The last ten percent of a taper takes as long as the first ninety. Nobody says so until you are in it.

I would stop trying to convey how bad it is and start saying what you want them to do.

Sorry for the basic question, but how do you actually start one of these diaries?

Sleep first. Bad night, bad day, more symptoms. Fix that before changing anything else. Not on a lunchbox but the pattern is familiar.

Small wins count. Walking to the mailbox is a data point.