Xanax withdrawals - how long will this last?

[invisiblegirl]

Hi, I am new on here. I got on here trying to research xanex withdrawals.. On the 26th of last month, two weeks ago I went into a medical detox to get off of xanex and opiates. I had been there before because of opiates but this was my first time getting off of xanex. I was fully aware of what the opiate withdrawals would be like and expecting them, and did if fact get them with a vengeance however what I wasn't expecting was how I'm feeling now after being home for 4 days, I was so ready to come home and tackle this and be clean but this is driving me crazy. I was taking about 8mg of xanex a day and until now didn't know what a horrible drug it is to get off of.
   I feel like I'm in this horrible fog (that I keep reading is completely normal during withdrawals) I'm so confused, I feel terrified to do anything. I have a very yound child and I soo scared I am going to forget him outside or something is going to happen him, I can't focus, the light hurts my eyes, it almost feels like I'm just a ghost, also I can not look anyone in the eyes. Im a little confused, I was in detox for 11 days and I've been home for 4. I thought for sure they wouldn't send me home whilei was still going through such horrible w/d. I've been waiting patiently for all of this to go away but it hasn't. How much longer am I going to feel like this? Is there any time frame? I need to know because this is just a crazy way to feel! Thank you guys so much :)

[invisiblegirl]

I just finished reading a bunch about benzos, I think all of this info should be required when you pill your meds, I didn't even know they were addictive for this first several years I was on them. I know I should probably read the info on what I take but as I'm reading it truly does seem like these pills come straight from hell.
  I read that the "windows of normality" keep getting longer as the days go by and eventually that foggy brain feeling goes away completely. I guess I'm happy with that answer since I'm still feeling ok, besides the dark freaks me out and it's nighttime. It also doesn't help that my son is terrified of the dark and every single noise he hears, he keeps crying there's a monster.

[sandy55]

Benzo buddies they have your answers there or so I hear.  

[invisiblegirl]

Thank you, what exactly does it tell you? Does it have my answers in there?

[eagle101]

the Ashton Manual is available free online for a read...........toss it in your search engine and read...

[invisiblegirl]

I just figured it was because I quit taking opiates, I do remember that clearly! I just knew what I had to do and did it for my son, now why I started again I still don't know, I contacted an outpatient therapy yesterday. I'll go in next Thursday, that way maybe I can learn to understand what's going on with me, last time I quit because I didn't have money and needed to fix my car, get a job, etc. Not because I wanted to get clean, but this time is different. I'm way to old for this, and as my son is getting older I know he'll kind of understand what's going on and I can't have that, I'm never going back to that again, arrg, I don't want to keep complaining so I should probably quit posting, lol. I had a trip planned to Disney World at the end of this month and I'm worried that I won't be up to the trip, I guess I should focus on today and know that tomorrow will be better, maybe just a slither better but you are right, at least it can't get worse. Thank you so much! I needed to hear that.

[eagle101]

If you are researchin zanax you should check out the Ashton Manual - - its considered the Bible of Benzo's and is the result of lifelong work by a British Doc. Good luck to you1

[selfinduced]

Don't let your thoughts get ahead of you. Even if you were using benzo's so what? This time will be a anew and improved clean!!! What a great possibility that is. It can only get better right. If you were still semi using with benzo's and you felt great, just think of the healing going on now in your brain and what your going to feel....SOOOO excited for you!!

[invisiblegirl]

I keep remembering march of last year, that's the only time I can remember being clean in the last 7 to 8 years, however thinking back I think I was still taking klonapin. Which is so sad because since it wasn't that long ago and I "think" was clean I have been looking back at the time remembering how good I felt, what a great time I had at the beach, playing with my son and my sister. What if I wasn't clean? What if I was still on benzos? Surely I would have remembered going through these withdrawals before if I had truely been clean. Then, the feeling I am chasing is s lie. Then, I can't even remember being clean. If last March was a lie in my head then the last time I was clean I still lived at home, that was so long ago, I don't even know what normal is anymore. Thinking about it breaks my heart.

[selfinduced]

Enjoy it you will. Promise not to take another pill. You have worded too hard and on your way to an amazing life, the life you had before pills. Give yourself 30 days and work a program the keeps you on track. When you have the fog and bad days, shake it off, don't look for a pill to fix it. You got this....no going back. Rejoice in the moments of clarity and those moments will turn to days, months, years......Day by day!

[invisiblegirl]

I was just replying to someone else's post and was typing when it was like a lightbulb came in my head, I'm sure it's because I just got back from excercising.. And the fog will return very soon but it feels good to feel normal for a second, I almost wish I could spend all day working out but I wasn't working out before so I'm really out of shape and I'm hurting a lot which I'm scared is going to make my brain say "you need pain medicine" I was taking 15-20 10mg a day before, I was really scared mixed with all my others meds I would go to sleep and not wake up, I was terrified my son would find me dead, so I went to detox. But now I'm out and the real world is here.. Ahh, anyway, I'm not going to give up. I just can't! I know it's only been about 17 days now but this is the longest I've ever been clean, I just wish I could enjoy it.

[selfinduced]

I see your worries clearly. You don't want to further or prolong your detox, but you can't function properly as is? 11 days out opiate w/d is still a reality, but the symptoms you have decried sound to me like benzo issues. I also don't have ex with soma's. I will tell you for me and opiate w/d the exercise was a complete life saver. The only time I didn't have anxiety in the first 19 days was when I was doing aerobic exercise. Keep that up. Give it a few more days, but if you are feeling worse, hopeless, anxious , I'd call another dr. To me 13 months doesn't sound reasonable, but like I said , don't know lot about benzo's......more will give better input...hang in there ok?

[invisiblegirl]

Thank you for replying! No, I have no one that will help me with my child. Right now I'm not working for the summer and I have him in daycare during the day but during the evenings I of course have to watch him. ... And as far as my doctor I'm pretty sure he wouldnt care at all, as horrible as it is he is a pure script doctor, I'm sure that there are people that go to him (very few) that actually do need help, but the vast majority of them don't. I know this is all my fault and I did this to myself, I still have a few but I don't want to take any since I am almost 3 weeks out now but am keeping them just in case. I really can't tell if this is all Xanax or is also due to opiates and somas. I called the detox center yesterday and the nurse told me to give it 13 months! Wtf!!?!? Really? I don't know what to believe anymore. I have felt a lot of relief by going out for a walk/jog it's the only time that I feel normal. I just want an answer of how long this will go on, although I know everyone is different and there's probably no real answer to that :(

[selfinduced]

One more thing. Is there anyone there that can help you with your child till you get this solved? You will be ok, just need to do this the right way. Support is on the way...

[selfinduced]

Hi There, I do not have first hand experience with xanex w/d, however I have read quite a bit about it and it seems detox centers are not well equipt to deal with this issues. Unlike opiates benzo's need to be tapered and a 11 day program or even a 28 day one will not level you out properly. If it were me I would call my Doc asap and tell him just what you have told us. You are not being weak, this is a real symptom of benzo detox and can't be ignored. I would also call the demo center and explain your concerns. Keep posting, more will be along to guide you.