Nemet: SSRI cognitive impairment recovery

[getofflex]

7 hours ago, Nemet said:

As days go on, I feel physically better

That's great!  I'm very happy to hear this.  

 

7 hours ago, Nemet said:

the confusion and brain fog is there

Are you off all psychiatric medications at this time?  

 

It can take many months for the nervous system to heal, especially since you have been on and off many drugs for the past 11 years.  Here is a link that discusses this: 

 

How Long Withdrawal Can Take

 

7 hours ago, Nemet said:

I think since the days have started to be shorter, I feel my anxiety is boosted despite all my efforts to reduce it.

I, too, have been feeling the shift from summer to fall.  Do you ever go outside for walks during the day?  This can help a lot, both the gentle exercise, and the sunlight and fresh air.  

 

7 hours ago, Nemet said:

Since the cloudy and rainy days have started I have less chance to do it.

That can do it.  Hopefully, there will be a break in the clouds and rain, and you can get outside during those times.  Even in a light rain, you could take a walk with an umbrella. That is what I do.  

 

It's good to hear from you.  Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. 

[Nemet]

 The thing is this month I am having a very painful lump in my right breast and since last 3months I am having rashes all over my body that I never had before. I am wondering if these are also withdrawal symptoms? I never thought rashes are WD but when I read in this website some people are having it...

The breast lump was so painful before my period that I really felt I want to cut my skin and take it out. I went to doctor. She said she does not think it is something harmful and she prescribed ecography. I am trying to make appointment to do the examination. 

But can it be that the rashes and the lump are kind of inflammation in my body somehow related to withdrawal?

This is very strange and. Paradoxical. Because I feel physically more energetic and fresh but almost every month I am going to the doctor discussing a new symptom. I have done many tests in the last few month but at the same time I had not felt this much alive and healthy in more than a decade. 

[Nemet]

Hi I am 6 months free of AD and have. Gone through lots of symptoms. Recently I have very itchy skin rashes all over my body and a very painful lump in right breast. Did anyone here, who experienced rashes,also had lumps? Is it kind off inflammation? I read online that rashes can be a sign of autoimmune disease. Do you thing it is just a symple WD symptom or should I check myself for autoimmunity also? Paradoxically, Since I stopped medicine, I have been physically more energetic and fresh but at the same time I had to meet doctor more often and go through many tests because almost every other week there was a new symptom that needed to be checked...

 

 

[ChessieCat]

19 minutes ago, Nemet said:

Recently I have very itchy skin rashes all over my body and a very painful lump in right breast.

 

This is something that should be checked by a doctor.  It would be better to go and see a doctor and find out that it is nothing to be concerned about rather than to leave it too long and it end up being something that needs treatment, which if left too long might not be treatable.

[Nemet]

7 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

This is something that should be checked by a doctor.  It would be better to go and see a doctor and find out that it is nothing to be concerned about rather than to leave it too long and it end up being something that needs treatment, which if left too long might not be treatable.

Yes I went to the doctor and she prescribed ecography. I am waiting for the appointment to do the test.

[ChessieCat]

7 hours ago, Nemet said:

Recently I have very itchy skin rashes all over my body

 

You could keep a food diary and see if there is something you are eating which is causing this.  Another thing to consider is have you changed washing powder or soap recently.

 

Some members develop issues with high histamine foods:

 

histamine-food-intolerance

 

I've discovered that I cannot eat roma egg tomatoes 4 days in a row otherwise I get itchy.  But there are other tomatoes which I am able to eat for 4 days in a row.

 

[Nemet]

After more than 6 months off medication, in the last two months I had relatively stable mental state.  Suddenly with the shift in the season my mental state has remarkably deteriorated. All of a sudden I feel absolutely empty. In the last two days I have been sitting in bed either crying, being deep in thoughts or just staring at one point. I can not think clearly.i am not able to analyze what is going on or why I feel like that.  There are no external things in my life to make me feel bad at the moment. I can't believe how things have changed suddenly and I am kinda shocked by the attack of these emotions. 

I could not go out or change my mood. Tried reading, music, writing...but I could not focus on anything. 

is it a very strong wave I am going through? 

[getofflex]

16 hours ago, Nemet said:

After more than 6 months off medication, in the last two months I had relatively stable mental state.

This is great!  I'm glad to hear this.  Can you please put in your drug signature that you are off the medication, and what date, as best you can remember, you went off completely? Thank you.  

 

16 hours ago, Nemet said:

Suddenly with the shift in the season my mental state has remarkably deteriorated

This is very common, and may not be from cause entirely by withdrawal from the drugs.  As we go from summer into fall, the days get shorter, the sun gets lower in the sky, and there are lower light levels.  This has an effect on our brains, and hence our moods.  Many people get depressed as a result.  I personally am affected by the lower light levels.  

 

17 hours ago, Nemet said:

is it a very strong wave I am going through? 

It could possibly be a wave, but I suspect it is also what I explained above.  Are you having any other symptoms besides this?  It sounds like you are having depression, and/or sadness and grief.  One natural easy way to deal with this, is to get outside each day, and go for a walk.  The outdoor light helps, even if it is overcast.  Exercise stimulates endorphin production, which boosts our mood.  Other than that, I would suggest counseling or psychotherapy.  

[ChessieCat]

  

On 10/1/2021 at 8:24 AM, Nemet said:

I am 6 months free of Psych drugs

 

Please update your drug signature with the date of your last dose (so the last reduction) and the amount of the last dose.  And then state 0mg and the first date you were off.  Thank you.

[Nemet]

Dear Supportive community of Surviving antidepressants, 

Now it has been 10 months since o stopped my medicine. Of course I have improved a lot but I have also gone through really extreme withdrawal symptoms that resolved by time one by one. 

However in the last few months I have noticed that I get pain in the joints of fingers in both hands about a week before my period. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this symptom? 

I read online and I am a bit afraid if it is a sign of autoimmune condition? I am asking this specially because my mom suffers Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am female, 34 years of age. 

In the summer I used to get extreme pain and lumps in my breast before period which was unprecedented. But it resolved and now I get pain in my fingers. 

Few days ago I even had an episode of Claw hand where I was not able to open my fingers for some seconds. 

In the last month's I have gone through many tests and everything was normal so far. 

 

[Nemet]

As a post script, 

My joint pains are not permanent. They move from one finger to another every hour. My arms get stiff and hard and sometimes it is hard to carry a cup or mug with my hand. I also feel stiffness in right side of my face, neck and shoulder. Usually I wake up with pain and numbness in fingers of both hands but gradually it fades away during the day. And later it again starts. It is more severe in current month compared to last few months. 

 

 

[Nemet]

It is now 10 months drug free but I tried to go through withdrawal symptoms with patience and perseverance. I built a habit of doing yoga and meditation every single day and went through lots of physical symptoms as well but I was able to manage. However in last 3 days I days I feel so awful like nothing before. I am almost debilitated by an anxiety attack. Although instill go through brain fog but at the moment my mind is absolutely frozen. 

My mind is not able to think simplest things. I have lots of crying episodes, nerve pains, pains in my shoulder, neck hands and toes. Am I handling with still withdrawal symptoms? Am I in a big wave? Is there anything I can do? The anxiety was so bad that I went till hospital to see a doctor but as soon as I reached to the entrance I felt a feeling of detest because of my previous experience with psychiatrists and doctors that I came back home but I felt I am going insane. 

 

[Nemet]

Did anyone have rheumatoid arthritis in withdrawal? I am in excutiating pain with a hot flash. I am in hospital emergency waiting for the doctor and thinking that my life is over...

[Blossom71]

Oh Nemet,

 

I am sorry you’re in so much pain. I had severe joint pains when I cold turkey’ed off sertraline. That was before I found this site and as I’d only been off them a couple of weeks I went back on them and it resolved. Since then I’ve started to taper. 

 

Im not sure if your pains are related to withdrawal or not, but I hope you get some joy from the doctors and they can rule out any arthritis.

 

Your life isn’t over Nemet, this is just a big bump in the road x
 

[Kostas]

Hi,

I had severe shoulder joint pain ,one year after stopping my med..

It lasted for about 2 months, not letting me sleep at times .

It was starting in the morning ,and improving in intensity throughout the day ..

That was together with anxiety and difficulty sleeping .

Checked by every doctor, lots of tests, and nothing medically wrong could be found. 

Then ,one morning woke up and the pain was gone...!

It hasn't come back now for 2 years ..

No other explanation I can give  ,but pws from the ssri!

All the best 

[Nemet]

Thank you for your responses. I had such a horrible inflammation and body pain last night. Pain all over my body and pain going like an electric shock from my head down to my feet all the time. Around morning my fingers were locked and paralized my jaws were locked and I was not able to open my mouth properly. I hardly took a taxi and reached hospital. Although my body was on fire, there was no fever. But when they touched my body it was very hot and burning. They did bood tests for Rheumatoid arthritis but the doctor said this does not look like RA. They gave me a strong anti-inflammatory medicine but while I was waiting in hospital I developed pain and swelling in my lower back spinal cord. I have to wait for about 10 days for the results. I feel absolutely shocked. My pain has a bit subsided after the anti-inflammatory medicine but I am absolutely worried. 

[Nemet]

Dear SA community, 

At this stage I need some help. It has been almost 11 months now that I am drug free and although I went through hard time I was able to keep going. In last one month I have started getting severe panic attacks. Although I keep doing yoga and try to be active, meditate, eat well, I am noticing that I am going downhill and it is getting very hard. Most of my panic attacks are of hypochondriac nature. What do you do to cope with this? Can someone help me? I am a bit shocked because I thought I am progressing well but recently the situation is becoming too hard to manage. 

 

[Altostrata]

 

4 hours ago, Nemet said:

Most of my panic attacks are of hypochondriac nature.

 

Please explain what this means, @Nemet

[Nemet]

Dear @Altostrata, 

I have developed health anxiety recently. Specially because I went through a lot of physical withdrawal symptoms. I am excessively worried that something will happen to my body. I did not have this kind of obsession/anxiety before. Never this string and debilitating. 

I feel like my body will not be able to go through withdrawal any longer and it will develop a chronic problem like autoimmune, etc. Specially I have read here in the posts that some people ended up having an autoimmune problem in withdrawal.

I have done blood tests for this and will receive the results on Monday. 

but meanwhile it has been almost impossible to cope with it in last 5-6 weeks. 

[getofflex]

Hello Nemet, I'm sorry you are experiencing the anxiety and panic about your health.  There are things you can do to help this.  Here are some links to explain how:  

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)

 

CBT Course:  An Introductory Self-Help Course in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

Emotional Spirals

 

Acknowledge Accept Float

 

Music to Calm Anxiety

 

Breathing Technique for Anxiety

 

Meditation

[Altostrata]

You will need to learn to manage your health anxiety, possibly with the help of a psychotherapist or other coach. We're not able to help you with that here.

[Nemet]

Thank you @Altostrata. I am about to start my sessions with a therapist. I also received my blood test results today. I have very high Parathyroid hormone level (144 where maximum should be 66. ) This might also explain some cognitive/memory issues. 

[Altostrata]

13 hours ago, Nemet said:

 I also received my blood test results today. I have very high Parathyroid hormone level (144 where maximum should be 66. ) This might also explain some cognitive/memory issues. 

 

I don't know much about this, but you might be able to work on it with a good doctor and reduce your symptoms.

[DinaDina]

On 2/6/2022 at 2:02 AM, Nemet said:

I have developed health anxiety recently. Specially because I went through a lot of physical withdrawal symptoms. I am excessively worried that something will happen to my body. I did not have this kind of obsession/anxiety before. Never this string and debilitating. 

I feel like my body will not be able to go through withdrawal any longer and it will develop a chronic problem like autoimmune, etc. Specially I have read here in the posts that some people ended up having an autoimmune problem in withdrawal.

I have a lot of physical symptoms too. And I always think like you.

[Nemet]

Dear SA community, 

After about 11 months of drug free the anxiety level in last 50 days have been overwhelming. Coping strategies I had developed are not working. I am not sure if this is a wave? I am not sure what I can do. I talk to a coach and she suggested to go back on antidepressants. This is very daunting because I worked hard for about 10 months to go through withdrawal and I was relatively fine. I had hope and I actively followed anything that could be of help. But now I am in a really scary state. I am not sure if going back on antidepressants is a good idea. Can you give me advice on that please? 

 

[Lilabella]

Just hold on if you can. This is how withdrawal goes, it can be delayed like that. Likely that going back on meds will not ease your symptoms. Try and keep going x 

[getofflex]

On 2/16/2022 at 1:23 PM, Nemet said:

I talk to a coach and she suggested to go back on antidepressants. This is very daunting because I worked hard for about 10 months to go through withdrawal and I was relatively fine.

Unfortunately, we live in a world of quick fixes.  Most people want to give you a drug to fix you right away.  However, if you have been relatively fine for 10 months, there is no reason to go back on a drug, in my own opinion.  I sounds like you are in a wave.  Has anything happened, such as a stressful event, weather change, intense exercise, traveling, dietary changes, drinking alcohol or using any other mind altering drugs, or anything that may have upset your nervous system?  As @Lilabellasays, hold on, and be extra gentle and easy on yourself.  

 

It sounds to me as though you are in a wave.  Read this: 

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

[Nemet]

Yes. I had a very stressful time in December. I was under a lot of pressure from my job. 

Loneliness took its toll. I moved to this country in the middle of covid restrictions so I never had an opportunity to make friends or social circle.

Also I started to have some physical problems which in the end the blood-work showed extremely high parathyroid hormone levels. 

In last 10 monthsI  had developed a habit of doing yoga everyday. its been about 4 weeks that I have not been able to do yoga. 

I have booked  my tickets to go back to my country and stay with my family and do the surgery for parathyroid problem. 

 

[getofflex]

Stress can definitely cause a wave, at least for me, it can.  Even doing too much in one day and getting overstimulated can cause my nervous system to have symptoms, such as insomnia and agitation.  The high hormone levels could also play a part.  If you want, you could search our site using "thyroid" or "parathyroid".  

 

How to Search the Site

[getofflex]

@Nemethow are you doing these days? 

[Nemet]

Hi. @getofflex

Thank you for asking.

I'm still going through cognitive and memory issues but I'm physically fine. 

[getofflex]

I see.  I believe that your cognitive and memory issues should very slowly improve with time. It can take years to recover from a cold turkey. I'm glad you are physically OK. Prayers.  

[Nemet]

Hi there. 

Now it has been 14 months since I cold Turkeyed Sertraline and I had recovered a lot from physical symptom. 

In the last two weeks I see some symptoms which are very similar to what I had in the beginning of CT. For example tremor or a sudden shock like feeling in my hand. 

And my brain fog is very much worse than last few months. 

What can I do that can help me? Can the tremor still be from withdrawal? Might that mean that my nervous system is agitated?  

[ChessieCat]

It is not unusual for members who have cold turkeyed their drug to experience a recurrence of withdrawal symptoms.

 

Q:  Is there anything that you might have done/might have happened recently which was stressful?

 

Examples:  sickness, antibiotics, Covid vaccination, drinking alcohol or caffeine, change of job, financial stress, relationship stress, physical overexertion.  Some members have found that even good occurences can cause stress, like going on a holiday or having a celebration or having visitors etc.

 

Please see this topic:

 

are-we-there-yet-how-long-is-withdrawal-going-to-take

 

Also see:

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

and

  

On 12/27/2015 at 6:37 AM, Altostrata said:

Basically- you have a building where the MAJOR steel structures are [...] to be rebuilt at different times - ALL while people are coming and going in the building and attempting to work.

It would be like if the World Trade Center Towers hadn't completely fallen - but had crumbled inside in different places.. Imagine if you were [...] to rebuild the tower - WHILE people were coming and going and [...] to work in the building!  You'd have to set up a temporary elevator - but when you needed to fix part of that area, you'd have to tear down that elevator and set up a temporary elevator somewhere else. And so on. You'd have to build, work around, then tear down, then build again, then work around, then build... ALL while people are coming and going, ALL while the furniture is being replaced, ALL while the walls are getting repainted... ALL while [...] is going on INSIDE the building. No doubt it would be chaotic. That is EXACTLY what is happening with windows and waves.  The windows are where the body has "got it right" for a day or so - but then the building shifts and the brain works on something else - and it's chaos again while another temporary pathway is set up to reroute function until repairs are made. 

 

[Nemet]

Thank you @ChessieCat. 

Yes I had a pretty stressful time recently. I feel a bit better right now. 

thank you for the links. I checked  them and watched the videos. It has been helpful. 

in the last 14 months, my life has been uprooted and withdrawal was really really difficult. But I was able to develop skills to cope with it which I hope will help me with difficult situations for the rest of my life. 

I had no friends or acquaintance to talk to in real life. I have had only this community. I am very grateful for your help and support and all useful information. I know that there is still a long way ahead to full recovery but once in a while there come days that I feel like my pre-medication self and it warms my heart and gives me hope to continue. 

thank you everyone, @ChessieCat, @Altostrata, @getofflex. 

 

 

 

[ChessieCat]

You are welcome.

 

I'm glad that you are starting to feel some improvement.  The recovery does happen in a windows and waves pattern.

 

We would appreciate it if you will continue returning and providing an update every now and then and of course eventually writing your success story.  See:

 

On 11/7/2020 at 8:23 AM, Altostrata said:

One of the things that's very important to each person here is knowing that healing is possible. Please don't just go away when you feel better! "Pay it forward" by updating your Intro topic with your progress and come back to post your success story when you are finally clear of all those awful symptoms.

 

Nothing is more valuable to the community than seeing how recovery happens. You have lots of people hoping you'll get better. Please let them know when you do.

 

SA is not only a site to help and support people but it also aims to educate the medical profession:

 

On 5/15/2011 at 5:22 AM, Altostrata said:

This site is also a research project. The personal stories on this site are documentation of an iatrogenic condition -- suffering caused by medical treatment -- that is almost always ignored, misdiagnosed, or denied by the medical establishment. Given the widespread prescription of antidepressants to tens of millions of people worldwide, withdrawal syndrome probably affects hundreds of thousands if not millions -- including newborns and children.

Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome can last weeks, months, or years. It can be distressing, debilitating, or even disabling. It may be adding to an increase in what is termed disabling mental illness.

With our documentation of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome, we hope to educate the medical establishment about this problem. Case studies are essential; they are evidence understood by doctors, the psychiatric industry, and government regulatory agencies. The have already informed numerous articles in major publications and scientific papers.

Our hope is, eventually, antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs will be prescribed rarely, and only in cases of extremely severe mental illness after less invasive treatments have been tried.

Please join Surviving Antidepressants in its mission to support, document, and educate about psychiatric drug withdrawal syndrome.