Phoenixmama: cold turkey after 3 weeks on Celexa

[Phoenixmama]

i'm on a computer , i think i may have screwed up the setting with that 

[Phoenixmama]

are there any symptoms we could have that could mean we are  closer to the end of withdraw 

[Rosetta]

Could be, but the symptoms are different for everyone.  There are some that are more common in all people, but we all have different “constellations.”  Each person seems to have one or two that are very prominent —happen more often or lessen and intensify the most.  Dizzyness and ear ringing are common for example.  When those symptoms that are common for a particular person start to lessen and do not come back as intensely, perhaps that is a sign.  
 

Maybe this will help you understand a little bit how recovery works.
 

One’s nervous system becomes more difficult to rattle over time.  Even if there are time periods when the sensitivity goes up again (waves), the overall trajectory is toward a more stable system.
 

Here’s an example: the startle response. Loud noises, people yelling, things falling and crashing usually affect me.  At times, they don’t — that’s when I’m numb.  I may have been experiencing anhedonia that is very disturbing when a loud noise happens or I may have noticed that I’m numb only because something crashed.  I used to be bothered by everything, even quiet noises, unless I was anhedonic.  Now, I don’t have anhedonia very often at all, but loud noises usually upset me.  Once in a while they don’t bother me.  That’s when I know I’m numb as I can’t detect it otherwise.  

Slowly, my system is becoming less sensitive.  It’s normal to jump at a loud noise, and to calm down quickly.  It’s not normal for most people to completely freak out.  I used to all out panic and be unable to calm down for a long time.  That is changing.
 

The non-linear nature of this recovery means that I never get my footing.  I don’t know when I can “safely” interact with the world.  I may think I’m doing all right until the recycling truck dumps a bunch of glass out of a bin.  
 

Then there is the second element of startle response: recovery time.  Yesterday, my daughter broke a plate glass window.  There was the initial crack and then, a few seconds later, all the pieces fell and crashed.  I panicked when I heard the crack, but I flipped when I heard the crash.  Then, I recovered very quickly after I realized what had happened and there was no injury to anyone.  That’s a big deal.  The recovery time is becoming much more normal.
 

I used those examples because I think most people in WD have the sensitivity to loud noises, but the concept applies to a lot of symptoms that are not exacerbated by noises.  They very slowly improve, get worse during waves, and improve again.  Your baseline for a symptom will be slightly better after each wave even if the degree of improvement is not perceptible to you.

[Phoenixmama]

thank you so much , and i'm so happy for you , that your feeling some improvements... your explained it so well

[Phoenixmama]

what is a baseline ?

[Phoenixmama]

Today I woke up with really bad nausea had it all day along with head pressure and pain then around 3 pm I started having bad anxiety which is going on now for 3 hours and some weird thoughts of me passing away , I’m scared !!! my body is shaking inside... could this be withdraw or relapse... I haven’t had anxiety this bad since I stopped taking celexa 8 weeks ago 

[Rosetta]

It’s a wave.  Most of us have anxiety in the mornings that slowly wears off throughout the day.  That is caused by the overactive brain causing too much cortisol to be released in the morning.  Some people have anxiety all day because the brain keeps releasing cortisol or adrenaline.  This is common, at least in the beginning, and during certain waves.  Some people have an increase in anxiety in the late afternoon or evening.  I had that for a while.  It’s kind of like a sundowner syndrome if you have ever heard of that.
 

Your brain has made some changes to compensate for the lack of Celexa, and it has over compensated in some ways.  Now, it is making changes again to help with the over corrections it has made.  Those changes are affecting processes and parts of your body such as equilibrium, adrenaline release, and muscle tension.   This is the explanation for windows and waves.
 

The nausea, the anxiety, the head pressure and the intrusive thoughts are all very commonly reported on SA.  Head pressure must be a muscle tension type of response, I believe.   Intrusive thoughts are caused by all the chaos in the nervous system, I think.  I’ve had them forever, but the subject matter changed to death after I quit Zoloft.
 

I had those thoughts about passing away.  They are very upsetting, I know.  They do not mean anything at all except that you are struggling with the dysautonomia created by WD (or adverse reaction for some people).  I found it very hard that I lost my intuition because my brain could not parse stimuli the way it should.  I had a lot of odd fears and intrusive thoughts.  I still get one here or there.
 

It is not “relapse.”  It is anxiety for an entirely different reason than any anxiety you had before Celexa.  After fast WD of these drugs, diagnoses of any other disorders cannot be accurate.  There is too much interference from WD symptoms to make diagnoses.  It is very, very important to not take a prescription of a benzo or another AD right now based on a diagnosis from a doctor who is not well-versed in AD WD syndrome.  The dose he would give you would be too high and you would risk an adverse reaction.  That would increase the degree of dysautonomia.

[Phoenixmama]

Thank you so much @Rosetta, I won’t be going to the doctors for this and never taking anything they give me for this , you are so knowledgeable, I can always count on you to break it down for me... who would have ever thought after taking celexa for only 3 weeks would do this much damage . I am blown away by this whole ordeal 

[Phoenixmama]

today is just bad , very bad flu like symptoms , weak , my mind is not good  today , my head is  feeling weak , and i'm really shaky inside, my waves seem to  be getting worse and i'm approaching my 9 week off celexa , i'm so drained from this, i need strength... all this while sitting at my desk checking in patients feeling like i'm about to crack , thank god for the masks i have to wear other wise they would see my pain in my face

[Rosetta]

Hi.  Are you feeling any better?  I hope so. — Rosetta

[Phoenixmama]

Hi yes , I’m taking a week off from work and came out to the country to stay at my grandmas, ive had a little doomed mood and crying spells and dizziness when I go to the stores , oh and I’m having really bad allergies and haven’t taken anything for it I’m so scared , do you have any recommendations for natural ways to help with allergy, thanks for checking up on me 

[Phoenixmama]

@Rosetta and how are you ❤️

[Rosetta]

I’m fine.  Thank you.

 

The only time I have had allergies was after I quit Zoloft.  I discovered that ADs have anti-histamine properties.  I was prescribed an inhaler after Zoloft because I was short of breath.  What was happening was that my body overreacted to pollen because I had been on an anti-histamine for years — Zoloft (and Celexa).  
 

Well, as you might guess, the amount of medicine I got from the inhaler was too much, and it probably hurt more than it helped.  So, if you try anything, use a tiny amount, of course, but it’s better to avoid drugs.  

 

The best way to deal with it is to avoid irritants to your system.  That might mean wearing a mask or putting vaseline type stuff in your nose to trap the pollen.  Maybe you can find a natural alternative to Vaseline.  There are all kinds of those made for babies.  Burt’s Bees brand perhaps?  It will go away.  I think I had sinus issues from allergies for only two Springtimes, maybe three.

[Phoenixmama]

Yank you good idea 👍 I’ll try Vaseline 

[Phoenixmama]

Thank *

[Phoenixmama]

I was doing fine these past couple of days , hen about 45 minutes I went to drive to the store and felt weird like I was gonna lose control or something or faint , I came back to the house ate something now laying down and just crying , will I ever be normal again 💔

[Phoenixmama]

@Rosetta are you around , I need your reassurance, I feel like such a baby .. please help 

[Rosetta]

Hi How are you doing now? Better?  Ugh.  I couldn’t drive for a while.  I was so freaked out.  Yes, you will be normal again.  

[Phoenixmama]

Yes still a little off with a headache, but it was like I had fear , sadness, the feeling like I was gonna go out of control , evenings are always good , I love them 🤞it’s when I feel my normal self and I can enjoy them with my little girl , thanks Rosetta , while I was going through it I went through some of your new posts ❤️❤️❤️ They rescued me from the pits of hell lol I will forever be grateful to you 🙏🏼

[getofflex]

Recovery from psych meds is nonlinear.  We call this windows and waves.  It can be quite frustrating, but it's normal for this crazy AD WD we find ourselves in.  

[Phoenixmama]

Thanks @getofflex I’m slowly learning and accepting , and also after reading so many peoples cry for help on here that My symptoms aren’t as bad compared to some , but I guess for everyone when you get in that awful wave out of nowhere and scared to death we are all the same... my heart hurts for everyone here 💔 

 

also is it strange that I get a wave in the day out of no where , I don’t think I’ve had one last for days like some or even a window they both are broken up during the day 

[Rosetta]

It’s very unpredictable, but many people feel better in the evenings.  You can plan your life around that. Once in a while, it is not better then.  
 

I’m glad you are feeling better and that it seems you are having short waves.
 

 

[Phoenixmama]

For two day’s ive been having the chills around this time it happen yesterday and now today , I’m not cold at the same time I have an uneasy feeling and nausea 

[Phoenixmama]

Now brain burn in the front of my head 

[getofflex]

On 5/6/2021 at 10:21 AM, Phoenixmama said:

Thanks @getofflex I’m slowly learning and accepting , and also after reading so many peoples cry for help on here that My symptoms aren’t as bad compared to some , but I guess for everyone when you get in that awful wave out of nowhere and scared to death we are all the same... my heart hurts for everyone here 💔 

I'm glad that reading the stories of others has been helpful.  Thank you for your compassion.  This will slowly get better with time.  One day, you may look back on how you felt 6 months, or a year ago, and say to yourself "wow, I feel so much better now then I did then".  

[Phoenixmama]

@Rosetta hi I have sorta a private woman question for you that’s important, I tried to message you but it says I can’t send you a message 

[Rosetta]

Ok.  I’ll try to delete some messages.

[Phoenixmama]

Thank you 

[Phoenixmama]

what scares me is wondering if i've been through the worst of my withdraw or am i going to get hit with a much bigger nightmare , i haven't had some of the terrifying symptoms some people have but ive had been in hell , these days im just scared to even eat ,  not sure what will set off a wave or make my withdraw worse , i dont obsess over my symptoms that much anymore i just sorta say "okay here we go again" and go through the nightmare and reach out on SA.... 

[getofflex]

Previous post moved to keep you history all in one place.  Please post questions and discussion about your situation in this one thread to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts.  

[getofflex]

5 minutes ago, Phoenixmama said:

what scares me is wondering if i've been through the worst of my withdraw or am i going to get hit with a much bigger nightmare

I think that as long as you are careful to avoid adding any more drugs, or supplements, or anything that could affect your nervous system, you will be OK.  We see this happen a lot when people get in a wave, and then their doctor puts them back on psych meds, or makes a big change to their dose.  When in doubt, just check in here and run it by SA.  🙂

[Phoenixmama]

thank you @getofflex  sorry for posting in the wrong place I'm still trying to get used to the site , I'm just so thankful for your help 

[Phoenixmama]

I'M IN A WINDOW !!!! 😊 im at work and all the sudden i noticed i wanted to take on a task that i have been avoiding and letting someone else do for months , but i took it on and it felt so great doing it , then i noticed i was joking around with a coworkers and being silly 🤗 , but wait is this mania because i also feel super hyper and just overall good and positive , i haven't felt this good in months , how can i determine this ?

[Phoenixmama]

is it a window or mania ??? 

[Hanna72]

Hi @Phoenixmama

45 minutes ago, Phoenixmama said:

I'M IN A WINDOW !!!! 😊

That’s awesome. Enjoy your window, don’t over analyse it.

When I have been in a window I too have become over excited, does not mean I am manic. It means you are happy and content, it’s a normal human feeling.

Embrace it.

So happy for you🙏

 

[Phoenixmama]

@Hanna72 thank you ❤️