Re: Question and update.

[Guest guest]

Hi G. I am so happy for you for getting through the worst of withdrawal. Way to go! Yes, it is a great feeling when the feelings come back. I was a bit scared, but mostly just happy to be alive, to feel human again. I too have realized I have some natural ups and downs. I will never let anyone tell me this is mental illness. It is love of life, creativity, and deep feelings about everything around me. You made it! Now you can enjoy being you. There are always going to be people around us on meds. I remember when I couldn't feel anything and I didn't want anyone else to either. Maybe that is where your roomate's girlfriend is at. Today I want to be an example so that the people out there still on meds might see a glimmer of hope and want to recover. Hugs,

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[Guest guest]

Dear ,

You said:

<<Well I just wanted to let everyone know I have made it through

the really bad part of the withdrawal from the paxil and depakote. I

can finally feel my emotions and wow I never knew or could remember

how good it feels to be angry and able to express it or be happy and

run and jump and laugh and cry.. I know it sounds so weird but for

once in 14 years I can feel and it feels great. Now I do have my

moments when I have a feeling I can't explain and think it may be

that I need to be back on my meds but that goes away and the better

feeling return and the good feeling out weigh the bad so much more

that I know I have made the right choice to stay off the meds.

Now my question is After 14 years of being on meds is it normal to

have a rush of all these emotions and not understand them or how to

act? I had my room mate tell me that my moods change so much that I

must really be Bi-polar.>>

** Let me put it this way -- since when did you take health

advice from your roommate?

What you're experiencing is the second phase of withdrawal and

recovery. It's more insidious. You can't spend 14 years on these

drugs and come away after acute withdrawal without your chemistry

being compromised. First, with real life issues ,we can choose our

responses. We amy not be able to choose how we feel (our emotions)

but we can choose how to act. if you find yourself with no

explanation for emotions that are all over the chart, you are

experiencing withdrawal.

<< and he is dating a girl who is bi-polar and on a great deal of

meds right now. But I am also a water sign and I have always been

moody ever since I was a child. Does this mean I really could be

bipolar if others see me acting strange?>>

** Ummm...let's see...if you think I'm an asshole does that make

me an asshole? I might be, but I'm not just because you think I am,

lol.

There's no such thing as bipolar disorder. It's another way to

sell drugs. there are a few reasons people's emotions fluctuate --

1) They never learned any coping tools and have no idea how to

process things from their intellect. This leaves them slaves to

their past experiences known as baggage (we all have it but by being

aware of when it is triggered we can choose our responses instead of

acting from emotions). Pleant of people here have heard me say that

emotions have th intelligence of a 2 year old and this is why you

can't allow them to dictate your actions.

2) Nutrient depletion and poor nutrition -- this is huge. Most

people who will show emotional fluctuations that are extreme have

this problem. In your case, it is most likely part blood sugar

problem, too. Many people who have taken these drugs have blood

sugar problems.

3) The aftermath of psychotropic drugs. This can be managed, too.

Again, let your intellect make thedecisions onhow you will act. Tell

yourself it is going to take a long time for your chemistry to heal

and you are bound to feel this way.

4) A combination of the previous 3. This is usually the root of the

problem for most.

There are ways to address all of these. Please keep a food and

drink diary for 4 days. Be very honest with it. This is how I can

help you -- but only if I know what's really going on.

What supplements are you taking and in what doses?

If you feel you lack coping tools for dealing with your emotions

(I've never met anyone woh took these drugs for 14 years who didn't

this as a problem) watch for more info on our new CBT groups which

will be starting soon. CBT is a lifesaver to people who live in

their emotions.

I know plenty of water sign people who are quite functional. It

may lend you to lean toward your emotions more but it doesn't

preclude the availability of one's intelllect.

You said:

<< The only thing I worry about is the fact I am afraid to take any

pills I start counting them many times and making a list. I do this

because when I was on the meds for bipolar I ended up in the ER

cause I forgot and took 1000 mg extra diabetic meds. Does anyone know

of a way I can concur this problem? >>

** LOL, there's my answer on whether CBT would help. Your

behavior is based on your emotions. Ok, work with me here...

1) How many times did you end up in the ER from accidentally taking

too many pills? (Put your answer here)

2) Was that the one and only time you have ever taken pills? (Your

answer here, we know, is " No, I took pills every day for at least 14

years. " )

3) Was the day you took too many pills the last day you ever took any

pills? (your answer here again is, " No " )

4) Let's summarize, you managed to take pills for 14 years daily and

only have one incident of taking more than you should. Yet, you are

extrapolating from this ONE experience and allowing your emotions

about it to dictate your actions and dominate your life.

How can you overcome this? You don't have to count repeatedly.

Take a pill or however many you are supposed to take of a substance

and write it down - name, amount and date -- and take it. Then,

open the next bottle and do the same thing. It's a simple plan that

allows you to let go of this thought. You won't let go of it right

away because you've trained yourself to think this way. But just

keep doing it and it will eventually go away.

Do you have any bother thoughts you perseverate upon? If so, get a

bottle of Bach Flower Essence White Chestnut. Take 4 drops 4x a day

under your tongue for 3 days then tell me of any changes.

you said:

<<I hope I did not say or ask too much. Thank everyone for being

there when I was getting off my meds..Without you guys I don't think

I could have made it through on my own.. >>

** You can never say or ask too much. I'm glad we were able to

help. I think we can continue to help.

Regards,