Adjusting to no psych meds

[Alex0393]

I was on paxil, an SSRI for about 8 years I came off in a safe medical environment last year. This year i came off adivan which i was on for about 8 years too, but up to 4mg a day for at least 3 years. I'm off it all since about 2 months ago. I'm back in the real world and I feel like I have nothing. No friends. No happiness. I'm always going to fight but like... damn.. nobody gives a shit about me. Nothing happy anywhere. Just a constant fight against suffering from adjusting off the meds, and fighting off my back pains that doctor didnt even look at just offered me muscle relaxers.. obviously not going to take them. It's super hard to want to do anything if nobody in the world cares and no matter what you do you're in pain. And people don't want anything to do with you.

[Rick1on1]

Hi, feeling alone and abandoned is one of the toughest emotions to face!

What is the reason you are going of those meds?

There are several things you can do to feel part of a community:

1. join meetup.com for groups that might be of interest

2. start volunteering - the reward for seeing appreciation in a person or animal is great for self-confidence and you will be introduced to caring and supportive people

As for your back problems, see another GP. Are you eating decently and exercising?

[romana1]

it can take a while after being on those medications to really feel part of the world again or even have REAL feelings. 3 months is not very long, can you try to do anything for yourself that would cheer you up, have you any hobbies or could you start to do some things that interest you. those feelings or having no one and no friends are just the lasts of the withdrawal and what put many people back on the pills again. its good that your a fighter. just keep going to your doctor and only tell him of your back pain on your appointment that way he can't dismiss it.

[EmmyLoop]

Ok. I'm sending love, and especially compassion, your way right now. Whatever you are experiencing is nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone can become dependent on a substance, no matter their upbringing or their choices in adulthood. I feel like I know how afraid you are likely feeling right now and how bizarre everything seems. As an addict, I can tell you that these addictive substances stimulate us, whether the drug claims to or not, so that our lives seem more tolerable. For instance, Xanax and Valium are supposed to fight my anxiety, therefore creating a sense of calm within myself. But wait a minute. Now I have no anxiety, and having no debilitating anxiety equals energy. Now I can colonize the freakin' moon!

Suddenly, my life is less boring and I feel so much more in touch with my feelings, even though I am actually numbing my feelings. (I know, wtf?!)

Once we decide to live without the substances, we begin to adjust to this "new" awareness; our activities may seem so boring, even pointless. It is important that we remind ourselves that an entirely new perspective on life is being established within ourselves. Our brain's pathways are physically and chemically being re-routed.

Precious one, no matter how I feel about myself, I deserve empathy, love (not tough love) and compassion. And if I deserve it, so do you.