Sundar: Anxious and Depressed Support Person to Withdraw-er

[Sundar]

Hello! I want to say upfront that I'm not withdrawing from SSRI's, but that I'm here because I'm a support person to my brother-in-law (henceforth brother who will be tapering off of lithium starting in September, and also a support person to my mother-in-law who just began Zoloft, in addition to multiple medications for sleep and anxiety. I have my own journey with depression and anxiety, which I have self-treated sometimes successfully, and sometimes not. I came here after searching for more info on lithium tapering, which led me to JanCarol's thread, which I have now read almost in its entirety, in the process falling in love with this community, and in complete awe and love for JanCarol's courage and determination (and humour!).

In preparation for the taper both my brother and I will be doing a vegetarian version of Kelly Brogan's 30 day plan, as outlined in her book, A Mind of Your Own.

My brother is currently taking magnesium bisglycinate, active b-vitamins, a dha enriched vegetarian omega 3-6-9, vitamin d, and vitamin c.

I hope it's OK for me to receive feedback and support for my support . I will also be sharing more about my history, and the journey of the dietary and lifestyle changes recommended by Brogan.

Edited July 19, 2016 by scallywag
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[KarenB]

Hello Sundar,

 

Your brother- and mother-in-laws are very lucky to have you there to support them.  Do you all live together?  I very much admire you for not taking psych meds yourself - I wish I had stuck with that approach.  And for yourself, do you have support around you? 

 

You are very welcome here, for getting information and support.  Sometimes in 3rd-party situations like this it gets trickier for us to know all the ins and outs, but we can certainly direct you to relevant links, and help where we can.  If at some point things get difficult, it may work better if your brother or mother start their own threads here.

 

Did you mean your mother has just begun taking zoloft, or just begun tapering it? 

 

Please put your withdrawal history in your signature – all drugs/dates/dosages etc - so we can see the situation easily whenever you post, and help you more accurately.  Thanks.

 

This page might be useful for all three of you:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/  You might also like to get them to read about windows and waves so they get an idea of what to expect.

 

So lovely to have someone here getting the info they need before tapering - it will make a huge difference. 

 

Welcome to SA,

Karen

[nz11]

Welcome Sundar

Wow your family sure are lucky having you look out for them. Every family needs a Sundar.

You say your mum-n-law just started on zoloft is she informed on the nature of these drugs and is she interested in getting off ?

Its great you are doing a healthy diet just wanted to say the key to getting off these drugs is not diet its a safe slow taper. imo.

 

So glad you found sa.

[Sundar]

Hi KB - We do all live together, in addition to my husband, my father-in-law and my two young children! I have some friend/sister support, although right now I am moving headlong into social withdrawal. The idea of erecting a bit of a mental nest, away from everything, feels nourishing right now. It has been a hard year (more then usual?) to digest the 'news' (or what gets selected as 'news') and so I've stopped using my facebook account, and as much as possible do not expose myself to most news right now...

 

My mil has just begun zoloft, to my great concern. We do see significant improvement, however we simultaneously changed many other things - began her on longvida (a highly water soluble form of curcumin), she began to include eggs in her diet (previously she was on a lacto-vegetarian diet), began hmf neuro probiotics, began dha, higher dose vitamin d, there are a few other things but not coming to mind...It has been about 3 months, so I will be interested to see if this trend continues.

 

Thank you so much for the links! I have passed the coping techniques on to my brother, and I will explore as well.

 

Hi nz11 - My mil is not interested in getting off at this point. The decision by her psychistrist (who she sees every two weeks for talk therapy for at least 10 years or so?) to try the zoloft came after an alarming descent in cognitive function and emotional state. I do not agree with the decision. She has some symptoms of dementia, so it isn't clear to me how informed she is of the potential harm of the drug, which I believed to be primarily the increase risk of suicide at the time. After reading Dr. Brogan's book, and reading more on here about the harm that it causes to the actual architecture of the brain, I am very concerned about her continuing, but also feel conflicted about how to communicate these concerns. The area where I am able to contribute freely is through advising on dietary and supplemental strategies.

 

Thank you for the reminder about tapering - I have come to understand that a 10% taper every four weeks is recommended by most folks here? Currently my brother is on 600mg of lithium, which would mean a decrease of 60mg for the first month. After that, would the decrease again be 60mg, or would it be 54mg given that his new dose would be 540mg?

 

Thanks so much for your support!!!!

 

 

[nz11]

The decision by her psychistrist (who she sees every two weeks for talk therapy for at least 10 years or so?) to try the zoloft came after an alarming descent in cognitive function and emotional state. I do not agree with the decision.

Gee these people sure do know how to drum up repeat business thats for sure.

10 yrs of therapy just doesnt sound right to me. Im no councellor but i would have thought there is a beginning a middle and then closure and release to self sooth and this should perhaps be months and then finished. But 10 yrs of councelling twice a week gee talk about clipping the ticket!!...a friendship bought perhaps? sorry i get cynical at times.

 

 

She has some symptoms of dementia, so it isn't clear to me how informed she is of the potential harm of the drug, which I believed to be primarily the increase risk of suicide at the time.

Maybe she has a history of psychiatric drug exposure, multi switches, failed attempts to quit then reinstatements

Maybe zoloft is being used to cover wdl off something else?

 

After reading Dr. Brogan's book, and reading more on here about the harm that it causes to the actual architecture of the brain, I am very concerned about her continuing, but also feel conflicted about how to communicate these concerns. The area where I am able to contribute freely is through advising on dietary and supplemental strategies.

How about talking her into getting a second opinion anyone here close to you

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/988-recommended-doctors-therapists-or-clinics/

 

How about 3 books

Breggin Psychiatric drug withdrawal.

Whitaker Anatomy of an epidemic

Gotzsche Deadly medicines and organised crime

 

Hey what about taking her to NY to see K Brogan in person.

[KarenB]

You are right that the significant changes you see in your mil may have come from the dietary/external changes.  The tricky thing about psych meds is that many people do see a window of improvement when they first take them.  The problem is that at some point that window will close, and from then on you have side-effects, the greater problem of withdrawal, and what is often worse depression/anxiety than the person experienced before taking drugs.  So the grand total, in the long run, is a negative. 

 

To answer your question about reducing by 10% monthly, your second guess was right.  You reduce off each new current amount, so that you are making smaller reductions each month.