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Member
Member Since Jul 2018
Location: Everywhere and nowhere
Posts: 75
5 4 hugs
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#1
At 16, I was put on Xanax three times a day - every day - at a dosage of 6mg. Four years later, I am now detoxing.
Today is the last day I take a benzodiazepine after four years of daily usage. The detox is coinciding with returning to college and relationship issues. I am wondering how you all cope with the inevitable stressors of life. __________________ "Are we not all hungry ghosts chasing the phantoms of our choice?" - Alexander Lazarus Wolff “Live or die, but don't poison everything.” -Anne Sexton “If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts, happiness follows them like a never-departing shadow.” - The Buddha |
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![]() Anonymous44076, Bill3, CepheidVariable, MickeyCheeky, mote.of.soul, mulan
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Legendary
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Italy
Posts: 11,817
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#2
Thank you so much for making this thread, Anatta!
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![]() mulan
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![]() CepheidVariable, mote.of.soul
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Stardust
Member Since Jun 2017
Location: rural Canada
Posts: 2,075
6 2,472 hugs
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#3
I guess the short answer is to try all the things you hear about and see which ones seem to help you. Everyone is a little different.
Out of desperation, I eventually tried some things I didn't have much interest in or didn't think would work. Some of them did. So I'd recommend to try various things for a bit. I suffer from social anxiety, anxiety, self-esteem issues, rumination, and depression. Personally, for stress, I tend to use: * exercise classes (I never get it done at home) * eating well and sleeping well (doing both consistently) * hobbies (piano & music, computers & tech, astronomy) * activities (a little volunteer work, running errands, generally getting things done) * talking to people (despite the social anxiety, safe people) * simple breathing meditation (kind of lapsed on this one) * focus on the present (don't ignore the past and future obviously, but when the stress and/or anxiety gets bad, break things down into steps and just deal mentally with what you need to do right now) * try to be gentle with yourself and treat yourself the way you would treat someone you cared about * noting positive things daily (a minimalist journaling practice) * monitor your moods and mental outlook, don't let it sneak up on you I pulled out my list for this. I have a list for when I'm really feeling overwhelmed and need the grounding and reminders. I'm sure others will have things to add. Good luck with college! |
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![]() mote.of.soul
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Legendary
Member Since Jan 2018
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 13,136
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#4
Yes, some of the things mentioned previously and also I noticed your name stems from Buddhist teachings. So perhaps look into the practise of mindfulness as well. It's widely suggested by the mental health and self help communities and comes from the Buddha himself. I struggle regularly with my mental health but mindfulness really does help me to, a] restore calm, b] destress, and c] keep me on track as well - focus.
You can carry it with you 24/7. I first started using it before I discovered it was suggested in mental health so perhaps just go straight to the original source and internet search "Right Mindfulness 8 Fold Path." Many search results. Good on you coming off your meds and all the best in your return to college. Namaste. |
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![]() CepheidVariable
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2014
Location: US
Posts: 22,386
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#5
They put 16 year old on highly addictive meds at a high dose THREE times a day??? Who prescribed that? 6mg is a very high dose and typically isn’t even prescribed to anyone younger than 18. This is unbelievable
Please don’t attempt to wean yourself off without doctors supervusion. Withdrawal from such high dose at such young age will cause physical problems. It needs to be done under medical supervision. Not by the same doctor please. Whoever was that wacko |
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![]() Anatta, mulan
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Legendary
Member Since Dec 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 10,195
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#6
Because you were ‘treated for stress’ so young makes me suspicious about those in charge; your care givers and doctors.
All children experience stresses. Sure, some of us go through extremely stressful situations. Is it possible someone thought, instead of allowing you to feel stress and learn how to handle stress, that you needed to be extremely medicated? I suggest you discuss this with a good therapist. What you described has triggered Red Flag warnings in a lot of us here, for sure. __________________ "And don't say it hasn't been a little slice of heaven, 'cause it hasn't!" . About Me--T |
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![]() mulan
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Dec 2014
Location: US
Posts: 22,386
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9 1,277 hugs
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#7
Even if you needed meds for panic attacks, it’s not 6mg of highly addictive meds for a young teen. Are you in the US? I’d demand to see my records
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![]() mulan
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Member
Member Since Feb 2019
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 72
5 29 hugs
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#8
Hi there!
![]() My replacement coping strategies for the benzo were: self-education on where anxiety comes from in the brain, which helped me to realize it would eventually pass, and deep breathing. Deep breathing is huge for me and has helped to prevent potential panic attacks (or make them less severe). I also find that doing something I enjoy, such as playing video games, helps me to focus on something 100% and not focus on my worries. ![]() I wish you all the best with returning to college! |
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Poohbah
Member Since Mar 2013
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,046
11 3,220 hugs
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#9
Lots of good answears!
I wish I could help me, but I am still looking for the same. Music and singing help me for sure, those are hobbies, which help to empty the mind. I tried mindfulness, it helped for a bit, but I haven't the time to practice. And I am trying CBT too, I have a lot of changes in my life right now either. Stress is my current and actual middle name. |
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![]() mote.of.soul
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Guest
Posts: n/a
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#10
I practice daily mindfulness and meditation. I wish you peace and a bright future!
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![]() mote.of.soul
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Legendary
Member Since Dec 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 10,195
(SuperPoster!)
9 1,873 hugs
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#11
It’s a figure of speech that we ‘handle’ stress; like it’s some kind of hot potato we need to use mits to move from one place to another.
I remember early experiences of stress that was pleasant; like nervous excitement. My body felt jittery, but good. Then when the enjoyable activity I was stressed about was happening, the stress sensation went away. Then, I remember unpleasant stress; like when I was a store manager and had to go up against an irate customer. My hands were shaking beyond my control, but I firmly dealt with him professionally as best as a manager could. The physical reactions in my body that must be from stress became bad now, after going through a very traumatic experience. Why didn’t I run away and avoid what I knew was making me physically sick? IDK... __________________ "And don't say it hasn't been a little slice of heaven, 'cause it hasn't!" . About Me--T |
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Poohbah
Member Since Mar 2013
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,046
11 3,220 hugs
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#12
Fight, flight or freeze. Fear and anxiety have a big learned part.
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