j1290: gets off the Wellbutrin and on with life!

[j1290]

10 hours ago, Catina7 said:

Have you ever considered getting a job as a stand-up comedian?  Just sayin'....  Thanks for the laugh first thing this morning!  I wish you and Mr. Ducky many happy times together lol!

Mr. Ducky 😆🤣😄 I love it!   That's his new name.   haha good times.  

 

28 minutes ago, Stardust said:

I read this before I saw the earlier posts and I thought oh my god what dropped in his tub?  I pictured a freaking tarantula or a snake!!!

That's what I thought like what the heck is that?!?!   It was actually a rubber ducky that Catina7 suggested getting.  Best $3 I ever spent 😂  Scared the heck out of me for a minute though!

28 minutes ago, Stardust said:

But then I read back saw it was a Tens unit which I had to look up.

Oh nah that doesn't come near the tub.  Only Mr. Ducky 🦆😊

[littlebird]

18 hours ago, j1290 said:

I can't say no to a challenge! 😄  Tried it out today and promptly forgot it was in the tub, so when it brushed against my leg I about jumped out  screaming 😱 🤣🤣🤣  It's gonna be an adjustment having it in there but it's pretty cool.   It's me new bath buddy!   🦆

Love it! Also childhood memory unlocked.

[j1290]

DAY 42  3/10 mild head issues, mid anxiety

Head issues are easing today, anxiety has diminished.  Getting out and meeting people and doing some activities.  I'm a little fragile but steadily (slowly) improving.   Getting back into therapy.  I didn't even need the headache hat today!  😄  I'm sure it's windows and waves and all that but I'll appreciate the relief for the moment.  

[Thorin]

33 minutes ago, j1290 said:

DAY 42  3/10 mild head issues, mid anxiety

Head issues are easing today, anxiety has diminished.  Getting out and meeting people and doing some activities.  I'm a little fragile but steadily (slowly) improving.   Getting back into therapy.  I didn't even need the headache hat today!  😄  I'm sure it's windows and waves and all that but I'll appreciate the relief for the moment.  

All good stuff to hear. You’re smashing it as predicted!

[littlebird]

17 hours ago, j1290 said:

I didn't even need the headache hat today!  😄

Hell yeah! Love to hear it.

 

17 hours ago, j1290 said:

I'm sure it's windows and waves and all that but I'll appreciate the relief for the moment.  

Feels like a really good sign. Hope the window stays wide-open letting in some fresh air!

 

17 hours ago, j1290 said:

Getting back into therapy.

Kudos to you on this!!! It ain't easy. Hope your therapist has some good bakeries nearby for post-therapy treats.

[j1290]

DAY 45  3/10 anxiety, lassitude, sleep issues, head stuff

 

Windows and waves, all that stuff, with everything trending better.  Seems like I get relief from one symptom, and another cycles in, but overall starting to get to more solid ground.  Batteries are starting to get recharged and getting slight improvement across the board.  One of these days I might just wake up and feel pretty darn good, but I think that's a ways out.   I might be pleasantly surprised though.   Nobody promised me a rose garden 😁

Quote

 

 

 

On 10/26/2023 at 7:25 PM, Thorin said:

All good stuff to hear. You’re smashing it as predicted!

Thanks man.  Things are progressing, and I'm grateful for that.  

 

On 10/27/2023 at 12:10 PM, littlebird said:

Kudos to you on this!!! It ain't easy. Hope your therapist has some good bakeries nearby for post-therapy treats.

Thanks.  It's going to be a lot, but if not now, when?  Speaking of which I did some home cooking yesterday.  I forgot how much work it is 😄 but things turned out pretty well I think.   

[Stardust]

5 hours ago, j1290 said:

Thanks.  It's going to be a lot, but if not now, when?  Speaking of which I did some home cooking yesterday.  I forgot how much work it is 😄 but things turned out pretty well I think.   

It IS a lot of work, isn't it? It's a great distraction though.  I've gotten into a rhythm with it - turn on some music I love and start cooking.  Just don't cook any duck - you need to consider Mr. Ducky's feelings!

[Carmie]

Dear @j1290, I’m glad to hear that you’re getting out and about meeting friends, 

 

I started singing even before I saw your video, when you wrote that nobody promised you a rose garden: I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden 🌹🎤🎤🎶🎵😁🧡

[Stardust]

Hi @j1290 How are you doing?  I hope everything's good - thinking of you. 

[j1290]

17 minutes ago, Stardust said:

Hi @j1290 How are you doing?  I hope everything's good - thinking of you. 

Heyyyyyyy Stardust, always a pleasure!   

Going through a little bit of a wave that's morphing and I think overall is improving.  Feels very WD related and I think needs lots of patience while things settle down.  

How are you doing these days?

 

On 11/3/2023 at 12:47 AM, Carmie said:

I started singing even before I saw your video, when you wrote that nobody promised you a rose garden: I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden 🌹🎤🎤🎶🎵😁🧡

This gave me a solid chuckle, you're really good with the emojis!!!   it's such a great song.  I love all the different versions of it.  

[Addax]

@j1290 You haven’t posted for awhile so I thought I’d swing by, say hi and check-in. I of course hope you’re absence is because you’re occupied with good stuff.

 

[j1290]

@Addax

Thanks for thinking of me!

 

I started doing therapy and stuff for anxiety a few weeks ago and it's been keeping me busy.  Lots of somatic awareness, reconnecting your mind and body focus, grounding techniques, all sorts of things I didn't know.  It's really great, just leaves me out of gas at the end of the day 😂   

[Catina7]

3 hours ago, j1290 said:

@Addax

Thanks for thinking of me!

 

I started doing therapy and stuff for anxiety a few weeks ago and it's been keeping me busy.  Lots of somatic awareness, reconnecting your mind and body focus, grounding techniques, all sorts of things I didn't know.  It's really great, just leaves me out of gas at the end of the day 😂   

 

I've been wondering how you've been doing as well.  Glad to hear things are okay and you're still plugging along.  That's great you're finding out some new ways to deal with your anxiety.  

[Addax]

6 hours ago, j1290 said:

Lots of somatic awareness, reconnecting your mind and body focus, grounding techniques, all sorts of things I didn't know.

 
Sounds like good stuff. It’s good to hear you’re away because you are working on you. 😊

[Carmie]

8 hours ago, j1290 said:

@Addax

Thanks for thinking of me!

 

I started doing therapy and stuff for anxiety a few weeks ago and it's been keeping me busy.  Lots of somatic awareness, reconnecting your mind and body focus, grounding techniques, all sorts of things I didn't know.  It's really great, just leaves me out of gas at the end of the day 😂   

Dear j1290, 

 

Great to hear that you’re spending time taking care of yourself🧡

 

 

[Stardust]

Glad good things are happening and you're taking care of yourself @j1290!  

[j1290]

DAY 72   4/10 anxiety, head issues

 

Hello to everyone!  I haven't been updating for a minute.   Head issues have been a thing, next week I'm going to dive into that and see if I can make some headway.  I suspect they'll eventually dissipate but I want to see if I can help that process along.   

 

Anxiety has also been a thing.   I've learned a lot of new approaches, and feel like I want to develop them more.   

Because I've been so into the anxiety work, I haven't been very focused on WD symptoms and the like.   I'd say its shown up as head issues(that are much improved over this time last year, to be fair), and I have some irritable days that coincide with the headaches, and some up and down days, but I manage without needing any additional pills beyond a quarter of a triptan for headaches here and there.   I'm learning to get used to feeling the anxiety and getting desensitized to it via exposure and facing it down as the paper tiger it is, as well as using a bunch of different techniques to regulate my mood as needed.  

 

It's all a lot of work daily to keep things on an even keel, and if I didn't feel anxiety, I sure wouldn't appreciate the lack of it like I do!  😆  To feel calm and settled is a gift, it's worth the effort.   

 

Thinking of you all and wishing you the best!

[Catina7]

9 hours ago, j1290 said:

facing it down as the paper tiger it is

 

Nice to hear from you!  I really like how you worded this about anxiety....it's so true!  Anxiety has been my worse WD symptom.  I really try to not be in fear of it and try to remind myself that I am safe and not in any imminent danger.  Instead of focusing inward on myself and how scared I can feel, I try to turn it around and focus on anything outside of myself.  It's very grounding.

 

I know you'll continue to do a great job with all your fantastic work while keeping your sense of humor intact!  You've got this!!!  

[j1290]

3 hours ago, Catina7 said:

Anxiety has been my worse WD symptom. 

I want to defeat it and get closure, but anxiety doesn't work like that and it sneaks back in odd ways.   Then when I don't have it I feel like I'm cured and never have to worry about it again.  The brain is so funny.   

 

3 hours ago, Catina7 said:

I really try to not be in fear of it and try to remind myself that I am safe and not in any imminent danger. 

Glad you reminded me of this.  It's a false alarm ringing.  Do you ever use the DARE app?   I just started listening to some of the programs and like it.  

 

3 hours ago, Catina7 said:

I try to turn it around and focus on anything outside of myself.  It's very grounding.

Smart.  Grounding is one real anxiety beater in my opinion.   Is there anything else that you do for particularly big anxiety moments?   I think some of my methods help best when the anxiety is lower, and when its higher I need to break out the stronger stuff.  

 

3 hours ago, Catina7 said:

I know you'll continue to do a great job with all your fantastic work while keeping your sense of humor intact!  You've got this!!!  

Appreciate the support as always!!

[Catina7]

6 minutes ago, j1290 said:

Anxiety has been my worse WD symptom

 

I just realized I should have written "worst" instead of "worse" ... oopsie!

 

8 minutes ago, j1290 said:

Do you ever use the DARE app?

 

Yes, I have used the DARE app before and really like it!  I like their approach.

 

9 minutes ago, j1290 said:

Is there anything else that you do for particularly big anxiety moments? 

• Exercising...really getting my heart rate up.
• Holding my breath for as long as I can and then releasing it.
• EFT Tapping.
• Again, my go-to hot bubble bath or detox soak!
• Distracting myself and really focusing on something else like an online game or immersing myself in a movie.
• Drinking an ice cold beverage and then chewing on ice has a weird way of calming me down.
• Stimulating the vagus nerve (humming, gargling, etc.)

15 minutes ago, j1290 said:

Appreciate the support as always!!

 

Of course!  You always reciprocate the support to others as well.  I love how we all support one another here!  

[Thorin]

6 hours ago, j1290 said:

10 hours ago, Catina7 said:

Anxiety has been my worse WD symptom. 

I want to defeat it and get closure, but anxiety doesn't work like that and it sneaks back in odd ways.   Then when I don't have it I feel like I'm cured and never have to worry about it again.  The brain is so funny. 

I have this experience too. And the fact that i don’t have anxiety sometimes even while I’m tapering makes me hope that it’s my baseline. I just can’t tell……. Time will tell I guess. For all of us. 

[Go2zero]

Hi are you doing @j1290? Good to read that you are working on how to deal with the anxiety. This may be extremely helpful!

 

Still stabilising on the 54mg I guess?

[Catina7]

Hi @j1290!  I've been wondering how you're doing.  Give us an update only if you feel up to it.  Otherwise, please know we're all thinking of you and rooting for you!

 

Catina 🥰

[LostInCanada]

Hey @j1290 Wondering how you are making out? Hope the hold has settled some symptoms. 👍💯

[j1290]

Been a minute!  If anybody would like to reach out to me privately, feel free to do so.  Know that I'm doing awesome and living life with passion and having a lot of fun.