Kevin Bailey2 said:When it comes to tapering off benzos (in my case, Xanax)... I once had this total fixation. After being on the max dose of Xanax for months, I just decided I was done with all the meds. I went rogue and—stupidly enough—flushed everything down the toilet just so I wouldn't be tempted to take more.
Withdrawal... Day one... alright, maybe there was still enough concentration in my blood to function somewhat, but by evening, sleep was out of the question. Day two... the shakes and aches started kicking in. Sleep? Not happening. Day three... I’m just lying in bed, twitching my leg muscles because they feel so incredibly restless. The pain is everywhere, from my head down. It felt like a massive flu, except even a box of Advil didn't touch it. Day four... my vision is blurring... I lost at least 50% of my sight. My limbs literally feel like they're giving out. I scramble to the ER at a major hospital and tell them exactly what I did. They hook me up to an IV with Xanax mixed in just to stabilize me, then write me a new prescription to pick up at the pharmacy later. That night, I go back on the Xanax per the doctor's orders.
It took me a few more days to recover from that withdrawal crash, even though I stayed on the same Xanax dosage I was on before.
Total disaster.
I honestly don't know how people survive heroin withdrawal or why people quit heroin so abruptly (I mean when people actually *want* to be clean, not when they're just using Exelon as a substitute for heroin)... but with anxiolytics, you have to taper for months. You go from three pills to two and a half... then eventually two and a half to two... then one and a half... and so on. This can drag on for months. From what I've heard, the physical withdrawal from heavy drugs lasts about a week.
The truth is... what we're taking is clearly a much stronger, heavier drug than damn heroin.
So now I'm wondering... is it actually possible to get off anxiolytics quickly, like within a week, and somehow endure the pain? Like, following the heroin model. You lock yourself in a room for a week and just suffer through it.
Is that too dangerous?
I've detailed how far I got by day four... but would things have just gotten even worse by day five? I'm not sure. I genuinely thought I was going to die. That's why I bolted to the ER. Can the body even handle a sudden withdrawal crisis like that?
It really is true what they say about every body being different. I was on 0.5mg of Xanax once a day for three years, and I just decided I was done. I haven't taken it in nine months, and I didn't experience any withdrawal symptoms at all.
Honestly, whenever I run into those massive walls of text, I usually just scroll right past them. But I actually sat down and read yours—you’ve clearly got a knack for this.
Psychotropic meds aren't addictive—unless we're talking about benzodiazepines, and even then, only if you ignore the doctor's instructions and start playing chemist. Like any other medication out there, they come with their own set of side effects, no different from anything else you'd take for a physical ailment. The only reason people make such a massive fuss over them is that mental health issues are still treated like some kind of moral failing in this country. There’s this lingering, outdated idea that you can just "will" yourself out of a breakdown, or worse, that people struggling are just being lazy and don't need medical intervention. It's a tired stigma, really, and it clouds the reality of how these treatments actually work.
Paul Thompson3 said:I can’t just cruise through life without asking "why"—it’s impossible for me—and I guess we all hit that wall eventually. Sure, you can have it all—an entire empire of smiles—but they’ll still let you down, and they’ll still hurt you.🙂 The truth is, nobody actually has a smart answer for this—mostly because one doesn't exist. People only keep going because they’re terrified of being alone at the end. Anyway, thanks for the input, everyone.
So, nobody had a smart enough answer? What exactly were you looking for? Everyone has their own little reason to keep swinging, something just significant enough to justify the struggle.
By the way, I watched that documentary you mentioned, and man, it really shook me—especially that part with the guy walking through the whole film only to take his own life at the end; it was just gut-wrenching.
electricgardener85 said:Hi everyone... I’m not entirely sure if I’m in the right place here (please don't tear me apart if I'm not 🤷)
I’ve been living with the diagnosis mentioned above for five years now, taking 25mg of Lamictal and Celexa 20mg daily... In the meantime, my driver's license expired, and since I wear glasses, I had to go through the medical evaluation process again... Under the current laws, I was required to provide a statement from my primary care physician clearly stating my diagnosis... And they won't give me my medical clearance...
Apparently, this diagnosis is considered "dangerous" (though I haven't been a danger to anyone but myself during my depressive episodes), and they claim patients with such conditions aren't allowed to hold a license...
I even reached out to my former psychiatrist (whom I hasn't seen in two years)... and she's just as baffled by this...
Does anyone have any advice... perhaps a recommendation for a reasonable doctor (I previously went to Mayo Clinic) because having a license is absolutely essential for my life to function normally?
Thanks...
Wait, couldn't your GP just... not mention the diagnosis on the paperwork?
I don't understand why they would assign a schizophrenia diagnosis immediately. Typically, for a first psychotic episode, you wouldn't label it schizophrenia, even if it seems obvious. Usually, you only record a schizophrenia diagnosis once a decompensation recurs. That is how my doctors explained it, and that was the standard procedure in several cases I am aware of.
Yes, it is certainly not standard practice to list F20 right after the first psychotic decompensation. Even when the schizophrenia is clearly evident, clinicians often opt for F23 due to the "psychological impact." Similarly, there are patients who clearly meet the criteria for F20, yet the diagnosis is never officially recorded because the therapist realizes the patient wouldn't be able to handle it if it were verified. Therefore, while it is technically possible to document F20 immediately in rare instances, it is truly not the norm.
Just asking, is there any chance a younger family member could receive disability benefits or some form of government assistance, given that he is unable to work and his diagnosis is F20?
They should contact the American Statistical Association in their local area.
Wait, does that actually happen? I'm talking about the part in bold.
Timothy Wood38 said:Hey everyone, It’s been a while since I’ve posted, though I’ve been lurking here and reading everything you all share quite regularly. Things have been a bit rough lately—my psychotic symptoms took a turn for the worse, so my doctor bumped things up. Right now, I’m on a daily regimen of 20 mg Zyprexa, 20 mg Lexapro, 300 mg Wellbutrin XR, 20 mg Ambien, and then some Xanax as needed. The thing is... the Xanax just isn't doing a damn thing for me. Even when I take 3 mg, I feel absolutely zero effect whatsoever. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of resistance? My next check-up isn't until September, so until then, I'm basically left to navigate this mess on my own.
In what way have those psychotic symptoms started acting up for you? It wouldn't hurt to give us a little more detail. Or you can just shoot me a private message.
So, has anyone here ever tried mixing alcohol with Effexor? I’m curious to hear if anyone has actually gone through it—any experiences or lessons learned?
velvetsailor26 I can't even begin to process this. It’s like... what am I even reading? Honestly, it feels like someone just threw a bunch of random thoughts at a wall and hoped they'd stick. It’s messy, it’s confusing, and frankly, it's kind of driving me up the wall. I mean, look at how people talk online these days. You think you're getting a straight answer, and then—bam—you're lost in some weird, circular logic loop. It's exhausting. I'm sitting here trying to make sense of it all, and my head is spinning. Is anyone else feeling this? Or is it just me being overly sensitive about everything? Probably both. Anyway, I'm just venting. My brain is fried. Maybe it’s just because I’m only on a tiny dose, like 5 mg.🤷
I was on the 5 mg dose too, and man, I couldn't stop eating. Just constant, relentless hunger. It was brutal. How long have you been walking it off? It’s pretty wild how it doesn't even hit everyone the same way—interesting that you aren't dealing with that side effect at all.
I’ve been on this stuff for nine months now and have only dropped about four pounds. Honestly, this medication is a total joke. It hasn't done a single thing for me, but my doctor refuses to try anything else.
urbanskipper4 said:The only catch is that it shuts down periods for women. Just like Solian and Rispolept. That’s why guys don't have an issue with it.
Yeah, it's a real shame... I honestly felt a tiny bit better on Seroquel than I do on this Zyprexa, which is nothing.😢 But my doctor refuses to switch up my prescription. I tell her straight up that I'm not doing well, and she just gives me some patronizing line about how I'm "fine, just not feeling my best," when the reality is I'm definitely not okay.
Timothy Wood38 said:That’s just not true. Klonopin is clonazepam, which belongs to the benzodiazepine class, and just like any other benzo, it absolutely causes dependency.
Look, my doctor put me on a regimen of 0.5mg doses plus some supplemental stuff, claiming there was absolutely zero risk of getting hooked... though, if I'm being honest, I have my doubts about that one.
With this second one, I just let it melt right in my mouth, and then there isn't even anything left to swallow, you know? It basically just dissolves completely before it hits my throat.
I’ve been on Zyprex 5 mg for about eight months now, and honestly, I haven't gained a single pound; if anything, it feels like I’ve actually dropped a couple of pounds
Douglas Thompson19 said:It’s like I wrote this myself, uh... man, this is hard. Honestly, I'm tearing up right now because everything Emily Watson4 is saying hits home. Every single day feels hollow. Nothing brings me joy. There’s this emptiness inside me that I can't even put into words. I find myself searching for people to fill that void, but I know deep down that's not the way. I don't know what to do anymore. What’s the point of anything if everything feels pointless? Like, I have zero drive. I don't find satisfaction in anything. I don't truly enjoy life. It's like the real me just vanished. Is it even normal? It's tough, guys. How am I supposed to relax and open up about the stuff that's eating me alive? It feels like being stripped naked and left defenseless. You lay out your biggest struggles, and then what? Everyone knows your business, but nothing actually changes. X times I've thought about just moving to the middle of nowhere—somewhere far away where nobody knows me. Just living off the land, hunting with a spear like people used to. How do you even deal with getting older and all this self-reflection? Uh... man, this is heavy. Hard to even type this out.
Look, life isn't easy for anyone; we all just tend to think our own struggles are uniquely devastating... It’s a different story when you’re hit by a mental health crisis, though. At that point, you just have to take it one day at a time, accepting that some days will be a slog and others might be okay, just hoping that eventually, the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together again.
Don't waste too much energy dwelling on your parents or how you were raised; whatever happened in the past is set in stone and you can't rewrite it. I know it hurts, but that's just the reality of it.
Sometimes I find myself spiraling, wondering what’s going to happen once my parents are gone, and then that wave of shame hits me right in the gut. People my age are out there building their own families and moving on, yet here I am, terrified of what life looks like without my mom by my side.🙈
I have a couple of friends—well, really just one person I can actually trust—and she tries to be supportive. She tells me to stop beating myself up, that I have her, and that I should call whenever I need to talk, but even then, it doesn't really take the edge off. The truth is, you can't really explain this feeling to anyone; it's like a universal secret we all carry. Usually, people say venting helps lighten the load, but for me, it’s useless because after the talking is done, I’m still stuck being the exact same person I’m trying so hard not to be. Honestly, it’s a pretty miserable way to live.
Jose Wood7, unfortunately, we are totally on the same page here.😢 I honestly wish I didn't feel this massive, constant pull toward emotional intimacy with people; life would definitely be easier if I could just accept being alone without all this internal noise. But at the end of the day, humans are wired to be social creatures, so wanting that connection with others is just part of our basic programming.
It’s funny because I wasn't always this way—it’s something that has crept up on me as the years go by. Back when I was actually doing okay, I even managed to navigate two different relationships, and looking back, I can still remember how incredible that feeling used to be. Now? I can't even wrap my head around the idea of being in a relationship.