Date: Fri Jul 27, 2001 6:34 pm

Subject: TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STUCK

Just a short note to the two who wrote, and many others who may be stuck at a particular juncture in withdrawal or tapering. That is so typical....I was stuck at 1 mg Ativan for over 3 months....had other physical difficulties...but my body was saying "Whoaaaaa" "Slow down girl". If you are stuck, you are stuck....the more tense you get about it, the longer you will stay stuck. It is like a batter's slump. The more I obsessed over how long it was taking, the longer it took. When I was able to force myself to say "One day at a time", and really mean it...then I got better.

I know I sound like a broken record, but our lives are not perfect once we get off benzos. Tomorrow will afford new problems, hopefully not worse, but at least we will be better equipped to handle them, having traversed the difficult road of recovery. If it did not sound so trite, I would say "Relax" but honestly...it really helps.

Penny from Dallas recommends such good relaxation CD's and tapes. I pray....read...watch TV....get alone....whatever makes you relax...long walks in the woods...etc. This tapering stuff is cross-country....and as much as we want off now, it has just helped me so much to take one day at a time, and pace myself. P.S. I finally got "unstuck" and you will too.

Blessings, Jan