Avicii: Sertraline took my life?

[BerCal]

On 8/16/2023 at 11:10 PM, Avicii said:

2,5 years in and I still have 0,0% sexuality. It’s really awful to live like this.

 

Apart from that my brain has healed alot and I am much stronger today. 
 

Short update but I don’t know what else to say. Shrunk penis and Zero libido. Sex is one of the greatest things in life and Sertraline took that away from me.

We are really strong for putting up with this ****. Suffering like this daily for years takes a lot of strength. I wish doctors that cause/deny this damage had to experience it just for one day, then they wouldn't be so arrogant anymore.

[BerCal]

On 8/17/2023 at 1:07 AM, Fairsome said:

These doctors, instead of saving lives, take people's lives with these horrible drugs! They deserve to be fired and punished for everything.

I have changed my beliefs about the neurobiology of withdrawal syndrome in the past week, after reading numerous arcticles, collecting information and trying to find logical explanation. The long-term WD symptoms probably are related to a massive decrease in the release/neuronal firing of serotonin rather than just "desensitized (post-synaptic) receptors" like I used to believe and like many people here say. This puts you in a hyposerotonergic state and causes all the symptoms and dysregulations within the CNS. I have found a healing frequency treatment for this but I will say if anything happens in a few weeks... There is hope that we can get our way out of this torture. For now, stay strong and I will report back if I can help.

I believe small fiber neuropathy is the cause to all of this. This post explains it well:

[Fairsome]

2 hours ago, BerCal said:

I believe small fiber neuropathy is the cause to all of this. This post explains it well:

What I can say is that things are complex. SSRIs, due to the disruptions in the serotonergic system and the neurotransmitter homeostasis they create, can cause downstream effects on every system in the body - including conditions like dysautonomia that can manifest because of the serotonin dysregulation. There are some people who believe the problem is in the gut microbiam, or in an autoimmune response, and many others. There might be small fiber neuropathy in some people, but is this the core reason or is it a downstream effect?

 

I still think that for many people (or at least for myself) the core problem is within the serotonergic system. For the people who got hit after withdrawal from the drugs, it is part of the withdrawal syndrome when your system gets out of equilibrium because the brain has not had the time to change all the adaptations that occured during drug use (disrupted serotonin firing and release due to autoreceptor feedback mechanism, downregulation of post-synaptic receptors, even changes in the transporter). When you block the reuptake of serotonin, the brain opposes and counteracts to maintain homeostasis so when you suddenly stop the drugs, all the adaptations get 'unmasked' putting you in a state of low serotonin activity.

 

However, there are the people who have had it the same ever since taking the drugs and it is not withdrawal related. Here my guess is that the brain, in a way, has not 'detoxed' from the reuptake inhibiting effects of these drugs. Which means that there are still higher serotonin levels. Why is that, nobody can say, we don't know if these drugs get fully eliminated from your system when you stop taking them... 

 

But then there are people with adverse reactions whose system totally crashes after one pill and it is very complicated why these reactions occur at all. So as you see, there isn't one single cause, there are different scenarios and probably very individual reactions and even secondary conditions caused by the drugs that contribute to the PSSD.

[Breathdeep]

@Aviciihow's the pssd symptoms atm?

[Fairsome]

2 minutes ago, Breathdeep said:

@Aviciihow's the pssd symptoms atm?

 

 

[Avicii]

5 hours ago, Breathdeep said:

@Aviciihow's the pssd symptoms atm?

Still extremely severe. I have not been a normal human being for 2,5 years now. The PSSD is in my thoughts 90% of the time even though I can work, workout, be a soccer coach etc. 
 

I have lost all my friends because of my PSSD, I have no interest in people at all.

 

My brain is much better today than it was 1-2 years ago, there has been a gradual healing process, but when it comes to my PSSD I would say there has been less than 10% improvements. 
 

I used to believe in 100% healing but the more time that goes by I must realise that it’s probably not a realistic goal.

 

BUT you have to understand that I am one of the worst PSSD stories out there, you will probably heal in a couple of years!

[Fairsome]

1 hour ago, Avicii said:

Still extremely severe. I have not been a normal human being for 2,5 years now. The PSSD is in my thoughts 90% of the time even though I can work, workout, be a soccer coach etc. 
 

I have lost all my friends because of my PSSD, I have no interest in people at all.

 

My brain is much better today than it was 1-2 years ago, there has been a gradual healing process, but when it comes to my PSSD I would say there has been less than 10% improvements. 
 

I used to believe in 100% healing but the more time that goes by I must realise that it’s probably not a realistic goal.

 

BUT you have to understand that I am one of the worst PSSD stories out there, you will probably heal in a couple of years!

Dude, you have to hang in there, nothing is over yet. Some people have needed many years but eventually recovered, even after not experiencing improvements, in some cases, for 5 years. The human body can heal pretty much everything. I am also doing everything I can to heal this with energy healing... Just stay strong, for your children! And you shouldn't lose your friends because of this, do everything to keep your social life and make the most out of your situation. You can function daily despite this so don't give up on life. I believe that we will heal, in one way or another!

 

I am also tired of dealing with this, that is why I am researching it so hard and try to heal it the ways I know... I am tired of hiding this from my family and my close people, having constant hard pain in my genitals, total erectile and sexual dysfunction, extreme gut dysregulations, head pressure and so on. It is like the nervous system is completely out of balance because of the serotonin issues these drugs created. Not to mention that I suffer from severe anxiety disorder that got me into taking SSRIs on the first place (I am also trying to cure this) and it is having really bad effect on my life... But I hope that things will come into place sooner or later!

[Breathdeep]

@Fairsomegreat attitude to have. I have seen more improvements the least stressed I am. I read an interesting study a while back in which they split people into two groups after they had knee replacements. The group that did daily meditation vs the group that did not, saw a faster recovery. 

 

[Fairsome]

59 minutes ago, Breathdeep said:

@Fairsomegreat attitude to have. I have seen more improvements the least stressed I am. I read an interesting study a while back in which they split people into two groups after they had knee replacements. The group that did daily meditation vs the group that did not, saw a faster recovery. 

 

How are you? For how long have you had the symptoms and have you improved?

[Breathdeep]

45 minutes ago, Fairsome said:

How are you? For how long have you had the symptoms and have you improved? I've had pssd for 34 months. I've improved over time yesterday. I get the usual Windows and waves. I still use Viagra/cialis but after two yrs with pssd I do very occasionally not need it. First 18 months Viagra didn't really work. Now works better. I had extremely bad ED this has definitely improved. My sensation has only slowly began improving more recently. Libido still very low but it's definitely improved. 

Getting less blunted emotions some days too. It's just all taking a long time

 

[bigjellyjellyfish]

I will probably need to be on some sort of AD for a while, but the only input I have on this at this time is the change in my WD symptoms from day to day.

I was put on Zoloft 50 mg which made me completely numb, and then my dose was halved abruptly to 25 mg.

Im almost 4 weeks at that 25mg dose, and only in the past week do I see some changes to my mood.
This past week I've gone from being completely numb to having moments where I feel emotions (though highly negative ones).

My dad recently was hospitalized and I was just in a huge pit of despair about it. I kept cycling from numbness to depression to almost euphoria about my love for my father.
I have had moments where I can let myself feel my emotions and accept them, but I also have moments where I feel great shame about the side effects I'm experiencing and the WD issues I'm having.

 

A lot of the time I feel foggy, but I very quickly jump from anger and irritability to despair and depression with suicidal thoughts. The thoughts scare me, though I would never do anything in line with that way of thinking.

I make myself feel worse by thinking about how Zoloft may have "broken me", although in the past when I took Effexor I was able to come off (briefly) with no long-standing side effects or changes. I just wasnt in the mental space to stay off.

 

 

[Fairsome]

 

This shows that the penis itself is fine, and the shrinkage is because of the muscles that regulate blood vessels and nerves in the penis. These muscles are regulated themselves by serotonin and SSRI messes with how serotonin is worked in the body. So if the main issue in the brain resolves, you will have your normal size... it is not physical injury to the penis or penile atrophy, all is because your brain is imbalanced.

[Avicii]

1000 days….1000 days of suffering. It changes you for sure. Just trying to survive everyday for 1000 days in a row, it’s a game changer.

 

I’ve lost all of my old life; my friends, my interest in sports and other activities, my sexuality and many other things.

 

I am still here though, fighting for my childrens right for a present parent.

 

I am proud of what I have accomplished this autumn during this hell;

- went to London with my kids

- went to South Africa with my job

- been nominated as one of the four best teachers in my region (population 1,5 million people). 
- been the head coach for my sons soccer team.

 

I am strong, I know that. But I am tired of being strong. I want to live, I want to relax, I want to feel the body of a women, I want to be happy. 
 

New update in another 1000 days….

[Doctorsrcrap]

Hiya. We have never spoken before but just wanted to say wow. I don't even know you and I feel proud you have managed to accomplish all that whilst living in pain. 

I hope for you that 2024 brings you the peace you deserve 

[Avicii]

On 12/18/2023 at 6:11 PM, Doctorsrcrap said:

Hiya. We have never spoken before but just wanted to say wow. I don't even know you and I feel proud you have managed to accomplish all that whilst living in pain. 

I hope for you that 2024 brings you the peace you deserve 

Thanks mate! You seem like a nice guy, like the rest of the people in here. I think we all are loving people with big hearts but unfortunately that comes with a sensitive nervous system aswell….

 

How are you doing?

[Avicii]

It’s been 3 years now, 3 years! Really hard to accept and I can’t believe that  I have lost so many years living like this. 
 

I am still healing and yesterday was probably my best day in 3 years. I still have anhedonia, shrunk penis, severe PSSD but there is progress. I am starting to get some interest in girls again but it’s still far from normal. There’s a girl I want to flirt with but I can’t start something that I won’t be able to finish. If I get in a situation where sex is about to happen…I will be screwed. I can’t have sex, not even close….

 

f*#{~<€$*ing doctors….If only they knew that their magic pills are ruining lives…

[Fairsome]

Sorry Avicii I am writing this here as you seem to not respond to PMs. Go and check your gut microbiome, do a microbiome test or the other test @Chompoo suggested. Don't think that things will just resolve on their own - you may need some treatment/protocol to get better. Especially if the antidepressants have caused some severe gut dysbiosis, it may not heal on its own. But this can be resolved, you just need to find the right thing that will work for you.

[Avicii]

hey guys! I am continuing to heal. My latest ”symptom” is that I have started to yawn again. For three whole years I didn’t yawn once. I think this is a huge step towards a normal me again. I feel tired, like my body can relax again. I was a robot for three years, it’s crazy…

 

Still far away from complete healing but everyday is a day closer. This is a journey no one except you guys can fully understand.

[Fairsome]

9 hours ago, Avicii said:

hey guys! I am continuing to heal. My latest ”symptom” is that I have started to yawn again. For three whole years I didn’t yawn once. I think this is a huge step towards a normal me again. I feel tired, like my body can relax again. I was a robot for three years, it’s crazy…

 

Still far away from complete healing but everyday is a day closer. This is a journey no one except you guys can fully understand.

Why don't you want to check your gut microbiome, @Avicii? I have seen a number of people healing by fixing their gut. I am doing it right now.

[Doctorsrcrap]

Maybe @Avicii feels like their healing is now healing in the right direction and doesn't want to mess with that or maybe they can't financially afford to do more testing. 

 

[Avicii]

Hi @Fairsomeand @Doctorsrcrap

 

Of course I could do tests regarding my gut but for what good? Even if the tests would show gut problems there is now quick fix. Gut problems are being healed by eating the right food and that is something I can do without doctors getting involved. I have choosen a path where no more doctors are welcome. With that said, I sure want to hear your results @Fairsome

[Doctorsrcrap]

I totally respect that. I'm so glad you are seeing healing now. 

I myself have practically given up on hoping for healing. Not one single window in 20 months. 

[Avicii]

11 minutes ago, Doctorsrcrap said:

I totally respect that. I'm so glad you are seeing healing now. 

I myself have practically given up on hoping for healing. Not one single window in 20 months. 

I had the same for the first 16 months, then I had minor windows. Keep going and you will surely have a window in a month or two. This is a long journey, it’s hard to accept but we have no choice….

[Doctorsrcrap]

If anything new problems keep starting and anything I think is getting better keeps coming back. 20 months is a long time to have no windows

[Fairsome]

2 hours ago, Avicii said:

Hi @Fairsomeand @Doctorsrcrap

 

Of course I could do tests regarding my gut but for what good? Even if the tests would show gut problems there is now quick fix. Gut problems are being healed by eating the right food and that is something I can do without doctors getting involved. I have choosen a path where no more doctors are welcome. With that said, I sure want to hear your results @Fairsome

Hi, I mean that I have seen people that healed from PSSD by doing things like taking antimicrobials/antibiotics (I don't advise you to take antibiotics, but I have seen it), probiotics, prebiotics and prokinetics or by doing a Fecal Microbiota Transplant. If you have, for example, SIBO or Candida, it may not be enough to correct it simply with eating good food. @Chompoo has written a lot about this. I am doing tests right now and I am hopeful that this will work because I have seen zero improvements by not doing anything 27 months in... My advice to you is to do a Gut Microbiome test, at least to know what is going on in your gut microbiome and from then, you will have a starting point!

 

Take care

 

@Doctorsrcrap I understand you, I have not improved at all from these terrible symptoms. It is really sick that these drugs are legal and Big Pharma should be punished. I will update you if I somehow get better.

[Avicii]

Today I started eating only AIP-food. I Will try this for 3 months. This means no carbs, no milk, no processed food and so on. You can just Google it to see what you can and can not eat.

[Chompoo]

@Fairsome have you started on a healthy diet? I am unable to take most supplements and probiotics. But my symptoms have shown quick improvements when I started a healthy diet and prebiotic fiber. And sunning myself.

[Avicii]

4 hours ago, Chompoo said:

@Fairsome have you started on a healthy diet? I am unable to take most supplements and probiotics. But my symptoms have shown quick improvements when I started a healthy diet and prebiotic fiber. And sunning myself.

Yes, I startad 3 days ago. It’s really hard because I am not allowed to eat any of my normal food. As you know there are additives in pretty much everything….on top of that I am not allowed to eat milk products, pasta, rice, potatoes etc.

 

It’s even harder when you have kids and they crave ”normal” food. 
 

I am gonna try this for 30 days and then evaluate if there is any progress.

[Chompoo]

@Avicii yes, the diet is hard. We have to cook everything at home. I know what you mean about your kids. I cook for my husband too, and I have to cook another set of meals for him. I'm tired from all that non-stop cooking everyday. Some meals, I just eat oats with apples and coconut milk. Because that doesn't require much cooking.

More than avoiding the bad stuff, I encourage you to include the good stuff that will help you in your recovery:
- fatty fish like salmon and cod
- lean beef and lamb
- cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc. Raw or lightly cooked
- dark green leafy vegetables, except spinach (too much oxalates)
- carotenoid rich vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash etc
- fruits like berries, grapes, apples, bananas, oranges etc
- extra virgin olive oil / coconut oil
- raw onions and garlic
- spices like turmeric (to be taken with a pinch of black pepper for better absorption), sea salt, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, cloves (almost every spice works)
- herbal teas like green tea, ginger tea, camomile tea, nettle tea etc.
- Probiotics / fermented food like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut
- Prebiotics / resistant starch like oats and cooked potatoes that are cooled overnight in the fridge before you eat them. Potato starch also works.

Sunning yourself is good too, because Vitamin D kills off pathogens from the body.

Be forewarned that when you kill off Candida and bad bacteria, they will release toxins, lots of them, before they die. This will cause inflammation and worsening of symptoms. This is normal and you will get back to baseline in 1-2 days once your body detoxes these out. But if you get total constipation, it will be good to cut down some stuff like the spices, vegetables, fruits, sun tanning etc. If you can't poop out Candida / bad bacteria, you can't get rid of them from your body. Too much diarrhea is also bad and a sign you need to slow down in killing them off.

It's likely you have to stay on this diet for 3-6 months for it to have good results. Or even longer. I'm recovering much faster than I used to before the diet. But I'm unable to go too fast because killing too many pathogens at one go causes too much inflammation. And more inflammation = weakend immune system = poorer ability to defend your body against pathogens. Slow and steady is the way to go here.

All the best Avicii

[Fairsome]

13 hours ago, Chompoo said:

@Fairsome have you started on a healthy diet? I am unable to take most supplements and probiotics. But my symptoms have shown quick improvements when I started a healthy diet and prebiotic fiber. And sunning myself.

Yeah... But I have not taken any supplements yet (prebiotics, probiotics, specific antimicrobials etc).

[Chompoo]

@fairsome good to know you have started a good diet. I can't tolerate supplements but I've already seen results. A lot of food is antimicrobial too - fatty fish (omega 3, vitamin D, vitamin D12, selenium). lean beef (zinc vitamin B12, selenium), cruciferous vegetables (sulforaphane) etc. Many foods are also prebiotic (extra virgin olive oil, green tea, cruciferous vegetables, resistant starch) and probiotic (yogurt, kefir, apples, bananas).

[Avicii]

On 4/5/2024 at 1:54 PM, Chompoo said:

@Avicii yes, the diet is hard. We have to cook everything at home. I know what you mean about your kids. I cook for my husband too, and I have to cook another set of meals for him. I'm tired from all that non-stop cooking everyday. Some meals, I just eat oats with apples and coconut milk. Because that doesn't require much cooking.

More than avoiding the bad stuff, I encourage you to include the good stuff that will help you in your recovery:
- fatty fish like salmon and cod
- lean beef and lamb
- cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc. Raw or lightly cooked
- dark green leafy vegetables, except spinach (too much oxalates)
- carotenoid rich vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash etc
- fruits like berries, grapes, apples, bananas, oranges etc
- extra virgin olive oil / coconut oil
- raw onions and garlic
- spices like turmeric (to be taken with a pinch of black pepper for better absorption), sea salt, thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, cloves (almost every spice works)
- herbal teas like green tea, ginger tea, camomile tea, nettle tea etc.
- Probiotics / fermented food like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut
- Prebiotics / resistant starch like oats and cooked potatoes that are cooled overnight in the fridge before you eat them. Potato starch also works.

Sunning yourself is good too, because Vitamin D kills off pathogens from the body.

Be forewarned that when you kill off Candida and bad bacteria, they will release toxins, lots of them, before they die. This will cause inflammation and worsening of symptoms. This is normal and you will get back to baseline in 1-2 days once your body detoxes these out. But if you get total constipation, it will be good to cut down some stuff like the spices, vegetables, fruits, sun tanning etc. If you can't poop out Candida / bad bacteria, you can't get rid of them from your body. Too much diarrhea is also bad and a sign you need to slow down in killing them off.

It's likely you have to stay on this diet for 3-6 months for it to have good results. Or even longer. I'm recovering much faster than I used to before the diet. But I'm unable to go too fast because killing too many pathogens at one go causes too much inflammation. And more inflammation = weakend immune system = poorer ability to defend your body against pathogens. Slow and steady is the way to go here.

All the best Avicii

I am going full AIP, that means no milk products, potatoes etc. My lunch today was a coconut soup filled with tuna and sweet potatoes. It was pretty disgusting but who cares, haha

 

Nothing is gonna stop me from trying this for at least 2-3 months.

[Fairsome]

5 hours ago, Avicii said:

I am going full AIP, that means no milk products, potatoes etc. My lunch today was a coconut soup filled with tuna and sweet potatoes. It was pretty disgusting but who cares, haha

 

Nothing is gonna stop me from trying this for at least 2-3 months.

My friend, do a stool gut microbiome test! It is your best option to know what bacterias in your gut microbiome are out of balance.

[Chompoo]

@Avicii good to know you're going to stick to a healthy diet for 2-3 months. By the way, there is a difference between potatoes and overnight potatoes. Potatoes are bad for you because they are full of glucose. But if you cook potatoes and put it in the fridge overnight, it becomes resistant starch. Its fiber changes from soluble to insoluble, and it feeds the good bacteria in your stomach, so they can excrete out short chain fatty acids that kill off bad bacteria and reduce inflammation in the stomach. Eating overnight potatoes has increased the total amount of sleep I get, along with the amount of deep sleep.
By the way, turmeric tastes great with coconut milk. It is also one of the best spices for your recovery. It is an antioxidant, anti inflammatory and it kills off bad bacteria and Candida. It also improves your liver health and increases your bile flow, which detoxifies your body and kills off even more pathogens. It's best taken with a pinch of black pepper for better absorption.
 

[medfreeoneday]

Hi @Avicii How is the anhedonia? Has it improved over time?

 

[Avicii]

7 hours ago, medfreeoneday said:

Hi @Avicii How is the anhedonia? Has it improved over time?

 

I would say that every symptom have improved; dp/dr, anhedonia, brain fog

 

The improvements began 15 months in and from there it has been a really slow recovery. I have glimpses now when I remember how I used to be and I realise how other people feel. It’s a comforting feeling but also frustrating because that makes me want to heal 100% as soon as possible so I can go on with my life.

 

What hasn’t improved is the sexual part….well perhaps 10% better than two years ago but still not close to normal.