![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 27 to 51 of 89. Go back in thread:
Posted by Garnet71 on January 20, 2009, at 20:44:25
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me--Garnet7, posted by NewQuestions on January 20, 2009, at 11:23:19
> Garnet71--Can we talk over the phone or via email? I have a bunch of questions and more information.
-----------
If you go to your settings and turn on the option for "babblemail", I can email you anonymously (unless you want to post your address or phone number here - I don't)
Posted by Garnet71 on January 20, 2009, at 20:46:55
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Connor on January 20, 2009, at 20:00:13
Join the club, Connor.
If we had any motivation, we could start our own advocacy group. Of course if we weren't so damn messed up, we could do things we want to do.
Let's please keep each other posted if we find anything. If I get enough energy, I want to some day start a group/message board for just this topic.
Posted by Garnet71 on January 21, 2009, at 12:14:46
In reply to Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by NewQuestions on January 16, 2009, at 10:28:30
NewQuestions,
I was just re-reading your original post, and thought about your carb cravings. If you have excessive yeast in your body, you will crave white carbs and sugar to 'feed the yeast', to sustain it. Some say yeast causes cognitive difficulties too. I don't trust all the alternative doctors (or the conventional ones at that!), but am thinking this could be possible.
I think you should start eating yoghurt daily. Do this for months, because you may not notice right away. The homemade kind is better -instructions are on the internet. It's easy to make and you can just keep the batch in the fridge in one large bowl. Scooping up plain yoghurt in Majool dates is so yummy! If you feel you need the cookies/sugar to get by, consider eating those dates. They are expensive though, but better than candy, and full of nutrients.
There is no point for any of us to avoid changing our nutritional habits to see what helps. You never know, and it is a lot safer than taking one drug after another and risking chemical labotony.
It also could be you have several things going on at once - you could have a yeast imbalance, digestive problems, hormonal imbalance, and nutritional deficiency all at the same time!
What shocks me is that most of the doctors I have ever been too only consider that you have ONE ailment at a time -as if sickness only appears serially..lol. That's how they behave, anyway. Think out of the box...
Posted by mav27 on January 21, 2009, at 12:52:10
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me » NewQuestions, posted by Garnet71 on January 21, 2009, at 12:14:46
Are there any alternatives to yoghurt I can't stand yoghurt. But are there any supplement type things that will give you the results you would want from him having yoghurt ?
does white carbs and sugar cravings include things like doughnuts?
Posted by MChain on January 22, 2009, at 4:06:32
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me » Connor, posted by Garnet71 on January 20, 2009, at 20:46:55
Connor and Garnet,
I am both relieved and distressed to tell you that I feel exactly the same way you guys do. I'd like to know more particulars about your situations but let me tell you more about mine to see if you can relate.
I started a variety of SSRIs at the age of 12 for "clinical depression" and seemed to recover with the medication until around 3 years later when I noticed that I got less stimulation from the things I used to enjoy. I got off the medication for a few weeks at the age of 16 after tapering in the summer but had an unbearable time with social anxiety after returning to school and got back on the medications (this severe anxiety may have been withdrawal)
Anyway things continued more or less the same way, with constant boredom etc, and I also thought I began to notice a certain cognitive weakening, confusion and sometimes difficulty speaking. My recollection of the onset is fuzzy but it became difficult to concentrate, retain information, organize thoughts and speak.
After my first semester of college I decided I had enough and tapered quickly off the meds (zoloft at the time) and have been off for 10 months now but the status quo has seemingly not changed all that much. I managed good grades in school but didnt enjoy anything, was socially reclusive to say the least, didnt get involved in anything etc...and i still can't enjoy the things I used to movies, music, sports, nothing seems to affect me. Also I've noticed I can't cry, even at the death of close relatives for whom I feel (or once felt) much affection for.
I've felt days where things appear to be getting back to normal, like small waves, but nothing sustained. Anyway I hope you guys can relate to this and we can share our progress/trips to doctors/solutions.
Posted by MChain on January 22, 2009, at 4:08:34
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 22, 2009, at 4:06:32
Oh and i forgot to mention that I definitely relate to the original poster, NewQuestions, as well.
Posted by Garnet71 on January 22, 2009, at 10:49:09
In reply to Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by NewQuestions on January 16, 2009, at 10:28:30
NewQuestions
I forgot to tell you - check into central sleep apnea - get a sleep study. I developed this autonomous nervous system problem (and this is one reason I am going to a neurologist), and found out it is very serious. Many people do not know they have it.
When you 'forget to breath' while you are sleeping, the brain lacks oxygen and it can cause cognitive problems (not to mention feeling like sh*t every day).
I had a sleep study done several years ago - was diagnosed with central sleep apnea - and my doctor - pdoc - thought nothing of it. I just found out it is very serious.
One does not usually know that have this - there is no snoring involved in this type of sleep apnea. This is where you wake up 100s or 1000s of times during the night without knowing it (as opposed to obstructive sleep apnea).
Could SSRIs cause autonomous nervous system damage? I wouldn't be surprised - no one knows for sure.
Check into this!!
Good luck
Posted by Garnet71 on January 24, 2009, at 9:28:42
In reply to Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by NewQuestions on January 16, 2009, at 10:28:30
I'm just throwing this out here...started a new thread:
Several of us have been complaining about cognitive and other symptoms. Doctors often call it treatment resistant depression or Bipolar II (which, btw, seem to be catch all diagnoses for when doctors can't figure out what is wrong with you). Maybe we have a mild version of seratonin syndrome? How does a doctor know we are deficient in seratonin when they prescribe SSRIs? Since they do not possibly know, maybe we have too much seratonin in our brains.
I haven't taken anti depressants for over a week, and my mind feels much more clear.
Just thinking out of the box...take a look into this for yourself.
From WIKI:
The symptoms are often described as a clinical triad of abnormalities:[3][4]
Cognitive effects: mental confusion, hypomania, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma.
Autonomic effects: shivering, sweating, hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea.
Somatic effects: myoclonus (muscle twitching), hyperreflexia (manifested by clonus), tremor.
Posted by desolationrower on January 25, 2009, at 2:14:37
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Garnet71 on January 24, 2009, at 9:28:42
serotonin syndrome is an acute syndrome, not a chronic one.
-d/r
Posted by Garnet71 on January 25, 2009, at 7:13:44
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by desolationrower on January 25, 2009, at 2:14:37
> serotonin syndrome is an acute syndrome, not a chronic one.
>
> -d/r----------------
I realize that the technical description is for an acute condition...I'm not thinking in terms of norms, that's why I said some sort of "mild version of seratonin syndrome"
Whose to say whether or not you have too much seratonin in your brain for extended periods of time? Could it be that if one does not lack serotinin to begin with, one can have too much in their brain from taking SSRIs?
Posted by desolationrower on January 25, 2009, at 11:55:58
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me » desolationrower, posted by Garnet71 on January 25, 2009, at 7:13:44
Sure, sris aren't universally helpful. I just don't think its useful to think of it in terms of serotonin syndrome. ITs like calling obesity 'i got heartburn from eating too much last few years.'
-d/r
Posted by Connor on January 27, 2009, at 22:54:26
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 22, 2009, at 4:06:32
I'm thankful that there are others who are going through what I am going through. There was a time when all I did was search the internet for people experiencing the symptoms I did post-ssri. I found a few reports but they were very few.
What I hate more then anything is the professionals telling me it's a result of being depressed (the reason I originally went on the drugs). That is such b*llsh*t, I mean I just came off a 3 week break from school and I actually had some of the best weeks of my life. But even still, everything was much duller then it should have been. My sex drive, motivation, mental ability are consistently low no matter what mood I am in. Life has become unbearably uninteresting and I'm not sure how much longer I can take this. Every moment I'm just waiting for time to pass because I just don't know what to do, my soul has been sucked out of me
Posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 3:07:10
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Connor on January 27, 2009, at 22:54:26
> I'm thankful that there are others who are going through what I am going through. There was a time when all I did was search the internet for people experiencing the symptoms I did post-ssri. I found a few reports but they were very few.
>
> What I hate more then anything is the professionals telling me it's a result of being depressed (the reason I originally went on the drugs). That is such b*llsh*t, I mean I just came off a 3 week break from school and I actually had some of the best weeks of my life. But even still, everything was much duller then it should have been. My sex drive, motivation, mental ability are consistently low no matter what mood I am in. Life has become unbearably uninteresting and I'm not sure how much longer I can take this. Every moment I'm just waiting for time to pass because I just don't know what to do, my soul has been sucked out of meConnor, it seems like we're in exactly the same situation, which is incredible to me because until now it seemed like ex-ssri users experienced everything under the sun except for my symptoms, and people even seemed to ignore my posts on message boards because of a lack of interest/experience or whatever. I too spend HOURS at a time just googling "SSRI+name a symptom" to see what popped up, and it was usually the same 5 websites and I never got any useful information.
When did you use the ssris (what age range?) and how long have you been off? I kind of feel like things are getting better (its been almost 11 months) but at the same time the cognitive fog is driving me nuts, its like my knowledge of the English language/working memory are both destroyed. I'll read newspaper articles, and though I understand the premise I'm constantly confused by words and phrases, like i'm 5 years old and learning how to read.
I know the frustration of being told your depressed every time you try to reach out to a psychiatrist, its exactly what my current pdoc is telling me, that there is no evidence to support my claim that my brain has been damaged by SSRIs. I am however starting to feel that all psych-meds may not be bad, since my current rate of recovery is incredibly slow, and I also had some kind of weird pain thing (fibromyalgia) at the same time i got depressed originally (age 12). I may give Wellbutrin a try on thursday after I see the psych but I don't know really how I should be going about my recovery, and I don't want to screw things up more.
I did find this study though that lends a little credibility to what we are saying http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/10401230490281618 but the fact that we've been off the medications for awhile already seems to perplex all the doctors. I agree with the people on paxil progress etc. in that this could be a "protracted withdrawal" but I dont feel any physical symptoms, just these psychological things like apathy, low sex-drive, and cognitive dysfunction.
In any case, just hang in there because I think we're gonna both get through this, and if you feel comfortable sharing your e-mail with me please do so. I'm [email protected]
Posted by Connor on January 28, 2009, at 10:13:10
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 3:07:10
> Connor, it seems like we're in exactly the same situation, which is incredible to me because until now it seemed like ex-ssri users experienced everything under the sun except for my symptoms, and people even seemed to ignore my posts on message boards because of a lack of interest/experience or whatever. I too spend HOURS at a time just googling "SSRI+name a symptom" to see what popped up, and it was usually the same 5 websites and I never got any useful information.
>
> When did you use the ssris (what age range?) and how long have you been off? I kind of feel like things are getting better (its been almost 11 months) but at the same time the cognitive fog is driving me nuts, its like my knowledge of the English language/working memory are both destroyed. I'll read newspaper articles, and though I understand the premise I'm constantly confused by words and phrases, like i'm 5 years old and learning how to read.
>
> I know the frustration of being told your depressed every time you try to reach out to a psychiatrist, its exactly what my current pdoc is telling me, that there is no evidence to support my claim that my brain has been damaged by SSRIs. I am however starting to feel that all psych-meds may not be bad, since my current rate of recovery is incredibly slow, and I also had some kind of weird pain thing (fibromyalgia) at the same time i got depressed originally (age 12). I may give Wellbutrin a try on thursday after I see the psych but I don't know really how I should be going about my recovery, and I don't want to screw things up more.
>
> I did find this study though that lends a little credibility to what we are saying http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/10401230490281618 but the fact that we've been off the medications for awhile already seems to perplex all the doctors. I agree with the people on paxil progress etc. in that this could be a "protracted withdrawal" but I dont feel any physical symptoms, just these psychological things like apathy, low sex-drive, and cognitive dysfunction.
>
> In any case, just hang in there because I think we're gonna both get through this, and if you feel comfortable sharing your e-mail with me please do so. I'm [email protected]I first started taking antidepressants when I was 15-16 years old. I was on Paxil, and what an experience that was. At first it did nothing, but eventually it like super charged my brain and I felt more intelligent, quicker, wittier. I was talking more. Then after a while the effects went away, and I started to feel dead inside, like my personality was burnt out. So I went off the drug but things just got worse. This is when I was terrified. What the hell is happening to me I wondered? I couldn't figure exactly what it was, I just knew something wasn't right. The way people would talk to me and joke around with me, and I just kind of sat there, not knowing how to respond to anyone anymore. And when I did it came out a jumbled mess because apparently i lost the ability to phrase things properly
Oh your just depressed, said the "experts" well I bought that. Four antidepressants later and two more years of sleeping all day, being anti-social, zombie like, emotionless, slow mentally, etc,etc. I finally just said screw it and stopped taking my prozac. That was in 2005.
When I started withdrawing I thought things were getting better. My emotions were more intense then before, and I felt I was coming back, but it was just the rollercoaster ride from the withdrawal which was just sending my mind and body for a ride. I remember breaking out into tears because of nothing. I remember not being able to give speeches because my anxiety was so high I would nearly like cry (this was never a problem before, and it's not a problem now either)
I'm not sure if I feel any better. With the aid of certain supplements I have been able to speed up my mind and maintain a certain amount of normalcy their. But their effectiveness is limited. I only take them when I go out and I can have a decent time. But without them I'm pretty much a drone. My main symptoms now are lack of libido, and lack of emotion/desire/enjoyment.
I am also thinking about trying wellbutrin, but I am so fearful that it could make things worse. I mean this is the situation I am in. I got depressed over a temporary situation that made me go on these drugs. Now I'm off these drugs and I'm depressed because of what these drugs have done to me. What do i do? Go back on more psycho-tropic drugs?? Ya right. I just fight through it. Convince myself that I can get better, but it seems like I'll be dealing with these problems for life. The question is how long I can take this before I explode. It's a problem hardly anyone understands or even acknowledges exists. I've been on many medications and I never had these long term problems the way I did with ssri's
Posted by Cseagraves on January 28, 2009, at 12:59:03
In reply to Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by NewQuestions on January 16, 2009, at 10:28:30
Dear New Question,
OMG - I can't believe I found this post. I just posted a new thread below under "Marplan users update" I stated below that I was beginning to wonder about the same thing you posted.
I have GAD, agoraphobia and panic. The difference is that I have only been this way for a couple of years. (I'm 41) This just started a couple of years ago, but was still able to function outside of the house (grocery shopping, traveling, etc.) up until a year ago, then things got worse. Started on Zoloft about 9 years ago, took it for a couple of years, but then pooped out at 50mgs. When pdoc tried to raise the dose to 100mgs, anxieties got worse.
When I came off of it, things got better, so I didn't take anything for a while. Anxieties came back a couple of years ago so I started going through the other ssri's, but had awful side effects on each one and am worn out going on and off each one.
My last ssri was lexapro (have been off it now for over a month. Tried trazodone and remeron for sleep and had bad effects from both of those also. So I haven't taken anything since Jan. 12th. Pdoc is thinking about starting me on Marplan on Feb. 5th as he thinks I have become sensitive to ssri's.
Had all of the physical effects that you described with your meds and am still having numbness of arms and legs, but is getting better. Also having what feels like electric shocks going down my arms to my hands.
I mentioned in my post that I was thinking that instead of starting on the Marplan just yet, maybe giving my body and brain a break and see what happens. I still have my zanax as back-up.
I already have a good diet, start back exercising regularly and just try to cleanse myself of all this awful stuff to see what happens. Had all blood work done recently and everything came back fine.
Along with my aminos, I am taking extra doses of Gaba, L-theanine, L-taurine, Choline and Phosphatidyl Serine.
Although I haven't been off of meds long, I can tell physically I am not as sore and my arms and legs aren't going numb as much. I can also tell that my memory is getting better.
Have been reading up on some studies now that ssri's have been out for a while and they are saying the same things about there effectiveness and long-term side effects.
Interesting that others are starting to feel the same way. Please note that i am not encouraging anyone else to come off their meds, but for me I might try and see what happens if I take a break and see if my brain can heal itself.
Want to see if I can do this myself. If it doesn't work then I guess I will try the Marplan.
Thank you for your post and know that I think that what you are feeling and thinking might be true.
Please keep us informed on what you plan to do and how you are feeling.
Courtney
Posted by Connor on January 28, 2009, at 13:04:22
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 3:07:10
Also m.chain I noticed you posted on that one board for pssd. Funny because I did the exact same thing asking about the exact same problems. This was before I had any sexual problems. The sexual problems suddenly occured when I stopped the medication.
Posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 22:47:40
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Connor on January 28, 2009, at 10:13:10
Wow, so you're saying its been 3.5-4 years since you've touched a psychotropic and you still feel this way? That is discouraging, and makes me lean even more toward trying that Wellbutrin tomorrow if things just remain the same.
I know exactly what you mean about the constant boredom, inability to get excited etc., I can't even manage to get myself excited about the superbowl this week and I used to be the hugest of football fans. And basically that indifference extends to all areas of my life. I went through that period of hyper-emotionality too around 6 months after my last dose, but things just kind of stabilized although I think im doing better than while on the medication (except for terrible anxiety). Sometimes it seems like i feel sadness the way I did before I ever started the medications but never the same unbridled joy and enthusiasm for things.
Since its not one of your major complaints I assume that the cognitive problems cleared up for you a bit? That's reassuring because for me at the moment every time I say or write something I question whether it makes sense and often forget common words. When did that stuff go away?
Also, what are the supplements that allow you to function (leave the house i think you said)? The only thing i take is fish oil and I really don't notice a difference whether I take it or not, although I tried several things like ginkgo a few months ago but couldn't really gage if they were having an effect. And bottom line we shouldnt have to depend on supplements to function. I'm trying to find something that assists with brain repair like nootropics, I don't know if you have any experience with those or not.
haha yeah, except the people in the ssrisex group are so absorbed seemingly by their sexual problems that they don't even notice these other symptoms or don't think much of them. I feel like my post was more or less ignored.
Posted by Connor on January 28, 2009, at 23:10:40
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 22:47:40
> Wow, so you're saying its been 3.5-4 years since you've touched a psychotropic and you still feel this way? That is discouraging, and makes me lean even more toward trying that Wellbutrin tomorrow if things just remain the same.
>
> I know exactly what you mean about the constant boredom, inability to get excited etc., I can't even manage to get myself excited about the superbowl this week and I used to be the hugest of football fans. And basically that indifference extends to all areas of my life. I went through that period of hyper-emotionality too around 6 months after my last dose, but things just kind of stabilized although I think im doing better than while on the medication (except for terrible anxiety). Sometimes it seems like i feel sadness the way I did before I ever started the medications but never the same unbridled joy and enthusiasm for things.
>
> Since its not one of your major complaints I assume that the cognitive problems cleared up for you a bit? That's reassuring because for me at the moment every time I say or write something I question whether it makes sense and often forget common words. When did that stuff go away?
>
> Also, what are the supplements that allow you to function (leave the house i think you said)? The only thing i take is fish oil and I really don't notice a difference whether I take it or not, although I tried several things like ginkgo a few months ago but couldn't really gage if they were having an effect. And bottom line we shouldnt have to depend on supplements to function. I'm trying to find something that assists with brain repair like nootropics, I don't know if you have any experience with those or not.
>
> haha yeah, except the people in the ssrisex group are so absorbed seemingly by their sexual problems that they don't even notice these other symptoms or don't think much of them. I feel like my post was more or less ignored.1. Yes it's been that long and I can't say I've really improved. Even whilst going on exercise sprees, the only benefits I get are short lived.
2. About getting excited, ya I don't get excited about anything anymore really, I use to get super hyped for a lot of things and that just doesn't happen anymore.
3. My cognitive problems have cleared up with the aid of nootropics. Without them they would still be present I believe. They are honestly the only reason I am able to tolerate life. I take them anytime I want to feel somewhat normal, mostly in social situations. The most effective supplement I have tried is Piracetam. It helps bring back my personality, it seems to make me smarter, helps with the flowing of my ideas, makes me wittier, etc, etc. Others that have helped include gingko, ginseng, 5-htp and taking multi-vitamins. While these supplements help my cognitively, emotionally I still feel pretty dull, so I'm looking for something to correct that. I've been abusing certain drugs to help compensate for my emotional emptiness.
4. Ya I know what you mean. The thing is if you search that group there are several posts about what you posted about, but honestly I think it's sad to say that that group, while it has many members it seems to only have a handful of active users.
Posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 23:44:39
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Connor on January 28, 2009, at 23:10:40
Yeah after that long it just seems like things aren't going to improve on their own after what drugs have done to you and I, so maybe this whole "natural approach" thing isn't going to cut it.
The only other way I look at it without feeling extremely hopeless is that perhaps instead of some kind of damage our brains have just shut off the regions responsible for feeling pleasure and it won't be turned on without the aid of a different type of drug. I've been trying to avoid this kind of thinking but I really can't live like this and I know you can't either. I think there are people who never took SSRIs who feel like us, so it seems like our minds have been made to mimic theirs' and we need to follow a similar type of treatment etc.
I hate to be dependent on a drug and worry about poop out, long term brain damage but as I wait to get better on my own the meaningless days continue to pass by.
BTW have you trade any of the other racetams, hup-A, choline, Lecithin (sp?) or just Piracetam? Some of those supps seem promising but I'm pretty sure 5-htp is going to screw us up more though.
Posted by Connor on January 29, 2009, at 10:35:51
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 28, 2009, at 23:44:39
>
>BTW have you trade any of the other racetams, hup-A, choline, Lecithin (sp?) or just Piracetam? >Some of those supps seem promising but I'm pretty >sure 5-htp is going to screw us up more though.It is my opinion that 5-htp is pretty safe. It works differently then ssri's, in that it just naturally creates more serotonin, it's not intrusive like ssri's are. I don't take it too much though.
You're actually suppose to combine choline with the racetams. Choline doesen't do much anyway for me, but supposedly that's how you make the racetams effective. I have tried Piracetam for a while, but I am about to try Pramiracetam which I suppose to be a super charged verson of Piracetam. And I hear it's the most effective.
Posted by Deputy Dinah on January 29, 2009, at 22:15:09
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Garnet71 on January 17, 2009, at 21:19:12
My sincere apologies on interrupting.
Dr. Bob has a policy requesting that posters not post more than three posts in a row without interruptions, except for a few specific exceptions included in the FAQ.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
I'm afraid that as his deputy, I'm going to have to ask you to please follow his guidelines. If you wait until someone replies, or fit your posts into one of the exceptions in the rules, or perhaps combine a few studies into one post?
Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above posts, should of course themselves be civil.
Dr. Bob is always free to override deputy decisions. His email is on the bottom of each page. Please feel free to email him if you believe this decision was made in error.
Dinah, acting as deputy to Dr. Bob
Posted by MChain on January 30, 2009, at 3:44:14
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by Connor on January 29, 2009, at 10:35:51
I just read somewhere that Dopamine system recovery can take about 4 years to fully occur...so maybe you're right around the corner from getting better.
Also, do you ever wonder if after a prolonged period of time in this state you've healed but are so discouraged that you develop a depression similar to the original symptoms? By no means does this mean go back to pharmacology, but have you tried other counter-depression measures besides the supplements? I'm sure you have, but in the off chance you've given up hope in traditional methods for combating stress/anxiety like CBT.
I don't doubt that our nervous systems/brains have been compromised, and someone gave me a recommendation for a neuropsych that acknowledges drug induced neurological problems so I may give him a try though it'll be expensive.
Anyway, keep me posted on your developments, feel free to e-mail ([email protected]) so we don't have to go through this message board for a more or less two way correspondence.
Posted by TimeLord on January 31, 2009, at 13:31:57
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by MChain on January 30, 2009, at 3:44:14
The mind/CNS is resilient and has fantastic regenerative properties, but it's slower than a snail at the DMV.
I've been off my meds for eight months now. Eight. I feel somewhat better and can tell I am healing, but it's an uphill battle. I eat well, I exercise (for a living (I'm a martial artist/instructor)), so I am sure that lifestyle plays a part in how we heal, but rest assured that we do eventually heal.
SSRI use sucks, but your CNS is raw and compromised. Give it a chance to catch up! :)
Posted by NewQuestions on February 2, 2009, at 9:08:27
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by TimeLord on January 31, 2009, at 13:31:57
Clearly, the long term use of SSRI's have change my system. Is there any reason to thing ECT will "reset" my system? Or does ECT only work for a specific sub-set of people, perhaps people that never found any relief from drugs?
Posted by MChain on February 3, 2009, at 8:27:11
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me, posted by NewQuestions on February 2, 2009, at 9:08:27
Yeah a miracle could happen but you also run the risk that it makes you irreparably worse.
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