"relapse" xanax

[LordPhantom]

Ive been dealin with a lot of health problems now and recently had to go on vacation and it was very stressful. Before I went, i was off xanax for a good month. Was never taking more than .5 a day, usually .25. I got off, but then when i went on trip, i had to take .25 to get on a plane ( hate flying). Now that im home, ive found that trying to sleep i have panix attacks and cant get to sleep at all. I had to take a xanax here and there, now i found that i again need to take it before i go to sleep....*****.

The question i have is i can back to taking maybe .25 at night, now i have almost mild flu symptoms. Throat feels weird, dizziness, slight chest congestion, naeusa, and was wondering if this could be the xanax messing with me. Usually when i get sick, i will know the same night. Its been 2 days and im kinda at the "am i gettin sick ?" point, which usually means im not. All very confusing, but i know my body.

Any votes on the xanax doing it? And what should i do at night time? Some PM meds(OTC) make me paraniod and hallucinate sometimes. Xanax is the only thing that rests my mind to go to sleep. I need help, xanax is a good drug, but its also evil. It helps so much, but does equal or more damage to your mind... Any help

[silverberg]

OK, now what you say in your post is CLASSIC 'PANIC CYCLE' your job is to break that cycle. when we get panic attack (person , place, thing, time, etc) our BODY associates that with panic, yours seems to do it at bed time, WITH THE FEELING OF SLEEP COMING ON, your body is FEELING THESE FEELINGS as signs of Panic, thus the cycle begins. find other ways to bring on these feelings of sleep and allow your self to feel them as only NATURAL FEELINGS (no harm)  it takes work and practice, but the pay off is great, you will soon have sound sleep without meds.

[Paxiled]

Take a crack at two possible natural remedies:  Calms Forte by Hylands, or melatonin.  Much better to deal with sleep problems with sleep remedies, not with anti-anxiety remedies, which are for other things, as silver says.

[LordPhantom]

appreciate the reply. Just for the record, i dont abuse any drugs, hell i never even take the directed dose of anything....just stuck in a hard spot in my life with all sorts of pain, dizziness, stress, and just odd symptoms that cannot be described...I really do hate meds, they are only quick fixes that fix one thing for a limited ammount of time, but then cause something of its own...its a tough spot to be in when you dont want to take anything, but you really need it ( not in a fiending kind of way ). Ill definately try to get on something else than xanax. My worst problem is all the stress and intense anxiety i get before i go to sleep...its odd.... I will actually feel tired and like i can fall asleep fast, but as i try to, my body does this thing where it freaks out and heart rate goes up for no apparent reason....im not stress or dwelling, im just trying to fall asleep. Then my body goes crazy and a panic attack is imment and i have to take a xanax. Works wonders, but i wish it didnt have to be that way...as does im sure everyone out there.

[silverberg]

I really do not think it's the xanax at all, I use to take (for a number of yrs.) sounds like from your post your just run down and remember we still get colds , even in the summer as for sleep I would never use xanax for that, xanax is a GREAT drug for Panica attacks (acute panic attacks only) , I read your journal entry and if you have substance abuse issues I would really try something else, not xanax, as for sleep try relaxation tapes, read ( i read the bible, not because I am religious, but it puts me to sleep). hope your in some therapy dealing with your issues as you must already know, drugs are only a "helper" for us to deal with problems. good luck