Deise: Fluvoxamine caused my depression? Fear I can't recover

[Deise]

On 27/08/2017 at 6:02 AM, bubble said:

Hello Deise,

 

There is a very important survey on drug WD at the moment. We might finally get some acknowledgement for all the suffering these drugs caused us.

 

Adding your experience would be very valuable. It only takes a few minutes. They extended it because they got so many replies after Alto mobilised our members here but the more people join, the more powerful we are.

 

I even invited my friends who are not on the forum and some of them were not even aware that what was happening to them was a WD... Every vote counts.

 

https://roehamptonpsych.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6gSHZN88sOmHDlr

 

I already did last week

 

[bubble]

Thank you

[Deise]

Hi everyone, I have not been feeling good and I need to talk to someone.

 

So I began the tapering 10 months ago and I have been doing fine. But lately, about a month ago, I have been feeling very anxious. I don't reduce my AD for at least 2 or 3 months. 

 

I started taking iron, B12 and D3 but since I thought it might be it I have only been taking the iron for a month.

 

The problem is, yesterday I had much trouble breathing. I ended up going to the hospital where they only have me diazepam but 3 hours later I was having a full blown panic attack. Felt like I was going to die, extremely anxious and short of breath. 

 

I am very scared. I am still anxious and short of breath. I don't know what I did wrong. I don't want to feel like this anymore.

 

I started a new job as a waitress a month ago but I already quit because I thought it was what was making me nervous. But my last day was Saturday and I am even worse that before.

 

Can you please give me some of your thoughts on this please.

[ChessieCat]

It could have been the additional stress of the job which caused the anxiety to come to the fore.  I have found taking magnesium helps take the edge off my anxiety.  I have had a few times when I have not taken it for several days in a row and the anxiety worsens and when I start taking it again it reduces it.

 

Q:  Are you still taking diazepam?  If so, please add that to your signature.

 

Please update your signature to show dates and doses of your taper.  It's important for us to be able to see your drug details at a glance without having to read back through your posts.  Thank you.  Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

[Deise]

19 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

Q:  Are you still taking diazepam?  If so, please add that to your signature.

 

Hi ChessieCat, thank you for your answer.

 

I am not taking diazepam, they just gave it to me yesterday at the hospital because I was having a panic attack. The Dr at the hospital said that I should talk to my gp to updose the Luvox or change medication.

 

But I was doing very well with the tapering. I don't change my dose of 18.7mg for 2 months at least. 

 

I thought it was the job too, it made me very nervous. But since I stopped working this past Saturday can it still be it??

 

I am going to change my signature now!

 

[ChessieCat]

It might take a while for you to stabilise after the stress you have recently experienced.  It would be best to stay at your current dose and hold until you have a couple weeks where you are feeling stable again.  It might take a couple of months.  If it were me I definitely would not be changing drug.  That can open a can of worms.  Withdrawal from your old drug, start up, side effects and possible bad reaction to the new drug and you will not know what is causing what.

 

Many members find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go.

 

Why taper paper: dose-occupancy curves

[Deise]

Hi everyone.

 

I think I need some reassurance... I have been feeling afraid. I was doing well and suddenly, due to the job or not, I got worse again. Do you think I might be experiencing protracted withdrawal? I am very afraid that is the case. I started tapering in January and everything was going fine..

 

At the moment I am very scared that I will stay like this, whether due to withdrawal or maybe because I will never be able to overcome depression and anxiety. I don't even know if my brain will ever recover, since there is no data of what these meds do to you after a year of taking them.

February 2018 I will be taking Luvox for 4 years... I don't know what to do/think

 

I just wish I could live a normal life and not feel like this out of the blue...

 

Do you think that the protracted withdrawal is possible? Or is it just stress and starting taking vitamins? I also started eating bad again when I was working and messed up my sleep schedule... I am trying to bring them back on track and start exercising again, but it is a little difficult when I don't feel so good/feel anxious/bored or uninterested...

 

If some of you can answer me I would be very grateful, even if it is just for reassurance.

And I am sorry, I feel like I repeated myself somewhat and might be getting boring for you.

 

Thank you.

 

[Deise]

Let me just add a positive note on this. Since I started the withdrawal, my feelings for my boyfriend have slowly, gently but steadily resurfacing and everyday I have less doubts. He has been very supportive of my journey, more than I could have asked for. I am very fortunate.

 

I just want to be able to enjoy it without it being "tainted" by what I have been feeling this past month.

[ChessieCat]

I've been taking an antidepressant continually for 25+ years.  Back in May this year I bought a brand new car.  I was excited about it.  However, recently when I found out that my grandson was going to be coming to stay with my daughter I was really excited and I realised that when I got my car it was a different excitement, more of a dulled excitement.  In May I was taking 25mg Pristiq.  When my grandson came to stay I was taking 19mg.

 

I am feeling more like the me I was before I ever started taking an antidepressant.

 

Healing isn't linear and when we experience stress, either good or bad, that has an impact on our body.  That is why it's important to try learn non drug techniques to help minimise the stress so that it doesn't interfere with the brain's healing.

[Deise]

Hi everyone I need help please. 

Today was a horrible day. It's 11h58 pm where I live. Spent the whole day at 3 different hospitals because I had extreme palpitations, shortness of breath and extremely debilitating anxiety. At the last hospital they gave me diazepam and ethyl loflazepate. I was able to fall asleep from around 8pm until now. But as soon as I wake up I feel extremely debilitating anxiety and I can't deal with it. I shake, I have goosebumps, I feel agitated, my heart races, my blood pressure is elevated. I have been having diarhea. 

 

I was afraid I was having serotonin syndrome but the doctor said it was impossible. But I can't calm down not even after 2 benzos.

 

Please help me. Has someone already experienced 24h anxiety? Can this be worse? Will I ever be normal?

 

Help me.

[Peonies]

Hello Deise, I just saw your latest post. 

 

I know what you are feeling. All that you are feeling right now is because of Anxiety. Even the diarhea, that cold be an acute case of IBS from all the panicking you are doing right now. 

 

Take a deep breath. This too shall pass.

 

I will tell you something I learned while in therapy for my OCD and Anxiety. Every feeling has a beginning, middle and end. Anxiety is built off our fight or flight response that we as humans have. The more you fight the anxiety, the more you try to medicate, or go to the hospital, or freak out the worse it will get. When you are feeling incredible anxiety and you decide to medicate or do another one of these avoidance behaviors, you are teaching your brain or reinforcing the idea that you cannot deal with the anxiety. Instead try and sit with it. Sit quietly, don't move, breathe easy. Even if you are crying and it feels like hell, you will find that your tolerance for anxiety will build. 

 

I have been where you are many times, it will get better!

 

This too shall pass Deise, you will be okay. 

[Deise]

3 minutes ago, Peonies said:

Sit quietly, don't move, breathe easy. Even if you are crying and it feels like hell, you will find that your tolerance for anxiety will build. 

 

I have been where you are many times, it will get better!

 

This too shall pass Deise, you will be okay. 

 

Hello Peonies, thank you for your reply. 

 

Have you ever felt anxiety 24h? Like a constant panic attack that never goes away? I have never felt this before, I am so scared.

 

I can't even sit still, I'm agitated, restless and my heart beats too fast. I am so afraid to take my AD because of it being serotonin syndrome. How do I know? The doctor dismissed it but I seem to feel a lot of it's effects.

 

I am so scared. I'm afraid of becoming insane and never be able to be normal. I am sorry if I am annoying you but I am terrified...

[Deise]

I have never, as far as I remember, felt this fear in my life

 

[Peonies]

Deise,

 

Yes, I have felt anxious 24 hours a day before, but surely you must also see that even while you are anxious, your anxiety ebbs and flows, it does not feel full panic 24/7 correct? 

You will feel agitated all the time but some hours it is worse and some hours it is better, this is because our bodies, our chemistries literally do run out of chemicals to keep us at full throttle 100% panic attack mode all the time. But yes, I do know what you are feeling. 

 

I am not a practicing doctor, so I cannot tell you if you have that. However what I can tell you is that you are very, very agitated and that will not make things better for you. I challenge you to do the opposite of what your anxiety is telling you to do right now. Instead of shaking so much, try and sit still as best as you can.Instead of hyperventilating (that is probably what is making your heart race) try holding your breath for a short while. When we do these things, it helps revert the symptoms of the panic. 

 

You will be back to normal Deise, remember; "This too shall pass". You will heal. 

 

And no, don't be silly I am always here to help okay? I am by no means angry at you. 

[baroquep]

Hi Deise, I just noticed you started iron, B12 and D3 fairly recently ... are you still taking these?  some members find the B vitamins too activating.  Personally I found both B12 and D3 increased my anxiety and had to discontinue both of them.  I am able to tolerate iron but had to discontinue everything else I was taking.  Please see the links regarding supplementation as it may apply to your situation.   Omega 3 and magnesium seem to have a calming effect on the central nervous system, though until you are feeling a little better, I wouldn't introduce them just yet.  

 

Sensitivity to medications and supplements
Sensitivity to neuroactive substances

 

Omega-3 Fish Oil
Magnesium

 

I'm also including a link to the Symptoms and Self-care forum (and a few other links) where you may be able to find a technique that you can incorporate into your daily life that will help you manage the anxiety.   

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms
Fear, terror, panic, and anxiety
Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System
Symptoms & Self Care

[Deise]

9 minutes ago, baroquep said:

Hi Deise, I just noticed you started iron, B12 and D3 fairly recently ... are you still taking these?  some members find the B vitamins too activating.  Personally I found both B12 and D3 increased my anxiety and had to discontinue both of them.  I am able to tolerate iron but had to discontinue everything else I was taking.

 

Hi baroquep. I, too, have discontinued B12 and D3, because I felt that, specially the B12, left me anxious. At the moment I only keep taking 100mg iron daily (along with Luvox). Do you think the iron can also influence this?

 

Thank you for your response, very much.

[Deise]

36 minutes ago, Peonies said:

Deise,

 

Yes, I have felt anxious 24 hours a day before, but surely you must also see that even while you are anxious, your anxiety ebbs and flows, it does not feel full panic 24/7 correct? 

You will feel agitated all the time but some hours it is worse and some hours it is better, this is because our bodies, our chemistries literally do run out of chemicals to keep us at full throttle 100% panic attack mode all the time. But yes, I do know what you are feeling. 

 

I am not a practicing doctor, so I cannot tell you if you have that. However what I can tell you is that you are very, very agitated and that will not make things better for you. I challenge you to do the opposite of what your anxiety is telling you to do right now. Instead of shaking so much, try and sit still as best as you can.Instead of hyperventilating (that is probably what is making your heart race) try holding your breath for a short while. When we do these things, it helps revert the symptoms of the panic. 

 

You will be back to normal Deise, remember; "This too shall pass". You will heal. 

 

And no, don't be silly I am always here to help okay? I am by no means angry at you. 

 Thank you so much Peonies. Yes you are right, sometimes I feel very anxious, others full fledged panic attack.

 

At these very instant, I feel a little more calm, I am talking to my parents and trying to distract from it.

At the moment, I feel more grounded.

 

I was having so many good and long windows lately that these waves seem terrible and the worst ever

 

I hope we all can recover one day. Thank you so much for your support, it really means a lot to me <3

[Peonies]

Of course Deise, thats is what we are all here for; support. 

 

I am glad you feel much better now. Keep at it with those grounding techniques, they really do work wonders at a time of panic. 

 

Do not worry, healing is a long process, sometimes waves can be difficult but they give way to some great windows at times!

 

I am glad I could help you, best wishes, let me know if you need anything. (: 

 

[Deise]

Does everyone think that the two benzos they gave me at the hospital will be bad for my withdrawal? I was so desperate yesterday and the benzos did help me calm down.

 

I have ethyl loflazepate (victan) to take as needed but I am scared to start taking benzos on top of the AD withdrawal...

 

Will the two benzos have any ill effect on me?

 

[baroquep]

The problem with taking benzos is that they often cause rebound anxiety after the effects have worn off and should be avoided.  As well, you should be aware that you can become addicted to them in as little as two weeks of continued use.  You certainly don't want to find yourself dependent on two drugs.  While they will temporarily help with the anxiety, the benefit is short lived and not worth the risk as far as I'm concerned.  

 

I've never heard of Victan but just looked it up and see that it is a benzodiazepine derivative so would imagine that it would in the same way as a benzo, and have the same side-effects (rebound anxiety) and additive properties as any other benzodiazepine.  

You may want to learn a technique that you can incorporate into your daily life that will help with the ongoing anxiety that unfortunately is sometimes a withdrawal symptom that those of us trying to discontinue these drugs have had to learn to manage.  For me anyway, when I am able, I try and use cognitive behaviour therapy techniques to try and deal with the anxiety when it arises.  I've included links on CBT as well as other non-drug techniques to help cope with anxiety and you can find many other ideas in the Symptoms & Self-care Forum here Symptoms & Self Care

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms
Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System

 

"Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms
Change cognitive framing - Redirect - Another Way
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression
Cognitive Behavior Therapy lessons
 

[Deise]

Thank you baroquep! 

 

That is what I thought also. That's why I am afraid of the two benzos I took yesterday, but I assume taking them only yesterday won't cause any problem right? It was an extreme situation, I had no other immediate plan to deal with the anxiety :/

 

Thank you again for your response!

[baroquep]

I can't say for sure, just take it easy for the next little while.  Do know that a lot of people find that adding benzos to the mix causes them more difficulty than they are worth.  If I were you, I'd hold at 18.75 until at least the end of November and longer if the anxiety doesn't start to settling to a more manageable level.  

[Deise]

Yes, I wasn't planning on changing the dose of Luvox. Doctor told me to updose to 25mg but I don't think that is a very good idea, what do you think? 

 

Probably holding would be the best idea I guess..

[baroquep]

Hi again, would you be able to update your withdrawal history signature?  It is confusing to me as it looks like you reinstated 50mg in June 2016 and then started tapering in January 2017?  Did you reduce your dose by 10% consistently since January?  

 

It's best to have a clear and accurate signature as moderators are not able to go through all of your posts to find the most current information.  
 

If you could edit your signature (Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature) to show how you been decreasing since January to arrive at 18.75, it would give me a better understanding of why you are now experiencing a lot more anxiety, especially since it doesn't look like you have made a decreases between July and October 2017.  This could also mean that your central nervous system isn't ready to make another decrease and you might either want to hold at 18.75mg for another couple of month or up-dose slightly until the anxiety is a little more manageable. 

 

As well, you might want to consider that you may have to reduce the percentage you decrease by as now that you have reached less than 50% of your original dose (the one you reinstated at), you could now be more sensitive to decreases and might have to go a little slower on your way down to zero.  I personally found that as I got closer to 50% of my original dose, I had to start reducing by 5% instead of 10% as my withdrawal symptoms started getting more pronounced.  

 

So there are a few scenarios for you to consider, but without having a clearer picture of how you have managed your taper since January, it is going to be hard to determine where things started.    

 

Edited October 19, 2017 by baroquep

[Deise]

Hi again baroquep,

 

I reduced 10% of my original dose each time and not 10% of actual dose. This means I was going too fast, I thought I could handle it because my withdrawal was going very well. 

 

The reason I stopped in July was because I started to think I might have been going too fast. Luvox doesn't come in liquid form so I have a pill cutter and it's a rough dose that I cut (about 1/8 each time). 

 

I was doing very well with each reduction but since the last one I figured I might start to have problems so I've been holding for 2+ months.

 

The problem is that during September I worked at a restaurant and it was very stressful. Also last friday there was a big explosion in my house and it also was terrible on my anxiety.

 

Now I'm experiencing health anxiety. It's terrifying. But I haven't tapered anything since 2+ months so it shouldn't be AD related right?

 

I might start doing a liquid solution with my pills so I can start a very slow taper. Maybe 5% of current dose each time? Or I start 10%? I am afraid 10% is to much for my sensitized nervous system..

 

Should I keep taking the iron tablets? Maybe I should stop everything for s while except the AD...

 

[Deise]

I just updated my signature baroquep!

 

I made a mistake, I was reducing 6.25mg each taper, sort of like 12% original dose, because that's as small as I could cut my pills without them falling apart. I realized in August that may have been too fast, although I was feeling well with the taper.

 

Maybe the unusual stress I experienced triggered yesterday's episode? 

 

Should I start making a liquid and reducing by how much each time? I don't mind holding at 18.75mg until November or December. Or maybe updose?!? By how much?

 

What do you think would be the best solution?

[baroquep]

Unfortunately even in very tiny doses these drugs are quite strong.  I was feeling really good about my taper initially and started getting a little too courageous and made a couple of decreases just slightly above 10% 0.22mg and 0.24mg and those tiny amounts were just enough to push me over the edge.  I ended up having to hold from February to May before I felt confident enough to restart my taper.  It is recommended that we decrease by 10% of your current dose, not of the original dose, so that the milligram by milligram decrease actually gets smaller as the months go by which is far easier on the central nervous system.   As well, all of these monthly cuts have a cumulative effect on the central nervous system, so while we may feel that things are okay, all hell breaks lose when the central nervous system has finally had enough.  Stress can often trigger withdrawal and our reaction to it, so it's always best to proceed from a cautious place.  If I have any doubts about decreasing, I will hold for a longer period and would suggest for the time being that you hold until at least the end of the year to give your central nervous system a good rest and a chance to catch up to all of the changes you've made.  

Do you feel that you have started feeling better since holding at 18.75mg?  Is the anxiety situational or has it been getting progressively worse since August?  If you feel that it is situational, and you tend to have more good days than bad, I would hold off on up-dosing and do a nice long hold.  If you feel that symptoms are getting progressively worse, I would consider an up-dose but would only increase by a very small amount, even 0.25mg might be enough to calm and/or eliminate the added anxiety.  But like I said, if you are having more good days than bad, it's best that you stick with the 18.75mg and do a good long hold.   A nice long hold might be enough to get you back on track rather than play around with doses.  

 

If I were you, I would find a way to measure my doses more accurately, either by making a liquid or weighing your doses on a digital scale.  As we get lower and lower on our dose, it is imperative that you are able to measure the doses very precisely.  Personally, I never found cutting pills effective as they would never break into the same size pieces and it's important to have a consistent dose at the same time of the day to keep a steady rate of the drug in our system.  I have included links below that you might find helpful on how you can prepare your doses going forward.        

 

Tablets or Liquid

Using an oral syringe and other tapering techniques
Using a digital scale to measure doses

 

Tips for Tapering off Luvox / Fluoxamine

 

 

[Deise]

Thank you so much baroquep!

 

The anxiety has been increasing since September because of my job. I quit the job at the end of September because of it. Then the explosion happened and it got worse until yesterday that was 24 hours of terrible panic. It seems to be situational although slowly increasing. 

 

I definitely have had more good than bad days. The bad days started around two weeks ago, but moderately. The really bad days started after the explosion (last Friday).

 

I am afraid I messed up and won't be able to recover or that I end up going insane or delirious... This is the worst wave I have ever had...

[baroquep]

Why don't you give it a little more time then, you've had a couple of pretty big events that have obviously contributed to your anxiety.  That you are having more good days than bad is a good sign that maybe an up-dose isn't necessary, at least for the time being.  

This links below really helped me to understand all of the adjustments that the central nervous system has to make to get our brain back to homeostasis and all the healing that needs to be done.  It also made me realize just how important it was for me to be patient while everything heals and to keep it simple, slow and stable.

 

Brain Remodelling
Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

Keep it Simple, Slow and Stable

[Peonies]

Hello Deise, It seems you are feeling much better since yesterday, I hope things keep getting better for you. Keep us updated, and best wishes.

 

[Deise]

Hi again everyone. Once again I need some reassurance. I want to tell you everything that I have been feeling, sort of to know if these symptoms are concerning and more than possible WD/anxiety.

 

What I have been feeling is (the ones in bold are the most frequent and/or the worst ones):

- back and shoulder pain/sore muscles/very rarely feeling like a needle in my back, usually when short of breath;

- always very pale and with dark circles under eyes (this could he due to iron depletion and the fact that I almost don't go out in the sun);

- random body aches;

- some eczema in my hands that the doctor called dyshidrosis and said was due to stress;

- random muscle twitches (rare)/constant muscle tension and stiffness;

- tingling feeling in my scalp, like someone is running their fingers thought it (not exactly unpleasant sensation but a bit scary)/tingling feeling in arms and hands;

- chest pain/tightness;

- short of breath, as in feeling that not enough air is going in my lungs/constantly yawning to catch my breath (this is an everyday thing);

- Feeling spaced out and light headed;

- Feeling generally odd, specially my eyes/vision, although nothing in particular, just odd/feeling "out of it";

- heart palpitations (after eating, after going up a flight of stairs, sometimes even doing nothing)/very rapid heart beat/pounding heart;

- Zero sex drive or even interest in sex;

- felling like my throat is closing (very rarely);

- Feeling lethargic and no energy/feeling weak;

- shaking/cold (only when extremely nervous or during a panic attack);

- goosebumps;

- extreme fear of becoming insane/dying/losing control/disasters/diseases/impending doom/etc. Always fearful, unusual frightening thoughts of like, everything;

- very sad, specially at night and when thinking about everything/crying spells;

- Feeling constantly overwhelmed;

- always self conscious and self aware, specially health related symptoms;

- need to find exits, paramedics or something similar during events, to feel safe;

- plugged ears (imagine when a plane is lifting and you feel that pop sensation in your ears, always feel that when swallowing, like they are constantly plugged);

- some minor tinnitus (very bearable, only noticible with complete silence);

- Feelings of unreality;

- obsessing about sensations, about getting better, feeling hopeless like there is no cure, repetitive and obsessive thinking about my condition, stuck in the same thoughts and thought patterns;

- feeling irritable, angry and like no one understands what I'm feeling;

- Feeling depressive, fear of some thoughts (let me try to explain this, it's very hard to. Sometimes I fear that my only way out if I continue feeling like this would be suicide. BUT, I am NOT suicidal. My biggest fear is dying and the thought of it being my last chance makes me really distressed);

- burps (this one is weird but I get a lot of burps, especially after eating);

- lack of appetite;

- stomach problems (either diarrhea or constipation);

- waking up breathless (everyday) or even with a panic attack (rare);

- sensitivity to light or loud noises;

- hypochondriac/fear of an undiscovered illness/fear of doing something crazy/fear of losing control of my thought or actions/losing control of reality/losing sense of reality/fear of being alone/fear of becoming schizophrenic;

- some dp/dr.

 

Ok, so these are my symptoms at the moment. I'm sorry if it is an extensive list but I really need some reassurance. Can this all be WD/taper? Can this be all due to anxiety? Will so many symptoms go away eventually?

 

I always get worse at night or when I have to leave home and can't stop thinking about it.

 

I am really sorry if I am being a bother, but I really need reassurance of what I have been experiencing...

 

Thank you. 

[Deise]

I am also starting hypnotherapy on Monday, but I wanted to let you know what I am feeling.

 

Could this be the taper? I had panic attacks before the meds...but they just keep getting worse and worse. I am afraid I have no hope to recover, although I know it is a very bumpy ride and I had very good months...but at the moment all I feel is hopelessness.

 

Do you think hypnotherapy might help? And what about what I have been feeling? What can it be? 

 

Please help.

[Deise]

Well sorry for 3 posts in a row but I am really anxious and I have another question. I am starting to have more bad days than good days in the last couple of weeks. Should I updose to 25mg? It was the last dose that I felt almost 100% okay. But I don't know how updose works and if it is too much from the 18/19mg (I am not able to cut the pill precisely, will buy what is needed to make a liquid solution this week as I need to do right measures).

 

Do you think it's best to go back to 25mg, stabilize and then start a slow or micro taper from there? I really need some advice.

 

Thank you everyone.

[Deise]

Can someone please answer? I am really in need of some reassurance and advice

 

I'm sorry.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Deise,

 

Firstly, please do not go back up to 25mg.  It will probably be too much and could make things worse.

 

From reading your most recent posts I think you might be experiencing withdrawal symptoms but because you worry about them you then become scared.  What then happens is that the fear adds more strange feelings in the body and this can start a panic attack.  Claire Weekes calls this the second fear, or fear of the fear.

 

It's very important for us when we are going through withdrawal to try and stay as calm as possible.  If we can understand what is happening and remind ourselves that we are experiencing withdrawal symptoms then it helps us not to become scared of those symptoms because we know what they are.  This is called acceptance and this is the SA topic about it:  Acceptance

 

Withdrawal comes with discomfort and we need to learn and use non drug methods to help instead of reacting and taking more of the drug.

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)
 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

 

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

There are also lots of her videos on YouTube.  Just type in Claire Weekes.

 

Here is the link to SA's topic:  Claire Weekes

[Deise]

9 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Hi Deise,

 

Firstly, please do not go back up to 25mg.  It will probably be too much and could make things worse.

 

From reading your most recent posts I think you might be experiencing withdrawal symptoms but because you worry about them you then become scared.  What then happens is that the fear adds more strange feelings in the body and this can start a panic attack.  Claire Weekes calls this the second fear, or fear of the fear.

 

It's very important for us when we are going through withdrawal to try and stay as calm as possible.  If we can understand what is happening and remind ourselves that we are experiencing withdrawal symptoms then it helps us not to become scared of those symptoms because we know what they are.  This is called acceptance and this is the SA topic about it:  Acceptance

 

Withdrawal comes with discomfort and we need to learn and use non drug methods to help instead of reacting and taking more of the drug.

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)
 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

 

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

There are also lots of her videos on YouTube.  Just type in Claire Weekes.

 

Here is the link to SA's topic:  Claire Weekes

 

Thank you ChessieCat. My biggest problem is that when so start feeling weird things speciallyin my chest or head I star worrying if it is withdrawal or not. I worry that it might not be withdrawal and I'm not giving it enough attention and it can be something serious.

 

I hate feeling like this and worrying. I know you all hate it too. I'm just afraidI won't be strong enough to handle it

 

Do you know something about hypnotherapy? I searched the topic here on SA but it does not have experiences of people that tried it... I'm hoping it will help..

 

Thank you.