This is so true. All my symptoms were fuelled by fear. I had pretty mild acute withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication but developed “protracted withdrawal symptoms” a year after I had stopped the medication. I don’t believe anymore that these were protracted withdrawal symptoms but mainly my body reacting to fear. SSRIs alters sensory input (sight, sound, touch, etc) which means that when coming off the medication the nervous system can interpret those input as something threatening going on in your environment. I would usually start feeling scared and anxious and didn’t know why - I think my brain was responding to the input (muscle tension, slight change in visual input, etc) by sounding the alarm which would trigger more symptoms and fear. The breaking point was a stressful life even that created more reaction in my body than my brain was used to (from being on the SSRIs for years) which sent my nervous system into a spiral. I think this is why the kriya meditation I mentioned in your other video has worked so well for me. It has brought my body & mind back to a sense of safety. I just wish I had found it before going back on the meds!…
That's a really interesting way to put it! I hadn't quite thought of it like that but I'm glad you did because it makes a lot of sense to me and I really relate to that. I had more than mild acute withdrawal symptoms but they did sort of pass and then I had stressful life events and the worst of the sensations didn't happen until I was like four or five months off the drugs. I also went back on the drugs . . . but I've been off them now for several years. By the way I looked up the kriya mediation you mentioned and I've been doing that mediation guided or unguided for about the last week. I really like it. I'm definitely calmer during the day and my mind is more often blank (in a good way). Now I'm really contemplating taking the course. A course might be useful in helping me stick with it and learn more. It always takes me a while to decide things though.
@ it’s just an hypothesis, but it does make sense to me. SSRIs dampen the insula which is a brain region involved in processing emotions, bodily sensations, and self-awareness. It helps feel and interpret emotions, connect them to physical sensations, and respond to internal states. They also dampen the amygdala which involves processing emotions, particularly fear, anxiety, and threat detection. It plays a role in triggering the “fight or flight” response and linking emotional experiences to memories. So it makes sense to me that when coming off the medication the insula & amygdala become active (if not overactive) again to a level that we are not used to anymore. But there is probably more to it - I’ve been on a goose hunt trying to understand it. It is so strange that protracted withdrawal symptoms only happen in certain people.
@@gustavtms Isha Kriya ☺️ yes I started with this one as well. Shambhavi is a lot more potent but Isha Kriya gives you a taste of it. This is the review that made me decide to go for the course: ua-cam.com/video/wONenTEKlS8/v-deo.htmlsi=5V-fCjNxC5Nf_DK9 She also has a few other videos and you can see her progress from 3 months, 6 months and 1 years after starting the practice. You can really see how it transformed her life, it’s even visible in the way she speak and move. I had a similar experience to her. My depression completely disappeared after 3 months of practice. I am now at 6 months and my anxiety has returned to a normal level - after being through the roof for so long after “kindling” after going back on the meds. I’m really hoping it will help me come off the medication for good next time. 🤞 And now also understanding more about TMS should help.
Yes, it's an interesting hypothesis and this area is desperate for new ideas. And, yes, it seems like certain people are more likely to experience these type of difficult sensations that go on and on. Sarno talked about certain personality traits (internal pressures like perfectionism/goodism so on) and I've heard people who work in this withdrawal area observe similar personality traits in those who develop protracted withdrawal sensations. People who tend to develop mindbody things also report more life "trauma" as well. These are not always the situations but it seems these characteristics are significant in activating a danger-stress response in people more easily. At least that appears to be part of it. Thanks for the link for the course review. I actually bought the course yesterday! I've been looking for something locally for a while and then online and couldn't decide. But I've liked the kriya meditation and general direction of the thing so I just went for it and I continue to really like it. So I'm happy I did it and we'll see what becomes of me. I hope you get off the drug as well. It can be done!
@@gustavtms that’s amazing ☺️ I’m excited for you. Feel free to reach out along your journey and share your experience if you like - I’m doing this practice by myself and have few people to speak about this with. In any case, I hope you like it. And yes perfectionism and goodism is exactly where I stand… 😅. I did find that most people experiencing these kind of issues were really analytic and well spoken on forums which seem to relate to these traits. And thanks, I’ll get off those meds at some point I’m sure. It’s kind of my life mission now haha.
I've just recently discovered your videos. I've wondered why I haven't recovered fully from antidepressant withdrawal and you have made so much sense. I am going to explore TMS further. Many thanks and I look forward to watching more of your very helpful videos.
I am learning from you. For the last ten days I have soothed away and coped much better, with fear. Because you made these videos. Thank you. I no longer write hate letters in my head to everyone. I’m not bad.
Thank you for the videos! Now I’m going to brainwash myself with this. I get that dread feeling that’s what causes the pain and inside shaking come out of my body. It makes me want to run away from myself run to the end of the earth. I will try to use it to reprogram my brain like Alan Carr, easy way to quit smoking.
Hi, I used this approach while tapering lithium and mirtazapine. I thought I had withdrawal as a result of slowly taping these drugs but as I reframed my experience to TMS the withdrawal sensations went away. So I wasn’t actually in withdrawal, I only thought I was. I made a video on tapering. But each person’s situation is different so it’s up to people to decide what’s right for themselves and what makes the most sense to them as the source of the sensations. Sometimes it’s not clear. It wasn’t clear to me. I first applied this approach to chronic pain, and when I started to see results with withdrawal sensations as well, that’s when I started to understand the situation better for myself.
I have a question. I've been implementing "safe" affirmations to try to tell my brain I'm safe. Because of all I've been through and how my taper is going it may be like turning the Titanic around, but I'm committed to it. My question is, even if there isn't something fundamentally wrong with my brain, I still have significant symptoms. The past 3 days I've gone to more places by myself than I have in 2 years. So to the question: does it affect your brain positively or negatively if you have a less than peaceful/positive experience when you go out and challenge your beliefs about all of it (like I'm going crazy, this is going to keep getting worse with this taper, my brain is going to be damaged, I can't do this, etc.). Does your brain experience it as positive or negative in your opinion?
Wow that’s amazing you’ve gone to more places. As for your question John Sarno called his last book The Divided Mind because he framed resolving TMS as a bit of a battle between the conscious mind (you telling yourself that you’re safe, that there’s nothing fundamentally wrong) and the unconscious mind clinging to the old belief system (I can’t do this, my brain is going to be damaged). The aim is to the teach the unconscious mind that we’re okay and by taking acton as you’ve done, the unconscious mind can learn over time that it is okay to go out on your own. But it might push back with these disconcerting thoughts because it is only starting to learn this. Alan Gordon talks about outcome independence; the goal isn’t necessarily to do something without challenging sensations, the goal is to do what you want to do even if you have sensations or not. And everyone will have their own (dis)comfort zone and pace themselves with what they feel is right for themselves. There is an interesting video you might wish to watch made by a guy who thought he had a histamine intolerance and how he taught himself it was actually safe to consume various foods again. (I think he worked with Howard Schubiner or at least mentions him as a significant influence here, so it’s within this TMS context that my videos talk about.) Here's the video: ua-cam.com/video/TSnSYeTpHLM/v-deo.html
@gustavtms thank you for such a thorough response. I have quite a journey ahead of me and pray for the strength of my brain to heal itself despite the chemical challenge. So blessed to have found you Gustav!
Hi. Sorry to hear. It's generally not a linear track with a TMS approach as the mind can push back and it can take some time for the mind to receive and fully accept the message. It's not the affirmations themselves that have the potential to resolve the sensations but the understanding behind them that is essential. It usually takes repeated engagement with materials like the work of Sarno or whatever resonates with you in the TMS world to reinforce that understanding again and again.
Your logic is flawed. A brain injury/nervous system injury/autoimmune disorder - whatever you want to call it will express itself differently throughout healing and interacting with other people or places may distract the brain/nervous system making it preoccupied with making sense of the different reality or reacting to other people, thus it wouldn't have enough resources to heal. My personal healing has been very cyclical. I got worse headaches and pains that would last for about a week and after that I would have a window of feeling better, before the next bout of healing occured. Also, these windows of feeling better would not equate to a healed state (as you alluded to) - it is even very hard to properly evaluate our state going through healing this injury. Today, I can see how I was never really well during these past two years - but at least, as in the words of Laura Delano, it skked a little less for a while. And I'm sure I will look back on today and see the same. I see the point of thinking that we are safe from psychiatry but the fact remains that our bodies have been poisoned. But that poisoning is at least over and we are now healing. But less not delude ourselves as for what is happening here. It is not just a stress response. It is a physical reaction to having our body and nervous system poisoned and hurt. It is unbalanced and not working properly. It is not coming from stress. It IS a superimposed stress response from the drug being introduced or removed. Being healthy and giving it time and not stressing oneself further is the best way to heal.
@@Thatsbannanas-d8c I've not done any of the sort. Nor am I particularly angry. I've been making my argument straight to the point. In a civil tone and respectful disagreement. If that hurts your feelings it isn't my problem. Because I'm not guilty of what you say.
I have a question if you can help me , I take clonazepam for depresión , I don’t feel that much anxiety unless I’m depressed, it’s weird because it should be the other way around , I wanna quit taking clonazepam but I’m in the situation if o don’t take it I feel bad , and if take it I feel better but guilty of taking them not being able to stop , I take 1 mg every 2 days , I understand about the fear and all that , but I’m not living my life how I would like it to be and I don’t know how to get rid of the intense depression, I was prescribed lexapro but I’m confused because I don’t wanna take more meds and so I’m in this loop cycle of fear of the meds and not knowing what to do , I feel so lonely on this , I wanna go to a rehab where I can make new friends
Hi, thanks for you comment and sorry you feel lonely in this. I'm not a licensed professional so I can't offer you any advice. I don't know how long you've taken clonazepam for or what you should do but people generally slowly taper benzodiazepines daily (as opposed to every other day) to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. But again I know nothing of your situation, that's just general information. The approach I talk about in my videos I'm usually talking about protracted withdrawal sensations or sensations that happen while slowly tapering or holding for a long time and people start to question whether it's withdrawal or not. Generally when people are unhappy doctors will label it depression as if the person is sick and prescribe drugs. But there is a reason that people might feel anxious and unhappy and oftentimes people have to understand why they feel the way that they do or a specific situation must pass or sometimes prescription drugs are playing a role or whatever is relevant to that person.
Almost cold turkey SSRI after 18 years. 1 year off. 24/7 brain pain burning pressure, spine, body. Can hardly walk. Like brain injury/neurological injury. Memory issues and depression. Emotional anesthesia. My life is destroyed.
It is not destroyed! I promise you it’s not. I went cold Turkey from 2mg of Ativan and it nearly killed me. It was the most horrifying experience I can imagine exists on this planet. Truly. But a year later I am still here and I am probably 60% better. I am confident I will heal to 100% over the next handful of months. From someone who was ready to give up because I was in pain 24/7, please know it can get better and it will. You will slowly heal and get your life back and this will all be a dot on your timeline someday
@@marieuhreclausen2450 yeah of course it’s okay. I’ve been off for about 14 months myself. But I cold Turkeyed and went back on and then came off again. So it’s been a mess. But like I said I’m probably 60% better. I think In the next 6 months I’ll be a lot better I’m hoping.
This content is the best I’m gonna recommend it thank you
This is so true. All my symptoms were fuelled by fear. I had pretty mild acute withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication but developed “protracted withdrawal symptoms” a year after I had stopped the medication. I don’t believe anymore that these were protracted withdrawal symptoms but mainly my body reacting to fear. SSRIs alters sensory input (sight, sound, touch, etc) which means that when coming off the medication the nervous system can interpret those input as something threatening going on in your environment. I would usually start feeling scared and anxious and didn’t know why - I think my brain was responding to the input (muscle tension, slight change in visual input, etc) by sounding the alarm which would trigger more symptoms and fear. The breaking point was a stressful life even that created more reaction in my body than my brain was used to (from being on the SSRIs for years) which sent my nervous system into a spiral.
I think this is why the kriya meditation I mentioned in your other video has worked so well for me. It has brought my body & mind back to a sense of safety. I just wish I had found it before going back on the meds!…
That's a really interesting way to put it! I hadn't quite thought of it like that but I'm glad you did because it makes a lot of sense to me and I really relate to that. I had more than mild acute withdrawal symptoms but they did sort of pass and then I had stressful life events and the worst of the sensations didn't happen until I was like four or five months off the drugs. I also went back on the drugs . . . but I've been off them now for several years.
By the way I looked up the kriya mediation you mentioned and I've been doing that mediation guided or unguided for about the last week. I really like it. I'm definitely calmer during the day and my mind is more often blank (in a good way). Now I'm really contemplating taking the course. A course might be useful in helping me stick with it and learn more. It always takes me a while to decide things though.
@ it’s just an hypothesis, but it does make sense to me. SSRIs dampen the insula which is a brain region involved in processing emotions, bodily sensations, and self-awareness. It helps feel and interpret emotions, connect them to physical sensations, and respond to internal states. They also dampen the amygdala which involves processing emotions, particularly fear, anxiety, and threat detection. It plays a role in triggering the “fight or flight” response and linking emotional experiences to memories. So it makes sense to me that when coming off the medication the insula & amygdala become active (if not overactive) again to a level that we are not used to anymore. But there is probably more to it - I’ve been on a goose hunt trying to understand it. It is so strange that protracted withdrawal symptoms only happen in certain people.
@@gustavtms Isha Kriya ☺️ yes I started with this one as well. Shambhavi is a lot more potent but Isha Kriya gives you a taste of it.
This is the review that made me decide to go for the course:
ua-cam.com/video/wONenTEKlS8/v-deo.htmlsi=5V-fCjNxC5Nf_DK9
She also has a few other videos and you can see her progress from 3 months, 6 months and 1 years after starting the practice. You can really see how it transformed her life, it’s even visible in the way she speak and move.
I had a similar experience to her. My depression completely disappeared after 3 months of practice. I am now at 6 months and my anxiety has returned to a normal level - after being through the roof for so long after “kindling” after going back on the meds. I’m really hoping it will help me come off the medication for good next time. 🤞 And now also understanding more about TMS should help.
Yes, it's an interesting hypothesis and this area is desperate for new ideas. And, yes, it seems like certain people are more likely to experience these type of difficult sensations that go on and on. Sarno talked about certain personality traits (internal pressures like perfectionism/goodism so on) and I've heard people who work in this withdrawal area observe similar personality traits in those who develop protracted withdrawal sensations. People who tend to develop mindbody things also report more life "trauma" as well. These are not always the situations but it seems these characteristics are significant in activating a danger-stress response in people more easily. At least that appears to be part of it.
Thanks for the link for the course review. I actually bought the course yesterday! I've been looking for something locally for a while and then online and couldn't decide. But I've liked the kriya meditation and general direction of the thing so I just went for it and I continue to really like it. So I'm happy I did it and we'll see what becomes of me.
I hope you get off the drug as well. It can be done!
@@gustavtms that’s amazing ☺️ I’m excited for you. Feel free to reach out along your journey and share your experience if you like - I’m doing this practice by myself and have few people to speak about this with. In any case, I hope you like it.
And yes perfectionism and goodism is exactly where I stand… 😅. I did find that most people experiencing these kind of issues were really analytic and well spoken on forums which seem to relate to these traits.
And thanks, I’ll get off those meds at some point I’m sure. It’s kind of my life mission now haha.
I've just recently discovered your videos. I've wondered why I haven't recovered fully from antidepressant withdrawal and you have made so much sense. I am going to explore TMS further. Many thanks and I look forward to watching more of your very helpful videos.
You're very welcome.
I am learning from you. For the last ten days I have soothed away and coped much better, with fear.
Because you made these videos. Thank you. I no longer write hate letters in my head to everyone. I’m not bad.
You're most welcome.
Your videos inspire me. Thank you Gustav!
Glad you've found them useful!
Thank you for the videos! Now I’m going to brainwash myself with this. I get that dread feeling that’s what causes the pain and inside shaking come out of my body. It makes me want to run away from myself run to the end of the earth. I will try to use it to reprogram my brain like Alan Carr, easy way to quit smoking.
Yes, that's basically what I did with Sarno and others. That's an interesting comparison to Alan Carr too.
Do your videos apply to people going through benzo withdrawal while tapering or after tapering?
Hi, I used this approach while tapering lithium and mirtazapine. I thought I had withdrawal as a result of slowly taping these drugs but as I reframed my experience to TMS the withdrawal sensations went away. So I wasn’t actually in withdrawal, I only thought I was. I made a video on tapering.
But each person’s situation is different so it’s up to people to decide what’s right for themselves and what makes the most sense to them as the source of the sensations. Sometimes it’s not clear. It wasn’t clear to me. I first applied this approach to chronic pain, and when I started to see results with withdrawal sensations as well, that’s when I started to understand the situation better for myself.
I have a question. I've been implementing "safe" affirmations to try to tell my brain I'm safe. Because of all I've been through and how my taper is going it may be like turning the Titanic around, but I'm committed to it. My question is, even if there isn't something fundamentally wrong with my brain, I still have significant symptoms. The past 3 days I've gone to more places by myself than I have in 2 years. So to the question: does it affect your brain positively or negatively if you have a less than peaceful/positive experience when you go out and challenge your beliefs about all of it (like I'm going crazy, this is going to keep getting worse with this taper, my brain is going to be damaged, I can't do this, etc.). Does your brain experience it as positive or negative in your opinion?
Wow that’s amazing you’ve gone to more places. As for your question John Sarno called his last book The Divided Mind because he framed resolving TMS as a bit of a battle between the conscious mind (you telling yourself that you’re safe, that there’s nothing fundamentally wrong) and the unconscious mind clinging to the old belief system (I can’t do this, my brain is going to be damaged). The aim is to the teach the unconscious mind that we’re okay and by taking acton as you’ve done, the unconscious mind can learn over time that it is okay to go out on your own. But it might push back with these disconcerting thoughts because it is only starting to learn this. Alan Gordon talks about outcome independence; the goal isn’t necessarily to do something without challenging sensations, the goal is to do what you want to do even if you have sensations or not. And everyone will have their own (dis)comfort zone and pace themselves with what they feel is right for themselves. There is an interesting video you might wish to watch made by a guy who thought he had a histamine intolerance and how he taught himself it was actually safe to consume various foods again. (I think he worked with Howard Schubiner or at least mentions him as a significant influence here, so it’s within this TMS context that my videos talk about.) Here's the video: ua-cam.com/video/TSnSYeTpHLM/v-deo.html
@gustavtms thank you for such a thorough response. I have quite a journey ahead of me and pray for the strength of my brain to heal itself despite the chemical challenge. So blessed to have found you Gustav!
You're welcome. I wish you the best!
@@gustavtmswindow closed. Even with affirmations feeling like my brain was run over
Hi. Sorry to hear. It's generally not a linear track with a TMS approach as the mind can push back and it can take some time for the mind to receive and fully accept the message. It's not the affirmations themselves that have the potential to resolve the sensations but the understanding behind them that is essential. It usually takes repeated engagement with materials like the work of Sarno or whatever resonates with you in the TMS world to reinforce that understanding again and again.
Your logic is flawed. A brain injury/nervous system injury/autoimmune disorder - whatever you want to call it will express itself differently throughout healing and interacting with other people or places may distract the brain/nervous system making it preoccupied with making sense of the different reality or reacting to other people, thus it wouldn't have enough resources to heal. My personal healing has been very cyclical. I got worse headaches and pains that would last for about a week and after that I would have a window of feeling better, before the next bout of healing occured. Also, these windows of feeling better would not equate to a healed state (as you alluded to) - it is even very hard to properly evaluate our state going through healing this injury. Today, I can see how I was never really well during these past two years - but at least, as in the words of Laura Delano, it skked a little less for a while. And I'm sure I will look back on today and see the same.
I see the point of thinking that we are safe from psychiatry but the fact remains that our bodies have been poisoned. But that poisoning is at least over and we are now healing. But less not delude ourselves as for what is happening here. It is not just a stress response. It is a physical reaction to having our body and nervous system poisoned and hurt. It is unbalanced and not working properly. It is not coming from stress. It IS a superimposed stress response from the drug being introduced or removed. Being healthy and giving it time and not stressing oneself further is the best way to heal.
I like Gustavs reality, ! It’s different for everyone. Good luck.
You sound angry, your logic is your logic, no need to be insulting, nor righteous and rude.
@@Thatsbannanas-d8c I've not done any of the sort. Nor am I particularly angry. I've been making my argument straight to the point. In a civil tone and respectful disagreement. If that hurts your feelings it isn't my problem. Because I'm not guilty of what you say.
I have a question if you can help me , I take clonazepam for depresión , I don’t feel that much anxiety unless I’m depressed, it’s weird because it should be the other way around , I wanna quit taking clonazepam but I’m in the situation if o don’t take it I feel bad , and if take it I feel better but guilty of taking them not being able to stop , I take 1 mg every 2 days , I understand about the fear and all that , but I’m not living my life how I would like it to be and I don’t know how to get rid of the intense depression, I was prescribed lexapro but I’m confused because I don’t wanna take more meds and so I’m in this loop cycle of fear of the meds and not knowing what to do , I feel so lonely on this , I wanna go to a rehab where I can make new friends
Hi, thanks for you comment and sorry you feel lonely in this. I'm not a licensed professional so I can't offer you any advice. I don't know how long you've taken clonazepam for or what you should do but people generally slowly taper benzodiazepines daily (as opposed to every other day) to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms. But again I know nothing of your situation, that's just general information.
The approach I talk about in my videos I'm usually talking about protracted withdrawal sensations or sensations that happen while slowly tapering or holding for a long time and people start to question whether it's withdrawal or not.
Generally when people are unhappy doctors will label it depression as if the person is sick and prescribe drugs. But there is a reason that people might feel anxious and unhappy and oftentimes people have to understand why they feel the way that they do or a specific situation must pass or sometimes prescription drugs are playing a role or whatever is relevant to that person.
Almost cold turkey SSRI after 18 years. 1 year off. 24/7 brain pain burning pressure, spine, body. Can hardly walk. Like brain injury/neurological injury. Memory issues and depression. Emotional anesthesia. My life is destroyed.
It is not destroyed! I promise you it’s not. I went cold Turkey from 2mg of Ativan and it nearly killed me. It was the most horrifying experience I can imagine exists on this planet. Truly. But a year later I am still here and I am probably 60% better. I am confident I will heal to 100% over the next handful of months. From someone who was ready to give up because I was in pain 24/7, please know it can get better and it will. You will slowly heal and get your life back and this will all be a dot on your timeline someday
@@Ignacio_Kingsleyhow Long did it take iam in month 14 off ssri and struggling - hope it is okay I ask
@@marieuhreclausen2450 yeah of course it’s okay. I’ve been off for about 14 months myself. But I cold Turkeyed and went back on and then came off again. So it’s been a mess. But like I said I’m probably 60% better. I think In the next 6 months I’ll be a lot better I’m hoping.
@@Ignacio_Kingsleythank you. Keep going. It’s the most horrid experience.