UNDERSTANDING WITHDRAWAL: HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM DEPENDENT ON TRANQUILLIZERS?

This could take most of the fear of the illness away, and hasten your recovery. You will recover—but there may be times when you need to be constantly reassured about this. Talking with someone who has been through withdrawal, or a sympathetic doctor, is the first step on the road to recovery. Try to overcome feelings of guilt, or of being a nuisance. It often only takes a two-minute telephone call to allay a fear, or explain a symptom. As you recover, your confidence will grow, and as you become more independent, reliance on your helper will disappear.

If you feel that the pills have stopped working and you have to increase the dose to get the same effect, or if you feel ill when you do not take the pills, then you could be dependent.

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