{"id":117,"date":"2022-05-16T22:29:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T22:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apeacockconsulting.com\/?p=117"},"modified":"2022-08-22T23:53:52","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T23:53:52","slug":"the-importance-of-a-supportive-mentor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apeacockconsulting.com\/the-importance-of-a-supportive-mentor\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of a Supportive Mentor in Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

The Importance of Having Support During Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal<\/h3>\n

During my withdrawal journey, I had very little in-person support. It was extremely difficult to taper for so many years, and then to be cut off the last drug I was tapering abruptly by my doctor, without family or anyone else in my life that really understood what I was going through. When I recollect on how bad my suffering was, I am still surprised that I made it through. Having support, either from online sources or in real life, is crucial. For some, it can mean the difference between life and death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t discover the online support groups right away, but when I did, I was shocked at the number of people that were tapering and coping with psychiatric drug withdrawal and using <\/span>virtual peer spaces<\/span><\/a> as their sole means of information and support. It was as if the entire medical system abandoned us and didn\u2019t want to help clean up the mess that they caused. In these groups, I read about people who were experiencing the exact same symptoms I was, who were dismissed by doctors, whose families didn\u2019t understand, and who were hanging on for dear life just like I was. I read ferociously for hours, day after day, looking for others to say that the symptoms I was experiencing were normal, they would go away, and that I would heal. I read success stories, sometimes over and over. The words and the people behind them saved me until there was a point where I didn\u2019t need to read them anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before long, I was able to help others using my own experiences, and the reading and research I did trying to understand what happened to me. It was then that I signed on to help administrate one of the Facebook groups called \u201c<\/span>Benzo Recovery<\/span><\/a>.\u201d I was reading and commenting on almost every post that came through so why not help out as an admin, I thought? I am grateful I made that decision because the amount of healing I saw kept me going. I saw peers being more kind to each other than their doctors were. I saw many giving hope and validation to those suffering with severe symptoms. I saw people in crisis being calmed and comforted. I saw hundreds of people heal and move on with their lives. I also saw stories of family members and medical professionals who were dismissive, coercive, and\/or abusive. Those were the hardest to read about. Based on my years in the layperson withdrawal community, I venture to say that one of the greatest predictors of suicide may be not having good support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During my own journey, I didn\u2019t have family around me to check on me and I didn\u2019t have a partner or children to help me get through. My support mostly came from the people I met in online support groups. During my first year off, I also worked with a therapist who acted like a withdrawal coach for me. However, I had to build trust with her over time to ensure she really understood, as best as she could, what I was going through. The biggest benefit I got from that relationship was that I was able to share my suicidal thoughts with her without her hospitalizing me,\u00a0 which would have ensured I was put back on meds. This therapist, and my new friends in the online support groups,\u00a0 gave me constant reassurance that I would get better and that healing was just a matter of time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Support may not look like what you truly need and sometimes we have to create these supportive relationships out of thin air while we are struggling beyond measure. Below are some tips about finding meaningful support:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Find a healing buddy in the online support forums. When reading comments in the support groups, look for people you can relate to, who are near the same stage of taper or withdrawal as you, who live near you, or who have things in common with you.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. In some cases, clergy or similar spiritual people who are comfortable with sitting with people who are suffering, may provide good support. Also try other \u201chealers\u201d like reiki practitioners, acupuncturists, yoga teachers, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Find a therapist you can trust. Finding a good therapist should be like a job interview. I urge people to ask \u201cWhat do you know about withdrawing from ____ (drug name)?\u201d and then be quiet. How they answer that question will tell you everything you need to know. You can also use that question when looking for a taper-friendly doctor.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Benzo or Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Coaches are people with lived experience and expertise in supporting you during this process. We have different styles and personalities and getting support from one of us that you feel most aligned with can be extremely helpful.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_image=”120″ bg_position=”center center” background_image_loading=”default” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”5%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”5%” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” color_overlay=”#000000″ advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.5″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” parallax_bg=”true” parallax_bg_speed=”fixed” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text]\n

    Having support, either from online sources or in real life, is crucial. For some, it can mean the difference between life and death.<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Support may not look like what you truly need and sometimes we have to create these supportive relationships out of thin air while we are struggling beyond measure. Below are some tips to help you find meaningful support:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”]
    \n