SSRI withdrawal

[suffolkrelic]

Hello,

has anyone here been on SSRIs, antidepressants for a long period of time and stopped them? Been struggling with the withdrawals, mood swings and a really bad lack of concentration. It's strange, I feel much dumber since stopping these tablets, I can't think straight. Kinda scary.

[Agora1]

suffolkrelic, did you stop them cold turkey??

[suffolkrelic in reply to Agora1]

No, I took the doctor's advice and came off them slowly over a couple of months.

[Agora1 in reply to suffolkrelic]

That's good to hear. Always is the safest way in doing it suffolkrelic. It doesn't necessarily mean withdrawal free but safer for sure. I've been through it and it will settle down as the drugs gets out of your system and your body starts naturally producing the chemical you need. Hang in there. We support you

[suffolkrelic in reply to Agora1]

Thank you, I was on these things close to 20 years, so the effects may take a long while to come out my system I fear.

[Agora1 in reply to suffolkrelic]

They may. I was on Xanax for 30 years and it took me 2 years to completely come off it as well as another 2 years to overcome the withdrawal symptoms. However, During those last 2 years, the brain started healing and I felt better and better as time went on. Don't fear it, it's the best feeling ever once you are home free. Good Luck

[suffolkrelic in reply to Agora1]

Thank you very much. It's been a little over a month for me to be clean of these things, I hate this feeling of my mind not working correctly, I can hardly recognize my own mind. 2 years is a scary thought.

[Agora1 in reply to suffolkrelic]

2 years was for me. Everyone is different. It may be 2 months for you. Take it as it comes, at least you know you are going in the right direction.

[suffolkrelic in reply to Agora1]

Yes, weather the storm.

[Dixie9326]

How did you decide to go off of them?

[suffolkrelic in reply to Dixie9326]

I'd had been on them for years since I was around 14-15 approx. Didn't know if I was still depressed or not without coming off them to test it first. Also, I had been looking up these medicines and the many harmful things they do to the body and mind, I didn't want to take them anymore, to have to rely on them anymore. So after talking about it with family and my doctor, I chose now was as good time as any to come off them.