Posted by falconman on January 27, 2003, at 20:06:24
I am currently reducing my dose of clonazepam (4mg daily) administered for depression and anxiety(general/social and depersonalization). I have been on the med for about 14 months and have found it has significantly stunted my creativity, memory and motivation. It has however, allowed me to take up some voluntary work and function to a better degree.
Although It has had these positive effects on my life, I still feel it is no way to be living like this. I'd describe myself as an empty shell ,with a profound 'loss of sense of self', just going through the motions whilst experiencing no sense of well being or achievment. Infact I'd say I was fairly numb to all emotion except anxiety.
On reducing the dosage I have felt a raise in anxiety (which was to be expected), which I'm finding very hard to tolerate, but I am also experiencing more bizarre symptoms such as bodily tingles,itches,tickles and a general hyper-sensativity to my clothing. Has anyone experienced this whilst going through benzo withdrawel?
I am reducing the dosage because I'm going into psychotherapy and I feel the clonazepam is covering up my true illness , and will therefore act as a barrier to the benefits talking therapy may be able to offer. I have been on far too much medication over the last 5 years and feel the need to find out my 'base-line' state.
This is the first time I've posted and I'm not really sure why I'm doing this except that I'm really scared about reducing my medication. I am interested in any words of wisdom concerning anything that I've talked about, but more specifically peoples views on psychotherapy and other talking therapies. For example it would seem that my illness can be fully accounted for phsiologically, therefore do people agree that there is not much hope in psychotherapy or is it possible that talking therapies can actually change brain chemistry? Sorry for the long babble and thankyou to anyone that may respond to this. Regards
poster:falconman
thread:137846
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030125/msgs/137846.html