I Am Getting Worse now at 10 days

[Jacqui805]

I was on this morning and felt relieved, but I gotta say like I mentioned this a.m. that I  have gotten worse yesterday and today.  Huge anxiety and restlessness is building so that I am in a state of sheer panic.  Someone told me yesterday to try Benadryl, and I am.  Now I'm wondering if that's making me worse instead of better, it doesn't sedate me at all and yesterday I started taking it and yesterday I started to feel worse.  Don't know if that's it or not, I just need some relief before I go completely out of my head.  Please help!

[IMAlive]

Kava, valerian root and chamomile tea are natural anxetiy suppressents you can get them at the health food store or the health food section of most stores.

[toxictome]

I was going to say try doing something strenuous and then tak ea hot bath and  drink a cup of chamomile tea..I'm on day 6 and my legs are jumpier today than they have been the last 3 days...and i even worked out this morning...go figure...

try some of the above suggestions...keep posting...if you get focused on something else that helps too!!!!

[staggerlee71]

if it is worth anything to you, I am less than 24 hours in withdrawl.  Sitting at my desk, twitching away trying to hide the fact that i am sick as a dog!  Steady as she goes!

[memommy4]

I also am on day 10 and feel worse then day 1 I was wondering why?

[Clamity2]

I also would suggest some sort of exercise. Also try thinking positive.  You never have to get clean again, at least you have some time behind you, it's going to be great not to have to get the next buzz. etc etc. The list is long of the good things that are going to happen as a result of this suffering. Life will be better. "This too shall pass"

[cantthink46]

Oh i see for sleep

[cantthink46]

Benadryl also made my RLS bad I could never take it not even before i started pain meds. I wouldnt take it. Why are you taking it?

[GoingToMakeIt]

Take a long walk. It helps relieve tensions and stress. stay away from Benadryl for now. Even a hot bath may calm you down.

[Missy2008]

It sucks that you just took more Benadryl, but just remember, it's not going to last forever.  Tell yourself that's why you haven't been sleeping and a few days from now you'll be free from that stuff and feeling better.

All the worrying and 'what if-ing' is spiraling you into a worse and worse state.   It's a typical anxiety pattern.  

Keep searching for an activity that occupies your mind without increasing stress.  Do you do any form of sweat-inducing exercise?   It releases endorphins and leaves you relaxed when you're done. Lots of people here have said that hitting the gym and doing vigorous stuff is what got them through the anxiety/mental stuff.  Just last night, I had a real tense build up, but I went for a solid walk-run for 30 minutes and it did me a world of good.    

[NautyOne]

took benedryl for sleep and all it did was make me tired and jittery.  Couldn't sleep because it gave me brain zaps all night.

[Jacqui805]

So everyone thinks I'm worse because of the Benadryl?  I just friggin' took some and I know that even when it's time for the next dose it won't be better 'cause I wasn't better after letting the last one wear off.  ****!  (*&^&*^  What do I do now?  And what if it isn't the Benadryl and I'm just worse?

[oxytab]

benadryl messed me up. i had all kinds of jitters and sleeping was out of the question.

[Jacqui805]

I'm coming off Fentanyl patches.  No, I stay clear of caffiene just for the jumpy reasons right now, and I love my PSP but any gaming activity right now just shoots my already booming heart right up and makes my eyes move in my head when I close my eyes.  Unfortunatley I had just taken another does of Benadryl, my last one before it was 7 hours prior and I was so bad I thought maybe it wasn't the Benadryl if I'm 7 hours out and have no relief.  I just don't understand why I'm not better and am so much worse.  I cannot sit still or sleep (7 days with none).  I've been counting to 4 and breathing deeply and slowly and trying to bring myself out of it since I started 10 days ago.  I haven't found it effective though.  I keep doing it nonetheless anyway.  I'm determined to get past this, but I need help and don't know what to do.  This is more than I can bear right now.  An E.R. is out of the question.  What's left?

[troubleinohio]

benadryl also makes me wired too. i hate that stuff! only used it about twice in my entire life because it made my RLS worse, my heart faster and just panicky feeling!  

[ohisleguy]

benadryl makes me jumpy, anxious, and restless.....maybe some people get sedation from it....but just the opposite for me!!

[Jacqui805]

Please help.  

[Missy2008]

Benadryl makes me hyper and it makes my kids run around the house like lunatics.

Everyone reacts differently to different meds.   My husband can't imagine anyone using vicodin, because a half of a pill knocks him unconscious. I can't imagine anyone using Valium, because it makes me feel so blahhhhh.

Are you drinking caffeine on top of the Benadryl?  Eating a lot of sugar?  Blood sugar spikes and crashes can also cause that type of reaction.

Try some 4-4-4 breathing - Breathe in 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and release for 4 seconds. Do that 5 times in a row just focusing on the breathing and nothing else.   I find that, followed by putting my Ipod on and chilling out to music or taking a walk, can really help calm me down.  

The more you focus on the anxiety, the more tense you're going to get. You need to do something to occupy your mind and/or body.   Nintendo DS Brain Age is also a great diversion for me when I need to chill. It requires a lot of focus and takes my mind off everything else.

Hang in there!