Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems


Altostrata

Recommended Posts

  • Administrator

Discussing common symptoms, here are some topics that may answer your questions. Click on the links and add to these topics if you wish.

 

Please also use site search or Google search on this site for other topics about drugs, tests, supplements, symptoms.

 

Also see What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

What is happening in your brain?

 

Important topics about tests, supplements, treatments, diet

 

_______________________________________

DEALING WITH DOCTORS

 

How to talk to a doctor about tapering and withdrawal? What to expect?

 

How good are naturopaths and other alternative practitioners?

 

_______________________________________

DIFFERENTIATING FROM RELAPSE

 

Withdrawal or relapse? Or something else?

 

Bona Fide Emotional Pain or Clinical Depression? Are ANY Psychiatric Conditions Real?

 

Delayed onset of withdrawal symptoms

 

_______________________________________

DIAGNOSIS OF WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

 

Papers on diagnosis of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome

 

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen's withdrawal symptom checklist

 

Dysautonomia (autonomic dysregulation)

 

_______________________________________

PATTERNS OF HEALING

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Are We There Yet? How Long is Withdrawal Going to Take?

 

"Is it always going to be like this?"

 

The importance of recognizing you're feeling good

 

Creating a new self after withdrawal

 

Protracted Withdrawal or PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome)

 

Progress! What withdrawal symptoms have gone away for you?

 

Withdrawal dialogues & encouragement

 

_______________________________________

ELECTRICAL SENSATIONS & PARESTHESIAS

 

Brain Zaps: What, When and Why??

 

Paresthesia: Pins & Needles, Numbness, Tingling, Burning Sensations aka Neuropathy

 

Instant relief for tingling in extremeties

 

Burning sensations from withdrawal -- skin, mouth, head, elsewhere

 

Skin issues: hives, acne, dryness,itching  etc.

 

_______________________________________

DEMOTIVATION & EMOTIONAL ANESTHESIA

 

Derealization or Depersonalization

 

Overwhelmed, demotivated, apathetic? Cannot get going on interest or action

 

Apathy, anhedonia, emotional numbness, emotional anesthesia

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Journaling / Journalling / Writing therapy / Therapeutic Writing

 

Withdrawal dialogues and encouragement

 

"Is it always going to be like this?"

 

The importance of recognizing you're feeling good

 

"Forest bathing" reduces cortisol, aids mood, immune system

 

_______________________________________

UNUSUAL AND OVERPOWERING EMOTIONS

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Neuro-emotions

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

"Change the channel" - dealing with cognitive symptoms

 

Dealing With Emotional Spirals

 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

 

Health anxiety, hypochondria, and obsession with symptoms

 

Deep emotional pain and crying spells, spontaneous weeping

 

Sudden fear, terror, panic, or anxiety from withdrawal

 

Coping with irritation, anger and rage

 

For those who are feeling desperate or suicidal

 

_______________________________________

SLEEP PROBLEMS

 

What is the sleep cycle?

 

Waking with panic or anxiety -- managing the morning cortisol spike

 

Tips to help sleep -- so many of us have that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

Path to Better Sleep FREE online for everyone from the US Veterans Administration

 

Music for self-care: Calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

White noise devices for sleep

 

Melatonin for sleep: Many people find it helpful

 

TV or computer use in evening can disrupt sleep: Bright light signals the brain that it's daytime

 

Strange sensations while falling asleep -- surges, zaps, jerks

 

Hypnic / hypnagogic jerks when falling asleep

 

Nightmare While Awake? Sleep Paralysis, Hypnogogic Hallucinations, etc.

 

Light boxes/light therapy for depression and sleep disorders

 

Update on milk peptides for sleep: Our friend Lactium again  


Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker

 

L-arginine for sleep  

 

Glycine for sleep?  

 

L-ornithine for sleep  

 

Taurine (L-taurine amino acid) for sleep  

 

L-Theanine for anxiety, insomnia  

 

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) and tryptophan  

 

Sleep and amino poop out -- rotate aminos  

 

Valerian root

 

_______________________________________

SURGES OF ANXIETY, ACTIVATION, TENSION

 

Waking with panic or anxiety -- managing the morning cortisol spike

 

Gianna Kali's toolbox for coping with withdrawal syndrome

 

Best CBT techniques for anxiety and/or depression?

 

"Forest bathing" reduces cortisol, aids mood, immune system

 

More about how light stimulation affects our body clocks

 

_______________________________________

HYPERSENSITIVITIES OR KINDLING

 

Post-withdrawal nervous system hypersensitivity or kindling

 

Hypersensitivity to drugs, foods, and supplements?

 

Increased sensitivity to light, noise, sound, exercise etc

 

Inactivity may make sympathetic nervous system hypersensitive...

 

Light-sensitive? Try blocking out blue light

 

Computer Program Adjusts Blue Light to Time of Day

 

Increased sensitivity to emotional content: TV, violent movies, music, conversations.

 

skin photosensitivity: a listed side effect

 

Light flashes made me sick?

 

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity vs hypersensitized nervous system

 

_______________________________________

BODY ACHES AND PHYSICAL PAIN

 

Body aches

 

Non-drug techniques for dealing with body pain

 

Non-drug techniques to ease chronic pain

 

Facial tics, jaw, tongue muscle tension and pain, bruxism, teeth clenching, TMJ

 

Tension, pain, twitches, excruciating spasms in muscles and joints

 

Paresthesia: Pins & Needles, Numbness, Tingling, Burning Sensations aka Neuropathy

 

_______________________________________

POST-SSRI SEXUAL PROBLEMS

 

Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD)

 

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)

 

_______________________________________

OTHER WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

 

Dizziness, vertigo, light-headedness, rocking or swaying sensations

 

What to do for dizziness , queasiness, nausea

 

Severe lightheadedness and fainting

 

breathlessness anyone?

 

Body Temperature Dysregulation: fever, chills, shivering,..

 

PMS, PMDD, and menstrual cycle issues during withdrawal and after

 

Tinnitus -- What does all that noise mean?

 

Head noise and other symptoms in the head

 

Migraines, Headaches, Neck Ache and Head Pressure

 

Akathisia vs restlessness, anxiety, agitation

 

Blog: My Akathisia Experience by akathisiainfo

 

Weighted blankets & bed tents for restlessness, akathisia, insomnia, and anxiety

 

tremors, shaking, body vibration, internal trembling

 

Tardive dyskinesia or involuntary movements

 

Irregular heartbeats, palpitations, tachycardia, bradycardia

 

_______________________________________

FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND NON-IRRITATING DIETS

 

Food sensitivities

 

Caffeine  in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks: Tolerance issues

 

Eating as an activating factor

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

Histamine intolerance

 

SCD/GAPS/Paleo Diets

 

Cut down on sugar to improve mental health

 

Make your own Kombucha!

 

Alcohol craving on SSRIs

 

Probiotics and gut health

 

Gluten and depression

 

Gut health influences emotions, thinking

 

_______________________________________

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DRUGS

 

Adverse reactions to an antidepressant within a few doses -- how long for recovery?

 

Protracted withdrawal or Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) -- How long does it last?

 

Serotonin Syndrome or Serotonin Toxicity

 

Drugs and Kidney Issues

 

Tardive dyskinesia or involuntary movements

 

Tongue symptoms of antipsychotics

Edited by Altostrata
updated

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Please can anyone help I've dropped from 37.5 to 24.5 mg of effexor 6 weeks ago I had a reasonable spell after initially finding it very tough but in the last week I have completely fallen apart I feel agitated aggressive confused I can't get my words out I just feel I can't do one more day like this I have a two year old daughter and iam trying so hard to hold it together for her but this is just unbearable should I try stick it out or have I actually done damage there is nothing in my life to make me feel angry or aggressive so I can only put it down to medication any help Is welcome i feel desperate at this stage 

I was previously on lexapro 10 mg from August 2011 to November 22 the Effexor 75 mg from November 22 to currently 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/4/2024 at 3:39 PM, paulk23 said:

Please can anyone help I've dropped from 37.5 to 24.5 mg of effexor 6 weeks ago I had a reasonable spell after initially finding it very tough but in the last week I have completely fallen apart I feel agitated aggressive confused I can't get my words out I just feel I can't do one more day like this I have a two year old daughter and iam trying so hard to hold it together for her but this is just unbearable should I try stick it out or have I actually done damage there is nothing in my life to make me feel angry or aggressive so I can only put it down to medication any help Is welcome i feel desperate at this stage 

Hi Paul. I'm sorry you're having such a rough time of it. I can't give you any advice on what to do as for sticking out your dose or updosing etc. But what you can do is ask your questions in your own thread "paulk23: Tapering to fast", which you started a while back in the "Introductions and Updates" subforum. You should get some help there.

Olanzapine (5mg) started June 2023 - This is the only drug I'm currently taking, haven't used any other psych drugs.

After 4 weeks dropped to 2.5mg for 5 days then dropped to 1.25mg for 3 days, withdrawals commenced. I then took a single dose of 3.75mg. Then went to 2.5mg. since July 19

Hoping to hold at 2.5mg  and GODWILLING I will STABILIZE.

I can't tell WD symptoms from Long Covid symptoms. I think a bit of both, and I think my quick earlier taper has made the LC symptoms worse ... what to do.

Update: Sept 28 2023: -2.5%   Oct 5: -2.5%   Oct 12: -2.5%   Oct 19: -5%   Oct 29: -5%   Nov 10: -5%  2.0mg  Nov 20:  -5%  1.9mg  Nov 30:  -5%  1.8mg  Dec 12:  1.75mg   Dec 22: 1.70mg

Dec 29: 1.65mg Jan 06/24: 1.60mg  Jan 14: 1.55mg Jan 25: 1.50mg   Feb 12: Updose to 1.55mg

(percentage drops are from previous dose)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy