Haptic: SSRI healing journey

[haptic]

Hi, in 2013 I used this site and paxil progress to reassure myself in times of need when I was ct'ing off fluoxetine (prozac). For 2 years I struggled with suicidal ideation due to the pain and hopelessness I was feeling. After that time, I gave up and went back on medication to spend the next 6 years keeping my head just above water. I was going to carry on taking meds for the rest of my life until I attended a gym in late 2019. Alongside the lifting weights I cut out 100%, all refined foods I was eating. It was some kind of Paleo/whole foods diet. I noticed that when I'd had a good nights sleep (not woken by alarm, allowed to wake naturally), eaten aforementioned diet and done my 20 minute run on the treadmill (I run hard enough so my heart rate get's high and I break a good sweat) that my mood would increase off just these 3 things. I mean it's night and day difference for me the effect it was having. So this gave birth to idea of once again giving up the one SSRI I'm on, (zoloft/sertraline) to see what happens if I'm eating, sleeping and exercising like I said was working for me earlier. So far I'm 3 months in and other than the first 2 weeks, in which my depression got worse (Just like it did when I quit smoking a month before) I have been stable enough to continue working (well I was working until covid-19 kicked off) and feel like this is completely different already from my previous attempt to get of these drugs. The only problems Iv'e had so far is I'm more sensitive to doing weight training at the gym (iv'e given it up) as it was obviously causing stress somehow lowering my mood. Also I found if I lowered my calories or tried to intermitent fast then that also effected my mood. That's all really, I hope that anyone else who is struggling like I was last time with the suicidal thoughts could implement something similiar and take the edge off what they are going though and maybe even heal quicker? I'm only at the start of my journey but even if I stay like I am now even though Iv'e only just come off meds then it's fine because atleast I can say I wasn't dependent in the end to these horrible drugs.

[Shep]

Hi, Haptic.

 

Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants.

 

13 hours ago, haptic said:

So this gave birth to idea of once again giving up the one SSRI I'm on, (zoloft/sertraline) to see what happens if I'm eating, sleeping and exercising like I said was working for me earlier. So far I'm 3 months in and other than the first 2 weeks, in which my depression got worse (Just like it did when I quit smoking a month before) I have been stable enough to continue working (well I was working until covid-19 kicked off) and feel like this is completely different already from my previous attempt to get of these drugs.

 

Please let us know more about your taper, such as your dose and the taper rate. 

 

With your background in knowing about this site, as well as Paxil Progress, you may have already seen these threads, but just to be sure, here is the tapering information for Zoloft:

 

Tips for tapering off Zoloft (sertraline)

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

13 hours ago, haptic said:

The only problems Iv'e had so far is I'm more sensitive to doing weight training at the gym (iv'e given it up) as it was obviously causing stress somehow lowering my mood.

 

It's great you've been able to improve your diet and quit smoking. That will no doubt work to your favor. Unfortunately, many of us do have trouble exercising during withdrawal. Please see:

 

Exercise ... Do more, do less, do nothing? What worked for you?

 

You may find that walking and gentle yoga or stretching is all you can do for now. But as you come off the drugs and heal, I'm sure you'll get back into more strenuous workouts. 

 

 

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Please continue to use this thread to document your taper and to ask questions.