Posted by Velodog2 on August 23, 2005, at 8:37:38
In reply to Re: Prozac Withdrawal - need advice - going off meds » SLS, posted by barbaracat on August 22, 2005, at 23:22:01
Well thank you for all of the great information! I find all of this fairly confusing, including my motivation for going off the stuff. That has hurt my chances of staying off in the past, since my resolve weakened as soon as the going got tough. There seems to be so little we know for sure, including what this stuff does for/to us and I feel like a largish lab rat.
But my mood has been ok for the last few days - even pretty good yesterday. It doesn't mean much yet, other than if I can get a break like this on occasion, I may be able to get to what has become the magic 6 month point where I can make a valid evaluation. I intend to continue to try to make it cold turkey (strange expression, that).
As far as I can tell from my vantage point within the box, my main problem with depression prior to prozac was fairly frequent but relatively short episodes that would effectively screw up my life. However when I was convinced to go on the drug by my psychologist I was struggling mightily with with some major life upheaval caused by a ruptured lumbar disc which had ended my bicycle racing lifestyle as well as dealing with my first gay love affair. That situation has long since been adapted to, but I guess it was the periodic depression that has kept me on the stuff. I wonder if I ended up back in that mode if I would decide to go back on? Or would I be better able to manage it now?
And yes, I have managed to really piss off several of my friends, my Mother, and of course my partner over the course of the past month. But I haven't lost any of them yet.
I like the idea of looking at the journey as an adventure and will try to keep that in mind. I wish I could be sure of more support, but that may not happen. My partner told me last night that he wants me to go back on. I told him that he will not decide for me what drugs I take. I can't really say that it's none of his business - it is indeed as it affects both of our lives, and he does certainly suffer when I suffer. He's been taking Zoloft for 2 years now, because his job is stressful and he suffers from anxiety (He has one of those 'helpful' general practicioners who apparently give the stuff out at halloween) and has no qualms about using chemical aids without attempting other solutions. As an aside, I prefer his personality without the drug as being more interesting and engaging than with it. The more I consider this, the more apparent it is to me that he is what is pushing my desire to get off the prozac over the edge by attributing my every mood swing to the drug.
Well thanks again for the support. I will keep you up to date and hopefully my ramblings about my experience will help some of you somehow as well.
poster:Velodog2
thread:545377
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050822/msgs/545598.html