Anxiety, Xanax & Neurofeedback
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Anxiety, Xanax & Neurofeedback
| Wed, 04-11-2007 - 2:48pm |
For mostly extended anxiety rather than short Panic Attacks, I've been on 4 mg Xanax for just over a year. My Dr. is weaning me off but not using another medication, which was my preference. I am cutting back 1/2 mg. day per week. He's using the Extended Release (which has made me sick in the past) along with the regular. But I'm toughing it out. Some days are good, others are Hell. I just have to be patient. I'm wondering that once I'm off, will I still have withdrawals, and if so, for how long? I've read the benzo.uk site and would like to go thru this in a shorter period of time. I''m also having Neurofeedback sessions, which have helped. Anyone else I can chat with that's been thru these? You can reach me at gardengate@gv.net. Thanks,

Hi! Nice to see you posting. Weaning off the benzodiazepines can be tricky, depending on the dose you have been taking. The ups & downs are common. Sometimes shakiness, nausea, diarrhea or even a rebound of anxiety appears. Many years ago I went off xanax &
Jan I just want to acknolage you helpful and supportive thoughts that you take the time to offer others..I am apprecitive.
I thought I would sher my thoughts and am open to all of yours
I am presently experiencing some panic, anxiety, and all of the destructive thinking that come with those reactions. I have PTSD and as I recall dreams were a big trigger (may have been) in this several month bought of panic/anxiety. My panic button is more on than off. My mind brings me to dark places I use possitive afermations, viulization, activities to ground me but I find myself experiencing old places in my life and at times intense panic . Now I am seeing a therapist and am feeling as thought perhpas medication can be of help at this time and then I am afraid of using meds I due take prozac and have taken other meds in the past and have expereinced some cool benifits no the reson I am considering meds is because it seems that once panic has resurface to a place were it is cronic and overwhelming that perhaps in taking med breaks it will allow my brain to repair and exit out of the darkness that I can drift in to ...it is also going to take lots of work and I am just going to have to apply myself> I am 49 and this PTSD panic/anziety etc have cause havoc in my attmeps at being a possitive contribution on the planet the biggest lesson for me at this time is that I have to do the work and then I can cotribute with out falling out. I have kept falling apart working toward regrouping , regroup sort of and try agin and the cycle gose on and on and not only dose the cycle but my way of dealing in the world like when I am on shakiy gourn I just focuse on dueing what needs to be done (go to work etc) and I go with the flow and this is not a healthy way to live because one takes on to much and for me I can allow to much abuseive behavior to suround me I go on emotional shut down and I put up with things mean while feeling bad about myself for having feeling .....I am sure this must resonate with many people that come to this board and the part of my that steps back form the insanity honors you in your struggle to be whole in yourselves .......
thanx for your thought and hugs to you when you need'em
peace charlene
Thanks, Charlene. Noone should have to suffer as you have described. In the past, I have been reluctant to take meds when they would most certainly have helped me to regain my life. I am not sure why we hesitate. The anxiety cycle needs to be broken & the meds today are very effective. They are only a tool. We have to learn new & more effective ways to cope with our feelings.
That is why therapy is so important. We can un-learn the fear. We can identify our triggers & learn how to handle the stresses of life. Sometimes living through them isn't enough. That's where the trained professional is the most useful. They can guide us & help us to face our concerns. I am a great one for ignoring what is right under my nose. Including all the help that is available to me.
Some how you must begin to repair & rebuild your faith in yourself. Everyone on this planet has a reason for being here. You are a worthwhile person with much to contribute. We're happy to have you with us on the journey. Hopefully we can help share your load until you get yourself in a better place. Until you can handle the load on your own. You're very welcome here, Charlene. I know that you can overcome this. I have worked hard to be where I am & I have no special talents. Just taking it a day @ a time:) GL! (((hugs))) jan
so thankyou this site has been so helpful to me during what could have been alot hard time for me to regain some healthy thinking
peace charlene
Thanks Jan for your input. I've heard about the 1/4 pill every 3 days, but I'll stick with this. This plan will take me to the end of May. In the latter part I will be off the Xanax XR, which just made me sick in the past and on the regular, that never bothered me before. Now it's just headaches, shaky hands and sometimes nausea.
I'm also going to stop the Neurofeedback for now. My beta waves are high (that's anxiety) but it works better when you're not on meds. I think doing both at the same time is counterproductive. I should correct myself, the Dr. does have me on Neurontin. It's an anticonvulsant. I know you can "possibly" have a seizure coming off Xanax and that scares the Hell out of me !!
Fortunately I have a very supportive husband and we live on 5 beautiful acres. I enjoy my flower gardens and crafts. So I try to keep busy and not think about how I feel. Just plan to hibernate here until it's over.
Take care . . .
Thanks for keeping in touch. I recalled your e-mail as GardenGate & I used to subscribe to that magazine. I love to garden, but don't have 5 beautiful acres. You're a lucky duck, my friend.
What sort of crafts do you do? I'm a counted thread, crocheter & do simple shellcrafts, mostly picture frames & decorating pieces of someone else's junk I pick up @ yardsales. I was just over to Crafting Corner to catch up on the free stuff they post. Take a look if you haven't already. http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=iv-clneedle&nav=start
Let us know how it goes with your continued discontinuation of the xanax. GL! (((hugs))) jan
I'm now down to 1.5 mg/day off of 4. It's been miserable and still is, but I'll tough it out. The Neurontin I'm taking is an anti-convulsant and that's what's making my hands shaky. It's hard to work on my miniatures, I have no dexterity. So I go dig in the garden.
The Dr. recently gave me Camprel. It's used in alcohol withdrawal but he said it would easy my stomach aches. But I'm also off the XR and I think that contributed too. I've been on that in the past and it upset my stomach. I've put the neurofeedback on hold for now. Want to deal with one thing at a time. I've never heard from anyone on the board who's tried neurofeedback, but I'm told it's helped me.
I always have a dozen questions for my Dr. I like information so I know how to handle it. He said I've been on Xanax for so long it has taken over the GABA neurotransmitter. So as I "push out" the Xanax my body has to learn to make it's own GABA. That I could understand. I just don't know how long it will take.
I just take one day at time. It's just so dumb to feel scared for no reason. I just want to relax and someday I'll get there.
So, that's where I am today.
RuthiM
Good luck to you, RuthiM! I have been in your shoes & have toughed it out through the withrawals of xanax. I did it alone because the dr. wouldn't help me. She insisted I needed the med or I would be panicking forever. That is sooo not true. I am coping better. This was many years ago. @ that time they were just discovering how addictive valium was & I don't think they had a clue what xanax could do.
Anyhoo, you are doing great! Keep with it. I'm sorry you're suffering, but there is light @ the end of the tunnel. Keep in touch. We care. (((hugs))) jan
Hi Jan -
I've also been told there's light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes I think I'm still looking for the tunnel !!!
I'm wondering now how the constant anxiety will be when I'm off the Xanax. The Dr. says I need a good support group. I have my husband and daughter to talk to, but that's all. This is why I signed up for the board. I can talk to the therapist that was doing the neurofeedback, but that's $75 an hour. I can't keep that up.
This morning I looked out at my beautiful gardens and flowers and just wished I could be relaxed and enjoy it, instead of being shaky and scared. I just busy myself the best I can to try not to think about how I feel.
I know, one day at a time . . . . .