Summer29: Tapering off Seroquel and Prozac

[Cheeky]

Hi Summer,

I just read your thread and  I really feel your pain. This can be the hardest thing your going to have to go through but you will be okay. Everyone here is wonderful and understands . I’m currently taking 20mg Paxil and 15mg of seroquel and in a wave at the moment. If you want to talk to someone I’m here for you xx

Stay strong💗

 

[Summer29]

On 7/7/2021 at 3:17 PM, Greatful said:

  @Summer29 I was proscribed Prozac for panic, obsessive thinking and mild depression over 20 tears ago.  Every time I would try and go off I would have waves of panic.  It was probably withdrawal, but I didn't know any better and of course the doctors were clueless.  I have tried to get off about 4-5 times.  

I feel weak and flu like.  I don't get much for aches but definitely feel horrible, weak, shaky, nausea, depression, anxiety.  You  may experience many weird things.  If you can, you should look at the Symptoms & Self-care forum.  They have threads of members sharing the symptoms they have and giving helpful ideas on coping.  The depression is very hard to go through.  I am in a bad spell right now.

 

 

The only ones who can really know how this feels is someone going through it.   Your boyfriend may not know how you feel exactly but he can see your in pain and will do what ever he can to ease your pain.  Sometimes just telling him you need him to hold you and reassure you are going to make it through this.  You also have a lot of support here on SA.  Keep posting and letting things out.

 

I try and go for a walk almost everyday.  Go outside as much as you can.  I will sit on my covered front porch a lot, just to get out of the house and to hear the birds singing and hear the wind through the trees.   

 

Have you had a chance to read the success stories.  They can be helpful.

 

Go in the forms Withdrawal dialogues & encouragements  There is some you tube videos that are very encouraging by Michael Priebe.  

 

You can go to the forum and look on the introductions and find people to connect.

 

Time is what we have to give ourselves.

Patience and self-care.

 

Here is a hug to get you through your day🤗

Thank you so much for taking your time to write all of this, @Greatful, i really appreciate it! Hugs to you as well, whereever you are on this earth!  

[Summer29]

11 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

At what times of day do you feel this? Is it better or worse at any particular times?

 

Are you taking 50mg Seroquel ER?

It has gotten better the last two days! Before, i felt it almost throughout the whole day - i would say the only time i didn't feel it was when i was very distracted (which wasn't the case so often, as you can imagine). 

 

Yes, i am taking 50mg Seroquel ER. 

[Greatful]

@Summer29 The electricity is a weird feeling.  I have it in my brain and sometimes upper body, and arm.  I hope you are doing okay.

Here is a hug to help get you through a few more minutes, hours, days🤗

 

Sometimes I will feel a little better in the late afternoon, evening.

[Altostrata]

You've been taking 50mg Seroquel XR for only a little more than 2 weeks.

 

How has your symptom pattern changed in the last week?

[Greatful]

@Summer29 Stopping by to see how you are doing?  How is the depression?  I struggle with it also, so I can relate to how scary it can get with the dark thoughts.  

Let us know how you are doing☺️

[Summer29]

On 7/11/2021 at 12:37 AM, Altostrata said:

You've been taking 50mg Seroquel XR for only a little more than 2 weeks.

 

How has your symptom pattern changed in the last week?

I feel a little more capable in therms of physical abilities, and a little less panic. But the depression is still horrible. 

[Summer29]

17 hours ago, Greatful said:

@Summer29 Stopping by to see how you are doing?  How is the depression?  I struggle with it also, so I can relate to how scary it can get with the dark thoughts.  

Let us know how you are doing☺️

Hi there @Greatful, thanks so much for asking. The depression is bad, i feel like going insane most of the times. But i had two days that were less bad, i guess that's called a window? The thought that tortures me the most is that i am so scared that i can't be happy without the medication (i think this comes from my unhappy childhood, i'm probably programmed to think that i can't be happy because i am so used to focus on the negatives). I just want to feel okay again  

[Greatful]

@Summer29  I have to unlearn negativity, and low self-esteem from my childhood also.  It is hard to navigate through the mind field of feelings unhealthy coping skills.  I see a therapist and we are working on facing the pain and going forward.  I am learning that my feelings are not always true.  Have you read the book by David Burns  "The Feeling Good Handbook"  It teaches you about distorted thoughts and how to counter act them. 

Look at this web page       https://mrsmindfulness.com/the-four-keys-to-overcoming-negative-thinkingfor-good/  Some really good ideas to stop the neg thoughts when they start  I think you will have to put into your own search engine. 

If you  can tell yourself repeatedly.  No matter how many neg thoughts and (lying thoughts) you about yourself. No matter what,  I am a worthwhile person .   You were put on this earth the same as everyone else.  You deserve the same respect and love as everyone else.

 

When you have thoughts, anxious, depressed, scary what ever.  Remind yourself that they are just that thoughts and they can't hurt you.   You can choose to fight and or dwell on the thoughts or just acknowledge them and let them float past by redirecting yourself, look at something, flower, picture ect or get up and move.  If your doing something, refocus on that.   Thoughts are just thoughts it is us who attach the meaning behind them, good or bad.  

Sometimes I find myself afraid of my thoughts and where they lead me.  I am working to deal with this.  

Also remember when you are WD your brain will morph your thoughts.  Make them more intense or more distorted.  So be kind to yourself and know that some, if not all these feelings and thoughts are from you unhealthy brain right now.

 

Do you meditate?  It  will help you learn how to except thoughts and redirect them.

 

I really like to recommend this story to people.  It will help give you an idea about what is going on with your brain as it is healing.  It is about a woman that recovered from benzos.  Atrostrata equates it to any brain altering med.  Click on the title and read.  I think you will like it

 

Remember you are a stronger than you think and you will get through this on day at a time.  

 

 

 

 

Are you taking a good Omega 3?  It is very good for your brain.

 

 

[Altostrata]

10 hours ago, Summer29 said:

But i had two days that were less bad, i guess that's called a window?

 

Yes, that shows you may be still suffering some neurological upset from your drug changes, and this will become more frequent -- but you will have to be patient, improvement can be very slow.

 

10 hours ago, Summer29 said:

The thought that tortures me the most is that i am so scared that i can't be happy without the medication (i think this comes from my unhappy childhood, i'm probably programmed to think that i can't be happy because i am so used to focus on the negatives).

 

This is an ingredient that you are adding to your drug-induced symptoms, making you even more miserable. You have control over it. You may benefit from "changing the channel" when these thoughts come up. See

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Neuro-emotions

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

Easing your way into meditation for a stressed-out nervous system

 

Music for self-care: calms hyperalertness, anxiety, aids relaxation and sleep

 

Ways to cope with daily anxiety

 

Dealing With Emotional Spirals 

 

Shame, guilt, regret, and self-criticism

[Greatful]

Hi @Summer29 How are you doing? If things are good, great!  If you are still struggling post and let it out.  Let us know so we don't worry😊

[Summer29]

On 7/12/2021 at 5:34 PM, Greatful said:

@Summer29  I have to unlearn negativity, and low self-esteem from my childhood also.  It is hard to navigate through the mind field of feelings unhealthy coping skills.  I see a therapist and we are working on facing the pain and going forward.  I am learning that my feelings are not always true.  Have you read the book by David Burns  "The Feeling Good Handbook"  It teaches you about distorted thoughts and how to counter act them. 

Look at this web page       https://mrsmindfulness.com/the-four-keys-to-overcoming-negative-thinkingfor-good/  Some really good ideas to stop the neg thoughts when they start  I think you will have to put into your own search engine. 

If you  can tell yourself repeatedly.  No matter how many neg thoughts and (lying thoughts) you about yourself. No matter what,  I am a worthwhile person .   You were put on this earth the same as everyone else.  You deserve the same respect and love as everyone else.

 

When you have thoughts, anxious, depressed, scary what ever.  Remind yourself that they are just that thoughts and they can't hurt you.   You can choose to fight and or dwell on the thoughts or just acknowledge them and let them float past by redirecting yourself, look at something, flower, picture ect or get up and move.  If your doing something, refocus on that.   Thoughts are just thoughts it is us who attach the meaning behind them, good or bad.  

Sometimes I find myself afraid of my thoughts and where they lead me.  I am working to deal with this.  

Also remember when you are WD your brain will morph your thoughts.  Make them more intense or more distorted.  So be kind to yourself and know that some, if not all these feelings and thoughts are from you unhealthy brain right now.

 

Do you meditate?  It  will help you learn how to except thoughts and redirect them.

 

I really like to recommend this story to people.  It will help give you an idea about what is going on with your brain as it is healing.  It is about a woman that recovered from benzos.  Atrostrata equates it to any brain altering med.  Click on the title and read.  I think you will like it

 

Remember you are a stronger than you think and you will get through this on day at a time.  

 

 

 

 

Are you taking a good Omega 3?  It is very good for your brain.

 

 

Hi there! I‘m sorry that i didn‘t respond, it just slipped my mind. You are so kind to check in on me! I am doing okay. The Depression is still there (obviously, this takes time). Sometimes it‘s very hard to manage, but i am doing fine. Yes, i‘ve been taking omega 3 since a couple of years, i don‘t know if it helps much but i guess it still does something good for my brain. I used to meditate with the headspace app. Now i‘ve started to read books from Dr. Joe Dispenza and plan to do his meditations (they‘re quite intense in time but so many people recommended him, especially for limiting beliefs, which i have enough of). So i am excited to see how life will change if i stick to his routine. Besides that, i am able to do a lot of stuff, i can manage life. I am very very socially anxious right now. I life in a small city, and i‘ve already made progress so that i can go to the city by myself and do stuff. What i haven‘t conquered yet is leaving town, like going to another city by train or anything like that. But step by step! 

 

How are you doing @Greatful? 

[Summer29]

56 minutes ago, Summer29 said:

Hi there! I‘m sorry that i didn‘t respond, it just slipped my mind. You are so kind to check in on me! I am doing okay. The Depression is still there (obviously, this takes time). Sometimes it‘s very hard to manage, but i am doing fine. Yes, i‘ve been taking omega 3 since a couple of years, i don‘t know if it helps much but i guess it still does something good for my brain. I used to meditate with the headspace app. Now i‘ve started to read books from Dr. Joe Dispenza and plan to do his meditations (they‘re quite intense in time but so many people recommended him, especially for limiting beliefs, which i have enough of). So i am excited to see how life will change if i stick to his routine. Besides that, i am able to do a lot of stuff, i can manage life. I am very very socially anxious right now. I life in a small city, and i‘ve already made progress so that i can go to the city by myself and do stuff. What i haven‘t conquered yet is leaving town, like going to another city by train or anything like that. But step by step! 

 

How are you doing @Greatful? 

I should also add that i am taking magnesium, i take it in the evening and it helps calm me down. 

[Greatful]

Hi @Summer29 How are things going?  It has been pretty quite over here.  I hope that is a good sign.

[Summer29]

16 hours ago, Greatful said:

Hi @Summer29 How are things going?  It has been pretty quite over here.  I hope that is a good sign.

Hi @Greatful! How are you doing? Thanks so much for checking in on me! It has been quite a process over here. I feel better, in a way that i can go on with my daily life and do all the things that i need to do to feel better, like working out, taking care of my horse, spending time with people (allthough i have TERRIBLE social anxiety atm). It seems to me that my windows- and wave-pattern has changed quite a bit. Before, i used to have days where i felt good and consistent, and then a lot of bad days in a row. Now i feel like everyday i have good and bad moments, so like the changes happen during the day and not over the course of a couple of days. I don't know if that's a sign of improvement or rather a step backwards, but i just stopped wanting to know the answer to this question. I also realized that a major part of my depressive symptoms stems from a profound crisis of spirit and meaning in life - something that i know will only be solved with surrendering to life and the crisis itself, for there is no "quick fix" to such questions. It probably is caused by my current situation - i am close to finishing my masters degree of law, and i just don't know what i want to do with my life, which job i should take, if it will make me happy and so on. I guess that's a pretty normal stage of life to be in, but the effect of antidepressant-withdrawal and antipsychotic-reinstatement heighten and intensify the pain of it. 

 

I meditate everyday for about 30 mins, which helps a great deal (i love Joe Dispenza's Book "Breaking the habit of being yourself" - it combines spirituality and science, which is right up my alley). I started taking cold showers in the morning, they calm me down, irronically. I try to eat very healthy, i cut out dairy and gluten, and i believe it helps a lot. But at the same time, i don't beat myself up when i eat a cookie or something. I believe that a great deal of my former depression was caused by my inability to accept balance, rather than perfectionism. 

 

At the same time, i still struggle with very low self esteem, feelings of worthlessness (about myself and about life in general), but i know that this is just an old program in my mind, and i wasn't born with these thoughts, i used to be a happy kid before it got dark, so i know that this is learned behaviour, which can also be unlearned. 

 

For the medication part: i am still taking the 50 mg of Seroquel ER, and i don't plan on changing things up anytime soon. There is a lot to be learned about myself and i don't want to stress my nervous system more than necessary. I am also very proud that i haven't gone back on Prozac, because the "old" me would've ran back to the psychiatrist in a heartbeat, feeling the emotions that i feel now on a daily basis. So yeah, i guess there is a big growing process taking place. 

 

I hope you are doing good, Grateful, as well as i wish everybody else on this forum that they don't forget: this pain is not useless or meaningless. I might not know the answer to the pain yet, but i fully trust the universe that it has a plan. 

 

Wishing you a relaxed, happy day!

 

Summer

 

(sorry for occasional spelling mistakes, i'm not a native speaker)

[Greatful]

@Summer29  Pretty quite over hear, everything going okay?

[Summer29]

On 8/22/2021 at 12:18 AM, Greatful said:

@Summer29  Pretty quite over hear, everything going okay?

Hello there, sorry for the delay! I was actually on holiday for the last week and it was very nice, though not without challenges. I would say i am doing okay. I struggle with different thoughts now that i did before i took antidepressants, like i notice this self-hatred that i didn't have before. But as with every new symptom, i just welcome it and try to ride the wave. 

 

I found a very supportive naturopath to help balance my body. She helps me to get my chronic gut issues under control and restore my gut bacteria as well as my deficencies (i am aware that most people on SA do not recommend taking vitamins while in withdrawal, but we're doing it veeeeeeery slowly and carefully. It's just that my vitamin D and B12 levels as well as folate levels are just not good, so we are trying to support my body in this process. But first, we gotta repair the gut, because otherwise all the supplements in the world will not help 🙂 ) 

 

I hope you're doing well, @Greatful. Wishing you all the best.

 

Summer