Preparing for Ambien Withdrawl

[TheSoloist]

And here we go.

About the three year "tool" I have become because of ambien CR...

I started taking ambien, Percocet, Xanax, vicodin, and ... Another drug I can't remember... Thanks to ambien I thnk.

I thankfully have kicked Percocet, Xanax, and vicodin, separately, over the last year. And that other one. Those were huge steps for me. The last drug on board this body is ambien cr... And it's time for you to get off the bus! (im all enthusiastic now...lol). My addictions started when I lost my last and closest blood family member, my dad. It was a long painfull passing. He himself, addicted to painkillers... But a good dad. I love him so much.

Why am I stopping?

Fear. Fear and anxiety have gripped me... These are the downstream effects of ambien. It started with forgetting things. Things at work. People's faces and roles. I feel like I have alzhimers. This has lead to an enormous amount of stress, moreso manifesting  later in the day ( grinding my teeth and really bad lower back spasams). It's been like this for about six months. My other detox lasted over last thanksgiving, and I made it through. I can do this. No pills in the house.

Guilt. The guilt of not being the present father or husband that I vowed I would be riddles me with guilt and regret. I dwell on the past a lot.. Maybe that's  the only thing I can remember now.. I made huge mistakes while using, and the guilt is overbearing. Today, I am standing up and saying... "I can't change the past, but I can make damn sure from this day forth, mistakes I make our mine alone.

Yes, I am mentally and physically ready for the pain of the next month.  the night terrors, anxiety, headaches, sweats, 2 hours of sleep if im lucky...bring it on. I'll be withdrawing and I expect it to be hard. It should be hard. I know it's nowhere near the cumulative confusion and pain I have caused others.

My wife married a different man and my kids were born to a different father, but in both cases, that man is me. It's time to come home. To be the father and be the husband I KNOW I can be. To be present every day, to be dependent on nothing. Time to find happiness and desire, and maybe a few good friends, things I lost some time ago. Only I can change this. I'm doing it for me.

I am going to be stronger. Healthier. Present. I'm going to be "all-in" in this life. I've heard life can be great when The fog lifts.can't wait to see it. I can't wait to see the new guy.

Plan is..  Water. When I get tired, know I won't sleep. Go for a walk. Listen to music. KEEP MOVING. Do not lay in bed waiting for sleep to come.  Eat small amounts frequently. Exercise. Expect wierd  and unknown things to happen to my body and mind. Most of all, i know it will get better. It can't get any worse. Now to pray that the long term effects of what I have done to myself are not perminant. If they are, I know I made that decision, and it's mine to live with. I'm confident that I will overcome this. Using never ends happily.

T -12 hours till no pill. Had last one 10 hours ago. Here I go.....

[doitformyson]

Getting off the Ambien will be a walk in the park compared to opiates and benzos.  My experience was the same as "selfinduced".  No symptoms except a little less sleep.  

[selfinduced]

Hi There, You have come off of an array of meds, I so commend you for that. Ambien is a very contravorsial drug. Very effective, but wicked side effects. I'll give you some peace in my experience with this med as far as w/d. It was NOTHING like w/d from pain pills or a benzo. Three nights of no sleep is what I would get, then sleep would return normal. Google it and look for more reviews, but I have been on and off for many years and never suffered typical w/d from it. Can you tell us how many pills you took a day and what mg? You seem very dedicated, you can do this....piece of cake.

[cosmo20]

best on your journey man may the force be with you God bless