The School of Hard Knocks Opens the Door to Recovery

If you have been following my blog for a while and are familiar with my story, I apologize that some of my story is repeated in this post. In case, someone is reading my blog for the first time, I didnt want to confuse them by leaving out pertinent information necessary for clarity. So, I repeated information about my life I have shared before. Sorry about that, but please keep reading because new writing and information is in this post. I promise. There is even a QUIZ at the end of this post. Please keep reading. Thank you. Much love and hugs, Sue

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Living with bipolar disorder is difficult in many ways, and one of them is the unpredictable nature of this illness. I have bipolar 1 disorder with rapid cycling and mixed episodes, and my mood poles sometimes switch from a hypomanic mood pole to a severe depression, sometimes many times within the same day. Because of that I have learned to keep an open mind about life.

I had the same psychiatrist for about twenty years until he retired. Even though my psychiatrist was the one that initially prescribed my Klonopin no matter how many times I overdosed on it, I do not blame him. He tried his very best and truthfully saved my life many times, maybe unknowingly killing me at the same time, but hindsight is 20/20. He helped me more than anyone ever has—never throwing me away like many others did over 25 years of living with a severe mental illness. Maybe it was because I always knew he was there for me—even calling me sometimes at 9:00 at night. He truly cared about his patients and humanity.

He was a rare gem of a man. I used tell him, “You are Jesus like. You save people’s lives through your compassion, kindness, and genius.” He was a very humble man and my complimentary words usually made him blush.

He had a severe illness but he worked until he could no longer work and had to retire about 4 years ago. I have not had a Psychiatrist since that time. It was not for a lack of trying. I tried for a little while, but wasn’t happy.

One P-doc said I was ADHD because I was shaking my leg. What? I did not know that was how you diagnosed it. I was probably shaking my leg because of my anxiety or side effects from my medication at the time or experiencing withdrawal effects from the Klonopin I was attempting to reduce the dose of and eventually wean myself off of. I was unaware of the dangers of doing this at the time. Back to the ADHD diagnosis. I knew the last thing I needed was another medication, especially a stimulant that would make me fly higher and faster internally more than I already was.

The next P-doc was a handsome young man and resembled Lin Manuel the creator of the Broadway musical Hamilton. I have to be honest. At first, I thought it would be a nice bonus to have a good-looking Psychiatrist. At my first hour-long appointment I told him an overview of my life history. I am older and mine is very long. Plus, I talk too much so that appointment took even longer than it was supposed to.

As I was leaving his office, I heard him say, “Oh, and I know how to get you off your Klonopin.”

Those were the last words I ever wanted to here. I thought, “What? Go off my Klonopin? No way. I love my Klonopin. I need my Klonopin. It is the only thing that helps me and it doesn’t have side effects.” So, I put a kabash on that doctor. I thought he was wrong and stupid to try to take me off my Klonopin. Klonopin and I went together like two peas in a pod—so, I thought. I was having nothing to do with going off Klonopin or him.

At that time, I decided I could do this on my own, but ended up going to the county doctors to make sure I got my Klonopin and Trileptal. I saw a P-doc there a couple of times but she wasn’t very thorough or effective and I saw a nurse every once in a while to get my medications. The effectiveness and success of my treatment at that time in my life was partly my fault. I didn’t tell them my whole truths as I didn’t completely trust them or maybe even want their help at the time. I told myself the lie that I could do this on my own and I was going to be okay. This worked for a little while, so I thought or told myself the lie that it was working. Actually, it was not working at all and my mental health was slowly deteriorating right in front of everyone’s eyes.

After about a year I was forced to stop taking my Trileptal—a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder that I had taken for over eight years. The Trileptal had caused severe adverse reactions that could have killed me, so I was forced to stop taking that medication cold turkey. This is a link to my post titled, “My Bipolar Medication Nearly Killed Me Because I Didn’t Get My Sodium Levels Checked,” which describes the syndrome in case you are unfamiliar with it.

Next I only took 3 mg. of Klonopin daily to treat my bipolar one, anxiety, and PTSD. I found out later, the hard way, that Trileptal actually had been helping me more than I realized. Taking only Klonopin was not working. I never realized that the severe symptoms of anxiety and suicidal ideations were caused from the fact that I was messing around with my dosage of Klonopin because I wanted to see if I could stop taking it. I took two mg. Klonopin at night for sleep and one in the morning. I had already decreased my prescribed Klonopin use from 5 mg. – 3 mg. on my own.

I was on a quest to take even less. I tried nearly every day not to take them. Little did I know that I was putting myself in a perpetual withdrawal syndrome by adjusting my dose without the guidance of a medical professional. I didn’t understand that when I took less after two days my brain and body went into withdrawals already and cried out for more. The withdrawal symptoms mimicked severe anxiety and suicidal ideations, My brain was hurting and slowly becoming destroyed from my own doing and the power of my Klonopin-Benzodiazepine addiction and withdrawals. I had been unknowingly abusing Klonopin and was addicted to it for over twenty years.

“Hello, I am Sue and I am A Klonopin addict. I am a Klonopin abuser. I survived Klonopin withdrawals,” I would say at the meetings I would go to for Benzodiazepine/Klonopin addictions if they had them where I lived. I must admit that I was a substance abuser and a drug addict for over twenty years. They were prescribed to me but I was still physically addicted.

I overdosed many times on Klonopin. My body and brain craved it. It was a strong force and craving that overpowered my mind.  I never understood what was wrong with me for always overdosing. I sure wish I knew then what I know now.

The lesson here, of course, is something I needed to know then and need to always remember. It took my severe suicide attempt to realize I must keep an open mind and I need help. I cannot do this on my own.

 

Being medication free is new and foreign to me, but it is something I want to continue. I strive to remain medication free. I am keeping an open mind and will pay close attention to my mental health. I feel better than I have in over twenty years.

The mystery or possibly the obvious answer is that I stopped taking Klonopin cold turkey four months ago after a severe overdose. I do not take any other psychotropic medications and I have not started therapy yet (I want to but have not been able to get in yet). My life is basically the same except I feel much happier, clearer, more focused and grounded and feel more at peace than I ever felt.

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Please take the following quiz. It’s easy…

Please remember when reading the questions and taking this quiz that these questions and answers are for me. They are appropriate for myself and for my life at this stage of my life.

Everyone’s journey of mental illness, recovery and wellness is different. Everyone takes a different route. Everyone has a different time frame for healing. Everyone has a different treatment plan and medication plan . Everyone’s answers are their own. Everyone’s answers are correct. There are no wrong answers as long as you are trying your best and YOU NEVER GIVE UP.

Please remember to study hard. Learn everything you can about mental illness and wellness, about your treatment and medication options. Study hard. Retake your quiz of mental wellness as often as  you need to get it right. Take your time.

Always remember to be proud of your achievements.

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Quiz:

What are the changes that occurred in my life since my overdose four months ago and are the reasons for my positive recovery, growth and mental wellness. Pick the best answer or answers:

1. I am blessed beyond words and measure.
2. Writing my blog and memoir are extremely therapeutic for me.
3. I have five amazing children (two are married to my children).
4. I am almost finished writing my second draft of my memoir, which encourages me to keep fighting and gives me hope.
5. God healed me to the point he wants me to be healed.
6. I do not take any psychotropic medications, right now (but those doors and windows are always open).
7. When I help others essentially I am helping myself.
8. All of the above.

Correct answer/s:

8 – ALL OF THE ABOVE 

Score = 100% – A+

What answers can you choose or write for your own life?

How do you score on your school of life exam or quiz?

Write your own material. Write your own quiz. Study hard. Take the test. Learn more. Always keep learning new ways of living and thriving. Retake your test as often as you need. There are no right or wrong answers for your life.  You can never fail as long as you keep fighting and doing your best. Your best is the right answer. Just find out what your best is and achieve it over and over and then overachieve it and surpass your goals. Make new goals. Keep on keeping on.

Remember recovery and wellness are possible and beyond achievable.

I am living proof of that. 

We never graduate from our college of life.

Every day is new and every day there is something new to learn.

Never quit fighting, learning or growing.

Keep on keeping on. Keep surviving. Keep living. Keep thriving.

Much love and more hugs, Sue

Copyright © 2018 Susan Walz | myloudbipolarwhispers.com | All Rights Reserved

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