Michelle Fuchs // Suffering, Surviving, & Our Paths to Recovery
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2023
- #benzowithdrawal #healing #deprescribing
To learn more about Angie Peacock, MSW or to book a consultation or coaching session, visit: www.angiepeacock.com
Michelle’s psychiatric drug journey began unintentionally at the age of nine when a family doctor prescribed Amitriptyline off-label for muscle pain and headaches. When it was abruptly discontinued months later, she began to feel anxious and had difficulty concentrating. At age 11, after the sudden death of a classmate, the anxiety worsened and she began experiencing panic attacks. By age 12, she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorder and prescribed Xanax.
Her early teen years were spent coping with side effects, tolerance withdrawal and finally discontinuation symptoms. Despite frequent panic attacks, DP/DR, fatigue, bizarre physical sensations and food sensitivities she managed to hide most of her suffering. Then in 2001, after the birth of her first child, Michelle was diagnosed with Postpartum Anxiety and prescribed Lexapro. Initially the drug seemed helpful, but within a year she began experiencing strange and confusing health issues. Over the next 11 years, she was diagnosed with various physical ailments - IBS, Reactive Airway Disorder, Acid Reflux, LPR, SVT, Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia, Benign PVC’s, Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome. She never suspected Lexapro could be the cause of her worsening health problems until late 2014 when she began having paradoxical reactions to the drug.
In February 2015, she was abruptly discontinued by a primary care doctor and prescribed 9 different medications over the next eight months. Each new drug rapidly and dramatically worsened her condition. By October 2015, she had developed POTS and a host of other severe neurological complications and could no longer stand or walk on her own. While hospitalized with severe symptoms, she found Matt Samet’s blog on Mad In America and started to connect the dots. Desperate to be free of the drugs that were harming her, she cold Turkey’d on Nov 15, 2015 and began the long road to recovery.
Michelle has spent the last 7.5 years recovering from Antidepressant and Benzodiazepine induced neurological injury. She is finally ready to share her story in hopes of raising awareness and helping others understand and navigate this incredibly difficult journey.
It's ok to just survive ❤
It DOES get better than just surviving. It does. It takes time , a long time.
So inspiring and truthful. Gives us so much hope!!!❤
Thank you so so much, this is so relatable. Everything you say could have come out of my mouth. I am in the UK and in the last 2 weeks The Royal College of Psychiatrist have apologised to all of us having gone through or withdrawing from Antidepressants as they now recognise it is real. A small step but validation none the less. Just like you said Angie, I told my GP to listen as this will be big in the future and I want her to remember me when she doubted everything I said. I am in protracted withdrawal mostly from Antidepressants but Zopiclone and Diazepam was thrown in for good measure to get me over the 'hump'. You are both inspiring. Thank you so very very much. A speedy recovery to us all.
Thank you Angie and Michelle. This was incredibly helpful. Much Love to You Both. 💓
It is so unfair yes. 10 years lost of my life and still suffering. Plus other health issues not related to meds. Life so unfair. Hard to cope with all that.
I’m so sorry.
Thank you, Michelle, for bravely sharing your story of hope, and Angie for another great and inspiring video. It is absolutely life giving to hear ppl say that they are living a good life now. The process can feel unbelievable so the validation and being understood is precious. I do believe we will heal. Doesn't have to be graceful, so true, Michelle. Hang in there, everyone.
Oh my goodness!! Thanks so much. I’m so happy your better Michelle You look so young 😊 Angie we love you. I’m in protracted. In San Diego. (Paula). I am going to have to book soon. I watch you on insta with RV Your hilarious and I don’t have my emotions back yet. Lol. Kisses to Raider. ❤
Hello, also going through it in San Diego.
Loved this video. So hopeful. Im so sorry that the protracted family gets abuse and feared. Im a short term poly drugged victim with debilitating symptoms and feel isolated too. Maybe someday a retreat for survivors would be a beautiful thing. Thank you for this interview.
This is such a good interview thank you so much!
So unbelievably similar to so many of our stories
This gives me hope.
Thankyou , this interview was great . It’s given me so much hope . Happy Healing
Thank you for giving us hope x
Angie , you have been instrumental in helping me keep any shreds of sanity left after titrating myself off Paxil. I had NO clue what was happening to my body and mind. The akathisia and anxiety is getting better...going on 11 months clean! Its honestly been brutal, but totally worth it! ❤
I’m so proud of you! Keep going. It gets better!
Thanks
Angie thank you from my entire being... I need this video. It's so hard finding people with your symptoms hell I end up getting jealous alot because so many people just have the basics like anxiety, tingling, Blurred vision, insomnia, cognitive decline and depression meanwhile many of us are over here with extreme symptoms it kinda feeling isolating at time and Benzo buddies is a joke now, you're get 3 responses and 200+ views. I need this video I related so much to her symptoms 😭
I have horrible insomnia. No sleep 4 days, heart palpitations, cortisal rushes. I'm a little over 2 weeks off lexapro after tappering. Has your sleep gotten better?
Thank you for giving me hope while tapering off Valium 🙏 I still have a long way to go. I'm still scared of what's to come even though I have already been to benzo hell. How much longer can I stand this torment. 😢
How are you doing now I hope you feeling well
Hi Angie and Michelle thank you for sharing! Your interview popped up in my feed at the perfect time. I’ve been struggling the past few days with some protracted withdrawal symptoms and I really needed to be with you and gain some strength to remember that this too will pass. This isn’t the way I will feel forever. This isn’t it. I am 17 mos off of Xanax after being on it for 14 yrs. And Angie you have helped me so much. I found you 6 mos after I started my recovery and you have given me so much help and hope❤ I want everyone who is struggling to know that you will get better in time. I am not completely recovered but I continue to fight every day. The battle is real and unless you have been through it you couldn’t possibly understand. Angie the community that you have built is helping so many people and you are always there for me when I need you with information and testimony and hope. It’s been really hard to share my story with people in my life. It’s just too much…they can’t possibly understand. Angie I’d love to share my story. I gain so much strength from other people’s stories. And my hope is to help other people too. Xoxo
Mary what r ur symptoms plz tell me. I am lost totally😢
How long have you been tapering?
@@maryogle6865 I cold turkeyed 15 months back. Since then am bedridden no idea what to do how to continue life
@@neetujogi8087 I’m sorry to hear that. I clean for a living and found the busier I was the better. My job kept me moving even when I was crawling up the stairs. As hard as it is to get up and move you will be better if you do. It’s still hard every morning.
@@maryogle6865 I have disc bulges in my neck and back since I cold turkeyed. My whole life side is become numb and week. I am on bed always. I am scared if they damged my nerves. I cant sit or walk for more than 5 min it pains one side . N the weekness. I feel my doctor robbed my life.
I am on my withdrawal journey I am on 8th month without zyprexa. I am getting to another side. I had so many side effects especially movement problems racing heart sweats depression blurry vision brain zaps akathesia swollen face and retain waters I it is scary.
Hi how’re you doing now?
@@djammer I am doing great thank you I eat healthy I take omega 3 and vitamin A. Everything is possible if you believe in yourself.
Thank you for sharing your story of survival
I self poisoned myself with benzos for sleeping after stressful period. I hate myself for doing it because it has ruined me. There's no one to blame except me. Trying to taper and see if I can recover my sleep after. Hope you can talk with someone with a similar experience.
My channel is full of people who have had bad experiences with psych drugs and have recovered or are recovering, including myself. Perhaps watch some of the others for hope.
Suffering bad still after 17 months. Feel so alone.
You will get better. Sometimes, it takes some of us a long time. But you will recover.
Hello Michelle! Is there any way you can share with me the name of your Cleveland clinic doctor? I am in the Cleveland area at my parents while suffering. Thank you!!
God work 🙏🏽
Does anyone connect vaccine injury to initial depression and anxiety? This problem reaction solution industry pharma has created, patients for life. Our central nervous system has been hijacked
I know this is late but when I read about vaccines injuries, I was shocked how similar it sounded to withdrawal
I'm still turning this over in my mind.....yes , I have seriously considered your statement. ❤
For patients with adverse reactions, what various procedures have you found helps them to taper, apart from going CT? Thanks Angie. Would love a good talk on this problem.
I and a few others are actually talking with Adele framer about this on Friday.
@@AngiePeacockMSW
Whose Baylessa?
Angie i cold turkeyed 3 drugs benzo lexapro and proponol after being prescribed for 13 years. Its 16 months off . I have severe physical weakness n pain in my left side of body including the face that goes numb. I am 39 i was full time businessman in india. I see people in withdrawal who have a lot of symptoms but what i have is i dont see anyone have this symptom making me unable to walk n sit more than 5 min. I had mri of brain that is normal. I then got a spine mri that shows multiple disc bulges in my neck and back . I also have horrible neck pain and back pain . My question is do these meds if left cold turkeyed cause such bad spinal cord damage that i got?? Or have the nerves in my arm and leg damaged in my limbs permanently?? My left side body seems to be weak numb and painful continuously since 16 months of cold Turkey other symptoms just come and go. I am living in hell as in india no one understands this withdrawal or being protected. I have a son and wife and family of parents who were dependent on me. I really want to know is this just spinal cord damage? Nerves damage or brain related. No doctor is able to diagnose or help me. I am in constant stress day night. Anxiety increases because am worried that its physical damage has made me immobile for life. I need support to walk always. I have started to get traumatic flashbacks of the acute stage were i was violent continuously shaking in sezuires and abusing my family frnds everyone for one year continuously. People have left me except for my wife n son. But now i am struggling with basic necessities of life and my poor son is so young. I get frustrated at times blaming my doctor and now my doctor says its me that is mad not the meds and my family believes the doctor. What life is this?? We humans are not made for being behaving this way. Dont u think that psychiatrists should be banned ?? They stripped so many lives and i ll tell u if one person suffers the next generation also does. It starts becoming a viscous cycle in some of the familes. My son at 6 years seing my withdrawls or damage he seems to be in trauma and i dont want him to go my path.All i am asking is normal functional life for my son but i can hardly move my body. I broke my home everything. I also realized whenever i these drugs dont and never cure depression and anxiety infact they add another 40 illness in ur brain and body making u more of a animal than human.
I saw all ur videos and symptoms dont match anyone . I am scared that i am physically disabled forever. My nerves have been damged . I am not the person i was nor did i look function or act lik this. Angie these doctots are still living a amazing life and we r struggling now even for basic necessities
Yes my doctor took away the right of me being a human..i lost empathy and politness. I am always in rage anger irritated no oone like such people.
I am broke physically mentally financially socially psychologically. I don't even know if i will heal m when and what is my diagnoses. This is worse than cancer. Even a person suffering from cancer knows if he can treat n if not atelast he knows its life or death. But i am disabled trapped n noone can help. My innner self always says i need to end my life myself until that this suffering is permanent. This is inhuman. I try ti always hurt and kill myself only thing that has kept me alive is my son. But my question is how long can i just be on bed and a burden to my innocent family?? Atleast if i kill myself they can move on isn't it? They are also stuck. I just live in this room 24/7 with noone wanting to talk to me . I just feel that i will not heal. People have healed but i dont see people have such nerves damage not this worse. Nooone understands my hell. I know killing myself is cowardness but i have no choice and hope left😢
I know this post is 9 months ago and I am sorry no one responded but I just wanted you to know that I read it and I'm so sorry you're going through this. How are you now? I'm not a doctor but I pray for healing for you.😢
Angie, I am desperate. I camt take it anymore. This past month has been horrific. I got desperate and begin calling psychiatrists left and right and theyball dismiss thenwithdrawl stuff, I get told that all of my diagnoses point to that I need to live on the meds. I ask themnInjust want something tonstabilize me and they refuse. They want me to seek intake and then they can restate me in all my meds.
I’m sorry they are treating you so poorly!
Yes, but talking to you Angie, I know that I don't need doctors or to reinstate any drugs at this point in my journey.
Did you hand akathisia or tardive dyskinesia?
i am almost 70...been on klonopin/ambien 20 years...my dr says no way i can stop now...is that true angie,from your experience?
That’s up to YOU! I have people in their 70s as clients who are in acute withdrawal. When I ask them if they would do it over again, they all say they didn’t really have a choice. They were sick on the drugs. It is not an easy thing to do in your 70s and much harder in 80s (not recommended). If you chose to come off - do so with informed consent. I’m happy to speak with you about it. Www.Angiepeacock.com
@@AngiePeacockMSW thank you...yes...no choice...sick
Can't find any help
www.angiepeacock.com
This is not true when you are over 60. A blip? If it lasts 7-10 years an elders life is over.
sometimes! I have people who are in 70s-80s that I talk with who are regaining their health after years of being harmed. What choice do they have when this happens to them. None of us are guaranteed a long healthy life. It's very cruel but it happens to many of us and shouldn't have.