SSRI discontinuation syndrome

April 2, 2011

I apologize for the rant.

I am worn out, emotionally and physically. It has been extremely difficult,

especially recently. I struggle daily with SSRI withdrawal and my original

Social anxiety symptoms resurfacing and being exacerbated by the process. This

has been going on for far too long. Anxiety and depression, depersonalization

and feelings of unreality, irrational thoughts and Suicidal Ideation have become

too much to bear. I also work full time to support myself and have recently

moved out of the family home. I also try to have a social life for myself, even

though it can be extremely difficult and stressful.

I often ask myself " What's the point in all of this? " ... It's not pleasant to

admit, but I think about suicide all the time. How do values come into play you

don't even want to stick around to figure out?

I have been practicing ACT Diligently for 3 years. However – Sometimes I have

the thought that ACT is insufficient for such extreme a condition. ... What does

vitality and valued living feel like? Nothing like this, I hope.

Thank you for hearing ...

April 2, 2011

Sounds a bit like me: I'm so completely exhausted I really couldn 't care less about a social life or anything at the moment. I have PSSD - permanent loss of libido and the ability to feel romantic feelings - caused by taking antidepressants years ago. Still, I never lose hope, though, and I believe that I can recover when my stress levels get lower as this allows the brain to repair itself. I have posted loads about this here in the past.

Years of stress can harm the brain which then causes more depression and anxiety, and so it is easy to get caught into a viscious circle. So don't give up because the brain has enormous capacity for repair. I keep myself going by faith that things can change and alway by the fact that I keep working at things. Improving small talk, keeping on top of things at work, studying, learning guitar and keyboards, practising mindfulness when I am able to do so. When I see myself getting through each day and I think that I have achieved something (usually something small, like I got the work done) this keeps my hope alive.

I have enormous optimism nowadays which I would like to share with you but it would overwhelm this site with information. Still, exercise is an enormously powerful way to mend a brain that has been diminished by years of stress, trauma, or drugs (including pharmaceuatical ones). Below is the latest link that I posted on my PSSD site. Is is about how exercise can repair the brain and reduce stress and depression. In fact, a scientist who studies parkinson's disease, destroyed the dopamine brain cells in a group of monkeys using a drug which gave them parkinsons disease. When he encouraged some of them to do vigorous exercise they seemed to recover and brain scans showed that new dopamine neurons were growing.

Lots of exercise (but keep it pleasant), learnig how to relax (getting cortisol levels down is very important), working at relationships, your job, etc, can really help turn things around. ACT can increase short term stress, but this is unavoidable when you start to approach some of your fears. For me, though, there is less stress at the end of the day when I see that I am trying. The brain is neuroplastic and changes when we start to learn something new, for instance, like ACT. Our genes are programable and these programs can change when learn more healthy less fearful ways to live. It is all about learning and this takes time. So keep up the good work, Osvaldo. It may seem never ending, but occasionally I get glimpses of how life used to be before my depression set in years ago. I think I am beggining to recover.

http://www.completemindcare.co.uk/Hypnotherapy%20to%20help%20you%20with/Anxiety%20and%20stress/stress_can_shrink_your_brain.html

Extract:

Exercise can help the brain repair itself and according to Bruce McEwen. He points out that "there's growing evidence that exercise has very powerful effects." Exercise can make a huge difference. And, in the case of the brain at least, time might heal the wounds caused by stress. "The brain is very resilient," said Bruce McEwen, head of the neuroendocrinology laboratory at Rockefeller University in New York City. "Give it a chance and it will make every effort to repair itself."

KV

>> I apologize for the rant.> > I am worn out, emotionally and physically. It has been extremely difficult, especially recently. I struggle daily with SSRI withdrawal and my original Social anxiety symptoms resurfacing and being exacerbated by the process. This has been going on for far too long. Anxiety and depression, depersonalization and feelings of unreality, irrational thoughts and Suicidal Ideation have become too much to bear. I also work full time to support myself and have recently moved out of the family home. I also try to have a social life for myself, even though it can be extremely difficult and stressful.> > I often ask myself "What's the point in all of this?" ... It's not pleasant to admit, but I think about suicide all the time. How do values come into play you don't even want to stick around to figure out? > > I have been practicing ACT Diligently for 3 years. However – Sometimes I have the thought that ACT is insufficient for such extreme a condition. ... What does vitality and valued living feel like? Nothing like this, I hope.> > Thank you for hearing ...>

April 2, 2011

Thank you, Bruce.

>

> > I apologize for the rant.

> >

> > I am worn out, emotionally and physically. It has been extremely

> > difficult, especially recently. I struggle daily with SSRI

> > withdrawal and my original Social anxiety symptoms resurfacing and

> > being exacerbated by the process. This has been going on for far too

> > long. Anxiety and depression, depersonalization and feelings of

> > unreality, irrational thoughts and Suicidal Ideation have become too

> > much to bear. I also work full time to support myself and have

> > recently moved out of the family home. I also try to have a social

> > life for myself, even though it can be extremely difficult and

> > stressful.

> >

> > I often ask myself " What's the point in all of this? " ... It's not

> > pleasant to admit, but I think about suicide all the time. How do

> > values come into play you don't even want to stick around to figure

> > out?

> >

> > I have been practicing ACT Diligently for 3 years. However –

> > Sometimes I have the thought that ACT is insufficient for such

> > extreme a condition. ... What does vitality and valued living feel

> > like? Nothing like this, I hope.

> >

> > Thank you for hearing ...

> >

>

April 2, 2011

I do sympathize. I took a mix of anti-depressants and anxiety tablets in the past for my agoraphobia and panic disorder, and when I came off them I felt pretty awful. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am feeling really well lately. ACT and mindfulness are giving me a new lease of life. Being with yourself in these moments can be so hard. But you are a valued human being, there is so much you can give yourself and others. You are meant to be here right now, trust the present moment and be willing. It takes practice, time and patience. When I did my value work on the "Spirituality" section, it was empty. I knew it was important, but it was missing and not in my life. But thanks to ACT I found mindfulness and buddhism and now this value is one of my strong ones. It sometimes feels like

walking naked in the dark down my valued path, with a handful of values shining in my arms like lite-up gems. It can be lonely, and scary. But its worth it. Don't lose hope. Or at least, don't tangle up with the feeling of losing hope. Life is so precious, and you will feel how precious it is, be kind and give yourself that chance. Tread gently XXX______________________Signature: Mrs Em Equanimity This is my personal blog where I record my experience applying Acceptance Commitment Therapy to my anxiety and agoraphobia in particular, and my life in general. Feel free to browse. http://eyeofthehurricane-act.blogspot.com/--- El sÃ¡b, 2/4/11, Osvaldo escribiÃ³:De: Osvaldo Asunto: Re: SSRI discontinuation syndromePara: ACT_for_the_Public Fecha: sÃ¡bado, 2 de abril, 2011 17:49