Date: Mon Mar 29, 1999 8:07 pm

Subject: One day at a time

I was addicted to valium for 31 years. It took me a year and four months to getoff of it. I, personally found nothing that I could take for it. I had extreme anxiety, that I couldhardly drive a car more than a couple of miles. I also was agoraphobic. (Sorry if I spelled it wrong). The longer I am off the drug the better I am feeling.

I found out that these drugs cause a lot of mental illnesses. I cannow drive all over. I used to be so nervous at church that I would just tenseup, but as soon as I left the building, it would go away. I don't have that much anymore at all. I feel that the valium caused it. I still have some tension, but nothing like what I used to have. I had nobody to talk to about this until I was already off of the drug, which was July 4, 1998!!

I went off very slowly the second time and I have been off 8 months now. There is no easy fix to get off this drug. The only herbs that helped me wereValerian root, and I used Melatonin to help me sleep. St. John's Wart did help, but it triggered my electric shocks. I was also getting my words mumbled on the St. John's Wart, as soon as I quit, it went away. I took it several times and the longer I was on it the worse it got, so I know it was from the St. John's Wart. Geraldine has told me about Restore, but I haven't tried that yet. I do want to try it.

I am currently taking Shaklee vitamins, and taking vitamin B6 which I think have helped me. I also drink some protein drink by Shacklee. I am not selling it, but it does help me.I do not recommend taking any other drugs, but that is up to you.I want to thank Betty Foote for being there for me, because there was no support when I was withdrawing. I would go to the library for a short while and was desperately searching for help, when I ran across Betty's website. I met her and she was a great encouragement to me. I felt so alone and I just didn't feel like anyone understood what I was going through.

I had electric shocks so bad that I thought I was going to die. The burning in my head lasted months. I had and still have severe diarrhea. The insomnia was so bad, it lasted one year and six months. I only slept 2-3 hours a night or I should saymorning. I never fell asleep before 4:00 Am or later every morning for a yearand a half. The electric shocks would jerk me up from the bed. On top of this, I had turmoil in my family, not my immediate family, but my extended family, I found out some very sad and hurtful things during my withdrawal.

I had to deal with all of this at such a lonely horrible time in my life.Betty was there for me and I will not ever forget her kindness and compassion that she showed to me. I thank God for Betty. She encouraged me when I was at my lowest point. I didn't get a computer until January, 1999. I then met Geraldine. I thank God for her also, she has been very supportive, and informative. I am thankful for her also. Friends like her are very rare to find, I will never forget Geraldine.

Through all of this, I managed to overcome the withdrawal, but only because the Lord gave me the strength to endure all of this. I know I could have died very easily. I begged God to let me live and help me through this, and He did. I give him all the praise and glory for this. I am also thankful for all the trials in my life, because it has made me much stronger person.

To those of you out there who are discouraged, take one day at a time, that is all you can do, and if anyone says otherwise they are lying. Pray and ask theLord to heal you, and trust Him that He will. Rest when you have to. Do research and find out what works best for you. Get a balance in your life. Get rid of negative vices. Listen to good music. Learn about God's love. Try reading the Bible, it is the greatest book. Try being an encouragement to other, even if you don't feel well enough. You all are great people going through a very touch battle.

If you want to have a victory over this addiction, you will have to think positive and really try to conquor it. You can be sick for a long time, so be prepared for that. JUST HANG IN THERE AND TRY NOT TO GET DISCOURAGED. You have a great support team.

Be thankful for that.

Sandy