Just checking in

[Siwsan]

Things haven't really improved, at all. I'm still having to take a daily Klonopin to ward off disturbing dreams or nightmares. I can go a day or two without it but by the 3rd day I can feel my chest getting tight and my worry meter spiking.

My appetite is no better. A whole day's consumption is about what I used to eat at one meal. I really need to find a belt because it felt like my jeans were going to slide down when I was shopping, the other day.

I have accepted an invite to go to a ZZ Top concert, next week. It's being held at the Capitol Theater in Flint. It's been around since 1928 and is a visual delight. I went to a lot of movies at the Capitol. It's been refurbished but not changed, which is great. I haven't been to a concert in YEARS so this will be a good test for me.

I'm barely paying any attention to the news but occasional articles pop up on social media and I get even more disheartened.

This is definitely not how I anticipated spending my 'golden years'.

[3catwoman3]

1. HAng in there. I hope all 5 kitties are doing their jobs...

...of providing amusement and snuggles.

I'm avoiding looking at or listening to TSF as much as possible.

[LiberalLoner]

2. I'm glad you are still here and holding on. I am excited for you

Going to the concert, held at a place you love that is beautiful! Art and beauty elevate our lives so very much!

I hope you regain your appetite soon, and I hope good things will happen for you, and for everyone reading this thread.

For me, I’ve signed up to make handmade painted cards for people in nursing homes etc. it’s an organization called brighten a day.com I think it is and you send cards to them and they distribute them so it’s all anonymous.

I like to do art stuff so I thought this would be a lovely way to use my hobby to maybe give a smile to someone!

And our pear trees out back are very close to being in full bloom now, and the cherry trees around the tidal basin as well. We won’t be going this year, we don’t go every year even though we live in this region. But there is a live camera at the cherry festival on-line site and we can see the blooms that way. It’s kind of cool.

So I am doing okay today. Hope everyone else here is doing okay today, and no aches or pains or sadness.

Hugs for anyone who would like one!
🤗🤗🤗

[lark]

3. Hey Siswan, feeling freaked in these tumultuous times is sane, IMO.

Sometimes they really are coming to get us! We can only work for change and talk it up to whoever we come in contact with. There's Hands Off marches being scheduled for April 5th, I've signed up for the one in Jax. I feel so much better when I'm taking action rather than just sitting and bitching on the computer. Would that help you?

[marble falls]

4. The only advice i have from too close to eighty year: everything hits its Nadir and then it gets better ...

... if we can't fight it, we have to hunker down and outlast it, giving support to those who have more stroke than us.

[PufPuf23]

5. Be wary of Klonopin.

Had regular and longterm MD prescribe an SSRI then another then another then supplemented by Ativan to treat side effects. Realized that the Ativan is bad stuff and went to MD with a taper schedule. The MD poo-pooed me and replaced the Ativan with Klonopin and said to consider the frug like a blood pressure medication. Ended up going cold turkey on my own off the Klonopin. Very difficult. That withdrawal experience was years ago and would never recommend using benzos on a regular basis.

https://www.verywellmind.com/klonopin-withdrawal-symptoms-timeline-and-treatment-4176203#:~:text=Klonopin%20is%20a%20long-acting%20benzodiazepine

My problem was mostly not being able to sleep when stressed out over unfortunate events where I had no control.

[Siwsan]

6. My prescriber said that Ativan is just for short term use

I know they it to my Aunt in the ER to calm her down. I was on it for several years, prescribed by an APN. Both my prescriber, a PA who specializes in Mental Health, and my new NP said that was a big mistake. Important to note that it had no bad side effects but it became ineffective. I also tried Zoloft and it was totally ineffective.

I really have no issues with the Klonopin. I usually just take 1/2 a tablet. On the days I'm feeling pretty level I don't take it at all but I've come to learn that I'm still not over the habit of 'masking'. When I was younger and asked for help, I was laughed at and my mom bought me a tennis racket. I think we played, MAYBE, twice. Any issues I had were either my fault or something I just needed to 'get over', so the masking became very ingrained.

It does work really well with the Trazodone to help me sleep. I went for decades getting just 2 to 4 hours of sleep per night, on a good night.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. "This is definitely not how I anticipated spending my 'golden years'."

You and me both, mate.