1 year & 8 months off

From: pilgrim1@f...

Date: Tue Apr 4, 2000 10:35 pm

Subject: Update

Hi Everyone!!

For those of you who don't know me, I was on Valium for 31 years and

finally was able to get off a year and eight months ago!!! It was the

biggest mountain I ever had to climb, but was so well worth the pain

and agony that I had to go through....and if I can do it you can

too!!!

If I can encourage any of you or help you in any way, the best thing

that I can say is take one day at a time and take baby steps....that

is the only way to get well. Don't be too hard on yourself if you

have a setback and just keep your chin up and your head held high.

YOU CAN DO IT!!If I could get off of Valium after being on for 31

years, you can do it too!!!! It was a long rocky road for me to be

able to finally say these things, but it was well worth it all.

A year ago, I couldn't even sit at my computer for more than 10

minutes. I would go to the library and sit there and sweat and shake

so bad, because I was still having a lot of withdrawal. I started

walking a year ago and could only walk about five minutes on the

treadmill. I would be so weak and I almost fall down, but I would

pick myself back up and keep going longer and longer, now I can

almost run a mile. I am not bragging about what I can do, but only

want to try and encourage those of you out there who are still having

problems, it takes time, but you will get better. I am by no means

completely well, though. I wish I could tell you that I was, but

that is not the case. I still get electric shocks and for those of

you who have had them, I know you understand what it is like. I have

to avoid caffeine and any other kind of stimulants or they will

trigger them. On the whole, I doing very well. I am working eight

hours a day and having a great time of it too. I love my work and

the people that I work with!!! I guess I just love life!!

I am sleeping much better now, but still having problems staying

asleep for more than four hours at a time. Fortunately, I am able to

fall asleep again for a few more hours. I have come such a long way

and I am so thankful that I am finally benzo free!! Another thing

that has helped me to sleep is taking Melatonin. It has worked for

me, but I am sure there may be contraversary about taking it. But

the way I look at it,I have to sleep and it doesn't cause any

drowsiness or side affects that I notice, so I am grateful for that.

So those of you out there who think that you just can't do it.....YOU

CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I can be of help to any of you and answer any questions, please

feel free to write me.

Take care,

Sandy

P.S. It is great to see how big our little family has gotten. I

remember when Geraldine first started the group a year ago.....it has

gotten so big and that is great!!! Thank you Geraldine!!!!