zoloft advice needed

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I am a 40 year old woman with 7 kids, college freshman down to 2 year old,

(the 2 year old is our " adopted " grand-nephew,), anyway, about 3 years ago I

went on Zoloft because I couldn't even make it through the day. I hated life,

dreaded getting up in the morning, and was completely overwhelmed by everything,

small to large and I had a lot of large things. The change in my attitude and

personality were astounding for the first couple of years, then it was like it

didn't help as much and so I started trying to stop taking it only to have

everything crash in on me like a tidal wave, so I would go back on it. I

decided that I was going to get off of it once and for all and stopped taking it

5 weeks ago. I got the book, Your Body, Your Diet from the library and tried

implementing that plan, I figured out supplements, etc. I can't keep up with

the diet with my family so I am more trying to just eat sensibly with a focus on

fruits and vegetables, whole grains, limited meat and fish once a week. I have

almost completely cut out coffee and sugar, (I have been making myself a cup but

only taking a sip or two). the supplements that I am taking are vitamin E,

kelp, lecithin, b-complex, cal/mag/zinc, and Ltryosine. I am also taking a good

multi vit and mineral daily. I was doing really well, it was amazing, and when

I started feeling joy again it took me by surprise! I didn't even realize that

I hadn't felt it for the 3 years that I was on zoloft. However, it is getting

harder and harder for me to keep going...I am starting to feel overwhelmed again

and like I am being swallowed in that tidal wave. I just want to go to bed and

sleep and I am almost constantly griping and screaming at my kids and husband,

and my nerves are rattly...basically I am very unpleasant to be around! I am

trying to exercise regularly and am taking Bach Flower, wild rose. Does anyone

have any thoughts specific to zoloft and maybe what else I can do? I haven't

tried St. John's Wort yet, and probably should? Thanks for any advice or

thoughts you may be able to share!

Deb S.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb,

 

I would like to make a suggestion that is usually not discussed on

any of the web sites, forums etc.

 

The people around the person, who is having problems with these

medications or is tapering off them, don't understand what is

happening to that person. That person sometimes cannot fullfill their

normal duties or cannot maintain the " normal " routine of the family.

 

They have to understand that you were caught in a trap usually not of

your own making. Most people are led down the primrose path by

various doctors and then when you get sick or in trouble they usually

dump you somehow or at least try and make you the guilty party. Don't

buy into it. They push this crap on almost evryone and a good number

gets hooked on them. It is not about abuse period. Anyone who takes

them over time will have problems eventually. Put the blame where it

belongs, with the so called experts who got you on it in the first

place and continued it to where you are now. But the " experts who did

this to you don't have to suffer any consequences, you do. Doesn't

seem right to me. They take the money and run.

 

It is not of your doing really, It is the same as if some horrible

disease befell you and you must ask for support from those around you.

 

 

I suggest that you involve any family that will be around you that

can act in a supportive capacity. When you join a support grouplike

the benzo or any of the antidep groups, have them also be a member by

reading the postings etc. They will little by little undrstand more

and more what is happening to you and you will hopefully get more

support and understanding while you go through this.

 

Otherwise, if they do not undertand, the withdrawal symptoms could

cause problems in your relationships and you may not have the support

when you might need it most.

 

For anyone wishing to come off benzos (valium, xanax, etc.) or

antidepressants (paxil, prozac, etc) please read up and join the

online support groups, get familiar with the how, when, how fast,

etc. completely BEFORE you even think about getting off. It has to be

done in the right way. That usually means very slowly. Not what you

think is slow now but after you are educated about these drugs. Then

you can feel your way along for what is right for you etc. But

education is first.

 

There are many links on our links page to information resources about

these drugs and there are links to support groups there also. Also

about a million messages are in the archives. do a search using

SSRI's, benzodiazapines, benzos, antidepressants, to pull up relevent

messages from the archives.

 

good luck,

 

Frank

 

 

, " Paul J. Sypian "

<sypian@p...> wrote:

> Hi -

> I am a 40 year old woman with 7 kids, college freshman down to

2 year old, (the 2 year old is our " adopted " grand-nephew,), anyway,

about 3 years ago I went on Zoloft because I couldn't even make it

through the day. I hated life, dreaded getting up in the morning,

and was completely overwhelmed by everything, small to large and I

had a lot of large things. The change in my attitude and personality

were astounding for the first couple of years, then it was like it

didn't help as much and so I started trying to stop taking it only to

have everything crash in on me like a tidal wave, so I would go back

on it. I decided that I was going to get off of it once and for all

and stopped taking it 5 weeks ago. I got the book, Your Body, Your

Diet from the library and tried implementing that plan, I figured out

supplements, etc. I can't keep up with the diet with my family so I

am more trying to just eat sensibly with a focus on fruits and

vegetables, whole grains, limited meat and fish once a week. I have

almost completely cut out coffee and sugar, (I have been making

myself a cup but only taking a sip or two). the supplements that I

am taking are vitamin E, kelp, lecithin, b-complex, cal/mag/zinc, and

Ltryosine. I am also taking a good multi vit and mineral daily. I

was doing really well, it was amazing, and when I started feeling joy

again it took me by surprise! I didn't even realize that I hadn't

felt it for the 3 years that I was on zoloft. However, it is getting

harder and harder for me to keep going...I am starting to feel

overwhelmed again and like I am being swallowed in that tidal wave.

I just want to go to bed and sleep and I am almost constantly griping

and screaming at my kids and husband, and my nerves are

rattly...basically I am very unpleasant to be around! I am trying to

exercise regularly and am taking Bach Flower, wild rose. Does anyone

have any thoughts specific to zoloft and maybe what else I can do?

I haven't tried St. John's Wort yet, and probably should? Thanks for

any advice or thoughts you may be able to share!

> Deb S.

>

>

>