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Originally Posted by waves
Hi AdamoHmmmm. Well, that is very fast indeed, and quite a dramatic change in symptoms. Let's just say that if I had a similar reaction I would not be thinking in terms of blood levels. I hope that doesn't upset you.
Well, I do think this is a very sensible approach. I hope it has you feeling better and that you can still sleep some.
I think if you can handle it and the doc thinks it is safe for you, it does seem like a good idea to get it over with.
Very important though......... Is the doc aware of the intensity of your symptoms? Have you shared with her your doubts about the rate of reduction?
Equally important, although why is hard to explain......... Try to think positively. Be open to the possibility of having a smoother ride, rather than letting yourself be spooked by others' negative predictions. A positive thing to do is learn ways to help cope with and/or moderate the symptoms, and do those things if/when symptoms emerge, but do not worry about ahead of time. That's like withdrawing twice -- before and during, and the before-worry conditions the during-symptoms!Probably, but .... water under the bridge. 
Thanks, I haven't so far, but it's been my second day with one and this timing historically means I am fair game for them for another 10 days. I can't always treat them, so, if I appear to "go missing" at some point, please know that it isn't because I don't care or anything of the kind.
waves
p.s. Have you tried the belly breathing? Looked into any other relaxation techniques? |
I understand what you are getting at. As an analytic person, to the contrary I am not upset by what you imply because it has given me food for thought. If I get your drift: You are saying that no matter how potent Klon may be, one's mind (i.e., what one thinks or believes by interpretation of what appears to be transpiring physically) is much more powerful! In other words, my calming down in a mere 5 minutes is because of my giving the drug more power than it really has; or, a placebo effect. At the same time, if I believe too much in other people's disastrous reports I create a layered (or doubled) result of withdrawal by projecting into the future with apprehension rather than taking things as they come. My psychology is aggravating the situation because of the type of person I am — someone who throughout his life has dedicated and achieved things that everyone believes are "impossible." However, in this case I am a fish out of water. I appreciate that you say I should focus on coping with my mental aberration by understanding it better and doing so without thinking it is simply about the drugs. It should go hand in hand with cognitively distinguishing symptoms which are due to withdrawal and those that are merely a result of my thinking trying to control things by force of will. If one takes this as a model it is NOT "hard to explain" why "positive thinking" might have the opposite effect. Why shouldn't I have a smoother ride? Unless of course I am giving myself too a hard time by thinking I am a flawed or damaged person.
We are total strangers in reality. With all the of the time and energy you have put into corresponding with me how could I possibly think "you don't care"? I hope my catastrophizing over what may be a modest problem relative to what others are going through makes me seem like a self-centered and insensitive fellow. I am ashamed that I have not asked more about the challenges you are facing.
I have shared the intensity of my withdrawal symptoms with my psych and thus her doing what she can — phoning in for hydroxyzine hcl at midnight yesterday. And yes I want to get it over with sooner than later. I don't know why I keep thinking that once cessation occurs I will have even a worse set of withdrawal phenomena — probably a result of believing too much of what I read. I gather from what you have written to me that SEVEN weeks of Klon at a 1-2mg dose is not that serious of a dependence (i.e., psychological not physical). I will have to ride it out and just see.
Please let me extend best wishes to you for your kind attention and for your (Ginnie's and especially Dr. Smith's) good health.