Darren: My home life and self conscious social anxiety.

[Darren]

So. 20 years ago started "meds". None since end of 2014. I tapered then on venlafaxine 37.5 mg in 6 months. Possibly wrong I know. Started the venlafaxine beginning 2008.

 

It's got to the stage now, my main issue is my house and living alone. I feel I haven't got a "home". When i am at my parents house I feel at home". I was living here before I started meds and upto 2009. 

 

I developed bad ocd with germs when I started the venlafaxine. I've still got it, especially in my house.

 

I spent so long in two properties with this issue while on venlafaxine. It's got in my head that I need a " home". It seems definitely linked with withdrawal. I get symptoms when I enter my house. Lack of vitality in hair, dull eyes, body not full expression, rage, itchy botto

 

PLEASE GIVE ADVICE GUYS.

[Darren]

So, I'm 38 now. Before I went on "meds", aged 18, my social anxiety and avoidant in settings was at a peak. Thinking about it now, I felt what was happening, but suppose kinda felt it was normal. I was human.  

 

The psych drugs from 18 to 32. I never admitted to the doctors my main issue was my social symptoms on show. But I was kinda struggling in other ways, well I think. I was drinking beer quite a bit from 15 to 18 so made stuff worse. Also cannabis I believe played a part. But the truth is, i had the feelings since I was 3 or 4.

 

In a way, the anti psycotic ones helped me a bit. I remember, but now I realise they just shut your body system down. I should never had gone on them. Bloated weight and if taken longer, danger side effects.

 

But during these times, I socialised abit and did a handful of things you do in your teens, early twenties. Mainly alcohol was around a lot, going the local pub or friends house. Most of my life has been stay up late. Probably avoidance of normal life.

 

To anyone reading this i m gonna write about my venlafaxine problems in 24 hours. Thanks for reading this introduction. I hope I can help someone along the way

 

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Darren

 

When was the last time you took venlafaxine? Did you have any withdrawal symptoms? How's your sleep?

 

We help people go off drugs, but we don't have the training to help people with their psychological issues, be they OCD or social anxiety. That is something you will need to address yourself, perhaps with the coaching of a psychotherapist.

[Darren]

I understand. I agree.

 

December 2014. I started the taper in the July. I'm not sure when my symptoms started. Could of been while on the drug too. But my main issue was vision Nov 2015. Blurry. Photosensitive on screens too. Throat as well. Cleaning fluids and smoking cigarettes very intense. I was putting a lot of symptoms down to my apartment. I live in another house now, but have similar issues. Sleep being one. 

 

Can't  concentrate, inflamed eyes, hair static, ears pressure. 

 

But when I'm in another property, with good people my symptoms eventually go.

 

 

[Darren]

I lived on my own all through those years on venlafaxine. Im understanding there are psychosomatic issues with these drugs. The brain has certainly missed out during. 

 

[Altostrata]

22 hours ago, Darren said:

Can't  concentrate, inflamed eyes, hair static, ears pressure. 

 

 

You might be allergic to something among your possessions.

 

Did you get any unusual symptoms after you went off venlafaxine? If so, how have they changed in the last year?

 

What do you do for exercise?

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you.

[Darren]

I can't really remember. Withdrawal sent me on a drug high I think, as I got that when I went on. A new confidence almost, a high.  Im not sure with the symptoms I still get, was thinking it might be stress related. Dust mites in mattress could be. Need try that. Truth is I wasnt aware of much on the venlafaxine. Like I say it's very confusing of lost feeling etc. Exercise I've tried, swimming etc. Body gets drained abit. I suffer with social anxiety deep down, I avoid certain places.

 

 

[Darren]

🙂.  It will be 7 years nearly since my taper ended. The symptoms of blurred vision has ended a lot more. It's mainly a lack of energy that I get what is my main issue. No life in me, but like I say I have bad anticipatery anxiety, so hide alot in my current surroundings. I don't feel fresh. 

[Darren]

7 years off, but possible issue still from withdrawal?

 

I have written mainly on my introduction thread.  I've maybe realised now that I suffered with new things, first when taking the venlafaxine, second the duration of taking the drug, third when withdrawal. 

 

7 years off, maybe holding on to symptoms?  Withdrawal in my old apartment, was blaming the apartment on sensations. New house, seems like I have brought the issues here. 

 

I would like to point out, before venlafaxine, I was never aware of symptoms related to withdrawal sensations. I just struggled with my anxiety.

 

I developed ocd contamination with germs when I first went on the drug.  I still have these. And chemical intolerance and unstable vision, these withdrawal stage.

 

 

Edited October 12, 2021 by ChessieCat
added topic title before merging with intro topic

[Escitalopram21]

Hello @Darren

how are you doing?

not sure what your question is, can you specify?

[ChessieCat]

 I have moved your new topic to your Introduction topic.

 

SA works differently to many other forums.  Each member has their own Introduction topic.  This is the best place for questions to be asked about your own situation and where you can also journal your progress.  It also keeps your history in one place and means that you do not have to repeat your story.

 

It also becomes a case history.  See:

 

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

 

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.

 

 

[Darren]

Escitalopram, thanks for contacting. I'm basically stuck, my withdrawal has long gone now. Nearly 7 years. But I'm stuck with past memories I think when I withdrew and while on the drug. 

 

With me the last 3 or 4 years, I've realised alot of my stresses relate to things happening while on the anti depressants. I was living on my own then, and almost not living a life. 

 

I still live on my own, and seems to be affecting me. When I am somewhere else, I feel fresher and lighter with more life in me. 

 

Maybe I'm missing a home life, people around, a base. 

 

When I went on venlafaxine in 2008, it sent me on a manic high, and I developed ocd with contamination germs. It was this stage I took these fears within the house, washing things and no germs. This has stayed with me, but seems less intense if in another environment. 

 

 

[Altostrata]

On 9/21/2021 at 8:31 AM, Darren said:

I developed ocd contamination with germs when I first went on the drug.  I still have these. And chemical intolerance and unstable vision, these withdrawal stage.

 

It's possible chemical intolerance and unstable vision are related to withdrawal syndrome.

 

When you went off venlafaxine in 2014, did you have withdrawal symptoms while you were tapering? How did you feel after you went off? How did your symptom pattern change since then?

 

If you had a tendency to obsessive-compulsive type symptoms before you went on antidepressants, it is possible this habit of mind has re-emerged. Have you tried non-drug therapies for it?

[Darren]

It's all gone now Altostrata. These issues could be initial anxiety symptoms, I don't know. Like I've spoken to you before, I really need be living with someone/family. My own environment has become strange, which probably is something to do with the ocd I developed. I never had ocd that bad prior medication. Take care

[Darren]

The venlafaxine sent me on a manic high when first went on, then actually again after finishing tapering. Chemical intolerance after finishing, vision. I'm on my own path, and only I know what has change.