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☼ Irishwill 2015 Extremely positive and long overdue update


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Hope you don't mind a newbie chiming in. But I wonder if quitting alcohol was a big part of your difficulty as well. What do you think?  Seems I can get "addicted" to caffeine after drinking just two cups a day for a week.

 

Being subjective, I think abstaining from anything, caffeine included is good to show your true benchmark.

 

When you say a big part of my difficulty, could you clarify? I am just wondering if you mean during withdrawal or in life.

 

Irish

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Irishwill, thank for your encouraging update.

I am at 37 months off and still struggling.

I have a question for you:do you have any sexual problems?

4 years aprox. on 150mgs.Effexor for situational major depression.No AD before.
Tapered 150-0mgs in 3 months.

Tapered Quetiapine,Xanax in the last 18 months.NO med of any kind anymore.
First 3 months off acute w/d
Protracted w/d ever since.
Symptoms:Anxiety,anhedonia,insomnia,tinnitus,PSSD

04/13/2014 Awful Relapse.Recovered fairly fast.

3 years and 4 months off.

waves and windows.Very much recovered.

November 2015,health issue.Setback.
 

 

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Irishwill, thank for your encouraging update.

I am at 37 months off and still struggling.

I have a question for you:do you have any sexual problems?

I actually have very few sexual problems, early on absolutely. I had very little function and zero desire early on.

 

Now, no functional issues. I will say when I get stressed I have less desire but I feel that is normal. I also sometimes get adrenaline spikes when I am done, this doesn't bother me much as I realize what it is but for a while I couldn't do anything before bed or else I wouldn't sleep, that issue has resolved but still spikes. If you have any more questions, want clarification, or would like to dive deeper into this please PM me as I know this can be a sensitive issue,

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Thank you for your quick response.

My main symptom-problem in this terrible process has been out of charts anxiety.

Now is getting much better, but in my sexual reations, it shows in the form of premature ejaculation, and dysphoria after orgasm.

It comes and goes in intensity, just like the waves and windows.

My fear is, just like a lot of people, that this could be permanent.

Horrible damage these drugs can make.

4 years aprox. on 150mgs.Effexor for situational major depression.No AD before.
Tapered 150-0mgs in 3 months.

Tapered Quetiapine,Xanax in the last 18 months.NO med of any kind anymore.
First 3 months off acute w/d
Protracted w/d ever since.
Symptoms:Anxiety,anhedonia,insomnia,tinnitus,PSSD

04/13/2014 Awful Relapse.Recovered fairly fast.

3 years and 4 months off.

waves and windows.Very much recovered.

November 2015,health issue.Setback.
 

 

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Irishwill2015,  Thank you so much for the detailed recovery story.  I know it wasn't easy to go through and remember all of that; but you did it.  That was phenomenal and I will be printing it and referring to it often.

 

I really like when you said you will not be what you were before all of this, but a different but better version of yourself.  I have felt this way for a while but struggled to put it into words.

 

Question, did you ever struggle with any sexual side effects of the SSRI?  I have been off for a year and a half and this one symptom is the most persistent and the most alarming to me.  I have improved in so many areas but this one remains the same.  Like Alex, I struggle thinking this might be permanent.

 

Anyways, thanks again for the wonderful write up.

Mid 2006-Early 2013  Celexa 40 MG, Xanax .50, Trazadone 50 MG - No problems with side effects

Very fast-few weeks taper in Early 2013 off all medication.

Crashed summer 2013 Went back on all meds same dosage (different brand of Celexa) Sept 2013. 

 

Sexual Side Effects (which I never had before) begun December 2013.  Off Celexa February 2014.  Xanax remained while Trazadone done in August 2014.

Continue to experience complete PSSD to this day with sadly no signs of improvement yet.

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Irishwill2015,  Thank you so much for the detailed recovery story.  I know it wasn't easy to go through and remember all of that; but you did it.  That was phenomenal and I will be printing it and referring to it often.

 

I really like when you said you will not be what you were before all of this, but a different but better version of yourself.  I have felt this way for a while but struggled to put it into words.

 

Question, did you ever struggle with any sexual side effects of the SSRI?  I have been off for a year and a half and this one symptom is the most persistent and the most alarming to me.  I have improved in so many areas but this one remains the same.  Like Alex, I struggle thinking this might be permanent.

 

Anyways, thanks again for the wonderful write up.

 I am glad I could help and I appreciate the kind words.

 

I think sex is something that makes us feel great but in this process of WD it can be hard to feel good no matter what. It is also a very psychological experience as well, a lot of pressure and climax. I doubt this is permanent. I think it comes back when you start to feel more comfortable in general and when you are with someone whom is caring and understanding. I think it is important not to put too much stress on yourself or set any expectations. My best advice would be to observe what's happening but not look too into it or scare yourself with the idea of permanence. Virtually nothing in this life is permanent, especially the "damage" caused by these drugs. This is just a very sensitive issue for you and we tend to focus on the things that haven't come back and fixate on them.

 

Give it time, it worked for me.

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Thank you for your quick response.

My main symptom-problem in this terrible process has been out of charts anxiety.

Now is getting much better, but in my sexual reations, it shows in the form of premature ejaculation, and dysphoria after orgasm.

It comes and goes in intensity, just like the waves and windows.

My fear is, just like a lot of people, that this could be permanent.

Horrible damage these drugs can make.

 

Alex, I can relate to the dysphoria. Sometimes I will be numb or feel like I am dull after sex. I think it may be because our bodies aren't use to feeling great so it will take some time. I don't always feel that way but I did early on. It remains but it typically disappears an hour or so after and occurs when I am already tired or melancholy as is. I will agree it is odd to feel drained and dull after but I bet that goes away. It doesn't bother me to the degree I have it now.

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Hi Irishwill,

 

Your story is truly inspirational.

It almost brought tears to my eyes.

It is stories like this that brings hope to others

It is fantastic that you have managed to turn your life around.

A lot of the things that you wrote about, I can relate to,including experiencing things that you thought were not possible in this life time.

Thank you, Best wishes, Hopefull.

When you were in WD, did you experience andrinellin surges?

DRUG HISTORY:

 

November 2013- Zoloft, ( Bad reaction).

January 2014 - March 2014 Seroquel.( Quit Cold Turkey).

January2014- Mirtazapine, I was taking 15mg at one stage, reduced to 7.5mg, Pgad reactions to Mirtazapine. Doctor kept increasing it to 37.5mg, until July 2014. No improvement, experiencing panic attacks, on 37.5 mg. I had enough by October 2014. Began tapering.

October 2014- Started tapering Mirtazapine from 37.5mg.

September 2015- Down to 4mg of Mirtazapine. Crashed.

September 16th- Up dosed to 5mg. Held this dose for almost 5 months. Stabilised.

February 2016- Began tapering again. From 5mg to 4.5mg of Mirtazapine. (Rocking the boat, again)! Lol. :(

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Absolutely did. Early in the morning at 5 am were the worst. Also I would get them randomly throughout the day causing instability. I get them from time to time and find magnesium helps me stay calm but they are no where near what they were and truthfully it doesn't bother me at all, a minor nuisance.

 

Hope you're doing well and continue to see improvement!

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Absolutely did. Early in the morning at 5 am were the worst. Also I would get them randomly throughout the day causing instability. I get them from time to time and find magnesium helps me stay calm but they are no where near what they were and truthfully it doesn't bother me at all, a minor nuisance.

 

Hope you're doing well and continue to see improvement!

 

Irish, I too got the adrenaline rushes, usually at either 3am or 5am.  Absolutely the worst time b/c it interrupts your night and I am left dreading the day before it has even gotten started.  Luckily, I don't seem to have this symptom any more on a consistent basis.  It more so pops up like you said at random times and is more annoying than alarming.  To those who are struggling with panic/adrenaline rushes, they can be managed and overcome.

Mid 2006-Early 2013  Celexa 40 MG, Xanax .50, Trazadone 50 MG - No problems with side effects

Very fast-few weeks taper in Early 2013 off all medication.

Crashed summer 2013 Went back on all meds same dosage (different brand of Celexa) Sept 2013. 

 

Sexual Side Effects (which I never had before) begun December 2013.  Off Celexa February 2014.  Xanax remained while Trazadone done in August 2014.

Continue to experience complete PSSD to this day with sadly no signs of improvement yet.

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Hi Irishwill,

 

I get those dreadful andrinellin surges, when I am destabilized from making a cut.

It is not as intense as it used to be.

I had periods when I was free from it.

 

Did those surges feel different to panic attacks?

Thank you for your answer. Hopefull. :)

DRUG HISTORY:

 

November 2013- Zoloft, ( Bad reaction).

January 2014 - March 2014 Seroquel.( Quit Cold Turkey).

January2014- Mirtazapine, I was taking 15mg at one stage, reduced to 7.5mg, Pgad reactions to Mirtazapine. Doctor kept increasing it to 37.5mg, until July 2014. No improvement, experiencing panic attacks, on 37.5 mg. I had enough by October 2014. Began tapering.

October 2014- Started tapering Mirtazapine from 37.5mg.

September 2015- Down to 4mg of Mirtazapine. Crashed.

September 16th- Up dosed to 5mg. Held this dose for almost 5 months. Stabilised.

February 2016- Began tapering again. From 5mg to 4.5mg of Mirtazapine. (Rocking the boat, again)! Lol. :(

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Irishwill, did you have DP/DR?

CD off meds in July 2015, not on any medication since. Went through WD nightmare, now dealing with normal anxiety, but decided not to leave this forum yet because I want to support and give hope to others. ♡

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Hello Irishwill,

Thank you for your inspiration! You have made my day!

I would like to know if you ever had a problem with nausea during your withdrawal?

I'm on 1800 mg of gabapentin 3x600, .325 Klonopin(.25 in am, .125 afternoon), in the evening I take cymbalta 30mg down from 60mg, remeron 30mg and lamictal 100 mg. Nausea and anxiety are my worst symptoms. C

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Hi Irishwill,

 

I get those dreadful andrinellin surges, when I am destabilized from making a cut.

It is not as intense as it used to be.

I had periods when I was free from it.

 

Did those surges feel different to panic attacks?

Thank you for your answer. Hopefull. :)

 

Great Question: Do they feel different than panic attacks. I think they are a part of panic attacks but I try not to get too technical and granular trying to compare and contrast the two. We can all agree they both suck. The surges only came back a little for me in the morning but they are totally gone now. It takes the body time to calibrate again and the only true thing I can tell you is that it won't stick around forever. Magnesium, once again, helped with the surges and also just waiting them out knowing they won't last forever.

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Irishwill, did you have DP/DR?

 

Yes I did. It was the weirdest thing like I was in a dream or more appropriate a nightmare. I do not have this anymore, not even moments of it which is weird. I had it for a while and the best way I can describe it, it was like watching my life like a TV show and not having emotions at the appropriate time if at all. It is like reality and timing was not inline with my thinking so it felt almost delayed or lagged if that make sense to you.

 

I can't tell you exactly when it went away I just know I feel in the moment now, as before I felt anything but in the moment.

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Irishwill, did you have DP/DR?

Yes I did. It was the weirdest thing like I was in a dream or more appropriate a nightmare. I do not have this anymore, not even moments of it which is weird. I had it for a while and the best way I can describe it, it was like watching my life like a TV show and not having emotions at the appropriate time if at all. It is like reality and timing was not inline with my thinking so it felt almost delayed or lagged if that make sense to you.

 

I can't tell you exactly when it went away I just know I feel in the moment now, as before I felt anything but in the moment.

Irishwill,

 

Did you feel like your vision was looking through a two panes of glass? Like servadei, DP/DR his is my most persistent symptom.

It varies in intensity but it always there.

 

So glad to hear you are better!

Lexapro from October 2012-October 2014

10mg from Oct 2012-Feb 201320mg from Feb 2013-June 201310mg from July 2013-April 2014
Began taper via liquid Lexapro from April 2014-September 2014(Roughly 6 month taper)---0.00 on Oct 1 2014--WD began in December 2014

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reinstated to 10mg - 10mg Tablet October 15, 2015 - Stable by Mid-January, 2016

2016 - 9mg 3/26/16....8mg 5/11/16....7mg 7/05/16....6mg 8/26/16....5mg 10/31/16

2017 - 4mg 3/06/17....3mg 6/24/17....2mg 9/07/17...1.25mg 10/21/17....1mg 11/04/2017

2018 - 0.75mg 1/21/18....0.5mg 2/18/18....0.25mg 3/13/18....0.125mg 3/27/18....0.000 4/9/18

 

Supplements - 15B probiotic on and off. Usually helps w/ mood but sometimes is too activating.

 

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Hello Irishwill,

Thank you for your inspiration! You have made my day!

I would like to know if you ever had a problem with nausea during your withdrawal?

 

Honestly, I felt so sick from other symptoms I never really focused on nausea or if I did experience it I never labeled it nausea, I probably called it something else. That is the issue with this WD, many people experience similar things but there are so many different names for the symptoms by the time it's done you feel you have experienced them all. I think people can get really caught up in trying to nail down each symptom, it provides us comfort to at least know what we are experiencing isn't rare and that other people can relate.

 

Nausea, could be a really hard thing for some people and not for others. For me, it wasn't a big deal because other symptoms were so much worse my brain couldn't fixate on all the problems. Not to downplay your nausea, as I am sure it was bad, but that wasn't in my primary worst issues so I can't really recall. I can tell you I don't have it now and can't remember having it recently, but perhaps in the early stages yes.

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Irishwill, did you have DP/DR?

Yes I did. It was the weirdest thing like I was in a dream or more appropriate a nightmare. I do not have this anymore, not even moments of it which is weird. I had it for a while and the best way I can describe it, it was like watching my life like a TV show and not having emotions at the appropriate time if at all. It is like reality and timing was not inline with my thinking so it felt almost delayed or lagged if that make sense to you.

 

I can't tell you exactly when it went away I just know I feel in the moment now, as before I felt anything but in the moment.

Irishwill,

 

Did you feel like your vision was looking through a two panes of glass? Like servadei, DP/DR his is my most persistent symptom.

It varies in intensity but it always there.

 

So glad to hear you are better!

Lexapro from October 2012-October 2014

10mg from Oct 2012-Feb 201320mg from Feb 2013-June 201310mg from July 2013-April 2014
Began taper via liquid Lexapro from April 2014-September 2014(Roughly 6 month taper)---0.00 on Oct 1 2014--WD began in December 2014

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reinstated to 10mg - 10mg Tablet October 15, 2015 - Stable by Mid-January, 2016

2016 - 9mg 3/26/16....8mg 5/11/16....7mg 7/05/16....6mg 8/26/16....5mg 10/31/16

2017 - 4mg 3/06/17....3mg 6/24/17....2mg 9/07/17...1.25mg 10/21/17....1mg 11/04/2017

2018 - 0.75mg 1/21/18....0.5mg 2/18/18....0.25mg 3/13/18....0.125mg 3/27/18....0.000 4/9/18

 

Supplements - 15B probiotic on and off. Usually helps w/ mood but sometimes is too activating.

 

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Irishwill, did you have DP/DR?

Yes I did. It was the weirdest thing like I was in a dream or more appropriate a nightmare. I do not have this anymore, not even moments of it which is weird. I had it for a while and the best way I can describe it, it was like watching my life like a TV show and not having emotions at the appropriate time if at all. It is like reality and timing was not inline with my thinking so it felt almost delayed or lagged if that make sense to you.

 

I can't tell you exactly when it went away I just know I feel in the moment now, as before I felt anything but in the moment.

Irishwill,

 

Did you feel like your vision was looking through a two panes of glass? Like servadei, DP/DR his is my most persistent symptom.

It varies in intensity but it always there.

 

So glad to hear you are better!

 

Horns,

 

I think we try and explain these symptoms with things that seem most common to us therefore it seems like people experience so many different symptoms. It felt awful, uncomfortable in my own skin as if I wasn't living. In simplest terms, it wasn't reality, the reality I had known my whole life before this. Everything felt out of place. It fades slowly but surely.

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Anybody recover from memory loss?

Been on 1 year cymbalta, 1 year  pristiq, zoloft 2 years nad seroquel 2 years.Now I've been off everything since February 2015. so 6 months free. Still have insomnia, short term memory problems, brain fog these are the only problems hope they will improve.

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By memory loss what exactly do you mean. For example, are you referring to past memories from childhood or like day to day week to week memory?

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Irishwill thanks for paying it forward. This is a great thread, your giving lots of hope to us. 

Was on 30mg (Lexapro) for 7-8yrs20mg for 3 months (This was my choice my Doc wanted me to drop much faster)15 mg 2week10mg 2 weeks 5 mg 1 week0 since August 24th . PPI Dexlant  30 mg taper has begun. Cutting 20% currently.  using zantac as needed.  Benzo is currently 0.10mg 

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"I had to go it alone after a while, reading the forums stopped helping me and started to become an obsession. I waited for healing to occur rather than being an active participant in my recovery."

 

"I want you all to know, you don’t have to go to a top school, or get a high paying job, and truthfully, just being alive is great to me, you just have to make a choice, a choice to start living or at the very least keep surviving, because I sure as hell know sometimes all you can do is hang on."

 

" after a while you need to take ownership of your life and move forward and focus on getting better. If this helps you, then keep going, but treat yourself and get better in real life too."

 

“It’s not about how you feel, it’s about still doing what you want to do despite not feeling well that will make the difference, accomplishments still feel great even when you don’t”

 

Thanks for writing your very inspiring story Irishwill. The quotes above are the things that stand out the most for me in what you've written....because they ring true for me too. I still find benefits to the forum at this point, but I'm deeply committed to finding my own healing. I avoid reading some threads at times, because I can become obsessed with what if and don't find that helpful.

 

I wish you continued healing and success in life. I think that what you've learned and how you came through this experience will carry you well through the rest of your life.

Remeron for depression. Started at 7.5 mg. in 2005. Gradual increases over 8 years, up to 45 mg. in 2012.Began tapering in June 2013. Went from 45 to 30 mg in the first 3-4 months. Held for a couple of months.Started tapering by 3.75 mg every month or 2, with some longer holding periods. Eventually went down to 3.75 mg. about April 2014. Stopped taking Remeron August 2014. Developed issues with histamine a week after stopping--symptoms reduced through diet and a few supplements. Currently having issues with a few foods. Most of the histamine intolerance has resolved or is at least, in remission.

Current Medications:

Current Supplements: Cannabis (CBD and THC), Vitamin C, D, Quercetin, CoQ10, Tart Cherry, Probiotic, Phytoplankton oil, magnesium, Methyl B. What has helped me most: spending time in nature, qi gong, exercise, healthy diet, meditation, IV vitamins, homeopathy, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, music, and cuddling my cats..

My introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8459-mirtazapine-withdrawal-freespirit/#entry144282

Please note: I am not a therapist or medical practitioner. Any suggestions offered come solely from my personal experience in recovering from childhood trauma, therapy, and AD use. Please seek appropriate care for yourself.

 

“After a cruel childhood, one must reinvent oneself. Then re-imagine the world.”
Mary Oliver
 

 

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I'm glad you are doing well irishwill

off cold turkey:zoloft, trileptal, stratteracurrently on:<p>latuda .05 milligrams latuda (to stabilize cns) from 20 mgs 4 months ago.

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Irishwill thanks for paying it forward. This is a great thread, your giving lots of hope to us. 

Mort,

 

Thank you. Hope is very important during all this. Their are a lot of success stories and it is important to surround yourself with those.

 

I wish you the best and hope when you feel you're there, you share your success story as well!

 

Irish

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"I had to go it alone after a while, reading the forums stopped helping me and started to become an obsession. I waited for healing to occur rather than being an active participant in my recovery."

 

"I want you all to know, you don’t have to go to a top school, or get a high paying job, and truthfully, just being alive is great to me, you just have to make a choice, a choice to start living or at the very least keep surviving, because I sure as hell know sometimes all you can do is hang on."

 

" after a while you need to take ownership of your life and move forward and focus on getting better. If this helps you, then keep going, but treat yourself and get better in real life too."

 

“It’s not about how you feel, it’s about still doing what you want to do despite not feeling well that will make the difference, accomplishments still feel great even when you don’t”

 

Thanks for writing your very inspiring story Irishwill. The quotes above are the things that stand out the most for me in what you've written....because they ring true for me too. I still find benefits to the forum at this point, but I'm deeply committed to finding my own healing. I avoid reading some threads at times, because I can become obsessed with what if and don't find that helpful.

 

I wish you continued healing and success in life. I think that what you've learned and how you came through this experience will carry you well through the rest of your life.

 

Free spirit,

 

First and foremost thank you for your kind and sincere words.

 

As far as those quotations you pulled, those are some of my most true and heartfelt lines. Do not read the horror threads. They don't include every detail and truthfully, there is no way of knowing whether that person is doing all the right things or not. Treat yourself well and try to find the beauty in life no matter what and eventually it will transform.

 

I wish you the best and I hope you know people do get better, it doesn't happen over night but people do get better when they do the right things.

 

Irish

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Irishwill2015, what an amazing story. I have a couple of questions, when you were in graduate school were your wd symptoms noticeable to people? Where you able able to hide your withdrawal symptoms? I am working through this wd a couple of days and people have noticed a change in me because of my withdrawal symptoms.

" I waited for healing to occur rather than being an active participant in my recovery". It's great that you took matters into your own hands and begun to accomplish things even though you felt unwell. I am 20 months off and I would like to go back to school but can't do much or else I will get horrible waves or get worse and feel destabilized. I am just waiting to get better and one of the things that is repeated in this site is that "wd will subside with time" and "to limit the stressors on a destabilized cns".With all your stressors during wd did it cause a worsening of wd symptoms?

Celexa 20mg 2008-2012 for Social Anxiety

Failed attempt to stop reinstated

1 year taper skipping doses

Celexa free 12/2013

1/2014-5/2014 took 5 htp every other day

Failed Reinstatement 5mg of Celexa on 12/2014 for 5 days only

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there is hope nice ending 'Irishwill'

Sertraline 100mg amytrip 60mg diazepam 4mg (and when needed) since late 90's.Reduced all meds over 6 wks (too short) last doses 13 wks ago.Still having withdrawals.I would have done it differently

5th august 2015 reinstated 5mg amytripiline.increased to 10mg amtrip 9th sept 2015.

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Irishwill2015, what an amazing story. I have a couple of questions, when you were in graduate school were your wd symptoms noticeable to people? Where you able able to hide your withdrawal symptoms? I am working through this wd a couple of days and people have noticed a change in me because of my withdrawal symptoms.

" I waited for healing to occur rather than being an active participant in my recovery". It's great that you took matters into your own hands and begun to accomplish things even though you felt unwell. I am 20 months off and I would like to go back to school but can't do much or else I will get horrible waves or get worse and feel destabilized. I am just waiting to get better and one of the things that is repeated in this site is that "wd will subside with time" and "to limit the stressors on a destabilized cns".With all your stressors during wd did it cause a worsening of wd symptoms?

I thought for sure people would notice but at graduate school no one really knew me from before so if I was quieter or less social who would have really know.

I don't think sitting back and letting ourselves heal is a smart approach. I say this because of my own experience but also think about people who are healing from any other disease. Sitting idle is never the answer, one must move but move within the restrictions and parameters that aid to recovery. For me, the stress of school, which was heavy, felt like it was hurting at first but it was really building me up, forcing me to be somewhere and to accomplish things. I got to the point where I wasn't going to let WD scare me or prevent me from accomplishing what I wanted anymore. It took enough from me it wasn't going to get more.

I feel like sitting this seemingly safe setting I was able to build myself up and prove to myself I can do it. It's like being scared to try something then doing it and forgetting what the initial fear was all about. Once I did something once I knew I could do it again.

This is not easy and may feel like you are hurting yourself in the beginning but I feel it expedited my recovery. Move and be apart of life despite feeling like your life is gone. It won't magically come back, there won't be a day where you say "I can do this all now", you have to create that day and you do that by going beyond fear and chasing what you want out of life. The worst thing I could of done was wait for a magic day to proceed with life.

You can do it-just do it the right way and within a reasonable level of risk vs comfort.

Irish

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Are you able to work and function pretty well now, irish?

off cold turkey:zoloft, trileptal, stratteracurrently on:<p>latuda .05 milligrams latuda (to stabilize cns) from 20 mgs 4 months ago.

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Are you able to work and function pretty well now, irish?

off cold turkey:zoloft, trileptal, stratteracurrently on:<p>latuda .05 milligrams latuda (to stabilize cns) from 20 mgs 4 months ago.

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I'm actually doing what you're doing, irish, or have done, that is, forcing myself to function and move and work. Of course you can't do that when you're immobile due to pain but I'm grateful I'm painfree most days!

off cold turkey:zoloft, trileptal, stratteracurrently on:<p>latuda .05 milligrams latuda (to stabilize cns) from 20 mgs 4 months ago.

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Free spirit,

 

I wish you the best and I hope you know people do get better, it doesn't happen over night but people do get better when they do the right things.

 

Irish

 

 

I very much agree that healing happens, and that we need to fully participate by finding and doing the right things. A number of years ago, I recovered from a brain injury by going back to school shortly after my MVA. It was very difficult, as I had a lot of the same issues as WD, combined with PTSD. When I finally got in to see a neurologist, he told me I'd done the best thing I could do, by challenging my brain.

 

I haven't felt through wd that sitting and waiting was even a remote option for me. I've had some days where I was too ill to do a lot, but I've always tried to do something. Even very small achievements are something to build on...I started off riding my indoor bike 10 minutes a day, 3 or 4 days a week. I'm up to riding 2 or 2 1/2 hours outside now..and that happened over about 8 months. I'm doing my best to build a life while I'm healing, not waiting to do it when healing is complete.

 

Again, thanks for your inspiration and for staying around to carry on the conversation. I know sometimes when you leave something behind, you have zero desire to revisit it...I hope in some way, that this part helps you on your journey too.

Remeron for depression. Started at 7.5 mg. in 2005. Gradual increases over 8 years, up to 45 mg. in 2012.Began tapering in June 2013. Went from 45 to 30 mg in the first 3-4 months. Held for a couple of months.Started tapering by 3.75 mg every month or 2, with some longer holding periods. Eventually went down to 3.75 mg. about April 2014. Stopped taking Remeron August 2014. Developed issues with histamine a week after stopping--symptoms reduced through diet and a few supplements. Currently having issues with a few foods. Most of the histamine intolerance has resolved or is at least, in remission.

Current Medications:

Current Supplements: Cannabis (CBD and THC), Vitamin C, D, Quercetin, CoQ10, Tart Cherry, Probiotic, Phytoplankton oil, magnesium, Methyl B. What has helped me most: spending time in nature, qi gong, exercise, healthy diet, meditation, IV vitamins, homeopathy, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, music, and cuddling my cats..

My introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8459-mirtazapine-withdrawal-freespirit/#entry144282

Please note: I am not a therapist or medical practitioner. Any suggestions offered come solely from my personal experience in recovering from childhood trauma, therapy, and AD use. Please seek appropriate care for yourself.

 

“After a cruel childhood, one must reinvent oneself. Then re-imagine the world.”
Mary Oliver
 

 

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Are you able to work and function pretty well now, irish?

Yes, I have a very challenging job were I am relied on heavily to lead. My grad school is a program that requires people to function at a very high level and the fact I had accomplished that during withdrawal shows me how far I have come and how capable I truly am.

 

I travel a lot for work as well. Which can provide a new level of stress but I love it.

 

I do not feel debilitated for the most part. There are a few days out of the month where my body really tenses up and I feel out of it. I think this is the final stage of my body completely healing, still sensitive nervous system as times. For the most part though I live relatively pain free as compared to WD.

 

It feels less like I am forcing myself and more like me wanting to do it.

 

I knew after grad school I would have to work and it has been a great transition. I found myself today smiling in my office just knowing that going to work is now normal for me. In WD I couldn't even imagine going places or even an interview, now I am such an intricate piece to something incredibly important. If I had never experienced WD I would not know how lucky I truly am.

 

I really do feel I have conquered withdrawal and couldn't be more proud of myself for that accomplishment. I find myself taking some things for granted, like sleep, but this is inevitable.

 

What are still some of your challenges and how far out are you? I love learning about other peoples remarkable journeys.

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