Brutal depression plus insomnia are a dangerous combination, as you know.
I appreciate your ambivalence wrt lexapro, let’s hope it will be the lesser of two evils and a limited intervention.
It’s admirable you’re doing the best things possible for your health and your work, I know all too well how hard it is to persevere in the face of this struggle
Getting off that type of medication is wicked difficult, Josh. SSRIs and SNRIs are addictive. They "...have a similar primary mechanism of action to cocaine. SSRIs block the reuptake of Serotonin; SNRIs, also commonly prescribed, block the reuptake of Serotonin and Norepinephrine... Cocaine blocks the reuptake of Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine."
The previously quoted interesting substack doctor I follow has written on this topic a couple of times. "These addictive drugs produce very strong withdrawal symptoms, and there are many cases of catastrophic events that followed the abrupt discontinuation of an SSRI. If this is something you ever wish to do, you need to gradually taper down the dosage with a physician who has experience in this area. Note: sometimes, the withdrawal process is so slow that sandpaper is needed to minutely shrink each pill one consumes."
It's yet another very difficult hill for you to surmount. I am glad that you listened to your body and realized it wasn't working. Hope your mental state continues to improve. You're up against it trying to get off that stuff.
You've got to do whatever it takes to feel better. I am glad not to be on meds now (I was on one or more antidepressants for around 18 years), but if that old black cloud returns, I will try them again.
I'm glad to hear it's working for you. Please let us know about any negative side effects you experience. I tried Bupropion for a few months, a couple of years ago, and it had zero effect of any kind, neither positive nor negative. Might has well have been M&Ms.
Life is sometimes one step forward and two back. That it did not work this time does not mean that it never will. And even if, this does not mean failure. It is just what it is.
I know your goal is to live in your “ natural “ state - I know that it’s terrifying to be dependent on meds that can be taken away or controlled… don’t be too hard on yourself, this just isn’t the right time to put in effort, that time will come!
My GP is an excellent doctor who says it like it is. He recommends Lexapro, says it made all the difference for himself. There is no honor or valor in suffering! Good for you. ❤️
Sometimes we have to do things we'd rather not, just to stabilize our situation. Getting back to a tolerable state of affairs is important. Hang in there.
Hang in there!
Glad you are starting to feel better!
Pragmatism is good.
God bless. Stay strong!! I don't know exactly why you wish to avoid SSRIs, but I know they can be life savers.
Brutal depression plus insomnia are a dangerous combination, as you know.
I appreciate your ambivalence wrt lexapro, let’s hope it will be the lesser of two evils and a limited intervention.
It’s admirable you’re doing the best things possible for your health and your work, I know all too well how hard it is to persevere in the face of this struggle
Best wishes, Josh, for your recovery. Life can be hard, and harder still burdened with traumatic memory.
Keep your chin up, kiddo!
Getting off that type of medication is wicked difficult, Josh. SSRIs and SNRIs are addictive. They "...have a similar primary mechanism of action to cocaine. SSRIs block the reuptake of Serotonin; SNRIs, also commonly prescribed, block the reuptake of Serotonin and Norepinephrine... Cocaine blocks the reuptake of Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine."
The previously quoted interesting substack doctor I follow has written on this topic a couple of times. "These addictive drugs produce very strong withdrawal symptoms, and there are many cases of catastrophic events that followed the abrupt discontinuation of an SSRI. If this is something you ever wish to do, you need to gradually taper down the dosage with a physician who has experience in this area. Note: sometimes, the withdrawal process is so slow that sandpaper is needed to minutely shrink each pill one consumes."
It's yet another very difficult hill for you to surmount. I am glad that you listened to your body and realized it wasn't working. Hope your mental state continues to improve. You're up against it trying to get off that stuff.
You've got to do whatever it takes to feel better. I am glad not to be on meds now (I was on one or more antidepressants for around 18 years), but if that old black cloud returns, I will try them again.
Do you want an old hard ass opinion on this?
I'm glad to hear it's working for you. Please let us know about any negative side effects you experience. I tried Bupropion for a few months, a couple of years ago, and it had zero effect of any kind, neither positive nor negative. Might has well have been M&Ms.
Good on you for taking care of yourself. It’s not easy.
Life is sometimes one step forward and two back. That it did not work this time does not mean that it never will. And even if, this does not mean failure. It is just what it is.
I know your goal is to live in your “ natural “ state - I know that it’s terrifying to be dependent on meds that can be taken away or controlled… don’t be too hard on yourself, this just isn’t the right time to put in effort, that time will come!
My GP is an excellent doctor who says it like it is. He recommends Lexapro, says it made all the difference for himself. There is no honor or valor in suffering! Good for you. ❤️
Sometimes we have to do things we'd rather not, just to stabilize our situation. Getting back to a tolerable state of affairs is important. Hang in there.