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Mia1: hope in early recovery


Mia1

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  • Mentor

@Mia1

2 hours ago, Mia1 said:

It’s not about shutting anything off, that’s resistance and also impossible. Rather I’m allowing everything in without focusing my attention on it.

I know....I just don't like the thoughts or how I feel🤪 I just being a grumpy old lady who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning😆 

You are great and inspirational, it keeps pushing me to keep moving forward and to work on ways to make this journey a little easier.❤️

Besides you figure out how to ease the pain and share it with the rest of us and I really appreciate that.

 

I tried a new meditation and I thought of you and I trying to get rid of our extra baggage and this one fits right in to that ....I don't know if you have seen this one 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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56 minutes ago, Greatful said:

You are great and inspirational, it keeps pushing me to keep moving forward and to work on ways to make this journey a little easier.❤️

Thank you @Greatfulthis is a really nice compliment. I feel the same about you😊

 

Thanks for sharing the meditation, I will definitely check it out.

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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Hello @Mia1. Just popping in to say hello. I hope you're doing well and whatever withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing are not so bad.

 

Diazepam: Prescribed for 1 month; CT by GP; free since 2019-12. 

Zopiclone: Prescribed for 6 weeks; very fast taper over 6 weeks; free since 2020-01. 

Amitriptyline: Prescribed 10mg from 2004 to 2012(?); 25mg from 2012(?) to 2019-10; 50mg in 2019 November; attempted CT (very fast taper) in December 2019, reinstated within 2 weeks at 20mg;  Start slow taper in June 2020: 2020-06: 18mg; 2020-08: 16.6mg; 2020-10: 15.9mg; 2020-10: 15.45mg; 2020-10: 15mg; 2020-11:15.45mg; 2020-11: 15mg; 2020-11: 14.5mg; 2020-12: 13.7mg; 2021-02-12: 13mg; 2021-03-05: 12.5mg; 2021-03-11: 12mg; 2021-04-16: 11.5mg; 2021-06-06: 11mg; 2021-10-03: 10.5mg; 2021-11-24: 10mg; 2021-12-23: 9.5mg; 2022-01-19: 9mg; 2022-03-08: 8.5mg; 2022-03-29: 8mg; 2022-05-16: 7.5mg; 2022-06-14: 7mg; 2022-07-13: 6.5mg; 2022-08-21: 6mg; 2022-10-29: 6.3mg; 2022-11-29: 6mg; 2022-12-11: 5.5mg; 2022-12-18: 5mg; 2023-01-21: 4.5mg; 2023-02-17: 4mg; 2023-04-23: 3.5mg; 2023-08-27: 3.3mg; 2023-09-20: 3.1mg; 2023-10-15: 2.9mg; 2023-11-11: 2.7mg; 2023-12-04: 2.5mg; 2024-01-04: 2.3mg

Supplements: Fish oil (1g)

Discontinued supplements: Vitamin C (1.25g); D3 (4000IU); zinc (15mg); boron (3mg); magnesium glycinate (800mg); melatonin (0.3mg, reduced from 0.6mg in 2022-06) discontinued on 2023-12-08

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@SurreyGuythanks for stopping by. I’m not experiencing any symptom in particular that’s causing any problem and am giving myself a break before I start tapering my last drug!!

 

How are you doing?

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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Yesterday was so-so with the usual anxiety. However, today has been great (no depression, no anxiety) so far. The only outstanding symptom was my tinnitus. I wish I could be more stable. Unfortunately, each day brings a different bunch of symptoms... At least, 3 months after my last taper, I get some very good days.

Diazepam: Prescribed for 1 month; CT by GP; free since 2019-12. 

Zopiclone: Prescribed for 6 weeks; very fast taper over 6 weeks; free since 2020-01. 

Amitriptyline: Prescribed 10mg from 2004 to 2012(?); 25mg from 2012(?) to 2019-10; 50mg in 2019 November; attempted CT (very fast taper) in December 2019, reinstated within 2 weeks at 20mg;  Start slow taper in June 2020: 2020-06: 18mg; 2020-08: 16.6mg; 2020-10: 15.9mg; 2020-10: 15.45mg; 2020-10: 15mg; 2020-11:15.45mg; 2020-11: 15mg; 2020-11: 14.5mg; 2020-12: 13.7mg; 2021-02-12: 13mg; 2021-03-05: 12.5mg; 2021-03-11: 12mg; 2021-04-16: 11.5mg; 2021-06-06: 11mg; 2021-10-03: 10.5mg; 2021-11-24: 10mg; 2021-12-23: 9.5mg; 2022-01-19: 9mg; 2022-03-08: 8.5mg; 2022-03-29: 8mg; 2022-05-16: 7.5mg; 2022-06-14: 7mg; 2022-07-13: 6.5mg; 2022-08-21: 6mg; 2022-10-29: 6.3mg; 2022-11-29: 6mg; 2022-12-11: 5.5mg; 2022-12-18: 5mg; 2023-01-21: 4.5mg; 2023-02-17: 4mg; 2023-04-23: 3.5mg; 2023-08-27: 3.3mg; 2023-09-20: 3.1mg; 2023-10-15: 2.9mg; 2023-11-11: 2.7mg; 2023-12-04: 2.5mg; 2024-01-04: 2.3mg

Supplements: Fish oil (1g)

Discontinued supplements: Vitamin C (1.25g); D3 (4000IU); zinc (15mg); boron (3mg); magnesium glycinate (800mg); melatonin (0.3mg, reduced from 0.6mg in 2022-06) discontinued on 2023-12-08

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  • Mentor

@Mia1  Well we left a few hours ago and it is about a 4 hour drive.  We will see how my brain does moving around in the car that long.🙄  I was near panic this morning when the site was down.  I was trying to find an the email with your information on it!  But the site is back☺️

How is your day going?

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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Hi @Greatfulhave fun, you SO deserve it!! We’re going away in about two weeks and I’m really looking forward to it. 

 

 I did something today that I haven’t been able to do since this all started a year and a half ago.... I took a nap!! I honestly can’t believe it, good thing I set my alarm.

 

Thanks for checking in my friend, talk soon 😊

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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@SurreyGuyI’m so happy you’re having a good day, that’s great news. Did the peppermint oil help at all with your tinnitus?

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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1 hour ago, Mia1 said:

Hi @Greatfulhave fun, you SO deserve it!! We’re going away in about two weeks and I’m really looking forward to it. 

 

 I did something today that I haven’t been able to do since this all started a year and a half ago.... I took a nap!! I honestly can’t believe it, good thing I set my alarm.

 

Thanks for checking in my friend, talk soon 😊

That's awesome!! Not an easy task in w/d, I know :) 

1990s Zoloft, Prozac, and a litany of other drugs including mood stabilizers

1998 Effexor 140mg and Remeron 40mg (I think) - quit cold turkey 2006 and NO W/D! Oh, to be young again... 

2004 Lorazepam 0.5mg; switched to Klonipin 2010

2010 Klonipin 1-2mg/day - decreased gradually down to 0.35mg 2016-2017 & held, then tapered off April-July 2020

2012 Lexapro and Seraquil/Remeron - quit CT 2012 after 1 month of use

2013 Methadone 80mg (for heroin addiction;) decreased to 30mg 2016-2021

2014 Effexor 75mg - tapered off over 1.5 weeks by doc 2017

2017 Citalopram 20mg - started tapering Dec. 2019-March 2020; got down to 14.35 mg then paused to taper off Klonipin

2021 - Citalopram down to 12.8mg in April; July 11.52mg, August 10mg, Oct 9mg, Nov 8.1mg, Dec 7.8mg

2022 - Citalopram 7.4mg

2023 - September - off methadone! FINALLY OPIOID-FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supplements: Tryptophan, 5-HTP, Tyrosine, vitamin D, topical magnesium, ashwagandha, phenibut, lion's mane, CBD, GABA

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  • Moderator Emeritus

How wonderful that you were able to take a nap! It shows that your nervous system is calming down and healing.

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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2 hours ago, getofflex said:

How wonderful that you were able to take a nap! It shows that your nervous system is calming down and healing.

Thank you, I never thought I’d be so excited to take a nap 🤣

 

How are you doing? I really appreciate all the work you moderators do, thank you 🙏💗

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I’m doing well thank you for asking. I still find it hard to take naps I’m able to doze. But I’m thankful because I’m sleeping better at night.

Please do not private message me.  Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you.  

 

***Please note this is not medical advice.  Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one.

 

Lexapro   Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg;  started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20  0.18 mg; Jul 16  0.17 mg, Aug 23  0.16 mg, Oct 7  0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005,  Jul 8, 0.00.  Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!!  Woohoo!!!

other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg

magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed

suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc

suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg

 

Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 

Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 

Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly 

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Hey @Mia1 I thought I’d come by and see how things are going for you . You seem so strong with your approach to this and your words to others are so helpful. You need to get back what you give . I hope your enjoying your windows 🪟 and getting out and about . Your one inspiring lady . 🌈

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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@Cheekyyour kind words mean a lot to me, I really appreciate it. I actually haven’t had a window since I tapered off Amitriptyline four months ago, it’s more like I can see and feel very small progress and healing taking place. 

 

I just decided one day that I was done giving this my energy. Right now I have a temporary brain injury as a result of these drugs so I accept it completely and choose to live my life despite how I feel.  It may sound crazy but we really can overcome our symptoms and therefore overcome this experience so it becomes bearable while we heal.

 

But I do still have symptoms and moments of anger and fear and doubt. We all need encouragement and support, no matter where we are in our recovery. Even though I no longer fall I still stumble. So thank you for stopping by and asking about me💗

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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10 hours ago, Mia1 said:

@Cheekyyour kind words mean a lot to me, I really appreciate it. I actually haven’t had a window since I tapered off Amitriptyline four months ago, it’s more like I can see and feel very small progress and healing taking place. 

 

I just decided one day that I was done giving this my energy. Right now I have a temporary brain injury as a result of these drugs so I accept it completely and choose to live my life despite how I feel.  It may sound crazy but we really can overcome our symptoms and therefore overcome this experience so it becomes bearable while we heal.

 

But I do still have symptoms and moments of anger and fear and doubt. We all need encouragement and support, no matter where we are in our recovery. Even though I no longer fall I still stumble. So thank you for stopping by and asking about me💗

Wow you have it nailed. Your so encouraging and I admire your strength. I’m happy to support through this, we all need each other .

1995 started Paxil 20mg slowly increasing to 50mg until 2014

-2014 I decided to tapper myself not knowing how too and crashed , DR added 50mg Seraquel

-2015 tried tapering again and crashed

 

Started Tapering Both drugs at the same time 6% per month doing daily micro-taper 

Guided by Mark Horowitz

24/09/23  14.47mg Seroquel.  16.19mg Paxil 

27/11/23.  12.13mg. Seroquel.   13.85mg Paxil

 

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Hi @Mia1

 

i realize you commented on my thread a while back. I stopped nortriptyline around the same time you stopped amitriptyline. You sound like a very strong person. Who knew these TCAs could be so brutal. My main issues tend to be: anxiety and dysautonomia. 
 

I hope we heal soon! 

Domperidone 50mg Feb to june 2020 (weaned off over 5 weeks) 

sertraline 25-100mg June 2020-august 2020 (weaned over 4 week)

Notriptyline 10mg/sertraline 25-50mg Nov 2020-dec 2020

nortriptyline 10mg Jan 2021-May 2021 

escitalopram 5mg may 2021 for 6 days then stopped 

Sept 1,2021- reinstated sertraline 6.25mg

Jan 10, 2022- sertraline 5 mg , feb 9, 2022- sertraline 4.5mg, Feb 22, 2022- Sertraline 4.3mg, March 7, 2022- Sertraline 3.8mg, April 16,2022- Sertraline 3mg , May 6, 2022- Sertraline 2mg,  May 31,- off Sertraline 

 

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@Strugglingmamathanks for stopping by. I remember when I was first prescribed Amitriptyline I was told that is was safe, not habit forming and I could just stop taking it anytime. It’s so crazy how uninformed these doctors are, I had no idea. 

 

I see you’re med free, that’s awesome, congrats!! 🎉🎊 

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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@Mia1 the more I read I truly believe tricyclics antidepressants are amongst the worse for withdrawal. They are dirty drugs and affect so many neurotransmitters. I’m sure we will heal, I just wonder how long. I have a young son and a career I love. I need this anxiety to improve so I can go back to enjoying things to their fullest.  I initially had a few windows but lately it’s been just a long terrible wave. 

Domperidone 50mg Feb to june 2020 (weaned off over 5 weeks) 

sertraline 25-100mg June 2020-august 2020 (weaned over 4 week)

Notriptyline 10mg/sertraline 25-50mg Nov 2020-dec 2020

nortriptyline 10mg Jan 2021-May 2021 

escitalopram 5mg may 2021 for 6 days then stopped 

Sept 1,2021- reinstated sertraline 6.25mg

Jan 10, 2022- sertraline 5 mg , feb 9, 2022- sertraline 4.5mg, Feb 22, 2022- Sertraline 4.3mg, March 7, 2022- Sertraline 3.8mg, April 16,2022- Sertraline 3mg , May 6, 2022- Sertraline 2mg,  May 31,- off Sertraline 

 

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  • Mentor

@Mia1  Hi, how is your day going?  Did you get a chance to do the New Beginning Meditation?

 

@Strugglingmama  Where would I find the information on how many neurotransmitters my  meds affect.   Or do I want to know🤢 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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@StrugglingmamaI’m sorry to hear you’re in a long wave. Yes, anxiety and insomnia seem to be the two biggest symptoms with tricyclics. You definitely will heal, take it one day at a time. In the meantime if you can lower your anxiety the process will be more tolerable. What techniques have you been using?

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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Hi @Greatfulmy day is going well. I ate some things I shouldn’t have over the weekend (brownies) and threw myself into a wave. You’re going to think I’m crazy but I’m actually looking at it like it’s a great opportunity for me to continue to practice everything I learned, especially sitting with thoughts and sensations objectively. I’m using this experience as a great teacher. I’m telling you, just having that mindset makes it more tolerable. I have found that reframing the experience can be as powerful as acceptance.

 

I haven’t tried the meditation yet, I do my own meditation in the morning and then in the evening I have been doing the 21 day challenge OCD meditation challenge. It’s next on my list though so thanks for reminding me.

 

How are you doing today?

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1

1 hour ago, Mia1 said:

You’re going to think I’m crazy but I’m actually looking at it like it’s a great opportunity for me to continue to practice everything I learned, especially sitting with thoughts and sensations objectively.

Yes I think your crazy, but amazing☺️ 

 I am having a weird day.  Same thing with the brain can't decide if it wants to think rationally or with distorted obsessions.  I have decided to tell myself the obsessing thoughts are lying to me.  There is no bases of truth to them.  Then the what if starts and I have to say no they are lying to me and once my brain is working right I will see. I suppose that is resisting them🥴

 

1 hour ago, Mia1 said:

especially sitting with thoughts and sensations objectively

I need a refresher course.  How do you sit in your thoughts and how do you look at them objectively?  Do you question them at all to dig deeper?

 

1 hour ago, Mia1 said:

I have been doing the 21 day challenge OCD meditation challenge.

I tried it a few times I had a hard time doing it everyday, I think I will use it occasionally.

Right now some days it is hard for me to do the guided ones.  I think it has something to do with being really sensitive to sounds.  I try to meditate in the afternoon and evening.  I usually use head space in the evening.

 

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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Hi @Mia1I was wondering if you could recommend one very basic meditation guidance for beginners, any other relaxing music specially designed to battle insomnia would also be greatly appreciated.I am having serious sleep problems.Thank you.

Hi.sorry but my computer is too old.not working properly.I can only write from my phone.nevertheless i do not have drugs to list.only paroxetine.20 mg from 2009 to 2019.10 mg during 2019.sleeping pills for over 20 years.stopped everything december 2019.no drugs since then.forced cold turkey from december 2019.

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1 hour ago, Greatful said:

I have decided to tell myself the obsessing thoughts are lying to me.  There is no bases of truth to them.  Then the what if starts and I have to say no they are lying to me and once my brain is working right I will see. I suppose that is resisting them🥴

 Resistance would be more like trying to push the thoughts away or trying to change the thoughts by thinking your way out of them. How I see it you’re just reminding yourself what’s going on. There’s definitely comfort in that, I remember reading somewhere that just naming what is going on helps to calm the brain down. 

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

I need a refresher course.  How do you sit in your thoughts and how do you look at them objectively?  Do you question them at all to dig deeper?

So when you meditate you’re just observing your thoughts and letting them go. You want to bring this practice into your daily life through mindfulness. And what that means is you’re more conscious of what’s going on in your mind, you stop getting lost in thought. You stop believing that you are your thoughts, you are the observer of thoughts.

 

Let’s say you go on a nature walk and you have the thought “I’m never going to get better.” This thought may produce anxiety. Instead of attaching to the thought and thinking “oh my God I’m really not going to get better” you simply observe it and let it go. Letting it go means you don’t follow it, you recognize that it is just a thought and it has no meaning unless you give it meaning. Each time an unwelcome thought comes just don’t engage it or follow it. If you do this as a daily practice it will get easier. Do it naturally though, don’t try to think of thoughts, just do it when thoughts naturally arise.

 

This can also be used for body sensations that are provoked by anxiety or panic. You recognize what is going on, that the sensations you are feeling are caused by anxious thoughts. You don’t attach to it, it’s just a sensation. You accept it and allow it to pass through your body, you do not resist it or start a dialogue in your mind about how bad or uncomfortable it is. This is fuel for anxiety and will keep you in the anxiety loop. Just observe what is happening in your body. Once you can do this you will quickly see that there is nothing to actually be afraid of. Remember, fear is an illusion of the mind.

1 hour ago, Greatful said:

I try to meditate in the afternoon and evening.  I usually use head space in the evening.

Whatever works for you is what you should do, a lot of this stuff really is intuitive. It sounds like you’re doing better today, I’m really happy to hear it. Have you started the Lexapro taper? 

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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35 minutes ago, Overwhelmedlady said:

I was wondering if you could recommend one very basic meditation guidance for beginners,

Hi @OverwhelmedladyI would suggest the chronic pain guided meditation. It can be used for emotional or physical pain and it really helps create the necessary space between you and your thoughts and your symptoms. It’s one of my favorite guided meditations, I hope you find it helpful.

 

35 minutes ago, Overwhelmedlady said:

other relaxing music specially designed to battle insomnia would also be greatly appreciated.I am having serious sleep problems.Thank you.

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this, it has been one of my biggest symptoms throughout this journey. Is your insomnia caused by anxiety or is it strictly w/d related? 

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1  I think I get the mindfulness part and acknowledging the thought and letting it go.....A work in progress.

You talked once that you sat in your thoughts and let yourself feel the pain. Are you not thinking about  what you are thinking then?😵  Sometimes I will have a thought from the past that sets of a trigger and I am not sure why I am being triggered, so I look at it a little to see if anything shakes out.

I have to tell you( since most of the time I am fighting everything)  I sat in my anxiety and studied it.  What does it feel like and what does it remind you of and so on.   Interesting concept. What I need to work on is just sitting and not trying to keep myself busy and let the  thoughts come and not be afraid of them.....  There are so many tactics I am trying to learn, I guess that is why it take awhile to really get things to work together.

 

18 minutes ago, Mia1 said:

Have you started the Lexapro taper? 

I have been in correspondence with Altostrata and Foggie, 

I am really scared to do this🤢  I will probably start with something small like 2% and see how that goes for a week or so. 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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9 minutes ago, Greatful said:

You talked once that you sat in your thoughts and let yourself feel the pain. Are you not thinking about  what you are thinking then

Yes, this is what I do now. The key here though is you are simply observing what is happening, there is no thought involved. To be able to do this is ultimately the way out, sitting with intense feelings and observing until they pass. 

 

14 minutes ago, Greatful said:

I sat in my anxiety and studied it.  What does it feel like and what does it remind you of and so on.   Interesting concept.

This is great, it can be intimidating because it does get a little more intense at first but when you stick with it it really does get easier. So what we’re doing is reinforcing that anxiety is actually something separate from us, we are not anxiety it’s just a feeling we are experiencing. You totally get it.

18 minutes ago, Greatful said:

am really scared to do this🤢  I will probably start with something small like 2%

This is a great plan, you’ve got this 💪

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1

2 minutes ago, Mia1 said:

The key here though is you are simply observing what is happening, there is no thought involved.

Okay this will take practice.  I think I have connected with this a few times, but how to observe your thoughts but not think your thoughts UGH.  Do you feel like you are separate from your thoughts.  Man my brain is having a hard time with this.  It is like you really have to concentrate to separate yourself, step back.  Or am I going at this from the wrong angle?

I am happy to see Overwhelmedlady has contacted you.  Her story sounds lonely and sad.

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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Hi @Mia1Thanks for the video.I will give it a try tomorrow since it s already 2.30 a.m now. Answering your question about insomnia ,it s surely a consequence of quitting sleeping pills after more than 20 years. 

In fact I went cold turkey on both paroxetine and the sleeping pills, a benzo associate zopyclone at the beginning of 2020. So it could be my withdrawal symptoms are connected to both meds.I don't know for sure. What I do know is that poor sleep increases fatigue and, besides ,it hinders recovery. Anxiety is very low at night,it's present mainly throughout the day and tends to diminish gradually  at night. It's mainly worries.unresolved issues.

Hi.sorry but my computer is too old.not working properly.I can only write from my phone.nevertheless i do not have drugs to list.only paroxetine.20 mg from 2009 to 2019.10 mg during 2019.sleeping pills for over 20 years.stopped everything december 2019.no drugs since then.forced cold turkey from december 2019.

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12 hours ago, Greatful said:

but how to observe your thoughts but not think your thoughts UGH.

Lol, this really does get easier. I would recommend a daily meditation where you just sit in silence and observe what is happening in your mind and environment. Even if you did it for ten minutes a day it would really help you with this.

12 hours ago, Greatful said:

Do you feel like you are separate from your thoughts. 

This is a good question. So even though I know I’m not my thoughts I still do identify with them. I just don’t get lost in them anymore. I’ve created enough space where I can step back when I need to.

 

And for me this was ultimately my goal, not getting  caught up in irrational thoughts. Not being scared of feelings. I would love to be completely independent of my thoughts but then if you think about it that’s just a thought too.

 

Let things come naturally, don’t think about it too hard, this is a practice of getting out of the mind. As you go about your day recognize when a thought is irrational or unhelpful and let it go. Remember, even if the pull is really strong we don’t have to follow thoughts.

 

You really pick up on this stuff quickly, you’re a natural!! 

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Mentor

@Mia1

8 minutes ago, Mia1 said:

I would love to be completely independent of my thoughts but then if you think about it that’s just a thought too.

 

lol now you see what I am saying.   Now I am going to throw you a curve ball. 

13 hours ago, Greatful said:

Sometimes I will have a thought from the past that sets of a trigger and I am not sure why I am being triggered, so I look at it a little to see if anything shakes out.

Sometimes we have to engage in our thoughts, how would we work through problems?  If we did not have thoughts we would be blank and unfeeling.🤥  Ahhh that almost sounds good right now🙄  As long as it takes away from irrational thinking.

Maybe I just need a new brain,  this one just is slow to pull all this together and have it make sense.

I think I see a glimmer of understanding.  I just need to keep bugging you for guidance.  I am going to blame the confusion on a  brain that is miss a few  connections right now.  Sometimes the WD comes in handy for a excuse😁 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24894-greatful-is-this-withdrawal-or-to-many-med-changes-at-once/

1995? Prozac,  tried several Paxil, Serzone, St John's Wart back to Prozac and Trazodone ct:d Traz

 Lexapro. Tried to stop Crash in 2015  Kindled   Hospitalized, Vybrid, Seroquel, Effexor, Abilify  Pristiq, Wellbutrin-- 2016  ended back on   Prozac and Lamictal 200mg

5/2020  thru 12/2020 taper from 20mg  Prozac  down to 3mg.  Crashed  12/13/2020 Zoloft 50mg 1/29ct  1/29/2021 Seroquel 50mg ct  2/12/2021 Wellbutrin 75mg.  Became hypo manic 2/1  6ct Trazodone 50mg 4/25  25mg 2/5/ 2021 Lamictal 150mg.  2/24  100mg   4/9  75mg   4/21 37.5 

2/16/2021 Seroquel 50xr  3/3 100mg  3/17  150mg  side effects ct   4/3 2021 Lexapro 5mg  4/14  7.5mg  4/30 10mg  5/10  7.5mg 

2021/ 5/16  5mg Lexapro   37.5 Lamictal   25mg trazadone,   xanax  .0625mg  3x a day   

Lexapro  Taper> Sept/01/2021  4.90mg>  Sept/25  4.75mg>   Oct/19 4.69mg > Nov/14 4.2mg    Jan/30/2022-- Split dosing 2x a day All liquid  4.2mg  (2.20mg at 8am & 2mg at 4pm) 2/17 4mg>  2/24  3.8mg  slow taper to  Aug/12/2022 2.04mg  2023> 2mg,  1.90mg, 1.80mg, 1.70mg, 1.5mg, 1.4mg, 1.3mg 1.2mg, 1.1mg, 1mg, 0.9mg, 0.8mg, 0.7mg 0.65mg, 0.6mg, 0.55mg, 0.5mg, 0.45mg, 0.4mg, 0.35mg, 0.3mg, 0.25,mg, back to once a day dosing 0 .1mg, 0.07mg

Lamictal  taper  4/17/ 2022 25mg, 9/9/ 22 -20mg, 9/25/22- 15mg , 10/20/22-   0

 Trazodone..2023.>down to 14mg, 7mg, 6mg  July 2023   0

Xanax  0.0625 3 x a day,  2023>  0.042 3x a day

Supplements  Magnesium glycinate, Omega 3, D3, vitamin c , zinc, NAC 

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@Greatfulthat’s a great question because you’ll see the difference now. Thinking is actually a really good thing when we are trying to figure something out. I call it directed thinking, it has a purpose and it’s necessary. It’s what I call passive thinking you want to be aware of. The thinking that sweeps you away, thinking for the sake of thinking. Not all passive thinking is “bad” just be aware of the counter productive self defeating passive thinking that anxiety and other strong “negative” emotions provoke.

 

So thinking about why something triggers you is really good because once you figure it out it likely won’t be such a trigger for you again. This thinking has reduced suffering and made your life more peaceful. Having an anxious thought and deciding to follow and entertain it will do nothing but make you more anxious and worried. It creates suffering and reduces the quality of your life.

 

Your questions are really insightful, there are a lot of nuances to this stuff. Was this helpful?

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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9 hours ago, Overwhelmedlady said:

Thanks for the video.I will give it a try tomorrow since

Hi @OverwhelmedladyI just read your story, I’m really sorry you had to CT your meds. It does take a lot of strength and courage to go down this path so I give you a lot of credit. You are going to heal and you are going to be so much stronger for having been through this as painful as it can feel.

 

 I started with guided meditations and then graduated to binaural beat meditation. The beats are supposed to automatically put your brain in a state of meditation. I would just focus on listening and when my thoughts wandered I would focus back on the beats. I’ll share the binaural beat music I used in case you’re interested. I now do my own meditation where I sit for thirty minutes with my eyes closed and listen to the sounds in the environment and observe thoughts that come into my mind. 

 

Meditation has has helped me tremendously with this whole process, especially not reacting to thoughts and body sensations. It has also helped me to react less to life in general. I now for the most part choose my responses, they don’t choose me. 

 

9 hours ago, Overwhelmedlady said:

Answering your question about insomnia ,it s surely a consequence of quitting sleeping pills after more than 20 years. 

I completely understand this and I too had to re learn how to sleep after being emotionally and physically dependent on drugs to do it for me. I have written about this a lot, this is what I wrote on another member’s thread:

 

So what I did was shifted the focus off sleep and put it on resting. My goal is never to sleep, just rest. You have to really mean this though, it can’t be faked. If you can truly put the focus on resting then you take the pressure off and you can relax enough to actually sleep. This works so well because sleep anxiety is actually a performance anxiety. Even if you don’t sleep you don’t worry about it, you’ve had sleepless nights before and you’ve always gotten through the next day. We can endure and adapt to much more than we realize. 

 

When I go to bed I put sleep sounds on and I will focus on that. When my mind wanders I just tell myself that this is my time to rest, thinking can wait, and focus back on the sleep sounds or my breath. It’s very relaxing. It’s important to start to train your brain to respond in this way. That when you go to bed you rest. 

 

I find the rain and also the wind to be very soothing, I found videos on YouTube that I listen to. You can find them also on my thread or @Greatfulthread.

9 hours ago, Overwhelmedlady said:

What I do know is that poor sleep increases fatigue and, besides ,it hinders recovery.

Not sleeping well can certainly make you tired but I don’t believe it hinders recovery. If that we’re true most people wouldn’t recover because the vast majority of us don’t sleep well while we are healing. I still have a lot of sleep disturbance but feel healing take place all the time.

 

So be mindful what you tell yourself, your beliefs are powerful. Empower yourself by reframing the experience. See it as an incredible journey of self discovery. Let your symptoms be your teachers, they are teaching you how to be non reactive, strong and resilient. Do not fear them or despair them, they are actually helping you. Know that when you come out the other side you will be the best version of yourself that you can be. That’s worth a little short term pain, right?

 

 I’m here to help and support you any way I can 💗

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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@brassmonkeyI’m hoping you can help me with the math part of my taper, it’s really beyond me and I saw you were able to help another member with the exact problem I’m having.

 

 I take .25 mg klonopin 2 x day. I want to take 5 % off each dose to total the 10% reduction. How do I do this and how many pills do I weigh to get an accurate measurement? I’m not sure if it’s relevant but they are dissolving pills.  

 

Any help you can give me is most appreciated. And btw I really love the thread you started about changing the channel, it’s really been very helpful. Thanks.

Completely drug free 11/26/22 🎉

 

Supplements: Magnesium citrate: 250 mg; Fish oil: 1200 mg

 

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Victor Frankl

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  • Moderator

It is easiest to weigh 10 pills at the same time and divide that weight by 10. This gives the average weight of one pill.

 

To reduce that by 5%. Multiply the average weight by 0.95. This will give the weight of the new dose that is 5% smaller. If you do this to both of your daily doses you will get a 10% reduction off your total daily dose.

 

Please post your weights and calculations and we will be glad to double check things.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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@Mia1@GratefulHi! I am so inspired by reading your posts for how hard you work to heal yourself. I need some advice. I was finally feeling stabilized on 2.5 mg of lexapeo and eating healthy to feel better and I went too hard these past 2 months. I'm living at home with my mom who doesnt believe in lexapro being the cause of my illness and I heard her say really terrible things about me such as "she's crazy, she needs to get her sh*t together, I can't kick her out, it's best if we don't talk, we'll get along better when she doesnt live here" etc. It put me into an intense panic and I stopped taking care of myself and did everything to find a job and please her by cleaning the entire house to appease her standards. I have horrible sleep hygiene and sleep between 2-4 am to 11 am. It burned me out and I'm not sure if thats the reason why I cant focus on still objects and feel dizzy with an overstimulated nervous system. I'm also taking boswelia complex for 2 months which I just learned is stimulating. If i stop the boswelia complex and take care of myself, will it take long to get out of this? What are the best things to do to calm an overstimulated nervous system to get me back on track? Its really hard to relax when I've been dealing with this for a year and want to get back to work and make money and have to cook fresh meals multiple times a day due to my histamine intolerance. Its so much work to take care of myself. What can I incorporate in my daily routine to make sure I can accomplish things but also not stress myself out and stay calm and not overstimulating nervous system? I can't tell when I do too much untit its too late because Im so used to pushing through and ignoring my body. How can I get out of fight or flight because everything triggers me unless I smoke lots of CBD. Being stuck in fight or flight has to be prolonging my issues. I did yoga this morning for the first time in awhile and it triggered panic attacks but it could be from not eating right away or histamine overload. or even trying to do too much. I'm so upset by how weak I am and my muscles are gone but trying to exercise is hard. 

-2014: Lexapro/escitalopram 10 mg, 2015-2021: Lexapro/escitalopram 20 mg

-10/2020-3/2021: decreased 20 mg to 15 mg, 1 mg a month

-4/2021: decreased to 10 mg, held for 11 days, 4/2021: decreased to 5 mg, held for 8 days

-4/2021: 3-6 days cold turkey lexapro, withdrawal symptoms so reinstated 2.5 mg 

-omeprazole taper: 9/2021 cut 25%, 10/20/21 25% cut, 12/1/21 25%, 12/28/21 25% cut, (9/36 beads of 40 mg)

-11/2020 omeprazole 20 mg, 3/2021: omeprazole 40 mg,

-Nordic Naturals Ultimate omega 3 fish pill: 1280 mg

-montelukast: 10 mg dailyzyrtec: 10 mg daily 

-3/20/2021-7/25: mesalamine 1.2 GM, 3 times a day - dropped

-birth control: Trilinyah 2014- 2/1/2021 quit cold turkey middle of pack 

7/16/2021-8/1/2021 Quicksilver Liposomal multivitamin liquid: biotin, zinc, Vitamins A, C, D E, K, Niacin,, Thiomine, Riboflavin,Vitamin B6, B12, 7/16/2021- 8/25/2021 - boswelia complex (tumeric. ginger, celery) - 2 a day - dropped

7/16/2021 - probiophage probiotic - dropped 

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