I just thought I'd give an update on what I'm experiencing, and welcome others to chime in and let me know what you think might be next for me.
At the end of March I took my last 20 mg pill. (This was after a quick taper from 60 to 40 to 20, following my doctor's orders.) I had been on 60 mg. for about 5 years.
Things have definitely gotten better 2 and 1/2 months later. I no longer experience crippling periods of anxiety. Taking their place are these periods of uncomfortable unease. But as each week passes I can see a modicum of progress there. I"m assuming that over the next several months that will go away entirely.
The worst symptom for me now is the fatigue. I'm fine until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Then I can hardly sit up anymore. The good news is that this fatigue went from being all day, to starting at around 10 am, to starting at around noon, and then to where it is now. So I'm seeing progress there, too.
I still feel like I have a ways to go before I feel "good." My brain is strangely sore much of the time. It doesn't hurt exactly -- not at all like it did. But I just always have this dull soreness.
I also feel like I'm still in shock -- but coming out of it. For 6 to 8 weeks after taking my last pill I lived in a painful, surreal hell. I actually wonder if I'm experiencing some symptoms of PTSD right now. For example, there are places around my home (mostly stores) where I have horrible memories associated with those weeks, and it's difficult for me to go to those places now because they remind me of those darkest and darkest weeks. There are also songs that I listened to during those weeks that overwhelm me to listen to right now. I feel like I've been severely traumatized and that I'm just going to have to be very gentle with myself as I continue to get beyond both the physical symptoms and the emotional upheaval. Wow. What a nightmare.