Happymommax3: Introduction

[Happymommax3]

I’m currently 13 months out from being completely off Citalopram and Xanax. I ended up ruining my life and losing everything through a series of bad decisions after I started taking the meds. I quit cold turkey and went through hell including an attempted suicide attempt and a Baker Act. I did get my family back but continue to experience depression, inability to focus, suicidal thoughts, and numb/tingling hands. Groups and pages like this have been an encouragement to me. It helps knowing there’s others who can sympathize with what I’ve gone/am going through. 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Happymommax3.  I'm glad you found your way here.  

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

The symptoms your are experiencing are common antidepressant and bento withdrawal symptoms.  These links will give you an understanding of what you're going through.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

 The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

When we take medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

 

You might find these links to non-drug coping skills helpful:

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)
 

CBT Course:  An Introductory Self-Help Course in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes
 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system.  

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but, as I said,  I am glad that you found us.