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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by benbetter on February 7, 2006, at 1:02:08
This probably isnt supposed to be in the withdrawl section but I feel it goes hand in hand.. If you are having Withdrawls from an AD... You may get back into your funk.
Alright here is what i do when the bottom drops out.
I got it from my sister.Make a note to yourself when you are not at rock bottom.
This note is in case of an emergency. You would write it as if you were writing it to a sibling or spouce or child that you really care about. And this loved one is feeling really down. You want this note to include what you want your self to do in case of a melt down. It is kinda like a fire drill.. but it is for the brain.Ok now the first thing I put on my note is the phone numbers of the three most important people to me that i could talk to. In my case It is three of my family members These are people you could spill your guts to and they can hear you and listen.
2nd, I write down the things that are really important that have no relation to what is bringing me down. For example... My girl freind and I broke up... I had to remeber the possitives away from my ex.
Some of those positives are things that you would tell some one else if they were down. For instance I need to remind myself I am only 34.. I have a ton of life left and with a little help and my possitive attitude I will get through this.
Now when things have been really bad I mean rock bottom You have to remeber those times.. And remeber that you made it through ... You have to see the growth in every step.. A little possitive can give you giant steps forward. Remember also that all the pains dont go away over night.
Next, I give myself a time limit to stay in my house and wallow in the darkness.. I am talking about those sudden dives that feel like its the end of the world. I set the limit at one hour.. Other people need to figure out there own time limit.. I have to have some of this time to feel the pain.. I think it helps you get it out... But after your time limit you need to get up and go outside or some where .. A walk with your dog or by yourself what ever you like. But you cannot let youself just lay around because you gain no strength.you have to help yourself because no one can help you unless you help yourself.. This does not mean you have to go at it alone... But you are in the only one who can ultimately make yourself stronger.. always remeber this... and some times you feel like screw it you dont care any more.. Stop right there.... and read the note...
One of the biggest parts that i think has to happen during the toughest moments is... go to the gym... Let me tell you what.. Work out the endorphins.. You can jog, walk , pilates what ever but exercise. Now one of the big things about going to a gym is You are around new people..( trust me I do not excersize) but with this situation you have to.. Also at the gym.. It is not about getting big muscles.. It is about hearing music and seeing other people, sweating and putting your mind in a better place through working out.
Another big one.... Drinking does not help... Trust me, I love whiskey beer voka gin.... all but rum.
Every time I tried to drink the pains away....I turned into a sorry crying mess and Depression kicked my *ss... It isnt really worth it....
More later
Posted by sekou on February 8, 2006, at 21:44:56
In reply to when the bottom drops out, posted by benbetter on February 7, 2006, at 1:02:08
I am grateful to the writer who initiated this thread..."benbetter" mentions...
"Next, I give myself a time limit to stay in my house and wallow in the darkness.. I am talking about those sudden dives that feel like its the end of the world. I set the limit at one hour.. Other people need to figure out there own time limit.. I have to have some of this time to feel the pain.. I think it helps you get it out... But after your time limit you need to get up and go outside or some where .. A walk with your dog or by yourself what ever you like. But you cannot let youself just lay around because you gain no strength."
Ain't it the truth! Among all the other things in life that we have to go through, coming off ADs is not part of the social or work millieu. Here, I would lke to share my experiences that reinforce "benbetter's" advice.I find it most difficult interacting in any social environment because I cannot control them. As I am weaning off of Lex, Risperdol, and Klonopin, I am hypersensitive to everything. I do realize that realistic expectations about withdrawal are good tools
That is, when I have my crying spells, I tell myself - "this is part of the process..." I cry and cry for nothing at all. Sometimes I cry because I think the world is over for me. What ever I can do, I try to stay along that vein of thought.
Perhaps this may be over-simplifying the process, however, I try to accept the pain - kind of like a companion. I am not particularly keen about this company, but it's here sometimes, univited.
There is this mind-body connection that is most difficult to "see" during withdrawal because the focus can sometimes be solely on what we "feel".
What we "know", however, is that the pain is to be expected. I sometimes sit here working at home and just let the tears flow while I am grading papers for my students. It may sound funny, but I am finding some way to stay connected - to keep my mind connected to other things so I can stay tapped into reality.
While hitting rock bottom, however, it isn't so smooth. I go to my meditation mat and hold my mala in my hands. While on my mat, I literally "rock" back and forth - a sort of "settling" in the bottom. feeling horrible, crying, angry inside...ready to explode.
At this point, I don't look to anything to make me feel better - just rocking a little or a lot - while at the bottom. I stay there for some time. It may be in the closet as well. The idea is to let this rush have its way with me in the safety of my home; in the darkness in my closet; under the warmth of a wool blanket.
So, when I rise off my mat (or get out of the closet), I realize that I left something behind there - that "nervous breakdown", those tears, that anger, hatred, whatever it was - I left it there. They'll follow me around again at some point. For that moment, however, they are not a part of me.
Maybe this will help some. I feel that our bodies and our minds - our senibilities are so fragile and delicate. We have everything to retain and so much to lose, even our lives during this process.
This is the end of the thread.
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