Taking Prozac, etc.: What does "feeling normal" actually mean?

Hey everyone!

I’ve got a question on my mind. It might sound a little out there—maybe even a bit silly—but I’m genuinely curious>>>

So, here’s the deal: I was on 50mg of Zoloft, and honestly, the side effects were a total nightmare. I eventually made the switch over to 20mg of Prozac. After about a month or two on the Prozac, I felt... well, I felt more like myself again, but that doesn't really get to the heart of what I'm actually wondering about. What does "feeling normal" actually mean? I’m asking all of you who have some experience navigating the world of psychiatric meds. When did things finally start feeling "normal" for you after starting a medication? Like, what was the actual sensation during treatment? When you finally reached that point where you could say, "Okay, I feel good," what did that look like? How did your "world" shift back into a functional, everyday routine? Did you ever hit a wall where you felt like you needed a higher dose just to stay level? And how long have you been riding the psychopharmacology rollercoaster?

Anyway, I’m running out of steam for today, but I’ll definitely drop a post about my own journey next time I'm around...

So, I started taking Prozac about three years ago. That first month? Man, it was a total rollercoaster—completely nuts. One minute my hands would be shaking uncontrollably, then I’d be super aggressive, then I’d just burst out laughing hysterically, followed by total apathy... basically every mood swing you can imagine. It took about a month before things finally started to level out a bit, which I guess is just how long it takes for the meds to actually start working "normally."

After that initial chaos, the symptoms slowly began to settle down. They were still there, obviously, just not hitting me quite as hard. The full-blown panic attacks stopped happening, but that underlying sense of dread... it stuck around. I really had to force myself to learn how to just live with it, you know? Everything gradually faded, but unfortunately, it never fully went away.

I mean, if we're talking about what you call feeling "normal," I'd say I'm there. I don't have any major episodes anymore and I can function pretty well in daily life, but I just can't shake that constant fear whenever I'm out in public.
I honestly wonder if you're even supposed to stay on this stuff for this long, but it feels like nobody really cares, and honestly, I feel like it barely does anything for me anymore. It's more like it just keeps me at some sort of baseline level.
Sometimes, I actually think I felt better about six months ago—right after I stopped taking Xanax and was just dealing with the anxiety on its own. I felt like I was handling things better back then; that constant intrusive thought wasn't weighing on my mind nearly as much.

I remember being at this concert once, and for a split second, I just felt... normal. You know? Like how I used to feel before all of this started. To me, that’s what "normal" actually looks like.
It wasn't even fear or anything—nothing was racing through my head—it was just gone. For a moment, I honestly thought, "This is it. I'm finally back."
But if I'm being real, now I find myself worrying that things will never truly be the way they were before. Not that it's necessarily worse, just... different, I guess.

The only real issue is when things take a turn for the worse. When the state dips, I get this overwhelming feeling that it's messing with my whole life—the choices I make, the places I decide to go, all of it. It’s total crap, honestly—it feels like this thing is basically calling the shots for you.👎

Man, when you really stop to think about it, fear is what drives most of our lives...

The only thing that keeps me afloat is the fact that I’ve been through the wringer so many times. Life has kicked me around enough that I’m perpetually annoyed at something, and believe it or not—when I’m angry, the fear just vanishes...

I honestly don't know how I'd function if I wasn't venting my frustrations half the time... I probably wouldn't even be able to step out the front door.😁

I think it works well for me; it probably doesn't impact me as heavily as it does certain other people, but still... I know how it can grip me, though I often manage to trick my own brain with little mental maneuvers like this...

It isn't just that anger ignites something in me; it’s also about those little boosts to my self-esteem from small things. You know, dressing up so I look decent, or picturing some "cool guy" from a classic movie and forcing myself to carry myself with that same swagger. I lean into that persona, and my anxiety often settles down... It takes a lot of focus and a bit of a wrestling match with my own mind, but I just close my eyes, grit my teeth, give myself a little internal shake, and it feels as if an invisible cloak of anxiety is just sliding right off me...

Sometimes, it even helps to just look up at the sky—at the clouds, the sun, something massive and natural—and realize how tiny and insignificant I actually am, along with everyone else and everything around me... It helps me balance out whatever situation is triggering the anxiety...
I convince myself that I, all my problems, and the people around me are truly just drops in the ocean compared to the vast universe surrounding us. It makes it feel almost ridiculous to feel any fear or anxiety because, well, they're ultimately... insignificant.

And I’ll even find myself laughing internally at the people around me, thinking, "Oh man, you guys are so small and unimportant, you fools. Who are you even kidding? You're so obsessed with your tiny, trivial existences that you don't even notice what I see: this entire, massive, freaking universe."
In my head, I'm belittling them just to diminish that sense of inadequacy that is so directly tied to those fears.

I start viewing them as "enemies," and slowly, defiance begins to overtake the fear... I just bite my lip and think, "So what? Bring it on."

At least it works for me, though I realize we're all wired differently... but hey, what do I know? Maybe this gives someone here an idea on how to fight back in their own way... and besides, it feels good to just let some of it out.

Man, I feel you. That’s exactly how I operate too... It just drives me absolutely nuts seeing all those "unimportant" people out there, smiling their heads off and clearly having a much better time than I am. Honestly? Fear just paralyzes me, and death... it just brings this heavy depression that makes it impossible to move an inch. And the worst part is, I can't even fake being okay anymore. I’ve lost almost all control over my own head; my thoughts just wander off into deep space and start making fun of me.
I keep repeating that Barrett mantra to myself: "Behind reason lies my shadow, but faith is not lost."😉
I really miss this forum and the vibe here, ugh, boohoo!🙂
And honestly, every single time I take my Prozac, I end up sneezing. ACHOOO!😕

So, I went to see this private psychiatrist twice—diagnosed me with the onset of psychotic schizophrenia, apparently—and he put me on this cocktail of unknown, Xanax, and unknown. Then my GP was just like, "Whoa, hold on, you don't need anything that intense."

I hit up another psychiatrist—not a private one this time—and saw him twice, and he prescribed me Zoloft. But man, the side effects were brutal. I ended up just going back to my regular doctor, who told me, "Just take Prozac," because honestly, the Zoloft was doing me zero favors.

JUST A HEADS UP: the meds from that "private specialist" are... well, let's just say they're the complete polar opposite of everything else the other doctors suggested.

I'm done with psychiatrists altogether. There wasn't much left to talk about anyway, and besides, everyone seemed so incredibly nonchalant about my situation—like I was just some minor inconvenience. So, I just gave them all the slip. It really just confirmed my old theory: if you want to actually enjoy life, stay far away from doctors, bankers, and lawyers. 🙂

Before all this, I couldn't even function—and trust me, I don't want to get into the gritty details of that mess—but now? Whether it's the real deal or not, Prozac is definitely the right move for me. I'm functioning way better than I was before.🙂

So, where are you from?

Steven Collins38 said:I saw a private psychiatrist twice (diagnosis: early-onset psychotic schizophrenia), and they put me on a cocktail of unknown, unknown, and unknown. My GP told me there's no way I need medication that heavy.

Oh, please! What on earth was that doctor thinking?! 😕

Steven Collins38 said:My primary care physician told me I don't even need therapy this intense.

A GP doesn't have a clue about this 😉

unknown said:General practitioners really don't have a clue when it comes to this 😉

And on top of that, the guy is clearly hurting too. It’s hard to feel much sympathy for him because he’s so bogged down by his own life drama. If there was ever a genuine spark in him to actually help people, I fear that over time, it just turned into a paycheck—leaving us feeling like nothing more than just "the next patient" on a list.

At least private practice doctors are making decent money, so you'd think they'd actually put in the effort to provide good care.

But honestly, sometimes it feels like they're just trying to ensure you keep coming back through the door as often as possible... just to pad their bottom line.

Steven Collins38 said:I saw a private psychiatrist twice (diagnosis: early-onset psychotic schizophrenia), and they put me on a regimen of unknown, unknown, and unknown.

Maybe you should actually take what this doctor told you seriously for once.

Why don't you tell us how you're really doing? Do you feel like someone is following you? Do you think people are bugging your phone? Do you honestly believe you have supernatural powers or something? Just lay it all out right here. 😉

Good luck to you. 🙂

It wasn't quite at the "seeing white mice and chatting with imaginary friends" level of crazy, but it was getting there. My doctor told me I was basically staring down the barrel of psychosis. I mean, I’ve been wrestling with depression and anxiety for years—sometimes I win, sometimes they win—but things hit a breaking point when I started dodging people entirely. Those irrational fears? They were making life impossible. I finally decided to go see a therapist. What really pushed me over the edge—besides being unable to handle crowds (for me, it was specifically when my local church became too much to handle, and I couldn't even show up to service anymore)—was the physical stuff. My throat would go bone-dry and I’d start sweating bullets after any unexpected conversation, whether it was with someone I knew or a total stranger. Every time I stepped out of the house, it felt like a trigger. It was the turning point.
👋
Fast forward to now: I'm on Prozac, and honestly, I feel better. Though, I’ll admit, there are moments where I’m tempted to skip the 20mg and just take 40mg so I can feel like I'm floating on a cloud—that was the vibe I got from Zoloft. With 20mg of Prozac, I feel more positive and content; the constant dread and those weird phobias have either vanished or dialed way down. But even with the meds, I still have to put in the actual work to improve myself. When I was on that brief stint of Zoloft, aside from all the side effects, I got this unforgettable rush of pure bliss about 20 minutes after taking it—zero effort required on my part. Still, I'm giving the credit to Prozac. It feels like some kind of miracle drug since it first hit the scene back in '86. It's helped tens of millions of people and is probably the most prescribed psych med out there. Honestly, though, I'm starting to worry it's bordering on a cult. What do you guys think?

Look, I’m definitely not a doctor or anything—I don't have the degree to back it up—but those symptoms sound a lot like what I went through. For me, the diagnosis was just straight-up anxiety, nothing like psychosis or anything crazy like that, but hey, what do I know? Every single person reacts differently to this stuff, right? It’s like they say, one size never fits all when it comes to how our brains work.

I totally get what you mean about this becoming such a huge thing in certain circles... almost like a cult at this point. But honestly, having been on this stuff for a long time myself, it just doesn't hit the same anymore. It’s stopped working properly, and now I find myself needing to bump up the dose—not even because I want to feel "high" or whatever, but just so I can actually feel *something* again. It’s frustrating. Honestly, the whole pharmaceutical industry feels like a mess sometimes; you just have to grit your teeth and deal with it.

silentowl43 said:Look, I’m no medical professional, but those symptoms sound exactly like what I went through. They diagnosed me with anxiety—not psychosis—but honestly, you can't believe everything you hear from every random person on the street.

Yeah, I'm with you on that one. I don't have a medical degree, but my gut tells me this is all just pure anxiety, tension, and stress...

And the sheer amount of medication they've piled on you? It's enough to kill a horse! 🙄

When you're dealing with younger people, psychosis is most often "masked" by what looks like a standard anxiety-depression syndrome—or just straight-up depression.
I know this because I’ve been right there in the thick of it myself.
That’s why that private practitioner actually has a point here.
The thing is, medications—especially the heavy-duty stuff—can't just be handed out like candy. You can't just have one, or even two, conversations and suddenly think you've hit the core of the problem and nailed down a diagnosis.
We are talking about incredibly sensitive issues here.
I truly hope things continue to look up for you while you're on this therapy, and that you manage to push past whatever it is you're facing.
Do yourself a favor and find a doctor you can actually connect with—someone you can build real trust with—and make sure your condition is being monitored consistently.
Wishing you all the best!

Honestly, I’m starting to think anxiety and depression can be the gateway to psychosis too. I mean, let's be real—"psychosis" is such a massive umbrella term. It covers everything from syndromes and deep depression to anxiety, hallucinations, feeling totally detached... you name it. So, yeah, I’m with Angela Green70 on this one; you really can't draw many conclusions about someone's specific situation just from a few casual chats. People are incredibly complicated creatures. Then again, maybe that complexity is actually a good thing? Everyone develops and processes life through their own unique lens. But for me, talking to psychiatrists has been a total dead end. With my "public" doctor at the county clinic, it felt like *they* needed the therapy more than I did. And then there was the private guy—once I actually started opening up, he kept checking his watch and rolling his eyes. Or maybe that's just my paranoia talking? Either way, the vibe in the room was definitely not what I signed up for. The private doc ended up doing most of the talking, too—like, out of a forty-five-minute session, he spent twenty minutes just tapping away at his computer. Seriously, how do those mental health types do that? It's like some secret skill they all share!

My psych eval mentioned a potential for "personality decompensation," which sounds fancy, but basically means a total system breakdown. That whole "psychosis" thing actually stems from my test results, where it noted "mildly elevated psychoticism." And man, I bet that's exactly what the private doctor fixated on! But hey, right next to that "mild psychoticism" note, it also said I have an "increased objectivity in approach"—whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.

I’ve got a question for the group: is it possible for someone dealing with a mental health disorder to feel... I don't know, "different" or more sensitive toward the world around them? What do you guys think—would that be a positive thing, or could it mess with a person's stability even more? To me, there's nothing special or "unique" about these disorders; it's just an illness, plain and simple, and the sooner you kick it, the better. Though, in this country, mental health issues are still treated like some big, scary taboo. Even the patients themselves tend to downplay it. I guess we should stick to that foreign philosophy that "everyone should have their own psychiatrist"... though personally, I'm a fan of the idea that "everyone is their own healer and we all have the inner tools to recover"—not that meds aren't always a lifesaver when things get rough!

Finding a decent therapist is a struggle—just as hard as finding a reliable lawyer, a good baker, or a solid cobbler... It seems to me that certain issues are nearly impossible to untangle without professional help.
Personally, I felt a sense of relief when John Malkovich coolly mentioned he’d undergone seven years of psychoanalysis—there are plenty of others like Jack Nicholson, too—so why shouldn't I follow suit?🙂

Look, I’m based out of Chicago, so I get it. You really have to wonder what kind of "options" someone living in some tiny rural town actually has when they need a therapist—especially if they aren't right next to a major hub like NYC or LA.

Steven Collins38 said:I have a question: is it actually possible for someone dealing with a mental health disorder to perceive their surroundings differently than everyone else?

It’s more than possible. It's absolutely a thing.😉

Perhaps it’s just one more symptom of some underlying mental disorder—this constant need to feel special😉. I suppose, eventually, life will strip away that sense of self-importance🙂. 🙂 🙂