There is such a stigma around medication and there really shouldn't be. If medications make your life better then there is no shame in taking them. If medications are making your life more complicated and you can function better without them, then it is fine to stop taking them (with doctor's supervision, of course). I wish you luck on your journey and whether you end up coming off or realize things were better with the meds, I hope your mental health stays more on the positive side! PS - The brand Zappos makes a bunch of accessible clothing and just started selling single shoes so you can do things like only buy one shoe or get a pair of shoes but in different sizes, and they are specially made to be easier to get on a prosthetic foot. Josh Sundquist just made a video about it and thought I'd share.
Please communicate with us as you continue this piece of your journey, whether here or on Trauma Talk or Patreon... Going off psychotropic medications scares the daylights out of me. I'll be thinking of you!! Also, unsolicited advice that you are free to ignore: find a way to track your symptoms very carefully (the STEPPS program has an excellent scale!) When I tried to go off my meds, I slipped back into depression so gradually that it almost swallowed me whole before I realized. Don't take this as discouragement, but just caution. 💙
There’s increasing evidence that VERY SLOW tapering is imperative. I took ten months to taper after six years on. There are anecdotal stories to suggest that a maximum of 10% reduction monthly is the way to go.
I've been on this same journey for a while. I am someone who if I forgot one day of antidepressants, I would be in a ball crying by 2pm. I don't know why and doctors found that really strange given that they are in the body for long periods of time, but that's just how my body reacted. I had an awful time reducing the amounts I was on and had to go very, very slowly. I'm now on a 1/4 dose and once I get through this next transition stage in my life, I'll fully come off if my body can handle it. I understand the fear of not having them on a trip or the worry if a prescription gets denied. That's a big part of it for me. I don't want to be dependent on something unless I have to be, but if I have to be then it's okay. It's always good to question the norm and I definitely plan on reading the book you referenced. Thank you for the recommendation!
You got this! It's great you're trying this with doctor supervision. I got put on Zoloft when I was 15, and for a little while when I was 18 I was switched to a different one (the name of which I can't remember), but then I got switched back to Zoloft. It did help with some of my anxiety in high school, but it majorly affected my behavior, and voice, too. I sounded like a kid. I'm autistic and Zoloft sorta made me... quirkier? And a little manic. And if I ever forgot a pill... holy shoot dang, it was way worse than if I just hadn't been on the meds at all. At 21 I started working with my doctor to slowly come off of the 50 milligrams I took daily. I went down to 75% (37-ish mg), then 50%, then 25%. I'd heard going from half to a quarter would be the hardest transition and it kind of was, but not how I expected. Like I just remember this one day at work I couldn't stop giggling at anything and everything and I was super embarrassed because I'd been working there for five months and I'd always been so shy. They'd never seen me like that. But hey, I was overdue for breaking the ice anyway. I leveled out before long, and over the course of 6 months I went from 50mg to 0mg. I've been off them for 6.5 years. Keep your support system close, and you'll be okay. Whether you find out you could still use these meds, or you find out you can live without them, this is a good thing. :)
You make me happy every time I watch you! I know I need counseling, I'm struggling to find a place to do that. You are doing awesome Joe! Keep being you!
This is totally unsolicited, but I just started on BetterHelp and I'm really liking it so far! It's all online - you get matched with a counselor and can message them anytime, and do weekly voice or video calls. The rates are very good, too. I hope you find what you need! ❤️
Hooray Jo!! Coming off the opioids is huge! I have gone through the same with pain meds for my back and legs. In March I had 2 back surgeries within3 days. I have off daily use of pain meds for 2 months! Yeah me! Now, when my pain gets ahead of me and lost control of pain, I take pain meds it is more effective.
As a pharmacist, I’m SO happy for you! It’s always great to hear stories where patients are ready to come off opioids, antidepressants, etc. Please keep us updated on your journey with this incredible milestone
You GO girl !! You've done your research and are doing it safely. My antidepressant time frame is after 5 years, the one that I am on does not work anymore - and then I am that girl sitting there with tears streaming down her face all day long. So we try another.
I'm actually having a doctor's appointment today to discuss increasing my antidepressants. I've been on the higher dose before, and tapering down was not very easy. It was manageable, but I was very tired, moody and unstable for a few weeks. So I'm not too excited about possibly having to do that again. But what was helpful to me, was doctor's supervision (obviously), REALLY good selfcare (I'd recommend making a plan beforehand - I did not have the mental clarity to see what I needed), not expecting much productivity of yourself, and doing it slowly. I felt changes in my brain chemistry and emotion regulation, and getting used to that took time. Good luck, and I applaud you for opening up about it! It's such a stigmatized topic, sadly.
Yes! I started reading Lost Connections last week, and had a conversation yesterday with my doctor about coming off my anti-depressants. Today was my first half dose day. So much of what is written in the book resonated with me. So many thoughts we have in the back of our minds that we just let sit there. So glad I'm not the only one. I hope it goes well for you x
I admire your courage and determination in making your life the best life for you as you can. Getting help when you need it. Knowing you have people and a support systems in place if you were to ever need the support. You lead by example
Good luck on your journey! I have been off anti-depressants for two years and I'm doing really well at the moment. It was only two months ago when I had to speak to my therapist about getting back on them because of the anxiety and stress of the pandemic, but I felt like I didn't need it as much as I did when I first started. There's nothing wrong with having to go back to them if it ever comes to that.
My doctor wanted me to try and taper off my Zyprexa. This last drop in dosage caused me to have a lot of worry and anxiety, so we bumped it back up and I'm feeling much better. I am at a lower dose than when I started six years ago, but I think I want to stay where I am for now. Good luck in your journey!
Omg "have you gone on a walk?" I'd be a rich women if I had a dollar for every time I've been told that. As a fellow suffer of depression and a health care worker I love how you talk about medication and making sure no matter what you want you are doing it with your doctor.
I was on Wellbutrin for 8 years and did not realize how much it was increasing my anxiety until I went off of it five years ago. I wish you luck on your journey. ❤️
Thankyou for sharing. Ive been on Antidepressants for 15 years on and off but this time been on them 3 years continuously and changed to one im on now 2 years ago. Ive tried coming off a couple times but i always end up going back on them and tbh i kind of want to come off them but i dont for the exact reason you give. I dont want to go back to the way i was. So maybe in a few more months ill try again. I hope it goes well for you and wish you all the best x
Good luck! I hope it goes well! I aspire to come off of antidepressants someday, and although I'm not there yet, I'm glad to live vicariously though you on this journey. :)
my dad was having to take antidepressants for a few years but eventually decided to do the same thing you did. tried to get off them and other medication he was having to take to see if he still needed them. some he had no choice but to still take but he did notice he didn't have to take the antidepressants much anymore. he ended up getting off them slowly but not now he don't take them at all. stay safe while trying to see what medications you don't need to take and what medications you still do
I have bipolar disorder so medication will always be apart of my life. Off medication i am absolutely a mess going from manic to so depressed that i try to kill myself and hospitalization, but your body gets used to medication over time so you're right after being on the same meds for years. They're probably not doing much for you anymore, so if you don't need them why take them? My bipolar disorder is so bad i will always have to be on something and i have made my peace with that. I do live in fear of the day that my medication stops working and i have to find something else but until then i enjoy each and everyday i am stable and happy. I fully support you in this decision and wish you the best! Love you jo you're the best!
I have come off a few medications as well. It's nice to not have to take them anymore. I have been on Sarafem since my daughter was like a year old. I have tried coming off of them a couple of times or switched to different kinds like Cymbalta. I don't think that I have so much depression, I have realized mine is more for anxiety. I hope you have the best luck of going off them. I understand how fantastic it is to be able to go off medications. ❤️
I remember when I first realized I had to reconsider my antidepressants. I had just been diagnosed ADHD and was starting medication and reading up on what ADHD actually is. And I realized a lot of my depression came from basically putting too much pressure on myself and being unable to do the things I wanted. With ADHD meds I had the focus to do stuff, and I just wasn't feeling as bad any more. Reduced and eventually stopped my SSRIs, and I feel EVEN BETTER than I did with the two meds combined. I just feel so much more myself than I have felt in years, maybe even a decade. I do still have bad days. Part of ADHD is emotional dysregulation, and I have CPTSD, so I will still have a day or two every few months when I am clinically depressed. But that is so much better than having two consecutive weeks every three months where I am constantly fighting against self-destruction. For just one or two days, I can cry and sleep and have a break and eat junk and let it pass. And knowing where it stems from (emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, overloading myself cause I hyperfixate, etc) really helps me wait it out. For me, it's a lot easier to deal with a day or two of depression when I know where it came from and I am certain it will pass. Sometimes we can find another solution that works for us. Sometimes not. But it's always worth trying things out. Whether you come off antidepressants for good, end up on a reduced dose, or go back to the same dose as before, you're doing an amazing job just checking what your body needs. And I'm super happy that you're talking about this.
I could’ve written this comment 6 1/2 years ago. Being diagnosed with ADHD, and learning more about it, and subsequently being diagnosed with PTSD and learning more about it, changed how I approached things. My SSRI was definitely extremely helpful when I had severe depression, but I didn’t need to be on it anymore once I was what really aware of what was going on with me. Medication for ADHD now and I use a lot of other approaches to manage my mental health. It’s important for people to realize that there are times when those medication’s are really important and there are times when there’s other approaches that are better. Things evolve and we adjust.
I began taking something, not due to depression but because of a trauma. I was scared. So my doc, God bless her prescribed something for me. What a difference it made. A while later, maybe a year, she asked me if I felt I still needed the meds. I really needed to be honest and told her that I was scared to stop them. She told me that nowadays doctors had a new way of thinking and that was that if something was working for a patient then don't change it. At this point I am not ready to drop my "crutch", but maybe sometime in the future. I wish you luck dear Jo
I wish I had something really cool and constructive to say, but I actually don't because I haven't had to face even half the things you went through.. so i'm just going to say this: you are a superstar. I discovered your channel recently and kind of by accident to be honest.. and I'm really happy I did. I've been catching up continuously over the last few days and every time, without fail, i've been in awe of your strength, positivity and humour through everything. You are a fantastic person, a beautiful women inside & out and I wish you nothing but the best for this new part of your journey. I'll be thinking of you too. Love from London, UK.
I really resonated with what you were saying about what if I can’t access medications causing anxiety... it’s why for me I’ve worked really hard with my medical team to not use them. I hope your transition goes well!
Good for you for taking risks and striving to improve your health on all levels. One comment: when I've tried to go off antidepressants in the past, I found that I was pretty much fine for about 3 months, and then all hell broke loose. Please be aware that it may take a while to see the long-term effects. Good luck!
I agree with you that medications can be the correct solution to mental health problems. I've struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for years and oh my gosh, going on anxiety medication has made such a difference. When I used to have panic attacks, my mind would be rushing with thoughts, not allowing any sort of positive thoughts in. With medication though, I'm finally able to get positive thoughts such as "this is just temporary" and "I can get through this. I always have" into my head. I've been able to stop so many panic attacks lately and I'm so grateful that my medication has worked to allow this. I've also been struggling with side effects from this such as spasms in my legs, back, and face. It really sucks for medical tests where you are supposed to sit still as I physically cannot. I've been trying to switch medications with no luck so far. I'm going to be trying a new medication soon and hopefully transitioning to it won't cause any withdrawal or other side effects. Honestly though, I'm trying to accept that the solution might be to come off my anxiety meds and that is honestly a scary thing, as I've only been on them for a year and a half. Have I developed strong enough coping techniques to be able to manage it? I sincerely wish you luck coming off of them.
I found that magnesium has helped my leg spasms from the SSRI that I take. I specifically take the bisglycinate form because it's supposed to be the best for muscle problems. Good luck on whatever you choose to do!
@@Vocalinds I'll definitely have to try this! I've dealt with them for over a year now and if this is the cure, I'll be so pleased. Thank you so much!
fair play to you jo it is a massive thing to decide to do one thing which i definetly find you pointed out is that every if you come off medication you will still have the illness in most cases it doesnt go away you learn to live with it so happy you are coming down doses in inciments as trust me i take 200mg of sertreline which is the highest antidepressant before having to go to opioids which is a no no no kind of medication, i missed one day and literally for the next three days even with tablets had a massive migraine to the point i had to wear sunglasses inside, im 23 and have been on antidepressants for 8 years but this strength for 4 years what is crazy is my father also suffers with severe depression and like takes medication to stop the suicidal thoughts he takers 200mg sertreline and has been on them for i think 10 years i know he has been on antidepressants for my hole life. i can understand why people want to come off the medication because the sideaffects when taking it can be just as anoying like for me at the start i took a medication that made me gain massive amounts of weight which then affected my mood more. i believe that no one should be ashamed to take medication like you pointed out i know that no matter what im on this stuff for life and hey they doesnt bother me because if it keeps me living and enjoying life it is worth the anoyance just be safe and careful
I have fibrous dysplasia a rare bone disease. Yes, like you I have come off medication. I too came off anti depressants, but at the same time I changed my diet. I no longer eat the SAD (American standard diet) I haven't taken any medication, including OTC meds in over 2 decades. Changing the diet for me made all the difference in the world.
I first went on antidepressants in 2012 and had the absolute worst time with side effects. My psychiatrist tried so many different ones, but they all made me poorly (and didn't help my depression). I did manage to stick with one for quite a few months until I was told I had to come off it because of my blood test results and coming off of it was horrendous! I can only describe it as what I imagine sea sickness to feel like... constantly for about two weeks. My depression got so bad, I did try a few after that experience, but none of them ever helped me and they all made me unwell. I haven't been on an antidepressant for quite a while now and whilst my psychiatrist is trying to convince me there are still some I haven't tried, I have no desire to put myself through the side effects again. I'm so happy you found something that worked for you, Jo. Wishing you all the best with tapering off of it. ❤️
SUPER PROUD OF YOU! Fingers crossed for you, how fricken AMAZING would it be if you rocked doing this.... in 2020?! Even you attempting this is BAD ASS! It’s totally fine to be on them as needed though. I unfortunately have had to be on my fair share of “ happy” or “ helping “ pills. Long story short, before a correct diagnosis and right meds i went of Prozac ( doctor knew) and it was BAD. After time the combo i’m on now, the thought doesn’t really appeal to me anymore. Life is too good.
I've been on an antidepressant since 2006 or so. It was originally prescribed for both depression and for pain relief. Generally, I've found it helpful. But every once in a while, like you, I just wanted to get away from them to see whether I really need it or not. I've tried this several times over the years, with the most recent time starting in January. Every time before, my wife and family would notice that I would be getting grumpy and short-tempered. So I'd start again. The last try was just prior to some my daughter and son-in-law moving in with us as well as the beginning of the pandemic. I weaned myself off carefully and felt like I was doing pretty well for about a month. As worries about COVID increased, I realized that this was probably a bad time to be doing my experiment so I started again. The pain relief was negligible so that was a big factor for me anyway. Hopefully when life returns to normal, I can give it another shot. I admire and understand your effort, and wish you the best of luck as you go through this. Thanks for another great (and relevant for me) video! (PS, did you get the coffee? I hope so!)
Thank you for talking about this. I’ve also been wanting to stop my medication (for anxiety). I’ve been on one medication or another for the past five years, but I’ve never really been able to see a noticeable difference in my anxiety levels, even with the maximum dosage. I’ve been on several medications that are notoriously difficult to get off of and never had any issues from skipping a day (or more), or when switching from one to another. Like you, I’m certainly not anti-medication (I have several meds that I wouldn’t be able to function without), but I really don’t see the point of staying on medication for years when it isn’t even benefiting me, and could potentially be doing more harm than good. Of course, this is definitely not something to mess with without the support of a doctor, but I am really curious to see if I can stop taking my SSRI at some point, and what the results would be.
Good luck with coming off the meds, if you need some , take some it’s ok. Those meds are a godsend, thrust me! 😉 But if you ou can come off them, that’s awesome! You are a rainbow in a human package you keep the world happy when right now that’s what it needs! YIU ARE AMAZING !
thanks for this, it’s great timing, because I just starting tapering one of my mental meds. when I first started taking meds the song “grease lightening” popped into my head, but “I got pills, they’re multiplying and i’m gaining control” instead of the actual lyrics lol
Good for you, hope you feel better. Was on vicadin for over 15 yrs and now that I am off of them i feel that I am part of the world again i still have pain but know that I can get thru it.
I got off mine too, 3 weeks ago. Zoloft took my emotions. I've seen too much and experienced too much in life to just let this part of me go. Was only on for 2 months though, glad I stayed off. Nothing wrong with not wanting to take these drugs, your opinion matters too.
I’m currently recovering from trying yet another one. (I’ve tried at least half a dozen now, and they just haven’t helped.) This medication made me more depressed and just not myself and I had so many side effects... I feel like my life has been more derailed and I’m a bit worse for wear after the past couple months. Our options are limited, if any, at this point. I can live without them but I can’t fully LIVE without some extra help, you know? I really wish a layer of struggle could be lifted because I put in so much work for the rest and I feel like it shouldn’t have to be this hard.
I've tried many SSRI's and other medications to help my Depression, OCD, and anxiety. I think I'm heading towards a good path though medication-wise. I have been taking Wellbutrin (BuPROprion XL) for almost a year now and it's helped my depression (and some OCD) symptoms so much. While it hasn't helped my anxiety that much, I recently started adding Sertraline in addition at night in a very very low dose (that will probably go up a little bit tbh) and I think that's helped a little. I remember the days when I also took a medication (Gabapentin and a few others) to help with sleep and nightmares. I was legitimately terrified when those medications ran out and I couldn't get them refilled without talking to the doctor who prescribed them (who I stopped seeing for various reasons), so I just stopped taking the medication cold turkey.... Thankfully nothing bad happened and I'm able to sleep now with just some Melatonin mostly, and am able to "bounce back" from nightmares better than I used to. I think the BIGGEST thing in helping me get off of some medications and/or look forward to eventually getting off of the ones I'm on now is learning various coping skills in therapy and via books and other resources. I'd highly recommend people work with a therapist even if you don't think it will help. Some days it'll really surprise you.
For me, I went off an anti-depressant that I didn't think was "doing anything". I went off Zoloft very slowly, with the psychiatrist knowing I was doing it. Man, was that a bad idea! Everything turned so bad so fast for me, and I didn't even realize it was happening (which is the scary part when I think back on it). I ended up in the hospital within 4 months. The only bright side of it was that the hospital psychiatrist - whom I didn't quite trust - ended up doing a GREAT job coming up with a new medication regiment/combination for me. So it did have a happy ending, but I shouldn't have gone off it. (I am currently on Luvox, Abilify, Lamictal, and Trazadone, and with these 4 meds I feel really, really good! I do question if I need the Lamictal, but I'm not ready to experiment with coming off meds again any time soon!!!)
@michael conner I realize that antidepressants are not a magic bullet. However, there are some that may work better for me than others worked for me. Zoloft didn't help me. Luvox was a godsend -- I found the ability to smile and feel joy again!!
I'm sorry this is off-topic, but I was thinking of starting a youtube channel about my journey and I was wondering, what kind of equipment (mic, lighting, camera) and video editing software do you use/recommend?
I was on high dose cortisone for two years. Although it got my illness under control, it had the worst side effects. After months of weaning off of it, I was on a very minimal dose, but then the illness' symptoms came back, so I had to up the dose again. A year later when I was at that low dose again, everything was fine. I am now on other meds, but I'm happy the diagnosis was correct and although it's not curable, it is treatable.
I can't imagine getting off my antidepressant right now. Last time I tried, I was swallowed by that dark place again....currently I can't sleep without them and sleeping aid pill. If I don't take them I have anxiety attacks all night and can stay awake for days! Wish you good luck though ♡
I don’t know if you respond to comments but I have a question. You had said in a previous video that the pain meds have to be in higher and higher doses so that they work. If you go off them, does your body readjust so that a smaller dose would work again? I was just wondering how that works. Also congrats on getting off so many meds, that must feel really great
I actually have an appointment next month to see if coming of Zoloft for postpartum is a good idea yet. It honestly made me a better mom so I’m a little anxious to see what I’m like if I do come off of it.
the last medication i have come off of was the pill, it was kind of a scary process since i started taking it because i had really bad periods but a couple weeks after i stopped taking it i realised that it had made me depressed. it was like waking up from a really long sleep or coming out from under water. i was only mildly depressed, so i wasn't sad or anything but i just didn't do anything. i came home from work and sat on my couch until it was time to go to bed. and now suddenly i have hopes and dreams and hobbies and interests again. it was really mindblowing
I was on crazy high doses of blood pressure medications (the usual limit was 60mg for each med, but i was taking 150 and 160). When I got the migraines under (enough) control, I started slowly tapering off them. I'm not taking either right now, and I have very few migraines. I've tried several antidepressants in my life, and I hate how they make me feel. They make me feel numb, so I don't feel anything except severely awful or severely happy. So, although I don't feel sad, I don't have any of the little joys in life to pull myself up
Good girl! But I was advised to "only" take "as needed." So - consider keeping on-hand for "just in case" moment. At least a small quantity even after weaning yourself off a larger amount. That's better than going into a panic and not having anything available. Just my two cents, Jo. I keep something available due to my PTSD issues from Nam.......Chuck
Just a caveat, for people with treatment resistant depression (but also anyone mostly), being able to go back on the antidepressant that was helping you and have it still work is not a given. Many times you will have grown resistant to the drug and will need to find a new one if you were ever to need antidepressant therapy again, and sometimes this could prove more difficult than you'd think.
Jo, as usual I cross my fingers and ask you to tell us as a part of the coming films how it goes. Then Jo you talked about your roots as Swedish/Norwegian, wherefrom in Sweden?
I was off anti depressants for about 6 months and I felt great, but as soon as something bad happened I fell right back into depression. Although it may have felt like I didn’t need them anymore I just went a long time walking a tightrope above my depression
I AM KEEPING YOU IN MY PRAYS AND IF BY ALL MEANS IF YOU NEED TO GO BACK ON THE MEDS IF A LESS OF A OF A DOSE IS WHAT YOU NEED SO BE IT ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT BEST FOR YOU
One of the reasons I'm terrified to go to a psychologist is because I'm *convinced* they'll try to put me on medication, and the side effects of prescription medications scares me to pieces. (I've had bad experiences with head doctors, can you tell? 😆)
Taper gradually and slowly for your best chance at success. Check out survivingantidepressants.org for reference. Good for you for reevaluating things. I wish you the best in your journey.
I truly feel that no one should be taking antidepressants for a very long period of time. I understand that individuals experience dark, difficult, tragic, or traumatic times where they may be needed short-term to cope. However, talking to others about these experiences, whether it be your spouse, a physician, therapist, your close friend, etc is equally important. When antidepressants are taken while ignoring what feelings or events led you to take them in the first place, the person really isn't healing and the medication is just a patch likely to burst open again when feelings resurface. Nothing is being addressed or improved, surely on worsened or simply paused.
I hope this comment doesn't increase your anxiety about coming off medication, because as you said we're all different. But my heart skipped a beat for you at the prospect of stopping an antidepressant, even though I know many people have done so successfully. This past fall, I went off Lexapro after having been on it for over 10 years. I tapered off over about 2 months. I was going off of it in favor of Strattera, a non-amphetamine drug for adhd. I don't know for sure whether it was being off of Lexapro or on the other medication, but I experienced the worst depressive episode I've ever had, along with some serious anxiety. Like, crying at my desk at work multiple times a day. Lost some of my ability to verbalize and communicate with other people. I have had 3 or 4 episodes of major depression (and chronic low grade depression in between) and this was by far the worst. I went off of Strattera (which was helping some of the other symptoms I was taking it for, but not worth the cost) and my doctor switched me to Bupropion. It took around 6 weeks before I started to feel a little better. Then along came 2020 🙄 I am still very much in recovery mode, but the past few weeks I have felt better than I have for 9 months or so. I also am blessed with a supportive husband who has been there for me and encouraged me along the way, and has been so patient. As miserable as it was to go through, though, I am glad to be on Bupropion instead of Lexapro at this point. There were some side effects of Lexapro that I didn't even necessarily realize, but I can tell now that I'm off. Thank you for giving me space to share my story, and thank you for sharing yours. Your videos have actually been a part of my recovery process, and your calm positivity really inspires me. I wish you the best of luck in this journey, and I'll be here cheering you on!
Be very careful, Jo. Anti-depressants have been helping you. Don't be anti-medication. You've said you aren't. Yet It's not better to not take anti-depressants, unless you're 'Cured.' Doing without a still-helpful medication leaves us vulnerable to the "Slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." Remember your own funny poignant video with a friend, reading over-simplified, glib recommendations from the internet?: 'Thanks! I'm Cured!'
There is such a stigma around medication and there really shouldn't be. If medications make your life better then there is no shame in taking them. If medications are making your life more complicated and you can function better without them, then it is fine to stop taking them (with doctor's supervision, of course). I wish you luck on your journey and whether you end up coming off or realize things were better with the meds, I hope your mental health stays more on the positive side!
PS - The brand Zappos makes a bunch of accessible clothing and just started selling single shoes so you can do things like only buy one shoe or get a pair of shoes but in different sizes, and they are specially made to be easier to get on a prosthetic foot. Josh Sundquist just made a video about it and thought I'd share.
Please communicate with us as you continue this piece of your journey, whether here or on Trauma Talk or Patreon... Going off psychotropic medications scares the daylights out of me. I'll be thinking of you!!
Also, unsolicited advice that you are free to ignore: find a way to track your symptoms very carefully (the STEPPS program has an excellent scale!) When I tried to go off my meds, I slipped back into depression so gradually that it almost swallowed me whole before I realized. Don't take this as discouragement, but just caution. 💙
There’s increasing evidence that VERY SLOW tapering is imperative. I took ten months to taper after six years on. There are anecdotal stories to suggest that a maximum of 10% reduction monthly is the way to go.
I've been on this same journey for a while. I am someone who if I forgot one day of antidepressants, I would be in a ball crying by 2pm. I don't know why and doctors found that really strange given that they are in the body for long periods of time, but that's just how my body reacted. I had an awful time reducing the amounts I was on and had to go very, very slowly. I'm now on a 1/4 dose and once I get through this next transition stage in my life, I'll fully come off if my body can handle it. I understand the fear of not having them on a trip or the worry if a prescription gets denied. That's a big part of it for me. I don't want to be dependent on something unless I have to be, but if I have to be then it's okay. It's always good to question the norm and I definitely plan on reading the book you referenced. Thank you for the recommendation!
I’m also coming off my meds after nearly 6 years and am so excited! My life has never been more stable. Fingers crossed it goes well! 🤞🏻
Courageous step, hope it goes well for you. I know how difficult it can be , especially after such a long time. I'm in the same boat for benzos.
You got this! It's great you're trying this with doctor supervision. I got put on Zoloft when I was 15, and for a little while when I was 18 I was switched to a different one (the name of which I can't remember), but then I got switched back to Zoloft. It did help with some of my anxiety in high school, but it majorly affected my behavior, and voice, too. I sounded like a kid. I'm autistic and Zoloft sorta made me... quirkier? And a little manic. And if I ever forgot a pill... holy shoot dang, it was way worse than if I just hadn't been on the meds at all. At 21 I started working with my doctor to slowly come off of the 50 milligrams I took daily. I went down to 75% (37-ish mg), then 50%, then 25%. I'd heard going from half to a quarter would be the hardest transition and it kind of was, but not how I expected. Like I just remember this one day at work I couldn't stop giggling at anything and everything and I was super embarrassed because I'd been working there for five months and I'd always been so shy. They'd never seen me like that. But hey, I was overdue for breaking the ice anyway. I leveled out before long, and over the course of 6 months I went from 50mg to 0mg. I've been off them for 6.5 years. Keep your support system close, and you'll be okay. Whether you find out you could still use these meds, or you find out you can live without them, this is a good thing. :)
You make me happy every time I watch you! I know I need counseling, I'm struggling to find a place to do that. You are doing awesome Joe! Keep being you!
This is totally unsolicited, but I just started on BetterHelp and I'm really liking it so far! It's all online - you get matched with a counselor and can message them anytime, and do weekly voice or video calls. The rates are very good, too. I hope you find what you need! ❤️
@@Vocalinds I've looked into that and I did love better help just by looking into it. I need a more steady income before I can start it!
Hooray Jo!! Coming off the opioids is huge! I have gone through the same with pain meds for my back and legs. In March I had 2 back surgeries within3 days. I have off daily use of pain meds for 2 months! Yeah me! Now, when my pain gets ahead of me and lost control of pain, I take pain meds it is more effective.
As a pharmacist, I’m SO happy for you! It’s always great to hear stories where patients are ready to come off opioids, antidepressants, etc. Please keep us updated on your journey with this incredible milestone
I came off antidepressants and I can honestly say I feel no different from when I was taking them.
You GO girl !! You've done your research and are doing it safely. My antidepressant time frame is after 5 years, the one that I am on does not work anymore - and then I am that girl sitting there with tears streaming down her face all day long. So we try another.
I'm actually having a doctor's appointment today to discuss increasing my antidepressants. I've been on the higher dose before, and tapering down was not very easy. It was manageable, but I was very tired, moody and unstable for a few weeks. So I'm not too excited about possibly having to do that again.
But what was helpful to me, was doctor's supervision (obviously), REALLY good selfcare (I'd recommend making a plan beforehand - I did not have the mental clarity to see what I needed), not expecting much productivity of yourself, and doing it slowly. I felt changes in my brain chemistry and emotion regulation, and getting used to that took time.
Good luck, and I applaud you for opening up about it! It's such a stigmatized topic, sadly.
Yes! I started reading Lost Connections last week, and had a conversation yesterday with my doctor about coming off my anti-depressants. Today was my first half dose day. So much of what is written in the book resonated with me. So many thoughts we have in the back of our minds that we just let sit there. So glad I'm not the only one. I hope it goes well for you x
I admire your courage and determination in making your life the best life for you as you can. Getting help when you need it. Knowing you have people and a support systems in place if you were to ever need the support. You lead by example
Thank you for sharing this. You’re strong and amazing
Wishing you the very very best as you try this change, Jo.
Hi Jo thanks for sharing your stories good luck with your journey 😊
Good luck on your journey! I have been off anti-depressants for two years and I'm doing really well at the moment. It was only two months ago when I had to speak to my therapist about getting back on them because of the anxiety and stress of the pandemic, but I felt like I didn't need it as much as I did when I first started. There's nothing wrong with having to go back to them if it ever comes to that.
My doctor wanted me to try and taper off my Zyprexa. This last drop in dosage caused me to have a lot of worry and anxiety, so we bumped it back up and I'm feeling much better. I am at a lower dose than when I started six years ago, but I think I want to stay where I am for now. Good luck in your journey!
Omg "have you gone on a walk?"
I'd be a rich women if I had a dollar for every time I've been told that.
As a fellow suffer of depression and a health care worker I love how you talk about medication and making sure no matter what you want you are doing it with your doctor.
I was on Wellbutrin for 8 years and did not realize how much it was increasing my anxiety until I went off of it five years ago. I wish you luck on your journey. ❤️
Thankyou for sharing. Ive been on Antidepressants for 15 years on and off but this time been on them 3 years continuously and changed to one im on now 2 years ago. Ive tried coming off a couple times but i always end up going back on them and tbh i kind of want to come off them but i dont for the exact reason you give. I dont want to go back to the way i was. So maybe in a few more months ill try again. I hope it goes well for you and wish you all the best x
I think you’re approaching this situation really mindfully and I hope it goes well for you!
Good luck! I hope it goes well! I aspire to come off of antidepressants someday, and although I'm not there yet, I'm glad to live vicariously though you on this journey. :)
my dad was having to take antidepressants for a few years but eventually decided to do the same thing you did. tried to get off them and other medication he was having to take to see if he still needed them. some he had no choice but to still take but he did notice he didn't have to take the antidepressants much anymore. he ended up getting off them slowly but not now he don't take them at all. stay safe while trying to see what medications you don't need to take and what medications you still do
Good luck on this journey. I've been doing the same.
I have bipolar disorder so medication will always be apart of my life. Off medication i am absolutely a mess going from manic to so depressed that i try to kill myself and hospitalization, but your body gets used to medication over time so you're right after being on the same meds for years. They're probably not doing much for you anymore, so if you don't need them why take them? My bipolar disorder is so bad i will always have to be on something and i have made my peace with that. I do live in fear of the day that my medication stops working and i have to find something else but until then i enjoy each and everyday i am stable and happy. I fully support you in this decision and wish you the best! Love you jo you're the best!
I’m so happy for you 😊 I got prescribed them today so I’m hoping they are going to help me 🤞🏻
I have come off a few medications as well. It's nice to not have to take them anymore. I have been on Sarafem since my daughter was like a year old. I have tried coming off of them a couple of times or switched to different kinds like Cymbalta. I don't think that I have so much depression, I have realized mine is more for anxiety. I hope you have the best luck of going off them. I understand how fantastic it is to be able to go off medications. ❤️
I remember when I first realized I had to reconsider my antidepressants. I had just been diagnosed ADHD and was starting medication and reading up on what ADHD actually is. And I realized a lot of my depression came from basically putting too much pressure on myself and being unable to do the things I wanted. With ADHD meds I had the focus to do stuff, and I just wasn't feeling as bad any more. Reduced and eventually stopped my SSRIs, and I feel EVEN BETTER than I did with the two meds combined. I just feel so much more myself than I have felt in years, maybe even a decade.
I do still have bad days. Part of ADHD is emotional dysregulation, and I have CPTSD, so I will still have a day or two every few months when I am clinically depressed. But that is so much better than having two consecutive weeks every three months where I am constantly fighting against self-destruction. For just one or two days, I can cry and sleep and have a break and eat junk and let it pass. And knowing where it stems from (emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, overloading myself cause I hyperfixate, etc) really helps me wait it out. For me, it's a lot easier to deal with a day or two of depression when I know where it came from and I am certain it will pass.
Sometimes we can find another solution that works for us. Sometimes not. But it's always worth trying things out. Whether you come off antidepressants for good, end up on a reduced dose, or go back to the same dose as before, you're doing an amazing job just checking what your body needs. And I'm super happy that you're talking about this.
I could’ve written this comment 6 1/2 years ago.
Being diagnosed with ADHD, and learning more about it, and subsequently being diagnosed with PTSD and learning more about it, changed how I approached things. My SSRI was definitely extremely helpful when I had severe depression, but I didn’t need to be on it anymore once I was what really aware of what was going on with me. Medication for ADHD now and I use a lot of other approaches to manage my mental health. It’s important for people to realize that there are times when those medication’s are really important and there are times when there’s other approaches that are better. Things evolve and we adjust.
I began taking something, not due to depression but because of a trauma. I was scared. So my doc, God bless her prescribed something for me. What a difference it made. A while later, maybe a year, she asked me if I felt I still needed the meds. I really needed to be honest and told her that I was scared to stop them. She told me that nowadays doctors had a new way of thinking and that was that if something was working for a patient then don't change it. At this point I am not ready to drop my "crutch", but maybe sometime in the future. I wish you luck dear Jo
I wish I had something really cool and constructive to say, but I actually don't because I haven't had to face even half the things you went through.. so i'm just going to say this: you are a superstar. I discovered your channel recently and kind of by accident to be honest.. and I'm really happy I did. I've been catching up continuously over the last few days and every time, without fail, i've been in awe of your strength, positivity and humour through everything. You are a fantastic person, a beautiful women inside & out and I wish you nothing but the best for this new part of your journey. I'll be thinking of you too. Love from London, UK.
Iam so proud of you jo so good to hear you getting off some more medication love you jo I hope it all works out iam so glad your doing better now
I really resonated with what you were saying about what if I can’t access medications causing anxiety... it’s why for me I’ve worked really hard with my medical team to not use them. I hope your transition goes well!
Good for you for taking risks and striving to improve your health on all levels. One comment: when I've tried to go off antidepressants in the past, I found that I was pretty much fine for about 3 months, and then all hell broke loose. Please be aware that it may take a while to see the long-term effects. Good luck!
I agree with you that medications can be the correct solution to mental health problems. I've struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for years and oh my gosh, going on anxiety medication has made such a difference. When I used to have panic attacks, my mind would be rushing with thoughts, not allowing any sort of positive thoughts in. With medication though, I'm finally able to get positive thoughts such as "this is just temporary" and "I can get through this. I always have" into my head. I've been able to stop so many panic attacks lately and I'm so grateful that my medication has worked to allow this.
I've also been struggling with side effects from this such as spasms in my legs, back, and face. It really sucks for medical tests where you are supposed to sit still as I physically cannot. I've been trying to switch medications with no luck so far. I'm going to be trying a new medication soon and hopefully transitioning to it won't cause any withdrawal or other side effects. Honestly though, I'm trying to accept that the solution might be to come off my anxiety meds and that is honestly a scary thing, as I've only been on them for a year and a half. Have I developed strong enough coping techniques to be able to manage it?
I sincerely wish you luck coming off of them.
I found that magnesium has helped my leg spasms from the SSRI that I take. I specifically take the bisglycinate form because it's supposed to be the best for muscle problems.
Good luck on whatever you choose to do!
@@Vocalinds I'll definitely have to try this! I've dealt with them for over a year now and if this is the cure, I'll be so pleased. Thank you so much!
fair play to you jo it is a massive thing to decide to do one thing which i definetly find you pointed out is that every if you come off medication you will still have the illness in most cases it doesnt go away you learn to live with it so happy you are coming down doses in inciments as trust me i take 200mg of sertreline which is the highest antidepressant before having to go to opioids which is a no no no kind of medication, i missed one day and literally for the next three days even with tablets had a massive migraine to the point i had to wear sunglasses inside, im 23 and have been on antidepressants for 8 years but this strength for 4 years what is crazy is my father also suffers with severe depression and like takes medication to stop the suicidal thoughts he takers 200mg sertreline and has been on them for i think 10 years i know he has been on antidepressants for my hole life. i can understand why people want to come off the medication because the sideaffects when taking it can be just as anoying like for me at the start i took a medication that made me gain massive amounts of weight which then affected my mood more. i believe that no one should be ashamed to take medication like you pointed out i know that no matter what im on this stuff for life and hey they doesnt bother me because if it keeps me living and enjoying life it is worth the anoyance just be safe and careful
I have fibrous dysplasia a rare bone disease. Yes, like you I have come off medication. I too came off anti depressants, but at the same time I changed my diet. I no longer eat the SAD (American standard diet) I haven't taken any medication, including OTC meds in over 2 decades. Changing the diet for me made all the difference in the world.
I first went on antidepressants in 2012 and had the absolute worst time with side effects. My psychiatrist tried so many different ones, but they all made me poorly (and didn't help my depression). I did manage to stick with one for quite a few months until I was told I had to come off it because of my blood test results and coming off of it was horrendous! I can only describe it as what I imagine sea sickness to feel like... constantly for about two weeks. My depression got so bad, I did try a few after that experience, but none of them ever helped me and they all made me unwell. I haven't been on an antidepressant for quite a while now and whilst my psychiatrist is trying to convince me there are still some I haven't tried, I have no desire to put myself through the side effects again. I'm so happy you found something that worked for you, Jo. Wishing you all the best with tapering off of it. ❤️
SUPER PROUD OF YOU! Fingers crossed for you, how fricken AMAZING would it be if you rocked doing this.... in 2020?! Even you attempting this is BAD ASS! It’s totally fine to be on them as needed though. I unfortunately have had to be on my fair share of “ happy” or “ helping “ pills. Long story short, before a correct diagnosis and right meds i went of Prozac ( doctor knew) and it was BAD. After time the combo i’m on now, the thought doesn’t really appeal to me anymore. Life is too good.
Was on them after my TBI, had no problems coming off them, as long as I followed my Dr.'s regimen. Hope you have no issues coming off them.
I've been on an antidepressant since 2006 or so. It was originally prescribed for both depression and for pain relief. Generally, I've found it helpful. But every once in a while, like you, I just wanted to get away from them to see whether I really need it or not. I've tried this several times over the years, with the most recent time starting in January. Every time before, my wife and family would notice that I would be getting grumpy and short-tempered. So I'd start again. The last try was just prior to some my daughter and son-in-law moving in with us as well as the beginning of the pandemic. I weaned myself off carefully and felt like I was doing pretty well for about a month. As worries about COVID increased, I realized that this was probably a bad time to be doing my experiment so I started again. The pain relief was negligible so that was a big factor for me anyway. Hopefully when life returns to normal, I can give it another shot. I admire and understand your effort, and wish you the best of luck as you go through this. Thanks for another great (and relevant for me) video! (PS, did you get the coffee? I hope so!)
You got this Jo!
Thank you for talking about this. I’ve also been wanting to stop my medication (for anxiety). I’ve been on one medication or another for the past five years, but I’ve never really been able to see a noticeable difference in my anxiety levels, even with the maximum dosage. I’ve been on several medications that are notoriously difficult to get off of and never had any issues from skipping a day (or more), or when switching from one to another. Like you, I’m certainly not anti-medication (I have several meds that I wouldn’t be able to function without), but I really don’t see the point of staying on medication for years when it isn’t even benefiting me, and could potentially be doing more harm than good. Of course, this is definitely not something to mess with without the support of a doctor, but I am really curious to see if I can stop taking my SSRI at some point, and what the results would be.
Good luck with coming off the meds, if you need some , take some it’s ok. Those meds are a godsend, thrust me! 😉 But if you ou can come off them, that’s awesome! You are a rainbow in a human package you keep the world happy when right now that’s what it needs! YIU ARE AMAZING !
Good for you. I however find them immensely helpful.
I found that Celexa works much better than Welbutrin for me that's for sure.
thanks for this, it’s great timing, because I just starting tapering one of my mental meds. when I first started taking meds the song “grease lightening” popped into my head, but “I got pills, they’re multiplying and i’m gaining control” instead of the actual lyrics lol
That's fantastic!
Good for you, hope you feel better. Was on vicadin for over 15 yrs and now that I am off of them i feel that I am part of the world again i still have pain but know that I can get thru it.
I got off mine too, 3 weeks ago. Zoloft took my emotions. I've seen too much and experienced too much in life to just let this part of me go. Was only on for 2 months though, glad I stayed off. Nothing wrong with not wanting to take these drugs, your opinion matters too.
I’m currently recovering from trying yet another one. (I’ve tried at least half a dozen now, and they just haven’t helped.) This medication made me more depressed and just not myself and I had so many side effects... I feel like my life has been more derailed and I’m a bit worse for wear after the past couple months. Our options are limited, if any, at this point. I can live without them but I can’t fully LIVE without some extra help, you know? I really wish a layer of struggle could be lifted because I put in so much work for the rest and I feel like it shouldn’t have to be this hard.
I've tried many SSRI's and other medications to help my Depression, OCD, and anxiety. I think I'm heading towards a good path though medication-wise. I have been taking Wellbutrin (BuPROprion XL) for almost a year now and it's helped my depression (and some OCD) symptoms so much. While it hasn't helped my anxiety that much, I recently started adding Sertraline in addition at night in a very very low dose (that will probably go up a little bit tbh) and I think that's helped a little. I remember the days when I also took a medication (Gabapentin and a few others) to help with sleep and nightmares. I was legitimately terrified when those medications ran out and I couldn't get them refilled without talking to the doctor who prescribed them (who I stopped seeing for various reasons), so I just stopped taking the medication cold turkey.... Thankfully nothing bad happened and I'm able to sleep now with just some Melatonin mostly, and am able to "bounce back" from nightmares better than I used to. I think the BIGGEST thing in helping me get off of some medications and/or look forward to eventually getting off of the ones I'm on now is learning various coping skills in therapy and via books and other resources. I'd highly recommend people work with a therapist even if you don't think it will help. Some days it'll really surprise you.
Thank You!
For me, I went off an anti-depressant that I didn't think was "doing anything". I went off Zoloft very slowly, with the psychiatrist knowing I was doing it. Man, was that a bad idea! Everything turned so bad so fast for me, and I didn't even realize it was happening (which is the scary part when I think back on it). I ended up in the hospital within 4 months. The only bright side of it was that the hospital psychiatrist - whom I didn't quite trust - ended up doing a GREAT job coming up with a new medication regiment/combination for me. So it did have a happy ending, but I shouldn't have gone off it.
(I am currently on Luvox, Abilify, Lamictal, and Trazadone, and with these 4 meds I feel really, really good! I do question if I need the Lamictal, but I'm not ready to experiment with coming off meds again any time soon!!!)
@michael conner I realize that antidepressants are not a magic bullet. However, there are some that may work better for me than others worked for me. Zoloft didn't help me. Luvox was a godsend -- I found the ability to smile and feel joy again!!
I'm sorry this is off-topic, but I was thinking of starting a youtube channel about my journey and I was wondering, what kind of equipment (mic, lighting, camera) and video editing software do you use/recommend?
I was on high dose cortisone for two years. Although it got my illness under control, it had the worst side effects. After months of weaning off of it, I was on a very minimal dose, but then the illness' symptoms came back, so I had to up the dose again. A year later when I was at that low dose again, everything was fine. I am now on other meds, but I'm happy the diagnosis was correct and although it's not curable, it is treatable.
I can't imagine getting off my antidepressant right now. Last time I tried, I was swallowed by that dark place again....currently I can't sleep without them and sleeping aid pill. If I don't take them I have anxiety attacks all night and can stay awake for days! Wish you good luck though ♡
I don’t know if you respond to comments but I have a question. You had said in a previous video that the pain meds have to be in higher and higher doses so that they work. If you go off them, does your body readjust so that a smaller dose would work again? I was just wondering how that works. Also congrats on getting off so many meds, that must feel really great
I've always wondered that about pain meds too.
I've been on 10 different one's and never had any problems going off
I actually have an appointment next month to see if coming of Zoloft for postpartum is a good idea yet. It honestly made me a better mom so I’m a little anxious to see what I’m like if I do come off of it.
the last medication i have come off of was the pill, it was kind of a scary process since i started taking it because i had really bad periods but a couple weeks after i stopped taking it i realised that it had made me depressed. it was like waking up from a really long sleep or coming out from under water. i was only mildly depressed, so i wasn't sad or anything but i just didn't do anything. i came home from work and sat on my couch until it was time to go to bed. and now suddenly i have hopes and dreams and hobbies and interests again. it was really mindblowing
I was on crazy high doses of blood pressure medications (the usual limit was 60mg for each med, but i was taking 150 and 160). When I got the migraines under (enough) control, I started slowly tapering off them. I'm not taking either right now, and I have very few migraines. I've tried several antidepressants in my life, and I hate how they make me feel. They make me feel numb, so I don't feel anything except severely awful or severely happy. So, although I don't feel sad, I don't have any of the little joys in life to pull myself up
Good girl! But I was advised to "only" take "as needed." So - consider keeping on-hand for "just in case" moment. At least a small quantity even after weaning yourself off a larger amount. That's better than going into a panic and not having anything available. Just my two cents, Jo. I keep something available due to my PTSD issues from Nam.......Chuck
Just a caveat, for people with treatment resistant depression (but also anyone mostly), being able to go back on the antidepressant that was helping you and have it still work is not a given. Many times you will have grown resistant to the drug and will need to find a new one if you were ever to need antidepressant therapy again, and sometimes this could prove more difficult than you'd think.
Jo, as usual I cross my fingers and ask you to tell us as a part of the coming films how it goes. Then Jo you talked about your roots as Swedish/Norwegian, wherefrom in Sweden?
Good idea, make sure you exercise regularly and get outside sunshine though
You are really beautiful and amazing person. Ur family Bobby
I was off anti depressants for about 6 months and I felt great, but as soon as something bad happened I fell right back into depression. Although it may have felt like I didn’t need them anymore I just went a long time walking a tightrope above my depression
Jooo I'm so happy for you
Good luck. Let me know how it goes. I have thought about doing this also. Would love the feedback.
I AM KEEPING YOU IN MY PRAYS AND IF BY ALL MEANS IF YOU NEED TO GO BACK ON THE MEDS IF A LESS OF A OF A DOSE IS WHAT YOU NEED SO BE IT ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT BEST FOR YOU
I was hit by a landmine, and I lost my right leg
it took me 2 months to return to normal after stopping. i still can’t close my eyes on the shower
i get the spins
Wellbutrin is how I found out that I had bipolar 2 disorder
❤️
One of the reasons I'm terrified to go to a psychologist is because I'm *convinced* they'll try to put me on medication, and the side effects of prescription medications scares me to pieces. (I've had bad experiences with head doctors, can you tell? 😆)
haw to drive car
I like you from Bangladesh
More let smock or dinner weed Jo ...Awesome anty depre...( and the 50% my hearth only besth like for y♡U ....CHEERS💓
Taper gradually and slowly for your best chance at success. Check out survivingantidepressants.org for reference. Good for you for reevaluating things. I wish you the best in your journey.
I truly feel that no one should be taking antidepressants for a very long period of time. I understand that individuals experience dark, difficult, tragic, or traumatic times where they may be needed short-term to cope. However, talking to others about these experiences, whether it be your spouse, a physician, therapist, your close friend, etc is equally important. When antidepressants are taken while ignoring what feelings or events led you to take them in the first place, the person really isn't healing and the medication is just a patch likely to burst open again when feelings resurface. Nothing is being addressed or improved, surely on worsened or simply paused.
Not a good idea
I hope this comment doesn't increase your anxiety about coming off medication, because as you said we're all different. But my heart skipped a beat for you at the prospect of stopping an antidepressant, even though I know many people have done so successfully.
This past fall, I went off Lexapro after having been on it for over 10 years. I tapered off over about 2 months. I was going off of it in favor of Strattera, a non-amphetamine drug for adhd. I don't know for sure whether it was being off of Lexapro or on the other medication, but I experienced the worst depressive episode I've ever had, along with some serious anxiety. Like, crying at my desk at work multiple times a day. Lost some of my ability to verbalize and communicate with other people. I have had 3 or 4 episodes of major depression (and chronic low grade depression in between) and this was by far the worst. I went off of Strattera (which was helping some of the other symptoms I was taking it for, but not worth the cost) and my doctor switched me to Bupropion. It took around 6 weeks before I started to feel a little better. Then along came 2020 🙄 I am still very much in recovery mode, but the past few weeks I have felt better than I have for 9 months or so. I also am blessed with a supportive husband who has been there for me and encouraged me along the way, and has been so patient. As miserable as it was to go through, though, I am glad to be on Bupropion instead of Lexapro at this point. There were some side effects of Lexapro that I didn't even necessarily realize, but I can tell now that I'm off. Thank you for giving me space to share my story, and thank you for sharing yours. Your videos have actually been a part of my recovery process, and your calm positivity really inspires me. I wish you the best of luck in this journey, and I'll be here cheering you on!
My mom made me delete my TickTock so I can’t watch anymore I’m so sad
I'm sorry to hear that :(
Be very careful, Jo. Anti-depressants have been helping you. Don't be anti-medication. You've said you aren't. Yet It's not better to not take anti-depressants, unless you're 'Cured.' Doing without a still-helpful medication leaves us vulnerable to the "Slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." Remember your own funny poignant video with a friend, reading over-simplified, glib recommendations from the internet?: 'Thanks! I'm Cured!'