Blossom71: wanting to be sertraline free

[Ariel]

Hi Blossom,

What a nutrient boost to read your latest post. Thank you for sharing and spreading the joy! 

 

17 hours ago, Blossom71 said:

Nothing out of the ordinary for most people, but it was filled with doing ‘normal’ things. And I wasn’t going through the motions, I was engaged, motivated and enjoying the ‘normality’ of it all. 

 

How beautiful! I'm delighted for you.

Your description reminds me of something I've been thinking about recently. Sometimes I notice a withdrawal-whiny train of thought going on about how I want to feel "good" again, etc. (a sneaky little monkey mind complaint). When really what matters to me is being present. I don't mind feeling feelings as long as I am able to be present and connected with what is. When we're able to be present in the moment, we could be doing anything at all, even the most mundane things, and it becomes extraordinary. Presence is transformative in that way, creating a portal into the profundity and pleasure of embodied experience. Presence opens us, delivers us to wholeness.

It seems to me that one of the underlying mechanisms for why so many people are obsessed with having some big fancy adventure or denigrating whatever it is they happen to view as ordinary has to do with escapism and denial. Anxiety around lingering pain, maybe, and resistance to confronting/feeling that pain, ergo resistance to being present. Coupled with the capitalist industrial complex and consumer culture, it's a recipe for chasing this or that exotic novelty bubble, but it can be hard to be present to enjoy it; so we just keep running after the next thing (trying to outrun ourselves, our lives, our own minds). 

As your recent experience shows, being present in everyday "normality" is perfectly rich and enriching. I'm so happy for you.

 

Eh, sorry, went on a bit of a tear there. Just something I've been pondering lately. A few days ago I experienced a few hours of being present, which was accompanied by feelings of grief, and because I was able to be present with it the grief actually felt somehow pleasurable. It was really interesting. Amidst the sorrow I felt joy and gratitude because I was truly there, in the fullness of being alive. It was a gift, and it taught me something.  

 

18 hours ago, Blossom71 said:

I crawled into bed on Sunday evening really tired, but from the things I’d done rather than fatigue.

 

Yes! Love this. I remember that kind of feeling... haha  Feeling spent in a good way. Thank you for sharing, it's a good reminder. 

 

You shine the light, Blossom. Thanks for being a beacon. I appreciate you <3

 

 

[LunaLex]

Hey Blossom! Thank you so much for your post. 

Tell me more about your cats!! I am so sorry about your now tabletop boy, sending all my healing wishes to him, injury in pets is so hard!I am glad he is healing. 

 

What are the names! Or if youre not comfortable, personalities, or a little story!

 

Wishing you more sundays to come. 

[Blossom71]

On 4/26/2022 at 3:48 PM, Ariel said:

Your description reminds me of something I've been thinking about recently. Sometimes I notice a withdrawal-whiny train of thought going on about how I want to feel "good" again, etc. (a sneaky little monkey mind complaint). When really what matters to me is being present. I don't mind feeling feelings as long as I am able to be present and connected with what is. When we're able to be present in the moment, we could be doing anything at all, even the most mundane things, and it becomes extraordinary. Presence is transformative in that way, creating a portal into the profundity and pleasure of embodied experience. Presence opens us, delivers us to wholeness.

 

Thanks for this brilliant post @Ariel.   I agree with absolutely everything you said.

 

I had a conversation with my neighbour across the street a couple of days ago. I'm guessing they've lived there around 4 years and other than saying "Hi", I haven't had many conversations with them.   I was out picking berries from my Mahonia bush (apparently it makes great jam so I thought id give it a whirl).  Turns out he has a thriving fruit and veg business so we were talking about fruit, jam making and simple pleasures. He shared that a couple of years ago he ended up homeless and on crack cocaine.  I'd had no idea. I knew for a period of time I didn't see him but didn't think about it much.

Anyway, he talked about that in the context of simple pleasures. He said that he is clean after the 12 step programme and AA, feels like he's been reborn and his life has never been as good, as he now notices the smell of flowers, the birds tweeting and the simple pleasure that making jam gives him.  He is so grateful to have the life he has. I could see the excitement in his eyes when he spoke about it.  I have thought a lot about our conversation since then and I hope to chat to him more. I feel I could learn a lot from him, as he's someone yearning for the same things i am.

 

On 4/26/2022 at 3:48 PM, Ariel said:

having some big fancy adventure or denigrating whatever it is they happen to view as ordinary has to do with escapism and denial

Society teaches to to want bigger, better, climb the ladder, earn more money. It's all a façade and detracts from the lives we should be living, and another stick to beat ourselves up with if we don't feel like we have achieved 'enough'.  And what is enough?  Who defines that?   Only WE can define that for ourselves I suppose.

 

 

On 4/26/2022 at 3:48 PM, Ariel said:

You shine the light, Blossom. Thanks for being a beacon. I appreciate you ❤️

Thank you Ariel. The feeling is most definitely mutual x

 

[Blossom71]

On 4/26/2022 at 6:33 PM, TentacleFinn said:

Tell me more about your cats!! I am so sorry about your now tabletop boy, sending all my healing wishes to him, injury in pets is so hard!I am glad he is healing. 

 

Hi @TentacleFinn

 

Maggie the calico is 15 this year and is my husbans best friend. She used to be feisty but she's slowing down and is a totally sweet girl. Took her 12 years to stop hissing at my Dad when he came. She is most definitely the boss and the others love her but don't get too close.

 

Norman is 8 tabby 1/2 maine coon. Totally Mamas boy. Needy, massively affectionate and very vocal!   He's very special to me as I got him when I crashed and burned and ended up on the meds. I was off work 3 months and spent most of that cuddling so we have a very tight bond.

 

Darwin is 5 and tuxedo full maine coon. He is posh and entitled. Another Mamas boy. He is the one that has broken his pelvis. He went to the vet yesterday and the pelvis has healed, but totally out of line. The vet is going to speak to a consultant as to what we need to do next. He'll probably need an MRI to see whether how it has healed is pinching the nerves etc, but he'll probably have to have his pelvis re-broken and reset 😪. He is allowed out of the cage now so he's pretty happy and he's curled up asleep in a cardboard box on the table in my office. 

 

Judy is about 6 months old. Mainly white with tabby on the top of her body and head - super pretty!  She is a total lunatic. She runs around the house pretty constantly, plays fetch and hassles the other cats. Super shy with strange people but once they've gone she's back to doing the wall of death around the house. She's an utter joy!

 

4 cats is a lot and definitely feels a lot more than 3. Wherever you are on the house there's a cat staring at you 😂

[Blossom71]

On 4/26/2022 at 3:35 PM, Pollyjay said:

Blossom, I hope your window is still open, letting the sun's warmth and the fresh air in! 

 

Thinking of you!

Thank for thinking of me @Pollyjay, that's really kind 🥰

I had a bit of a blip yesterday but it was a pretty busy day so I collapsed in a heap ay 8.30pm, so I just had an early night. 

I did make an 0.5mg drop last Friday (1.67%) so it was probably that hitting, but am feeling better today so all's good!

[Rrsfc]

@Ariel I really loved your description of being in the present moment 😊 thank you for that! @Blossom71 I'm glad you're feeling well and that you found a new friend.

 

 

 

[Ariel]

Hi @Blossom71

I loved reading about your cats and the conversation you had with your neighbor. Thank you so much for sharing. 

In fact I've been thinking a lot about your encounter with your neighbor. It's so moving, and very inspiring to me for various reasons. 

Precious moments of true connection.

 

Just wanna share one funny, surprising thought that popped up when I read about your neighbor.

 

On 4/28/2022 at 11:30 AM, Blossom71 said:

He shared that a couple of years ago he ended up homeless and on crack cocaine.  I'd had no idea. I knew for a period of time I didn't see him but didn't think about it much.

 

When I read this part the first time, the thought that came into my mind was something like: Wow. I look forward to being well enough to feel like other people have been through hard stuff, too. 

 

Lol, but also there's truth to that, you know? Something about your story of your neighbor made me feel how much I've had / have my head up my a** during withdrawal. Not that I don't empathize with others or care about them, it's just been more of a theoretical exercise. Withdrawal takes up so much space, I've been at capacity for years. And on top of that, withdrawal voice is so insistent on its own importance, it's always whining, This is the worst. Actually one of my coping techniques (such as it may be) has been to watch documentaries of people enduring severe adversity; following their hardships really helps me keep things in perspective. It's that balance of taking my own experience seriously while also not veering off into some egoic hierarchy of suffering. People everywhere go through unbelievable hardship and make it through. Whenever anyone else's challenges are mentioned, withdrawal voice cries: Well okay yeah, but at least they're not in withdrawal!!  Hahaha 

 

I think what I'm trying to say is that it's so beautiful to be able to open oneself to the world again... Without attributing my meaning to the intention of your words, this is how I receive your story of connecting with the neighbor. Maybe healing is a process of reanimation. Coming back to life after a period of necessary protectiveness and being curled in on oneself. In your post I read an unfurling. I'm sure I'm projecting, but just want to say thank you for sharing that anecdote. It calls to something inside me and gently rouses it to wake.

 

Wishing you a sweet weekend xx 

 

 

 

 

[Blossom71]

@Ariel 

 

I've still been thinking about my conversation with my neighbour and your post. 

One thing that struck me was he was happy to share that with me - a relative stranger.   But then I realised that sharing info the addiction wasn't actually what he was sharing, that was just context. What he was sharing proudly, was that he has overcome it, and he is rightfully bloody proud of himself!.  

 

And from your post, withdrawals are all consuming and it's only when our own needs are met that we can consider others needs.

I've found my taper I fluctuate between being happy meeting others needs, and it being an irritation.  

 

On 4/30/2022 at 9:58 AM, Ariel said:

It's that balance of taking my own experience seriously while also not veering off into some egoic hierarchy of suffering.

 

So totally this!    And for me this is both the trauma and the withdrawals, as I need to heal from both.  It's almost as if the withdrawals are taking the place of the trauma and it's as if I need to hold on to the suffering somehow.   I guess it's comforting as its a feeling I'm familiar with. But I need to work on letting go of some of the shite I've been carrying on this as I know this is holding me back from healing.  I do allow myself to wallow in my own self pity a bit but the balance is crucial as i also find it self-destructive.  And I also don't want to hold onto anything anymore. It's exhausting.

 

[Blossom71]

On 4/28/2022 at 6:55 PM, Rrsfc said:

@Ariel I really loved your description of being in the present moment 😊 thank you for that! @Blossom71 I'm glad you're feeling well and that you found a new friend.

 

 

 

 

@Rrsfc Being present is a total joy. It's happening more and more and I'm sure being on less meds is that thing that's making it possible.  But I'm finding 'being present' more opens me up to some uncomfortable feelings that I feel like I've been immune to for a long time, so I realise that going slow in my taper is crucial to letting my brain re-adjust, but also adjusting emotionally.

[Ariel]

Hi there @Blossom71

So nice to read you! Makes me feel warm and fuzzy, like seeing a friendly face <3

 

9 minutes ago, Blossom71 said:

What he was sharing proudly, was that he has overcome it, and he is rightfully bloody proud of himself!.  

 

I love this. I'm adding this image of the rightfully bloody proud, jam-making, adversity-overcoming neighbor to my withdrawal roster of mascots and muses!

 

10 minutes ago, Blossom71 said:

And I also don't want to hold onto anything anymore. It's exhausting.

 

Hear hear. Ultimately we forgive and let go for ourselves. There's no forcing it, though. It happens when it happens. All this practice we're getting in withdrawal practicing acceptance, all this hard work we're doing, it is applicable to all healing and will benefit us for the rest of our lives. When the conditions are right and the time has come, something loosens, shifts, lifts, and -- whoosh -- we suddenly find ourselves a little bit lighter, taller, more spacious. It's funny how it so often feels like it happens overnight all at once, when really we are moving towards this in every moment with every breath. We will get there. 

 

11 minutes ago, Blossom71 said:

I'm finding 'being present' more opens me up to some uncomfortable feelings

 

I can really relate to this, dear Blossom. I have noticed that sometimes when I feel a bit better the grief bubbles up... In a way this indicates to me that when I am more present, I can connect to emotion held in the body. Where there are feelings to be felt I am happy to feel them; withdrawal is certainly teaching me how precious it is to be able to do so.

I've been pondering something I noticed here on site. There are many members who report feeling lower mood after a rare, better night's sleep. This is often framed as being paradoxical or puzzling, as in, I slept well, why don't I feel good? Doesn't make sense. I posit that it does make sense; we have only to exchange the expectation of "feeling 'good'" (whatever that means) for the experience of being present. We might do well to finesse, refine, nuance, expand, explore our notions of health and wholeness -- what it means to be alive -- in service of being with what is. When a good night's sleep restores us to ourselves, (t)here we are, presently. There's no telling what we'll find. If there is sorrow to be felt, it is an opportunity, an invitation. Every day in withdrawal is a lesson in "the only way out is through". And we've got grieving and healing to do. It's not possible to do it without feeling it. Thus presence becomes a portal to healing, also when we are hurting. 

(Sorry if I'm repeating myself, I guess you and I have "talked" about this before... this is just me trying to learn... )

 

I so appreciate your thoughts and posts. Thank you for sharing your process. I see you walking your path with dignity, courage, honesty, wisdom, integrity. It is beautiful to behold and a shining example for the rest of us. Thank you for leading the way. <3

 

 

    

[Blossom71]

25 minutes ago, Ariel said:

I'm adding this image of the rightfully bloody proud, jam-making, adversity-overcoming neighbor to my withdrawal roster of mascots and muses!

@Ariel I read 'roster' as 'rooster'.  I cant get the image out of my head now, of him strutting around shaking his tail feathers 😂

He is most definitely one of my mascots now in all his feathery glory!

 

28 minutes ago, Ariel said:

There are many members who report feeling lower mood after a rare, better night's sleep. This is often framed as being paradoxical or puzzling, as in, I slept well, why don't I feel good? Doesn't make sense. I posit that it does make sense; we have only to exchange the expectation of "feeling 'good'" (whatever that means) for the experience of being present.

Wow, what an amazing observation!   I can relate to that.  On the 'good days' we have less trauma or withdrawals masking the feelings so we're feeling all the 'feels' that we SHOULD be feeling, however uncomfortable they are.  Or, maybe that we aren't particularly feeling anything one way or the other and just 'normal' and that's a good thing?  I don't know.  I'll be pondering that one.

 

Something happened at the weekend as a result of being more present.  It's much more personal than I am comfortable sharing but it showed me that there is some grief that I need to deal with. Up until now my focus is on a traumatic event that happened as a result of the thing that caused the grief, but it's now glaringly obvious that I haven't dealt with the grief.  Only the traumatic event.  It goes someway to explaining why I don't feel like I can move forward even though I feel I've dealt with the traumatic event.  It was a HUGE lightbulb moment.  I didn't take the time to grieve the losses and it's probably about time i did.

 

Thank you for that observation. It's really got me thinking and i love unpicking my thoughts and feelings, and increasing my self awareness. That's absolutely crucial for me as i go through this journey. I want to come out the other side of this having learned a lot about myself and other and being a better version of myself.

 

Thank you lovely, as always. I'm grateful for your thought and observations. I feel like you're helping the process of me getting to know myself better 😘

[Rrsfc]

 @Blossom71@Ariel You expressed  such beautiful words, you captured the essence of what we're going through so well. I'm going through that process of letting go that Ariel summed up on such a wonderful way.

 

When the conditions are right and the time has come, something loosens, shifts, lifts, and -- whoosh -- we suddenly find ourselves a little bit lighter, taller, more spacious. It's funny how it so often feels like it happens overnight all at once, when really we are moving towards this in every moment with every breath. We will get there.

 

This week I've been accepting the difficult emotions that come before this release (at least for me), trying to letting it all out naturally. I've been having a very emotional week, I found a music that helps me get in touch with my vulnerability

 

 https://youtu.be/3NycM9lYdRI

 

And I wept, those sad but sweet tears that are so long overdue and that can only come now that I feel safe and that I can care for myself. These were precious moments of a soft inner release, I tried to give myself this space to feel, to nurture myself and feel happy that it happened. Each day I feel more sensitive and more awake, more grateful and available to love, more open to this release of feeling that overcomes me and that is painful in a way but that is also responsible for bringing a new awareness. I feel something inside me melt, my constraints, my fears and I see myself giving in to the flow of life more and more. 

 

I hope this makes sense for you ☺️.

I hope you have a wonderful day and that your burdens are lighter today. 

[Rrsfc]

5 hours ago, Blossom71 said:

I realise that going slow in my taper is crucial to letting my brain re-adjust, but also adjusting emotionally.

 

I so agree with this, it takes as long as it takes, it's a journey not a calculations sheet. We have to respect our bodies and minds and nurture them through this process and go as slow as they need. I believe you are being very brave in all that you do and feel, I really appreciate your sensibility and caring, even though we never met. Thank you for being present for me, we're together in this and we'll get through it. ❤️

 

[RachelSusan]

@Blossom71

Hi Blossom71,

 

I stumbled onto your page and wanted to offer you encouragement. I too was on the Zoloft hamster-wheel and it too me years to taper.  I got off completely Jan 1 of this year. 

 

You seem to be doing everything right and I know you will get off.  I want to applaud you. I know how hard this process is and you are doing a marvelous job. Best wishes for any easy taper.

 

Rachel

[Blossom71]

19 hours ago, Rrsfc said:

I believe you are being very brave in all that you do and feel, I really appreciate your sensibility and caring, even though we never met. Thank you for being present for me, we're together in this and we'll get through it. ❤️

Oh thank you lovely @Rrsfc .  I do actually feel quite brave. All this is taking me out of my comfort zone and its not before time.  I'm finding it quite liberating all in all.

Thank you for being here too. We can all learn to much from each other and I really appreciate your thoughts, observations and encouragement 😘

 

@RachelSusan  Thank you so much for dropping by to encourage me. Well done to you for finally being off them. It's no mean feat and I applaud you!

 

Last night I dropped from 37 - 36.5mg (so around 1.7%). I was surprised with the symptoms I got from the last 1.6% drop but it may have been residual WDs from previously so hopefully this one will be smoother.  Fingers crossed!

[Ariel]

@Blossom71

Good luck with the drop, braveheart. 

Sending you hugs 

[Blossom71]

Well, 5 days since my last .05mg drop (1.7%) and no symptoms whatsoever. Nada, zilch. You could knock me down with a feather!  And I'm feeling more like me than I have since I started tapering.

Obviously I'm pleased, but very surprised and I'm not going to let it suck me into a false sense of security.

 

I think the frequency of the drops have played a bigger part in being hammered with WD symptoms rather than % drop, so am going to stick here for the 2 weeks like planned, then I might do a 1mg next time (approx 3.4%) and hold for longer. Or I might just stick to 0.5mg every 2 weeks and see where that takes me.  It going to take me years and years anyway to get off completely so what's a couple of extra ones 🤷‍♀️

[Blossom71]

So I spoke slightly too soon🙄

 

Today I am not feel quite as on top of the world on day 6 after my drop.  Not terrible but my brain capacity is definitely lower, feeling slightly anxious, slight fatigue, tinnitus has got louder and my heart is beating slightly harder.  Normal WD symptoms and at the level they would normally be around day 6. But without the more significant symptoms on days 3, 4 and 5.   So we’ll see how the next week pans out!

[RachelSusan]

@Blossom71

 

Wishing you good luck with this most recent drop.

 

[Ariel]

<3

 

 

[ShiningLight]

Keep rocking the taper!

I'm chuckling at the "BM slide/water" in your signature, it's kinda perfect. 😅 In the US BM means bowel movement 💩

[Blossom71]

2 hours ago, ShiningLight said:

Keep rocking the taper!

I'm chuckling at the "BM slide/water" in your signature, it's kinda perfect. 😅 In the US BM means bowel movement 💩

@ShiningLight Haha!!! That never occurred to me but I’m never going to be able to look at it the same again. But 💩 pretty much sums up what we’re all going through doesn’t it? 😂

[Ariel]

10 hours ago, ShiningLight said:

I'm chuckling at the "BM slide/water" in your signature, it's kinda perfect. 😅 In the US BM means bowel movement 💩

 

I confess I have had the same thought many times, any time I see "BM slide" marked in anyone's signature here... Thank you @ShiningLight for making me feel less like a lone poop-obsessed weirdo; it's good to know I'm not alone. (Not calling you a poop-obsessed weirdo, just sayin'.)

 

@Blossom71thank you for having a great sense of humor. I wish you many moments of laughter to help ease your way through the coming days. I forget where I read/heard this recently, someone was saying how it is impossible to genuinely laugh and not be present. Of course this made me want to investigate that so I've been trying to laugh and not be present, no luck thus far. I may have too much time on my hands... 

 

Light and lightness,

A. 

 

 

[LunaLex]

How is day 7 of the cut? I hope you are being gentle with yourself. 

[Blossom71]

Well I'm on Day 11 now @TentacleFinn.  It's been a bit up and down this week but it's not entirely down to WD. 

The tree pollen is killing me, I have some hormonal stuff going on and the other 2 legged creatures in the house are being difficult.  I guess it's a chicken and egg situation. I don't know whether these things are worse than normal, or whether by feeling 'off' these things are getting to me more than usual.   I have warned the 2 legged creatures that with my state of mind they'd better watch out or one of them will end up buried under the decking 😂

 

Actually, it'd probably all be more manageable without the hormone stuff. I have fibroids and am on the contraceptive pill to try and minimise the symptoms, but occasionally it doesn't so I'm swollen and sore (and cranky as hell!) at the moment.

 

The main symptoms that I could attribute to WD is some fatigue, also that my heart is beating harder than usual. But I also get this when I'm having an allergic reaction so who knows.

I have Oral Allergy syndrome so during tree pollen season I react severely to foods that have the same protein structure. So I cant eat broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, greens, rapeseed oil, mustard - basically anything in the brassica family.  I also react to ripe mango/pineapple and tomatoes.  I can eat them if they've been cooked within an inch of their lives (think mushy - yuck!) or if they've been frozen as it changes the protein structure.  My caffeine and sulphite allergies also get a lot worse.  I've nearly ended up in hospital twice with the reactions so i just to avoid them, but I find myself reacting randomly during this time.

 

I've been talking 1/2 anti-histamine daily. I usually take a whole one during tree pollen season but thought I'd try reducing it as I don't want to keep pumping myself with anti-histamines if I can help it. The jury is still out whether 1/2 is doing the trick.  

 

So generally a bit blaaaaah. But I'll take that at the moment.

 

On 5/12/2022 at 3:54 PM, Ariel said:

Thank you @ShiningLight for making me feel less like a lone poop-obsessed weirdo

I'm still laughing at you being "poop obsessed wierdo" @Ariel 😂

[Ariel]

@Blossom71

Sorry for the clusterf*ck 

(and sorry for my cursing... though over the weekend I discovered this thread and it got me through a rough patch) https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1081-lalochezia-the-cursing-thread/#comment-9497

 

2 legged creatures can be so hard to train! 

 

49 minutes ago, Blossom71 said:

if they've been frozen as it changes the protein structure.

I'm curious about this, B. Does freezing apply to brassica fam also? or are you only saying this about ripe mango/pineapple and tomatoes? 
I also have tree pollen allergies and did not know about the freezing trick. It would be a welcome change from cooking the sh*t out my veg. 

I hear you on the caffeine, sulphite, etc. intensification of reaction. Btw I don't tolerate unfermented grains during pollen season (a few years ago almost had to go to hospital bc of some oats/oat milk). Ever since I cut out grains entirely (as well as soy, corn, etc. -- full funereal procession of eliminated foods in my intro thread) things have been a lot more manageable. 

 

Allergies, hormones, WD, 2-legged mayhem -- that's enough to get anyone's petals in a twist!

I wish you moments of peace and relief, and when that isn't possible, I wish you the exquisite pleasure of leaning into crankiness without guilt and going all-out unapologetic full-grump.   

 

No matter how bad it gets, just remember you've got a jam-making rooster mascot in your court -- and a poop-obsessed weirdo rooting for ya!

Solidarity + hugs,

A.

 

 

 

[Blossom71]

Just a lil check-in.

Have been ticking along nicely. Things settled quickly after my drop so I dropped another 0.5mg (1.67%) down to 36mg 7 days ago.

Fibroids have been kicking my butt a bit but finally seems to be resolving, and don't seem to have had any effects from my latest drop. Wahoooo!    I think 2 weeks between my drops are the way to go so if I carry on with no effects I may do a slightly larger drop next time.

Work has been madly busy but i have been having plenty of 'me' time, and some fun thrown in so things are pretty good all in all.

[getofflex]

I'm glad to hear that your recent reduction is going so well!  Keep up the good work. 

 

 

[Blossom71]

On 5/16/2022 at 3:48 PM, Ariel said:

I'm curious about this, B. Does freezing apply to brassica fam also? or are you only saying this about ripe mango/pineapple and tomatoes? 
I also have tree pollen allergies and did not know about the freezing trick. It would be a welcome change from cooking the sh*t out my veg. 

Sorry @Ariel, I totally forgot to reply 

Also seems to be the case with brassicas.  Pickling/fermenting also seems to change the protein structure too, so although i am horrifically allergic to cabbage I can actually eat small quantities of kimchi

[Blossom71]

Just a note for my records.  Day 10 and 11 saw some symptoms - exactly the same days as the last drop.  Tinnitus, fatigue and my heart beating harder which is exactly the same as the last drop. Not problematic, just noticeable.   I'm guessing that's why drops every 2 weeks seem to be suiting me better as then I don't get the cumulative effect.    I'm going to up the percentage slightly to 0.7mg (1.94%) this next drop to see what effect that has, as it would be nice if I could speed it up just a tad!

That'll mean I'll be dropping around 4% per month so it'll still take me to around 2030 to get off these sodding things 😣

[CeruleanSea]

Blossom71, you're doing great!  You're making good progress. I'm honestly impressed! 

[Pollyjay]

So glad you are doing this well, Blossom! Hope it continues for you!!

 

Hugs,

 

Pollyjay

[Ariel]

Hi @Blossom71

I now think of you every time I pass the frozen veggies section in the supermarket!

How are you going with your most recent drop? 

It's bright and sunny here today. I'm rocking the dark glasses and mustering the whatever-it-is that's needed to get out of the house for a walk. 

Sending hugs,

A.

 

[RachelSusan]

@Blossom71

 

I had to smile when I read you comment about it taking you to 2030 to get off Sertraline. I felt the same way.  I would suggest you try not to think of the date when you get off.  You never know, you may not always have to taper at this pace.  As far as calling them "these sodding things", my thoughts exactly.  I agree 100% with that. In fact sodding is to kind of a word to use in this case.  I know that this is hard but you are doing a really good job.

[Blossom71]

 

On 6/11/2022 at 9:11 AM, Ariel said:

I now think of you every time I pass the frozen veggies section in the supermarket!

How are you going with your most recent drop? 

It's bright and sunny here today. I'm rocking the dark glasses and mustering the whatever-it-is that's needed to get out of the house for a walk. 

I'm glad you're thinking of me @Ariel

It might only be the veg that's reminding you, but i'll take that!  😂   Funnily enough, i think of you every time i see roosterman over the road! 🐔

 

I'm still dropping very slowly but surely.  It's been just over 2 weeks since i did another drop and dropped 1.94% (0.7mg).  It definitely hit me a bit harder that the 0.6mg drop and a had 1 day that I felt like i'd been hit by a bus and my brain wasn't connected to my body (day 9). I just made sure I didn't drive on that day as I wasn't convinced it was safe to!   Back before i found this site i did a couple of larger drops and reversed my car into the gate post both times. I had just got a new car 2 days before so thought I'd best not risk it 😬

It's the strangest sensation but at least I knew what it was (so didn't fret) and just took that day steady. The day after the symptoms were milder then the day after I was pretty much back to WD normal.  I had to usual tinnitus increase/heart beating harder/fatigue/brain fog, but they were at a manageable level so I'm not planning on rocking the boat and I think I'll stick at drops of around 2%.

 

So last night i did the next drop of 1.99% (0.7mg).   If things go as they did this time I'll be pretty chuffed to be honest.

 

Keep rocking the dark glasses lady!  I just got new sunglasses. Their pink and my husband think they look a bit weird, but as i cant see myself wearing them (unless i look in the mirror), if i look a bugger in them it's everyone elses problem! 😂

[Rrsfc]

@Blossom71 I'm so glad things are going well for you ☺️. A few bumps on the road but nothing too challenging. I hope it stays that way 😘