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

Steven Collins38 said:Hey everyone!

I have a question for you all... it might sound a little silly, but I've really been wondering about this>>>

I was taking 50mg of Zoloft, which gave me quite a few side effects, so I switched over to 20mg of Prozac. After being on Prozac for maybe a month or two, I felt more like my old self, though that doesn't really get to the heart of what I'm asking... when does someone actually start feeling "normal"? I'm asking those of you who have experience with psychiatric medications... at what point did things finally start feeling okay after starting a prescription? How did you feel while you were using them? When you reached that point where you could say, "I feel good," how did your world change in terms of just functioning daily? Did you ever find yourself wanting a higher dose? And how long have you been on your meds?

I'm losing steam here, but I'll try to write down my own experiences after my next doctor's appointment...

For me, I didn't really notice a shift until about two months in, and then it hit me all at once

One day, the anxiety and the restlessness just vanished, and those obsessive tendencies weren't there anymore...

It took me about two months...

All these kinds of meds, like Prozac, Zoloft, or Luvox—they all work by building up in your system...

That's why you don't feel the effect right away, and it's the same reason if you want to stop taking them, you really have to do it gradually under a doctor's supervision (kind of like tapering off prednisone or cortisone)...

I take 75 mg of Effexor XR once a day

Angela Green70 said:In younger people, psychosis often shows up hidden behind anxiety, depression, or just general depressive symptoms.
I know this because I've been there myself...
So, what the private doctor mentioned actually makes a lot of sense.
The thing is, you can't just throw medication at someone that easily, and you certainly can't get to the heart of the problem or nail down a diagnosis after just one or two sessions.
It’s all such sensitive stuff...
I really hope things keep looking up for you with this therapy and that you manage to work through whatever you're facing.
Try to find a doctor you actually connect with, someone you can trust, and make sure you're getting regular check-ins on how you're doing.
Wishing you the best!

That's true...

In my case, they didn't even start me on medication until I'd done six months of psychotherapy, since they had to be absolutely certain about what was happening and what was driving my anxiety first...

They only prescribed medication once they were completely sure about the PTSD diagnosis.

Steven Collins38 said:I also get the impression that an anxiety-depressive disorder could be the precursor to psychosis.

I don't believe that is actually the case. A psychotic disorder implies that a person lacks the capacity to distinguish reality from their own imagination... whereas anxiety is a neurotic disorder, which pertains to a disruption in emotional perception.
If you truly feel like your perceptions are leaning toward the psychotic, then you absolutely must address that and seek treatment immediately; if you leave it unchecked, things could certainly take a turn for the worse. You really ought to seek out a second opinion from another psychiatrist to thoroughly investigate whether you are dealing with a psychotic disorder or simply neurosis. (To my untrained ear, this sounds more like neurosis.)

A psychiatrist who can't tell the difference between psychosis and neurosis is basically like a mathematician who doesn't get the distinction between an integer and a fraction. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks—that’s just the ABCs of neurosis, which is usually handled through psychotherapy. Honestly, I’m convinced almost the entire Western world is neurotic; it’s pretty standard. Being neurotic is basically just being mentally "normal." (Though, if you ask me, deciding what’s "normal" versus "abnormal" is often just a matter of where society decides to draw the line)

That treatment plan your private doctor handed you... it looks intense, and honestly, you might not even need it. But hey, if nothing else, let it give you something to chew on—because nobody would just recommend a heavy-duty antipsychotic like unknown out of the blue without a reason. So, my advice? Go ahead and "open up" to a therapist. Even if you have to pay for it, go for a few sessions. They’ll be able to figure out if medication is actually necessary and what the best path forward is for you.

Hang in there, buddy! 👍

I say this with some skepticism, though, because I have a really close friend dealing with schizophrenia—specifically diagnosis F20.4. On the surface, his issues seem pretty mundane, like social anxiety, being withdrawn, or a lack of drive. But once he starts opening up, it becomes crystal clear why he’s on Zyprexa and Paxil, which are much more humane options than stuff like unknown, Ativan, or unknown.

Was Prozac really the first antidepressant out there?

I mean, how were people actually dealing with this stuff before Prozac hit the scene back in '86—or even before antidepressants were a thing at all? Like, what was the go-to move? And is there some kind of cocktail of different meds that could basically mimic an antidepressant effect?

Prozac is one of those relatively newer antidepressants out there—very common in America. But honestly, for people dealing with high anxiety, it can sometimes backfire and cause the exact opposite of what you're looking for—things like hypertension or just feeling super jittery. And, it’s pretty much useless—actually, potentially harmful—for anyone struggling with bipolar disorder (you know, those manic depressive episodes). Take something like Paxil, for example; it works as both an antidepressant and an anxiolytic, and it’s actually quite effective at helping prevent panic attacks.
There are plenty of older antidepressants that have been around way longer than Prozac—like certain older sedatives, for instance. Those older options usually lean heavily into that sedative effect. It’s funny to think about, but the very first "antidepressants" were basically just speed and other amphetamines... and sure, they worked "great" at first, until doctors finally realized they had messed up big time—just like they’ve made a million mistakes before.

But look, all these antidepressants are basically a thumbs down if they're the only thing you're relying on. They should really just be treated like a crutch while you've got your leg in a cast—once the cast comes off, you've actually got to learn how to walk on your own and deal with life's problems solo.

Mark Barrett95 said:But all these antidepressants are useless if they're your only lifeline—they should act like a crutch while your leg is in a cast, after which you actually have to learn how to walk through life's problems on your own. [/B]

I completely agree—it’s just a crutch to dull the pain. You eventually have to swap it out, which is damn hard work; changing everything, especially your entire mindset. Why is it so difficult for us to evolve? How much suffering is required before we finally hit some sort of breakthrough? 😕

I deal with anxiety, and honestly, there are moments where I just lose my mind because it feels like this disorder is calling all the shots in my life. It’s especially frustrating since everything was totally fine with me just six months ago. But, I guess I've already ranted about this quite a bit here...

I don't know about Prozac, really, but I am deeply convinced that any mental health struggle is basically a call to battle with your own self. In those cases, medication plays a very small role, or maybe it doesn't even need to have a role at all.

Solid psychotherapy would work wonders, but unfortunately, that kind of thing isn't really a standard practice here in the States yet. I just hope things change soon.
I agree that you have to tackle the smaller issues while you're young so they don't spiral into something much more complicated later on. Sadly, some people are just genetically predisposed to psychosis and other mental illnesses more than others.

When does a situation become "abnormal"? I don't know, for instance, I was doing completely okay for a few months, almost like my old self, then the panic hit again, and now I'm fighting through it and things are actually trending upward right now...

What silentowl43 wrote above is spot on. Basically, "nothing will ever be the way it was before, but that doesn't mean it's worse—it's just different." 👍 That is the absolute truth. Maybe we can look at it as a burden we just have to carry; after all, everyone has their own weight to lug around, and we're all strong enough to handle whatever comes our way. 🙂

I'm not hiding from my disorder, but I'm not making a huge drama out of it either; I just try to function as normally as possible while making necessary adjustments to myself. Just like anything else in life, I guess.

I'm fully aware that I'll experience panic attacks and God knows what else plenty of times in the future, even when I'm feeling better, but damn it, all of this can be overcome.

By the way, I took the pills for two weeks and that's when it clicked for me: they only mask the symptoms rather than fixing the actual cause. Now I just take them occasionally when needed and put my faith in myself and my own grit.😁

electricdriver78 said:It took me a full two months before I felt any real shift, and when it happened, it was sudden.

One day, the anxiety and the constant jitters just... vanished. The obsessive thoughts stopped hitting me so hard.

Yeah, it took about two months for me.

All those meds—Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox—they all work by building up in your system.

That’s why you don't feel the magic right away. And just as importantly, if you ever think about quitting, you can't just stop cold turkey. You have to taper off under a doctor's watch, just like you would with prednisone or cortisone.

I'm currently on Effexor XR, 75 mg once a day.

Honestly, hearing this is a relief. I've been on Prozac for a month now and haven't felt a thing. My doctor told me I should start feeling some effects after about fifteen days. So far, all I've dealt with is nausea and a total loss of appetite for the first ten days, but that finally passed.
The takeaway here is: don't give up yet. You just have to give the stuff enough time to actually build up in your system.

Don't lose hope just yet,

it took me a solid month to get my head above water—but once things finally started moving,👍 👍