point on my taper, I was ready for your message.

I’ve been thinking about since I read it and true, it’s all in the attitude.

I’m making an effort to internalize it and make it work for me.

Thanks again and God bless you.🌸

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Ocean,

 

  We've really been through it haven't we?  I'm getting told by Moderators and Administrators that I can no longer talk about GOD in here.  So I will PM you.

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  • 4 months later...

Hi Hopeforrecovery,  My experience has been different.  I do avoid negative unpleasant things as much as I can however I cannot avoid them all.  I used to try to control my response and reaction to them but I realized, that often backfires and they become stronger.  It's kind of the story with my benzo use actually.  There are coping mechanisms that I use like positive affirmations and engagement in positive activities, exercise, meditation, etc. and these are helpful but I no longer try to control the thoughts.  I let them come, think about them nonjudgementally, thank them, and then let them pass.  Or at least that's what I try to do. I'm honestly getting better though.  I've learned a lot about this in therapy and I agree with this part of therapy or at least it's been true in my experience and as we learn more in psychology, I will try to integrate that as well.  You might be interested in CBT and/or ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) or some information about mindfulness.  Best.

 

This is a great thread. I'd like to rescue it in case more people want to read and contribute.

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I read your post again today, and I had forgotten you great advice.

I’ve become too involved with my symptoms and I need to work on this.

Thanks!

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  • 3 weeks later...

I am 70 years old and I am suffering with all this too.  I read from Ashton that it is even worse for the elderly and we tend to be more sensitive.  I can attest to that.

 

  I also tapered way too fast and got hit hard. 20 mg in less than 4 months.

My BP was 220/155 for three weeks.  I was fortunate I did not have a stroke or death or organ damage in that long period of time.  NO, Cardiologist could not get it down......tried THREE Beta Blockers......they made me worse.  I took extra Potassium myself and Magnesium which kept it at 160 till it will spike again.  Had no choice but to HOLD which is NOT what I wanted to do.

 

  During the HOLD I slowly began to stabilize.  Now I am tapering at 5% and hoping and praying to increase to 7% from 10mg.

 

  I said all that to say this.......I REFUSE to keep naming my problems.  We have something in the brain called the Amygdala which is the Fight or Flight Primitive part of our brain and that is what is unbalanced thanks to the Benzos.  That is what is causing all this.  However, I have done much research on this and the Amygdala HEARS everything you are saying about and to yourself and to others.  And when you talk about the sxs all the time......ALL THE TIME.......then the Amygdala goes into action by making your FRIGHT much, much worse. 

 

  Don't believe me.  Do the research on it. 

 

  We have two choices.  The First choice is to realize that our MINDS are NOT part of our bodies.  The MIND is not an organ.  SO we can choose not to GIVE IN to these fears......and we can CHOOSE not to even speak them.  That helps immensely and to think about good things while you are feeling terrible.  While you are shaking and tremors, you say out loud or in your Mind how good you are going to be when you are off the Benzos and that you WILL HEAL.  The body and brain has amazing abilities to heal itself.  Think about how you are healing while you taper.  Think about good things and do not go to the REGRET world.  That will only FEED your fears. 

 

  Going back is only going to make you worse.  Worrying about the future will also make you worse.  Think about only the good things in the past that made you feel good and send yourself there in your MIND and ENJOY IT.....smile.  Sing.....do things you enjoy even if you feel rotten.  FORCE yourself to do so.  MEDITATE.  Whatever Meditation helps you than you do that.

 

  I believe in the LORD JESUS so I pray and that helps me.  We are all different, so you have to find what helps you.

 

  Talking to good friends is good but not all about our problems bcuz again that will FEED that PRIMITIVE Amygdala in your brain and make you MUCH WORSE.  DO NOT FEED THAT BEAST!!!  GOOGLE Amygdala.......learn everything you can about it.

 

  This is the way to overcome it day by day. Live in the Present but think and watch and do things that please you ...you can do this.  It's going to take WORK and Exercising these manifestations and thinking daily.  Work on being positive even when you feel bad bcuz this will not last.  THIS WILL NOT LAST!   

 

 

I have a really great YouTube teaching series from a neuroscientist that is on point with what you are saying.  Would you like the link? It's very incredible and talks about how to overcome that negative thinking, etc.  It's awesome.  :thumbsup:

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When we surround ourselves with Negative things it affects our Amygdala ..the part of our brain that is PRIMITIVE and sets off the Fight or Flight symptoms making all the taper sxs much worse, setting your CNS ON FIRE.

 

  So I avoid all of it.  I watch only movies (which are hard to find) that are uplifting.  And I listen to music and even how I speak about my sxs to myself or others......I pretty much try to ignore them and tell myself I am healing when I get hit with them.  I tell myself good, positive things about how much I love myself, how much God loves me, How much I am healing and will be free soon.  I FLOOD my MIND with good thoughts and I FIGHT to be around things that inspire me and encourage me.

 

  Complaining will FEED THE BEAST (the Amygdala).  SO do NOT FEED THAT BEAST!

Starve that Beast till it gives up controlling your MIND.  You DO have Control over your MIND bcuz it is NOT a part of your body ..it is NOT an Organ, it is part of your SPIRIT.  So you CAN control it.  Practice these methods when you get hit and tell yourself you are happy and healthy and healing and encourage yourself just like you to do others in here who are hurting.  Be your own best friend. You are WORTH the FIGHT to help yourselves through this and you WILL WIN ..you will have the victory, dig in your heels and do not give up.........it will take time and lots of PRACTICE but you can achieve this and you can and will overcome ...and each time you succeed, the attacks of FEAR will lessen.  That is a PROMISE!  You CAN REWIRE your MIND.  YOU HAVE THAT CONTROL.  So use it.

 

Thank you so much for this thread.

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I have a really great YouTube teaching series from a neuroscientist that is on point with what you are saying.  Would you like the link? It's very incredible and talks about how to overcome that negative thinking, etc.  It's awesome.   

 

 

Yes RR..I would love the link!!

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

I have a really great YouTube teaching series from a neuroscientist that is on point with what you are saying.  Would you like the link? It's very incredible and talks about how to overcome that negative thinking, etc.  It's awesome.   

 

 

Yes RR..I would love the link!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9UtL9_2jZA

 

Sending you the first one... there are four altogether.  :thumbsup:

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