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Keeping well after recovery


mammaP

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I find myself thinking about how I'm going to deal with things when

I'm finally off meds. I have bi-polar and always have from a young age

but can't remember just when it started. I was prescribed meds

during downers but never took them regularly, in fact probably never more

than the first couple of doses because I never liked side effects. The only one

I got more than one prescription for was diazepam and took that when things

were really stressful (when I was in an abusive relationship

Didn't take them regularly, just when I expected a hiding.

Maybe 1 or 2 a week for a year )

 

I would have a time where I was on top of everything, coping with all that life

brings and helping out other people. Then WHAM, just like that, even in a split second,

be exhausted and depressed, unable to cope and just want sleep. Would go to the doc,

get all kinds of tests, all fine of course, then suddenly I'm fine again.

 

That's in a nutshell. Things went on this way and I just got on with it. Not

really seeing a pattern but always blamed some illness for the down times, until

22 years ago when I had a major breakdown and was admitted to hospital.

That's when I got the diagnosis, after observation and talking to family about

my history. Then the meds started coming and I was given one after another,

stopped CT from all of them and started another. Time and again I was re admitted.

Sometimes one stopped and another started within hours, then 2 years drug free

and another breakdown in 2002, following stress during a downer, back to hospital and

on effexor.

.

 

Got a bit carried away there, lol. What I am wondering about is coping with the stuff

that led to all that. When I am on a down time, little things become major

tragedies! Like one time I saw a house I loved and it was perfect, but didn't get it.

I was devastated and took it as a personal rejection. Spiralled further down and actually

became suicidal. Then the mood lifted and I wondered what I was so upset about!

If I hadn't been down at the time I'd have coped with it and not given it a second

thought.

I really really don't want to take psych meds again....EVER.

My success story is that I am almost drug free, but want it to stay a success story.

Does anyone know of online groups that can help me to stay stable once I'm finally

free?

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Reading that back I only just realised that the breakdown which

led to me being admitted to hospital again after 2 years drugs free

was probably withdrawal? I was in a mess and blamed it on the bi

polar. Hmmmmmm.

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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You went through so much :(

I am saddened to read your story ..

But the sun will shine again ..we just have to keep on walking ..

Thinking of you, and wishing you blessings ..Lexicon

xx

Hello,
I am tapering Lorazepam, and my daily dose is 1.125 mgs.

I followed a long hold for 5 months, ( Nov-March 2019) hoping to find some stability, 

but it did not work. So I resumed my taper and hold pattern.
For the last 3 years, I have been using a daily microtaper, cutting .001mgs per day, with holds as needed.
Symptoms are head pressure, labored breathing, palpitations, abrupt surges of dizziness, this being my worst symptom for now, internal tremors, my latest nemesis, unsteadiness, anxiety, plus many other symptoms that cycle in, and cycle out consistently. Not a day passes, without grief :(

I take no other meds.

January 2013 - 15 day quick taper off 10 mgs of Lexapro, and 25 mgs of Sertraline,

at a detox clinic.

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Aww thank you Lexi but don't feel sad for me, I was just

explaining things, I tend to overexplain, lol. I have had

alot of trauma in my life but there is always someone else

who's had worse. It's all in the past and there is not a thing

I can do to change it so there it stays! I try to concentrate on

now and getting off these ADs. I have 4 kids, 12 grandkids and a

beautiful baby great grandaughter to spur me on to getting my

life back and then I can plan for the future. It's awful not

being to plan anything in advance when you don't know that you'll

be well enough but we're all getting there. :)

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • Administrator

These are excellent questions.

 

In coping with withdrawal symptoms, we need to learn how to take care of ourselves. This translates to our emotional health and attitudes, too.

 

Non-drug techniques can help here http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/

 

mammaP, do any of these seem to suit you?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

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