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Default May 18, 2020 at 08:19 PM
  #1
But maybe I’m scared to ask for help. Maybe I just don’t want to?

I have a Xanax problem. It started in 2018 when my doctor prescribed me Xanax twice a day as needed. I didn’t realize the bottle said “as needed” I thought it literally said to take it twice a day. Since then I haven’t been able to stop. I sometimes take one a day. Sometimes 3. Twice 4. I take it for anxiety but also for emotional and physical pain. Basically the second I feel anything I immediately think of the Xanax.

I will be having surgery and I have a fear of getting addicted to pain pills.

I also have traits of an ED although everyone tells me I have an actual ED but I don’t really believe them. But it’s gotten more intense during the lockdown.

I am worried about talking about it. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don’t want my doctor to fire me since I’ve heard he has done it before with other people.

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WastingAsparagus
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Default May 22, 2020 at 10:28 PM
  #2
Do you think it’d be okay to tell your doctor you’re having some concerns with it? I think that might be the most logical way of dealing with it. Otherwise you risk not having your doctor in the loop. I have found it’s usually better to keep professionals more informed than not.
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Default May 31, 2020 at 06:20 PM
  #3
I told my doctor that I bought Xanax online (Because I wanted to be in control of having my own benzos for derealized/depersonalized-dissociative panic attacks/psychedelic flashbacks from hallucinogen persisting perception disorder instead of the 20x Ativan that he sometimes prescribed me) and was taking 0.5mg some evenings to relax and then it became every evening for 2-3 months due to normal environmental stressors.

I tried cutting the 1mg Xanax blotter into quarters for 0.25mg for two evenings and then by the second night, I couldn't sleep - Even with the 7.5mg zopiclone that I take every night. I was tossing and turning from 12am (When I usually go to bed) to 6am so I took 1mg and fell asleep.

I told him about the Xanax and was honest about it. I asked him if he could prescribe 14x 10mg of Valium (For 2 weeks) and then 8mg for 2 weeks, then 6mg, 4mg, then 2mg - But he said that "10mg is too high" and he prescribed me 14x 5mg Valiums and said to "Take every night and see me again in 2 weeks".

The pharmacist said to take it for a few nights and then only take it if I either: 1., Have impending sense of doom or 2., Can't sleep. So I took the pharmacists advice.

I took 9x 5mg so far in 16 days. I haven't taken any Xanax since then. I took one 5mg in the past 7 days! (Because of Valiums long half life).

So basically I'm already off of the Xanax and Valium. People use the Aston Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Method where you take the equivalent dose of benzo (Klonopin, Xanax, Ativan, etc) converted to Valium (10mg Valium = 0.5mg Xanax, 0.5mg Klonopin, 1mg Ativan, etc) and decrease by 2mg of Valium every 2 weeks.

You can beat an eating disorder with the help of self awareness, distraction, self love, (Maybe psychedelics if you're into that - Maybe go to a concert, feel the music, be around good people, be ok with having a little more fat on you - No one's perfect - Ibogaine derivatives can help cure addiction - So can proper therapy - Find a therapist that likes hippie drugs and is aware of Portugal drug decriminalization and empathy for addicts etc, cut the alcohol, be yourself).

You're a wonderful person and don't deserve such pain and anxiety. You deserve to be happy, content and have a nice life. Pain is good if you recognize that it helps you grow and change - And to be ok with it - Cuz I've learned from ketamine that dissociating away from my depression isn't what I needed. I wanted to be present and BE my thoughts instead of LOOKING AT them. I want to experience the moment completely, authentically with love, integrity. I'm around supportive people - And benzos over time can make you not remember anything and lower IQ, cognition, etc.. So best thing is;

Decide when you've had enough of the benzos. When you're ready, make the decision before you decide, then decide. Nothing can stop an addict when they really want to quit: Why? Because they have the opposite strength just as much as what they run from: Pain. Don't want it anymore? Rock bottom! The good life and memories of happiness makes you aware: To see.

Find the right path. Life is life. Reality can be a mess but you can do anything you set your mind to, be less anxious: Meditate, be spiritual. Don't let anyone get you down. All the trauma you may have been through only makes you stronger. You have worth.
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Default Jun 03, 2020 at 06:10 PM
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Getting off Klonopin was one of the best things I ever did for myself. If you decide to go that route, just know, it will take several months. It is really slow, even with Xanax.

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Default Jun 03, 2020 at 06:38 PM
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I had really bad SI on Friday, and instead of
Possible trigger:
I took a Xanax instead and it really helped me not do something stupid. I don’t know. Maybe things aren’t as bad as I think. I’m not sure though. I talked to my therapist about Friday.

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Default Jun 04, 2020 at 10:44 AM
  #6
What did the t say about all this?

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Default Jun 11, 2020 at 06:49 PM
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She didn’t say much about the Xanax that night. But today in the session I had just taken 2 right before it started. I was slumped halfway on the floor practically lying down (I do sessions in a walk in closet for privacy reasons) I mentioned being tired all day especially right then and she asked if I had just taken a Xanax and I said yeah so I could focus. So I don’t know if she’ll talk to my doctor or not.

I sometimes think she doesn’t care as much as she says she does.

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Default Jun 11, 2020 at 09:50 PM
  #8
You are not alone. I could have had a xanax problem as in- I was prescribed it before I became an alcoholic and i really really liked it. I wouldnt go so far as to say I abused it but I definitely misused it. Personally I feel that short acting benzos are a lot harder to manage. They work great for panic attacks but for maintaining anxiety while not being impaired- its tough with meds like xanax and ativan. Many people do fine on them but you really have to examine why you are taking each pill. Is it habit, avoidance of feelings, an attack, being bored? I myself have a small prescription for valium. My doctor chose valium because of the long half life. I am able to keep it in check because my dose is 1/2 a pill and I get 10 a month. So S**t has to be really bad for me to take them. It all comes down to whether you want to make the effort to come off of them or not. If you take more than prescribed you will run out and run the risk of withdrawal seizures. Many people take klonopin which also has a long half life. Do you want to stop the xanax? Its ok if you dont want to. I dont believe you can cut down unless its part of a weaning plan. Otherwise you may just take as much as you think you need vs what you actually need.

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Default Jun 15, 2020 at 02:16 AM
  #9
What you could potentially do is ask your doc if you could switch to a longer acting benzo like clonazepam. That's what I did. I literally could not get off Xanax (sorry to say, it's very difficult to wean off of Xanax).

So we just switched to clonazepam (Klonopin) and I'm doing great now and the anxiety is still treated.

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