Thanks for the response. Mine was prescribed as taken as needed but the longer I took it I took more, but not more than my Dr was giving me to take a day. you mean to tell me you don't feel you need to take it just to get ride of the pain from coming off of it. I take 3 .50mil a day. I'm allowed to take 4 but I don't unless its real bad. I pray he can give me something strong enough not to feel the withdraws. If I don't take it in the morning I and afternoon It feels like pins and needles all over my skin and my heart rate sky rockets. The only freedom I get from this pain is working out and that means working out very hard. I will be honest with him when I go next week. I mentioned to him in January that I wanted to quit. I wish I could go into an induced coma to overcome this feeling I have and wake up Xanax fee and just feel normal

Calm, the benzos do have a tolerance build up. Glad you see that it is now about the withdrawal. The doctor will be able to give you the baby step reductions to follow. If you need to stay at a step a bit longer, that's OK too. That method lets you avoid major withdrawal problems. Please don't try to rush the process. I take an old timey anti-anxiety to avoid the benzos. Thought is on target, new meds have come out over the past 10 years, which may be the next step. Comforting hugs.

One of the hardest things to remember about medicine is that it is temporary. Which means the withdrawals symptoms are also temporary. You just feel them more because you're in a changing balance.

Stay hydrated. Do breathing evenly in and out to calm .

Journal writing will help you see the patterns of your thoughts.

Best wishes.

It's difficult to go off the benzos. Very slow process. Take all the time you need. Did you want to get off all anxiety meds, or switch to a different one? Good luck and please let us know what your psychiatrist suggests.

GirinCalif, I went to Dr. yesterday and he switched me to Diazepam. I am to take 4 5 milligrams a day for the first week even if I don't feel I need 4. Then take 3 a day the next week then two then one a day then I go back and see my Dr.
Today is the first day. I feel calm in the head but my problem has always been this horrible feeling in my chest and this Diazepam does not seem to help with that sensation but I am determined to get of Benzos forever. It might not be a cake walk but in the long run I will have them out of my system for good.

I read about it and that's what some Dr's. do even Detox centers. I am in total agreement with you. I don't want to over analyze it. My Dr. told me at anytime if I am feeling uncomfortable let him know. He said Titrating is how its done and I have read on this for a while and Titration is what people do but the fact I am not titrating from the Xanax and put on Valium instead. My Dr explained that Xanax wears off in 3 hours where Valium last for 6 hours and this would help me because I was withdrawing from Xanex already even though I was taking it. I will keep everyone updated but for now this week taking 4 pills a day, I took one this morning and I feel great. Not high but no longer in pain so I think this first week will be a cake walk.

the dosage of the Valium was way to low for me. On Thursday of last week by noon time I was getting sick, hate the sweats and the shakes and could not get ahold of my Dr. so I took a Xanax and I was fine. My Dr increased my dose to 10 milligrams every 6 hours for the first week then every 8 hrs the second week every 12 hours the third week and I'm not sure what he wants me to do for the last week. I will be seeing him before then, right now I feel so normal, things that would have made me hurry, be anxious are gone. I know this is the easy week but to feel normal makes me want to cry and get on my knees and thank God a moment of peace I forgot what that was like.

Thanks darkershades air hug to you too. Ironic that is your nickname here on line. My life is more like living with rose color glasses.. I'd like to hear your story and how you are doing and everybody else how they handle the constant Anxiety, always in a hurry, Reactionary. I know once my meds are away I am going to have to live and handle my anxiety. I meditate, Use mindfulness. Had 24 sessions of Cognitive therapy. I need to go back. I have learned so much with all these Self help audio books I have been listening to I think I would be more receptive to Therapy. I just want to find the perfect one. someone who can help me change myself. I'm even game for going to a therapist that does .Hepatitis I use YTube a lot for many meditations of all sorts even spiritual.