Utku: Cold Turkey survivor

[utku]

Hello everyone,

 

I have started my addiction with Paxil during pre-divorce period in 2018 and switched to other brand in 2020 (can't remember the name right now). I was feeling euphoric and really good in the beginning but after a couple of months I have started feeling normal. After 3 years of usage I have started feeling bad some days even though I continue taking pills. I have consulted to my doctor and she recommended switching pills which are new generation drugs. This ups and downs continued as before. I have lost my family, my job, my house and most of my belongings during these years. I was trying my best to hold on and was succeeding from time to time. My antidepressant addiction on the other hand was bothering me and I was not happy to feel dependent on such a useless medication. Then I have decided to quit with support of a friend who offered an action plan. I was unaware of this web site then so tapering was not an option for me. So I have cold turkeyed in March 2021. I haven't experienced side effects other than often emotional breakdowns. My action plan consisted of exercising whenever I feel bad and having sweet ingestions often to trigger endorphin and dopamine. I have started working in a friends agricultural field touching soil and plants most of the time. I have balanced my emotional stability doing these for a couple of months. I have found an abroad job suiting my education and experience after 1,5 years. It's been 1,5 years now and I am satisfied with myself. I have started a relationship which is promising as well. I have learned the amazing positive effect of cold showers a year ago and have been starting the day with a cold shower. Now I am more stable in terms of my hormones'. I wouldn't say my hormonal system works perfectly yet but I hope it would get better in time.  

 

Cheers

[LotusRising]

Hi @utku and welcome to SA,

 

You are very lucky to have come away without WD symptoms. This does not happen with everyone, as you may have seen by reading through the posts on this site.

 

11 hours ago, utku said:

After 3 years of usage I have started feeling bad some days even though I continue taking pills.

 

This happens frequently due to the brain making adaptations to bring the body back to homestasis. It's called tolerance or "poop out".

 

 

Also, it sounds like you're talking about physical dependence, and not addiction, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Please look around the site and let us know if you have any other questions!

 

And again, welcome!