Patient2022: Fluoxetine taper - Breaking free, building me

[Patient2022]

Yes I know the anaesthetist keeps everything working while under but I just thought the ‘numbing’ may have had an effect. Thanks for the response and the links.

 

I haven’t stopped taking them.. I’ll continue the dose. Haven’t noticed any new symptoms a week on from surgery, so hopefully I’m stabilising. 

[Patient2022]

Spoke too soon re stabilising. Had a pressure headache all yesterday and a slight one  today. Also had a big cry and some strong feelings today.
I am experiencing some domestic stress at the moment which led to the cry, so probably the reason feeling overwhelmed, alone, lacking love etc. My period is also due in a few days too. So I’m sure I’ll see a difference in attitude when it arrives. 

My cycle and the waves etc can be tough. It makes it feel like imposter syndrome for the other times I’ve managed well (despite the stress) and when I’m generally feeling ok. 

 

[Patient2022]

Also forgot to add, last few nights I’ve been dreaming a lot! Annoying always in a panic, last 2 days thoughts have been racing upon waking up. But some good news, stopping caffeine (yet again!)has helped the insomnia. I’ve stoped many times but then I might have one cuppa and then end up full in tea drinking habit. I’ve just brought decaf this time, doesn’t feel the same to drink but it’s something!
 

I’m guessing the dreams and unsettling wake up is part of WD? Can’t wait until this subsides…things are always worse before period. Exhausting. 
 

This is 2+ years of tapering - currently on 1mg. For some reason I thought i was on 1.2 but it’s 1. 

[Patient2022]

*edit* just a low low wave

 

[Patient2022]

My mind feels like it’s going 100mph - racing thoughts… continuously! its very exhausting. Even with distractions it’s in the background… And my cognitive ability  I feel like I keep stumbling when I speak, or I can’t get out what I’m trying to say. Embarrassed myself yesterday with my colleagues. I now feel like I should be silent with others. It feels like there’s so much in my brain it sometimes doesn’t compute when I try to explain. 
 

I’m wondering is this just me? Or is it part of WD? It feels like there’s a lot going on at the moment. I’m trying, day by day. But I just don’t know how a person gets on in the world being like this. 
 

Again my period is due (today) but I don’t usually get these symptoms - it’s usually just lower mood or feeling a bit hopeless.

[getofflex]

7 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

My mind feels like it’s going 100mph - racing thoughts… continuously!

This is a very common WD symptom.  It a sign that your nervous system is activated.  Many report having an uptick in symptoms around the time of their period.  The domestic stress is, I'm sure, adding fuel to the fire.  Your nervous system is probably destabilized from tapering too quickly and by too big of drops last year.  Continue to hold, hold hold, for as long at is takes to stabilize.  Please do whatever you can to calm your nervous system.  Look into non drug techniques for dealing with your symptoms - these really help, and will give you life skills that serve you well the rest of your life.  

 

Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

Edited January 30 by getofflex

[littlebird]

On 1/30/2024 at 4:40 AM, Patient2022 said:

My mind feels like it’s going 100mph - racing thoughts… continuously! its very exhausting. Even with distractions it’s in the background… And my cognitive ability  I feel like I keep stumbling when I speak, or I can’t get out what I’m trying to say. Embarrassed myself yesterday with my colleagues.

You're allowed the occasional stumble, chances are it wasn't as big a fumble as it felt internally, but ooooh baby does it suck when it happens. I've been fudging things at work too, it's not easy to work while tapering! 

 

On 1/30/2024 at 4:40 AM, Patient2022 said:

I’m wondering is this just me? Or is it part of WD?

Classic WD, the brain is putting a lot of energy into things and there might not be a lot left over for a little while. This absolutely does get better with time. On the weekends, can you supercharge your free time with the most deliciously soothing and happy-making activities you can think of? 

[Patient2022]

20 hours ago, littlebird said:

You're allowed the occasional stumble, chances are it wasn't as big a fumble as it felt internally, but ooooh baby does it suck when it happens. I've been fudging things at work too, it's not easy to work while tapering! 

 

Classic WD, the brain is putting a lot of energy into things and there might not be a lot left over for a little while. This absolutely does get better with time. On the weekends, can you supercharge your free time with the most deliciously soothing and happy-making activities you can think of? 

Thanks for stopping by and offering some reassurance  

 

I think I just need to take one day at a time as there’s a few stresses in life at the minute. I don’t feel like doing too much activity over weekend to be honest, it feels a bit like I’m just trying to survive, ticking off to dos etc. I’m embracing the moments I speak/connect with loved ones - those are my moments of joy.
 

I'm not feeling as bad as i was when i posted, period has arrived etc (guess the severity of that wave has somewhat passed). But the racing thoughts come a lot in the morning and bed times (and sporadically through the day). 

I haven’t started the gratitude lists but might just start now, looking over positives of the week…

 

Thanks again for stopping by

[Patient2022]

On 1/30/2024 at 6:22 PM, getofflex said:

This is a very common WD symptom.  It a sign that your nervous system is activated.  Many report having an uptick in symptoms around the time of their period.  The domestic stress is, I'm sure, adding fuel to the fire.  Your nervous system is probably destabilized from tapering too quickly and by too big of drops last year.  Continue to hold, hold hold, for as long at is takes to stabilize.  Please do whatever you can to calm your nervous system.  Look into non drug techniques for dealing with your symptoms - these really help, and will give you life skills that serve you well the rest of your life.  

 

Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

Thank you for that. And yes I’ll hold on this dose for some time to stabilise.

 

i intend to go for walks, take my omega 3 and just take one day at a time listening to my body. It’s just so hard to go through a wave when you have responsibilities and there’s no others adult help. But I can do this, connecting with my faith also really helps so I’m glad I have that.

 

[Patient2022]

THIS WEEK

Feelings:

- overwhelmed

- trying to stay afloat

- sad at a recent change 

- grieving a symbolic loss

- restricted/frustrsted (still unable to do certain household chores due to surgery)

 

Gratitude list (I’ve sat here so long thinking through my week and I feel blank…): 

- happy I have this forum to speak about withdrawal. Many people in my world just don’t get it 

- I’m able to stay in doors over the weekend as I don’t feel like doing much. Listening to my body. 
- I’ve spoken to family members over the week which really helps feel connected 

 

I think I’m struggling to find much so I’ll leave it there for now. I just feel like snuggling up. 

[littlebird]

3 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

I think I just need to take one day at a time as there’s a few stresses in life at the minute.

That's the way! "Tomorrow you" can sort out tomorrow, just gotta take today one bit at a time.

 

3 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

I don’t feel like doing too much activity over weekend to be honest, it feels a bit like I’m just trying to survive, ticking off to dos etc. I’m embracing the moments I speak/connect with loved ones - those are my moments of joy.

Right there with you! Weekends are when I recover. When the odd rare busy weekend does come, I find that the next week I'm recovering from that and the week before.

 

Have you found it easier to connect with tapering? I feel like there used to be an invisible wall between me and the people I love, and it's somehow easier to feel connected now that I'm on less meds.

 

3 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

I'm not feeling as bad as i was when i posted, period has arrived etc (guess the severity of that wave has somewhat passed).

I've heard PMS described as a gathering storm, and once the period starts the atmospheric pressure and intensity fades away. Glad you started feeling better when the period started! 

 

2 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

Gratitude list (I’ve sat here so long thinking through my week and I feel blank…):

Yaaaaay gratitude list! Sometimes I have to sit for a minute before I can start thinking of positives, but it's gotten easier the more I practice. 

[getofflex]

8 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

i intend to go for walks, take my omega 3 and just take one day at a time listening to my body. It’s just so hard to go through a wave when you have responsibilities and there’s no others adult help. But I can do this, connecting with my faith also really helps so I’m glad I have that.

Excellent.  You are on the right track.  🙂

[Patient2022]

On 2/4/2024 at 3:16 PM, littlebird said:

That's the way! "Tomorrow you" can sort out tomorrow, just gotta take today one bit at a time.

 

Right there with you! Weekends are when I recover. When the odd rare busy weekend does come, I find that the next week I'm recovering from that and the week before.

 

Have you found it easier to connect with tapering? I feel like there used to be an invisible wall between me and the people I love, and it's somehow easier to feel connected now that I'm on less meds.

 

I've heard PMS described as a gathering storm, and once the period starts the atmospheric pressure and intensity fades away. Glad you started feeling better when the period started! 

 

Yaaaaay gratitude list! Sometimes I have to sit for a minute before I can start thinking of positives, but it's gotten easier the more I practice. 

Thank you once again for your attentive  response  Regarding connecting with loved ones, I don’t think it made too much of a difference. When I’ve ct though, that was a different story, as I tended to spiral. Any emotions I felt that were valid then became overwhelming and i could only communicate in panic. Very volatile I would say. 
 

The worsening of symptoms before my period can get exhausting, and I’m sure it’s linked to WD. It should be interesting to note any differences once I’m off the AD. For now, just have to ride through. This week has definitely been loads better than last (period has come and gone haha).
 

 

[Patient2022]

Still not able to walk for long periods… the doctor had me under the impression that I’d be walking fine 2 weeks after surgery!  One day at a time for that.

 

Here’s a  few positive highlights from this week:

 

☕️ I was sat in a cafe and a man passed me to mix his coffee and it seems he read me quite well, he said “ it all works out in the end” with a smile. I just laughed - it took me some to reflect on that, but it’s amazing that it really made my day. It was nice to hear. Almost like we were both meant to be there and for me to hear that. It made me smile. I didn’t say much at the time but I felt like I wanted to find him to let him know how much that meant. 
 

🎉 I was invited to a colleague’s birthday and although it was a quick thing in our lunch break, I haven’t belly laughed that hard in a while. You know that highly silly and painful laugh! It felt good. Happy I managed to go (if it was any further I wouldn't have been able with the limited mobility!)

 

💻 I missed 2 days of uni and was quite anxious about missing lectures. Luckily they recorded the lectures which meant I could catch up. That feels like a win - less stress of feeling behind etc.
 

👩‍👧Some of my family members visited me this week. It was lovely. It really helps me feel connected and happy to see to my nieces etc. 

 

📝 I got a head start by working on some assignments. Feels productive.

 

💯 Received the highest mark in one of my results ! The irony is, I worked so hard but thought it wasn’t my best piece. Little achievements. It feels fulfilling to know it paid off.

 

🍽️ My children (teens) cooked dinner and made a cake today. It’s school holidays so they’re more relaxed and wanted to do something creative. It was lovely and a great help. Haven’t been cooked for in forever! They were proud of themselves, I was proud and enjoyed the yummy Sunday meal! 

 

Although Im still having moments of frustration by being limited in what I can do, I feel I had quite a good week. Writing this list has helped me to reflect why I’ve been feeling good this week. And highlights things to focus on when I do get waves.

[getofflex]

It sounds like you are stabilizing quite nicely.  I hear gratitude in your post. 

11 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

And highlights things to focus on when I do get waves.

Excellent strategy.  

[Patient2022]

9 hours ago, getofflex said:

It sounds like you are stabilizing quite nicely.  I hear gratitude in your post. 

Excellent strategy.  

Thank you for your support. I’m still holding at this dose a bit longer. The real test is seeing what the days before my period are like. 

[getofflex]

We suggest you hold until you have about 2 weeks of stability before you reduce again.  Listen to your body.  I would be careful, because you were reducing pretty quickly at the end of 2023. 

 

Stability

[Patient2022]

Feeling quite vulnerable and scared today. Yesterday was awful, not even emotionally, I just couldn’t speak properly   I mean, I did go to bed at 3am the night before but my god I have never experienced the brain fog (not sure what to call it) like this!!!

 

I was struggling with every convo I had, struggling to find words. Or speak for more than a sentence/ link sentences to explain something. My brain was struggling. 
 

im only mid 30s and im concerned this is some early dementia. 
 

My mood was otherwise ok, but this made me feel low. Feeling like I need to distance from people because I can’t get out what I want to say. It’s painful for me and them. People looking at me like I’m stupid or struggling to understand. Even by time I got home, it was the same with family members. 
 

I had a good nights sleep last night and woke up worried/scared!  Still feeling a bit tired. 
 

I’m taking omega 3 capsules too. Is this really linked to withdrawal. Will I be like this forever. Will I have to give up my goals. 
 

 

[AblazingTulip]

I am so sorry Patient2022 ... This is most unsettling to say the least.
This is so familiar to me. It was like this during my severe ADS (AWS) last year, when I discontinued, then it got better. But then inadvertently the sporadic Benzo (Purata) as sleeping tablet incident has caused a slight relapse, so I am experiencing this again also. This time it's milder. It does seem (in my case) linked to the amount of REM I've had. I found that without the REM, my ability to ingest information, retain, and converse is severely affected. Almost like my inner "Internet bandwidth" is congested, and needs an upgrade to fiber 🫣. Hang in there Patient2022. It does get better.

Have you had much success in getting good REM sleep?

Edited February 16 by AblazingTulip
Was too tired to empahise properly. iSorry (lots of symptoms today) :-(

[getofflex]

9 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

m only mid 30s and im concerned this is some early dementia. 

No, it's not early dementia, it is WD, and it will go away in time. 

 

9 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

Is this really linked to withdrawal. Will I be like this forever. Will I have to give up my goals. 

Yes, no, and no.  

 

Our withdrawal monkey brains like to torment us with thoughts that this is forever, we will never have a life, etc.  It is important not to give weight to these negative, pessimistic thoughts.  

 

Techniques for Managing Withdrawal

 

APPLE Technique

 

I just came across a very nice technique that really helps me.  It's called APPLE. I have printed it and have it where I can see it every day and be reminded of it so I internalize this technique. 

 

A - Acknowledge Notice and acknowledge the thought or uncertainty as it comes to mind. 

 

P - Pause Don't react as you normally do.  Don't react at all.  Just pause and breathe.   

 

P - Pull Back Tell yourself this is just the thought or worry talking, and this apparent need for worry or analysis or certainty is not helpful and not necessary.  It is only a thought or feeling.  Don't believe everything you think.  Thoughts are not statements or facts.   

 

L - Let Go Let go of the thought or feeling.  It will pass.  You don't have to respond to it.  You might imagine the thought floating away in a bubble or cloud.   

 

E - Explore Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, you are OK.  Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing.  Notice the ground beneath you.  Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell.  Right now.  Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the thought or worry, or do something else - mindfully - with your full attention.  

 

Edited February 16 by getofflex

[Patient2022]

20 hours ago, AblazingTulip said:

I am so sorry Patient2022 ... This is most unsettling to say the least.
This is so familiar to me. It was like this during my severe ADS (AWS) last year, when I discontinued, then it got better. But then inadvertently the sporadic Benzo (Purata) as sleeping tablet incident has caused a slight relapse, so I am experiencing this again also. This time it's milder. It does seem (in my case) linked to the amount of REM I've had. I found that without the REM, my ability to ingest information, retain, and converse is severely affected. Almost like my inner "Internet bandwidth" is congested, and needs an upgrade to fiber 🫣. Hang in there Patient2022. It does get better.

Have you had much success in getting good REM sleep?

@AblazingTulip its horrible and it does feel like it’s only me, so thank you for sharing your experience too (I’m so sorry you’re experiencing similar)!  I have no idea how to calculate how much REM sleep I’ve had. Is it through apps? I had a better sleep the night after and was able to communicate a bit better in the day but it’s very much still there and in the back of my mind there’s self doubt about whether I’ll complete a sentence successfully  

 

 

12 hours ago, getofflex said:

No, it's not early dementia, it is WD, and it will go away in time. 

 

Yes, no, and no.  

 

Our withdrawal monkey brains like to torment us with thoughts that this is forever, we will never have a life, etc.  It is important not to give weight to these negative, pessimistic thoughts.  

 

Techniques for Managing Withdrawal

 

APPLE Technique

 

I just came across a very nice technique that really helps me.  It's called APPLE. I have printed it and have it where I can see it every day and be reminded of it so I internalize this technique. 

 

A - Acknowledge Notice and acknowledge the thought or uncertainty as it comes to mind. 

 

P - Pause Don't react as you normally do.  Don't react at all.  Just pause and breathe.   

 

P - Pull Back Tell yourself this is just the thought or worry talking, and this apparent need for worry or analysis or certainty is not helpful and not necessary.  It is only a thought or feeling.  Don't believe everything you think.  Thoughts are not statements or facts.   

 

L - Let Go Let go of the thought or feeling.  It will pass.  You don't have to respond to it.  You might imagine the thought floating away in a bubble or cloud.   

 

E - Explore Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, you are OK.  Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing.  Notice the ground beneath you.  Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell.  Right now.  Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the thought or worry, or do something else - mindfully - with your full attention.  

 

Thank you thank you for this reassurance! It is really hard while you’re in it. That day was just awful, I wanted to run home! 
 

APPLE sounds like a good way to ground myself. Managing these symptoms is a lot of self talk, I find. I find it harder whilst I’m around others because I don’t have that moment of quiet. I will try though.

[AblazingTulip]

43 minutes ago, Patient2022 said:

@AblazingTulip its horrible and it does feel like it’s only me, so thank you for sharing your experience too (I’m so sorry you’re experiencing similar)!  I have no idea how to calculate how much REM sleep I’ve had. Is it through apps? I had a better sleep the night after and was able to communicate a bit better in the day but it’s very much still there and in the back of my mind there’s self doubt about whether I’ll complete a sentence successfully  

 

 

Thank you thank you for this reassurance! It is really hard while you’re in it. That day was just awful, I wanted to run home! 
 

APPLE sounds like a good way to ground myself. Managing these symptoms is a lot of self talk, I find. I find it harder whilst I’m around others because I don’t have that moment of quiet. I will try though.

@Patient2022, It is unsettling, and frustrating to say the least, and once more relate and feel for your peace being disturbed by what we seem to have so little control over. It's OK to feel this way. And it changes all the time, so keep the faith!. I find it so with friends, and it is worse with colleagues who understand even less of what you are dealing with. For me, I have sensed something like a "buffer overflow". My brain just needs a short rest here and there during the day, as a result of WD. Your body tells you this, so I am listening ever more closely to mine. I don't sleep during the day, but I have a "lie down". 10-30 minutes and the brain has settled a bit, a couple of times a day, depending on my state. The internal "buffer" has cleared a bit. But the REM from night's sleep remains a key for me. I gradually descend as my less than 8hrs continue through the week. This week my sleep is much improved. I am getting a lot of 5 hrs. (last night I had 1.5 + 5, so 6.5hrs (yaaay)). The key lies in getting more uninterrupted sleep. There is much posted on the site about this. Refer to the Sleep cycles link.

 

Also see the full set of links related to sleep. I have found "back to basics", i.e. the simple things to be truly effective this week as I started following a number of these safe, simple tips. As Altostrata has commented more than once on the blackout of the bedroom, as one example, it is hugely beneficial I also found. I put up the garbage bags for now. They work. Other things in the content that I believe has helped me, is my evening walk, keeping my phone and PC screen dim at night. Reading online content in dark mode. Cutting caffeine after 9am. 4.5Hz sleep music to help drown out noises. Going to bed when tired. Sometimes, it's a "false alarm", and the tired doesn't result in sleep. The internal "buffer" empties a bit and I become alert again. So I get up and and do things, until the next wave of tired hits. This last week has been much more successful and again, I believe the simple tips I gleaned from the experts have helped a lot in this regard!

 

I can't say I calculate my sleep precisely. But when I am tired, I go to bed, and look at the clock to make a mental note. I do the same when I wake. The next morning I try to deduce as best I can, what I managed to get in terms of uninterrupted sleep, and how many hours total, regardless of fragmentation. And I have been journaling it for some time now. I am journaling much. Not just sleep. Slowly I am compiling a way to track all sorts, similar to how a doctor would, day in day out. It will help tremendously to see the patterns emerge and understand which supplements, and weekly sleep combined affect me in whatever way. It is murky to be sure, as our CNS continues to fluctuate throughout, and continues to heal.

 

Perhaps journaling your experiences also, would be of help to you. I find it even helps me just to know, someone (i.e. me) is taking notice of my ongoing state, and progress.

Keep going Patient2022. You can and will be ok.

~Sent with love, wrapped in kindness.

[Patient2022]

On 2/17/2024 at 10:39 AM, AblazingTulip said:

@Patient2022, It is unsettling, and frustrating to say the least, and once more relate and feel for your peace being disturbed by what we seem to have so little control over. It's OK to feel this way. And it changes all the time, so keep the faith!. I find it so with friends, and it is worse with colleagues who understand even less of what you are dealing with. For me, I have sensed something like a "buffer overflow". My brain just needs a short rest here and there during the day, as a result of WD. Your body tells you this, so I am listening ever more closely to mine. I don't sleep during the day, but I have a "lie down". 10-30 minutes and the brain has settled a bit, a couple of times a day, depending on my state. The internal "buffer" has cleared a bit. But the REM from night's sleep remains a key for me. I gradually descend as my less than 8hrs continue through the week. This week my sleep is much improved. I am getting a lot of 5 hrs. (last night I had 1.5 + 5, so 6.5hrs (yaaay)). The key lies in getting more uninterrupted sleep. There is much posted on the site about this. Refer to the Sleep cycles link.

 

Also see the full set of links related to sleep. I have found "back to basics", i.e. the simple things to be truly effective this week as I started following a number of these safe, simple tips. As Altostrata has commented more than once on the blackout of the bedroom, as one example, it is hugely beneficial I also found. I put up the garbage bags for now. They work. Other things in the content that I believe has helped me, is my evening walk, keeping my phone and PC screen dim at night. Reading online content in dark mode. Cutting caffeine after 9am. 4.5Hz sleep music to help drown out noises. Going to bed when tired. Sometimes, it's a "false alarm", and the tired doesn't result in sleep. The internal "buffer" empties a bit and I become alert again. So I get up and and do things, until the next wave of tired hits. This last week has been much more successful and again, I believe the simple tips I gleaned from the experts have helped a lot in this regard!

 

I can't say I calculate my sleep precisely. But when I am tired, I go to bed, and look at the clock to make a mental note. I do the same when I wake. The next morning I try to deduce as best I can, what I managed to get in terms of uninterrupted sleep, and how many hours total, regardless of fragmentation. And I have been journaling it for some time now. I am journaling much. Not just sleep. Slowly I am compiling a way to track all sorts, similar to how a doctor would, day in day out. It will help tremendously to see the patterns emerge and understand which supplements, and weekly sleep combined affect me in whatever way. It is murky to be sure, as our CNS continues to fluctuate throughout, and continues to heal.

 

Perhaps journaling your experiences also, would be of help to you. I find it even helps me just to know, someone (i.e. me) is taking notice of my ongoing state, and progress.

Keep going Patient2022. You can and will be ok.

~Sent with love, wrapped in kindness.

Thank you so much for sharing these suggestions. I’ve stop caffeine but sometime have one early, but I think since on the lower dose my body has become too sensitive - I really have to entirely avoid!! 
 

this last week my sleep pattern is changing - it’s so odd. I’m exhausted and have been going to bed earlier (10/11pm) and then I’m waking naturally 5;30/6am which is never usually me unless I have to. I’m just going with it and hopefully everything will settle.

 

I’m still on 1mg - scared to decrease! The physical symptoms are more apparent now - with sleep, headaches etc. mind you the exhaustion (leading to heightened emotions) before my period is horrible.. again hopefully it adjusts! 

[Patient2022]

I’m just so fed up of life, I’ve been continuously trying but it feels like there’s no point. I’m stressing myself out by having goals that I probably can’t even reach due to my circumstances.

 

i don’t even think this is anything to do with withdrawal. Im just trying to do so much on my own. Because I have to, to survive. It’s exhausting. 
 

Feeling like I don’t have the capacity to do it all, do assignments, look for a job, make the “right” decisions for children (and still get it wrong). There’s no space for me, ever. No matter how much I try, and again I still get it wrong.
 

Just came here to document it, write it out. So you know, if one day things miraculously change I can come back and see. But really just need to express it. 
 

I feel like quitting everything and being away from everyone.
 

zzzzzz

[Patient2022]

By the end of the day yesterday I felt much better. I’m still waking up with the panic/anxiety. but being as there’s been such a dip recently, here are some positive things amidst the difficulties.

 

☺️I’ve found that doing 4-4-4 breathing technique helps when I wake in the morning with an anxiety rush! 
 

❤️‍🩹 I’m able to comfortably lay on my side now (after surgery) and feeling much better with the healing. 
 

👭Had a good chat with a friend who I previously had a misunderstanding with. 
 

💆‍♀️I found the time and money to dedicate some holistic self care for myself: cupping. 
 

 

[Patient2022]

So it’s the week after my period, suffice to say the anxiety symptoms when waking, up are much less. My general mood/outlook is much better.
 

The drastic change from the week before my period to the week after, is exhausting! I really hope it balances out a bit. This has been a pattern for a while, some bouts are much worse (like my recent one). 
 

During that time, estrogen drops along with other hormones so I’m taking maca as it’s considered a natural hormone balancer. 

 

[getofflex]

On 3/6/2024 at 1:59 AM, Patient2022 said:

So it’s the week after my period, suffice to say the anxiety symptoms when waking, up are much less. My general mood/outlook is much better.

I'm very glad to hear that you are feeling better! 

 

On 3/6/2024 at 1:59 AM, Patient2022 said:

During that time, estrogen drops along with other hormones so I’m taking maca as it’s considered a natural hormone balancer. 

We suggest you start with a low dose at first, to see how it affects you.  Good luck.  

[Leyla]

Hello @Patient2022, just wanted to check on you.. how have you been?

[Patient2022]

12 hours ago, Leyla said:

Hello @Patient2022, just wanted to check on you.. how have you been?

Hey @Leyla I’ve been meaning to jump on here to update so thanks for asking 🤗 The brain fog (if that’s what you can call it), is the worst thing at the moment. I also get a few mild dizzy shakes in my head - usually if I wake and jump straight up fast. But it’s literally a minute or so. I’m also have woken a few time to loud sounds that are not really there. That’s quite scary. No idea if it’s related. Never had anything like it in my life. Hope it stops! 
 

I’m  finding that if I’m exerted in any way (lack of sleep, or done a lot in the day or socialised a lot), my brain feels very scattered - like it’s trying to hold onto information or like like I’m struggling to connect things, find words in sentences/do things in the right order. The other day I went to drain a tin of chickpeas and I just threw it in the sink (instead of getting the strainer). I realised what I did immediately; at the moment though, it was just auto pilot, but malfunctioning - my brain felt cluttered and I was struggling to get through the day - very frustrating ! Sometimes I feel things are struggling to connect in my brain.

 

Getting  good amount of rest, spacing out my social time etc helps. In other words I’m extremely sensitive. Again I’m not sure if this is just me now or if it’s a temporary withdrawal thing. I hope the latter. 
 

Another thing that can be hard is when people around me/ family members really don’t acknowledge that withdrawal and/or the effects of AD, borderline dismissive that the drug can actually alter things within the body! But it’d be scarier if I had no clue what might be going on, so I’m forever grateful for this forum and the input and stories shared. 
 

how’s things for you @Leyla ?

[Leyla]

 

5 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

I’m also have woken a few time to loud sounds that are not really there. That’s quite scary. No idea if it’s related. Never had anything like it in my life. Hope it stops! 

Sorry to hear you're experiencing this. It must've been very scary. Apparently, auditory and visual hallucinations is one of the possible symptoms of withdrawal!

 

5 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

I’m  finding that if I’m exerted in any way (lack of sleep, or done a lot in the day or socialised a lot), my brain feels very scattered - like it’s trying to hold onto information or like like I’m struggling to connect things, find words in sentences/do things in the right order. The other day I went to drain a tin of chickpeas and I just threw it in the sink (instead of getting the strainer). I realised what I did immediately; at the moment though, it was just auto pilot, but malfunctioning - my brain felt cluttered and I was struggling to get through the day - very frustrating ! Sometimes I feel things are struggling to connect in my brain.

 

I relate to you so much in this one. I don't feel like I'm 100% at my brain capacity or ability to focus during tasks or converse with people properly. and it's hard to distinguish if this is just me or is it a side effect of withdrawal, it's just difficult to recall exactly how it was before the meds and before tapering. 

It's good that you're resting and preserving your social battery  

5 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

Another thing that can be hard is when people around me/ family members really don’t acknowledge that withdrawal and/or the effects of AD, borderline dismissive that the drug can actually alter things within the body! But it’d be scarier if I had no clue what might be going on, so I’m forever grateful for this forum and the input and stories shared. 

I agree, other people cannot relate very much. It is a unique thing to go through and this forum has provided so much needed normalcy and community. 

5 hours ago, Patient2022 said:

how’s things for you @Leyla ?

I'm doing okay, thanks for asking. I just made another dose reduction yesterday. Feeling more anxious and out of breath for the past few months but we're coping   

[getofflex]

Just want to let you know that you are tapering your drug faster than our suggested 10% per month of current dose reduction.  You might  get away with this for a while, but these things tend to be cumulative, and you may be in for an unpleasant surprise down the road.  If it were me, I would slow down.  You only gave yourself about 2.5 weeks between the last 2 reductions, and the last reduction was greater than 10% - it was about 15% reduction.  It is especially important to reduce extra slowly and carefully at the end of a taper.  

[Patient2022]

On 4/11/2024 at 3:47 PM, Leyla said:

 

 

 it's hard to distinguish if this is just me or is it a side effect of withdrawal, it's just difficult to recall exactly how it was before the meds and before tapering. 

 

I'm doing okay, thanks for asking. I just made another dose reduction yesterday. Feeling more anxious and out of breath for the past few months but we're coping   

@Leyla Yep sometimes I find if we focus so much on what to expect next or assessing the symptoms so much, we suffer more. Times are better when I forget I’m tapering. 
 

Glad to hear you’re doing ok since last time 🤗 do you have some techniques for helping with anxiety and breathlessness ? 
 

5 hours ago, getofflex said:

Just want to let you know that you are tapering your drug faster than our suggested 10% per month of current dose reduction.  You might  get away with this for a while, but these things tend to be cumulative, and you may be in for an unpleasant surprise down the road.  If it were me, I would slow down.  You only gave yourself about 2.5 weeks between the last 2 reductions, and the last reduction was greater than 10% - it was about 15% reduction.  It is especially important to reduce extra slowly and carefully at the end of a taper.  

Hi, thanks for this. To be honest I find it hard to follow that, because the syringe I use doesn’t have enough segments to measure less. It’s such a tiny amount I don’t know how I could measure any less. Would love to know how people do it with the tiny doses.
 

i wonder if staying on the dose for longer despite being more than 10% drop will make a difference? Because I cant measure less (it looks less than a raindrop)

[getofflex]

You either dilute the liquid drug, or you get a small 1 ml syringe that measures in 0.01 increments.  I did the both.  I was able to measure down to 0.01 ml of my liquid Lexapro.  

Edited April 13 by getofflex

[Leyla]

On 4/13/2024 at 2:06 AM, Patient2022 said:

Glad to hear you’re doing ok since last time 🤗 do you have some techniques for helping with anxiety and breathlessness ? 

Hi,

I breath in the morning similar to your practice. Some slow breaths in and exhaling from my mouth usually ease the morning breathlessness. And I repeat through the day if need to. 
For anxiety, I like practicing yoga some days following youtube videos or at a local yoga studio, it really helps ease my anxiety. 

Most of my anxiety is social, I found that sitting with it helps so I tend to put myself into uncomfortable situations to get used to it, but when it gets really stressful I resolve to taking 10mg propranolol (beta blocker) which always calms me down  not sure if that's bad but I found this pill very useful for major events' anxiety