Re: Need advice! Discontinuing Zoloft, symptoms return :( and academics!

[Guest guest]

What does she say about going back up on the dose? Can she tell that

she's having symptoms again?

Sorry you are going through this!

Dina

[Guest guest]

I'm echoing Dina. Is she willing to up on the dose, maybe try 75mg?

Also a thought, if she wants to eventually go off (or try to) medication, has

she had therapy in the past (CBT with ERP) so she can try using some tools she

learned there to work on her OCD issues? Thinking maybe she could go back up on

the dose a bit and begin working on some of her behaviors when the Zoloft kicks

in a bit more to take the " edge off " her OCD.... Just brainstorming!

>

> What does she say about going back up on the dose? Can she tell that

> she's having symptoms again?

>

> Sorry you are going through this!

> Dina

>

[Guest guest]

and Dina ... thanks! She talked to me a bit tonight and told me she needs

to go back to her regular dose. I honestly think she is depressed. School just

seems like such a struggle. I told her that first of all the meds need to kick

in again, that everything seems " huge " right now. I am sad for her ... she

feels " stupid " because her concentration and focus is crap right now. Its her

jr. year and she is worried about college, etc. Yet she doesn't seem to have the

energy to attend to all the academic pieces required. I feel at such a loss!

Tina

> >

> > What does she say about going back up on the dose? Can she tell that

> > she's having symptoms again?

> >

> > Sorry you are going through this!

> > Dina

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Just want to echo - if she wants to eventually come off the med, then she

may feel better if she starts working on a plan to be able to do so later. Once

she is not depressed anymore - has she done ERP therapy? It is proven to be as

effective as Zoloft, and with some hard work & practice, this therapy might

allow her to try again. Hope she is feeling better again really soon.

>

>

> and Dina ... thanks! She talked to me a bit tonight and told me she

needs to go back to her regular dose. I honestly think she is depressed.

School just seems like such a struggle. I told her that first of all the meds

need to kick in again, that everything seems " huge " right now. I am sad for her

.... she feels " stupid " because her concentration and focus is crap right now.

Its her jr. year and she is worried about college, etc. Yet she doesn't seem to

have the energy to attend to all the academic pieces required. I feel at such a

loss!

>

> Tina

>

[Guest guest]

Well, right now I think she realizes tapering was an experiment that didn't

work! Right now what I am seeing is some stuff in schoolwork that reminds me of

the " ocd-ish " stuff she did when she was in jr. high, before she went on Zoloft.

It has to do with writing. She says she feels like what she writes doesn't sound

like what is in her head. Like it doesn't " sound right " and so she just doesn't

do the assignment. She is struggling with a research paper right now, and is

failing the class rather than deal with the frustration of it. She just says

its stupid! Not sure whether she's just being oppostitional or whether its the

OCD " just rightness " rearing its ugly head.

Tina

> >

> >

> > and Dina ... thanks! She talked to me a bit tonight and told me she

needs to go back to her regular dose. I honestly think she is depressed.

School just seems like such a struggle. I told her that first of all the meds

need to kick in again, that everything seems " huge " right now. I am sad for her

.... she feels " stupid " because her concentration and focus is crap right now.

Its her jr. year and she is worried about college, etc. Yet she doesn't seem to

have the energy to attend to all the academic pieces required. I feel at such a

loss!

> >

> > Tina

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Do you have plans to increase the Zoloft again? Sounds like that's a place to

start. Do you think she'll understand the relation between the return of her

symptoms and decreasing the Zoloft? Can you find something on the www and print

it out for her to read (so it's not you saying it)? How about therapy? I well

know that panic as that is my son's most challenging symptom.

We do have an IEP/Spec Ed for my son, but he's in 5th grade - not sure the same

would apply.

Bonnie

>

> My dd, age 17 has been tapering her zoloft at her request -- since August.

She was on 100 mg and now is on 50mg. Okay, so today she texts me from school

and is having a panic attack (or freaking out as she put it). I had to go sign

her out so she could go home. I am worried that what I am seeing is a return of

her old symptoms. She was dx with panic/anxiety at age 13 (she also had OCD

symptoms but the panic was the worst thing). In the last few weeks I have also

seen some " just rightness " associated with schoolwork and some dropping grades.

In the past, she has " bailed " on assignments if she is stressed or they don't

sound right, or she can't complete them. Its like she can't handle the stress

and so she just drops it. It makes me so sad to see the old " crap " returning.

At her age, I can't MAKE her go back on SSRIs if she doesn't want to be on them.

>

> This is really starting to affect her schoolwork. I can see it. I am

wondering about having more support put in place for her at school, because of

the increasing anxiety. Does anyone here have their child under special

education because of anxiety or OCD? That is such a huge step. Right now she

is only under 504-ohi but we really get no help from that academically. Its

also pretty late in the game (she's a junior) but I am worried she won't

graduate if the symptoms escalate more.

>

> Thanks so much for any input!

>

> Tina

>

[Guest guest]

Also wanted to add that just because she may not be able to get off the Zoloft

right now, doesn't mean she can't when she's older. The teen years thru to

getting your first real job are so stressful. It may be a little bit of a

roller coaster ride, but it will even out! I have a younger sister who was

extremely anxious as a child and teen and she now has her PhD and is married and

due to have her first child in a week. She had a breakdown in college and still

managed to graduate with honors in a dual major program. Hang in there.

Bonnie

> >

> > My dd, age 17 has been tapering her zoloft at her request -- since August.

She was on 100 mg and now is on 50mg. Okay, so today she texts me from school

and is having a panic attack (or freaking out as she put it). I had to go sign

her out so she could go home. I am worried that what I am seeing is a return of

her old symptoms. She was dx with panic/anxiety at age 13 (she also had OCD

symptoms but the panic was the worst thing). In the last few weeks I have also

seen some " just rightness " associated with schoolwork and some dropping grades.

In the past, she has " bailed " on assignments if she is stressed or they don't

sound right, or she can't complete them. Its like she can't handle the stress

and so she just drops it. It makes me so sad to see the old " crap " returning.

At her age, I can't MAKE her go back on SSRIs if she doesn't want to be on them.

> >

> > This is really starting to affect her schoolwork. I can see it. I am

wondering about having more support put in place for her at school, because of

the increasing anxiety. Does anyone here have their child under special

education because of anxiety or OCD? That is such a huge step. Right now she

is only under 504-ohi but we really get no help from that academically. Its

also pretty late in the game (she's a junior) but I am worried she won't

graduate if the symptoms escalate more.

> >

> > Thanks so much for any input!

> >

> > Tina

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Bonnie! Well, she asked to go back up to her regular dose (100mg) last

night. I have a call in to her dr. to see how he wants to handle this and gave

her 75mg this morning. She does see a therapist, in fact she is there this

afternoon (goes weekly). The thing is, I don't know if she has reached the

place of trust with her therapist to tell her what is going on with the panic.

She told me yesterday they don't talk about that stuff!! ARGH! You are right,

the teen years are really hard. First of all, if she can get out of high school

in one piece that is a first step!

Would you mind sharing a bit more about the IEP you have in place for your son?

If I could get her some more support while she is in this fragile stage it might

help.

THANKS!

Tina

> > >

> > > My dd, age 17 has been tapering her zoloft at her request -- since August.

She was on 100 mg and now is on 50mg. Okay, so today she texts me from school

and is having a panic attack (or freaking out as she put it). I had to go sign

her out so she could go home. I am worried that what I am seeing is a return of

her old symptoms. She was dx with panic/anxiety at age 13 (she also had OCD

symptoms but the panic was the worst thing). In the last few weeks I have also

seen some " just rightness " associated with schoolwork and some dropping grades.

In the past, she has " bailed " on assignments if she is stressed or they don't

sound right, or she can't complete them. Its like she can't handle the stress

and so she just drops it. It makes me so sad to see the old " crap " returning.

At her age, I can't MAKE her go back on SSRIs if she doesn't want to be on them.

> > >

> > > This is really starting to affect her schoolwork. I can see it. I am

wondering about having more support put in place for her at school, because of

the increasing anxiety. Does anyone here have their child under special

education because of anxiety or OCD? That is such a huge step. Right now she

is only under 504-ohi but we really get no help from that academically. Its

also pretty late in the game (she's a junior) but I am worried she won't

graduate if the symptoms escalate more.

> > >

> > > Thanks so much for any input!

> > >

> > > Tina

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I do have my daughter under IEP as Other Health impaired.

Getting an IEP is such a difficult proccess and requires

so much advocacy. But it could really be worth it.

There are services available up to age 20/22 for special

needs kids in the way of transitional services etc.

I had to have a PhD psychologist come to the

IEP meetings and advocate that she needed many

special services to cope with school. And I had to have

a psychiatrist write an advocacy letter too.

She needed so much support the school preferred to

send her out of district. I see at the high school

level there is vocational training and support

services available.

It may be possible to move the process along if you need

accomodations and not smaller special ed classes.

You can email me if you like. We have tried so many

things to reduce school anxiety.

As I have been writing my daughter does not want to take

her medication either. We have life very structured

to get tv, activities, movies etc all based on school

attendance. If she gets to school at all she gets

30 min of TV time and computer. If she gets there on time

she gets TV after 8pm.

Our behaviorist tied her taking her medication to the

TV after 8pm reinforcer. If she doesn't take it she doesn't

get TV after 8pm.

Money was not a good reinforcer because when she had some

saved from birthdays and christmas she is not

motivated.

Pam

>

> My dd, age 17 has been tapering her zoloft at her request -- since August.

She was on 100 mg and now is on 50mg. Okay, so today she texts me from school

and is having a panic attack (or freaking out as she put it). I had to go sign

her out so she could go home. I am worried that what I am seeing is a return of

her old symptoms. She was dx with panic/anxiety at age 13 (she also had OCD

symptoms but the panic was the worst thing). In the last few weeks I have also

seen some " just rightness " associated with schoolwork and some dropping grades.

In the past, she has " bailed " on assignments if she is stressed or they don't

sound right, or she can't complete them. Its like she can't handle the stress

and so she just drops it. It makes me so sad to see the old " crap " returning.

At her age, I can't MAKE her go back on SSRIs if she doesn't want to be on them.

>

> This is really starting to affect her schoolwork. I can see it. I am

wondering about having more support put in place for her at school, because of

the increasing anxiety. Does anyone here have their child under special

education because of anxiety or OCD? That is such a huge step. Right now she

is only under 504-ohi but we really get no help from that academically. Its

also pretty late in the game (she's a junior) but I am worried she won't

graduate if the symptoms escalate more.

>

> Thanks so much for any input!

>

> Tina

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pam. My husband and I talked today and think what we're gonna do first

is talk to our daughter about this. She may be really adverse to it, but she

needs support! I don't know how she will make it through HS without it. The

anxiety, etc. just takes so much of her energy. When she is on meds, its better,

but still has other issues ... executive function, slower processing, etc. The

anxiety and sensory processing disorder are her biggest ones, though. RIght now

she is under 504-ohi but I can't get her much with that. She is late alot, has

sleep issues too. Argh, just alot! I have been reading and see that an IEP is

difficult, but may help us with transition into college.

She is back to her meds, full dose. She needed to try and it and see how bad it

was without, I guess. I just don't want her self esteem to suffer any more with

this. She says she already feels " stupid " . sigh.

Good news, she has a wonderful psychiatrist who would back us up, I know. Plus

her therapist, and the psychologist who did her assessment last year (we had her

tested for ADHD, which she did NOT have, at least that is one thing). Can you

tell me ...does the school need to do their own testing, or would they use ours

that we had done this past January?

As I look through the IDEA info, I would at this point see her maybe qualifying

under emotional disturbance, because of the panic attacks. You can e-mail me

privately if you want to answer any of my questions ... thanks so much!

Tina

> >

> > My dd, age 17 has been tapering her zoloft at her request -- since August.

She was on 100 mg and now is on 50mg. Okay, so today she texts me from school

and is having a panic attack (or freaking out as she put it). I had to go sign

her out so she could go home. I am worried that what I am seeing is a return of

her old symptoms. She was dx with panic/anxiety at age 13 (she also had OCD

symptoms but the panic was the worst thing). In the last few weeks I have also

seen some " just rightness " associated with schoolwork and some dropping grades.

In the past, she has " bailed " on assignments if she is stressed or they don't

sound right, or she can't complete them. Its like she can't handle the stress

and so she just drops it. It makes me so sad to see the old " crap " returning.

At her age, I can't MAKE her go back on SSRIs if she doesn't want to be on them.

> >

> > This is really starting to affect her schoolwork. I can see it. I am

wondering about having more support put in place for her at school, because of

the increasing anxiety. Does anyone here have their child under special

education because of anxiety or OCD? That is such a huge step. Right now she

is only under 504-ohi but we really get no help from that academically. Its

also pretty late in the game (she's a junior) but I am worried she won't

graduate if the symptoms escalate more.

> >

> > Thanks so much for any input!

> >

> > Tina

> >

>

[Guest guest]

He is 11yrs olds - 5th grade. He has a part-time aide. He has accommodations

that allow him to leave the classroom whenever he needs to. Consultation with

his care providers is written into his IEP. We implement a communication tool

to provide ongoing communication when his behavior changes (via notebook or e

mail). Matt has had periods of time when he couldn't attend school the whole

day and so he had abbreviated days and then gradually returned full-time. He

has a named person to go to if his aide is not available to assist him or

accompany him when he leaves the classroom due to anxiety.

Bonnie

> > > >

> > > > My dd, age 17 has been tapering her zoloft at her request -- since

August. She was on 100 mg and now is on 50mg. Okay, so today she texts me from

school and is having a panic attack (or freaking out as she put it). I had to

go sign her out so she could go home. I am worried that what I am seeing is a

return of her old symptoms. She was dx with panic/anxiety at age 13 (she also

had OCD symptoms but the panic was the worst thing). In the last few weeks I

have also seen some " just rightness " associated with schoolwork and some

dropping grades. In the past, she has " bailed " on assignments if she is

stressed or they don't sound right, or she can't complete them. Its like she

can't handle the stress and so she just drops it. It makes me so sad to see the

old " crap " returning. At her age, I can't MAKE her go back on SSRIs if she

doesn't want to be on them.

> > > >

> > > > This is really starting to affect her schoolwork. I can see it. I am

wondering about having more support put in place for her at school, because of

the increasing anxiety. Does anyone here have their child under special

education because of anxiety or OCD? That is such a huge step. Right now she

is only under 504-ohi but we really get no help from that academically. Its

also pretty late in the game (she's a junior) but I am worried she won't

graduate if the symptoms escalate more.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks so much for any input!

> > > >

> > > > Tina

> > > >

> > >

> >

>