Xanax Stories

Xanax: Friend and Foe

A gloomy face that was pulled long every now and then, no fun only books, keeping aloof from peers, these were the characteristics used to represent me during my girlhood. I did not even realize what was wrong with me, I would rather sit alone and lick my wounds, they were given by parents who sent me to the far away boarding school, and I took it as an exile for life. With that notion in my heart I passed my school with a sullen face and joined college. For a change during my exile, Sandra came to my life as my sole companion; I liked her as she had the same history as mine. We found comfort while talking to each other, as we knew that we had gone through same experience. One night Sandra came to my room devastated and bewildered, she started to shriek and argued that something was going to happen to her if she switched the light off. But her room mate would not allow to keep the light lit. It was mid night and the hustle-bustle in my room called for the hostel warden, a lady in her middle age. Seeing Sandra’s uncontrollable condition she called for the doctor that night. The doctor came and examined Sandra who was gripped by the helpers of the hostel warden. Doctor prescribed a pill to Sandra, after taking that pill Sandra calmed down and slept peacefully for the night.

Next day onwards, I saw Sandra coming back to normal life slowly with the help of that pill. One day I asked her the name of the pill with an intention of taking it myself and feel good as Sandra was feeling. She said, the name of that pill was Xanax and she took it once a day as prescribed by the doctor, and it helped her to fight the anxiety and panic attacks due to darkness at night. That day I took Xanax for the first time and felt as if I was never unhappy, tranquility flew through my body and mind, I slept for 8 long hours and did not experienced any bad dream. But then I started borrowing Xanax from Sandra, while she took it as a medicine, I started taking it as a drug that would help me to feel high and to forget my pain of exile. By the time we both had finished college, Sandra was completely healthy after using Xanax and undergoing psychological therapies. I, on the contrary was addicted to Xanax and lived on it, taking higher doses every day to get the same high. When she was in the verge of leaving Xanax after recovering her depression and panic attacks, I was completely dependent on it to forget my pain. However, when I went home back, I found my parents were no more the way they used to be. I received their love and concentration and I did not know how they came to know about my addiction to Xanax, I guess Sandra did it for my sake. My parents took me to the therapist and eventually, with the help of medications and psychiatric sessions I got over Xanax and my depression. Sandra and I are still good friends and we work together for helping the mentally depressed people and drug abusers.

But Let me tell you that it was not only me who was addicted by the antidepressant and anti-anxiety pill Xanax. It is a longer duration benzodiazepines and it is one of the most widely prescribed medication in the US. But at the same time Xanax is also very popular among drug abusers who use it combined with other abusive drugs and alcohol. Xanax is available in two forms, Xanax 2 mg, white, rectangular shaped pills, and drug abusers named it as bars, coffins, French fries who usually swallow or crush and snort it. Xanax 1 mg is a lavender colored tablet and drug abusers call it footballs or blues. Most of the young drug abusers take Xanax combining it with alcohol or use Xanax to calm down after using high drugs like cocaine or heroine. But this practice is life threatening... and what is more, a large percentage of people undergoing drug addiction rehabilitation program report abusing the white Xanax bars. But compared to other CNS depressants, withdrawing from Xanax might be problematic but never life threatening. It requires medication and cognitive- behavioral therapy so that the patient could learn the skills of managing various stresses of life.

Xanax is a friend for those who are suffering from mild to severe depression, panic and anxiety attacks, insomnia, but it should be taken strictly under doctor’s supervision. The patient should not increase or decrease the dosage without doctor’s advice as an overdose of Xanax could follow fatal results, and Xanax can be a foe at that time. I request to all who are taking Xanax without doctor’s prescription or with the intention of having fun only, please stop abusing Xanax and not only Xanax, but stop drug abuse altogether. You have addictive drugs for temporary fun, pleasure and satisfaction, one day these drugs will have you and you will lose your life to these drugs. Will you not be a loser in the bargain? Decide if you want to retreat now or regret later.

Jennifer Peterson
California, US