Navigating mental health, physical struggles, and withdrawal: worth it?

I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I really admire your courage and strength. You have so much to share with others, and I'm wishing you all the best as you work on getting off those difficult medications.

I have read what you wrote and my heart goes out to you. When coming off antidepressants, it's important to do so slowly. For example, I started at 300 mg and gradually decreased to 225 mg over two weeks, then stopped completely from there within a month. However, I later learned that the process should involve dropping the dosage in four-week increments instead. This resulted in severe neurological issues for me-I was hospitalized for eight days because I couldn't walk or speak properly, and one side of my face drooped slightly.

A neurological nurse explained to me that coming off pregabalin can be even more dangerous. She said it's worse than heroin and needs to be reduced by 25 mg at a time over the course of about a year. When I abruptly stopped taking 400 mg, there was a risk of seizures and death-a fact my doctor did not inform me about. Additionally, rewiring your brain can take upwards of a year, which often leads to paranoia, anxiety, and depression. Sitting still all the time exacerbates these issues by trapping you in a cycle of panic attacks.

I've attached information from a free external service that might help. Please be cautious with the process and stay strong.

Hi there,

I wanted to say thanks for your post because I totally get what you're goiing through. It's really tough realizing that the hgh dose of medication I was on for years ended up causing even more issues.

It's been about a year since I stopped taking it, and I'm still dealing with a lot without much support. Your words made me feel like I'm not alone, so thank you again for sharing your experience.

It is indeed concerning that doctors do not always inform patients about the potential complications associated with long-term use of certain medications, sch as increased risks for conditions like Alzheimer's or dementia. Many people are unaware of these risks when it comes to sleeping pills and other drugs used over several years. I have experienced similar issues after being on diazepam and zopiclone for a prolonged period due to insomna.

Even after what felt like a stroke, wheere my left side drooped and I struggled with speech, the hospital notes mentioned fibromyalgia without addressing these symptoms. It's crucial to talk about our experiences rather than bottling them up, as it can be detrimental to mental health. Any medication we take can impact brain function, gut health, circadian rhythm, and mitochondria, leading to issues like oxidative stress and cell dysfunction, which contribute to fatigue.

The accumulation of toxins in the body can overburden the liver, causing these substances to accumulate in the brain and lead to cognitive difficulties. Practicing gratitude daily can alleviate anxiety and depression during challenging times. Identifying and changing limiting beliefs is also beneficial. Asking empowering questions instead of disempowering ones helps build resilience. Taking even small steps towards improvement is progress. I hope this provides some guidance and support.

Hi,

I was wondering if you could go see the doctor as well? Your sympotms seem similar to what I've heard about fibromyalgia. They might check some pressure points during the exma. Do you experience issues with your eyes too? Or do you get headaches a lot? When your body is constantly in fihgt, flight, or freeze mode, it can affect your adrenal glands and produce abnormal levels of cortisol. This can impact your nervous system and vagus nerve, and if one organ isn't functioning properly, it might affect all the others.

Take care,
x

I hope that provides some assistance.

Thank you, Josie-Anne, for your comments. Your words have brought me more understanding and peace than any doctor has in the past year.

I can relate to everything you've mentioned. I was on these medications for a long time and had no idea how they were affecting me. The withdrawal symptoms, hypersensitivity, sickness, inability to regulate body temperature, rashes, inflammation-so severe that I couldn't walk-and memory issues are all too familiar.

When I saw a psychiatrist, they suggested putting me back on the medication, saying it was due to side effects after 15 years of use. But I decided to manage my symptoms independently. I've also seen a general practitioner who suspected autoimmune disorders, but many tests came back negative while others showed some positives-I'm still waiting for those results.

I now have rosacea and eye problems, along with severe food allergies. My gut health was an area I only recently understood better, and I am working on improving my diet. My memory is almost nonexistent, but I'm doing everything possible to improve it. Despite the ongoing struggles, reading your message gives me hope and helps me move forward.

I would rather live my life like this, trying to do my best every day, than return to medication. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay in touch. Your words are a true blessing, and I cannot express how grateful I am for the time you took to share your experiences with me.

Thank you so much.

Yeah, totally down to stay in touch! If there's anything else you need help with before then, just let me know, okay? And FYI, if you're around that age range, you might notice some weird symptoms popping up due to your hormones. It can be a real trip, i mean it's not fun but it happens. So yeah, keep us updated on how things are going. I might drop a text once a week or so just to check in and see how you're doing. Take care of yourself, hun, and remember-things really do have a way of getting better down the line

Hi there,

I'm actually around the same age, and yeah, I was on HRT too but had to stop because of all this. Thankfully,I could taper off slowly, but you're right-it really took a toll on my physical health. Looking back, I realize my body couldn't handle much more.

Seeing your post made such a difference for me. It felt like no one understood what was going on with these meds and how long withdrawal wuld last until I read about your experience. Everything just clicked into place then.

I went to Holland & Barrett today to get some new vitamins for my gut health and memory, including ginkgo.

I'll definately stay in touch; you've given me so much hope that things can improve. Poeple like you are truly amazing, Josie-Anne-your guidance maens the world to me

For additional support, I recommend visiting bezzydepression.com/discove... There, you can find 10 helpful tips. You might also look up Nick Ortner-The Tapping Solution on Google; it's a free resource where you tap specific meridian points to clear emotional blocks and achieve relief.

hey thanks omg i'm gonna check that out rn

spoke 2 my gp today and she referred me 2 a rheumy but it's a 9 mo wait list lol at least i'm getting help though, and derm appt in june too.

she said its not just coming off the meds tho cuz i was sick even before that. but yeah they def made stuff worse.

also joined a wellness/mental health group nearby to stay on top of things. i'll take any help 2 keep my head together lol

hope u r doing ok omw thx so much 😊

My mental health has been challenging lately due to circumstances beyond my control, which have triggered my anxiety and depression. I'm working on it independently because I don't want to return to someone who led me to experience neurological overload. I avoid medication since it might lead to complications down the line. Some days feel repetitive,especially now that my client has moved away and left me with too much free time.

There are things I could do, but I lack the motivation. However, DailyOM offers daily insights that have been very helpful for me-they're free if you search them online. They also provide courses on various topics. I'm glad to hear you're making progress as well. Keep up the good work; when we hit rock bottom, there's only one direction left to go-upwards.

Hey, just wanted to let you know that dealing with sttuff out of our control is tough on the mental health front. After hearing about what you've been through, it's no surprise how you're feeling right now-it makes everyday life even harder.

You know, my own physical health issues have really affected my mental state too.The fear of taking meds aftr everything that's happened to me? It's a big thign for me, and I can only imagine how tough it must be for you with your situation.

Honestly, youre succh an incredibly strong woman. You've given me so much guidance and support-I haven't gotten nearly as much from doctors. Helping others while still dealing with your own issues shows immense strength.Your story shocked me at frist but then I totally got where you were coming from.

We might not be where we want to be right now, but we're doing everything we can each day to get there. Every challenge comes up and we face it the best way we know how.

You've been like a beacon in such a dark time for me, and I'm truly grateful for that.Knowing we'll get throgh this, no matter how long it takes, is really reassuring. The DailyOM sounds like something that could be super helpful-I'll check it out.

It's so great having someone to tak to, just like you are for me. Always here if you need a chat-whenever you want, I'm here too!

thanks a bunch! really means a lot

I totally agree, it's super handy! You should check it out-becoming a free member is a breeze.

hi, how r u doing? i got my blood tests back & they said my results were off so i need 2 make an appt. turns out there's like a 4 week wait lol

check out these 10 tips for guidance lmk if tehy help 👌

i just remembered that ginkgo capsules might be good for memory stuff-they sell those at Holland and Barrett if you want to check out i guess

Hi there,

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your thoughts-it really gave me a chance to connect with someone who understands. What you said feels so accurate, and it's nice to know I'm not alone.

Thanks again!

brilliant post thx for sharing ur thoughts and concerns yaeh so many ppl r overmedicated w/o thinkig twice happy 2 hear ur kidneys r getting better and ur new gp is working w u keep going seems like u r on the right track what do u do naturally to handle/lesen pain? meditation and avoiding inflammatory foods r helping me but it's early days

Hey there,

Sorry to hear you're not feeling great with the flu. I hope you get better soon adn all you can really do is rest.

You'd think it wouldn't take forever to actually book an appointment,right? I've been trying to call the doctor's office for ages-like 81 times-and they never pick up. But then when I go there, it's practically empty. So I'm scratching my head wondering why I can't just pop in around 3 PM-it sees like that time is usually pretty quiet.

It feels wild how packed every doctor's place seems to be these days. They're all so overworked and you end up waiting past your appointment time. And if you're a tiny bit late-just five minutes or something-they might not even see you at all

hey

totally gets me that there r no appointments yet ppl need 2 b seen. u tried calling 81 times?? insane. they'll refuse u if u show up late even tho ur sick.

so worried abt ur abnormal results. hope they see u soon.
i actually hv the flu tho & all i can do is rest with lemsip

Vitamin C and D might help with flu. Try them.

hey i got all teh vitamins u said might help also grabbed c and d for extra boost hope u r good too

Hey there, happy to hear you're feeling better, Flynn! I'm hanging in there too. Last week was intense-I did practically everything on my list or nada, haha!