Benzo & antidepressant withdrawal: All About Waves

Hi everyone,
In this video, I address the topic of waves because I know they can be so very difficult for people - they are frustrating, demoralizing, discouraging and sometimes downright frightening. But truthfully, they are very often a part of the nervous system recovery process. People also often experience an improved baseline after waves. I don't personally believe waves always need triggers, sometimes they just happen. Please don't lose hope - a lot of the time for people waves shorten over time and windows lengthen until eventually the pattern stops and recovery occurs.

What has your recovery process been like? Do you experience windows and waves? Do waves really freak you out or do you believe that the healing is happening underneath? Let me know in the comments!

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Health and healing,

Melissa

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Always consult a healthcare professional when starting or stopping or adjusting medication and for your specific situation. This is just my experience.

[andybreedlove]

I crashed 6 months after stopping meds.. bam! Been bedridden 18 months with only decline, 3 symptoms have become over 40… I am sure I am on my way out. Even sitting up or rolling over triggers a crash where earlier on I could do more before crashing. I have pushed back 1000 times and crashed harder and harder until now I can barely see, barely walk or look after myself.. constant electrical hiss in my brain, body wide torturous pain, organs failing, it’s absolutely disabling. Every time I get a better day (is still torture) I try to do a bit, and then I get pushed further into a hole. Some days I’m just paralysed with pain and racing thoughts, ptsd, and every night for 18 months I’ve had nightmares I can ‘touch’ around my traumas and the trauma of the illness too now. I look fine.. no one understands - but I often pray I don’t wake up tomorrow. I was a busy artist metalworker, engaged, kids, friends, and social.. now I am a heap

[lancekreger]

Great Video Melissa! It was great talking to you the other day with the one on one coaching. You had a lot of really good info that I will utilize going forward. This wave window thing is absolutely crazy!! I am on month 16 with some good windows but still get some excruciating waves, with your coaching and my support system around me I will see this journey to the end. The one thing that keeps me positive is that I have had some windows where I have had zero symptoms and know my body can get there, so I will just have to wait for the day that my body holds homeostasis. Thank You

[briannalee]

Common triggers for me: Chemicals, stress, lack of sleep, supplements, food: glutamate, anything artificial or super inflammatory

It's VERY limiting to live and try to avoid all of these things. I don't see any other way though. I can't just not function 24/7

[riinacorrigan]

Thank you for these videos Melissa and the work you're doing! <3

[robinbaker]

Super helpful information, thank you!

[lizcraig]

I’m so fed up of resting😢 after a 2.5yr taper off Mirtazapine after only 4 months use, I’m nearly 8 weeks off and in constant window wave pattern. It’s so demoralising.

[KristenNicole]

Hi, thanks for sharing. That's what I was experiencing yesterday wave intense anxiety and dpdr. I tapper from lexapro this past time 20mg 10mg fast then from 10mg to 0.4mg slow. Then jump off at 0.4mg. I should have went to zero. 16 days off completely. 5 days after I stopped started with withdrawal symptoms. I haven't slept in 5 or more days. Hope sleep comes back and nervous system heals ❤

[Uma]

There are some things that have proven to be problematic for me while injured, namely caffeine. However, many times there is no rhyme or reason for an uptick in symptoms.

[Goree]

Very helpful video.
As you said that despite of windows and waves, healing continues to happen underneath, it's so assuring that as time passes, we will heal . But I see myself becoming worse and worse with time, I am 4 months off Alprazolam now, but the anxiety, nervous thoughts, triggers, afraid of loosing my mind, severe dpdr, foggy mind, they all makes my nervous system super sensitized ragularly, so how will it be desensitized with time that is needed for us to heal?
As people who never had any benzo, and have anxiety, they suffer long and it's really difficult for them to heal with time.

[Radhey]

Great video! I experienced a window after 3 and a half month off benzo, but it was not a clear window which I can say I felt normal, it was like 60- 70% of myself. Waves and setbacks are horrible and I just pulled through.
Do you think that as time passes, windows will be more clearer and frequent ?

[ranim]

I am 3 months off xanax, and experienced ups and downs, maybe waves and small windows, but recently I am not feeling anything at all, no physical pains, but Iike, I don't exist anymore, my head is light and floating and swiped away type feeling, and when I don't feel anything, even myself, and what is it, a wave or a window?
I am so scared, I never felt this way, it's not like dpdr, because II can see clearly, functional, doing everything like automatic.
Will I be stuck in this, it's the worst.

[Sleepywhispers]

I just want it to stop, 14 months off ADs and the dizziness and tiredness is relentless, I've quit coffee 2.5 months now hoping it would help but norhing

[Eliokd]

I seem to react terribly to eggs for some reason

[MsCarmel]

Did you do the hyperbolic taper or harm reduction taper? I am should I expect this when I'm done? 5.9 year taper from effexor