Weaning Off Anti-depressants And Anti Anxiety Medications. How To Deal With Arising Feelings?

[ms spock]

I am now off the last of the half tablet.

I am finding it really hard.

I am so grateful that I will see my psychriatrist tomorrow morning.

 

[The Albatross]

You're brain chemistry and body are resetting to your new normal... without the med. Ride it out and glad you see your therapist tomorrow. You will get some feedback about what you are experiencing face to face. That's never a bad thing. :hug:

 

[ms spock]

The SI, distress, anxiety and the feelings of overwhelm are pretty full on The Albatross. I am determined to ride it out and wait until my brain resets to normal. This is the next important step for me.

The profound grief over not having a family and the loss and lack of human connection in my life has really come up. I am finding it tough going.

I will get there though.

 

[The Albatross]

I shared with you that if I didn't know I was going through withdrawal...I would have went right back on before it normalized. I would have given up too soon. I won't lie, it was a bit more uncomfortable than being on the med. But, I wasn't flat anymore either. I had a toe hold because I knew what it felt like to be "near normal" when under the med. I had something to shoot for and endeavored to achieve it on my own. It can happen... it can normalize, honest. Bring that article I sent you to your Therapist and see what he (she?) says. Make an informed opinion... not one under duress. That's my motto and it serves me well.

You know I'm your number one cheerleader gal, and am mindfully sending you healing vibes and asking for minimum distress.

 

[ms spock]

Barring my psychriatrist actually instructing me to go back on the medications I won't be going back on The Albatross. She is well aware of how rugged it can be and she reminded me to keep that in mind last week. I am in for the long haul.

I am not saying I won't report back and possibly complain a bit at times but I am determined to do this. I want to lift my level of physical activity to discharge the extra emotion, if I can.

 

[The Albatross]

Keep in mind what your gaining... rather than what your losing. You're gaining personal freedom from some meds that make you feel flat and medicated. You're going to have access to the higher range emotions. I couldn't do that on Effexor. It is like learning how to walk on a balance beam and smile and appreciate the applause all at the same time. It can be done. It is worth it in the longer term. Honest.

 

[ms spock]

I so want to get there The Albatross.

 

[ms spock]

It is really hard. Finding being alive really hard. The feelings are overwhelming.

 

[HëllaBubz]

I'm with ya hun.

I'm off medication at the moment, and this is week 3 off meds.

Withdrawal is hard, really hard.

I found that sleeping as much as I could, going out to a quiet shop and drinking tea and a slice of cake.

I'm here for support if you need me, I know it's not the same cos I'm pregnant, but I still kinda get pretty bad.

xo

Bubzie

 

[HëllaBubz]

Just keep in mind that you need to remember what the good times felt like, and that it IS possible to feel like that again.

Hold in there hun, I know it's rocky, but here's a :hug: if it will help.

 

[ms spock]

I am still hanging in there.

 

[NarcSis]

I feel for you Ms. Spock and I'm sending you strength, you can weather this small storm, you've already come through the worst gail. Have you ever watched the movie Saving Private Ryan? In one scene Lt. Dan is up on the mast of a boat in the middle of a wild storm and he's essentially saying, "You can't beat me cause I've already been to hell." (totally paraphrased there) but that's where you are right now, you're up on that mast, shaking your fist at the world in defiance. :)

I was on low dose meds for about a year? Wow, not even sure how long, anyway, I've taken myself off of them over the past few months by decreasing the dose and I am still experiencing a slight discontinuation syndrome. There is no dependance upon the meds, your brain simply gets used to functioning with them in place, and it functions differently that it would without them, so once they're gone, the brain is simply trying to figure out how to operate without them again. It's a learning curve, acclimatization curve, whatever you want to call it.

I looked up my meds and some of the symptoms of discontinuation can be things like sudden displaced anger or weeping, SI can occur, rebound depression and strange physical symptoms like auditory/visual hallucinations or disturbances. These are perfectly normal when having stopped your meds,(even if weaned off of them) but what you have to remember is that while you were on the meds you were learning skills to deal with these precise issues, removing the meds does not remove your skills. The skills are in your power.

I'm taking the acceptance stance. My brain is being purged of something and it is trying, like me, to figure out how to function again. I can help it by staying calm, soothing myself when I need to, remind myself when I start crying out of the blue while doing dishes that it is simply a discontinuation symptom, nothing more and does not reflect on me or my abilities. Keep labelling the symptoms and telling yourself you can rise above them and you will remove their "power" over you.

Hugs if you need them. :hug: