First time posting

[Jacqui805]

I have w/d related anxiety something fierce right now.  I was on a very strong prescription med for four years and decided to stop.  I did wean over several months, but when you stop, you have to go through this.  This is day 19 of S E V E R E anxiety and sleeplessness.  I've been trying Valerian Root, nothing seems to help.  I get terribly restless, shaky, heart pounding, all the typical stuff.  This can last for up to 6 mos. and I'm having a really hard time coping.  I'm up all night and all day, with a few exceptions.  It's hard to concentrate on getting through every minute when it's 24/7.  Seeing a doc for prescription for help getting through this is not an option right now.  Any help or suggestions would be appreciated more than you'll know.

[Jacqui805]

I appreciate the tip.  So far it has not had that effect on me.  I tried lots of o-t-c sleep meds and even Benadryl and they did just that, I was a freakin' mess after those.

[klanac]

Just wanted to let you know that Valerian can make a person really hyper instead of calm. I read where it takes the opposite effect in  some people. It drove me crazy.

[Jacqui805]

YES!!!  I play everything.  On computer, PSP, PS2, and soon PS3.  Can't get enough.

[JSGeare]

Ah ha! So, you are a player, then?

-S

[Jacqui805]

The anxiety has been constant since this started, which is not unusual.  It remains bad all day and night and get worse than bad at times.  It is not triggered by anything, but does get hugely severe if I fall asleep.  I awake after a few min. with almost panic.  It is easier to tolerate during the day, but I'm just barely tolerating it then.  If I'm not completely occupied, it's unbearable.  The second I stop it's all over....and I gotta stop some.

I couldn't get anything from my doc no matter what, she told me so when I asked to go off of my med.  She doesn't "believe in assisting with other meds of any kind".

Actually, when you responded, I was on-line playing Literati with someone.

[JSGeare]

I've been following your reports closely, and MUST ask you THIS question: In point of actual FACT, have your sensations, anxiety, discomfort -all the nasty things you report- been at the exact same intensity all 19 days? Over that period of time, you may be able to discern changes in intensity or the kind(s) of symptoms you have been having. If so, can you jot down a kind of log of them? Any patterns? If so, can you relate any actvity -even ideation- to increases/decreases or other changes. In other words, what's the profile. What's your "chart" like?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to poke you with a stick here, but it is abundantly clear that, bad as things have been- you are still a good reporter and documentarian and do, in fact, have a grip."

At some point, the quarantine against a medical concult, if not intervention, must be lifted. I understand that you may need to make a special approach to a trusted individual to do so, and when that happens, having a good "chart" might be helpful.

I'm not much help and this is one of those times when interacting with the written word is most frustrating. I -and everyone else here, I'm sure- would much rather BE with you.

TOTALLY WACKY IDEA. TOTALLY: Do you like games, such as Scrabble, Hearts, that sort of thing? If you and I were going head-to-head over the Scrabble board right now, you laying down words like "LOQUACIOUS," and me playing things like "DUCKY," would that help you focus away from your body for a bit? The reason I ask is that there are on-line gaming sites where you can play other folks from around the world. You may also set up a game with folks you actually know, and converse around the table as you play -just like the real thing. I told you it was a wacky idea -but what the heck; maybe it would help.

Standing by.

-S