Thank you for that....if I had the choice I'd choose diazepam over booze.....so there you go......dilemma!

Well, Diazapam is effectively booze.

Listen, I totally know where you are coming from. If for no other than my 73 y/o mother is titrating down as we speak after taking it for 30 years. She's on TSM. She was horrified at the idea at first. And now... She feels better actually. She's at half her dose and keeps going down.

At the end of the day do what's best for you. Well wishes.

I do use them sparingly.......I am not addicted.....they are just another tool to help me....

Summer, check out The Upward Spiral by Alex Korb. He talks about depression, but mainly it's about anxiety and stress and how the automatic part of the brain takes over in response to those situations. It's the same part of the brain, btw, where AUD lives. Anyway, he goes over how to make a little change in the right place, which the brain then does all the work of turning into an "Upward Spiral". There are previews of it on Amazon and Google Books, it's not the same old "Positive Thinking" tripe.

I definitely want to taper off Ativan. Having said that, the physician I saw had me tapering at 50%. I mentioned earlier that I've gone back to my full dose of 1MG to try and get rid of the nausea so I can start with a slower taper, maybe .05 every week. I am still suffering from severe nausea even though I've been back on my full dose for over a week. I honestly think benzos are dangerous. I never thought I would start them again, but I wasn't sleeping for days at a time. Work takes me overseas quite often, so the time change has messed me up for the last several years. There is a part of me that is still wondering if the last time I took Nal (over a week ago) because it was from an online pharmacy is making me this sick. I don't know, but I shouldn't have attempted tapering and TSM at the same time. Now of course I know better, but in the meantime I am kind of worried about what actually is making me this sick.

Insomnia, nausea and vomiting are listed as some of the side effects of Ativan withdrawal.

I agree with you, benzos are hugely dangerous, especially with alcohol. Have a look at this article:

http://www.bendbulletin.com/home/211992 ... m-problems

I hope the nausea settles down for you soon! Maybe your doc can give you an antiemetic/anti-nausea med (one without opiates).

I know there are what's called the "Z-class" drugs meant to replace benzos (like Zopiclone), but it seems they can be addictive too.

Thanks so much Joe. I've gone through this before where I had severe headaches and other symptoms. Now it is only the nausea and as far as I know, once you go back to your original dose, the symptoms are supposed to subside. I will read the link you posted. I am starting to freak out a little ( if it is the Nal ).....that is why I am so angry with myself for doing this at the same time. Okay, time to calm down and read your links.

Extremely informative article Joe. Thank you. In two instances in the article people reverted to taking their original dose so they could taper slowly and alleviate their withdrawal symptoms. I hope to goodness this is my issue and for some reason just taking me longer. I hate to go see a physician and say by the way, I ordered Nal online from India and I took it without a prescription and it might be making me sick. I'm giving this a few more days. Thanks again Joe.

Understood. Maybe try some Dramamine instead? Accupressure?

Here's a website you can plug into, might help you relax. You can watch the scenes and listen to the background sounds or if you want to get deeper into it, they offer guided meditation too.

Calm.com

Thank you so much for the link and your kindness.