Long term antidepressants user and now off them - anyone else?

StarryNight · ‎23-08-2014

Hi All,
I've recently been off my antidepressants just 2 months ago after taking it for over 13 years. To be honest, it has been very hard. I suffer from GAD and my anxiety has been very high at times. However I am determined to be off medications for a long time as I always hear how treatable anxiety is without medication, e.g. CBT as being the most effective treatment for anxiety.
So far to combat all of this, I have been seeing a psychologist for the past month and a half, I've been working with her on CBT strategies, have taken up cardio based exercises 3-4 times a week, doing mindful meditation twice a day everyday, talking to family and friends and most of all have accepted my anxiety as part of me.
So my question to everyone, is there anyone who has taken antidepressants and are now no longer on them and managing their anxiety OK? Or know anyone else who has been off them and is managing their anxiety OK?
I would love to hear your stories. Thanks in advance!

geoff · ‎28-08-2014

dear StarryNight, I'm so sorry that your post has slicked through the cracks and not been answered.

Sometimes this happens because it depends on what time of the day or night you post it, and if it's a busy period, means that it will be pushed over to page 2 or even page 3, which means it can be easily missed, so I apologise so much for this, but this will put it back onto page 1.

What you have decided to do is a very brave move, especially after 13 years, so before I answer your question can I ask you some, and you can answer only if you want to.

I'm interested to know if you had depression at all which was associated with your anxiety, and I would be interested to know if your anxiety involved OCD.

I have been on AD for a long time and when I miss a day, maybe because my script has run out I fall down hill so quickly, but as soon as I take it I'm pick up very quickly.

geoff · ‎28-08-2014

sorry I pressed something that sent my reply off, so can I continue.

I had asked my doctor what he thought if I stopped my AD, but he said no way, not yet, so I would like to know how your CBT goes and wish you well.

Would you start them again if it became too much for you.Geoff.

StarryNight · ‎29-08-2014

Hi Geoff,

Thanks heaps for replying to my post! I thought no one was interested in it or no one was in the same boat as me.

I'm more than happy to answer your questions.

Yes, I have suffered depression twice in my life prior to going on AD. I had depression when I was 12 years old and 14 years old. I think I was falling into depression again when I was was 17 years old but that didn't last long as I was put on AD by the psychologist I was seeing at the time.

I don't have OCD, just GAD and I guess a susceptibility to depression....

To be honest CBT has been good but it does require a lot of mental effort. Just the past few days, I was highly anxious and stressed and it did feel like all the work I've done went out the door. However I am motivated and determined to keep going without meds for a little while. I've started doing mindful mediation only 3 weeks ago and so far I've seen some results. I've been reading and practising the meditations from "Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world" by Prof Mark Williams & Dr Danny Penman.

I do sometimes wish I was on them again, but most times I don't want to because there is evidence that after a while your brain changes when you continually challenge it to think the other way. For example, with mindful mediation & CBT there's research to support that there are actual brain changes when it's done for awhile. For instance, the emotional part of your brain (the amygdala) actually reduces over time with mindful meditation.

What about you? What strategies have you been using with easing your OCD?

AGrace · ‎29-08-2014

HI StarryNight,

I did read your post, but as you mentioned I'm not in a similar situation. Having said that I did want to say that I think it's great that you are finding alternate strategies to cope with your anxiety. I'm a profound lover of mindfulness - and practice a number of times each day. Thanks for the suggestion of the book, I'll take a look at that one. One of my favourite Mindfulness gurus to listen to is Tara Brach.

In your most recent post you spoke about positive brain changes when you aim to created new neural pathways. If you are into reading, have you read "The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge? A very good read.

I have no doubt that there are community members who are either anti medication, or who are contemplating coming off medication who will find your thread very helpful. So thank you.

AGrace

StarryNight · ‎31-08-2014

Hi AGrace,

Thanks for replying to my post!

It's great to hear you enjoy doing mindfulness as well. I'll check out the guru you mentioned too. I have read a bit of "The Brain That Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge but that was a long time ago but I'm keen to reread it again.

And, thank you for your lovely words about my post. Although I have all these strategies in place, it might take some time for me to see actual improvements in managing my anxiety. I think it's also good to keep aware of other strategies as well, especially hearing from other members on the BeyondBlue forums to see what's worked for them.

SD44 · ‎13-09-2014

Hi Starry Night, i too have been on antidepressants for approx 13 years and recently tapered down and then off completely about 2 months ago. Unfortunately i am not doing as well as ypu probably in part because my daughter also has depression and i struggle to cope with keeping myself upbeat when she is so down. I also do meditation and believe it is a great tool. It might sound strange but ive had energy healing too which also helped as well as seeing a naturopath. Anyway just wanted to say congratulations and hope ypu find all the strategies you need 🙂

Thisshallpass2 · ‎20-09-2014

Hi

I was a long time user of AD, I have recently gone back on them . After 3 yrs off them, it took me 3 tries , this of course done with the support of my family and doctor. It is hard , don't feel you have let anybody down if you return to using them. I have always said if things got tough I would go back on them. When things settle down i will look at slowly going back off them again . I have not set a time and will be patient , I am currently using a technique where you take notice of the present. What ever is in front of you at any given moment. Look at it and take in all it's detail. I have found this to be most useful when I am in a moment of panic.