Hi Dan I have always enjoyed making cards for people. I have a card making program and I use the images but I make up my own thoughts and greetings. I specifically liked making funny cards. I would look at all the images and then try to think of something funny I could say. I made cards for people for years all of my family members, people at work, neighbors, Christmas cards Etc. It was something I enjoyed more than just about anything else. I took a lot of pride in card making. It gave me a chance to be creative and to do something special for someone. My sister's birthday is coming up so I will work on making her a card this weekend. Your videos are always so warm and genuine. Thank you 💚
That’s great, Peggy! That’s exactly what I was talking about. I think everyone has their thing that they connect with that brings them(and others) joy. Thanks for sharing that.
Some things I am slowly starting to connect with again: Tennis-- (I have not been able to start hitting again yet) there is a love/hate relationship with this sport. Golf-- (I pulled a golf club out of my bag for the first time in probably 7-10 years and have been chipping balls around the yard Surfing-- (I have not been able to do this yet) I need to really get my fitness back and this would be a huge milestone in recovery Myself-- (I am learning how to love myself thru meditation, regulating my emotions/happiness, exercise, surrounding myself with positive people and much more) Learning and Living Life-- (I realized how I used to take benzos/drugs before doing many activities and possibly almost everything in life) I am starting to understand I don't need medication to be happy Connecting with people--(I am starting to see how better people seem to come in my life when I am healthy) Reconnecting with the person that was lost a long time ago from benzo and being gentle to myself Misc--Exercise, meditation, laughter, learning to live in the present and more to come Bob-Ben
Sure! The most simple meditation I use is a chime that dings once per minute for 10 minutes and listening to the silence in between the chimes. This has a profound effect of quieting the mind, or at least noticing how many repetitive thoughts are going around. Throughout the day I will also pause to notice things in my immediate environment and what’s around me to put myself in the present moment and present space. This also quiets the mind and keeps me more focused on the present moment.
This is very true I have just been sitting outside sometimes in my backyard and looking at the trees, birds, grass 4ft tall LOL, clouds and the nature around me. I am alive and it is a blessing this is what I am most joyful for. I am joyful for having another chance to live life on my terms. I am joyful for being able to have a girlfriend, dogs house and a chance to live life medication free. I love the beach, working, surfing, tennis, golf, fishing, and just enjoying life. I sound like I am putting an ad for online dating LOL. (I also like long walks on the beach). My main love is surfing but I am not quite there yet. I woke up this morning and thought of some other things I have lost to benzo. I also enjoy working on my Mustang, working in the yard and just living life in general. Life is beautiful all the good and bad in between.... I look forward to giving back one day when I heal. (might be a while LOL) Update: Well, I had planned to take my dogs to the dog park over the weekend, but I didn't make it. (that's ok maybe next time) I did spend quite a bit of time outside with my girlfriend and our two dogs. I noticed I am still way way way too hard on myself especially when going thru this. This time I am going to be grateful I spent so much time outside with my family, met a new friend in this community and thankful to still have a life in general. Love Bob Bobarino (A work in progress)
@@philosophicalfishing A website was one of my passions years and years ago. I still have it never shut the site down. I just started to be able to look at it recently. It is mind blowing to be honest. Your new topic on reconnecting is like forcing my brain to try and rediscover my passions. I could never properly start making money with the site it became so difficult for me. Maybe I can start doing it again one day I had so much of my heart in it. Have a great day and thanks again Bob Benarino LOL
Awesome! I’ll bet you have so much talent waiting to be discovered again and lots to offer. Can’t wait to hear what happens for you as you keep going along!
@@philosophicalfishing Thank you so much it really means a lot. The funny thing is I just saw a plaque I have on the wall for Find Your Passion. It is a trademark I own for the clothing company. This issue has been going on a long time its like I have been holding onto it for 5 plus years I think or more. Wow I was really bad just hanging on. I met Thomas he seems like a really smart cool person to speak with as well. Great Job on the community!! I am not well yet but it seems like some of the darkness is starting to lift. It is because I spend so much time in here watching your videos over and over again bc I am still slow as heck picking stuff up. It feels like part of my brain sometimes clicks back together. Have a great day and keep the videos coming I am starting to learn again. LOL Bob Bobarino (a work in progress)
@@bobbobarino6213 Thomas was one of the very first people on this channel who helped encourage me to keep making these videos. He’s a fantastic guy and glad you’ve connected with him.
Good for you man playing guitar again that is awesome!! 💪 I am looking forward to seeing who I become going thru this. I can feel that I am going to make it. It is going to take time, but I am getting stronger, sleeping better and putting in the effort to get better. It is a lot of effort every day, but it is starting to pay off already. Creating new consistent patterns to better myself each day. I am still learning to love myself although I am getting much better at this. I always put people before me. I understand that the better I am the more I can give back, interact with people and myself. To be honest I am learning myself for the first time in my life. Some things I look forward to Reconnecting with that brings me love & joy: First MYSELF because without that I can't connect with anything My girlfriend, parents, brother his wife and kids plus my dogs🐕 Christmas sober The Joy in Living Life and all the Good and Bad things (hopefully more Good than Bad)😉 Surfing, Golf and maybe Tennis (Love/Hate Relationship here) Waking up happy Learning how to live life in general Sober Surrounding myself with people that inspire me to keep getting better Reconnecting with my feelings/mind/body/spirit Reconnecting with that lost person a long time ago and saying its ok better things are coming Learn how to WIN in life and also learn from the losses as well and much more to come...... Thank you, Dan and this community Bob-Ben
I literally feel like I'm in the twilight zone all day ...I still enjoy watching movies ,takes my mind off all this anguish.music is great too.i agree with you being in nature is so healing .I live in buffalo so cant do to much of that now .
Awsum video Dan buddy... Im a song writer singer and I totally don't know how to write anymore plus when I Try play guitar or listen to music it makes me ill with symptoms... its like the excitement is to much and turns to panic attacks...or I get the opposite effect where I Try play and a darkness comes over me and makes me depressed..... its weird cause music was my life but it feels like I've never ever done it now.... I've actually gave up thinking I can do it now...i get these feelings of greatness when I see a nice sky and clouds sometimes like its the first tine seeing it.. it feels amazing..i wish that feeling would stay with me.... one love dan.
I get the same great feelings when looking at the sky and clouds at times. I am not a musician, but I love listening to great music and have not been able to appreciate it in the same way yet. I understand what you mean by over excitement when doing something and darkness comes over me. I have been getting those feelings pretty intense when I work out. It's like the workout is actually defeating my mind. I am starting to understand it is just my CNS out of wack giving me mixed signals and it doesn't know any better right now it's healing and I have to fix that behavior thru time and effort. I think we are going to get back everything tenfold in due time and work. Maybe you will become an even better guitar player and writer after going thru this. I believe in you.
@@bobbobarino6213 thank you bob...I hope alls well with you..... yeh there's no winning at all with this....the more you excersize the worse the symptoms are.... I've noticed to that everything is the opposite in this... you try be happy...you feel down...feel confident..it turns to panic .. be confident it turns to anger...... you feel tired as hell but you won't sleep.... its totally fucked up. But what can you do...just need to suffer it.
@@thomasearly37 Yeah it is a tough one for sure. It's like Dan is saying it's learning to walk again like a baby. What I am starting to realize is most of my life I was in and out of this type of withdrawal feeling 15 to 20 years. I started to think that was my personality etc. which is why this time is somewhat better because I am understanding for the first time this is not me it's the medication. I still get my ass kicked on a regular basis, but I am starting to get better. I think I am actually scared of getting better as well. Our CNS like you said is totally fucked up. It's helps me a lot talking with people in this community. I just try and type in here sometimes when I feel alone or when things are getting better. It seems to help me kind of journal my madness and good times. So, I can look back and see that I am progressing because if I didn't, I would probably forget I am getting somewhat better. One day we will look back and laugh about this
Yes. I had some very troubling lower back pain that made exercising or just walking very painful. The pain always seemed to coincide with worse symptoms, anxiety, and nervous system overload. I used to take epsom salt baths, Tylenol, and just finishing a way to calm myself helped.
@@philosophicalfishing hey bro I'm from Australia and I'm on 3 ml of xnax but it's street xnax Bars so I don't know if there real or pressed and I feel like I'm in tolerance withdrawal cause just before my dosing time my chest feels like someone sitting on it Im trying to taper but it's hard cause I'm on The 2 mil bars and I use a razor to take a bit of every 2 week s and it's hard to be acrute also I can't find a doctor to help me with a longer acting benzo like valium I don't want to go up anymore but it feels like I'm just holding on to this current dose can you give me any advice
You will start to see joy again soon. I am 4 months out off a C/T and starting to get some windows, more bad waves than good but I am starting to understand it's just my CNS out of balance perceiving threats where they don't exist. You are not alone💓 Much Love Bob Bobarino
@@katrinamenzies9398 Anytime I know what your going thru. I just try and stay in contact with people as much as I can. When I isolate is when it gets bad for me.
@@lauriina85 It all starts to come back. Just put in the work and you will receive the rewards. I am starting to appreciate things more in life than I ever have. I am going to play golf tomorrow and given the best I could do 4 to 5 months ago was wash the dishes and maybe go outside if I was lucky. You will get everything back and more. I have been working my ass to develop skills to get better and never be dependent on any medication again. I believe in you Bob Bobarino (a work in progress)
Thanks for the video bro
How’ve you been Marc?
Hi Dan I have always enjoyed making cards for people. I have a card making program and I use the images but I make up my own thoughts and greetings. I specifically liked making funny cards. I would look at all the images and then try to think of something funny I could say. I made cards for people for years all of my family members, people at work, neighbors, Christmas cards Etc. It was something I enjoyed more than just about anything else. I took a lot of pride in card making. It gave me a chance to be creative and to do something special for someone. My sister's birthday is coming up so I will work on making her a card this weekend. Your videos are always so warm and genuine. Thank you 💚
That is amazing you are still doing things that make you happy. I am really happy for you. 😁
That’s great, Peggy! That’s exactly what I was talking about. I think everyone has their thing that they connect with that brings them(and others) joy. Thanks for sharing that.
Some things I am slowly starting to connect with again:
Tennis-- (I have not been able to start hitting again yet) there is a love/hate relationship with this sport.
Golf-- (I pulled a golf club out of my bag for the first time in probably 7-10 years and have been chipping balls around the yard
Surfing-- (I have not been able to do this yet) I need to really get my fitness back and this would be a huge milestone in recovery
Myself-- (I am learning how to love myself thru meditation, regulating my emotions/happiness, exercise, surrounding myself with positive people and much more)
Learning and Living Life-- (I realized how I used to take benzos/drugs before doing many activities and possibly almost everything in life) I am starting to understand I don't need medication to be happy
Connecting with people--(I am starting to see how better people seem to come in my life when I am healthy)
Reconnecting with the person that was lost a long time ago from benzo and being gentle to myself
Misc--Exercise, meditation, laughter, learning to live in the present and more to come
Bob-Ben
Thank you Dan. Such a helpful video. Can you suggest a very simple mindfulness meditation.?😊❤
Sure! The most simple meditation I use is a chime that dings once per minute for 10 minutes and listening to the silence in between the chimes. This has a profound effect of quieting the mind, or at least noticing how many repetitive thoughts are going around. Throughout the day I will also pause to notice things in my immediate environment and what’s around me to put myself in the present moment and present space. This also quiets the mind and keeps me more focused on the present moment.
@@philosophicalfishing Thank you Dan. Will search for a video like you have suggested.,😊
@@julieadams5389 I also use “insight timer.” It’s a free app that has 1,000’s of meditations on it. That’s also where I use the chime.
This is very true I have just been sitting outside sometimes in my backyard and looking at the trees, birds, grass 4ft tall LOL, clouds and the nature around me. I am alive and it is a blessing this is what I am most joyful for. I am joyful for having another chance to live life on my terms. I am joyful for being able to have a girlfriend, dogs house and a chance to live life medication free. I love the beach, working, surfing, tennis, golf, fishing, and just enjoying life. I sound like I am putting an ad for online dating LOL. (I also like long walks on the beach). My main love is surfing but I am not quite there yet. I woke up this morning and thought of some other things I have lost to benzo. I also enjoy working on my Mustang, working in the yard and just living life in general.
Life is beautiful all the good and bad in between....
I look forward to giving back one day when I heal. (might be a while LOL)
Update: Well, I had planned to take my dogs to the dog park over the weekend, but I didn't make it. (that's ok maybe next time)
I did spend quite a bit of time outside with my girlfriend and our two dogs. I noticed I am still way way way too hard on myself especially when going thru this. This time I am going to be grateful I spent so much time outside with my family, met a new friend in this community and thankful to still have a life in general.
Love
Bob Bobarino (A work in progress)
Beautifully said. 🙏🏻
@@philosophicalfishing A website was one of my passions years and years ago. I still have it never shut the site down. I just started to be able to look at it recently. It is mind blowing to be honest. Your new topic on reconnecting is like forcing my brain to try and rediscover my passions. I could never properly start making money with the site it became so difficult for me. Maybe I can start doing it again one day I had so much of my heart in it. Have a great day and thanks again
Bob Benarino LOL
Awesome! I’ll bet you have so much talent waiting to be discovered again and lots to offer. Can’t wait to hear what happens for you as you keep going along!
@@philosophicalfishing Thank you so much it really means a lot. The funny thing is I just saw a plaque I have on the wall for Find Your Passion. It is a trademark I own for the clothing company. This issue has been going on a long time its like I have been holding onto it for 5 plus years I think or more. Wow I was really bad just hanging on. I met Thomas he seems like a really smart cool person to speak with as well. Great Job on the community!! I am not well yet but it seems like some of the darkness is starting to lift. It is because I spend so much time in here watching your videos over and over again bc I am still slow as heck picking stuff up. It feels like part of my brain sometimes clicks back together. Have a great day and keep the videos coming I am starting to learn again. LOL Bob Bobarino (a work in progress)
@@bobbobarino6213 Thomas was one of the very first people on this channel who helped encourage me to keep making these videos. He’s a fantastic guy and glad you’ve connected with him.
Good for you man playing guitar again that is awesome!! 💪
I am looking forward to seeing who I become going thru this. I can feel that I am going to make it. It is going to take time, but I am getting stronger, sleeping better and putting in the effort to get better. It is a lot of effort every day, but it is starting to pay off already. Creating new consistent patterns to better myself each day. I am still learning to love myself although I am getting much better at this. I always put people before me. I understand that the better I am the more I can give back, interact with people and myself. To be honest I am learning myself for the first time in my life.
Some things I look forward to Reconnecting with that brings me love & joy:
First MYSELF because without that I can't connect with anything
My girlfriend, parents, brother his wife and kids plus my dogs🐕
Christmas sober
The Joy in Living Life and all the Good and Bad things (hopefully more Good than Bad)😉
Surfing, Golf and maybe Tennis (Love/Hate Relationship here)
Waking up happy
Learning how to live life in general Sober
Surrounding myself with people that inspire me to keep getting better
Reconnecting with my feelings/mind/body/spirit
Reconnecting with that lost person a long time ago and saying its ok better things are coming
Learn how to WIN in life and also learn from the losses as well
and much more to come......
Thank you, Dan and this community
Bob-Ben
I literally feel like I'm in the twilight zone all day ...I still enjoy watching movies ,takes my mind off all this anguish.music is great too.i agree with you being in nature is so healing .I live in buffalo so cant do to much of that now .
I read a recent story about how heavy of a storm you got! 😬 yikes! Sorry to everyone who’s lost loved ones.
@@philosophicalfishing yes it was pretty bad
Awsum video Dan buddy... Im a song writer singer and I totally don't know how to write anymore plus when I Try play guitar or listen to music it makes me ill with symptoms... its like the excitement is to much and turns to panic attacks...or I get the opposite effect where I Try play and a darkness comes over me and makes me depressed..... its weird cause music was my life but it feels like I've never ever done it now.... I've actually gave up thinking I can do it now...i get these feelings of greatness when I see a nice sky and clouds sometimes like its the first tine seeing it.. it feels amazing..i wish that feeling would stay with me.... one love dan.
I get the same great feelings when looking at the sky and clouds at times. I am not a musician, but I love listening to great music and have not been able to appreciate it in the same way yet. I understand what you mean by over excitement when doing something and darkness comes over me. I have been getting those feelings pretty intense when I work out. It's like the workout is actually defeating my mind. I am starting to understand it is just my CNS out of wack giving me mixed signals and it doesn't know any better right now it's healing and I have to fix that behavior thru time and effort. I think we are going to get back everything tenfold in due time and work. Maybe you will become an even better guitar player and writer after going thru this. I believe in you.
@@bobbobarino6213 thank you bob...I hope alls well with you..... yeh there's no winning at all with this....the more you excersize the worse the symptoms are.... I've noticed to that everything is the opposite in this... you try be happy...you feel down...feel confident..it turns to panic .. be confident it turns to anger...... you feel tired as hell but you won't sleep.... its totally fucked up. But what can you do...just need to suffer it.
@@thomasearly37 Yeah it is a tough one for sure. It's like Dan is saying it's learning to walk again like a baby. What I am starting to realize is most of my life I was in and out of this type of withdrawal feeling 15 to 20 years. I started to think that was my personality etc. which is why this time is somewhat better because I am understanding for the first time this is not me it's the medication. I still get my ass kicked on a regular basis, but I am starting to get better. I think I am actually scared of getting better as well. Our CNS like you said is totally fucked up. It's helps me a lot talking with people in this community. I just try and type in here sometimes when I feel alone or when things are getting better. It seems to help me kind of journal my madness and good times. So, I can look back and see that I am progressing because if I didn't, I would probably forget I am getting somewhat better. One day we will look back and laugh about this
@@thomasearly37 yes exactly how I feel
@@katrinamenzies9398 yeh it's brutal...totally strips you of who you where before and why you thought you where important in this world.
It was really really strange going back to work even a 15 hour week was weird
You did it though! That’s awesome and I know it wasn’t easy
Did u have back nerve or disc issues during withdrawal and how did u deal with it?
Yes. I had some very troubling lower back pain that made exercising or just walking very painful. The pain always seemed to coincide with worse symptoms, anxiety, and nervous system overload. I used to take epsom salt baths, Tylenol, and just finishing a way to calm myself helped.
@@philosophicalfishing bro did you ever feel like someone is sitting on your chest
During xnax withdrawal
Yes, and my heart would pound like it was going to bust out of my chest.
@@philosophicalfishing hey bro I'm from Australia and I'm on 3 ml of xnax but it's street xnax Bars so I don't know if there real or pressed and I feel like I'm in tolerance withdrawal cause just before my dosing time my chest feels like someone sitting on it Im trying to taper but it's hard cause I'm on The 2 mil bars and I use a razor to take a bit of every 2 week s and it's hard to be acrute also I can't find a doctor to help me with a longer acting benzo like valium I don't want to go up anymore but it feels like I'm just holding on to this current dose can you give me any advice
It’s so very hard to find joy in any thing at the moment . I feel very depressed and I cant feel joy😞
You will start to see joy again soon. I am 4 months out off a C/T and starting to get some windows, more bad waves than good but I am starting to understand it's just my CNS out of balance perceiving threats where they don't exist. You are not alone💓
Much Love
Bob Bobarino
@@bobbobarino6213 💜thank you
@@katrinamenzies9398 Anytime I know what your going thru. I just try and stay in contact with people as much as I can. When I isolate is when it gets bad for me.
I feel that also. I miss exercising, being with my partner and other people and listening to music and cooking. Having coffee with my mom or friends.
@@lauriina85 It all starts to come back. Just put in the work and you will receive the rewards. I am starting to appreciate things more in life than I ever have. I am going to play golf tomorrow and given the best I could do 4 to 5 months ago was wash the dishes and maybe go outside if I was lucky. You will get everything back and more. I have been working my ass to develop skills to get better and never be dependent on any medication again. I believe in you
Bob Bobarino (a work in progress)