Are there any protracted withdrawal members here who had a severe setback years later?

[NoMeaning25]

Hi just wanted to know if there are any protracted members on here who had a severe setback years later, feeling like they are back in acute or even worse for months on end.

 

Im quite in a bad spot right now, just looking for others who have had a setback far out and made it to the other side.

 

Had an extremely severe setback 6 months ago and it hasnt let up yet. Im afraid and feeling quite hopeless and tired since its been going on for so long now. I have also developed new symptoms and as usual my tests are all normal.

[NoMeaning25]

Dont get me wrong, i started to slowly improve at certain points during the years, in early 2017 i was highly functional and i had no more dizziness and a whole bunch of symptoms were improved, some worse, but i managed. In July 2017 i also had a setback, which i started slowly recovering from still up untill May 2018 when i got the flu, i was okay for 3 weeks after but then a series of events lead to my nervous system feeling like i fried it again, too much visual stimulation, lack of sleep, poor nutrition and severe stress from writing and srudying for an important exam plus the use of antibiotics for the flu, twice! Overstimulated my nervous system in an extreme way. Is there any way to get out of this hell? 

[ChessieCat]

Have you seen this topic: are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take

 

[NoMeaning25]

Yes thank you

[Cherry47]

I hope you have improved somewhat, since this post in October.  I am in a similar position at the moment - four years after stopping CT.  I got to about 50 - 60% functioning off and on for a few months at a time with seemingly fewer and shorter bad waves.  But the last four months have been a slow slide downhill and am feeling the worst I have felt for ages.  So yes, it happens, especially as your body has been under so much stress caused by other factors - illness, exams etc.  It seems to only take a couple of ‘small’ things like illness, medications (I have proved yet again that I am still intolerant to all meds) to send the injured nervous system into some crazy dive.  Just have to wait it out - again!

 

All the best.

[deadbrain]

Is their anyone who got better after a stress related setback that caused them symptoms like early withdrawal? 

[NoMeaning25]

Nope... im still waiting to get better from this setback. Been almost a year that ive been suffering severely. 

[Longroadhome]

@NoMeaning25

 

hoe are you now are you getting better? 
what  caused your setback ? 

[Cherry47]

I think the long term use and subsequent withdrawal from these drugs has left me permanently damaged in so many ways!  Almost six years off and everything in my body over-reacts to any type of stressor, mental or physical, so that I am constantly sick in one way or another.  

[Shep]

10 hours ago, Thelongestroadhome said:

I am three years off psych medication ( lexapro) The first two years were good. This last year has been pure hell and I am in a worst state now than I was 14 years ago when I was first diagnosed with anxiety. I am unable to do anything to help myself ( self help)  as my nerves are on edge 24/7

I do not believe this is withdrawal because of the time period that has lapsed and the fact that I felt good for two years. I believe this is a relapse of my original condition. 
I honestly don’t know what to do. If only the experts like Dr Peter Breggin, Healy and Kelly brogan etc had advice on what to actually do to help when you feel like this. My bloods test were good, I take fish oil and magnesium but I’m feeling awful every single day. It’s frustrating to say the least. 

 

I don't know what Breggin, Healy, or Brogan would say, however, I do know people who are years off these drugs and healed, but then some stressor happens which can make anyone distressed. What blood tests did you have? Did it include vitamin D and B12? Have you needed surgery, dental work, or had other health conditions that required medications that re-traumatized your nervous system? 

 

Do you have a purpose in life and friends? Is your work or school going well? Do you eat well and stay hydrated? Is the pandemic stressors taking their toll on you, as they are for so many of us? Are you watching too much news, staying online for hours, or dwelling in the overall negativity of our pandemic world? Are you getting outside to play? Yes, adults also need to play - we need to do as much as we can once we're healed, so walking, biking, hiking, or other such activities all are very important. Music, art, spirituality (doesn't have to be religious), these are all part of what makes us feel a sense of wellness. 

 

The pandemic has forced parents to take on the responsibility of homeschooling their children. Some workers are working from home in isolation, while others are going into factories, stores, hospitals, and warehouses and working in dangerous conditions. All of this can take its toll. If you're around anxious people a lot, it can cause you to be anxious, as well. 

 

Anxiety can also be a reaction to painful life experiences, current or past. If that's the case, you may want to work with a trauma-informed counselor (one who doesn't prescribe drugs). Anxiety can also be a fear for the future due to an insecure job market, rising costs in housing, grief from either losing a close friend or relative or losing other things such as a good job or a home. Many people find that getting involved in their community to be helpful - if your anxiety is rising cost of housing, join your local tenants' union (many of them have virtual meetings right now). If your job is the problem, seeking out other employment or going back to school to learn a new skill can empower you. If you're lonely, volunteering can be a great way of making connections. If it's pandemic related, reminding yourself that this is temporary can be helpful, as well as avoiding the news for awhile. As long as you're doing all you can to stay well and safe, there's no need to dwell in the pandemic news. 

 

There's something I read early on during withdrawal and it may have originated from addiction medicine, which goes by the acronym HALT. Before reacting to a situation, ask yourself if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. And I'll add an "S" to this acronym for "Scared". What it comes down to is stress-management until you can pinpoint what's triggering your emotions and then match up an appropriate solution. 

[Shep]

16 minutes ago, Thelongestroadhome said:

In retrospect I didn’t do enough to help myself along the way. I allowed negative thinking to grow. I have a lot of work ahead of me. 

 

This is excellent work, longestroad. You pinpointed the problem and are going to work on the solution.

 

17 minutes ago, Thelongestroadhome said:

Ive made some decisions on how to manage it so hopefully this time next year I can come back and write my happy ever after. 

 

We all look forward to reading your "happy ever after."

[AbelRiver]

Hi @Thelongestroadhomei saw in your signature you’re taking a low dose med. what is it? How are you feeling? 
 

so, my story is similar to yours. 
 

In 2014 I CT Prozac after two years of taking it. I had some bad neurological/emotional effects/withdraw for a few months after but learned really helpful coping skills. Breathing. CBT. Mindfulness practice. Meditation practice. Yoga. Cycling. Removing hormonal birth control. Living with family for a while for comfort/stability. I was DILIGENT. Meaning, I took my life in complete control because I didn’t want to feel so bad. These were daily things that helped so much. 
 

Then in 2016 I moved to a new country on a solo journey — kind of an “eat pray love” moment. And within 6 months of the move so many of the original anxiety symptoms came back. Weeping daily. Violent intrusive thoughts. Deep, profound loneliness. And it was hard. And I was pissed. 
 

I kept thinking, “why is this happening to me? Again? WTF.” “Why is this happening on a journey of a lifetime? Why can’t I just be normal?” 
 

So I marched down to the local hospital and asked for an SSRI. I got it same day, and have been on it until now, over five. years. later. That was not my intention. 
 

Without any deep regret or blame, a huge, huge part of me wishes I did not do that. 

I say that because I never and I mean NEVER imagined I would now be going to pick up liquid SSRI to taper off minutely and slowly. That terrifies me as much as that anxiety did when I wasn’t even on the medication. That I’m so damned dependent on a drug I never meant to be dependent on. A drug that, from the to now, didn’t do much in reality because I’m back to a similar spot (and 50 pounds heavier. Which sucks more that I care to admit.)

But I had the same question as you: is this a reemergence/affirmation of a “disorder”?
 

and… Honestly, maybe? But… so what? 
 

I look back at other factors. For example, my diet was ****. I was/am estrogen dominance, depleted of minerals, living off PUFA’s, black coffee, and sugar (which I’m very pro-sugar — every cell in your brain runs on GLUCOSE, please look up the pro-metabolic community like Ray Peat — but it needs to be in context of protein AND fat when you consume — a balance if you will). And I was living in a NEW country! A third world country (shocking to an American, I’m not ashamed to say), living alone, new job, new friends. Of course my nervous system was wired. And as a sensitive individual, it hit me hard. 
 

All this to say, I hear you. 
 

I just look back and wish I could have persevered… kept doing the yoga, meeting with friends, changing what I ate (and eating CONSISTENTLY! Balancing blood sugar is something I cannot ever recommend enough. Should be priority #1 in all anxious individuals — again, look up Ray Peat, Jessica Ash Wellness, etc.) all because every road leads home… meaning you will arrive where you already are. And like Dr. Brogan says, there is no free lunch. With mediation we WILL pay at some point. 
 

anyway, I hope this lets you know you’re not alone in that worry/thought. 
 

love, 

Abel

 

 

[AbelRiver]

Also, @ThelongestroadhomeYou were on lexapro for 11 years and then quit CT at 2 mg which is quite a large dose still based on what I’ve seen in this forum. Lexparo is a much stronger than other antidepressants I think 5 mg is comparable to 20-30 of Paxil if I’m not mistaken. So it makes sense you were having protracted withdrawal 

[Longroadhome]

@Thelongestroadhome

hi there

Can I ask you is anxiety your only symptom? 
I am tapering off Paxil and have had symptoms throughout. 

[AbelRiver]

@ThelongestroadhomeI'm glad Ray Peat is working for you! hopefully that will help sort out the anxious feelings in time. 

 

Is your new medication helping you now? 

[JesusSavemefromWD]

36 minutes ago, Thelongestroadhome said:

I have lived with life long anxiety, it seems to be rampant in my family! But until 14 years ago it was always manageable. I struggled with intermittent anxiety whilst withdrawing but like in my younger years it was relatively easy to manage. 
 

The anxiety I experienced  for twelve months leading up to my decision to reinstate was different because my ‘tool kit’ wasn’t helping like it did in former times. The unrelenting anxiety led to panic attacks, something I hadn’t experienced in 14 years.  That eventually led to a fear of leaving my home. I basically became house bound. My children witnessed me crying more often than not. It was for that reason that I decided to re instate. 
 

For me reinstatement has worked. I am not here to promote medication and I have many underlying fears about my decision based upon the knowledge I received here. But at the end of the day I did what I did for my family. 
 

God bless, I wish you well 

My opinion is that successful reinstatements should also be reported so we get a better picture about how often they work. If only the members who got worst after reinstating report then we don’t get a clear picture. I am glad it worked for you ….. Do you mind updating ur signature so we know what dose worked for u? 

[Longroadhome]

@Thelongestroadhome

may I ask when did you go back on medication?
im glad it is working for you. 

[AbelRiver]

On 1/12/2022 at 8:06 PM, JesusSavemefromWD said:

My opinion is that successful reinstatements should also be reported so we get a better picture about how often they work. If only the members who got worst after reinstating report then we don’t get a clear picture. I am glad it worked for you ….. Do you mind updating ur signature so we know what dose worked for u? 

I agree with this statement... I was someone who went back on medication after two years off (almost the same story as @Thelongestroadhome) and I felt much better when I went to my doctor and asked to go back on, as many probably do (placebo??). But now it's five years later and wish I did not do that as it's hard to get off and extremely destabilizing.

 

And while it quelled the intrusive thoughts and anxiety at the time I wish I perservered and calmed my central nervous system in other ways. Just my experience. I believe at the end of the day all medication is a crutch, but we each have free autonomy to choose our crutches. And sometimes life hurts so bad in the moment and we just need something to calm it. That was me, too. I just realize now as Kelly Brogan said, "there are no free lunches." It's all cause and effect. And that's okay. We move forward.

 

x

[AbelRiver]

On 1/12/2022 at 7:26 PM, Thelongestroadhome said:

I have lived with life long anxiety, it seems to be rampant in my family! But until 14 years ago it was always manageable. I struggled with intermittent anxiety whilst withdrawing but like in my younger years it was relatively easy to manage. 
 

The anxiety I experienced  for twelve months leading up to my decision to reinstate was different because my ‘tool kit’ wasn’t helping like it did in former times. The unrelenting anxiety led to panic attacks, something I hadn’t experienced in 14 years.  That eventually led to a fear of leaving my home. I basically became house bound. My children witnessed me crying more often than not. It was for that reason that I decided to re instate. 
 

For me reinstatement has worked. I am not here to promote medication and I have many underlying fears about my decision based upon the knowledge I received here. But at the end of the day I did what I did for my family. 
 

God bless, I wish you well 

I'm sorry you were hurting so bad. Sometimes we do what we need to do and that's okay. I'm glad you have some relief now. 

 

❤️ 

[Marta]

Yes. And it's not getting better for me

[AbelRiver]

On 4/28/2022 at 6:59 AM, Marta said:

Yes. And it's not getting better for me

Noticed you’re doing low carb and taking fish oil, I personally would not take that. Carbs are also extremely important. I’d prioritize fruit, honey, and some starch asap. Also magnesium… what form? The form you take is important. I take hydroxide in the form of bicarbonate, it’s the most bioavailable form. 
 

I personally wouldn’t touch fish oil… there’s a lot of info on this forum, some good, some bad, but I definitely don’t understand the fish oil one. Bad news 

 

https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml

[ChessieCat]

1 hour ago, AbelRiver said:

Carbs are also extremely important. I’d prioritize fruit, honey, and some starch asap.

 

Diets/lifestyle way of eating is very individualised.  There is no "one size fits all" / right or wrong way.   Each person needs to find what works for them.  I've recently started reducing the carbs in my diet and have managed to reverse/remit my diabetes, a1c going from 7.0 to 5.2 in only 3 months and also improving my cholesterol even though I am eating fats, and my blood pressure has improved considerably, and I've lost 1/8 of my body weight without even trying (and only doing gentle exercise and stretching for back issues).  Some people only eat meat.  That is not something that I would choose to do, even though I don't eat very much meat.  However, I would never tell a person that they need to eat vegetables or fruit because it is their choice.

 

We each need to do our own research and also be our own detective when trying/eliminating things.

[Marta]

Thanks for the answers. I try to vary more now, i also stopped fish oil. No change is helpful btw

[AbelRiver]

On 5/3/2022 at 8:28 PM, ChessieCat said:

 

Diets/lifestyle way of eating is very individualised.  There is no "one size fits all" / right or wrong way.   Each person needs to find what works for them.  I've recently started reducing the carbs in my diet and have managed to reverse/remit my diabetes, a1c going from 7.0 to 5.2 in only 3 months and also improving my cholesterol even though I am eating fats, and my blood pressure has improved considerably, and I've lost 1/8 of my body weight without even trying (and only doing gentle exercise and stretching for back issues).  Some people only eat meat.  That is not something that I would choose to do, even though I don't eat very much meat.  However, I would never tell a person that they need to eat vegetables or fruit because it is their choice.

 

We each need to do our own research and also be our own detective when trying/eliminating things.

obviously choices are individualized. But you have to understand the mechanics of the body. 
 

what carbs were you eating? What starches were you eating? Do you eat polyunsaturated fats? Carbs don’t cause diabetes. PUFAs do. I recommend looking at the work of dr Ray peat to start. You have a lot to unlearn in order to grasp this new way of seeing. Your choice. 
 

every cell in the body runs on glucose. Carbs. Your brain runs entirely on glucose. 
 

People feel great initially when they cut them out because of adrenaline and spikes in cortisol. 
 

And to be clear — I don’t care what anyone does. You can eat Canola oil by the spoonfuls. Have fun. I share what I know to help people. You weren’t in the conversation but felt the need to interject. I don’t know why that makes me laugh. 
 

cheers

[Altostrata]

We have seen people benefit from taking fish oil more often than not, @AbelRiver If someone has a bad reaction to it, we would of course advise them to stop or reduce it. But we do not endorse a rule that fish oil is bad for you. 

 

People try many different kinds of diets here, and find that some seem clearly beneficial. This is individual -- one person might feel better on one nutritional balance while another prefers an entirely different diet. In general, we encourage people to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy proteins while minimizing artificial additives and sugar, as people usually eat too much of those.

 

You seem to feel strongly that there is only one way to eat, and that will cause significant improvement. It could happen that your recommendation is exactly the wrong one for an individual. We're going to have to ask you not to present your advice as definitive on this Web site. It's just your opinion, you may present it as so, but it's not universal truth. Thank you.

[Badi]

Hello, I'm 5 years and 7 months and I have a very big comeback of all my withdrawal symptoms I got it at 5 years and 6 months when I was really getting better I had almost nothing left, are you getting better now? Can anyone give news and combines time to duration this setback please