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How do you deal with the root anxiety and depression without the meds?


zxcv

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How do you deal with the root anxiety and depression without meds?

Edited by scallywag
created post content from former topic title

History:

Trazodone:  150mg -> 0mg

Wellbutrin: 300mg - > 0 mg a day

Fluoxetine: 60mg  -> 40 mg

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  • Mentor

there's a thread called something like non drug coping techniques- there's a bunch of idea there.

;-)

 

  • pysch med history: 1974 @ age 18 to Oct 2017 (approx 43 yrs total) 
  •  Drug list: stelazine, haldol, elavil, lithium, zoloft, celexa, lexapro(doses as high as 40mgs), klonopin, ambien, seroquel(high doses), depakote, zyprexa, lamictal- plus brief trials of dozens of other psych meds over the years
  • started lexapro 2002, dose varied from 20mgs to 40mgs. First attempt to get off it was 2007- WD symptoms were mistaken for "relapse". 
  •  2013 too fast taper down to 5mg but WD forced me back to 20mgs
  •  June of 2105, tapered again too rapidly to 2.5mgs by Dec 2015. Found SA, held at 2.5 mgs til May 2016 when I foolishly "jumped off". felt ok until  Sept, then acute WD hit!!  reinstated at 0.3mgs in Oct. 2106
  • Tapered off to zero by  Oct. 2017 Doing very well. 
  • Nov. 2018 feel 95% healed, age 63 
  • Jan. 2020 feel 100% healed, peaceful and content
  • Dec 2023 Loving life! ❤️ with all it's ups and downs ;) 
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* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 4 weeks later...

I am just starting out with some therapies that I believe are going to work well for me. First is cognitive behavioral therapy which helps you be aware of your thoughts and how they trigger physical symptoms. Then you get specific plans in place for catching get yourself before you let adrenaline become fully released. It has been working for me. Also breathing techniques and yoga postures for anxiety. Some I have found on YouTube. Others from my psychologist. Another really promising therapy I just started is a social worker who practices yoga therapy, breathing techniques and visualization and daily affirmations. The daily affirmations you create for yourself to suit your situation. There can be 5 of them. Ie 'I will release any fear or concern around the idea of _______'. Upon waking before you let your mind think of anything you say each affirmation out loud repeating 1 minute for each. This sets your mindset for the day. If you encounter a situation just remind yourself of the affirmation. Finally she has done visualization. We work through a specific issue and she gets me to basically envision it going through my body and themind through a cord attached to my lower back which runs to the center of the earth. Then once all the energy from that issue goes through my body, through the cord to the center of the earth I then am to envision cutting the cord and releasing it. It's a whole 20 minute process that's very effective.

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  • Moderator Emeritus

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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I am just starting out with some therapies that I believe are going to work well for me. First is cognitive behavioral therapy which helps you be aware of your thoughts and how they trigger physical symptoms. ...

sound great

can i talk with you in privet?

2007-2015- zoloft 100 mg
5-8/2015 taper zoloft 12.5 mg every 2 weeks
3/2016 -11/16 lexapro 20 mg

taper lexapro every month by 30%

11/4/17-lexapro 3.5 mg

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Diet, yoga, mindfulness, strengthening relationships, EFT, meditation, hydrating, hot baths with epsom salts, magnesium, fish oil, rest, writing, getting my hands in the soil, cuddling my dog, creating patchworks, looking at the moon, having fun with my daughters ...

 

What I discovered is that if you have a whole nest full of tools on the go, that it supports you much better than one tool on it's own.  One tool can break down, and then what?  But a whole nest of them - that's security. 

2010  Fluoxetine 20mg.  2011  Escitalopram 20mg.  2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS.  Effexor 150mg. 

2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants.  Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. 

Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms).

8 month hold.

2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent).

2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well.
Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea.

2023 Now on 7 micro-beads of Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

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