[Help] 50 Days In

[Lenny Rider]

50 days since I took my last anti depressant medication.

Good days and bad, but with a huge amount of support from family, friends and the wider NSC network, at this present time the dark places don’t seem to be as dark as they used to be.

I will never be able to thank people enough, and I realise that 50 days is still very much ‘baby steps’ but I feel I’m moving in the right direction.

Talking to others I do realise its a very personal and individual issue, I realise that some people unfortunately will always need this form of medication in their lives but I was told by many people that I would never get off them.

As things stand I have, and if any NSCers in the same position feel they want to, please try, but obviously speak to your GP first.

And in the meantime if you a reading this and it strikes a chord and you want to talk, please PM me, I’ve been overwhelmed and buoyed by not only the support I’ve received on here but the amount of fellow NSCers in the same predicament, we truly are a family and will help each other when possible.

Have a great Sunday, despite the weather, take care and thank you for reading

Harty

 

[Brian Fantana]

Good for you, Harty. Delighted to hear that you’re making progress. Personally, I was on anti-depressants from August 2020 until March 2022. I tapered off them by May this year, but had to go back on them in July/August. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll probably be on them for the long-term, but I’m comfortable with that.

I’d echo everything in your post.

 

[TugWilson]

Made me smile , that`s terrific news Harty , as you rightly say baby steps - nonetheless great to hear and look forward to you celebrating 100 . Take care mate and stay strong .

 

[Norman Potting]

Well done you! I hope that, at some point, I can try to go down the route of weaning myself off medication.

 

[portlock seagull]

Sunshine always follows rain!

 

[clapham_gull]

Get through the Christmas dark days and look forward to the Spring.

I always look forward to the Spring.

All the best Ian.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Well done Ian. Proud of you

 

[oldboyroy]

Well done Ian and good that your 50 days "off" them. I was on Venlafaxine from the age of 35ish til 52 and been off them for last 3 years. Keep going and wish you well

 

[Rambo]

Nice one Harty. Keep going.

 

[Lenny Rider]

1st Grandchild due 3rd March

Spring beckons

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

50 not out! On to your century! I've had to ween myself off these things a couple of times and it's great when you know you can do without them. Take each day as it comes and there'll be more good days than bad. Good luck to you, Harty, the NSC family is right behind you!

 

[Barrow Boy]

My daughter has been fighting the same battle for some time, well done Ian and best wishes.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Well done Pal and best wishes!

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

The recently published book ‘The Expectation Effect’ is worth a read, about how placebo pills can actually outperform antidepressants, and even when the client often knows they are taking a placebo. The mind is an incredible thing. Myself and a work colleague suffer with occasional severe/cluster headaches for which we take prescription pill, and both agree that if it could be substituted for a placebo pill without us knowing, it would probably reduce the symptoms, clear the headache. Obviously a case by case basis, and anti-d’s undoubtedly have their place and value

 

[dolphins]

Very well done and keep at it. I was on them in the 1990s along with sleeping pills and once I was able to stop, things did feel a lot better. Sounds like you've turned a corner which is the really important thing. Glib platitudes never help people in the position that you or I were in; it's only once you've been through it yourself you know what it is truly like.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Just want to wish you well and all the very best.

 

[TugWilson]

The recently published book ‘The Expectation Effect’ is worth a read, about how placebo pills can actually outperform antidepressants, and even when the client often knows they are taking a placebo. The mind is an incredible thing. Myself and a work colleague suffer with occasional severe/cluster headaches for which we take prescription pill, and both agree that if it could be substituted for a placebo pill without us knowing, it would probably reduce the symptoms, clear the headache. Obviously a case by case basis, and anti-d’s undoubtedly have their place and value

This is an EXTREMELY dangerous suggestion . There are many types of Mental Illness , i have been diagnosed with 7 individual and distinct MH issues , some of which are based around chemical imbalance which a placebo would not address .

I appreciate you say "case by case basis" but in my experience unless you are talking about a mild period of Depression brought on by an addressable solution this is a very poor idea and ultimately more damaging .

I have been treated on and off for 33 years now , and tried many different prescriptions , some have helped and some have made me worse , with a few i suffered severe side effects . I have been off all ADs for a year now and am not doing well because i was at the end of my allotted treatment and the local MH care team had an overloaded caseload . BUT Harty is doing it properly and deserves every credit going . I know Harty will succeed because as he has said he has help from friends family and certainly on NSC .

I believe Placebo`s have a place , but NOT in Mental Health issues .

 

[Cotton Socks]

This is an EXTREMELY dangerous suggestion . There are many types of Mental Illness , i have been diagnosed with 7 individual and distinct MH issues , some of which are based around chemical imbalance which a placebo would not address .

I appreciate you say "case by case basis" but in my experience unless you are talking about a mild period of Depression brought on by an addressable solution this is a very poor idea and ultimately more damaging .

I have been treated on and off for 33 years now , and tried many different prescriptions , some have helped and some have made me worse , with a few i suffered severe side effects . I have been off all ADs for a year now and am not doing well because i was at the end of my allotted treatment and the local MH care team had an overloaded caseload . BUT Harty is doing it properly and deserves every credit going . I know Harty will succeed because as he has said he has help from friends family and certainly on NSC .

I believe Placebo`s have a place , but NOT in Mental Health issues .

@Cheeky Monkey has suggested to read a book, not to stop taking medication. I haven't read the book but reading the blurb suggests it's about changing your mindset across areas of your life in general not a specific book about MH issues & stopping anti-d's. However there are plenty of peer reviewed journals that suggest that placebo's are as effective. The chemical imbalance theory, that an imbalance causes MH issues has pretty much been debunked across psychology & psychiatry due to advances in medical technology. However, what they do see is that MH issues can cause physical changes in the brain. The brain is a remarkable thing though and can repair it's own receptors etc. In the same way that stroke survivors brains can basically rewire itself to function normally. What we think is a case of the left side doing one job and the right side doing another is not true. If the left side is damaged, the right side can take over & make new receptors.
I 100% agree with you that medication has it's place.
I have some strong advise though for you, keep on at the MH team, ring them everyday, you are as important as everyone else on their caseload if you're not feeling great. Don't not speak up and go into a crisis. Talk to people, there are loads of people on here who want to help, people with similar experiences of what you're feeling. Not necessarily the same reason but if you look at the MH thread you know that there are lots of people who have got to breaking point & come through it. As you have before, it's temporary, even if it doesn't feel like it is now.

 

[TugWilson]

@Cheeky Monkey has suggested to read a book, not to stop taking medication. I haven't read the book but reading the blurb suggests it's about changing your mindset across areas of your life in general not a specific book about MH issues & stopping anti-d's. However there are plenty of peer reviewed journals that suggest that placebo's are as effective. The chemical imbalance theory, that an imbalance causes MH issues has pretty much been debunked across psychology & psychiatry due to advances in medical technology. However, what they do see is that MH issues can cause physical changes in the brain. The brain is a remarkable thing though and can repair it's own receptors etc. In the same way that stroke survivors brains can basically rewire itself to function normally. What we think is a case of the left side doing one job and the right side doing another is not true. If the left side is damaged, the right side can take over & make new receptors.
I 100% agree with you that medication has it's place.
I have some strong advise though for you, keep on at the MH team, ring them everyday, you are as important as everyone else on their caseload if you're not feeling great. Don't not speak up and go into a crisis. Talk to people, there are loads of people on here who want to help, people with similar experiences of what you're feeling. Not necessarily the same reason but if you look at the MH thread you know that there are lots of people who have got to breaking point & come through it. As you have before, it's temporary, even if it doesn't feel like it is now.

Chemical imbalances in the brain cause symptoms such as i suffer from - Irritability - Insomnia - Depression and Anxiety - Comfort Eating - Feelings of Low worth - Lack of Energy - Impending Doom and many more . All have been attributed to a lack of or too much of Noradrenaline - Serotonin - and Dopamine . Side effects of this are in my case , Palpitations (sometimes very bad ) , aches and pains all over the body mainly in the joints , Agoraphobia and poor social skills outside of a select few friends who i have known for 30+ years and who understand .

I appreciate what both you and @CheekyMonkey have said , but needed to offer my opinion if thought helpful in any way . But the only important thing on this thread is the support we all offer Harty .

 

[Cotton Socks]

Chemical imbalances in the brain cause symptoms such as i suffer from - Irritability - Insomnia - Depression and Anxiety - Comfort Eating - Feelings of Low worth - Lack of Energy - Impending Doom and many more . All have been attributed to a lack of or too much of Noradrenaline - Serotonin - and Dopamine . Side effects of this are in my case , Palpitations (sometimes very bad ) , aches and pains all over the body mainly in the joints , Agoraphobia and poor social skills outside of a select few friends who i have known for 30+ years and who understand .

I appreciate what both you and @CheekyMonkey have said , but needed to offer my opinion if thought helpful in any way . But the only important thing on this thread is the support we all offer Harty .

There is no better opinion than lived experience opinion. What you've said is helpful, thank you.
Yes you're right, I have missed the important part of the thread, @Lenny Rider, I'm pleased to hear that things are going well & a corner has been turned.