Xanex rebound anxiety

Question

Hi, so today is 65 days opiate free for me.  Around 2 weeks ago I was getting VERY frustrated with the anxiety still "hanging on" and I started taking .25 xanex (up to 1.5 mg a day)- I would say 3 days on, 2 days off.  On the days off I would feel so much worse than before taking them...anxiety out the @ss!  I woke up today feeling terrible and i flushed the remainder of what I had left (not much anyways) because I know the last thing I need is a new addiction.  
Does anyone know how long I'm going to feel terrible (anxiety wise?)  Surely I didn't develop an addiction/dependance  after 2 weeks of intermittent use?  Is what I'm feeling just rebound anxiety or am I going to feel this way for a while now?
I could kick myself.  I guess it was my addict mentality that led me to use something else to try and fix myself.  I just want to be better, past all of this anxiety!

justsaynotodrugs · Answer

65 days that is great you will have the anxiety but xanax will cause a lot more anxiety so you done the right thing by getting off the xanax. Wds from the drugs will last a little while but if you stay busy and don't give yourself time to think about the pain of wds mentally you will get better faster and the desire to take a pill wont be as bad. When I quit I stayed busy that helped me to not think so much about drugs. You might try some na meetings or group counseling I spent 12 yrs in aa and na it saved my life. Try to eat healthy and drink plenty of fluids. Hang in there it will get better.

lulu747 · Answer

First of all...Congratulations on 65 days!  That's huge.  Second of all...Don't kick yourself or beat yourself up....I know the anxiety can be rough.  Are you doing any aftercare?  It's important to find the triggers for the anxiety so you can break the cycle.  Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, counselling and exercise have all helped me immensely (41 days today)  I don't think the w/d from the benzo after 2 weeks should be anything to worry about...But as you felt it helped with the anxiety and now you are not using it, it is important to find new ways of coping so that you don't feel you NEED the xanax.  Personally, I have been on oxazepam for sleep for 2+ years and since detoxing I've been trying a taper...I really want to be drug free and it can be trying because it's such a slow process.  Be patient with yourself and really proud of yourself for how far you've come to reclaim your life.....

Lu