☼ apple1989: From 5mg/2.5mg abilify and 50mg lamotrigine to the lowest dose I could.

[apple1989]

Trying again at 3.2mg, I've been at this dose from 3 weeks ago. Now I am keeping daily track of my symptoms.

 

I am worried because yesterday and today I couldn't sleep. I decided to stay in 3.2mg and cutting all caffeine. Let's see next days.

 

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

 

[apple1989]

Update:

 

Nowadays at 3.6mg Abilify, none of Lamotrigine but I am tapering Cymbalta 30mg.

 

I promised me this time to be more patient and wait 3 weeks each tapering. Specially when I will try to taper Abilify again (after tapering cymbalta)

[ChessieCat]

Q:  When did you start Cymbalta? 

 

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12 minutes ago, apple1989 said:

Specially when I will try to taper Abilify again (after tapering cymbalta)

 

Alto previously said:

 

On 4/28/2021 at 4:41 PM, Altostrata said:

Abilify is a drug with far higher risk of adverse health consequences compared to lamotrigine. The dosage you're taking of lamotrigine is low. If I were you, I'd taper Ability, at least down to 1mg, then reassess your symptom pattern.

 

 

[apple1989]

Cymbalta just 5 months ago and I not perceive benefits from them. Abilify I've been taken it for about 10 years (schizophrenia) and, althought I want also to taper it, maybe I need it and I have to be careful about tapering.

[ChessieCat]

3 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

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[apple1989]

I will taper from 3.6mg abilify to 2 mg. I know I will suffer strong withdrawal effects.

 

But this time in my life, never more, I will have almost 3 months of holidays and I have nothing to do, at least nothing which requires concentration.

 

So I will try a strong taper. After this three months I will have to work and I will only have one month of holidays next years.

 

I expect to have withdrawal symptoms on Monday, two days after as the mid-life of abilify is that. But I promised myself to be patient at least two weeks.

 

I will update. Let's see.

[ChessieCat]

Going from 3.2mg Abilify to 2mg is a 37.5% decrease.  SA's tapering protocol of no more than 10% of the current dose followed by a hold of about 4 weeks is to allow the brain to adapt to not getting as much of the drug and to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum. 

 

It is bad for the nervous system to reduce by too much and causing bad withdrawal symptoms.

 

From Post #1 of the Tips for Tapering Abilify topic:

  

On 3/12/2012 at 10:34 AM, Altostrata said:

Depending on the sensitivity of your nervous system, even 2mg might be difficult to quit, incurring terrible withdrawal symptoms. As with other psychiatric drugs, we recommend tapering at 10% per month, calculated on the last dosage   to let your nervous system accommodate safely to reduced dosages.

 

Please see Post #1 of this topic for how to get non standard doses for tapering:

 

Tips for tapering off aripiprazole (Abilify)

[ChessieCat]

 * * * * * *   PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO   * * * * * *

 

Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

[apple1989]

Thanks for the information ChessieCat

 

I know it is risky. But I will taper much more slowly when I'll be working in two months. Now I want to taper faster, I think this allow me to work much better and feel less blunted, now I am too emotionally flat in my opinion.

[Altostrata]

You can do as you wish, of course. But we don't have any magic that can fix severe withdrawal symptoms.

[ChessieCat]

10 hours ago, apple1989 said:

But I will taper much more slowly when I'll be working in two months.

 

SA does not tell members how fast to taper, but we do try to inform members about the possible bad consequences of what they are planning on doing.

 

If you taper too fast whilst you are off work and get bad withdrawal symptoms in 2 months' time when you are back at work you might be having to cope with the bad withdrawal symptoms.  And because you have already been off work you will probably not be able to take more time off.

 

SA recommends a slow and steady taper rate for a very good reason, to keep withdrawal symptoms to a minimum so that people can live their lives as normally as possible.

 

I have been a member of SA for almost 7 years now, and a mod for 6 of those years.  I have seen members try to taper too quickly and ended up suffering badly.  Some have had to leave their job, some have had their relationship break down, some have ended up bedridden, some have had to move in with family/friend; or any combination of those things.

 

Before you make the next reduction please thoughtfully consider everything that you have been told.  We understand that people want to get off their drug as quickly as possible.  It took me 6 years to taper off 100mg Pristiq, experiencing only mild withdrawal symptoms and I've now been off successfully for 8.5 months.  Getting off a psychiatric drug has nothing to do with how strong or determined you are as a person.  It is fully dependent on your brain and how it responds to you reducing your drug.

 

ASK YOURSELF THIS:  Is it really worth the risk of possibly making things worse than they already are?

[apple1989]

Now at 1.5mg Abilify and 10 beads of cymbalta.

 

I have an excel tracking doses,withdrawal symptoms and benefits. In Spanish, pending to translate to English before uploading in this forum.

 

Summary: a rough month, from being amotivational and flat, but not feeling so bad. To recover emotions, very strong at first and now are even.

 

From 3 days ago I started to feel better than before.

 

Thanks for the information, specially helpfull for the reinstate of cymbalta, as I have much bearable withdrawal symptoms than just quitting cold turkey

[Altostrata]

Please link to a document in Google Drive rather than uploading an Excel document. We don't download docs, sorry.

[Manny78]

Hi @apple1989. I am myself  tapering abilify too. I am from Spain too. I am at 2,1ml using the liquid solution. I have akathisia. I have had it all this time.I have cognitive issues. I don't want to take abilify anymore. I didn't have psychosis but these drugs cause that. I had stress and I made a bad move. I was hypochondriac because a pharyngitis not well cured, that is how I started taking benzos and ADs. I worried about death and that freaked me out. Now I learned to cope with this. 

I have to taper Cymbalta 60mg too. I am polydrugged. 

 

 

 

[apple1989]

Translated text:

 

 Hello Manny

 

I hope you have good luck. Abilify also gives me akathisia, even at low doses. I was taking 3.6mg of Abilify and am now down to 1.5mg. Also in aqueous solution.

 

Cymbalta I currently take 10 capsules, won't be even 5% of 30mg.

 

Both are meds that I have had a hard time getting off. The Abilify comedown is the most noticeable of all, it puts me on a kind of emotional merry-go-round: some days I feel overly emotional and others I feel flat.

 

Cymbalta is also unpleasant to be taken off, the withdrawal symptoms are mostly to do with those brain zaps, dizziness and insomnia.

 

Luckily, after three weeks, I feel much better than before.

 

I am also seeing a psychologist, which helps a lot.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

 

__________________________

 

Hola Manny

 

Espero que tengas buena suerte. Abilify también me da akathisia, incluso a bajas dosis. Tomaba 3.6mg de Abilify y ahora estoy por 1.5mg. También en solución acuosa.

 

Cymbalta actualmente tomo 10 capsulitas, no será ni un 5% de 30mg.

 

Ambas son medicinas que me ha costado quitarme. La bajada de Abilify es la que más se nota de todas, me mete en una especie de carrusel emocional: unos días me noto demasiado emocional y otras me noto plano.

 

Cymbalta también es desagradable para ser quitado, los síntomas de retirada tienen que ver sobretodo con esos "brain zaps", mareos e insomnio.

 

Por suerte, tras tres semanas, me siento mucho mejor que antes.

 

Decir que también estoy yendo al psicólogo, que ayuda bastante.

 

 

Edited August 2, 2022 by ChessieCat
added deepL translation

[ChessieCat]

@apple1989 Please translate your posts into English.  Thank you.

 

This translator is easy to use:  https://www.deepl.com/translator

[Manny78]

16 hours ago, apple1989 said:

Translated text:

 

 Hello Manny

 

I hope you have good luck. Abilify also gives me akathisia, even at low doses. I was taking 3.6mg of Abilify and am now down to 1.5mg. Also in aqueous solution. 

Hi @apple1989, nice to meet you although in these circumstances.Yes,I have been having akathisia all these years tapering. I have to check on thread on surviving antidepressants'site, when I started complaining about akathisia. Even in low doses it is hard. It might be harder because of tolerance. 

 

Cymbalta I currently take 10 capsules, won't be even 5% of 30mg.

 

How do you taper Cymbalta? Do you open the capsules or do you weigh them and remove a few beads? 

 

 

16 hours ago, apple1989 said:

 

Both are meds that I have had a hard time getting off. The Abilify comedown is the most noticeable of all, it puts me on a kind of emotional merry-go-round: some days I feel overly emotional and others I feel flat.

These drug,abilify,is pissing me off. I am never happy.I fight with my mom. It is taking me years to get out off my body. 

 

16 hours ago, apple1989 said:

 

Cymbalta is also unpleasant to be taken off, the withdrawal symptoms are mostly to do with those brain zaps, dizziness and insomnia.

I am so sorry for the nasty secondary side effects you are getting from Cymbalta. 

 

Luckily, after three weeks, I feel much better than before.

 

I am glad that after 3 weeks you feel much better. 

 

Edited August 2, 2022 by ChessieCat
added spacing and removed unnecessary quote

[Manny78]

@Apple123 how are you friend? Could you describe what is a day of akathisia for you? I am have akathisia from the moment I wake up. I have this necessity to move. Akathisia is horrible, but inner aka I think it is worse. I  had some relief from aka when I had covid. I don't know what to do. You mentioned insomnia. Is it really bad for you. I usually sleep but I wake up a lot. At night I take klonopin 0,25mg and risperidone 0,86ml. I haven't touched that. I made many things like taper klonopin,then Risperdal and later abilify. Now that I am so low on abilify (2,1ml) I will finish the taper of this horrible drug. It might take me another year to taper. I have time to taper. I don't work but I want to work but I don't see it possible.

 

What kind of psychologist do you see? I go to a psychologist too from the public services.What kind of job do you have? You mentioned you have an easy job.

 

My cognition is not really good. If I try to do many things like multitasking in my mobile phone I forget very easily. I click on the wrong button or I forget.

 

Do you get problems with your libido? I do. I have strong desire for sex, but last time I had sexual dysfunction with my partner. I don't have a lot of semen production. 

 

Good luck to you. I would like to keep in touch with you since we are tapering abilify both. 

 

Manny78 

 

 

[apple1989]

Translation:

I feel the same akathisia, the desire to move and even a certain internal/mental agitation.

I am an administrative assistant, I took a competitive examination.

I do have libido, no problem in that aspect. Maybe with cymbalta it takes me longer to reach orgasm, but it's fine.

The psychologist I see have been of many types, all of them have contributed to me. Now I am seeing a psychoanalyst.

PS: I don't translate this, it's not a crime either since I always read and translate in my non-native language, English.

 

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

 

 

 

La acatisia la siento igual, ganas de moverme e incluso cierta agitación interna/mental

 

Soy auxiliar administrativo, saqué unas oposiciones.

 

Sí tengo líbido, sin problema en ese aspecto. Quizá con cymbalta tardo en llegar más yo al orgasmo, pero bien.

 

El psicólogo que veo han sido de muchos tipos, todos me han aportado. Ahora estoy viendo a un psicoanalista.

 

PD: no traduzco esto, tampoco es un delito dado que yo siempre leo y traduzco en mi idioma no nativo, el inglés.

 

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by ChessieCat
added translation

[ChessieCat]

23 minutes ago, apple1989 said:

PS: I don't translate this, it's not a crime either since I always read and translate in my non-native language, English.

 

Sorry, but SA is an English speaking website.  It has nothing to do with discrimination, it is just a fact.  The owner is an American lady.  The members who only speak a small amount of English or none do not mind using a translator and post in English because they appreciate the help and support that they can get on the site.

 

We are very fortunate to be able to easily translate different languages so that English and non-English speaking people can communicate.

 

SA is a free site with a large amount of excellent information and is staffed by a small number of unpaid peers who are either tapering, gone off their drug/s too quickly or have finished tapering; they give freely of their time trying to help people to get off their drugs.  Some work full time and some work part time, and all have their  private lives separate from SA. 

 

You cannot expect to get support from the staff and non Spanish speaking members if you do not translate your posts.

[Manny78]

@Apple123, I will write to you in English if you feel comfortable. I speak both Spanish and English. I lived in the US for 11 years,and I went to university there. I studied ESL first and then computers. I am preparing oposiciones too for Subalterno(clerical job I think). It is so difficult for me but I am going to try so hard.

I haven't tried any psychologist. I am trying one with la Seguridad Social (Spanish health care system). What does the psychoanalyst do? 

I have libido too, but I am on so many drugs that interact one with the other. 

 Are you tapering abilify 1st or both abilify and Cymbalta at the same time? I have to go really slow with the damn taper. 

If you are tapering Cymbalta how do you taper? 

Good luck and thanks for your help. 

 

Manny78 

[ChessieCat]

1 minute ago, Manny78 said:

I will write to you in English if you feel comfortable.

 

@Manny78

 

If you post in Spanish, please also include the English translation.  Thank you.

[Manny78]

1 minute ago, ChessieCat said:

 

@Manny78

 

If you post in Spanish, please also include the English translation.  Thank you.

No problem @ChessieCat

Do I use the translator you put in @apple1989 thread? I think it translates fairly well. 

[ChessieCat]

Thanks Manny, I appreciate that 😊.  Yes the staff have found that deepL seems to be more accurate as well as easier to use than google translator, but it doesn't have as many languages, only the main ones.  The copy paste seems to work with no issues whereas google translator puts it in a quote box and the text is in one line so it is hard to read and needs to be reformatted which wastes staff time when they would prefer to be assisting members.

[Manny78]

On 7/29/2022 at 7:24 AM, apple1989 said:

Now at 1.5mg Abilify and 10 beads of cymbalta.

 

I have an excel tracking doses,withdrawal symptoms and benefits. In Spanish, pending to translate to English before uploading in this forum.

 

Summary: a rough month, from being amotivational and flat, but not feeling so bad. To recover emotions, very strong at first and now are even.

 

From 3 days ago I started to feel better than before.

 

Thanks for the information, specially helpfull for the reinstate of cymbalta, as I have much bearable withdrawal symptoms than just quitting cold turkey

@apple1989solo tomas 10 perlas de Cymbalta?

@apple1989do you only take 10 beads of Cymbalta? 

[apple1989]

Sí. He tomado 10 perlas de cymbalta durante 10 días

 

Incluso hoy he decidido no tomar Cymbalta (es mentira lo de Cymbalta que te deja la picha alta)

 

****************************************************************

Yes, I've taken 10 beads of Cymbalta for 10 days.

 

Today I even decided to avoid Cymbalta at all (is a lye that Cymbalta lets you free of withdrawal symptoms )

[Manny78]

Hola @apple1989 como estas amigo? Te escribe para saber como sigues en el proceso de reduccion. Yo estoy ahora en 2ml de abilify.  Me esta costando mucho dormir. Me pregunto si tu tienes el mismo problema. Dices que tienes esquizofrenia. Me gustaria hablar contigo por privado. No se si eso rompe alguna regla del grupo.

 

Translation - deepL.com:

 

Hello @apple1989 how are you my friend? Just writing to let you know how you are doing in the tapering process. I am now on 2ml of abilify.  I am having a hard time sleeping. I wonder if you have the same problem. You say you have schizophrenia. I would like to talk to you privately. I don't know if that breaks any group rules.

 

Edited September 2, 2022 by ChessieCat

[apple1989]

Español

*******

English

 

****************************************************************************

Hola Manny! He tenido un largo recorrido este verano con el Abilify.

• Recapitulando:
  • Abilify 3.6mg - 2mg-1.5mg-1.2-0mg -1mg.
  • Cymbalta: 30mg - 10capsulitas(~1mg) - 0mg
  • Bupropion: 0mg - 150mg 

 

En principio pensé en prescindir de Abilify, Cymbalta y quedarme sin medicaciones. Pero he ido haciendo un excel de las bajadas (con diversas anotaciones, síntomas, estado de ánimo, etc) y he observado que cada vez he ido empeorando del síntoma principal mío (anhedonia,apatía) según bajaba la dosis. Además, leyendo en foros, esos síntomas de nerviosismo, agitación, distonías... que describe la gente en síntomas de retirada de Abilify, yo no he tenido ninguno, por lo que creo honestamente no haber sufrido síntomas de retirada.

 

Simplemente el supuesto "agonismo parcial de los receptores D2" del que Abilify presume cuadra con lo que me ha pasado: al no tener ese "agonismo" (aumento) de dopamina, mi motivación cae y mi anhedonia aumenta.

 

Cymbalta lo retiré, aquí acerté: como sospechaba, los beneficios eran pocos y quizá hasta un ligero empeoramiento de la apatía. Aquí sí noté los efectos de retirada: los famosos 'brain zaps', vértigos, y empeoramiento del insomnio... que por suerte con pequeños 'reinstate' de 10 cápsulas a demanda los días necesarios, ha sido posible retirarlo.

 

Bupropion: está añadido porque en otras ocasiones me mejoró la anhedonia/motivación y está volviendo a hacerlo. Lo malo es que aumenta el nerviosismo y se duerme peor, pero me compensa no estar todo el día tirado en la cama aburrido/anhedónico. Además me da un subidón de motivación para hacer ejercicio

 

Cabe la hipótesis de que me recuperara en el futuro sin medicación, con el paso de meses o incluso años. Pero no tengo tiempo suficiente para comprobarlo: voy a empezar un nuevo trabajo en Octubre (para el estado) y al menos los primeros meses no me la quiero "jugar" ya que al principio estaré en periodo de prueba.

 

Me da en parte tristeza y a la vez me alivia, pero creo que de algún modo sí tengo la enfermedad y no es la medicación la causante, sino la ayuda, de que haya ido mejorando con los años. (Esa es mi percepción ahora mismo, quizá cambie en el futuro).

 

Es por ello, que de momento estoy en 1mg y puedo considerar subirlo en el futuro si lo necesito. Lo recomendado para estados depresivos es 2mg - 5mg. Yo oscilaré entre 0.5mg y 5mg, iré haciendo pruebas. 

 

Para cualquier pregunta, aquí me tenéis a vuestra disposición.

********************************************************************************************************************************

 

Hi Manny! I've had a long run this summer with the Abilify.

Recap:
Abilify 3.6mg - 2mg-1.5mg-1.2-0mg -1mg.
Cymbalta: 30mg - 10capsules(~1mg) - 0mg
Bupropion: 0mg - 150mg 

Initially I thought I'd do without Abilify, Cymbalta and go without meds. But I've been making an excel of the lowering (with various notations, symptoms, mood, etc) and I've noticed that I've been getting worse and worse of my main symptom (anhedonia, apathy) as I lowered the dose.

 

Also, reading in forums, those symptoms of nervousness, agitation, dystonia... that people describe in withdrawal symptoms of Abilify, I have not had any, so I honestly believe I have not suffered withdrawal symptoms.

Just the supposed "partial D2 receptor agonism" that Abilify boasts about squares with what has happened to me: not having that "agonism" (increase) of dopamine, my motivation drops and my anhedonia increases.

 

Cymbalta I withdrew, here I was right: as I suspected, the benefits were few and perhaps even a slight worsening of apathy. Here I did notice the effects of withdrawal: the famous 'brain zaps', dizziness, and worsening of insomnia... which fortunately with small 'reinstatements' of 10 capsules on demand on the necessary days, it was possible to withdraw it.

 

Bupropion: it is added because in other occasions it improved my anhedonia/motivation and it is doing it again. The downside is that it increases nervousness and sleep is worse, but it compensates me for not lying in bed all day bored/anhedonic. It also gives me a boost of motivation to exercise.

 

It is possible that I could recover in the future without medication, with the passage of months or even years. But I don't have enough time to check it: I'm going to start a new job in October (for the state) and at least the first months I don't want to "gamble" since I'll be on probation at the beginning.

 

It makes me partly sad and at the same time relieved, but I think that somehow I do have the disease and it is not the medication that is the cause, but the help, that I have been improving over the years (that is my perception right now, maybe it will change in the future).

 

That is why I am on 1mg at the moment and may consider raising it in the future if I need to. The recommended for depressive states is 2mg - 5mg. I will oscillate between 0.5mg and 5mg, I will be testing. 

If you have any questions, I'm here for you.

 

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

 

[apple1989]

Spanish first, then English.

 

Translated by DeepL.

 

*************************************************************

Estoy realmente bien

 

Escribo rápido porque tengo muchas cosas que hacer y disfrutar y estoy a tope.

 

Estoy a 0mg de Abilify, 0mg de Cymbalta. Algún Orfidal ocasional, lorazepam, cuando llevo algún día que otro sin dormir. Tengo mucha energía ahora mismo.

Este viernes tuve cita con mi psiquiatra, y también con mi psicólogo habitual. Sólamente para manejar tanta energía que ahora tengo. 

 

Llevo actualmente 4 meses a 0mg de Abilify y 3 meses y medio a 0mg de Cymbalta. De momento estoy muy bien, y espero estarlo en el futuro. Cruzo los dedos.

 

Pero ambos coinciden en que estoy bien. No estoy hipomaníaco y en general mi vida a mejorado: hago mucho más deporte, estoy comiendo mejor y bebo mucho menos alcohol que antes.

He recuperado mi afición con la música, apenas paso tiempo en el ordenador fuera del trabajo (no me disgustan los videojuegos, pero ahora tengo tan poco tiempo que prefiero dedicarlo a cosas que disfruto más). Además me he apuntado a clases de bailes latinos y también a un gimnasio al que, de momento, sigo yendo.

 

 

 

 

Claves de mi recuperación:

- Aceptar mi ira, mi agresividad y momentos de cabreo: no he agredido a nadie ni faltado a nadie al respecto, quizá haya hecho alguna broma o comentario jocoso que ha podido herir a alguien pero nada serio. Pero ahora defiendo mis derechos, creo que simplemente durante la depresión he dejado que me pisen, ahora simplemente creo estar más en mi sitio.

 

- Permitirme disfrutar de la vida: nuestros familiares y amigos que nos quieren quieren que disfrutemos.

 

- Preocuparme menos: me olvido continuamente las cosas y en mi trabajo al veces me olvido de detalles. Pero no importa, el no preocuparme hace que tenga mucha energía y con eso estoy rindiendo más y mejor. Los errores de mi trabajo son solucionables y la mayoría no tienen una especial implicación, de mi trabajo no depende la vida de nadie y, aunque dependiera, trato de hacer lo mejor y cometo errores: soy humano y esos errores me sirven para seguir aprendiendo. Estoy contento laboralmente.

 

Es increíble como te sorprendes a ti mismo cuando te das cuenta de que preocuparse no evita la mayor parte de los males y, desde luego, no sale rentable tanta preocupación. Cuando no legitimas el estar preocupado, ganas muchísima energía.

 

Un ejemplo fácil: este texto no está revisado una y otra vez. Lo escribo, lo traduce DeepL y ya está, no el doy más vueltas. Copiar y pegar y ya, no 50 revisiones.

 

- No sobrepasarme y llevarme bien con todos en lo que pueda: es imposible caer bien a todo el mundo. Pero trato de pasar más tiempo con quien me llena de energía, incluso en familiares muy cercanos he tenido que cambiar mi interacción y no implicarme tanto, ya que no llevan bien mi personalidad actual. 

 

Con aquellas personas que no me llevo bien, trato de tener un trato cordial y alejarme lo más rápido posible. Si estoy obligado a tener trato, intento tocar temas que nos diviertan y disfrutemos.

 

With those people I don't get along with, I try to be cordial and get away as quickly as possible. If I am obliged to deal with them, I try to touch on topics that we enjoy and have fun with.

 

- Me acepto a mi mismo: me ha costado mucho aceptar que, si bien adoro y quiero a mis sobrinos pequeños, no aguanto más de dos o tres horas con ellos jugando y estando pendiente de ellos. Al menos actualmente acepto no sentirme culpable ni por no estar con ellos tanto tiempo ni por no tener hijos.
Creo que además les transmito una importante lección: es mejor estar poco tiempo y transmitir mi bienestar, que estar más tiempo y transmitir mi desasosiego o ansiedad.

 

- Trato en la medida de lo posible cumplir con deseos de estar cómodo en cualquier sitio: hace unos días tenía unas reuniones de trabajo y yo soy realmente inquieto. Me levantaba de vez en cuando de la silla y escuchaba de pie. Salía de vez en cuando a fumar (asignatura pendiente el dejarlo)... y nadie me lo reprochó.

 

 

*****************************************************

 

English:

 

I am really well

I'm writing fast because I have a lot of things to do and enjoy and I'm in full swing.

 

I'm at 0mg of Abilify, 0mg of Cymbalta. The occasional Orfidal, lorazepam, when I've been sleepless for a day or two. I have a lot of energy right now.

 

This Friday I had an appointment with my psychiatrist, and also my regular psychologist. Just to manage so much energy that I have now. 

But they both agree that I'm fine. I am not hypomanic and in general my life has improved: I do a lot more sports, I am eating better and I drink a lot less alcohol than before.

 

I am currently 4 months on 0mg Abilify and 3 1/2 months on 0mg Cymbalta. I am doing very well so far, and hope to be in the future. Fingers crossed.

 

I have regained my love of music, I hardly spend time on the computer outside of work (I don't dislike video games, but now I have so little time that I prefer to spend it on things I enjoy more). I've also signed up for Latin dance classes and also a gym which, for the time being, I'm still going to.

 

Keys to my recovery:

 

- Accepting my anger, my aggressiveness and moments of pissed off: I have not assaulted anyone or disrespected anyone about it, maybe I have made some joke or jocular comment that could have hurt someone but nothing serious. But now I defend my rights, I think that during the depression I simply let them step on me, now I just think I am more in my place.

 

- Allowing myself to enjoy life: our family and friends who love us want us to enjoy ourselves.

 

- Worry less: I keep forgetting things and in my work I sometimes forget details. But it doesn't matter, not worrying makes me have a lot of energy and with that I am performing better and better. The mistakes in my work are solvable and most of them do not have a special implication, nobody's life depends on my work and, even if it did, I try to do my best and I make mistakes: I am human and those mistakes help me to keep learning. I am happy at work.

 

It's amazing how you surprise yourself when you realize that worrying doesn't prevent most ills, and it certainly doesn't pay to worry. When you don't legitimize worrying, you gain a lot of energy.

An easy example: this text is not revised over and over again. I write it, translate it DeepL and that's it, I don't give it any more thought.

Copy and paste and that's it, not 50 revisions.

 

- Not to go overboard and to get along with everyone as much as I can: it is impossible for everyone to like me. But I try to spend more time with those who fill me with energy, even with very close relatives I have had to change my interaction and not get so involved, as they don't take my current personality well. 

With those I don't get along with, I simply try to stay away as much as possible and, in case I am obliged to, try to have a cordial relationship and avoid controversy. Argue only when there are no other options to maintain my well-being. Not to waste bullets when the battle is not worth my energy.

 

 

- I accept myself: it has been hard for me to accept that, although I love and adore my little nephews and nieces, I can't last more than two or three hours with them playing and being aware of them. At least now I accept that I don't feel guilty for not being with them so much or for not having children.
I believe that I also transmit them an important lesson: it is better to spend a short time with them and transmit my well-being, than to spend more time with them and transmit my uneasiness or anxiety.

 

- I try as much as possible to fulfill my desire to be comfortable in any place: a few days ago I had some work meetings and I am really restless. I got up from time to time from my chair and listened standing up. I went out from time to time to smoke (I had to quit smoking)... and nobody reproached me for it.

 

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[manymoretodays]

Because you're feeling better, I added our cheerful "here comes the sun" symbol ☼ to the title of your Intro topic, to show you're recovering.

 

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I hope you will add your story to our Recovery Success Stories eventually!

 

Please see this topic:  How to write your success story

 

Hi there apple1989.  I did have to merge your recent topic back here, as we like members to have a full year before putting their Success stories in that section.  You'll see in that link above.

 

Your post is now above.  Titled:  Success Story?  I hope so!

Also another is there, but I believe a duplicate, so hidden for now.  Titled: Last update.  I hope so. I am really well. 0 mg Abilify, 0 mg Cymbalta.  Good News.

I hope so too.  May it be so.  Congratulations.

And this is good news.  Indeed.

 

Have you decided to maintain on Lamotrigine?  Or did you come off that at some point?

 

@apple1989

Edited April 30, 2023 by manymoretodays

[apple1989]

Hi!

 

I am a bit sorry for not doing in a correct format.

 

But I am living in my real life and less in my digital life.

 

Anyone can mp me and I will answer because It will pop up a notification in my email. And also I will answer this post, same reason, notification in a place I usually log in.

 

Thanks forum, users, moderators and specially, Alto. But I don't have time to be here.

 

Good luck everybody!

[apple1989]

Update: still fine.