002 Began Licorice Root Powder

October 19, 2009
002

I finished my ASI Test as of late last night and began drinking my Licorice Root Powder which I got from the Clymer Healing Center. When checking out the insert that came with the Licorice Root Powder, I read this:

People with adrenal insufficiency generally do not retain enough sodium and have
an excess of potassium. The licorice extract inhibits 11 beta hydroxysterioud
dehydrogenase (11-BHOD) in the kidneys. 11-BHOD is the enzyme that inactivates
cortisol and allows cortisol access to the mineralcorticoid receptors triggering
and increased retention of sodium and a lowering of potassium. This action
brings a person with adrenal insufficiencey into sodium/potassium balance.
Therefore, a potassium supplement is not needed or recommened. The increased
sodium causes the body to conserve water, which quickly increases our overall
blood volume. Increased blood volume indirectly increases blood pressure by
increasing the efficiency of the heart.

Now that is interesting! I'm sure if you are reading this and do not have CFS, you are thinking, "yeah, sure Tamara, real interesting!" Oh, it is, believe me. I've had low blood pressure all my life. I've even passed out from it when I was younger. Upon standing, I've been lightheaded all my life (no jokes about my head now!).

And salt. Oh salt! I can't get enough salt. Dr. Neville told me to continue salting everything I eat along with drinking 1/4 tsp. of salt twice daily. Yuck, right? No, when someone craves a nutrient, there's a reason and I crave salt because I lose so much of it from the aldosterone problems.

I don't use regular white table salt which is just sodium chloride stripped of its natural trace minerals and a bunch of iodine added to it. I have been using sea salt for about two years now which has 50+ trace minerals which are all natural and benefit every human needs. One of the best books I could ever recommend reading (and I read a lot of books!) is Salt: Your Way to Health by David Brownstein, M.D. Once I understood what this Dr. Brownstein is trying to get across to the average person like me and his medical friends about why the body needs salt (and not the sodium chloride on our dinner tables!) and using it, I started getting a little more energy and less heart palpitations. I asked my doctor if the reason for less heart palpitations is due to the sea salt helping my thyroid. He said it is not that, but because I'm constantly fighting dehydration due to the low aldosterone which is common in CFS patients no matter how much water I drink daily. I drink a lot of water and yet I'm thirsty throughout the day anyhow. I don't drink coffee or soda or any other thing that would cause me to lose water. Since I've been using so much sea salt, I don't get lightheaded anymore and I'm starting to become hydrated.

I found a couple links about Licorice Root other than the one I noted above. One is from The National Cancer Institute about Prostate Cancer in which the article mentions that Licorice Root may slow the growth of tumor cells.

Another interesting find is that a study published in the March/April 2008 issue of General Dentistry found that Licorice Root can help with canker sores which is something I suffered with most of my childhood through teen years so badly, I could hardly eat or drink anything because my mouth was full of them. I haven't had one in years though.

My other blogs can be found HERE and HERE.

The original post for this daily diary began HERE.

Coram Deo,
Tamara Slack

001 Taking ASI Test and CFS Book

October 18, 2009
001

I've decided to keep a diary (Daily Post) of how I am doing with the Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency. I'll post the whole story in one long post later and then go back through the years as to what was happening to me from age thirteen on as I find time to sit and work on this project. I have an email into my mother right now who knows which year it was I had mononucleosis which I'm seeing as a possible link to when my immune system started weakening. I believe this can be traced back to about age eleven to thirteen. That's when I started having kidney problems, the mononucleosis (but still need an age on that one), and, of course, when puberty happened - oh joy!

I've found Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency is also called other things: Hypoadrenia, Chronic Fatigue, Adrenal Fatigue, and Addison's Disease, with it being diagnosed about a hundred years ago as Asthenia, but since our medical doctors in the U.S. don't know what to call this neurohormone problem yet, I'm just going to go with what they call it for now: CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Feel free to click on the words that are highlighted. I am trying to cut down on the length of posts so it may be necessary in order to understand what is meant by terms to click on the actual words.

Today, we are testing to see how much my adrenal glands are producing cortisol. Back in February of this year, I was tested by ZRT Labs and results show low cortisol and low thyroid (T3 only) so we finally have it figured out as to what is not working in my body. What is working is still questionable! Of course, we are hoping that my adrenal glands can restore themselves and my doctor, Dr. Andrew Neville, N.D., has told me that after I do the ASI Test and start the therapy he suggests, he believes in one year, I will be pretty functional. At this point, I'm still unable to even walk all the way down to the mailbox and back yet, but can do the dishes and pick up the house about five days a week now. I've also had some better days since the end of September and have been able to ride in the car to the store with my husband. This is really good!

So today is the big day! With the ASI Testing, they require me to do in-home saliva testing for morning, afternoon, evening, and midnight. I did the first one this morning at 6:45 a.m.

I also received my book, Chronic Fatigue Unmasked 2000, written by Dr. Gerald Poesnecker yesterday which is very informative about this disease. You can read one chapter online called The Nature of the Condition to get a little better understanding of adrenal problems that cause CFS.

I'm not yet sure if I should called this a syndrome, disorder, or disease at this point. It depends on who is talking, I suppose. Most doctors in our day don't understand it, so it sits on the shelf while they tell their patients to go see a psychiatrist. I realize doctors are doing what they can, what they are told to do, but to send a patient to a psychiatrist for a biological, neurohormonal problem is not helpful. In fact, it can be very harmful as it was for me (I will post about this in upcoming days). It just doesn't work to not test patients who have severe anxiety, fatigue, shakiness, confusion, hypoglycemia, etc. for endocrine problems and to tell them some common things I've heard:

• You need to think more positively
• Maybe exercise more, take some walks or take up jogging
• You really should just pull yourself up by the bootstraps (as one doctor I had said, "next time someone tells you that, tell them they don't make bootstraps anymore." I have looked up the actual definition of what it means to pull myself up by the bootstraps. Here it is: "to succeed only on one's own effort or abilities." So in other words, when I was hurting for help, they were saying, "no, pick yourself up."
• You should go out and get some fresh air and have a little fun in life
• Maybe you need to start a hobby
• You sound like a hypochondriac; maybe don't look at the PDR and concentrate on something else (one doctor threatened to not refill my prescription if I don't stop reading medical material that is for "doctors only" as she stated in Columbus, Ohio)
• You have four suicides in your family, so you probably will do the same (Nice! That's my all-time favorite from psychiatrists when they don't know where to turn, but to leave someone in a hopeless state)

Now I ask, would this be good advice for someone suffering with cancer or any disease for that matter? No. A few of them might be helpful, but won't cure the actual disease, wouldn't you agree? In all the years (twelve total), not one doctor ever tested my cortisol or thyroid levels, never helped me learn about hypoglycemia and what is happening with my brain without glucose, but put me on many (many!) medications which has compromised my immune system and adrenal glands even more. One of the medications I'm still taking which has completely messed up my HPA Axis has many side effects I have to deal with daily. I've been seen by so many doctors and psychiatrists, I can't count them, and like I've said before, they are all fired due to incompetence.

With all this said in my first post on the matter, I don't think what I have is Addison's Disease because in February, my test results showed some cortisol in my body, so though my adrenal glands are misfiring all the time, shooting off too much epinephrine (read adrenaline) causing severe panic and anxiety, blood sugar problems, body weakness, insomnia, body pain and such, it seems the glands are making some cortisol, but we'll see when I get the results this coming week.

I'll be giving these daily posts different titles, but will number them so they are easily accessed. To help search in sequence, I'll mark them with a number starting out with 001 as seen in the top of the post and they can all be found under the TOPIC "Daily Post." My reason for doing this daily (or as often as I can) is not only to help myself remember what has been helping me, but I hope this will reach men and women along with mothers and fathers who want to learn about CFS for themselves, other loved ones, and their children through this little diary. If you have suffered the heartache of family and friends not understanding what you go or your loved ones endure and have had that label of "hypochodriac" or "lazy person" put upon you, I know the struggle. I pray almost daily for the people out there who don't know where else to turn and it breaks my heart. I hope I can help some with giving resources like the links in my posts so they can figure out with a doctor's help if they too have adrenal problems that have been misdiagnosed.

My other blogs can be found HERE and HERE.

Coram Deo,

Tamara Slack

Side Effects of Klonopin

*** If you received this message in an email and either cannot view it or would like to visit the original blog entry, go to my blog: http://www.benzology.blogspot.com ***

Tamara Slack

I don't write much on this blog. I have a couple others that I try to keep updated (you can read them at: Grace Abounds and Sew And Stitch), but when I find something that I believe would be helpful for others to make informed decisions or give updates on what's going on with my health in regards to the benzodiazepine I was prescribed 13 years ago, I try to updated it. Today, I found the side effects list for Klonopin. Why oh why did I not read the little print before the lady put the pill in my mouth?

Today I was reading an email from "The Road Back" program. They are helping me with supplements and a pre-taper program as I get off this very addictive medication (I know, I know, doctors say you can get off it in 6 weeks, but then why are people suffering so much like this lady?). I thank Jesus for The Road Back people! I have been to numerous doctors over the years and hospitals. You know they never, ever asked me about nutrition? Isn't that amazing? I could be eating rubber tires and drinking window cleaner for all they knew. It matters not. They are trained to find the problem and fix it with little pills. Little pills make big money, did 'ya know?

I just want to post the side effects of the medication my central nervous system is still addicted to (no I am not a junkie - but boy that would be a LOT easier than getting off a doctor-approved medication!). If this helps one person make an informed decision about this medication, I will be a happy gal! Since I'm not a doctor and cannot tell you not to take Klonopin, I'll just tell you what I go through on a daily basis:

*** hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

*** "female" problems
*** endocrine problems
*** confusion
*** tremors (please watch short video on that here)
*** hyper sensitive to cleaning chemicals (i.e. bleach... can't breathe, chest tightens, become fatigued, heart palpitations. Have had to change all cleaning agents to natural products)
*** blurred eyes
*** increased appetite
*** early perimenopause
*** loss of balance (yes, I have "fallen" into my walls even at home!)
*** thoughts like I'm not even "here" (VERY weird and scary)
*** fatigue / exhausted
*** suicidal thoughts and tendencies (I refer you to this video here, children are killing themselves on the medicines doctors are giving them)
*** nausea
*** severe mood swings like from happy and joyous to raging anger (I'm so sad for my husband, really)
*** tearfulness (all of a sudden, I cry for NO reason and can't stop crying. Nothing sets it off; it is something biological happening to me)
*** body pain all over (usually lasts a few days and then I don't have the pain for another week or whenever it decides to come back. No massages or anything help)
*** inability to leave the house
*** muscle weakness
*** panic attacks
*** dry mouth
*** heart palpitations
*** pain in the chest and esophogus
*** adrenal fatigue (adrenal glands are severely messed up!)
*** weight gain (went from size 12 to size 20)
*** increase PMS / PMDD problems
*** strange fears
*** racing thoughts (can't stop this and feels like going crazy - doesn't last forever though)
*** migraines
*** pain in fingers and hands
*** memory problems
*** I forgot what I was going to type here (JUST KIDDING! Just the memory problems!)
*** left side of body a little numb and left leg sometimes not working
*** jaw pain
*** nightmares
*** insomnia
*** boxy tight stomach
*** heaviness in limbs
*** tight band feeling around my head
*** flu symptoms (without the flu!)
*** and more!

It's quite amazing... I went in because I was a single mom, working full time with very little help and no support (emotional, physical, or financial) from my son's father and had my son at age 17. You think the doctors would say, "you know, I think you are stressed." No, no, they said, "you have bipolar, a mood disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder" and said I had to take these pills for the rest of my life, will have to increase them and that I might actually commit suicide. Not the greatest of hope, huh? My doctors are all fired. Figuring since my great-grandmother killed herself and she was on Valium (a medication not nearly as strong as the Klonopin I'm on) and three other people in my family committed suicide, I figured I was doomed to shoot myself in the head someday or inhale the exhaust from my car. I did try after I got on the medication, but it didn't work (THANK GOD! I really do because I would have died in my sins, unforgiven. I had not repented of my sin and trusted Christ back then so I was not born again). Anyway...

Below is the side effects list for Klonopin (are we really supposed to take things that do this to us?):

SIDE EFFECTS OF KLONOPIN

CARDIAC DISORDERS

Palpitation - Perceptible forcible pulsation of the heart, usually with an increase in frequency or force, with or without irregularity in rhythm.

Tachycardia - Rapid heart rate.

EAR AND LABYRINTH DISORDERS

Ear pain - Any pain connected to the inner or outer portion of the ear.

Tinnitus - A sound in one ear or both ears, such as buzzing, ringing, or whistling, occurring without an external stimulus and usually caused by a separate condition, such as the use of benzodiazepines.

Vertigo - A sensation of irregular or whirling motion, either of oneself or of external objects.

EYE DISORDER

Blurred vision - Compared to normal, a distortion of vision.

Mydriasis - Prolonged abnormal dilation of the pupil of the eye induced by a rug or caused by disease.

Photophobia - An abnormal sensitivity to or intolerance of light, especially by the eyes, as may be caused by eye inflammation. An abnormal fear of light.

GASTROINTESTIONAL DISORDERS

Abdominal pain -Pain between the chest and pelvis, stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, and pancreas.

Constipation - Difficulty having normal bowel movement.

Diarrhea - Excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces.

Dry mouth - When the mouth is dry beyond what might be normal.

Dyspepsia - Disturbed digestion; indigestion.

Dysphagia - Difficulty in swallowing or inability to swallow.

Nausea - A feeling of sickness with the urge to vomit.

Pharyngolaryngeal syndrome - Of or pertaining to the larynx or pharynx.

Salivary hypersecretion - A continual or excessive amount of saliva that us uncontrollable.

Vomiting - Ejecting all or part of the stomach contents.

GENERAL DISORDERS

Asthenia - Loss or lack of bodily strength.

Chest tightness - A feeling in the chest of contraction.

Edema - An accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities.

Fatigue - The body feeling drained of energy

Feeling drunk - Feelings associated with drinking too much alcohol.

Feeling hot or cold - An uncontrollable feeling of being too hot or cold that is abnormal for the temperature.

Feeling jittery - An uneasy feeling often associated with the inability to remain still.

Hangover - Feeling like the day after consuming too much alcohol. All or a few hangover sensations may be present.

Increased energy - An abnormal amount of energy bordering on hyperness.

Loss of control of legs - Inability to control legs, such as restless leg syndrome.

Malaise - A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness.

Pyrexia - Fever

Rigors - Shivering or trembling, as caused by a chill. A state of rigidity in living tissues or organs that prevents response to stimuli.

Sluggishness - A fatigue type feeling or dull.

Thirst - An abnormal sensation of needing liquid.

Weakness - A reduced state of normal energy and stamina.

INFECTIONS AND INFESTATIONS

Influenza symptoms - The body feeling and at times the manifestation of flue like symptoms.

Upper respiratory tract infections - Infection of the nose, sinuses, pharynx (part of neck and throat) or larynx (commonly known as the voice box).

MENTAL DISORDERS

Abnormal dreams - Nightmares or dreams that are upsetting to the individual.

Aggression - Hostile or destructive behavior or actions.

Agitation - A feeling where something or anything could set a person toward anger or combativeness.

Anger - Uncontrollable and volatile emotion with rage; usually an attempt to stop someone or something.

Anxiety - A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties. A state of intense apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation, often to a degree that normal physical and psychological functioning is disrupted.

Apathy - A feeling of no hope, such as if anything can be done it would not work.

Bradyphrenia - A slowness of the mind.

Confusion - An impaired orientation with respect to time, place or the form of an event.

Depersonalization - A state in which the normal sense of personal identity and reality is lost, characterized by feelings that one's actions and speech cannot be controlled.

Depressed mood - A lowering of the state of mind or emotion compared to what a person normally feels.

Depression - A feeling of no hope.

Derealization - The feeling that things in one's surroundings are strange, unreal, or somehow altered, as seen in schizophrenia.

Disorientation - A loss of sense of direction, position, or relationship with one's surroundings. A temporary or permanent state of confusion regarding place, time or personal identity.

Dysphonia - An emotional state marked by anxiety, depression, and restlessness.

Euphoric mood - A feeling of great happiness or well-being, commonly exaggerated and not necessarily well founded.

Hallucination - False or distorted perception of objects or events with a compelling sense of their reality, usually resulting from a traumatic life event or drugs.

Homicidal ideation - The formation of the idea or having the mental image of murder.

Hypomania - A mild form of mania, characterized by hyperactivity and euphoria.

Impulse control - A sudden pushing or driving force. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination.

Insomnia - Chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.

Irritability - 1. The capacity to respond to stimuli. 2. Abnormal or excessive sensitivity to stimuli of organism, organ, or body part.

Libido decreased - Sexual desire decreased.

Libido increased - Sexual desire increased.

Logorrhea - Incoherent talkativeness.

Mania - A manifestation of bipolar disorder characterized by profuse and rapidly changing ideas, exaggerated gaiety, and excessive physical activity.

Mood swings - The up and or down movement of emotions that are uncontrollable.

Nervousness - Easily agitated or distressed.

Nightmare - A dream creating intense fear, horror, and distress.

Psychomotor retardation - The retardation of movement and or mental process.

Restlessness - An uneasy feeling of not being able to be where one is located comfortably.

Suicidal ideation - The formation of an idea or mental image of killing one self.

METABOLISM AND NUTRITION DISORDERS

Anorexia - Loss of appetite, usually including a fear of becoming obese or a aversion toward food.

Appetite decreased - A decrease in the feeling one needs food for survival.

Appetite increased - An increase of the desire for food for survival.

MUSCULOSKELETAL AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS

Arthralgia - Severe pain in a joint.

Back pain - An unexplained pain anywhere in the back.

Muscle cramps - Muscle being contracted to the point of discomfort.

Muscle twitching - A rhythmic or irregular involuntary movement of any muscle.

Myalgia - Muscular pain or tenderness, especially when nonspecific.

Pain in limb - Pain in arm or leg.

NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS

Amnesia - The loss or impairment of memory.

Ataxia - Loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement.

Coordination abnormal - Maintaining balance of the body difficult in comparison to what is normal for the person.

Disturbance in attention - Not able to remain as focused as one was able to in the past.

Dizziness - A disorienting sensation such as faintness, light-headedness, or unsteadiness.

Dysarthria - Difficulty in articulating words due to emotional stress or to paralysis or incorordination of the muscles used in speaking.

Dyskinesia - An impairment in the ability to control movements, characterized by spasmodic or repetitive motions of lack of coordination.

Headache - A continual or time specific duration with pressure or pain within the head.

Hypersomnia - A condition in which one sleeps for an excessively long time but is normal in the waking intervals.

Hypoesthesia - Drowsiness.

Hypotonia - Reduced tension or pressure, as of the intraocular fluid in the eyeball. Relaxation of the arteries.


Memory impairment - Not able to recall an instance from the past as well as before.

Mental impairment - The ability to think and reason diminished.

Paresthesia - A skin sensation, such as burning, prickling, itching, or tingling.

Sedation - An over expression of reduction of anxiety, stress, irritability or excitement.

Seizures - A sudden attack, spasm, or convulsion, as in epilepsy.

Sleep apnea - A temporary cessation of breathing while sleeping.

Sleep taking - Speaking words while asleep.

Somnolence - A state of drowsiness; sleepiness. A condition of semi-consciousness approaching coma.

Stupor - A state of impaired consciousness characterized by a marked diminution in the capacity to react to environmental stimuli.

Syncope - A brief loss of consciousness caused by a sudden fall of blood pressure or failure of cardiac systole, resulting in cerebral anemia.

Tremor - An involuntary trembling movement.

RENAL, THORACIC, AND MEDIASTINAL DISORDERS

Difficulty in micturition - Difficulty with urination or the frequency of.

Urinary frequency - An abnormal frequency of urination.

Urinary incontinence - Involuntary leakage of urine.

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND BREAST DISORDERS

Dysmenorrhea - A condition marked by painful menstruation.

Premenstrual syndrome - A group of symptoms, including abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache, fatigue, irritability, and depression.

Sexual dysfunction - A non-normal, for the individual, behavior or ability to have sex.


RESPIRATORY, THORACIC AND MEDIASTINAL DISORDERS

Choking sensation - A feeling of choking with or without cause.

Dyspnea - Difficulty in breathing, often associated with lung or heart disease and resulting in shortness of breath.

Epistaxis - Nosebleed.

Hyperventilation - Abnormally fast or deep respiration resulting in the loss of carbon dioxide from the blood, thereby causing a decrease in blood pressure and sometimes fainting.

Nasal congestion - A stoppage or restriction of the nasal passage.

Rhinitis - Inflammation of the nasal membranes.

Rhinorrhea - A discharge from the mucous membrane, especially if excessive.

SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE DISORDERS

Clamminess - Abnormally moist, sticky and cold to the touch.

Pruritus - Severe itching, often of undamaged skin.

Rash - A skin eruption.

Sweating increased - Abnormal increase of perspiration.

Urticaria - A skin condition characterized by welts that itch intensely, caused by an allergic reaction, an infection, or nervous condition.

VASCULAR DISORDERS

Hot flashes - A sudden, brief sensation of heat, often over the entire body, caused by a transient dilation of blood vessels of the skin.

Hypotension - Abnormally low arterial blood pressure.

If you've gotten this far, congratulations! I don't read blogs all the way through most of the time. May I ask, if you know Jesus Christ, please keep me in your prayers... thanks! If you don't, then be sure you know where you are going when you die. I'm not here to make judgments about your choices in life or whatever you do. I care about your soul and the glory of God. Visit my "HOPE" page.

Bible verse of the day: "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body." - Proverbs 26:22

The Road Back Program Journal

My Road Back Journal

started "The Road Back" program a few days ago because the withdrawal symptoms of tapering the Klonopin are getting to be unbearable. I searched and searched for over a year for help and nothing will do it. Now, I'm trying this program that is supposed to get a person going through benzo withdrawal stabilized in order to start tapering and feeling better while doing so. Today is Saturday, January 24, 2009. I started the program the night of Wednesday, January 21. I'll keep this page updated as a journal as I go through the process, so check back to see if this is a success or not!

The rating of anxiety and insomnia go like this: 1 is unbearable and 10 is no symptoms. When I get to a 7 on both anxiety and insomnia, I move to Step 2 of the Program. So here's Step 1 so far:

DAY 1 - January 21, 2009
Started TRB Program at night as directed, taking 1 Body Calm Supreme and 1 tsp. Essential Protein.

DAY 2 - January 22, 2009
I start my journaling today. WOW! I slept last night except for one bathroom trip! I slept from 11pm to 6:00am and it was a nice, deep sleep. I felt good when I got up; no tight anxiety stomach until about 15 mins. after I was up and around. It started in, but was a little more manageable than normal. Had an "okay" day except when we had to go to the bank. Any little stress in life causes me to have fatigue, tremors, blood sugar problems, etc. It doesn't matter if it is a good stress (i.e. friends coming over) or bad stress (i.e. argument with husband). All stress to my body is the same. My immune system is shot, so I have to take things very slowly and carefully. Part of this program is building the immune system too. RATINGS FOR THE DAY: Sleep from last night = 9, Anxiety for today = 5

DAY 3 - January 23, 2009
Slept terribly last night as usual. What's ommon for me is 5 to 6 hours of interrupted sleep while in pain, heart palpitations, sweating, paranoia, depression, and more. It's so much fun going through these withdrawals! Okay, that was sarcasm! Anyway, I had 6 hours of interrupted sleep last night. Took all the supplements as directed today and had a decent day. My husband asked if I wanted to do something today with him. I can barely get out of my house most of the time, so I was hesitant, but as the day was progressing, I thought, well, we can go take a walk around the block holding hands since the temperature has gone up to a whopping 45 degrees! He took me down to the main street here where the Antique shops are and we walked around and went into an Indonesian store and talked about culture differences and foods there with the owner and a lady from Indonesia (Jack and Rina). Very nice people! I was able to handle about 45 minutes on my feet out of the house and then I could feel myself winding down, needing to be sitting or laying at home. My husband and I went home and later in the evening, our frineds Eric and Mindy came over and we played the DRAWING GAME (that's fun!). Even though this was a good stress, I was able to handle it fine! So day two was a pretty good day. RATINGS FOR THE DAY: Sleep from last night = 4, Anxiety for today = 7

Are antidepressants addictive?

Doctors say "no." Most people on them say, "yes." Check out Ruth's story and see what most doctors deny. She's one of many accidental addicts (this is part one of two videos):

Psychiatry, your opinion please

Psychiatry: An Industry of Death

All I ask is that you do study this topic yourself and form your own opinion. Some people think psychiatry is the way to go. I do not. Check out this 5 minute video and post your comments if you don't mind. THANKS!

The Birth of Modern Psychiatry 1

The Birth of Modern Psychiatry 2

The Birth of Modern Psychiatry 3

The Birth of Modern Psychiatry 4

Tamara Slack

Benzo definitions from friends

I asked some of the people on the Yahoo group to give me a definition of benzodiazepines. Here's their responses:

"A prescription that ruins lives." - Emily

"I personally have dubbed it "Benzo Beast"... I hope you include information on the Founding Father of Benzos... Dr. Leo Henryk Sternbach. He is my guru... He received the Nobel Prize for his contribution to society in creating 3 billion forms of his initial poisonous concoction, Librium...I am excited about your project....I will be a loyal follower..." Love Debra

"Well I think the short answer is that they have been a crime against humanity!" Love Anthea

"Anti-living medication would be my definition." - Val D

Dr. Heather Ashton Videos

Dr. Heather Ashton's Benzodiazepine Videos

Overview of Benzodiazepines:

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal:

How to Taper off Benzodiazepines:

My Story

This post will be my story of being on benzodiazepines for years. I'm still putting it together. It's been fourteen years since the doctor put a pill in my mouth, so there's a lot to tell. Check back soon for updates to this blog post.

Tamara Slack

Helfpful links

Benzodiazepine Addiction, Withdrawal, and Recovery HERE

Dr. Peter Breggin's website HERE

FDA warns about Prozac and Librium HERE

Accidental Addict book HERE

Benzo Island Discussion Forum HERE

Dr. Heather Ashton's DVD HERE (I have no relation to her and make no money from sales of her informational video. I've found the video helpful for me as I withdraw from Klonopin and hope it helps others out there. My hope is that this DVD gets into every doctor's hands here in America!)

The Benzo Book HERE

HOPE TODAY

HOPE

The world is changing and crisis plagues the nations; hunger, homelessness,
political uprisings, economic uncertainty, wars… and the ever present threat of terrorism. Where can we find hope in these uncertain times?

Daily news reports focus our attention on global events which indicate a world in turmoil. But as distressing as all these events are, there is a crisis that is even more urgent: the fact that death awaits us all. When we die and leave the earth, we must all stand before God.

It is appointed for men to die once and then the judgment. Why judgment? God is holy and just. But man is sinful and morally bankrupt. So our sin makes us guilty before God. Have you disregarded God and worshiped other things such as people, things, and pleasure? Have you dishonored parents, hated others (this is murder in the heart), looked with lust or engaged in immoral sex (both which are adultery) or lied? How about stealing, envy, greed, blaspheming God’s name, selfishness, unthankfufness, self righteousness or pride? This willful sin is the breaking of God’s Law. It will hopelessly condemn men on Judgment Day. Where will your hope be then?

But in His loving kindness, God Himself provides the true hope for us through the death and resurrection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike ordinary men, Jesus Christ is God. His death on the cross was the judgment and wrath of God that we deserve. He paid our debt in His blood. Justice for sin has been satisfied through Him. He rose from the dead, defeating death! The whole world stands hopeless and condemned in sin. But Jesus said, “He who hears my word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life.” Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He is our only hope.

Some websites that might be helpful to you:

My Life After Death

Pretend Christians

Answers for Atheists and Skeptics

You may email me at NoneAreGood@gmail.com if you would like to communicate.

Tamara Slack