16th February 2006
I am very sorry for those of you whose live's have been so negatively harmed through loved ones who have been addicted to Xanax. While the expressions of your own pain and suffering may not change your loved ones, hopefully it will help others reading who are struggling with their addiction to read what it is likely doing in their own families.
Xanax is in a family of drug types called benzodiazepines and alters brain chemistry and functioning. It is a HIGHLY and RAPIDLY addictive drug. It is one of the most difficult drugs to stop and stopping abruptly can be very dangerous and cause a grand mall seizure; seizures like an epileptic experiences. Drinking alcohol while taking benzodiazepine is extremely dangerous and life threatening. To learn more about benzodiazepines just type the word into Google or any search engine....look for reliable formal education or government websites; they will have .edu or .gov as part of their webaddress. When I home detoxed from Xanax I was helped through the process with the tapering guidelines established by Professor Heather Ashton in the United Kingdom who has researched and published much of her work online for the public and for medical professionals. She has developed guideline recommendations for tapering from all benzodiazepines.
It is unlikely that there is anything I can write that will make you realize your own personal risks as a result of your relationship with your b/f. It is extremely difficult for self-motivated person to successfully self-detox from Xanax. From your description of your b/f he does not perceive he has a problem and therefore clearly has no interest in changing his current lifestyle. No matter how much you want it FOR him....HE has to first want it for himself, and he does not. Because you love him, that is a hard thing for you to accept. Sadly, love does NOT conquer all. It takes 2 people working towards a mutual goal to make any relationship a success. Please stay tuned in to any patterns of escalating violence potential as there is likely more to follow. Your b/f being apologetic AFTER an event has occurred does not protect you from risk of future harm. Please understand that, while he may love you, with his current drug/alcohol use he is unable to look after and protect his own needs so how can he look after yours? You have some very difficult concerns to evaluate, my heart goes out to you, and I wish nothing but the best for you. Good luck.
Xanax is in a family of drug types called benzodiazepines and alters brain chemistry and functioning. It is a HIGHLY and RAPIDLY addictive drug. It is one of the most difficult drugs to stop and stopping abruptly can be very dangerous and cause a grand mall seizure; seizures like an epileptic experiences. Drinking alcohol while taking benzodiazepine is extremely dangerous and life threatening. To learn more about benzodiazepines just type the word into Google or any search engine....look for reliable formal education or government websites; they will have .edu or .gov as part of their webaddress. When I home detoxed from Xanax I was helped through the process with the tapering guidelines established by Professor Heather Ashton in the United Kingdom who has researched and published much of her work online for the public and for medical professionals. She has developed guideline recommendations for tapering from all benzodiazepines.
It is unlikely that there is anything I can write that will make you realize your own personal risks as a result of your relationship with your b/f. It is extremely difficult for self-motivated person to successfully self-detox from Xanax. From your description of your b/f he does not perceive he has a problem and therefore clearly has no interest in changing his current lifestyle. No matter how much you want it FOR him....HE has to first want it for himself, and he does not. Because you love him, that is a hard thing for you to accept. Sadly, love does NOT conquer all. It takes 2 people working towards a mutual goal to make any relationship a success. Please stay tuned in to any patterns of escalating violence potential as there is likely more to follow. Your b/f being apologetic AFTER an event has occurred does not protect you from risk of future harm. Please understand that, while he may love you, with his current drug/alcohol use he is unable to look after and protect his own needs so how can he look after yours? You have some very difficult concerns to evaluate, my heart goes out to you, and I wish nothing but the best for you. Good luck.