I am currently just beginning week 5 of the program. I have been faithfully trying everything that has been suggested and do feel better about myself but am having trouble quitting the Xanax. I have been on them for 20 years and find when the pressures come (mainly at work) that I go back to using them. This is very frustrating and I am trying to stay positive. Am I hoping for too much too soon? Overall I am very impressed with this program but discouraged in this area. Just wanted some to see if others are struggling with this as well.

Yes, I think you are being too hard on yourself. For starters, this is a medication you have been taking for 20 years!! You can get off of it, but it is not going to be easy and it won't be a quick process. I know because I take it and I've withdrawn from anti-depressants I took for many years, and let me tell you that was heck.

Secondly, I am frustrated as well because here I am on week 5 and I'm not sleeping any better. I'm still getting little to sometimes no sleep at night and my adrenaline is still all day and most night long. It frustrates me more than anything that I am not physically imrproving, but I can see changes in my mind, and that is where it starts. It is a battlefield of the mind and once we start winning that battle, the physical things will start to fall into place, i.e. you being able to get off of xanax.

My greatest fear is that I'll be stuck taking slipping pills the rest of my life, and sadly they are ruining my daily life. I have not always followed my doctor and take more or add diff. meds just to get sleep, and like you, I am scared scared that I can't get off. But fear produces anxiety and hope/faith produces peace.
Bottomline, set a goal w/ this, I would say long term. And most importantly it would not be wise to just stop taking it cold turkey. With me and with anybody getting off of drugs or medicine, you take the dosage down slowly, then you take it 1x a week as opposed to 2x's, then you take it every other day....soon every other week.....you get the point. Hope this helped.

I am also on week 5 and trying to come off xanax. I can say that it is the hardest thing that I have ever attempted to do! My doctor told me to slowly taper off the medicine. Each week I cut down the dose a little. Five weeks ago before this program I was taking up to 3 xanax a day. Now, I am now only taking 1/4 of a pill each day at night to help me sleep. I know how you feel though, it is so easy to want to take one when I get stressed, but I just think of all the progress that I have made and how horrible I would feel if I give in. Good Luck! I will say a prayer for you.

hi everyone im not on xanax, i use to be but they found that ativan works better for me. I dont always take one mostly a nite also to sleep.But i dont know if i'll ever get totally off of them. im also on week 5-8 but im realy stuck we dont realy have the money to buy special foods just for me but i try to watch what im eating and the exersise im not sure what to do cause im thin to begin with. dose anyone have any suggestions that can help? I feel like i'm regressing!