It's very frightening to not know if you'll ever be okay again, if you'll ever truly live again. The constant feeling that your life is over and things will never get better is soul crushing.
@@ritaharmon not a total detox but been taking lower dose pain med by 50 % and Lowering dose on a benzo that I was prescribed for panic attacks when I was 19. I have a autoimmune disease that’s really wreaking havoc on my joints since November too
You were fortunate. My family believes that my withdrawal is really a sign I need MORE medication and so would my doctors. I really fear they will try to admit me. They would say I am delusional. They won’t watch doctors who disagree with them on video. I am staying quiet and must behave myself 😮
@jeanf8998 sorry to hear this but you are not alone. There are groups for support everyone can join. Unless you've been through it people don't have a clue.
None of this would've happened to me if it wasn't for my narcissistic family. Having a support system is important. Some of us have to leave our family to heal sadly.
Hello @pikkuoo, how long did your recovery take? I’m on day 33 off and my symptoms are still severe after 3 months of clobazam 10 mg. I’m scared due to all the horrible stories I’ve heard 😔
I'm round the clock suicidal. Brain damaged so badly I didn't know my own child for 3.5yrs of this hell. Probably am permanent. Anyway super bad sick without going into more detail. Our elderly neighbor passed away 22days ago and I just found out yesterday. I asked his wife why she didn't call us we would have come and said goodbye, we would have gone to the service, etc. She said that after her knee surgery I didn't check on them enough so she didn't figure we wanted part of their lives. She knows every sordid detail of what happened to me and no one checks on me....but I'm the bad neighbor.
I have been off my Xanax for 4 months. My Doctor never apologized for prescribing me 1-2 mg after my Wife died. Never attempted to get me off. After going off 7 medications my last was Xanax. Now no prescriptions and Doctor not happy for me. He is retiring soon so I don’t bring it up, being on Keto or Carnivore had a great deal with my success. I had no problems coming off in 2 1/2 months. Insomnia only side effect.
Dear Josef and Cris I have been watching your videos for two years now. I have to say this one is the greatest talk about protracted withdrawal I’ve ever listened to. I give you both a standing ovation!! So very helpful. It was perfectly done I felt so much love and support coming from you both. Wholeheartedly I thank you! Two years into my journey, this has given me so much hope!! ❤️❤️❤️
Dude, I am in court and I’m having to see a forensic psychologist that does not believe in any of this!! I really wish you would testify and say there is such a thing as benzodiazepine induced and neurological dysfunction and withdrawal!
You really find out who TRULY is there for you no matter what. Unfortunately, it’s usually about 5% of what you believe it to be. It’s a very lonely experience, you have to let go of so very much. The life you had is gone forever but you can build a better life if you’re disciplined and strong. People need to STOP thinking that doctors know what they’re talking about when they’ve not experienced it themselves. If someone really loves you, they BELIEVE you … it’s that simple.
They have had 60+ years to "get it!" No excuses or explanation is acceptable. THEY KNEW. BUT CASH WAS BETTER THAN WORRYING ABOUT DESTROYING PATIENTS' LIVES, FUTURES, OR WELL BEING!
As a caregiver for an iatrogenic victim and subjects of the award-winning documentary Death by Medicine, I am looking forward to our interview on June 8. I believe my wife is permanently brain damaged from her involuntary civil commitment. I want to believe there is hope. After almost 15 years off all medications, it appears she will never function normally again. Where does hope end and and reality begin? Look forward to our discussion.
@@annedodgson8677 An iatrogenic disease is a clinical condition that results from the direct (or indirect) actions of physicians, surgeons, or other caregivers
I'm 10 years off and know of other's who are your wife's time off and yes, it's hard to not lose hope but I don't want to be another statistic. However, I think it's important to keep things in perspective and to not put all health ailments in the withdrawal basket, because life still happens even when we're in protracted withdrawal.
It will be okay this will get better, mine was Soso bad for a year and I just left a 4 month window into a wave but it gets better so please hold on, it's just time. I know how miserable it is, I'm sorry you have to experience this, just try not to panic and make any major changes to your meds, okay?
I lost 4 people that were pretty close to me while getting off of Clonazepam. Worst f*cking rollercoaster I've ever taken mentally and physically. 10months off and feeling a lot better. Healing is not linear so everything is changing but I'll make it, I have to. I hope you heal more and more every single day. Take care ❤
I know and congratulations. Hang in there. It gives others hope. I am just looking for a doctor, but I don't trust the medical complex but maybe for broken bones. Flesh peddling.
People who are struggling with their own behavior and that take a PRN benzo script once a month or less tend to have a hard time realizing their problems could come from a protracted withdrawal brain injury and from interdose withdrawal.
30:20 Yes. Similar to the book MANS SEARCH FOR MEANING. During the holocaust young, strong men died. The older, weaker men survived. WHY? They had families and something to live for. That is what the book is about. We all need meaning, hope- something to look forward to.
There's the fent epidemic but meanwhile there's a silent benzo epidemic. It is sad because they can really provide relief but it's such a double edged sword
I've been tapering from Xanax for almost 10 months. My CNS is so messed up. I'm still functioning somehow. Still working and taking care of the family. However i struggle 24/7. In pain constantly, breathing issues constantly, dizziness and cognitive issues. I pray that one day it will be over.
@@nickgrogan8313 I’m assuming you’ve seen a cardiologist, if not then obviously go get it checked out. You’re doing so well man, trust me when you get your first wave it’ll be beautiful. Taper for as long as you can, and stay safe.
I've heard Chris talk in different interviews and always hang on to every word he says. So insightful and articulate and thoughtful! Thanks for having him on this channel. Regarding akathisia, I feel its definition needs more development. Most definitions focus on the external movements like pacing. In reality, many people experiencing akathisia hell look fairly normal and don't pace a lot, but have horrific internal agitation. People assume they don't have akathisia since they're not pacing or showing significant external motor movements. Akathisia needs to be defined in a way that is more encompassing of both the external and internal experience.
After four decades of psychiatric meds-every antidepressant except MAOIs or benzodiazepines-I stopped al 4.5 months ago. Hell. Rage. Brain on fire. Screeching tinnitus. I’m just in bed now. Great bloodwork though. “Nothing” is wrong with me. Maybe 350 cholesterol levels. I took shower and washed my hair. Gotten dressed. EVEN put my shoes on. Little bacon eggs and yet felt so weak, just limped back to bed. Waiting for the rapture. Because I obviously cannot figure this out. Disabled vet with HUD-thank God, 64, 120, I’ve cried all my life, but my tears are dried up. Spent $1,500 over past three months in every possible supplement. Already no sugar no flour. I’m not sick as you. But I’m unable to live. It wasn’t supposed to end this way. I relinquished my son at 21 because I didn’t want to “put my grief/depression” on another person. Now I can add giving him a “1” at birth, when I believed I saving him. But, only briefly on Benz is. And ambien. Left the house one night because Daddy and oldest son were yelling at each other. Never heard of cutting, yet I was determined to drive to Walmart for an exact knife, just to cut, just a little. Apparently I ran a red light in the ambien hypnotic state. Three cop cars folllowed me on my “slow speed chase” to the store. Spike strips and a net over my minivan-🤦♀️-later, I was face down, hands behind my back arrested, on the way to ER for blood withdrawal, and urinalysis. Cop asked me, if I wanted to die, why didn’t I drive into a bridge? Asked if I wanted to go to jail-for evading-nothing else in my symptom except clonapen and ambien-or Sage View. “What’s that?” I chose psychiatric hospital. Just prior, Daddy had taken sons from three years of Christian school, where I worked part time to pay for one tuition, to three years of community homeschooling, to public school. In a Sunday nite he told me there was nothing I could do about it. And just before that, the explosive resurfacing memory of military MST. From the hospital, I was preyed upon-way too strong a description-by a fellow psych patient, who I slept with. Yes before I promised our sons they’d never be children of divorce. 🤦♀️ But fellow broken person was WAY more broken than I was. I told Dad right away. He got out all our camping gear and put it in the caravan. and I never slept in the home we built, or where my sons-who were my life-lived, then 15 and 18, again. It was summer, so yay for that. Every time my future spouse sensed I wanted to get out or away, some tragedy popped up in his world, and I figured out too late, he’d created them all. I married him. Still married, tho separated since 2014. But we stayed friends, and he’s my closest friend. His story is so much more tragic than mine. Oldest of 11 children of Jehovah’s Witness Elder. All 11 rape-d and worse. Despite lying to impress everyone, he’s the kindest, hardest working and funniest person I’ve ever known. My sons are grown-awesome people. Love their Mom. I don’t understand why I cat get well. TY for this interview. I also have immense gratitude, for everything you mentioned, except the audience. And verbalize it daily. Often.
Yes the anxiety is frightening but also the rage swings and the intrusive harmful thoughts that it creates your anger isn't your anger this is something out of this world. Everything and anything can set me of and not trusting my own mind. Bouts of hallucinations, hearing a evil voice that isn't human and this evil thing puts very dangerous thoughts in your head, paranoia, delusional thinking, feeling disoriented, confused, agitation, irritable. 9 months and I am still in antidepressant withdrawal I am having some windows where things settle but they aren't away. I can't sense within me how delicate fragile my CNS is, the slight movement at times causes such violent thoughts. Unable to do exercise as it makes me so irritable and agitated. My mind is playing mind games, what a ride this is. I pray for all of us for healing and trying to have some for of life.
I am 9 months free from an antidepressant i am no longer on a antidepressant. Unfortunately I am still continuing to suffer from withdrawals. I am trying to be careful with what I am experiencing nothing much I can do. I am trying to ride it out the best that i can its not easy.@@michelebergman4336
The evil forces behind the drugs are evil spirits of the drug you have to rebuke them in Jesus name because they are evil and want to manipulate you into traps.
I've never been able to accept "living well is the best revenge". It's true, the best way to destroy is by building. But still, something isn't quite right. I think it's an age thing. Losing your late teens and 20's is something you just can't actually become apart from or "get over", the deficit is essentially permanent. Omnipresent and inescapable, it never goes away. And probably by the time you do see otherwise, it's still too late anyway. The human concept is maliciously designed, it's made for this.
No we shouldn't have to go through this experience....it's an experience that doesn't have to be gone through....it is forced on us by the psychiatric industry and their drug pushing...
Dr.Josef Are you planning to practice in Ohio any time soon. I will use your video's to share with doctors. If they aren't open to you, I will not waste one minute more with them!!!
I’m a veteran and I was prescribed Klonopin 6 mg for the last 28 years 10 weeks ago. I was forced to go from 5 to 6 mg to one. I thought I was losing my mind until I did some research and found out what benzo withdrawal is really like. this led me to cut out a lot of things in my life which included alcohol, caffeine, stress smoking basically anything that could interfere with a natural brain healing cycle and I could definitely say that alcohol was definitely bad for me. Hope you get better.
Could you rethink the sensational headlines? How can we possibly share these with anyone and be taken seriously? These are so helpful and so appreciated, but the sensationalization comes across as very “cheap tabloid”.
What Really bothers Me is when people say ..."my symptoms" when referring to the fact that, such as in my case, you feel like you are dying, and probably could in fact, die, because you sre so seriously ill. So, I would say, "when I feel I may collapse and die with no one knowing, since am alone"...To express how Serious this brain damage is...
Well maybe one of you could explain the severe nerve pain I have ? Years of this many neurologists many specialists all coming off from meds . I don't think everyone fully recovers.
My mother purposely put me in protracted withdrawals. I know because she's interfered with my medical care/ medications several times. She has Munchsien By Proxy ( & Covert Malignant Narcissism). Still, I actually feel sorry for her. I can recover.
Fear state, irritability, anger, catastrophizinf after cold turkey stopping Lexapro three years after. Getting crazy panic over things outside of my control. And I can’t tell if it’s withdrawal, me or appropriate reaction. You go into fight attack mode and think being mean and nasty to people is worth it. Then your relationships are ruined.
I did not know about the word benzo or the intricate withdrawal symptoms to watch out for in the benzo world. All I knew is that they were sleeping meds and psych meds. The first year off went well for my girlfriend until that one year mark when a wave hit us hard. I had no clue that this was due to the meds because one year was pretty much a success story for us off these meds. My idiotic decisions of calling her mom landed her in the ward and everything went downhill from there and now she is on a CTO in a group home where they dont even allow personal cell phones. And now she is on some mandatory injections. If I would have known to keep my mouth shut then she would have being better off. I wish i knew more about this wonderful community. I didn't know this monster existed. May god help us all.
This is so positive & but so terrible what Chris endured . The rage “ I have to put it aside & use it for sensible motivation. Yes I was so stupid- they were stupid - they are still stupid - ( like the Clowns who “ treated “ Chris ) & now cancelled patients & forcing cold turkey. But other motivation- meditation, talking, playing & practise music . Thanks to both of you . ❤
That’s wonderful. I took clonazepam for 2.5 months daily and four months total and started having gross symptoms during this time. It took 19.5 months to taper off, and I’m over 16 months off now with still a handful of physical symptoms, down from over 80. Benzos can injure very quickly and very deeply. Glad you have no symptoms.
I would love to talk to you about my rapid seroxat withdrawal and reinstatement in 2008. I still have to manage symptoms from it. I know youre busy and have heard it a thousand times. I use a scooter and electric bike. My stamina and health are ruined. These videos are incredibly validating and helpful. Ive spoken to Peter Gordon. Also damaged by Seroxat. Meditation helps twice a day but i have not healed. Grieving but coping.
I was on klonopin 10 years and taken off in 2weeks. It’s now been almost 20years of suffering both on and off meds. I once had a deep faith but I am crushed because I know for sure that I have brain damage in that I can’t feel, joy, or peace. I’ve lost interest in everything I once loved. Just trying to survive the day. Where can I find hope?
When I first started realizing I was being involuntarily medicated I started sound recording sessions with the social worker. I tucked a sound recorder in my sock before going into the session. When I listened back to the recording there was a few minutes of silence in the middle. From my own conscious perception of time during the session, there did not seem to be any breaks or silent periods, but rather fluid conversation throughout. How come there was a total of 5 minutes of silence with nothing being said? In the middle of that silence the social worker said, "are there any benzos in that", and he wasn't talking to me. I didn't even know what benzos were at that time and it was completely out of context with our conversation. It was a closed room and only myself and the social worker were in the room, at least as far as I was consciously aware. How can I heal if they keep medicating me. They create my suffering and the symptoms and so they keep medicating me because, ofc, it can't be the medication can it, no, it is just a manifestation of a mental illness.
I just noticed your picture with pills in the background lol. Don't you think it can be triggering to some people who are off them but still suffering and watching this? No offence, just sharing my thought. I'd rather have you put a picture of ripe fruits that are high in polyphenols since those components are supposed to speed up healing of nervous system according to some but it sounds reasonable to me.
Now just imagine your own mother gave you ger own personal medication and continued to pressure you into taking more medication during withdrawal because that's what happened to me. This is a double board certified psychiatrist.
@user-kn6ib1bn6m ms and dementia I'm pretty sure.i have nerve damage on the right side of.my brain cuz.my entire left side is numb and in contact pain...
You may get better, but get floxed like I did, ending up way worse off than ever before. I will die out here before I'll ever go to a Dr or hospital again because living like this is worse than dying!
Lots of us started in our early teens, so there any network of helping people find knowledgeable doctors? No one wants to prescribe/ gaslight us as addicts or even taper properly? I cannot find anyone after 3 years of consults.
This is absolutely insane. I thought I had a doctor in Washington State who would help me taper off both diazepam and Ms contin: I am really at a loss about trying to get my mental health up and going. I'm at my last straw...I don't even know where to turn anymore
My family treated me horribly, especially my Mom, but it was so alienating. I was so alone! They also told me to "have some dignity and go to work." " Do you want to lay around and be disabled?" "Go into a hospital, and they'll do everything for you - you're never getting any better." On and on. I still stay far from them and even from my mom while she was dying. I couldn't get home for so many reasons, but her rejection and hostility towards me when I needed her and my family most. I've lost everything, and I'm nowhere near "better"! 😢 I'm very alone. At least I am on disability.
Yes, Getting from pain to gratitude is the journey. You have so much of your journey like mine. Mine went on much longer and had different sidetracks. Congrats on helping.
Chris is such a inspiring and empowering coach. Unlike a particular female one , M B, who said ppl who cant recover, have underlying issues. This is so divisive, dicriminatory and gaslighting.
Many of the people hurt for decades have underlying autoimmune encephalopathy or other issues. That part is true. I believe that I was a PANS/PANDAS case and that pushed me towards medications and eventual medication injury. Even chronic dry mouth after coming off medications is a sign of autoimmune damage/issues. Find J.A. Carter Winward’s posts in Mad In America to understand what Michelle is saying.
Hello people, I have a small question, I’m starting a taper and my doctor is gonna put me on diazepam instead of Xanax. Is it oke to switch over directly or do I need to get slowly used to diazepam?
Change from Xanax to Diazepam should bo slow and gradual. You need to start introducing small doses of D over a span of 2-4 weeks or more and monitor if you tolerate it. Many people get paradoxical reactions on it and it makes things worse. If that's the case, abort. If you doing fine then after month or so you can start slow raper of xanax. And by slow I mean weeks to months depending on how you feel. After you're off xanax, wait a month or two and then start symptom based taper that fits you. These are just common sense guidelines. You may be able to do it faster or perhaps you'll need to take it even slower or abort the transition. Good luck. Its a little gamble tho since, ill repeat myself, plenty of people report bad reactions on diazepam. But might not be the case for you
@@michaelk1589 thank you so much for your reply! Is there a website where I can check how to switch over correctly? And my doctor had helped a lot of people get of benzodiazepines so I’m kinda confused why she want to put me straight onto diazepam
PS. If switching to diazepam doesn't work for you, you can try adding more doses of xanax throught the day so that you don't get interdose withdrawal. If you take it 2 x or 3 x /day you can transition to 3/4/5 x /day. Generally people switch do longer lasting benzos for the very reason of interdose withdrawal. If you don't have such case, switching to diazepam might be pointless. So just letting you know there is one more option.
Diazipam (valium) was really effective for treating anxiety, at least i found the drug effective, but guess what the side effect of taking valium is ? INCREASED anxiety...you build tolerance quite fast, so then you need more and more and more, and before you know it your popping 100 mg of valium a day and then the withdrawl is hell, far worse than SSRIS, maybe even fatal if just stopped
My mom is elderly and the things she said tobme...so painful. I wont tell her fu bc it night be the last thing i say but i also know she wont ever know me well again
It's very frightening to not know if you'll ever be okay again, if you'll ever truly live again. The constant feeling that your life is over and things will never get better is soul crushing.
I’m going through that now, I just took a shower and I’m so swollen and in so much pain.
@@Faye-jewelwhat are you detoxing from?
@@ritaharmon not a total detox but been taking lower dose pain med by 50 % and Lowering dose on a benzo that I was prescribed for panic attacks when I was 19.
I have a autoimmune disease that’s really wreaking havoc on my joints since November too
@@Faye-jewel Why? I care.
@@Faye-jewel Oh. Have you tried KETO? It's like an elimination diet. Works well for many.
Thank God my grown son believed me. His love saved my life. I absolutely would not have made it without him.
A key to my survival was, that I kept away from forums and I kept away from doctors. My family believed me and that was enough
You were fortunate. My family believes that my withdrawal is really a sign I need MORE medication and so would my doctors. I really fear they will try to admit me. They would say I am delusional. They won’t watch doctors who disagree with them on video. I am staying quiet and must behave myself 😮
@jeanf8998 sorry to hear this but you are not alone. There are groups for support everyone can join. Unless you've been through it people don't have a clue.
None of this would've happened to me if it wasn't for my narcissistic family. Having a support system is important. Some of us have to leave our family to heal sadly.
@@jeanf8998 fake it till you make it. Very sorry for you. Keep quiet en talk to us here. Hold on❤️
Hello @pikkuoo, how long did your recovery take? I’m on day 33 off and my symptoms are still severe after 3 months of clobazam 10 mg. I’m scared due to all the horrible stories I’ve heard 😔
“Medical science is making such remarkable progress that soon none of us will be well.” - Aldous Huxley
Imagine a severe burn survivor or a cancer survivor having to tell people they were sorry for being sick... COMPLETE BULLSHIT.
I'm round the clock suicidal. Brain damaged so badly I didn't know my own child for 3.5yrs of this hell. Probably am permanent. Anyway super bad sick without going into more detail. Our elderly neighbor passed away 22days ago and I just found out yesterday. I asked his wife why she didn't call us we would have come and said goodbye, we would have gone to the service, etc. She said that after her knee surgery I didn't check on them enough so she didn't figure we wanted part of their lives. She knows every sordid detail of what happened to me and no one checks on me....but I'm the bad neighbor.
I have been off my Xanax for 4 months. My Doctor never apologized for prescribing me 1-2 mg after my Wife died. Never attempted to get me off. After going off 7 medications my last was Xanax. Now no prescriptions and Doctor not happy for me. He is retiring soon so I don’t bring it up, being on Keto or Carnivore had a great deal with my success. I had no problems coming off in 2 1/2 months. Insomnia only side effect.
Dear Josef and Cris I have been watching your videos for two years now. I have to say this one is the greatest talk about protracted withdrawal I’ve ever listened to. I give you both a standing ovation!! So very helpful. It was perfectly done I felt so much love and support coming from you both. Wholeheartedly I thank you! Two years into my journey, this has given me so much hope!! ❤️❤️❤️
Yes. Cause they have known of this HORROR FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS!
Chris, you put it very well "we have to grieve our lives". Perfect.
Amen. No support group for loosing 'YOU'.
"An adaptive fear of medical treatments, and adaptive fear of doctors, and adaptive fear of medicines, and actively refuse things.." yup.
Dude, I am in court and I’m having to see a forensic psychologist that does not believe in any of this!! I really wish you would testify and say there is such a thing as benzodiazepine induced and neurological dysfunction and withdrawal!
You really find out who TRULY is there for you no matter what. Unfortunately, it’s usually about 5% of what you believe it to be. It’s a very lonely experience, you have to let go of so very much. The life you had is gone forever but you can build a better life if you’re disciplined and strong. People need to STOP thinking that doctors know what they’re talking about when they’ve not experienced it themselves. If someone really loves you, they BELIEVE you … it’s that simple.
They have had 60+ years to "get it!" No excuses or explanation is acceptable. THEY KNEW. BUT CASH WAS BETTER THAN WORRYING ABOUT DESTROYING PATIENTS' LIVES, FUTURES, OR WELL BEING!
"....AND WELL BEING "
I thought that today, many left, I still can't believe it, no compassion no heart no love l😢
As a caregiver for an iatrogenic victim and subjects of the award-winning documentary Death by Medicine, I am looking forward to our interview on June 8. I believe my wife is permanently brain damaged from her involuntary civil commitment. I want to believe there is hope. After almost 15 years off all medications, it appears she will never function normally again. Where does hope end and and reality begin? Look forward to our discussion.
We all know iatrogenic … right … insert a definition
Non doctors shouldn't use 'iatrogenic'. Doctors use it like idiopathic, to obfuscate they are to blame and don't know sht
Use Google 🙄@@annedodgson8677
@@annedodgson8677 An iatrogenic disease is a clinical condition that results from the direct (or indirect) actions of physicians, surgeons, or other caregivers
I'm 10 years off and know of other's who are your wife's time off and yes, it's hard to not lose hope but I don't want to be another statistic. However, I think it's important to keep things in perspective and to not put all health ailments in the withdrawal basket, because life still happens even when we're in protracted withdrawal.
Your Mistake is Caring what these "professionals" think! I couldn't care less. I know I suffered a Brain Injury..
I have akasthesia. Its hell. I'm so sore from walking and panic as well... Help me someone who understands.
It will be okay this will get better, mine was Soso bad for a year and I just left a 4 month window into a wave but it gets better so please hold on, it's just time.
I know how miserable it is, I'm sorry you have to experience this, just try not to panic and make any major changes to your meds, okay?
Hardest freaking thing that i have ever hands down had to do 6 1/2 months off everything. Straight torture 24/7.
But you made it. You are strong.
I lost 4 people that were pretty close to me while getting off of Clonazepam. Worst f*cking rollercoaster I've ever taken mentally and physically. 10months off and feeling a lot better. Healing is not linear so everything is changing but I'll make it, I have to. I hope you heal more and more every single day. Take care ❤
Yes it IS torture , BUT it truly does get better. My recovery has been a process. It changes , it's not linear. It does get better.
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
I know and congratulations. Hang in there. It gives others hope. I am just looking for a doctor, but I don't trust the medical complex but maybe for broken bones. Flesh peddling.
People who are struggling with their own behavior and that take a PRN benzo script once a month or less tend to have a hard time realizing their problems could come from a protracted withdrawal brain injury and from interdose withdrawal.
30:20 Yes. Similar to the book MANS SEARCH FOR MEANING. During the holocaust young, strong men died. The older, weaker men survived. WHY? They had families and something to live for. That is what the book is about. We all need meaning, hope- something to look forward to.
There's the fent epidemic but meanwhile there's a silent benzo epidemic. It is sad because they can really provide relief but it's such a double edged sword
And SSRIs, finasteride and acutane epidemics too.
Best wishes.
1 hour into this and I'm feeling so heard for the 1st time. Brings me to tears.
You have MORE credibility having suffered- not less. You have to believe that though.
I've been tapering from Xanax for almost 10 months. My CNS is so messed up. I'm still functioning somehow. Still working and taking care of the family. However i struggle 24/7. In pain constantly, breathing issues constantly, dizziness and cognitive issues. I pray that one day it will be over.
It will be my friend.
@@mfdoom9437 i hope so. the hardest to overcome is the breathing and weird feelings and pain in my chest.
gets better. Permanent damage, yeah, I think it's a thing... BenzoBuddies online forum kept me going.
@@nickgrogan8313 I’m assuming you’ve seen a cardiologist, if not then obviously go get it checked out. You’re doing so well man, trust me when you get your first wave it’ll be beautiful. Taper for as long as you can, and stay safe.
@@nickgrogan8313 What do you mean by breathing issues? Like feeling you are drowning underwater and can't get air and suffocating? Or something else?
Yes, Collapse is a good word, or BRAIN DAMAGE.
I've heard Chris talk in different interviews and always hang on to every word he says. So insightful and articulate and thoughtful! Thanks for having him on this channel. Regarding akathisia, I feel its definition needs more development. Most definitions focus on the external movements like pacing. In reality, many people experiencing akathisia hell look fairly normal and don't pace a lot, but have horrific internal agitation. People assume they don't have akathisia since they're not pacing or showing significant external motor movements. Akathisia needs to be defined in a way that is more encompassing of both the external and internal experience.
After four decades of psychiatric meds-every antidepressant except MAOIs or benzodiazepines-I stopped al 4.5 months ago. Hell. Rage. Brain on fire. Screeching tinnitus. I’m just in bed now. Great bloodwork though. “Nothing” is wrong with me.
Maybe 350 cholesterol levels.
I took shower and washed my hair. Gotten dressed. EVEN put my shoes on. Little bacon eggs and yet felt so weak, just limped back to bed.
Waiting for the rapture.
Because I obviously cannot figure this out. Disabled vet with HUD-thank God, 64, 120, I’ve cried all my life, but my tears are dried up. Spent $1,500 over past three months in every possible supplement. Already no sugar no flour. I’m not sick as you.
But I’m unable to live.
It wasn’t supposed to end this way. I relinquished my son at 21 because I didn’t want to “put my grief/depression” on another person. Now I can add giving him a “1” at birth, when I believed I saving him.
But, only briefly on Benz is. And ambien. Left the house one night because Daddy and oldest son were yelling at each other. Never heard of cutting, yet I was determined to drive to Walmart for an exact knife, just to cut, just a little. Apparently I ran a red light in the ambien hypnotic state. Three cop cars folllowed me on my “slow speed chase” to the store.
Spike strips and a net over my minivan-🤦♀️-later, I was face down, hands behind my back arrested, on the way to ER for blood withdrawal, and urinalysis. Cop asked me, if I wanted to die, why didn’t I drive into a bridge?
Asked if I wanted to go to jail-for evading-nothing else in my symptom except clonapen and ambien-or Sage View. “What’s that?” I chose psychiatric hospital. Just prior, Daddy had taken sons from three years of Christian school, where I worked part time to pay for one tuition, to three years of community homeschooling, to public school. In a Sunday nite he told me there was nothing I could do about it. And just before that, the explosive resurfacing memory of military MST. From the hospital, I was preyed upon-way too strong a description-by a fellow psych patient, who I slept with. Yes before I promised our sons they’d never be children of divorce. 🤦♀️ But fellow broken person was WAY more broken than I was. I told Dad right away. He got out all our camping gear and put it in the caravan. and I never slept in the home we built, or where my sons-who were my life-lived, then 15 and 18, again.
It was summer, so yay for that.
Every time my future spouse sensed I wanted to get out or away, some tragedy popped up in his world, and I figured out too late, he’d created them all. I married him. Still married, tho separated since 2014. But we stayed friends, and he’s my closest friend. His story is so much more tragic than mine. Oldest of 11 children of Jehovah’s Witness Elder. All 11 rape-d and worse. Despite lying to impress everyone, he’s the kindest, hardest working and funniest person I’ve ever known.
My sons are grown-awesome people. Love their Mom.
I don’t understand why I cat get well. TY for this interview.
I also have immense gratitude, for everything you mentioned, except the audience. And verbalize it daily. Often.
Yes the anxiety is frightening but also the rage swings and the intrusive harmful thoughts that it creates your anger isn't your anger this is something out of this world. Everything and anything can set me of and not trusting my own mind. Bouts of hallucinations, hearing a evil voice that isn't human and this evil thing puts very dangerous thoughts in your head, paranoia, delusional thinking, feeling disoriented, confused, agitation, irritable. 9 months and I am still in antidepressant withdrawal I am having some windows where things settle but they aren't away. I can't sense within me how delicate fragile my CNS is, the slight movement at times causes such violent thoughts. Unable to do exercise as it makes me so irritable and agitated. My mind is playing mind games, what a ride this is. I pray for all of us for healing and trying to have some for of life.
Are u tapering or completely off? What Benzo are u on? How much! I’d be Carefull since ur having scary thoughts & voices?
I am 9 months free from an antidepressant i am no longer on a antidepressant. Unfortunately I am still continuing to suffer from withdrawals. I am trying to be careful with what I am experiencing nothing much I can do. I am trying to ride it out the best that i can its not easy.@@michelebergman4336
Sending healing wishes for you
I have the same!!!! It's horrendous
The evil forces behind the drugs are evil spirits of the drug you have to rebuke them in Jesus name because they are evil and want to manipulate you into traps.
That’s a absolute travesty to go through an ordeal like that over that time,Your a true survivor buddy.
There 100,000s of us with EXACT SAME STORY!!!! Then there’s 100,000s who DIDNT MAKE IT!!!! They committed SUICIDE ??? 💀💀💀💀
Thank you so much for this interview...for a brief moment i didnt feel alone in this anymore while i've watched it
Same
I've never been able to accept "living well is the best revenge". It's true, the best way to destroy is by building. But still, something isn't quite right. I think it's an age thing. Losing your late teens and 20's is something you just can't actually become apart from or "get over", the deficit is essentially permanent. Omnipresent and inescapable, it never goes away. And probably by the time you do see otherwise, it's still too late anyway. The human concept is maliciously designed, it's made for this.
No we shouldn't have to go through this experience....it's an experience that doesn't have to be gone through....it is forced on us by the psychiatric industry and their drug pushing...
The absolute chronic fear of tapering this poison might actually be worse than any actual symptoms that it causes.
Bingo.
Dr.Josef
Are you planning to practice in Ohio any time soon. I will use your video's to share with doctors. If they aren't open to you, I will not waste one minute more with them!!!
I just realized that Coffee Makes It Worse. None of these videos ever mentioned that, truly.
True.
It does.
This has best video from this channel! l have been in withdrawal for just 31/2 years , and this video has given me hope
Hey Chris. Same story here. Glad to hear you are much better. Im struggling daily but also on the mend. Hope to be where you are soon.
You look fine. What is your main issue- if you care to share. I care.
I turned to alcohol to try and cope with what prescribed medication did to me. I've been in and out of detox. I'm now an alcoholic.
I’m a veteran and I was prescribed Klonopin 6 mg for the last 28 years 10 weeks ago. I was forced to go from 5 to 6 mg to one. I thought I was losing my mind until I did some research and found out what benzo withdrawal is really like. this led me to cut out a lot of things in my life which included alcohol, caffeine, stress smoking basically anything that could interfere with a natural brain healing cycle and I could definitely say that alcohol was definitely bad for me. Hope you get better.
Try ibogaine to heal. It’s incredibly helpful for any addiction
@@vanessah4964I heard good things about Ibogaine but isn't it a cure for opiate withdrawals? I never heard of it treating benzo dependency too.
Same. Have a movement disorder from psychotropic drugs.
Alcohol seems to ne what most people do.
Sorry for yet another comment but nothing has resonated like Chris’s story to me . I can’t thank you enough.
For me it’s my SSRI. Everything you guys are describing health wise and an ungodly long taper.
Please do an informative video on how to file a report on doctors and therapists who have acted unethically.
It will go nowhere. You file with the same who swear to protect them. They are all on the payroll.
DEA.. CT PERMANENTLY disfigured Me X2.
That's my problem. The underlying problems. A lot of stress from unhealthy situations & relationships.
Could you rethink the sensational headlines? How can we possibly share these with anyone and be taken seriously? These are so helpful and so appreciated, but the sensationalization comes across as very “cheap tabloid”.
What Really bothers Me is when people say ..."my symptoms" when referring to the fact that, such as in my case, you feel like you are dying, and probably could in fact, die, because you sre so seriously ill. So, I would say, "when I feel I may collapse and die with no one knowing, since am alone"...To express how Serious this brain damage is...
Well maybe one of you could explain the severe nerve pain I have ? Years of this many neurologists many specialists all coming off from meds . I don't think everyone fully recovers.
My mother purposely put me in protracted withdrawals. I know because she's interfered with my medical care/ medications several times. She has Munchsien By Proxy ( & Covert Malignant Narcissism). Still, I actually feel sorry for her. I can recover.
Münchhausen-by-proxysyndroom?? Go to the police..
@lonnievisch6009 The police have been here many times. At best, I go into a corrupt local hospital.
@@newjerseydevil6115 😪🥲😪🥲😪🙏❤️
Fear state, irritability, anger, catastrophizinf after cold turkey stopping Lexapro three years after. Getting crazy panic over things outside of my control. And I can’t tell if it’s withdrawal, me or appropriate reaction. You go into fight attack mode and think being mean and nasty to people is worth it. Then your relationships are ruined.
I did not know about the word benzo or the intricate withdrawal symptoms to watch out for in the benzo world. All I knew is that they were sleeping meds and psych meds. The first year off went well for my girlfriend until that one year mark when a wave hit us hard. I had no clue that this was due to the meds because one year was pretty much a success story for us off these meds. My idiotic decisions of calling her mom landed her in the ward and everything went downhill from there and now she is on a CTO in a group home where they dont even allow personal cell phones. And now she is on some mandatory injections. If I would have known to keep my mouth shut then she would have being better off. I wish i knew more about this wonderful community. I didn't know this monster existed. May god help us all.
Worst ordeal to witness in a teen autistic son that already is dismissed. And seriously sensitive.
You guys made me cry. Thank you ❤ “maintain the hope”
My family doesn't belive I need help im goinf to die please help me
Could you show them this video? You’re not going to die, it just feels like hell. Hang in there, you will get better. Sending hugs 🤗
Are you off all meds for 10 years and still only 80-90% healed. That’s really scary.
Stop calling it WITHDRAWAL!!!! IT is SEVERE DAMAGE TO YOUR ENTIRE BODY.
No it’s not.
Correct. For those of us with ongoing issues, it’s injury and not withdrawal. Withdrawal does not last a long time.
This is so positive & but so terrible what Chris endured . The rage “ I have to put it aside & use it for sensible motivation. Yes I was so stupid- they were stupid - they are still stupid - ( like the Clowns who “ treated “ Chris ) & now cancelled patients & forcing cold turkey. But other motivation- meditation, talking, playing & practise music . Thanks to both of you . ❤
18 years of xanax. Off now. Tapered very slowly by cutting down to nothing. No real side effects. It can happen.
I am so happy to hear this. I hope nothing will show up. Take care ❤
@@FinHammer Thank you so much. Fingers crossed.
That’s wonderful. I took clonazepam for 2.5 months daily and four months total and started having gross symptoms during this time. It took 19.5 months to taper off, and I’m over 16 months off now with still a handful of physical symptoms, down from over 80. Benzos can injure very quickly and very deeply. Glad you have no symptoms.
@@jbwetzstein Thank you. Hope you are back to feeling like yourself and even better.
@@Rheingold-l2z Getting there. Much better than I was, but it's a slow process. Thank you.
Narcissistic abuse and the gaslighting has a lot to do with it.
I would love to talk to you about my rapid seroxat withdrawal and reinstatement in 2008. I still have to manage symptoms from it. I know youre busy and have heard it a thousand times. I use a scooter and electric bike. My stamina and health are ruined. These videos are incredibly validating and helpful. Ive spoken to Peter Gordon. Also damaged by Seroxat. Meditation helps twice a day but i have not healed. Grieving but coping.
This was fire 🔥! Thank you to you both saving lives🦋💎
Yep best interview I've seen.
I was on klonopin 10 years and taken off in 2weeks. It’s now been almost 20years of suffering both on and off meds. I once had a deep faith but I am crushed because I know for sure that I have brain damage in that I can’t feel, joy, or peace. I’ve lost interest in everything I once loved. Just trying to survive the day. Where can I find hope?
Sending you peace 🙏
Oddly, I got lucky. It was easier for me the 2nd time. I think it's because I knew what to expect. Plus, I started weaning myself after the 1st time.
When I first started realizing I was being involuntarily medicated I started sound recording sessions with the social worker. I tucked a sound recorder in my sock before going into the session. When I listened back to the recording there was a few minutes of silence in the middle. From my own conscious perception of time during the session, there did not seem to be any breaks or silent periods, but rather fluid conversation throughout. How come there was a total of 5 minutes of silence with nothing being said? In the middle of that silence the social worker said, "are there any benzos in that", and he wasn't talking to me. I didn't even know what benzos were at that time and it was completely out of context with our conversation. It was a closed room and only myself and the social worker were in the room, at least as far as I was consciously aware. How can I heal if they keep medicating me. They create my suffering and the symptoms and so they keep medicating me because, ofc, it can't be the medication can it, no, it is just a manifestation of a mental illness.
I just noticed your picture with pills in the background lol. Don't you think it can be triggering to some people who are off them but still suffering and watching this? No offence, just sharing my thought. I'd rather have you put a picture of ripe fruits that are high in polyphenols since those components are supposed to speed up healing of nervous system according to some but it sounds reasonable to me.
Now just imagine your own mother gave you ger own personal medication and continued to pressure you into taking more medication during withdrawal because that's what happened to me. This is a double board certified psychiatrist.
Dr Josef, Please stop interrupting! The best interviews are ones where the person can talk freely for extended periods of time.
His.words match mine...😮 5 years July im.still not.right
..
What are your symptoms that still linger?
@user-kn6ib1bn6m ms and dementia I'm pretty sure.i have nerve damage on the right side of.my brain cuz.my entire left side is numb and in contact pain...
These interviews are so beneficial. Thank you for helping everyone.
I just don't see the whole healing thing. Every time I do feel hopeful
I have a major setback.
You may get better, but get floxed like I did, ending up way worse off than ever before.
I will die out here before I'll ever go to a Dr or hospital again because living like this is worse than dying!
Please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙏
Lots of us started in our early teens, so there any network of helping people find knowledgeable doctors? No one wants to prescribe/ gaslight us as addicts or even taper properly?
I cannot find anyone after 3 years of consults.
Search and read Ashton manual for tapering benzos and Rxisk guide for discontinuing SSRIs.
Both free on the web.
Best wishes.
This is absolutely insane. I thought I had a doctor in Washington State who would help me taper off both diazepam and Ms contin: I am really at a loss about trying to get my mental health up and going. I'm at my last straw...I don't even know where to turn anymore
I'm facing charges against these doctors that tortured me.
Chris is a truly inspiring man
My family treated me horribly, especially my Mom, but it was so alienating. I was so alone!
They also told me to "have some dignity and go to work."
" Do you want to lay around and be disabled?"
"Go into a hospital, and they'll do everything for you - you're never getting any better."
On and on. I still stay far from them and even from my mom while she was dying. I couldn't get home for so many reasons, but her rejection and hostility towards me when I needed her and my family most.
I've lost everything, and I'm nowhere near "better"! 😢
I'm very alone. At least I am on disability.
I am sorry you went through that ❤
This is an incredible story here and thank you both for such an IMPORTANT interview
Amazing video 👍 currently in acute
I'm glad to see Chris doing well
Very very helpful. We will heal!❤ ( woman Europe 46 month out after AD slowly healing lots of windows and waves) thank you both🫶
DOCTOR, I hope you’re using hyperbaric for your daughter’s TBI. I pray she heals completely and quickly
Exactly ..we are innocent but many self blame for taking these poison
Hi Chris. Which meds are you still on as I recall you still use some. Great interview.
Remeron( antidepressant also known as Mirtazapine)and Seroquel. Anti psychotic
Yes, the other meds not mentioned this time.
God work Chris 💜
Can u ask him what to take for gi issue ab when ur stomach stops
One of your best videos.❤
I agree
Kindling has also been observed with magnetic field or ELF exposure. See eg the work of Suzanne Bawin and WR Adey.
I'm glad to see Chris doing well, unfortunately he didn't believe me either. No hard feelings though. I know this damage runs deep.
What happened?
Thank you All so much 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Yes, Getting from pain to gratitude is the journey. You have so much of your journey like mine. Mine went on much longer and had different sidetracks. Congrats on helping.
Great interview, thanks guys.
Chris is such a inspiring and empowering coach. Unlike a particular female one , M B, who said ppl who cant recover, have underlying issues. This is so divisive, dicriminatory and gaslighting.
The MB who just posted her farewell to coaching for a while? I never heard her say that.
Who is MB?
This is untrue
Many of the people hurt for decades have underlying autoimmune encephalopathy or other issues. That part is true. I believe that I was a PANS/PANDAS case and that pushed me towards medications and eventual medication injury. Even chronic dry mouth after coming off medications is a sign of autoimmune damage/issues. Find J.A. Carter Winward’s posts in Mad In America to understand what Michelle is saying.
@@kevk741 nope spinal tap is all clear
I am so grateful for this channel ❤
Thankyou so much for this . Such a great talk and one of the best episodes so far
Excellent interview! Thank you so very much.
I feel exactly how you're telling people you feel
Hello people, I have a small question, I’m starting a taper and my doctor is gonna put me on diazepam instead of Xanax. Is it oke to switch over directly or do I need to get slowly used to diazepam?
Diazepam is a long acting Benzo! It’s good to taper off
@@opeyemiyusuf8965 I know but can i directly switch from Xanax to diazepam? Or is that dangerous?
Change from Xanax to Diazepam should bo slow and gradual. You need to start introducing small doses of D over a span of 2-4 weeks or more and monitor if you tolerate it. Many people get paradoxical reactions on it and it makes things worse. If that's the case, abort. If you doing fine then after month or so you can start slow raper of xanax. And by slow I mean weeks to months depending on how you feel. After you're off xanax, wait a month or two and then start symptom based taper that fits you.
These are just common sense guidelines. You may be able to do it faster or perhaps you'll need to take it even slower or abort the transition. Good luck. Its a little gamble tho since, ill repeat myself, plenty of people report bad reactions on diazepam. But might not be the case for you
@@michaelk1589 thank you so much for your reply! Is there a website where I can check how to switch over correctly? And my doctor had helped a lot of people get of benzodiazepines so I’m kinda confused why she want to put me straight onto diazepam
PS. If switching to diazepam doesn't work for you, you can try adding more doses of xanax throught the day so that you don't get interdose withdrawal. If you take it 2 x or 3 x /day you can transition to 3/4/5 x /day. Generally people switch do longer lasting benzos for the very reason of interdose withdrawal. If you don't have such case, switching to diazepam might be pointless. So just letting you know there is one more option.
Oh Chris, this is terrible!!
Diazipam (valium) was really effective for treating anxiety, at least i found the drug effective, but guess what the side effect of taking valium is ? INCREASED anxiety...you build tolerance quite fast, so then you need more and more and more, and before you know it your popping 100 mg of valium a day and then the withdrawl is hell, far worse than SSRIS, maybe even fatal if just stopped
I'd love to speak with Chris Paige. I think he used to live in NJ too.
I felt this way with the way the doctors treated me. They didn’t treat me 😮
Nailed it Chris!!!!!!!!
My mom is elderly and the things she said tobme...so painful. I wont tell her fu bc it night be the last thing i say but i also know she wont ever know me well again
So true about sleep deprivation.
That happened to me. Turned my life upside down.
great work bro..