Snowguy34 Introduction - Nervous System Jacked Up and Need Advice

[Snowguy34]

Hi everyone ,

 

quick overview of my history 

 

1) took Lexapro 20-25 mg from Oct 2019 - March 2020

- subsequently cold turkeyed off of it because I didn’t know better 

- consequently developed akathasia 

 

2) took Paxil (can’t remember dose) from June 2021 - Oct 2021

- this is where the real nightmare started , I developed PSSD and wanted off as soon as possible 

- subsequently cold turkeyed off of this 

 

I found this website in Nov 2022 after suffering for a long time and not knowing what was causing my issues . I decided to play smart guy and try and treat my nervous system with Ketamine and later Psilocybin . While giving me incredible insight and healing into the original causes of my trauma and anxiety/ depression , they (specifically psilocybin , ketamine actually seemed to help albeit only temporarily) caused my nervous system to be more jacked up, and my akathasia to become worse .

 

Which leads me to today , I’m jacked up as all belief, can’t sleep , in pain and frankly having lots of suicidal ideation (no plan on actually acting because I want to stay and fight my ass off ) 

 

So this leads me to my question , 

 

Do I reinstate Lexapro and take the time to do a proper taper ? I obviously don’t want to make things worse , but God I am jacked up and feel like I’m on the verge of losing my job which I actually like doing .

 

thanks ,

snowguy34

[Snowguy34]

Since I’m being as vulnerable as possible I just have to say the last 5 years have been a nightmare with the last 3 ( since I took the SSRIs) being the worst . I’m just desperate and don’t know what to do .

 

Thanks 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, Snowguy34.  Thanks for completing your signature.

 

We're a site for going off psychiatric drugs and dealing with withdrawal from those drugs.  Reinstatement works most reliably to help with withdrawal symptoms if done within 3 months of your last dose.  At three years out, you're far beyond the time when we would recommend a Lexapro reinstatement.  These drugs are extremely powerful and change the brain.  Due to your CT of Lexapro and the intervening Paxil, psilocybin, ketamine, the withdrawal process and other factors we can only guess at, your brain is not the same as when you stopped Lexapro in March, 2020,   You're also almost certainly in withdrawal from Paxil. The depression, anxiety and insomnia you're experiencing are very typical withdrawal symptoms.

 

So that you have a better idea of what you're experiencing, here is some information on withdrawal.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

We don't recommend trying more drugs to deal with withdrawal.  That puts you on the "drug merry-go-round" of try this, try that, with no idea what's going to happen, including the drugs making your situation worse.   I know you're desperate for relief--we've all been there and in many cases still are there--but from our perspective the only solution is time.  I know this is not what you want to hear.  It has been our experience that we all do heal, but it does take time and there is no way to predict how long it will take.  

 

What we recommend in using non-drug techniques to help you deal with withdrawal.  Take a look at this link to see which techniques you think might help.

 

Non-drug techniques to cope

 

I also you read through our Success Stories forum on our main page.  I particularly recommend the success story of Shep, one of our administrators.

 

My Success Story:  Shep's Success: "Leaving Plato's Cave"

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23 by Gridley

[Snowguy34]

Thank you Gridley! I was going through a really rough time when I posted - a dark night of the soul so to speak . Since then I’ve been reacquainted with how powerful acceptance is in enabling you to keep going . I am going to use acceptance , meditation , acupuncture and exercise going forward . Best wishes and I pray for everyone on this website suffering 

[Gridley]

@Snowguy34

 

Please do not start any new Introduction topics.  Only one Introduction topic per member.  This keeps all your posts in one place.  For all your future posts, post everything in your original Introduction topic.  Thanks. 

 

I'm very happy that you're doing better.  Acceptance is the key.

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Snowguy34

 

When did you take the ketamine and psilocybin? What's your sleep pattern now?

[Snowguy34]

@Altostrata Took ketamine in December 2022, and then Jan 2023. I genuinely think it helped, although like I said temporarily, and there's some confirmation I've read on benzo withdrawal sites that it has helped people in that scenario as well. 

 

Took psilocybin last Sunday. Sleep pattern went back to normal after a couple days, but things definitely got hairy for a couple days after psilocybin, it's an intense experience.

 

 

[Altostrata]

I'm sorry, we don't know anything about experimenting with psilocybin here. You'll have to join another forum to discuss that and the results.

 

It's not something we'd like to see our members adopt as a technique for tapering psychiatric drugs. The jury is still out regarding how much it may help.