Coming Off Medications

[Stuck20]

I've gone through a progression of diagnoses to where I am now. I was diagnosed with depression and dysthymia as a teenager. When I was 21, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2. I went through therapy several times over the years. Only this past year did I start to recollect things from childhood and was diagnosed with PTSD. My therapist suggested the idea that all of my symptoms can be explained by PTSD. She said to stay on my meds now but that as I get better, I might be able to come off all of my meds. Has anyone ever come off all of their meds after prolonged effective therapy?

I currently am on Abilify, Lamictal, and Concerta. I love the idea of coming off my meds but wanted to know if there is any realistic hope of doing so.

 

[NewDayTomorrow]

I can't help you about psychiatric medication, but I do want to say, I am so happy you might have an accurate diagnosis that could lead to therapy that actually works, and good luck! I believe strongly in mind over matter, as in, you might be able to get healthier psychologically and learn to regulate yourself without medication. I hope you hear back soon from people who know more.

 

[franciemarnie]

Yes, I came off 25 years on meds just fine. Concerta, Imipramine and Zyprexa. We did it S-L-O-W though.

My healing accelerated 1000% after I came off everything completely because unbeknownst to me - the meds had kept my real feelings numb for all those years and created a false facsimile of feelings via chemicals. When I could really feel again, I started Somatic therapy and began releasing trauma energy and my experience of life has tremendously improved.

I am glad I was on meds to survive, sleep at night and keep a job, but I am thrilled to be off them.

 

[Stuck20]

I wondered about medications blocking my progress. I have recently had some problems accessing some trauma memories. I also have an inability to tap into feeling my anger. Instead I just turn it on myself in the form of self-hatred and depression. I am concerned that the meds dull my feelings so that I can function but hold me back at the same time. How did any of you know when to start the process of coming off meds?

 

[franciemarnie]

I wasn't as perceptive as you re: wondering if the meds were blocking feelings and progress. I quit taking them because the meds to make me sleep stopped working completely, and that meant the Concerta had to go because that pepped me up.

Trust your instincts. If you can't tap emotions as you'd like and it doesn't feel right, you might give no meds a try. But like I said, do it slowly under supervision. Even though I went off one med over the course of a year, emotions flooded in when I was clear of them all. There was tremendous release but it felt overwhelming sometimes - like a tsunami of feelings.

Everyone is different though. This is just my experience. The Concerta wasn't hard to get off. The other two were tougher because of the sleep factor.

 

[StellaBlue]

I have been on and off medication for years - and it never seemed to help much (maybe because the depression was a symptom of the PTSD rather than biologically based depression). I have been off the last round since October and have had an amazing amount of healing since then (I've also had some pretty 'wobbly' times as well).

To @franciemarnie 's point, while I don't think the meds were blocking feelings and progress, a lot of my 'maladaptive' coping mechanisms were. I also agree that you need to trust your instincts and the advice of those professionals that you trust AND if you decide to try going off meds - I 100% agree that you need to do it slowly and under supervision.