Anti depressants

Struggling Help
#1

I have been meth free for 9 years aug, 11th 2013
Alcohol free for 3 years
March 14th 2020
And 3 days clean from all mind altering substances (marijuana)
March 5th 2023

For 8 years I’ve taken an antidepressant. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder from stimulant abuse. Started out on 75mg of Effexor and went clear up to 300 mg.

20 days ago I boycotted my antidepressants. By weaning myself slowly off of them. Because they were no longer working! I just recently had a baby and the postpartum was REAL. And scary. I’ve had it before. I spoke to my med doctor a few times about quitting and he never entertained the idea. He wanted to add this and lower that. And it was only making things worse. I gave it a few months and kept taking the pills and kept doing what was suggested.

And my gut keeps telling me to STOP.
In the long run you’ll be better off.
See my perspective is I haven’t done hard drugs in YEARS. Maybe I’m fine now. Whatever that is. Maybe I can deal with my emotions on my own now, maybe just maybe I can fight this battle. Before being so new in recovery I can see why I needed some help. Like a bandage until I’m healed. What I never wanted was a crutch, that I can’t go without.
One missed dose of my Effexor was like getting hit my a bus. (Not that I did it on purpose) but if I ran out I started to panic. Like drugs. Call me crazy but I can’t help but think if I can quit meth, I can quit these antidepressants too. I do t want to have to keep switching medication. For the rest of my life. I don’t want to be dependent on a pill. We will see. This is me. Trying, struggling, showing up everyday to be a better me. Thanks for listening.

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#2

Hi Carlie, I have dealt with anxiety and depression almost all of my life. When the meds wouldn’t work I self medicated. I had been on for about 7 years prescribed by my family doctor and it no longer worked. I went through detox twice in a month for alcohol and benzos. I spoke to the PA at my rehab about changing my medication. After taking the same thing for a long time it can lose it effectiveness. The put me on prestique and continued me on a few other mental meds. I still dealt with crippling anxiety. I stayed sober and eventually went back to the mental hospital I detoxed at. I met with the psychologist and learned that the prestique can make anxiety worse so we tried Prozac a long with the other meds. I made sure to get an appointment scheduled with that psychiatrist. I see him every 3 months. He as taken me off and decreased meds based on the situation and the time I have been sober. The goal is to be on as few medications as possible. I believe he is so good because he mostly works with addicts. When my wife left he even raised one to help a little more with depression. Part of the reason I am doing so good right now is my brain has had time to defog and clear up the other is having really good mental health care. I know that was long but that’s my experience. Just keep moving forward.

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#3

Yes I too tried pristiqie, Zoloft, so many I can’t keep track. I appreciate you sharing your experience. It means a lot!

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#4

That was a good read and I definitely understand what ur going through I felt the same way I've been :100: off everything almost 14 months I didn't want to b dependent on anything and it's a good feeling, the change is definitely a process so good luck.

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#5

Yes :raised_hands:
Thank you