Venting Scared of precribed medication withdrawal

[sgifeei]

The last time (like a month-month and a half ago) my psychiatrist took of one med and it changed me completely. I started feeling severely anxious, and I dont think it is bcs of withdrawal but that med kept me alive and somewhat functioning. My doctor said I put too much importance into that med but I rly dont think it is the case.
Now she put me on more meds cause of anxiety, and I see that it is high for withdrawal. She would not put me on withdrawal cold turkey, she never did that before when it comes to meds, but I am kinda traumatized from last time when she took off med, and I am so scared I am gonna rely on medications to help me for the rest of my life…
:(

 

[GeminiButter]

The last time (like a month-month and a half ago) my psychiatrist took of one med and it changed me completely. I started feeling severely anxious, and I dont think it is bcs of withdrawal but that med kept me alive and somewhat functioning. My doctor said I put too much importance into that med but I rly dont think it is the case.
Now she put me on more meds cause of anxiety, and I see that it is high for withdrawal. She would not put me on withdrawal cold turkey, she never did that before when it comes to meds, but I am kinda traumatized from last time when she took off med, and I am so scared I am gonna rely on medications to help me for the rest of my life…
:(

I'm sorry, this sounds super difficult - I know how difficult it can be to come off medication or start some and deal with side effects and not know if it's you or if it's the meds/lack of doing it to you.

I'm sorry that last time was so hard. I've had really bad withdrawals from stuff in the past and now generally if I ever have to change or come off something I started to do it twice as slowly as the recommend tapering because I was really worried about the effects of it as well. Doing that made it way more manageable (specifically talking about when I came off quetiapine a few years ago).

Would you be able to talk to her about how anxious you are feeling about this with the new meds?

Also, irt relying on meds for the rest of your life - I understand the anxiety and shame that often comes with this, but if you're able to get more benefit from taking the medication balanced against any side effects, there's nothing wrong with being on medication for a very long time, even forever - I made my peace with this quite a long time ago, and try to think about it like I would think about anyone else taking a medication long term for a physical health problem. I wouldn't think someone was weak or ridiculous for being on a medication long term for their heart or their thyroid or anything else, so why is it a problem if I'm on something for my brain? I know it doesn't work as simply as that but it's what I try to tell myself.

Sending you love.

 

[sgifeei]

I'm sorry, this sounds super difficult - I know how difficult it can be to come off medication or start some and deal with side effects and not know if it's you or if it's the meds/lack of doing it to you.

I'm sorry that last time was so hard. I've had really bad withdrawals from stuff in the past and now generally if I ever have to change or come off something I started to do it twice as slowly as the recommend tapering because I was really worried about the effects of it as well. Doing that made it way more manageable (specifically talking about when I came off quetiapine a few years ago).

Would you be able to talk to her about how anxious you are feeling about this with the new meds?

Also, irt relying on meds for the rest of your life - I understand the anxiety and shame that often comes with this, but if you're able to get more benefit from taking the medication balanced against any side effects, there's nothing wrong with being on medication for a very long time, even forever - I made my peace with this quite a long time ago, and try to think about it like I would think about anyone else taking a medication long term for a physical health problem. I wouldn't think someone was weak or ridiculous for being on a medication long term for their heart or their thyroid or anything else, so why is it a problem if I'm on something for my brain? I know it doesn't work as simply as that but it's what I try to tell myself.

Sending you love.

Thank you so much for this!!
I am going to talk to her again soon and I will raise my concerns. It will prob not change my meds us, which is probably for the best, but we can talk about why I am so scared of it.
She is also my therapist (ik, confusing, long story) so that comes w benefits that I can raise my concerns and have her talk to me about them as well as having therapy sessions.

 

[GeminiButter]

You are very welcome. That sounds like a good plan! If she is a good doctor - and I know that this is difficult and rarer than it should be - she will be wanting to amend or adjust any medication with you rather than just to you, they want to give us choices even though often it doesn't feel like the choices are very meaningful. But hopefully if you can articulate some of this to her, she will understand and recognise that you are concerned and will either explain why this course of action is okay or amend it to another one that makes you more comfortable.

Wishing you lots of luck

 

[Daxter777]

Withdrawal sucks. If it's benzos she has you on stay the hell away. There are some nightmare stories regarding benzo dependancy.

Ssri and snri withdrawal can suck hard too I've experienced venlafaxine withdrawal that basically made me get hectic mood swings. One moment I was laughing and the next I eas crying my eyes out.

 

[Thomas599]

I've been on Effexor for 20+ years and if I miss a day or two, I feel absolutely terrible. I have come to accept that I will be on Efexor for the rest of my life... hopefully it won't be that much longer.

 

[sgifeei]

Withdrawal sucks. If it's benzos she has you on stay the hell away. There are some nightmare stories regarding benzo dependancy.

Ssri and snri withdrawal can suck hard too I've experienced venlafaxine withdrawal that basically made me get hectic mood swings. One moment I was laughing and the next I eas crying my eyes out.

EXACTLY! I was on benzos before she took them away a month-month and a half ago, and the reason she gave me a new meds is because of anxiety I got bcs of not having benzos anymore. Very, very bad anxiety