9 posts shown.
restlesstrucker15 said:It typically takes about two months for things to settle back down to baseline; that was certainly my experience with both Paxil and Ellie, though with Ellie, the transition felt slightly less intense. Generally speaking, Effexor tends to be the most effective at mitigating those specific issues.
Take it from someone who has been there—it will pass. Unfortunately, there isn't a magic pill to make the adjustment period easier, but if you need anything at all, please feel free to reach out via private message.
Sent via FR
So, they actually just switched my prescription over to Effexor. Hearing that there's a chance things might get back to a semi-normal state after a couple of months sounds pretty encouraging. 🙂
shadowfox75 said:Look, this is largely a psychological matter. You should seek advice from your doctor; I am certain there is a solution available. At your age, you shouldn't have to struggle with this.
I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here. It feels way too early to quit the antidepressants cold turkey, but on the flip side, I'm basically just sitting here absorbing this constant, low-level mental fog. I really just came on here to see if anyone else has dealt with this kind of stuff and how you guys managed to navigate it. I did reach out to my doctor for some guidance, so now I'm just playing the waiting game to see how this new prescription works out.
shadowfox75 said:To be honest, I wouldn't say I had issues if it only happened once every week or two. However, if it occurred for several consecutive days, I found that I simply couldn't reach climax. I haven't considered whether that might be due to the AT&T... hm, I hadn't really thought about that.
I’m already starting to notice the same issue when it comes to shifting gears—if you want to go by what Chloe Hughes6 says, it’s just becoming a massive drain. It takes way more effort than it used to, and honestly, it's taking forever to actually get things wrapped up. 😢
Look, let me throw some advice your way by giving you a quick rundown of what I went through. Since I was about 15 or 16, I’d get these heavy, depressing days hitting me out of nowhere. Back then, I had no clue what was actually happening and honestly thought everyone felt this way. I managed to white-knuckle my way through those dark phases on my own until I hit 22. That’s when things finally boiled over and I ended up in an emergency room because I just wasn't okay. Shortly after that, I realized I needed to open up to someone and actually do something about it.
For me, even the smallest stuff—like mowing the lawn, grabbing groceries, or just heading out for a coffee with friends—felt like climbing Everest. It was everything and anything, but I won't ramble too much. Basically, my brain would loop like this: "If I start mowing the grass, I'm gonna get tired, and then I'll have to shower. And that stupid grass is just gonna grow back anyway." In the middle of all that, I totally neglected my hobbies and let my relationships with my brother, my parents, and my buddies slip. My routine was usually waking up around 10 or 11 AM, eating something, and then just meditating all day long. Most of the time, "meditating" just meant blasting music while sitting there. Looking back, it was pretty rough, but at the time, it felt completely normal to me.
My brother was really the one who managed to break through my shell and see what was going on in my head. We had a short talk, and he suggested I check in with the Mayo Clinic. My mom was totally on board with that too, though my dad mostly just stayed in the background. I asked my primary care doctor for a referral, and I got one without any hassle.
I have to tell you, I slowly started turning a corner once I reached out to the Mayo Clinic. Recovery has been a long haul—and honestly, it's still ongoing—but I don't stress about it. I feel better every single day. Having support from the people I care about is really what keeps me moving forward.
The whole reason I'm typing this out is so you can see the path I took. First off, I opened up to my brother because I knew he could help me navigate my thoughts. Between him and the support from my parents, I've been able to move in a positive direction. I don't feel useless anymore. I don't overthink every little daily chore, I'm not getting lost in my own head as much, and I'm finding myself more in the real world. I actually know what I want out of life now... somehow, I'm seeing the bright side more and more every day. I've poured a massive amount of time and willpower into my treatment, and bit by bit, it's all starting to pay off.
I hope this helps you out a little bit. Seriously, if you need anything or have questions, just ask.
I’m curious—has anyone else dealt with a drop in libido or issues with impotence while on antidepressants? How did you guys handle it?
So, I was originally on one specific antidepressant that was totally killing my sex drive and causing some performance issues. Since I'm only 23, I definitely wasn't thrilled about it, so I brought it up with my psychiatrist. She suggested a "switcheroo" approach: slowly tapering off the first medication while simultaneously starting a different one. Now I'm wondering, should I be expecting things to get back to normal regarding my drive and performance once the transition is done? Thanks!
steelpanther11 said:And that’s it... just a bunch of people read my post and nothing else happens... So what, should I go find a therapist, get some professional help, and just admit I'm being lazy??
Good grief... look, I am not mentally unstable, and I am definitely not too lazy to actually get moving and improve myself... It’s just that I have zero motivation—none at all—to get going. I have the will, I really do, but I’m missing that one crucial push, you know? That validation from the people around me that tells me I can actually become who I want to be. Is it really such a sin—or am I just being an idiot—to ask another human being to help nudge me out of this rut? Because apparently, wanting that immediately means I'm "not normal" and need professional intervention...
No, I don't have anyone I can actually trust with this... maybe that's why I'm like this—because I don't have a single real friend in my life that I can pour my entire soul out to... I just don't...
Honestly, you aren't going to get very far with that mindset. Anyone can deal with a string of bad luck or setbacks that leaves them feeling unmotivated. A therapist is someone who can actually help you flip those negatives into positives.
Since you mentioned you don't have anyone to talk to, a psychologist might actually be your best bet. And hey, don't worry, they aren't just going to shove a handful of pills in your face and call it a day.
If I can leave you with one thought, it's this: a therapist can't help if you have zero drive, and even a best friend can't help if you refuse to listen to them once in a while.
P.S. S. C. offers free counseling services, and you don't even need a referral. Give it a shot—you've got nothing to lose.
Matthew Clark3 said:I asked, but she won't budge... She just said if things don't improve next time, she might try putting me on something like Misery or Xanax, but I just have to wait until then... Easy for them to say it's not a big deal when they aren't the ones going through it.
There’s always the ER as a fallback. If you're hitting a wall and feeling like you can't cope, just head straight to the psychiatric ER and talk to someone. Seriously, you've got nothing to lose.
wiredskipper45 said:Xanax definitely causes dependency, though usually after a decent amount of time passes...
Antidepressants supposedly don't. But in my case, it felt different... I mean, my symptoms actually got worse once I stopped taking the ADs. That doesn't necessarily mean it's an addiction—we all know ADs don't actually *cure* anything, they just dull the edge of the symptoms. 😢
My doctor put me on those pills to help calm my nerves and help me deal with waiting things out. On top of that, they're planning to have me go through some outpatient programs for group therapy and try out some newer methods to help with focus. We'll see how it goes, I guess! 😁
Just wanted to jump in here and share my own experience with meds, and while I'm at it, maybe pick your brains on a few things. Right now, I’m taking one 0.25 mg xanax pill three times a day, plus half a 10 mg Lexapro tablet, and after seven days, I have to move up to a full pill. I can definitely say things are looking up, but honestly, I still don't feel quite 100%. People keep telling me the therapy doesn't even really kick in for two weeks?!?!?! Is there a real risk of getting hooked on these, and what am I actually looking at once they decide to taper me off?