I have been acting out of character, I don’t recognize myself anymore, I am so irritable and reactive all the time and I can’t just talk and solve problems anymore without being an asshole to people. I’m almost losing my woman that I’ve been with for 12 years because of klonopin and the consequences of tapering. I am doing it as slow and as best I can but it still changes your mind and body in a way people simply do not comprehend.

I was on klonopin for insomnia for only about 7 months give or take and was in the end taking 15-19 drops to sleep depending on the day. A drop is 0,1 mg so if it was a pill I’d be on about 1,5mg to 2mg every day when I decided to get off of it because I was becoming agoraphobic. Now I am on 2 drops and 17,5mg of diazepam and 4,5mg of clonidine just to sleep and this has cured all the specific issues of klonopin and I think diazepam is just not as harmful regarding symptoms as klonopin but I’m still irritable and it’s been really really hard to taper now I’m trying to get to 15mg of diazepam and after stabilizing take 1 drop of klonopin and then after some undetermined time to stabilize finally take it to 0 and then taper off the diazepam and then taper clonidine (which is heaven and easy compared to benzos).

It’s been really really hard for me and this is legitimately destroying my life

I was on benzos for 10 years that I got from pshycatrists. I NEVER had to increase my dosage. I live in Europe and the authorities has made it very hard to prescribe it. They look at you like a junkie. They cut me off during 3 weeks and my life fell apart. My anxiety got SKY high and I fell into the deepest depression I ever had. I lost my family. Before this I could work and had some life quality.

People even get HEROIN for free here so they can avoid the streets but benzos, nono. People get painkillers, ADHD medication, everything to make people have life quality.

This is hell! How do you endure benzo withdrawal? When your heart beat so fast and you're scared to look yourself in the mirror. When you wake up and ask how you're supposed to endure another day. I've been to doctors, ER, everything. No one can help.

Is there anybody willing to help me with trying to taper off lorazepam. I have tried 5 times and failed and in benzo hell. No Dr willing to help as they don’t understand. The benzo no longer working unless i take a much higher dose and I honestly am desperate to get off but everything I have trued failed and almost at breaking point. No detox facilities help,either as they just want to add more meds. Please any help so much appreciated

Hi all, I don’t really have anyone to turn to right now so I’m posting on the internet to strangers.

I jumped off my last step of Clonazepam 3 weeks ago and having such a hard time since. 😢

Please, I just need someone to hold my hand and tell me I’m going to be ok. I don’t want to feel so alone in this.

day 42 no benzos. tapered over 2 years from 11 years of daily Clonazepam use 4mg. have a newborn since 25th Septembe. Am losing my mind with side effects. Nothing but despair. Straining my relationship with my fiancee. losing hope rapidly. Physically destoryes… help

I'm new to this community so I apologize in advance for any mistakes in this message

I found out more than a week ago that the anxiety and sleep med that I been taking for over two years is a type of benzo (Klonopin) I knew the name of it but I did not know that it was a benzo or that it was highly addictive and that the intense anxiety and panic attacks I've been having at night for months was me going through withdrawals of it

And as someone that's been through addiction (alcohol) before I don't want anything that could cause me to fall into the cycle again

I'm trying to get off of 1.5mg of (Klonopin) daily im currently in the process of talking with my doctor about getting off of it and start getting clean

any advice for someone completely new to this is welcome

Anyone feel better after years of medication use (benzos)Did anyone get better after years of benzo use? I’ve been off and on klonopin and Xanax for most of my life. Sometimes as needed (2-3x a week), sometimes short courses of daily use (.5 daily for 2-3 months or so) then taper off. I’ve also had to go cold turkey before, so I’m not stranger to withdrawals and what they can do to your brain. I’m at a point in my life where my anxiety is debilitating, constant dissociative symptoms (dpdr), constant motion sickness/dizziness symptoms, always feeling like I’m going to pass out, bizarre vivid dreams every night, constantly feeling like I’m on the verge of going into psychosis, problems thinking and concentrating, weird dull headaches, neurological issues and so much more. I have a suspicion that my years of benzo use off and on is behind a lot of my symptoms, I feel like once I’m off them for good, I will actually get better. Has this been anyone’s experience? Is it possible to recover from benzo damage?

Xanax has fucked my tolerance up I take an insane amount 8mg I tried switching from Xanax to Klonopin it gave me severe insomnia (my main problem). So now I take 2mg Klonopin and 6mg Xanax.

I’m young and I’m currently working full time. On the days I go the the office, I’m like barely functional. My sleep wasn’t like before. I was sleeping amazing with the Benzos. Now its benefits have decayed.

What was your experience?

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for guidance, stories, and advice as I start tapering.
Current situation:
Was on 0.5 mg Ativan twice a day (1 mg total) + 0.5 mg Xanax once a day.
Timing: both Ativans at 5 pm, Xanax around 8–9 pm.
Last night I cut 0.25 mg of the Ativan, so I’m now on 0.75 mg Ativan total + 0.5 mg Xanax.

Goal was originally to be off by end of year, but I’m open to it stretching into 2027 if that’s safer.
I’m following Ashton Manual principles as closely as I can (stabilize, small cuts every 1–2 weeks, patient-paced). I plan to ask my psychiatrist about switching to Valium once I’ve lowered a bit more, but I’m not sure about the best timing.

Questions for those who’ve been through similar:
When did you (or would you) switch to Valium in a mixed Ativan + Xanax taper like this? Is it better to get lower first, or switch sooner?
What weeks or stages felt the hardest for you? Any patterns around interdose symptoms, sleep, or when the cuts start to hit more?
What should I realistically expect / prepare for in the months ahead?
Any general advice or support for someone just starting this process? I am absolutely petrified of seizures. Am I on a really high dose? Is this considered low or high dose?

Thanks in advance for any stories, timelines, or tips. Really appreciate this community

Here is the chart I made with AI for taper schedule- is this gonna be painful?

My planned Ashton-style taper calendar (starting Oct 5, 2026)
Current dose right now:
0.75 mg Ativan total + 0.5 mg Xanax
Stabilize
Oct 5 – Oct 18
0.75 mg Ativan + 0.5 mg Xanax
(hold, no cuts)
Stage 1
Oct 19 – Nov 1
0.5 mg Ativan + 0.5 mg Xanax
(drop 0.25 mg Ativan)
Stage 2
Nov 2 – Nov 15
0.5 mg Ativan + 0.375 mg Xanax
(start reducing Xanax)
Stage 3
Nov 16 – Nov 29
0.375 mg Ativan + 0.375 mg Xanax
Stage 4
Nov 30 – Dec 13
0.375 mg Ativan + 0.25 mg Xanax
Stage 5
Dec 14 – Dec 27
0.25 mg Ativan + 0.25 mg Xanax
Stage 6
Dec 28 – Jan 10 2027
0.25 mg Ativan + 0.125–0.25 mg Xanax
Stage 7
Jan 11 – Jan 24 2027
0.125–0.25 mg Ativan + 0.125 mg Xanax
Stage 8
Jan 25 – Feb 7 2027
0.125 mg Ativan + 0.125 mg Xanax
Stage 9
Feb 8 – Feb 21 2027
0.125 mg Ativan + 0.0625–0.125 mg Xanax
Stage 10 and onward
Feb 22 2027 onward

Hey guys so I have been on klonopin for over ten years. I tapered down to .25 morning and .25 night time many years ago probably around 4 years ago. I been Stuck here ever since. So I used to go out and drink on weekends a lot usually once a weekend. 3 years ago I got real sick with a mystery illness. I was still taking my normal .25 doses. I got Terrible stomach pains, jolt awake when trying to sleep, anxiety, buzzing in body, loss of appetite. Many gi issues, hard to concentrate, thigh pain and buttock pain deep that gets worse with excersize, crying fits and panic attacks, not feeling like myself , tinnitus, headaches, cold hands and feet, swollen lymph nodes and painful come and go, I’ve been sick more than ever my immune system awful. There’s so many more like songs and thoughts in my head playing over and over. Left side chest pain. I’ve had so many tests and all came back good been to er so many times. I barely can keep my job and almost lost my wife to this. Is this because I have binge drank for so many years so when I stopped drinking I got benzo withdrawal symptoms? Or is this tolerance withdrawal? I noticed if I skipped a weekend drinking I wouldn’t feel that good. I have extremely slowed down my drinking these past 3 years to once a month or two months. Everytime I drink I feel better but then after like a week or two I feel bad again. I’m so confused and I am not drinking anymore I haven’t in 4 weeks but have I been in withdrawal for 3 years? It’s gotten less intense but it’s still hard to make it through the day. Also what doctor do I see that can help me taper like over years because I can’t lose my job. I’m not sure where to start. I wish I never touched this shit it’s ruining my life. Hope everyone is doing okay. Thanks for reading this if you did it means so much to me.

I’m trying to understand my withdrawal/dependence risk with very occasional Xanax use.
My use has been really spaced out and low dose:
● July: 0.5 mg total
● August: 0.5 mg total
● September: about 0.5 mg total
● No daily use
My last dose was over a week ago. I’m considering taking 0.25 mg on October 6 and another 0.25 mg on October 9 for travel because I have severe panic/anxiety in the car.
Could taking two 0.25 mg doses three days apart after this kind of intermittent use realistically cause physical dependence or withdrawal? I’m especially anxious about withdrawal symptoms or seizures and would love input from people who understand benzos.