Truscotty Emotional Cleanse

[truscotty]

I don't know where to start so I'll start with my history.  I'm a 61 years old woman and have been on antidepressants for 30 years or more.  I also have other health issues like fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism, osteoarthritis, and adrenal fatigue.  I am a veteran so I have access to the VA medical facilities and have been on disability for the past 8 to 10 years.  I can't remember dates (brain fog).  About a year ago I decided to change my diet to organic and really started trying to gain my health back.  I tapered off almost all my medicine and was able to get off the high blood pressure and cholesterol medicine and antidepressant.  I still take thyroid and some pain medicine.  I was doing ok, not great, but ok until about a month ago I decided to do a deep body cleanse.  It was a 3 week cleanse and I had to quit after 2 because it stirred up all these emotions in me (along with the toxins).  I thought I was going crazy and I still can't get a handle on it.  I don't know what to do or where to turn to but I need professional help.  I don't want to go back on the antidepressants and I can't afford to go to an integrative doctor because I live on disability pay.  I know this is just a healing crisis but I cry all day long every day 24/7 and I can't take it anymore and I'm getting desperate.  I'm also still in a lot of pain from the fibro even though it has improved somewhat due to my cleaner diet.  I'm not able to do much physically because of the pain of the fibro and osteoarthritis so I'm VERY depressed right now.  I know I probably weaned off too fast but i was doing it on my own without any help and I was not aware of this site.  I am trying to medicate myself with St. John's Wort, Valerian, and essential oils and if anyone has any other suggestions I am open to them as long as they are natural and nontoxic.

[Petunia]

Welcome truscotty,

I'm sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well. Withdrawal from antidepressants can sometimes have a delayed response, many people feel ok for a month or two, and then start to develop new symptoms.

 

How long did you taper for? For someone who has been on antidepressants for 30 years, I would expect you would need to taper very slowly, over the course of several years in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Over time, these drugs change your nervous system. Their effects on your nervous system change as well.  These changes are temporary, but the CNS does take quite a while to right itself after the drugs are out of the body. See:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome?

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Reinstatement of a small amount of the drug can often work well to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. According to medical knowledge, reinstatement is the only way to alleviate withdrawal. Reinstatement is best done immediately upon appearance of symptoms. The more time that passes, the less likely it is to work. Once you have stabilized on a low dose of the drug, then a slower, safer taper can be started. Here is some information about reinstatement to help you decide if its something you would like to try:  About reinstating and stabilizing to stop withdrawal symptoms

 

Its been 3 months since you have been off Prozac, so there is a possibility that taking a small amount would stop your symptoms, you could try 1 - 2mg. This topic will show you how to take small amounts:

 

Tips for tapering off Prozac (fluoxetine)

 

If you decide to try this, you would need to stop taking the St. Johns Wort.

 

I can understand you not wanting to go back on antidepressants, its completely your decision, but withdrawal symptoms can last quite a while for some people, so reinstatement and then a slower taper is one option.

 

Otherwise here is the link to our symptoms and self care section, you may find some useful ideas to help manage symptoms as you recover.  Especially read the topics pinned at the top.

 

Many people find  fish oil and magnesium helpful, see King of Supplements: Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil) and Magnesium, Nature's Calcium Channel Blocker

 

Please feel free to write whenever you want, you will find a lot of friendly help and support here.

 

Petunia.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Truscotty.

 

We don't recommend any "cleansing" -- liver cleansing or whatever. It can be very stressful on the body and nervous system.

 

It sounds like your nervous system is destabilized now; going off Prozac might have left it in a vulnerable state. Did you have any withdrawal symptoms when you were going off Prozac?

 

Many people do better with fish oil and magnesium supplements, see
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/
http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/
 

See our Symptoms and Self-care forum  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/8-symptoms-and-self-care/for suggestions about how to cope with symptoms.