. . . Though I don’t really know what I’m gonna do when I get there, And take a breath and hold on tight, Spin ’round one more time, And gracefully fall back to the arms of grace. . . ~ Lifehouse, ‘Breathing’
(This song and video are solely the property of their respective owners and artists. Absolutely no copyright infringement is intended.)
This song, years ago when it was first released, made me think of a particular person and a particular situation. It still does, only now both have changed. The person is me and the situation is the state of my mind and heart.
I’ve had no Klonopin for two days. I won’t have any more in the foreseeable future. I have a very limited supply of Valium, and I’m dropping that down too. The gabapentin I’ll do more slowly, because since it’s an anticonvulsant, it should help offset some of the dangers involved with benzo withdrawal.
What I’m doing is very dangerous. Stopping a high dosage benzo after five years cold turkey could induce seizures, even a permanent seizure disorder. But I have been left with no other choice. I have played all of my cards, and my hand is empty.
I should be panicked. I was scared for a bit. And I’m not looking forward to what’s to come. Best case scenario, I have no seizures at all and just experience intense benzo withdrawal. That by itself is a little piece of Hell on Earth. The misery is indescribable, and it takes every ounce of control not to pick the bottle up and just take a pill, if you have any left.
But that’s the trick. That’s what it does give back to me, and that’s why I need to do this, if I am ever to have a “grown up,” independent life. I’m not saying I’ll stay medication free, I know I can’t function that way.
But I need to know, I need to prove to myself that I am controlling the medication, the medication is not controlling me.
This blog may go on pause, I don’t know, or I may bring you all along for the ride. But I am eerily calm right now. I have dealt with all of my immediate, pressing concerns. I have boarded the windows and laid up a stock of supplies in preparation for the hurricane. It will not be pretty, but I know without the slightest doubt that I will make it through. Never has an empty hand felt so good.
Ruby has returned, all. Hide your breakables.
Moral of the story: Look inside, you’ll find it.
And since I have a responsibility to be responsible, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME, LOVELIES.
© Ruby Tuesday and I Was Just Thinking. . . 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ruby Tuesday and I Was Just Thinking. . . with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. This work is protected under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Hanging on to whose words?
Raging Ruby and Loony Lulu. What a pair! You reminded me that if I wanted to attempt conception in March, then I should be stepping off my meds. I should be in the boat with you. But, my hat is off to you, my dear. I am too terrified to step off of that ledge. You are brave. You are determined. And geez, you might be wilder than me.
I often wonder if I’m taking the medication is taking me.
I know you’re on a journey back to “sanity”. But you know what I’m about to say. The journey isn’t always about the destination. Walk along the beach on your way and gather the sea glass. Take a stone from the valley and another from the top of the mountain. Momentos. Reminders. Sharp memories, fiery, fluffy, clear, fuzzy thoughts cast in various caverns.
Even if I’m not beside you, literally, figuratively – I’m always on a frequency. You know where to tune it.
My words, Lulu. The words of my mind and heart that I have too long let be drowned out by other voices and white noise. The things my heart tells me, when I listen intently, those things are my sea glass and stones.
I thought so. Very nice. It is a noisy place, huh?
*Sigh* It’s been a switch for me, because life has been noisy, in addition to my head. My poor heart hasn’t been able to get much in edgewise, between the two. So I want for it to have its say. Also the real thoughts from my mind, the big, important, deep inside ones that matter most.
Those are the ones that matter most. They are at the very center, coming from places that i’m sure are probably screaming. Get the mic. These need to ring out across the landscape.
‘Yes to the first, yes to the second, but only insofar as I keep it turned off and unplugged,’ to paraphrase.
You need a mic for your heart and soul.
I need earplugs, mostly. I can hear them just fine without all of this ambient noise and people trying to talk over and through them. Grr.
Rawr! Love the growls! I have a Pittsburgh story for you. Remind me to tell you about it.
I put that grr in ‘specially for you.
I’ll remind you if I remember. My brain is melting at present from reading too many humorously addicting stories for. . . glory, hours now. They should call it ‘Crack,’ not Cracked.
Luhve Cracked.com! Did you read the one about the princesses that were too badass for Disney?
My latest post has the story in it for you. A Serendipitous Night. Two words: Pittsburgh jaywalkers.
I missed that one. Which probably is okay, because once I get on that site I just read article after article almost ad infinitum. I have to re-read your post, because I wasn’t in a place to absorb much the first time around.