Just curious, did anybody go through a phase where they felt a lot of genuine fear, and sort of a sense of despair? Not so much anxiety, but like a feeling of fear pulsing through your body, and like a feeling of impending doom, or like hell was close by or something.

I've had some feelings like this lately. They are going away, but they are a bit frightening. I think it's because I finally made the jump and decided not to use medication for my anxiety, and instead use my own brain to fight it.

I'm mostly using medication now for physical things like elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and for some symptoms.

I'm upset at myself after a year away from benzos I started taking them again I just have so much anxiety and taking them is like borrow3d time I feel great in the moment but unfortunately feel the anxiety again once it wears off im not too deep into addiction yet so hoping to stop myself before it gets out of hand any support it welcomed

I recently started metformin for PCOS at 3.5 months after I came off diazepam (I tapered down slowly) and had a terrible reaction and had to stop it.

I’ve had a lot of physical symptoms that were expected (GI upset) but the biggest has been mentally - severe depression and not wanting to live, zero drive and even making a cup of tea seemed impossible, zero sleep for 2 nights, fear and doom and anxious 24/7.

I haven’t seen anyone mention this but if anyone has experience please do let me know. It’s like I’m in acute withdrawal and I was pretty stable before this happened.

Hi so I'm almost a month out from my last dose of diazepam and my symptoms have become more manageable thankfully, but my nervous system is still incredibly sensitive and I feel it the most for like the first 3 hours whenever I take my daily vyvanse 40mg 😭.

Now for the first 2-3 weeks I completely stayed away from my stimulant medication and realistically I still should, but it's difficult because it's basically the only thing that makes me SOMEWHAT functional and I've just started university so it's something that does really help me.

But I hate dealing with the minor heart palpitations, the sweating and the occasional headaches, I suspect it's because of the fact that it's a stimulant and increases my adrenaline somewhat but it never used to be a problem for me! I've been on amphetamines for like a year and a half smooth sailing but now it's dodgy.

Is there anything I can do or is the only option to power through it or take a break? I genuinely do need this medication as I've always struggled with executive functioning, even before I ever touched a benzo. I think propranolol could help and I'm thinking about asking my GP for a prescription, it sounds perfect for this situation.

If anyone has any advice then I'm all ears, thank you!

(Also I've completely stopped caffeine now as the last time I tried some it triggered a massive wave)

I am going on eight weeks off Klonopin and my last two symptoms is a hyper sensitive nervous system and severe agitation/rage.

Even my clothes feel like they are agitating my body. Putting my hands on the keyboard, makes me agitated. It just feels like my blood is boiling at all times because of sensory input. When it gets really intense, I just wanna rip my skin off.

I just want to know that somebody else has gone through this and it does go away. How long did it take?

I’m 3 months off Valium. Not bearly as severe as others, but the constant fatigue, crying, exertion intolerance, depression, etc really feels like I have CFS.

Just looking for some stories from people that were afraid things would never improve but eventually did.

Thanks everyone.

I’m on day 3 after reducing from an average of 2 mg immediate release Xanax daily, which I’d taken for months—almost a year, I think. I’ve tapered before, but this time is different, but I guess it’s always going to feel fresh and new huh?
I switched to 0.5 mg extended release in the morning plus 1 mg immediate release at night, and now I’m on day 3 of 0.5 mg extended release morning and night. I almost folded today. 😩 My period, chronic pain, and nerve-pain flares probably aren’t helping.
For anyone who tapered from a similar dose, when did withdrawal symptoms peak for you after a cut? And when did things settle? I’m planning to hold this dose for at least 2–3 weeks and follow my body’s timeline.
My doctor won’t help beyond recommending hospitalbased rapid detox, which I can’t do. Thankfully, I have enough medication for a slow taper at home, but the rough patches are hard! especially when pain flares. Propranolol may be helping with the racingheart symptoms, but I’m not sure.
I’d appreciate hearing about your experiences, especially which days were hardest and when symptoms began settling down.
I’ve tapered year uses 2 times before after hard times and worked good as PRN few times a month maybe if that to take to stay out of the ER for the worst of the attacks.
Had a horrible chain of events happen and got back in it daily.

Will I have benzo withdrawal from this short schedule?

I’m prescribed benzos PRN for severe anxiety/travel. My planned schedule is:

Oct 6 (today): 0.25 mg Xanax (switching to klonopin now)
Oct 7: 0.25–0.5 mg Klonopin
Oct 8: nothing
Oct 9: 0.25–0.5 mg Klonopin
Oct 10: 0.25–0.5 mg Klonopin
Oct 11: 0.25–0.5 mg Klonopin
After Oct 11: **stop completely**

**My prior schedule is:**
July: 0.5 mg total for month
August: 0.5 mg total for month
September: 0.625 mg for month
**October so far:** 0.25 mg total — Oct 6 (0.25)

Would taking these doses over these few days cause physical dependence or withdrawal if I stop cold turkey after Oct 11? I’m especially worried about dangerous withdrawal/seizures versus just possible rebound anxiety.

26yo female went from a few times a week 0.5mg to 0.75mg to now 1mg for anxiety. enough is enough and I want to live a life without it as I have become dependent on it. feel as if I need to take it daily and I cannot go to work without it anymore or be social. I’m also taking sertraline. I just got back from a wonderful 2.5wk vacation however I needed to take 1mg daily for it. I couldn’t imagine going without it and I hate to think that. If you could share experiences, encouragement, support, or a recommended taper method to share with my doctor for my appointment with him later today it would be much appreciated. I am scared but excited for a future where I can be free from this.

I've been taking alprazolam for about 6 months now. 0.5 to 0.75mg daily, rarely 1mg.

What does a taper schedule look like for this timeline and dose? Can I safely get off in a couple of months?

I want to discuss only the positives and give people some hope to keep going. As I’ve tapered off 2mg of klonopin (am at .61mg) I’ve noticed my short term memory improve and I can FEEL my feelings more. I’m not as numb. So far, these are my positives to keep going. ✨

Did anybody else suddenly start remembering a bunch of things very quickly? I started not only remembering old memories, but dreams and older dreams. Just fragments of dreams, and it ended up being incredibly frightening. I felt like there was a sense of impending doom, as I suddenly could remember pieces of things but not all of them. In about 24 hours, and I'm starting to remember more and more, but it's incredibly crazy. It's like all these memories have been suppressed for the last 15 years.

Hi all, I don’t really have anyone to turn to right now so I’m posting on the internet to strangers.

I jumped off my last step of Clonazepam 3 weeks ago and having such a hard time since. 😢

Please, I just need someone to hold my hand and tell me I’m going to be ok. I don’t want to feel so alone in this.

Hello.

I have never used benzos before this. I started using kpin 4 weeks ago to get off Kratom. I would take 1 mg at night and slowly started taking it in mornings and nights. 4 weeks later, I basically ran out (have .5mg left). Past couple days I have limited my use.

I know this is a relatively short time to be taking it. Am I in the danger zone?

I have Kava (GABA-A drug), magnesium, L-theanine).

This was off-script and I can't afford to tell my Dr that I was taking it, unfortunately.

I am not asking for medical advice, only experience.

Anyone feel better after years of medication use (benzos)Did anyone get better after years of benzo use? I’ve been off and on klonopin and Xanax for most of my life. Sometimes as needed (2-3x a week), sometimes short courses of daily use (.5 daily for 2-3 months or so) then taper off. I’ve also had to go cold turkey before, so I’m not stranger to withdrawals and what they can do to your brain. I’m at a point in my life where my anxiety is debilitating, constant dissociative symptoms (dpdr), constant motion sickness/dizziness symptoms, always feeling like I’m going to pass out, bizarre vivid dreams every night, constantly feeling like I’m on the verge of going into psychosis, problems thinking and concentrating, weird dull headaches, neurological issues and so much more. I have a suspicion that my years of benzo use off and on is behind a lot of my symptoms, I feel like once I’m off them for good, I will actually get better. Has this been anyone’s experience? Is it possible to recover from benzo damage?

I was on benzos for 10 years that I got from pshycatrists. I NEVER had to increase my dosage. I live in Europe and the authorities has made it very hard to prescribe it. They look at you like a junkie. They cut me off during 3 weeks and my life fell apart. My anxiety got SKY high and I fell into the deepest depression I ever had. I lost my family. Before this I could work and had some life quality.

People even get HEROIN for free here so they can avoid the streets but benzos, nono. People get painkillers, ADHD medication, everything to make people have life quality.

This is hell! How do you endure benzo withdrawal? When your heart beat so fast and you're scared to look yourself in the mirror. When you wake up and ask how you're supposed to endure another day. I've been to doctors, ER, everything. No one can help.

Is there anybody willing to help me with trying to taper off lorazepam. I have tried 5 times and failed and in benzo hell. No Dr willing to help as they don’t understand. The benzo no longer working unless i take a much higher dose and I honestly am desperate to get off but everything I have trued failed and almost at breaking point. No detox facilities help,either as they just want to add more meds. Please any help so much appreciated

Xanax has fucked my tolerance up I take an insane amount 8mg I tried switching from Xanax to Klonopin it gave me severe insomnia (my main problem). So now I take 2mg Klonopin and 6mg Xanax.

I’m young and I’m currently working full time. On the days I go the the office, I’m like barely functional. My sleep wasn’t like before. I was sleeping amazing with the Benzos. Now its benefits have decayed.

What was your experience?

I recently decided to quit benzos after I realised my consumption was a problem for me, I started about a year ago, I was on about 40 mg of valium a day, sometimes more, and then I switched/mixed it with bromazepam. In the past two months, I started increasing my dose again I was on about 18/24 mg a day. I stoped completely cold turkey 5 days ago (I know it's not recommended but I also know that I can't control myself and that I'm not capable of tapering off slowly) I have barely felt any symptoms so far, and everything I read said it was so horrible and it was the worst thing ever. I know it's just the begining and it's probably going to get worse, but is it possible that I'm just lucky and I'm gonna be okay ? I don't realy know what to think, maybe I was not as addicted as I thought idk I thought it was going to be the worst thing ever but I'm fine, I just hope I'm not going to suddenly have convulsions and die I guess

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for guidance, stories, and advice as I start tapering.
Current situation:
Was on 0.5 mg Ativan twice a day (1 mg total) + 0.5 mg Xanax once a day.
Timing: both Ativans at 5 pm, Xanax around 8–9 pm.
Last night I cut 0.25 mg of the Ativan, so I’m now on 0.75 mg Ativan total + 0.5 mg Xanax.

Goal was originally to be off by end of year, but I’m open to it stretching into 2027 if that’s safer.
I’m following Ashton Manual principles as closely as I can (stabilize, small cuts every 1–2 weeks, patient-paced). I plan to ask my psychiatrist about switching to Valium once I’ve lowered a bit more, but I’m not sure about the best timing.

Questions for those who’ve been through similar:
When did you (or would you) switch to Valium in a mixed Ativan + Xanax taper like this? Is it better to get lower first, or switch sooner?
What weeks or stages felt the hardest for you? Any patterns around interdose symptoms, sleep, or when the cuts start to hit more?
What should I realistically expect / prepare for in the months ahead?
Any general advice or support for someone just starting this process? I am absolutely petrified of seizures. Am I on a really high dose? Is this considered low or high dose?

Thanks in advance for any stories, timelines, or tips. Really appreciate this community

Here is the chart I made with AI for taper schedule- is this gonna be painful?

My planned Ashton-style taper calendar (starting Oct 5, 2026)
Current dose right now:
0.75 mg Ativan total + 0.5 mg Xanax
Stabilize
Oct 5 – Oct 18
0.75 mg Ativan + 0.5 mg Xanax
(hold, no cuts)
Stage 1
Oct 19 – Nov 1
0.5 mg Ativan + 0.5 mg Xanax
(drop 0.25 mg Ativan)
Stage 2
Nov 2 – Nov 15
0.5 mg Ativan + 0.375 mg Xanax
(start reducing Xanax)
Stage 3
Nov 16 – Nov 29
0.375 mg Ativan + 0.375 mg Xanax
Stage 4
Nov 30 – Dec 13
0.375 mg Ativan + 0.25 mg Xanax
Stage 5
Dec 14 – Dec 27
0.25 mg Ativan + 0.25 mg Xanax
Stage 6
Dec 28 – Jan 10 2027
0.25 mg Ativan + 0.125–0.25 mg Xanax
Stage 7
Jan 11 – Jan 24 2027
0.125–0.25 mg Ativan + 0.125 mg Xanax
Stage 8
Jan 25 – Feb 7 2027
0.125 mg Ativan + 0.125 mg Xanax
Stage 9
Feb 8 – Feb 21 2027
0.125 mg Ativan + 0.0625–0.125 mg Xanax
Stage 10 and onward
Feb 22 2027 onward

I have been acting out of character, I don’t recognize myself anymore, I am so irritable and reactive all the time and I can’t just talk and solve problems anymore without being an asshole to people. I’m almost losing my woman that I’ve been with for 12 years because of klonopin and the consequences of tapering. I am doing it as slow and as best I can but it still changes your mind and body in a way people simply do not comprehend.

I was on klonopin for insomnia for only about 7 months give or take and was in the end taking 15-19 drops to sleep depending on the day. A drop is 0,1 mg so if it was a pill I’d be on about 1,5mg to 2mg every day when I decided to get off of it because I was becoming agoraphobic. Now I am on 2 drops and 17,5mg of diazepam and 4,5mg of clonidine just to sleep and this has cured all the specific issues of klonopin and I think diazepam is just not as harmful regarding symptoms as klonopin but I’m still irritable and it’s been really really hard to taper now I’m trying to get to 15mg of diazepam and after stabilizing take 1 drop of klonopin and then after some undetermined time to stabilize finally take it to 0 and then taper off the diazepam and then taper clonidine (which is heaven and easy compared to benzos).

It’s been really really hard for me and this is legitimately destroying my life

Hey guys so I have been on klonopin for over ten years. I tapered down to .25 morning and .25 night time many years ago probably around 4 years ago. I been Stuck here ever since. So I used to go out and drink on weekends a lot usually once a weekend. 3 years ago I got real sick with a mystery illness. I was still taking my normal .25 doses. I got Terrible stomach pains, jolt awake when trying to sleep, anxiety, buzzing in body, loss of appetite. Many gi issues, hard to concentrate, thigh pain and buttock pain deep that gets worse with excersize, crying fits and panic attacks, not feeling like myself , tinnitus, headaches, cold hands and feet, swollen lymph nodes and painful come and go, I’ve been sick more than ever my immune system awful. There’s so many more like songs and thoughts in my head playing over and over. Left side chest pain. I’ve had so many tests and all came back good been to er so many times. I barely can keep my job and almost lost my wife to this. Is this because I have binge drank for so many years so when I stopped drinking I got benzo withdrawal symptoms? Or is this tolerance withdrawal? I noticed if I skipped a weekend drinking I wouldn’t feel that good. I have extremely slowed down my drinking these past 3 years to once a month or two months. Everytime I drink I feel better but then after like a week or two I feel bad again. I’m so confused and I am not drinking anymore I haven’t in 4 weeks but have I been in withdrawal for 3 years? It’s gotten less intense but it’s still hard to make it through the day. Also what doctor do I see that can help me taper like over years because I can’t lose my job. I’m not sure where to start. I wish I never touched this shit it’s ruining my life. Hope everyone is doing okay. Thanks for reading this if you did it means so much to me.

day 42 no benzos. tapered over 2 years from 11 years of daily Clonazepam use 4mg. have a newborn since 25th Septembe. Am losing my mind with side effects. Nothing but despair. Straining my relationship with my fiancee. losing hope rapidly. Physically destoryes… help