Recently came off medication- now depressed?

[ZiggOh]

Hi all,

About 6 weeks ago, I came off an antidepressant which I was on for anxiety. Now I am 6-weeks into being on no medication, I feel like my anxiety is okay (except for my excessive worrying!) and I feel more depressed I think? Is this normal?

Should I maybe wait a few weeks to see if my mood lifts before starting a new anti-depressant? I didnt like my other one because of side effects and I have actually even brought the new one but I am reluctant to start it.

I fee like my mood is very low, I am avoiding work, I feel feeling guilty about not going to work, I am worrying about anything, and I feel like I am avoiding all positive ways of coping (never consistent with professional help, always cancel appointments at the last minute, I like yoga but never go for some reason). I am also feeling anti social and the only person I want to see is my boyfriend and no one else. I also hate my job.

Sorry I am now rambling but I hope someone can comment on this 🙂

Zig

[quirkywords]

Zig,

Coming off medications affects everyone differently. if you are experiencing side effects talking to your GO would be a good idea.

It is hard to know whether your behaviours and moods are normal for you or our of the ordinary and unexpected.

Were you seeing a doctor when you came off medications so that your side effects could be monitored.?

By answering this, I will bump up your thread to the front so more can see it .

Quirky

[PandorasLocksmith]

Hi Zig,

it does sound like it could either be the effect of coming off your antidepressant, or it could be depression.

Some antidepressants are much more difficult to come off of than others. You might want to check with your prescribing dr about that. This could mean it'll just take a bit longer for you to resettle into a new functional state.

I wonder too about your precious anxiety which you say was worse when you went on the medication than it is now, and now depression seems to have flared up. Quite often severe anxiety can mask clinical depression, so when the anxiety is reduced somewhat, the depression shows itself. I'd ask your prescribing doctor about this too.

Depending on the reason you went off your antidepressants, unless it was because of side effects you were not okay with, there is the option of going back onto the antidepressants again if you and your doctor think they made life better for you.

There are many different kinds of antidepressants, each known to be more useful for certain things. Like some help with OCD, some help with anxiety, some are sedating, some are energy giving, some work really quickly, others more slowly. There are a Lot of antidepressant options for you and your doctor to consider if you even want to try going onto a different antidepressant now that anxiety is not your central problem.

It does sound like depression to me, with lesser but still distressing anxiety. It could be because the antidepressants you were on can be difficult to come off of. Or it could be because the depression was always there but masked by the anxiety.

Either way, it could be a great idea to talk with your prescribing doctor about how you've been since going off the antidepressants. If your work is being effected and this is hanging around and not lifting within a couple weeks, a doctor should be monitoring it with you.

Caring lots! Both anxiety and depression really can alter your functioning and are so not fun. Hoping you pick up soon, with or without more meds.

Let us know how you're doing

-Pandora's Locksmith.