Akathisia vs restlessness, anxiety, agitation

[dadtobe]

Anyone familiar with windows and waves from SSRI induced Akathisia? I'm just looking for affirmation I have akathisia as my primary doctor insist it's my anxiety returning.  I was able to get on a call with Dr. Shipko (very short only 30 minutes). He said I probably have SSRI induced Aka based on my symptoms. Since I didn't get much time with him though I'm still wondering if that's the right diagnosis. Basically though my waves start with a headache / itchy skin / I feel extremely tired. Sometimes this is started by an obvious stressor, but not always. This one bad day turns into not sleeping long enough and waking with heavy morning anxiety. This is when things get really bad and I feel the need to pace. I walk miles in my house, even bought new shoes to walk since my knees started hurting. I don't enjoy sitting still at all. This goes on for days / weeks until for some reason it'll just break randomly and I'll feel almost back to normal. It literally feels like a switch. I was in a wave for a month almost all of February and have been going in and out of waves the past month or so with about 7 days, somewhat ok, 5 days in a massive wave, 7 days ok. Just not sure what I'm up against, part of me wants to contact a neurologist to see if they can diagnose me but it seems like I go into a window every time I'm about to make an appointment so I'm not sure if they'll even be able to diagnose me if I'm in a window. I've been completely off Lexapro after a somewhat fast taper over 4 months or so but I've been dealing with this issue (although it's improved) since I started Lexapro and especially since I started tapering. I still think there is a small possibility it could be benzo related as well but I think benzo Aka needs to be higher dose and probably longer term than a few months. I was only on Lexapro 1 month @ 10mg before I started tapering. I've dealt with severe burning skin, insomnia, nausea, amongst other things. I'm better today than I was in October but now that I'm completely med free for last 45 days and still having issues, I'm starting to get a bit nervous there is a bigger problem. 

 

If anyone can relate it would be hugely appreciated!

[Boris]

Hi 

 

My Akathisia would go in a similar pattern each time I tried to come off and finally when I did. 

 

It would start similar to how you describe as well. It would usually last 2 weeks then a week off then a bit shorter then a bit longer window and so on. At one point it went for 6months then came back, then went for a year and came back. So it would switch round and eventually went. It was a scary time but once you saw the windows improve I felt a bit better. Although it was always hard to convince myself when it started again.

 

I went through this process 3 times due to getting off then back on, failed attempt to come and when I finally got off it was over a 4-5 month instead of a year or so.

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dadtobe]

Super useful, thank you Boris!

[ChessieCat]

A member posted this in their Introduction topic.  Please note that I am not suggesting that this is the answer.  Just something that one of SA's members experienced that I thought would get to have documented in this topic.

 

1 hour ago, Alice1 said:

When I recovered the first time from Aka I remember not doing anything in particular to help.  The first 3 years I walked and meditated everyday, I had a counselor, and did everything possible to try to get better.  I really didn’t start getting better until I just forgot about all that stuff and started focusing on normal things.  If you ask me, I think just time and drug abstinence are the only things required. Then once you start feeling better even just a little bit, it’s important to just start living your life, smart and carefully of course.  

 

[ChessieCat]

  

46 minutes ago, Lloyd said:

 

I survived Akathisia!!!! Of all the horrible things this was by far the worst part of withdrawal - the experience was truly the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Words can't describe how horrible it is to live with it 24x7. It eased up suddenly early this year quite dramatically and then vanished. Occasionally I feel fidgety but that seems to be anxiety more than anything else. I have no idea why it suddenly stopped - nothing changed, diet, medications, environment etc. But either way I am thankful that it has.

 

 

[Estman]

I had restless legs a week ago in the evenings
About 5-7 hours after administration
The day before yesterday, 23 days after the last cut, a very severe wave began
There is a great deal of anxiety and nausea. The pulse is very fast and high blood pressure
Strange, like restless legs precede the wave

[UnusualRoom]

On 2/16/2021 at 9:22 PM, shambambo said:

 All of a sudden  I started to feel inner vibrations in both my legs. I thought my legs had their blood supplies cut off, never thought of akathisia, never heard of it before. 2-3 days later it was all over with a feeling of immense and persisting fear I never experienced before. I felt it EVERYWHERE, even in my eyelids.

 

 

I've never related to a post more. It's an odd sensation to be overly aware of your eyelids. Question for other members who have more knowledge that I-when I get akathisia, it really throws my balance, like i have a bobble head or my body doesn't know where it is in space. 

 

Does that make sense or is that a separate symptom?

[manymoretodays]

13 hours ago, UnusualRoom said:

I've never related to a post more. It's an odd sensation to be overly aware of your eyelids. Question for other members who have more knowledge that I-when I get akathisia, it really throws my balance, like i have a bobble head or my body doesn't know where it is in space. 

 

Does that make sense or is that a separate symptom?

 

Hi again UR, as I just gave you a link here from your Introduction.

I definitely can relate to having had the "bobble head" symptom.

And no, I did not consider that to be akathisia at all.

Mine occurred shortly after taking magnesium citrate orally/by mouth when I was in acute WD.

 

That out of space feeling, could be WD symptom of DP/DR(depersonalization, derealization), or secondary to your benzo too.  I know with my own brief experience on benzo's I really did feel out of it, in that kind of way.

I also got the symptom of feeling out of space in early WD too and then off and on later.

 

Derealization or Depersonalization(DR and DP)

Here's that topic ^. 

[Sofa]

Hi, since january i have had constant tightness and restlessness in my chest. It never goes away and makes it Impossible to relax properly.
 

Have tried meditation and breathing techniques, but they just dont work.

 

I am starting to get really tired because my chest never will relax. I can never just sink back in the couch or lay down in my bed.

 

My sleep is messed up because of this! 

 

I also have this diffuse anxious and scared feeling all the time, and i dont know why! Its constant, and i just want to relax. Feels like i am constantly on the verge of panick. 
 

Sometimes i get this burning pain in my chest and the restlessness gets way worse!

 

My breathing is also troubling me. 

I sometimes get the restlessness in my legs, but this constant in my chest is the worst, and the diffuse scared feeling.

 

Its been four months off this, is it even possible to recover?

I have waves that come roughly every three weeks like clockwork. The Windows always stay the same though. I never get any better.

[Estman]

8 minutes ago, Sofa said:

Hi, since january i have had constant tightness and restlessness in my chest. It never goes away and makes it Impossible to relax properly.
 

Have tried meditation and breathing techniques, but they just dont work.

 

I am starting to get really tired because my chest never will relax. I can never just sink back in the couch or lay down in my bed.

 

My sleep is messed up because of this! 

 

I also have this diffuse anxious and scared feeling all the time, and i dont know why! Its constant, and i just want to relax. Feels like i am constantly on the verge of panick. 
 

Sometimes i get this burning pain in my chest and the restlessness gets way worse!

 

My breathing is also troubling me. 

I sometimes get the restlessness in my legs, but this constant in my chest is the worst, and the diffuse scared feeling.

 

Its been four months off this, is it even possible to recover?

I have waves that come roughly every three weeks like clockwork. The Windows always stay the same though. I never get any better.

I sometimes have akathisia and discover that a small dose of Betaloc (half a tablet of Metropolol) went to bed the next day took akathisia.
In case of akathisia, I have had very disturbing weakness in my legs and arms with great unrest

However, these symptoms will not go away, even if you have had them for a long time

[Sofa]

1 minute ago, Estman said:

However, these symptoms will not go away, even if you have had them for a long time

You mean they will never go away? I will have akathisa forever?

[Estman]

40 minutes ago, Sofa said:

You mean they will never go away? I will have akathisa forever?

 

40 minutes ago, Sofa said:

 

 

40 minutes ago, Sofa said:

 

I have been reducing my antidepressant for 2.5 years.
At first it lasted longer and then I reduced my dose too quickly.
At present, agitation usually occurs after dose reduction
However, for a while it passes or changes with periods of fatigue.
But this is due to the reduction of the antidepressant
If it is no longer necessary to do this, the agitation will eventually disappear

[savinggrace]

Estman,

 

My B12 and folate levels were measured in different units. One of my levels of B12 was 132pg/mL. My folate was 6.1 ng/mL. (Bottom of range). I can’t compare your levels to mine. Do  your test results show you are above or below range?

 

A caution about beta-blockers. I have a friend who went many years on psych drugs. She managed to get off them. This winter she got very sick with COVID and it brought back a lot of symptoms. She gave into taking a beta-blocker. Once she wanted off the beta-blocker, she started tapering and is having a terrible time. The point is, some people experience withdrawal syndrome after short-term use of beta-blockers. That said, I understand your need to mitigate the agitation. I think stopping the B vitamins, especially the methyl-folate will help. 
 

Grace

[Estman]

On 4/26/2022 at 7:44 PM, savinggrace said:

Estman,

 

My B12 and folate levels were measured in different units. One of my levels of B12 was 132pg/mL. My folate was 6.1 ng/mL. (Bottom of range). I can’t compare your levels to mine. Do  your test results show you are above or below range?

 

A caution about beta-blockers. I have a friend who went many years on psych drugs. She managed to get off them. This winter she got very sick with COVID and it brought back a lot of symptoms. She gave into taking a beta-blocker. Once she wanted off the beta-blocker, she started tapering and is having a terrible time. The point is, some people experience withdrawal syndrome after short-term use of beta-blockers. That said, I understand your need to mitigate the agitation. I think stopping the B vitamins, especially the methyl-folate will help. 
 

Grace

Hi Grace,

When I had akathisia 3-4 days ago, I took half a tablet of Betaloc (metropolol) in the evening
Interestingly, the next day it relieved the symptoms of akathisia such as restlessness and especially weakness in the legs and arms.
Then I thought B12 and folic acid must have caused this akathisia
Now I remembered that the day before Akathisia, I took half a tablet of Telmisartan (a micardist) to lower my high blood pressure.
I didn't know the connection, but when I read my new blood pressure medicine leaflet, I started thinking
Your doctor has prescribed Prenessa (Perindopril) for testing, but this leaflet says that it may cause weakness in your hands and feet.
This is exactly the symptom I had with Telmisartan. I also felt great akathisia and anxiety.
For some reason, my blood pressure medicine caused me to have a fast pulse, even the next day
That's why for some reason I took another half of Betaloc (Metropolol) yesterday morning.
However, my depression has increased since yesterday afternoon.
I have a feeling that a beta blocker causes an increase in depression
And it seems that the blood pressure medicine Telmisartan can cause akathisia.
Could that be the case?
I have to lower my blood pressure if I have a severe headache, like a migraine. Often my blood pressure rises
There is a characteristic headache, especially in the neck.
Lisateave lähteteksti kohtaLisatõlketeabe saamiseks on vaja lähteteksti
Saada tagasisidet
Külgpaneelid

[savinggrace]

Estman

 

My best advice to you would be not to try and manage all of your symptoms with a pill or a supplement.  Try to go "through it" instead of around it.  When there are too many variables (1/2 tablet of this, some of that....) you really don't know what is causing what.  Often just letting your brain settle down will calm things like akathisia.  But you have to be patient and wait.  Often times, meds and supplements can cause high blood pressure.   The instability caused by the stress of so much change will not help.  Try looking for natural (non-pill or supplement) ways to ease your symptoms.  Be careful with your diet, get some gentle exercise, try to avoid avoidable stress, and sleep when you can.  Accepting that you aren't going to get a normal night's sleep is probably best.  The thing is when you take these temporary remedies, your body reacts to them when they leave your body and wants more.  This causes a viscous cycle that makes tapering so much more difficult.

 

I use heat, ice, distraction, exercise (gentle), prayers, meditation as my only remedies.  I have a lot of chronic pain 24/7 and gut problems and insomnia as well.  I never take anything but these darn drugs I haven't been able to get off.  Even "natural" supplements and foods interact with the blood levels of your medicine and destabilize you.  There is no remedy for withdrawal except time.

 

Grace

[kostakonkordia]

Vit B6 and akathisia:

https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/01/vitamin-b6-effective-reducing-antipsychotic-induced-akathisia/

I wonder why noone has found this so far... 

[Ariel]

When I had akathisia I found it helpful to wear compression garments, for example exercise clothing (athleisure) with compression effect.

It felt comforting and helped calm me down. 

[Valerio]

On 6/28/2022 at 10:11 AM, Ariel said:

When I had akathisia I found it helpful to wear compression garments, for example exercise clothing (athleisure) with compression effect.

It felt comforting and helped calm me down. 

@Ariel, could you tell me if I really have akathisia?
In bad days my body cannot calm down. I feel resteless and I can't function, I just cry. 
I have a sense of discomfort. I keep moving my legs and feets. Suicidal ideation happens at times, mostly in the afternoom. I became agressive and incapable to work and do daily tasks. Tks

[kostakonkordia]

On 7/6/2022 at 2:46 AM, Valerio said:

@Ariel, could you tell me if I really have akathisia?
In bad days my body cannot calm down. I feel resteless and I can't function, I just cry. 
I have a sense of discomfort. I keep moving my legs and feets. Suicidal ideation happens at times, mostly in the afternoom. I became agressive and incapable to work and do daily tasks. Tks

Yes sounds like akathisia to me... It's very likely a dopamine issue. I have heard vit b6 and niacin can help. 

Edited July 7, 2022 by kostakonkordia

[Lauren90]

Has anyone tried an antihistamine or anti inflammatory diet to help?

[KuszaPapieza]

I am so afraid of akathisia. It is simply a terrible condition. I read so much about it and it scares me. Can akathisia be mild? Is every akathisia a feeling of terror that prevents normal functioning?

[Sturm]

I’ve had Akathisia for around 20 days. It seemed to have been triggered by going CT on 5mg of Abilify (which is a pretty low dose). It was extremely bad the first few days, I paced one day 20.000 steps. 
 

Around two days after it appeared, I reinstated the 5mg Abilify. I believe that improved the symptoms quite a lot, but it still is there. I also experience what I believe are waves at certain times.

 

I haven’t been suicidal for a few months, but I could become suicidal again if this does not go away quickly. It isn’t that bad compared to how some people get it, but it still is uncomfortable and has the ability to put my life on hold as long as it is present. Reading the horror stories on Reddit and on sites like this really doesn’t make it any better. I can’t survive years or even several months with this. Will it likely go away as I stabilise on Abilify?

[Erimus]

I know it’s hard but try to stop reading the horror stories @Sturm. All the different websites and forums you frequent are skewed because people who recover get on with life. 90% of the people you interact with are suffering to some extent, which makes it difficult to find the people who have healed. 
 

You’ve probably read it but there’s some more information on people recovering from akathisia here: 

I’ve been dealing with it for just under 4 months now and it’s definitely changed somewhat. I’m hesitant to say improved as it keeps coming back. I’m hopeful though.

[Elaine5]

I have often a feeling of internal terror, like my brain is tight and I cannot exist in the present moment. This seizes me internally and mentally and I am consumed by the fear of what if I never feel at peace or happy again and am driven to SI. 
 

i also experience emotional anesthesia and can’t tell if this is my internal reaction to how scary the flatness is or if this something separate from the flatness. 
 

It hasn’t been this way non stop for the last 4 months, but lately it seems more consistent and unrelenting. 
 

my body does not feel propelled to pace or move- it is just in my brain and I feel consumed internally.

 

in the last when I have been convinced I will feel better again and this will be a thing of the past I have been able to forget about it and even enjoy certain moments. 
 

help determine if this is inner akathisia is? 

[PortugueseSea]

That is almost a textbook definition, yes.

From what I have learned by talking with all sorts of people there are two main components of akathisia, one or the other can be more prevalent:

1) agitation/restlessness; it can be internal, external or both; there is an inability to relax that is relentless and merciless.
2) terror; like you are being chased by a serial killer, doom, dread.

Lots of people mainly have one or the other, others have both. For some people, one resolves before the other, for others they go at the same time.

In my case the second has much improved, maybe 70%, the first aspect... maybe only 20%. I am 6 months out from the causative agent and on mirt 15mg.

[Elaine5]

Does anyone experience a lot of discomfort in their esophorgus and or ear canals during an Akathisia storm? 
 

i will feel very gassy, heartburny, etc.  

 

is this related in any way? 

[Lauren90]

On 6/1/2020 at 4:03 AM, hennie86 said:

 

I don't know what was the cause of my akathisia. Maybe a combination of med side effects and wd. I decided to write my whole akathisia story because I hope it would help someone.

 

Lexapro withdrawal started my battle with it (felt inner restlessness a bit and restlessness in my limbs) but meds I was prescribed  after it including trying to reinstate Lexapro, mirtazapine, zyprexa, seroquel made it worse. I did not feel better that time with any meds. I got worse and worse and were prescribed benzos with the meds to help me with "anxiety" and insomnia (that I think were connected a lot to akathisia). During Zyprexa when using it for some time the side effects calmed a bit  but after taking the dose every night I felt more akathisia and I had to take benzo at the same time . I could not use any med without taking benzo at the same time and it tells a lot. During that time one doctor took me away from daily benzos I had used for months and it was horrible.

Benzos somewhat helped but did not take it away completely. I wanted to stop other meds because every pill seemed to cause restlessness but stopping Zyprexa CT triggered even worse akathisia again

 

In that point I was diagnosed akathisia and prescribed propranonol and more benzos but propranonol was useless and stopped it. Then it was the worst. I was pacing all day long, falling asleep only with help of benzo battling with insomnia. I could not be still at all. I felt this awful inner terror, panic 24/7, wanting to crawl out of my skin. It lasted for a long time, months, slowly getting a bit better and I started to be able to lay down more.

 

I started to stabilize after holding benzos for many months. I tried to taper benzos during akathisia because I did not feel good using so much of them but it was fail and holding dose was best idea after it.  I started to get windows when akathisia was better and slowly it was almost gone. Then  I felt safe to continue tapering. In that point I read a lot about akathisia, and decided to avoid any new meds and try to avoid things that could make it worse.

I am really sensitive to meds, supplements and have been really strict with my diet after akathisia, being careful not to eat or drink anything that would make aka worse. I have experiences of supplements making aka worse.

 

During my slow benzo taper I have felt symptoms of akathisia during waves. Inner "itching"/tingling/vibrations, leg pulling/crawling sensation, difficult to be still and feeling anxious about being still(even though can be still nowadays better with willpower),  inner restlessness/tension, not being able to calm down and relax cause my body feels so jittery. I somehow connect akathisia to adrenaline because when I have adrenaline surges during night, I usually feel worse akathisia during day.

 

During the end of my taper, my aka symptoms have started to get a bit  worse. Positive thing is my insomnia is a lot of better and aka hasnt completely ruined my sleep this time. I try to calm my body as much as I can even though I feel like this but it is sometimes really hard. It can easily become a cycle of anxiety when you get symptoms of akathisia because its so traumatic experience. I dont know how much of this is my body not liking benzos any more and interdose wd symptoms.

 

How are you doing with akathisia these days?

[hennie86]

On 12/12/2022 at 12:35 AM, Lauren90 said:

How are you doing with akathisia these days?

I still deal with some type of restlessness and inner agitation and occasionally my symptoms spike a bit (still tapering though) but otherwise I am in better place what it comes to akathisia. I am still vulnerable to stress during withdrawal that could be one factor thay caused my recent akathisia spike. There are luckily long time from it. I have tried to be careful with supplements because I have had experience of akathisia spikes after supplements and always start from small dose if I try something. If it causes spike it usually calms down pretty soon. 

 

I made major progress few months ago when I was able to exercise(go to gym and do strength training) for the first time in yeas without feeling  restlessness, agitation, restless legs worsening. I think some type of exercise activate  CNS too much such as gym. Unfortunately I caught Covid that caused a setback and after it I have had worsening of many symptoms and have been unable to exercise. Akathisia is still gone though. (The feeling I need to constantly move and terror because of it).

[LizzieTish]

Titled:  Risk of Getting Akathisia after Completing SSRI Withdrawal

 

Hi everyone.  I'm hoping someone with expertise will answer my questions below re: akathisia.  Hopefully the response(s) will benefit others as well.

 

I recently read an article by Dr. Stuart Shipko (link below), which was posted on the Mad in America website in 2020.  According to Dr. Shipko, "The speed of tapering does not seem to be related to long-term outcome.  Slower tapering is generally more comfortable on the way down than faster tapering and facilitates stopping completely with a minimum of discomfort. However, success or failure after stopping completely mostly relates to whether tardive akathisia occurs.  Around three to six months after the last dose of antidepressant, akathisia emerges suddenly, often as an overreaction to something seemingly minor.  It is an intensely anxious, agitated, and gloomy state, so uncomfortable that it is often disabling.  People take comfort in considering the possibility of suicide if they don’t get better.  Because of this possibility, tapering should not be undertaken lightly.  The duration of total use of all current and past SSRIs is related to long-term outcome. In my clinical practice tardive akathisia seems to be fairly common in people who taper to cessation after 10 years or more of cumulative use."

 

SSRI Withdrawal's Elephant in the Room: Tardive Akathisia - Mad In America

 

I've been taking an SSRI for 20 years for mild depression. During the past 20 months, I've reduced my dose of sertraline from 50 mg to ~5 mg. I'm currently struggling with mild insomnia, crying spells, loss of appetite, and despair.  I'm not planning to taper again for at least 2 months, even if my symptoms resolve soon.

 

My questions are:

Are the odds of getting akathisia after many years of SSRI use significant?

If so, would it be better to stay on a low dose of an SSRI indefinitely to (hopefully) avoid getting akathisia? I don't want to commit suicide. 

Does being on a lower dose reduce the potential harm caused by SSRIs?

 

Thank you, in advance, for your help. 

 

LizzieTish

Edited December 29, 2022 by manymoretodays
merged and added title

[Erimus]

You’re thinking of the worst case scenario after reading Mr Shipko’s thoughts. If he’s somebody with a reputation for dealing with akathisia patients then his data on the likelihood of it developing is going to be skewed.

 

After a quick read of your signature I can see you’re still moving things quicker than we recommend. 20 years on SSRI’s would be expected to take 4-5 years to taper off in a completely safe manner. Holding is a good idea for the foreseeable future. When you make your next cut I wouldn’t drop another 1mg. The lower the dose the larger the drop in SERT occupancy rate which means your brain is making much more changes from 5 -> 4mg than 50 -> 49mg. Read more about this here: 

 

Read this information and then the information on how to micro taper, that’s your best bet going forward re taper method. It’s much easier if you’ve got an already formulated solution.

[LizzieTish]

Thank you for the information. I'm using a liquid formulation of sertraline that comes in 20 mg/mL bottles. I'll dilute the sertraline so that I can reduce the dosage in smaller and more precise increments. 

[Elaine5]

I’m trying to understand my symptoms as best I can. 
 

Is the feeling of a current running through your muscles, especially legs and back, sometimes head/brain akithisia? I guess it does lead to movement in me trying to distract from it by standing up, or moving to disguise the feeling because it’s uncomfortable and scary to me as it’s foreign. 

 

additionally, sometime I feel a burning down my back and in my legs, sometimes brain. 
 

Sometimes I’ll notice twitches or jerks. Tongue spasms. 
 

are these separate symptoms or is this what akathisa is?

[manymoretodays]

@LizzieTishI just went ahead and merged your topic with our existing topic on Akathisia.

Good to keep similiar topics together and now, you can peruse this whole topic at ease.

 

I love how Erimus replied and agree.

Try, try not to focus on worst case or negatives around tapering.

Tapering may not cure you of all your negative thinking and so do take measures to learn and practice non-drug coping to improve your circumstances and general well being. 

 

You might post your thought on your tapering technique back on your Introduction topic too, as it is good to have your information all in one place too.

 

Okay, and best.  Happy healing.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

 

@ElaineBenes5Did you get a read through the topic to decide?  I go with akathisia being the extreme restlessness, and feeling so internally agitated.......and also when it is impossible to be still or sit in one place, or stay laying down.

My own thankfully brief experiences with it responded well to pacing and then also to just mummy wrapping myself up in a blanket(I actually had to do that once while in the hospital to just begin to chill and stay safe).

 

So I would suggest weighed blankets......you'll see them linked to in this topic, or even mummy wrapping yourself up if needed......until calming comes even a little bit.

 

And then yah......maybe your symptoms are more something else WD related.  Go back to the main Symptoms and Self Care forum, and then put those descriptions of symptoms in the search box at the top right.  Do them one at a time.  And you'll find other topics too, that might give you a name for what you experience.....?  if that is what you think will help. 

 

Personally, I like your descriptions.  They tell me more than using a term does.

And then........put those in your Introduction topic too.  Then tell us what relieves them, or what you find that helps you cope with them.  That will get you moving in a more positive direction of healing, or I think it will.

 

And yes, we do see your symptoms a lot here and in WD.  Yours specifically, above.......they don't sound like akathisia to me........if that is any consolation.  I hope so.  And I hope that they pass or come on in Waves and then you have Windows where they are not present too.

 

Okay, and best.

L, P, H, and G,

mmt

[LizzieTish]

Hi@manymoretodays, 

 

Thank you for your feedback. You are correct that I do have negative thoughts, which have increased exponentially during tapering. However, I think it's prudent to consider all the potential risks so that I can potentially avoid them. I will be micro-tapering from now on rather than making 0.5 mg dose decreases.

 

Wishing you a joyous 2023!

 

LizzieTish

[Elaine5]

Today I am really struggling. The inner intrusive thoughts are there, the depersonalization, the inner restlessness, the restless legs, the feeling like everything is hopeless and scary. I hadn’t experienced it this badly in about 3 weeks. Geez- I did not miss this feeling. 

[MostlyAlive]

We all get sick, fight cancer, broken bones, lose money, careers, loved ones... but people who experience akathisia (including myself) say "it's impossible to describe"

and then - almost invariably - use the word, "torture" proceeded by a "really" or "truly," as if to indicate they wish to be taken literally.

 

Why is this?