I'm just wondering if anyone has successfully stopped taking antidepressants and has continued to feel like themselves again.
I just started one and I don't want to be on it for the rest of my life. Is there any hope I can be on it for a short time and continue to feel good?
I just want to hear some good success stories instead of all the bad ones I'm finding on the internet
Hi LottieDottie 818... I don't blame you in wanting to hear some success stories. They are far and few between and it's time to bring attention to success and not failure. There is every chance that the medication can be used for only a short time. Just to give yourself a little time to find other ways to work on your anxiety. I was left on Xanax for a very long time. When it no longer worked for me, I decided with the help of my psychiatrist to wean off the med. I couldn't believe there waiting for me was "my old self" again. Once off the pills, I became me. Anxiety was behind me and life was looking great again.
So yes, LottieDottie sometimes we need a little help with medication just to break that cycle of fear or depression. It is not a life sentence. Good Luck, hope the med serves it's purpose.
Thank you so much! I did read somewhere that 'they' say that you should be on the medicine double the time you have been feeling anxious or depressed. I've been on and off for awhile, but it has just now becoming difficult to manage and affecting my health which in turn is making me more anxious of course. So I'm not sure how long that really is. I have to make an appointment with a therapist soon. I know the best way is CBT and medication. I just hope all of these awful side effects are worth it.
LottieDottie, I had never heard that regarding being on meds double the time you have been feeling anxious. Interesting but I don't know how true. I'm glad to hear that while on the medication, you will be talking with a therapist and using other modalities in working on your anxiety issues. Some people think the pill is magical but it's not. It's what you do during that time that will carry you once you are off medication. There is nothing worth more than having yourself back again. It's an incredible feeling. I wish this for you x
Well I am not going to lie it was very hard. The side effects from the withdrawl lasted for two weeks. I was just done with antidepressants and against medical advice tried to taper off. I was just sick of being dependant. When I missed doses for whatever reason I would feel my head buzz when I turned my head or made fast movements. Also, my heart fluttered (and it was scary) and on one of the flutters I blacked out. I don't advise anyone to go cold turkey Or against their doctor but it is possible to slowly taper off . I did cry for no reason for like 4 weeks. But in time I started to feel myself again I can't say I am great but atleast I don't have to worry about those awful side effects. Plus I lost a ton of weight from getting happy naturally with excersize and doing things I enjoy. I promise you there is light at the end of the tunnel .
Would you say that being on the antidepressants helped you get to that feeling after the initial withdrawal or do you feel as though you could have done it naturally and not have gone on them to begin with?
I think I needed it at one point but I should have gotten off of it sooner. I was on it for 5 years so my body got used to it. But I guess you need to ask yourself does the sideeffects out-way the need ? I think it should have been for a short term treatment not a crutch for forced happiness.
Hi
I really don't understand why some people view medication as 'the big, bad wolf'. Medication of any sort is there for you when you are sick and that means physically or mentally.
Nothing annoys me more than when someone says, 'oh, I've got such a bad headache', and I'll ask, 'have you taken a painkiller?' And they say 'no, don't like taking tablets' !!!!!!
Anyway, I've been on and off anti depressantsocial or SSRI's for nearly 40 years for both anxiety and depression. I went many years without taking anything at all. They are there to help you when anxiety/depression gets out of control and begins to affect your day to day living. However, they should be used as part of a multi faceted approach to enable you to think more clearly regarding your mental health.
I didn't suffer many side effects, but like any new medication, you may get a few..... these should go quite quickly. As for stopping them, just do it very slowly and you will be fine.
I wish you lots of luck
Judi
If there weren't so many awful side effects it wouldn't bother me as much taking them. You're super lucky you didn't have any. I'm cutting the lowest dose in half and still feeling nauseous, sweating/hot flashes, anxious, jittery, emotional /crying out of no where. I stayed home from work on Friday because I felt so uncomfortable.
I'm really hoping they go away and this is worth it. I want them to help me be able to do other things that will eventually get me to feel like myself again but at the moment they're making me less motivated
I'm going to have to disagree with your statement, yes they make you feel a little better, but you just said it" I've been on for 40 yrs", now see the truth is, and I'm talking medically how dependant they make you, that's what the addiction is. I mean I'm not putting anybody down, heck I took Zoloft for awhile and I know from experience how dependant they make us, that's why I don't like ssri's or any antidepressants. There's a difference if having epilepsy or the flu or HIV, those are life threatening diseases. Feeling depression can't kill someone, unless they kill themselves, because of sometimes withdrawal symptoms. Some people just give up.
Hi LottieDottie818, I had the same question about a year ago, so I asked my doctor if I could stop taking Zoloft He said no, and emphasized that I needed to stay on it for the rest of my life for my anxiety. Well, hearing that made me feel a lot more anxious! I had been on Zoloft for 1 1/2 years, and I wasn't feeling any better than before I started taking it, except that it did stop my panic attacks. I experienced so many side effects with the Zoloft that it just wasn't worth it for me to keep taking it. I decided to get a second opinion, so I changed doctors. My new doctor told me to wean myself off slowly and see if the panic attacks came back. I was on 75 mg, and I cut back by approximately 6.5 mg each month. It was a very slow process, and it took me 6 months to be completely off the Zoloft! When I got down to where I was taking 12.5 mg, my doctor told me I could stop, because 12.5 mg is a homeopathic dose. In other words, I does that small was not having any affect on me. Each time I reduced my dosage, I felt a little bit better. I've been off for six months, and I can't say that I feel well, but I feel better than I did when I was taking Zoloft I don't have panic attacks anymore, but I still have plenty of anxiety symptoms. Since everyone reacts differently to medication, I can only speak for myself and tell you my experience. I don't believe that antidepressants are my answer, but I'm sure they work very well for some people. I would definitely recommend working with a doctor to wean yourself off of your SSRI. I hope this information is helpful. By the way, your username is adorable! Blessings to you.
Also, someone in this support community recommended the book DARE-the new way to end anxiety and stop paniic attacks by Barry McDonagh. I bought the book, and it has been extremely helpful to me!! I highly recommend it!
Thank you! This did help a lot and I will definitely check that book out. Lottie is my new puppy's name 
Well Lottie Dottie, I've been trying for a while after only taking Zoloft for a month and a half, but no success yet. But personally I will overcome this mind manipulation drug everyone seems to fall for, I'm not saying they can't make you feel better, but ssri's aren't repairing anything. It's not a cure, but a crutch. And people say "listen to your doctor". I know one thing, if I wouldn't have listened to my doctor, I wouldn't be feeling like crappy. You, and anybody else can stop, but it's a fight sometimes. But you don't have to let ADs run your life. Have a nice day Lottie Dottie.
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