Benzo Stories: Jess Zanotti 

Sorry... my 3rd comment: When you were talking about diet I was surprised when you added meat because many videos people emphasis plant based or vegan which is a difficult transition for me. Or uncomfortable. Just trying to figure this out.

I wouldn't have survived if not for Jesus.

Amen 🙌

Congratulations! Whatever works.

A huge part of AA is turning your problems over to the hand of something other than yourself. Belief unshackles oneself from being responsible for everything. Blessed is the journey.

How does God allow this to happen?

It will happen. Don't lose hope 🙏

Stay focused stay strong 🙌🏼👊🏻🙏🏻

I wonder if it’s going to happen for me, too.

6 years for me in November. Bloody nightmare.

How long did it take to feel better and did the pain come back and nausea aswell when you quit?

@FinHammer It took about 2 months. When I started to feel better I quit an SNRI, Cymbalta, as well. I've lived with "waves and windows" since then, some days much better and some worse. Like Jess in the video says, 3 steps forward, 2 backward etc. I've been sensitive to food since then. So I started to investigate what could cause my nausea and stomach issues to begin with, and found histamine intolerance and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) really interesting since a H1 histamine antagonist always has had a good effect on me. I have recently started to treat MCAS with Dao (an enzyme that breaks down histamine after digestion) supplements, vitamine C @FinHammer It took about 2 months. When I started to feel better I quit an SNRI, Cymbalta, as well. I've lived with "waves and windows" since then, some days much better and some worse. Like Jess in the video says, 3 steps forward, 2 backward etc. I've been sensitive to food since then. So I started to investigate what could cause my nausea and stomach issues to begin with, and found histamine intolerance and MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) really interesting since a H1 histamine antagonist always has had a good effect on me. I recently started to treat MCAS with Dao (an enzyme that breaks down histamine) after digestion (interesting histamine becomes 4-imidazoline acid which is a GABA agonist) , qeurcetin (found naturally in apples etc.) and vitamin C to stabilize overactive mast cells, and it works 👍.

U stopped cold turkey?

​@@magnusthoren3852Hi! Could you please tell me what Dao is. Is it short for something? Thanks. 😊

How are you now?

@@jrman413 Thanks for asking. In many ways I am doing better. I still feel very injured though. Some days my symptoms are better than others. It takes time to heal from this beast.

@@judyrandall9756 How long did you take the poison?

​@@judyrandall9756how is ur low energy symptoms please answer

Hope u are doing more better🙏

Thank you for courageously sharing and continued healing to you in your journey. I could definitely relate to so much and will talk (zoom) with my nurse practitioner about weaning off Ativan and hopefully some day the other anti depressants including the newer type called Latuda for bipolar. I just dot think the medical field knows of their efficacy and possible long term emotional or physical harms. What was the moving meditation you recommended called?

Corporate capture

Those are some pretty crazy side effects. I don’t have those I didn’t know people could have those and I’ve been on them for 22 years but if your anxiety is still bad, your hair will fall out. PRAY ASK GOD TO HELP YOU. God is the only reason I’m still alive.

That sounds like me when I quit pain meds. I have never liked benzodiazepine medication but I haven’t been able to sleep since getting off pain meds so I stupidly started taking them. Doc gave me temazepam for sleep and Xanax for anxiety etc. I haven’t been taking them long so I may just stop and quit while im ahead but they do help me get some sleep so idk if it’s best to just stay on them so I can sleep. Plus I get muscle spasms and stiffness etc and it helps With that. I have oily as skin and hair, facial hair growth and high testosterone and androgens etc. Look into pcos or adrenal or tumors down below etc. It can cause high androgen and that can cause pain and health issues cos women are not meant to have high male hormones and low estrogen etc.

@@rainej7013 Same here!!

👏👏 29 months off... Cold Turkey ! ? Well done, this is an amazing achievement, you're a star ! As is Jess who is sharing her affliction right HERE & now! I myself too hope to share a positive "kick up the backside to the DEMON that is ALL things Benzo related!" Sadly not yet for me.. One day 🙏🙏

How are you doing really? I'm 35 months off cold turkey klonopin withdrawal, always taken as directed, for almost 29 years. Last few years before stopping, I had major anxiety, insomnia again, major migraines, lack of focus...lost my neurosurgery hospital job, then my home! All doctors I saw then never suspected the benzo at all. In 2020 I happened to hear a video from Jordan Peterson describing his benzo withdrawal nightmare, which I'd never heard was even a possibility before, had been in medical profession since 1973. Docs only told me at the beginning to "not take it more often than directed" which I never did. I called PCP asking to stop, all she said was "okay, stop" and I've never taken another pill since then 35 months ago. I hid in my apartment away from my adult children. My PCP wouldn't respond to my portal messages for help (couldn't speak well on phone and talking to people freaked me out then). Saw her 6 months later when I was able to drive again, she rolled her eyes and changed the subject when I tried to tell her about it. I'm a senior and have never been a drinker, smoker, drug taker except for what she gave me, but she didn't believe my symptoms when I told her. During the worst of it, I desperately wanted to end it by throwing myself in front of a truck on busy street outside my apt, but talked myself out of that. Many horrible symptoms of heart pounding panic, crying, hyperventilating, writhing on floor, migraines, jaw clenching, scratching til I bled, cramping, vomiting, couldn't be still, zapping electrical pain/burning, couldn't think, racing thoughts, felt a burning agitation under my skin, ears ringing, couldn't swallow well...of course I wasn't driving. Amazon delivered food when I could finally order it. I'm improved over then, but far from normal. Still wake 3-4 times a night with burning pain in back, arms, feet, groin, and get 2-4 migraines a week. I sleep with ice bags, which numbs it a bit. Are you having any of this? I'm now diagnosed with "small fiber peripheral polyneuropathy"...sure didn't have this before. Still have severe jaw clenching when trying to sleep, have cracked all molars even with night guard. Constantly paying off newest crown.

@@duka1.660 The day will come for you, just as it will for me… I have only recently discovered the dangers of psych meds and replacement opioids (which are also very addictive!) The info came up on RU-vid a couple of days ago, and I was horrified! But I must do what I have to do when I find a Dr or someone who can assist me in withdrawing from all 3 medications. I’ve actually already been in withdrawal for probably a year already, but without knowing that what I’ve been experiencing is withdrawal symptom. The Drs all say there is nothing wrong with me… I guess they say that to all of us who are having these bizzare ‘illnesses’. I wish you the best for when you decide to begin the journey, and pray for you that it will be better at the end, than before you even started taking medications 🙏

Do it. Before your bladder quits. !!

What is k?

@@allfacts19 Klonopin (Clonazepam).

Have you read the Ashton Manual?

@Nomoreboosters Yes I have, at least most of it. Everyone who battles with these pills should. Btw. I jumped off 3days ago and already feel it. Wish me luck 😬

Informedconsent... how are you doing now? I am one month off xanax after tapering for 6 months. But feeling intense head pressure, foggy, dizzy head, unbearable upside down feeling like some bad toxic is filled, did you feel like this after coming off?

You will get through this 🙏

Same thing for me. Was perfectly fine until went into tolerance withdrawal after 24 years on xanax. Took me two years to heal. Scary thing is it sets your body up for So many sensitivities. Year ago had to take a lot of antibiotics and steroids to clear an ear infection and still having eaves and windows from this set back. At this point just praying I will one day not be so sensitive going forward in my life.

@@kathydowns7559 What type of antibiotic did you take?

@@Sears111 I took a fluoroquinolone, I think it was Cipro. This is supposedly one of the most dangerous classes of antibiotics. I had taken it years prior to my withdrawal and did fine on it but like I said earlier, your body doesn’t react to things the same after withdrawal as it did before. Be very vigilant in taking any benzo for any surgical procedure. Some people say it didn’t bother them but I would be very cautious having had the effect I had taking an antibiotic or any strong medicine for that matter.😬

Hey God Bless you❤

@@kathydowns7559Tolerance w/d for me after 19 years. Out of nowhere. The worst kind of suprise. Will be 5 years free on 12/23. ❤️‍🩹

god is always there in your life you just need to talk to him and ask his help he always listens im not religious but this worked for me truly

Yep

All of this!!!!!

So true

What supplement?

@@Chevrotainify NAC

@@Chevrotainify reverses all the side effects of the benzodiazepines started taking it. It’s helped tremendously Benzos were absolutely terrible.

I take NAC and Alpha Lipoic Acid for their antioxidant properties. I had surgery on my tongue on a Monday by Wednesday it was completely healed and the stiches fell out. It was amazing. Nac helps me breathe and ALA helps my neuropathy pain a lot. @@user-vb2bo3ts2h

Withdrawaling from alprazolan/xanax was by far the worst days of my life. The dr had me on it for over 3 years. I didnt have it for 5 days and i was never able to fall asleep those 5 days. Imagine being that tired and your mind is constantly going but you can't fall asleep. That was a living hell. I wanted my life to end on about the 2nd day. I'm so happy I'm off that garbage. That stuff should only be given to cancer patients. Or for a very short time. My body was so used to it by going that long without it was insane. I've heard that xanax Withdrawal is as bad or even worse then heroin. Once my dr weened me off of it she put my on buspar. I was on that for a year. Then i was able to get off of that. I think by going through those 5 nights with no sleep it told me that i can get through any anxiety. If i survived those 5 nights i should feel no anxiety anymore.

Magnesium has helped the muscle spasms but painful nerve endings is a big issue. What dose Thiamine, D3 and K2 are you taking?

@@informedconsent2023 I take 500 mg magnesium glycinate. (I’m looking to add Malate (muscle health) and Threonate (cognition health)) I take 5000 IU D3 and 180 mcg K2 (sold as one together) twice a day. As for B1 -Thiamine I take Benfotiamine because it’s better absorbed. But I follow Elliot Overton’s Mega dose protocols. (OENutrition here on RU-vid) I seriously haven’t felt this good in 30 years. Best wishes to you and congratulations on searching and being an advocate for yourself.

​@ckimmey2578 did you take this during your taper?

@@JohnDoe-ns9yo unfortunately there was no taper for me. The medical dr said I needed to see a psychiatrist for further refills. This was in 2020 with offices closed. There’s a good bit to this horror “story”. But to answer the question, no. I’ve been seriously looking into self help for years because no one or nothing was helping. Once I got my nutrition under control (4 years keto) I decided to look into supplements and deficiencies that can cause anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia nerve pain and other symptoms but those are the top three. I was able to find good information from professionals that included studies on RU-vid.

💔

“Gift” that keeps on taking. Agreed. ❤️‍🩹

@@donna6165 🤝

You have to taper off of them to where you cut the pills in tiny pieces until you don't need them anymore. Start with 1 pill. Then go to 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 and so forth until you realize you don't need them. That's exactly what I did. Now I've been off for 6 years and never looked back.

You will get through this 🙏

Jeeez and where would one even get a safe dose if they wanted? I don't think doctors prescribe it(?)

You got this 💪

I crossed over from Xanax 3 mg for 12-15 yrs Valium 30 mg just all at once . The transition was hard but only for like 2 weeks then by 30 days ( as it takes Valium that long ) I felt zero anxiety HOWEVER a year now on Valium I’m more emotional lazy and depressed but it’s unknown if it’s just the Valium causing it . I’m eventually going to use the Ashton

What symptoms do you have left?

And are you on any other meds?

Two weeks? Highly, highly unusual if not unheard of.

You won’t get withdrawals from two weeks use.

How do you know you can’t get withdrawals from 2 weeks? What makes you so sure? You sound like the doctors who think they have benzos all figured out. Benzos are unpredictable. I dint sleep for 5 days when I stopped, Iv had head tightness, headache, anxiety, akathisia, stomach cramps, stomach tremors, muscle tremors/tightness, breathing problems, palpitation/pvcs, brain fog, sleep starts, high gravity/heaviness sensation, balance/dizziness, joint pain/cracking. I’m very sick all day every day, don’t function at all. I’m a lot worse than I was back in 2018 when it started, but like I said, I made it worse. I was a normal guy, but I tired low carb and landed myself in the hospital with low electrolytes and my first panic attack and they gave me my one and only prescription. What a waste of my life, garbage.

It will pass. You will get through this 🙏

You have to stop drinking entirely. That is like a relapse and will start the process all over again. Look into amanitas. Amanita dreamer talks about this, specifically to get off benzos.

How are u doing?

During lockdowns - I got off. 90 days. Couldn’t leave the house and when I did I would freak out. Went right back on. I was also injured at the time, and didn’t know it. 3 years later - I have got worse (bulging disk, neck problems, etc) so I’m still on them ONLY this time - if I decide to taper off - I have to deal with back, spine, neck, and feet problems

For those 90 days - I felt I was floating in a boat or in a wave pool.

@@nostalgiaman6816 How did the bulging disk and neck problems originate? How about the spine and feet problems?

@@jameskoss1054Nerve damage it’s doing the same for me

@@nostalgiaman6816 How would withdrawal cause a bulging disc?

Hope you are doing well. These medicines are very addictive and dangerous. Never harm yourself or others. Dont stop or increase dosage abruptly. Bcos they dont work and make patients feel worse like hell, many stop taking cold turkey or abruptly. Patients feel fine at first bcos the medicines are still in the blood. As the meds are excreted out of the body, patients will experience more and more withdrawal symptoms until so horrible that they may commit suicides. Many did and you can read them in the newspaper so often. Conversely, patients may increase dosage themselves, thinking that more meds will work. They dont and patients can go into psychosis or maniac, kill others and then kill themselves. You read these news so often in the newspapers in USA. Or they may end up in ER. Suicides are so preventable if docs/pdocs tell their patients on the dangers of the meds and what they should and should not do. Pdocs like to switch patients on different meds but they are all the same. They dont work but make life hell. When you are told to switch meds abruptly, you may experience horrible withdrawal symptoms. Most pdocs dont know what they are doing bcos they have never taken these meds. Are you tapering according to Ashton Manual? To be successful with minimum withdrawal symptoms, you must cross over from xanax to equivalent valium dose in 3 or more weeks, then taper off the valium in 24 or more weeks at the rate of 10% for 1st 50%, then reduce to 5% reduction per week until zero .g 10 mg of valium. 1st 50% reduction, reduce 1 mg per week for 5 weeks until 5 mg. Then slow down to reduce 5% or 0.25mg per week for 19 weeks until zero. Do a slow and proper taper to minimize withdrawal symptoms and to allow the brain to heal so you dont have protracted withdrawal symptoms . If you are also on AD, then taper off the AD straight off (no need to cross over to another AD) at the same time as the benzo will give you a buffer. I got addicted to benzo in 2 to 3 days. I came off all benzo and AD in 2006 after 1 year on them with minimum withdrawal symptoms after 2nd attempt using Ashton Manual. If you need someone to look over your shoulder, who understand you or you want to share your journey, join FB group, New BenzoIsland, using a proper withdrawal plan, food as medicine, no meds, no synthetics.

How are you feeling now?

@@Leptyzz I have waves a windows last month I had two good weeks. This week not so much.

​@@laurenwallace861 Stay strong you're not alone 💪

It can go on much longer than that.

I can't believe anyone has gotten through it in just 2 years.

@@ikedorsey I was crazy sick for 1 year off of suboxone (methadone previously), took several years to recover. The doctors will tell you it only lasts 2 weeks. They don't know anything, it's pathetic.

It’s ok if you only take it like that

I would only use it for emergencies. But you should be fine as long as it’s not daily

Not worth it, it's just asking for trouble. You'll end up getting rebound anxiety and then you'll justify twice a week, three times, etc. Don't even mess with it. Whatever panic or anxiety you feel, just be glad it's not 100x that because of these things. It can be MUCH worse.

@@s133p3r0 good point

@@Fanfan30303 I don't think they should be available to anybody. There are better options, i mean try ketamine, I got super addicted to it at one point mine wasn't prescribed. But it really does work, and other than some memory issues im no worse for the wear. I was HEAVILY abusing. If you get it in tablets or something from the doctor I don't think they give you an amount that you could really abuse anyway. Give that a try.

I’m in Fl too and literally a rehab tapered me in one week and landed in the psych unit . There’s a rehab in cali called oro recovery they use the Ashton manual look it up

@@kendrakinard7580 my psychiatrist won’t prescribe me Valium for the taper off Xanax. I asked her why - she said - I just don’t. But she’ll prescribe me Klonopin. 😒

Qigong is good

​@@paivi9672Qui-Gong was one thing that actually helped when I was in bad withdrawal at the rehab