success ☼ Alex Withdrawal or Relapse?

[alex]

Thank you Alto and Rhi:

 

I don't know where I would be without your support.

 

All my love to you, A.

[alex]

After 2 days in a wave,(milder but scary) today has been very good."Almost" symptom free.

I gave one very good singing lesson.

Very clear window;the 7th in this month

 

Hang in there my fellow sufferers;it gets better.

[Lexy]

I am so happy for you.

 

Please reassure me Alex!

I've been having anxiety lately...I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety. During WDs anxiety had been low but all of a sudden it's back. Idk if it's wds or if it's GAD. At 150mg anxiety shot up, however when I cut by 50% I felt better the next day.

 

What are your thoughts? Could this be WDs?

[Petunia]

After 2 days in a wave,(milder but scary) today has been very good."Almost" symptom free.

I gave one very good singing lesson.

Very clear window;the 7th in this month

 

 

This is really good Alex, it seems like you are getting more windows than waves these days and I've noticed that when you do get a wave, they don't last as long as they used to.

[Petunia]

Lexy, I replied to your question in your thread..... here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4894-lexy-tapering-off-effexor/page-3

[alex]

.What are your thoughts? Could this be WDs?

 

Yes Lexy, it is the healing pattern in this process.

Think of your symptoms as your body's attempt to get better.

And it will; just hang in there.

 

Peace and healing to you, A.

[Nikki]

Good for you Alex....glad to hear you have had some improvement and good days.  It must have made you exhale a sigh of relief

 

Than you for writing to me this week...needed the input.

 

Hugs and more Hugs

[alex]

At 16 months off, night and morning Cortisol surges have abated 80% at least.

In this "trip" symptoms overlap or at least the perception of them changes.

A few months ago, insomnia was a big issue of w/d;now, still there, but it has gotten a lot better.

I wake up, but rarely with the anxiety-dread feeling and I just get back to sleep w/o problem.

Still dealing with the waves of dysphoria,the awful anxiety(less)-depression-neuro-fear.

I've had this obsessive-fearful thoughts about death since this ordeal begun.

They are not as strong and stressful anymore.

Like anything related with death or sickness,really frights me.Anyone can relate to this??

Right now I am shocked by the unexpected death of a dear close friend...

My personal issues are complicated, and that doesn't help.

 

I am been strong and slowly getting better.

[Lexy]

Most importantly is you getting stronger as each day passes. You can resolve your issues when you are mentally, emotionally, physically stronger. I

[alex]

Bad day today;dysphoria, depression, obsessive thoughts about death.

Very tired;thinking that this is too much to bear..........

Awful premature ejaculation.

 No motivation, no joy.....is this w/d or something else??

I am an unscheduled, jobless, 60 yrs man; it is so hard to keep faith.

 

I am sorry to post so negative.

[Meimeiquest]

May the encouragement you give so many come back to you on this hard day! Reread your journal...this too will pass.

[Petunia]

I'm sorry you are having a bad day Alex.  I would think its a withdrawal wave, combined with the shock of the death of your close friend.  Allow yourself some time to grieve over this unexpected loss.

 

You will feel better again.

 

((hugs))

[alex]

Thank you my good friends; I am feeling better today.

Last night I sang in this private "flamenco" party, and I did fine.

But the best part is that I was able to handle all the situation, noise,dancing and stuff, very well: NO DYSPHORIA, or panic or anything...I even enjoy it quite a lot....and I was very much the center of attention

I came home I slept for 4 hrs, woke up at 5am, and went back to sleep w/o too much trouble, NO cortisol surges or anxiety.

 

I think I am a lot more stronger than what I thought.

[mammaP]

I'm really glad you are feeling better Alex, it sounds like a very enjoyable evening and glad you had a good time.

Thankfully that wave passed and hopefully the window will stay open  . 

[tezza]

{{{ :-) }}}

[Nikki]

Bask in the wonderful experience you just had.  Relive it over and over again in your mind and keep repeating  that you went ahead with a big event, and you did not have anxiety.....keep saying it and be proud

[alex]

At 16 months off, I would dare to say that the terrifying days are gone.

Even with very strong stressors I manage to stay stable and not get decompensated with the awful dread-panic feeling.

No more night-am cortisol surges.Intrusive-obsessive thoughts, very much abated

I still am in the waves-windows pattern, but better days outnumber the bad ones w/o a doubt.

Now I have to be strong and try to solve the personal issues and just keep on going.

 

Keep the faith, it gets better.

[tezza]

I'm so glad to hear this!

[alex]

Thank you Tezza; I just got  very good news about my money problems.They are starting to get better.

 

We will make T!!

[tezza]

We sure will!

[alex]

Another quite a good day today!!

Very clear window..........

16 months Effexor free.

[cymbaltawithdrawal5600]

I'm so happy for you Alex, quite a status update!

[Petunia]

Happy to read about your good news.

 

Thank you for updating.  Your thread (you), continues to give me hope that in spite of getting regular waves, there is a slow steady progress towards recovery after someone has made the mistake of quitting too fast.

[alex]

Thank you my good friends;EVERYONE who stays the course, will eventually succed.

I am not out of the woods, but things has gotten much less difficult.

 

Big hugs all the way to Florida and Australia.

[Nikki]

Back at Ya:)

[Lexy]

Keep updating us as we need to hear good news.

[alex]

Hello my fellow sufferers, at 16 months and 13 days aprox. Effexor free, I've seen a lot of improvement.

In the last month, I have seen an steady pattern of better days over bad days.Not long ago, the good days were the exception, and the bad the days were the rule, with awful waves; today is just the opposite.Good, almost symptom free,no dysphoria-anxiety, good mood, hopeful days, outnumber the bad ones easily.

I still have the trauma of "waiting" for the wave of dysphoria to hit, but MOST of the time, it just doesn't happen.

I am eating much better, almost anything,(always taking care) working out, singing again,having a much better social life and ENJOYING it...

As for physical symptoms, I never had bad ones; I used to have sore eyes, and that is gone. I stll have tinnitus, bad it is mild.Smell hypersensitivity has gotten much better;it used to be shocking,especially with women's perfume LOL.

Lingering problems that I have to cope with:broken sleep, and PSSD.

I still can't have a good night sleep; I wake up several times, but w/o the awful dread-anxious feeling, so I go back to sleep easily.

My sexual problems with PE, I'm coping with, but at least I can get started, and for a 60 yr man who was on Effexor 4 years, is not bad at all........

"what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" I want to believe that this terrible experience is going to make me a better, stronger, wiser person.As a matter of fact, I am not the same person that had to take Effexor 5 years ago, and that is VERY GOOD.

 

Hang in there my good brave friends, A.

 

PS. Oh, and I almost forgot..! no more Benzos for me; now I am absolutely, totally, psy med. FREE!!

[Petunia]

PS. Oh, and I almost forgot..! no more Benzos for me; now I am absolutely, totally, psy med. FREE!!

 

Congratulations Alex, this is huge!  Well done.  :)

[alex]

I am afraid I am in another wave.

Having cortisol issues at night,waking up with the awful too hot sensation,and some anxiety.

I reinstated the 0.10mg Xanax, to help me with bad broken sleep;wil this symptom EVER improve???

 

OMG, I have to repeat to myself that this will eventually end.........

[mammaP]

It will pass Alex, I'm so sorry you've hit such a bad wave, in my experience each one

seems worse than the last but they ALWAYS pass and yours will too. 

 

I imagine being on a surf board, keep riding it until it goes calm .

I sincerely hope it's very soon, hugs for you.

[alex]

 Thank you  mamma, bad wave of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, fear, exhaustion..........

 

Need some reassurance here; scared and tired.

 

Will I ever get my life back???

[mammaP]

YES, you will get your life back, not as it was, but better. You will be older, wiser and have 

a compassion that comes from experience. Did you see the video I posted in off topic? 

 

Those waves were so powerful but today I looked out and the sea is calm with only soft white ripples

breaking on the sand. Your wave will end too, just like that one did. All will be calm again. x

[alex]

Quite a good night last night;I wake up, but go back to sleep easy, no anxiety.

Good day today; I am in the classic wave-window pattern....

 

IT GETS BETTER, HANG IN THERE EVERYBODY.

[Lexy]

I think you will keep having waves and windows for a while. Windows will keep getting longer.

Keep the faith.

[Petunia]

Glad you are feeling better again Alex, your waves are getting shorter.

[alex]

Indeed;thank you Lexy and Petu.

 

Hugs,A.