Please to send thoughts!

[bop_radar]

OK, so I haven't been whining about this at all online, but I'm finally, finally getting to the end of my medication withdrawal and I could really use some thoughts/hugs/support (if anyone remembers me, LOL!).

Short version: I've been on antidepressants for over 10 years and am finally coming off them. I'm down to 25mg of Effexor (from 300mg once upon a time). It's taken over 6 months to get from 150 mg to 25. I'm on Day 3 of 25mg and it's not fun--pains, nausea, aches, chocolate cravings... :p (ok the last bit is not so bad except I think chocolate is not so great for nausea, right?). I am determined to get through it because i have HAD IT with doing this slowly... it just draws out the agony. I'm hoping I can get to zero in a couple of weeks.

Emotionally, I'm feeling strong but just FED UP with it. I have racing thoughts, anxiety (raised heart rate) and nightmares right now but based on previous experience, this is just a result of dropping the medication another step--not a permanent state.

I really wish I didn't have to work--I'd just quit it completely and crawl into bed and be sick for a couple of weeks and then be done. But I can still do this right? I'm planning to reduce to 12.5 next week and then ZERO the week after. That's fast compared to how I've done the other 'drops' but what the hell. I keep thinking 25mg is NOTHING. They don't ever prescribe less than 75mg here anyway... so it can't be actually doing much (other than giving my overly addicted body some fake sense of normalcy!).

Anyway, any kind of cheer at this time would be most welcome!

Comments

[laurashapiro]

Cheering you on! I send hugs from thousands of miles away, and really hope you get to where you want to be.

[bop_radar]

Thanks heaps, Laura!! :D

[chaila]

Sending you all the good vibes!

For possible cheer, the TSCC stuff I've weeded out on Tumblr makes me pretty happy! But, um, I think we know we would never say that that show doesn't mess with your emotions. :) But it is distracting! (I MISS IT).

[bop_radar]

Oh thank you!! :D I'm definitely in a stage of nostalgia for past shows! (Current TV seriously disappointing me. :/) So that is a very suitable distraction, yes! :D I also miss it!!

[pun]

That sounds incredibly difficult. I think you are very strong to persevere!

*cheers*

[bop_radar]

That's so kind of you to say! Thank you!

[blnchflr]

Yay, congrats, best of luck :)

[bop_radar]

Must have worked... :p stopped all meds now!

[kass]

I am thinking of you and sending good vibes and good thoughts. You are amazing. You can make it through this. *hug*

[bop_radar]

Thank you!! :) I really appreciate it. *hugs*

[squirrelhaven]

You are awesome. I just have to say that. What you're doing is SO hard, and the road back to normal is such a long one (she said, from some indeterminate point in her own slog out of depression), and yet YOU'RE DOING IT. And you're almost there! I have so much admiration for your courage and your all-around fabulousness. I send many *hugs* your way.

[bop_radar]

Thank you so much! It's a long journey with depression, that's for sure!! The ups and the downs.. I had a therapy appointment tonight and it was very encouraging. Right now it's really a physical battle with the med so that's actually quite exciting in a way--to be past the emotional upheaval stage. Not that it will be a bed of roses off it, of course, but I will just be a lot happier tackling that med-free. :)

Thank you for the kind thoughts--and I hope your only journey is looking up too! :)