Reprinted here with permission from MIA Blogger Baylissa Frederick; originally published at the Recovery Road website.  Baylissa shares a message of hope to those in psychiatric medication withdrawal.
Withdrawal Awareness
One of the most challenging and frustrating aspects of withdrawal is that feeling of being misunderstood, unsupported and isolated. If someone has diabetes, dystonia (like I have) or other chronic illness, or experiences a life event such as a bereavement, people will more often empathise and offer support. They understand these issues â the required dietary restrictions, medication, etc., and they will be able to tell you the stages of grief. Related charities have been set up and support of every kind is forthcoming because there is enough awareness, shared through every medium, on these topics.
Even an addiction to cocaine, alcohol or heroin receives more attention and holds more credibility than protracted benzodiazepine and antidepressant withdrawal. It is saddening indeed that those in withdrawal are so terribly misunderstood.
(I will add that people with thyroid issues, fibromyalgia, Lymeâs disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and other âinvisibleâ or difficult to diagnose problems also have to deal with this lack of awareness and the repercussions. So although this is about withdrawal, we acknowledge that there are others.)
As the days turn into months, sometimes years, some of you may find that friends and family become less accessible and less understanding. No amount of explaining, giving of information and pleas for empathy and understanding seems to work. Withdrawal is so complex, it borders on being unbelievable. And because the symptoms mimic so many medical and psychological conditions, somehow there is more of an inclination for some family and friends to offer a diagnosis and speculate about what else could be wrong, than to just trust what you are saying and give the support needed.
If they could appreciate just how brave you are to endure and cope with the intensity of such frightening symptoms, they would be so proud of you. If they knew that you havenât even told them half of what you are going through, they would appreciate how strong you really are.
But, you must understand that until you mentioned withdrawal and the people you have met on the Internet, they had no clue. More than likely your doctor has confirmed with them that itâs âall in your headâ or âyouâre in denial about the return of your anxiety, depression, whateverâŚâ
It doesnât help that they become impatient and frustrated themselves when you make excuses to avoid going out or you are so out of it that you forget an important birthday or anniversary. Of course they want you to be well again and this is why they become fed of waiting. You may even find that those who were supportive in the beginning, having had a time-frame in mind, lose interest if symptoms become protracted. They just cannot believe a prescribed drug could cause so much trauma and devastation that last so long. Of course, you must be imagining it all.
I know it hurts when instead of being supported you are told:
âYou need to snap out of it.â
âDonât be silly. How could medication make you this sick for this long?â
âBut you donât look sick to me.â
âWhy donât you stop feeling so sorry for yourself?â
âYou sound like youâre having a nervous breakdown.â
âI think youâre in denial. You have a problem and you should get seen to.â
âWhen did you lose your motivation and become so lazy?â
âIf you get a job and get busy, youâll feel better.â
âIf you stop thinking about it all the time, you will get better.â
âThere are days I feel just like you but I get out of bed and go to work anyway. Why canât you do the same?â
âStop being so negative. No wonder you feel the way you do.â
âYou say youâre sick but you went out yesterday. Today youâre acting like youâre dying. I just donât get it.â
âMaybe something else is wrong with you. Why donât you go back to the doctorâs?â
âYou need to go back on the medication. Looks like you needed it because youâre a mess without it.â
âRemember, you had anxiety before. Maybe itâs just that itâs come back. You need to deal with it and stop hanging out on the Internet with that lot.â
âAre you sure youâre not just depressed?â
âI think itâs all in your head.â
âPull yourself together.â
So, sadly, rifts in relationships with friends and family, being accused of malingering and indolence, are just some of the issues that withdrawal can bring with it. This is in addition to coping with the most bizarre and cruel symptoms. Only acknowledgement by the medical profession along with general public awareness will change this. Thankfully, more people are becoming involved in this cause and things will eventually change.
In the meantime, understanding that your family and friendsâ inability to relate is normal, will make you less frustrated and more accepting. Remember, to them this is a phantom illness â an exaggeration or even a figment of your imagination! It is not that they donât care, there is just not sufficient knowledge out there about this problem.
Not all friends and family members are unsupportive. Some have been remarkably loyal and dependable, despite not fully understanding the complexities of withdrawal. If you have one such person in your life, be thankful. There are many who donât. If you are isolated and without support, I am sorry. Please know that you are not alone. Reach out and you will find people who are willing to help.
The best thing to consider, which I hope will be comforting, is that unlike the person with a chronic life illness, you are going to get better. Everything you are enduring now, is just for a time. There are many health conditions for which there is no cure and a bereaved person will never get that loved one back.
In your case, one day your relatives and friends will see you as you were, or possibly even better than then, and they will realize that you were right all along. You were simply in withdrawal and all you needed was for them to listen to you, believe and trust you, and give you the support you need.
As hurt and frustrated as you may feel now, when this is over, the feeling of having survived withdrawal against insurmountable odds â of overcoming such a cruel, painful and frightening experience â will be much more powerful. You wonât remember a lot of what is happening now and you will be so proud of yourself, it wonât matter who believed you or who did not. You kicked withdrawalâs butt and that makes you as close to invincible as one can get!â
I hope this helps to put your situation into perspective if this is an issue youâre having to deal with. Take good care and nurture yourself well. Imagine that youâve recovered and someone you care deeply about is now in withdrawal. Then do and say to yourself all the things that you would to that person! In other words, be gentle and kind and love yourself because you are AMAZING!