MichaelAnn Need Help, Advice
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| Tue, 06-26-2007 - 12:47am |
When you said you went off your meds for depressions, you mentioned it "hurt". Can you explain. I feel myself slipping into the fog, not that I was ever out of it. It's summer and I don't have any energy. That really ticks me off because I haven't gotten anything done that I'd plan to do this summer...like fearlessly go to the pool! I've gained back 2 pounds and I've fallen off for the last 2 weeks. I've been surfing the success board to get my motivation up again. I DON'T want to go to the Dr to be put on meds because I'd just like to avoid that. I keep telling myself that I'll exercise but I can't get up the energy. I'm always sleepy!!
I'm also a few days from that time of the month. My joints ache, my back and pelvic area hurt, I have a headache and I have muscle pain (not because I've been exercising). I'm 44 by the way and wondering if I'm perimenopausal. I'll have to ask my Dr next month. Please tell me how you soldiered through it. You can also email me at pat_allen_63@sbcglobal.net. I'd like to get down to 150 by the end of the summer, at least. I'm currently 160. It doesn't help that my body clock is messed up because I've gotten used to going to bed way after 12.
Is anybody out there my age experiencing the same thing? Just curious!
Regards,
Pat

I'm not michealAnn but I went off pretty high antidepressants last year with no side effects. I weaned off of them over about 6 weeks and didn't have any side effects. If you've already stopped them, that is ok. The other thing I did was take really high Omega 3s. It helps soothe the inflammation in the brain caused by the sudden chemical change. I took 10-12 g a day. I did a lot of research on it. I still take 3-4g a day when I remember. It really helps. Shortage of Omega 3s has been studied to be partially responsible for the high incidence of depression in america.
Hope you feel better soon!
kim
I had an awful time going off anti-depressants. I had full fledged discontinuation syndrome. My dh joked that he had seen drug addicts coming down have an easier time than I did. I had horrible headaches so bad I couldn't move, vomiting/nausea/diarrhea, pains/aches, dizziness, tremors, insomnia. I couldn't even stand for like a week, I would just collapse. But I couldn't sleep either, I would just thrash around the bed. The two worst things were basically like hallucinations (I wasn't really awake, not really asleep - so I don't know if you could call them "dreams") But they were insane - really crazy stuff. And the "electric shocks". I can't even describe those. It was like getting a brain freeze over your whole body that lasted longer. At first I probably got 20 a day, then it was less and less. But even months later I would still get one occasionally. I couldn't think straight or function at all. Gosh - even thinking that time in my life brings tears to my eyes. I guess that is why I am so relieved and happy to be "free" of that stuff thinking what it was doing to my body.
If you search Google for "antidepressant withdrawls" or "discontinuation syndrome" - you'll find literally hundreds of stories like mine - some even worse!
Anyhow - I think our bodies need time to get over these things. Your body was used to relying on the meds. When you take that away - it takes awhile to "remember" how to function on its own without that artificial help. Exercise really, really is the best thing. My dr used to hold up the pill and say "You know - just 30min of exercise equals the effects of one of these pills". I used to totally roll my eyes at him and say "yeah right - just give me the pill" But he was SO right. Just SO right!! So I would try to just think of that and really push yourself to get that exercise. The first couple times will be hard, but you will see a difference!
Edited 6/26/2007 8:48 am ET by firebird_mom
Edited 6/26/2007 9:01 am ET by firebird_mom
belizesig1
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Oh we love Rescue Remedy - but we actually use it for our cats! One has a serious anxiety problem all the time and the other has issues with travel, carries, vet visits, etc. So its great for that. Haven't used it myself though, never really thought of that!
But personally I found all my original symptoms of depression were gone just from proper diet and exercise. Wish someone had suggested that years ago before my body got so "hooked" on the meds.
belizesig1
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