From: the4kerns@a...

Date: Sat Jun 9, 2001 10:39 am

Subject: Those of you off benzos

Hi Friends,

For those of you off the benzos and worried about not returning to better days please take some advice from someone who has seen both horrible days when I thought it would never end and good days where I wondered what the fuss was all about. This stuff came in waves for me. The first months were the worst followed by some clarity and then some setbacks later on.

The setbacks are common and maybe needed for tweaking. When and if the setbacks come then try with all your might to act "as if" and have faith in total recovery. This is hard I know, but try it. Do some things that give you comfort, eat right, get a little exercise and talk to others who are going through the same thing and by all means avoid stress. This was a sure way for me to go down hill.

I hope everyone has it easy. Some do you know, but if you are feeling like it won't end and your life will never return to a normal one than this will just slow you down in recovery. It ends when it ends. Everyones recovery time is different but I know of others leading very good lives now. I know mine is better. Please try to stay possitive even during the hardest times, easier said than done- I know. But you heal much faster in my opinion.

Take Care, Tom - 10 months off

ps- hope I don't sound too preachy