To Reduce Meds Or Not

[externalsmile]

Took me a while longer than usual to get to sleep but at least I slept. It is soooooo nice waking up and not feeling as sedated. Just lovely! I'm still sleepy alright just not to the point where I am stuck to the bed and can't move. That should make some difference with work.

I only hav 2 days of work this week because I need to do lots of college work. At least I don't have that stress to deal with! I'm hoping and praying that if I am going to have withdrawals the worst will be over by then.

Had a pang of nausea this morning. It passed though once I had something to eat. I'm thinking it might be a good idea if I stock up on ginger tea or make some ginger cookies later and have them constantly to prevent the nausea. Maybe I could stick on those travel sick bands too?

 

[externalsmile]

Was a little on the jumpy side this morning. Nothing bad and it passed quickly.

Got a few zaps to the brain in the afternoon. Pity it was zaps of pain and not inspiration towards my college work. Oh well!

 

[externalsmile]

Head isn't too bad. Occassional jolt of pain rather than the electric shock effect and a bit of nausea. Other than that physically fine.

Feeling a little down in the dumps though. Think it is all to do with lack of progression with that guy coupled with the decrease in meds. I can function absolutely fine at work though so it probably isn't medication though.

 

[The Albatross]

External smile... for myself, my doc considers me "low normal range" or boarderline without an SSRI. But I function okay without them, and of course I'm aiming to do better than okay. I know that a lot of what I experience is not as easy as I would like it to be, but I wanted feelings, and I didn't have them when I was on SSRI's. I felt flat, flatter than I do off them.

Great observations you're making... you sound okay and I'm very glad about that.

 

[externalsmile]

Thank you!

I got to the stage where I plain couldn't function without them so feeling flat wasn't a factor. After a few months though I was able to feel a lot more but in a more logical way if you know what I mean. Even though I am a mental health nurse I wouldn't be a medication fan. Any increases in the meds my doctor was nervous about suggesting! But they worked.

A few months back I did some journalling. I've found since then I am after majorily improving on identifying what is actually annoying me and dealing with it rather concentrating on the actual feeling and getting nowhere.

 

[externalsmile]

Physical symptoms are pretty much gone! Actually they are gone. Still a bit moody but that is purely down to lover boy and not medication or ptsd.

Only problem I foresee being a problem is that I'm not sleeping as heavy as before. I take longer to get to sleep and I wake before my alarm along with waking a few times a night. I'm going to have to definitely step up physical activity then use aromatherapy oils to help me snooze a bit better. I suppose I am so used to going to bed and being unconcious within 5mins from being over sedated! That is the only thing I really need to keep an eye on for now I think. If I sleep any less I will run into problems because I get more miserable when I'm not getting sleep. Hopefully my sleep will improve a bit or else then it could cause problems for a decrease again in 3 weeks.

 

[externalsmile]

No physical symptoms at all now and slept like a log the last 2 nights. Yay! Hopefully in 3 weeks time I will be still the same so I can drop another dose.

 

[The Albatross]

Great news externalsmile, when I was doing this I had to really try to balance the difference between a medical complication and just everyday general stress from life. The self care during this process becomes more important... and it's generally a helpful practice to get in the habit of doing some loving things for mind and body. It helps me stay more managed without the meds because I learned that consistent self care "before" stress help me a lot.

 

[externalsmile]

Got discharged from couselling today! Wooooohoooooo!!!!

 

[externalsmile]

Still going surprisingly well despite a high amount of stress going on lately. Still looking like I will be decreasing to 75mg next week!

 

[externalsmile]

Had to decrease my dose this evening to 75mg. I am just too tired to function at present. I can't even get out of bed in the morning and have a migraine from the tiredness. So here goes withdrawal watch again!

 

[Nicolette]

Hang in there externalsmile. You are doing a fabulous job and enjoy "lover boy" :inlove: