This may help..

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Last night I was having a dream about "my present condition"...however when I awoke form the dream I realized that the "symptoms " that we were going over with my doctor were not the same as in my waking state..then just lying there in my bed I had a sudden flash of insight.

I understood for the first time how severe the trauma was, how very serious damage or whatever you want to call it , had done to my brain and nervous system. I realized that ALL of this was withdrawal.

That :
1) Now I understand why you don't do a "fast taper" or cold turkey..its not because of the pain or say physical symptoms that happen per se but the chemical/neurological/psychological trauma that can happen..the worst aspect of this , is that you don't realize its actually happening.
2) that when DR Anne Tracy talks about a "near waking dreamlike state" she is actually correct. These drugs are so powerful that we don't see or understand how those thresholds or boundaries have been blurred by this drug.
3) that doctors responding to our symptoms by asking if we'd seen a psychiatrist or had a "full psychiatric examination?" is actually from the doctors point of view very logical.
4) most doctors have absolutely no understanding of the degree of intrusiveness and severity of the effects of SSRI"s on the human brain and nervous system
5) SSRI's CAN cause severe ADVERSE reactions in people., sometimes the reaction is immediate, sometimes the reaction time is delayed.
6) all of the above make withdrawal a "medical condition" in actuality, where really the person going through the withdrawal needs to be under close supervision until the"danger period" is over
7) that it is no stretch of the imagination to see how very serious things can happen to people during withdrawal and how once again the medical establishment has no means or tools to help people with this because of "withdrawals" complex and multifaceted qualities.

I hope this has helped, I know this insight has helped me have a better appraisal of my "present state" and to know that this is a state of trauma and that traumatic events of any sort take time and great care to heal.

Regards, Johnny

[tootall]

Hey Johnny,

I actually asked my doctor if I could see a psychiatrist to evaluate my situation but she refused. That is when she took me off paxil ct and replaced it with prozac which landed me extremely suicidal in the hospital. Now that I found this site I no longer think even a psychiatrist could help me because they still aren't always "in the know" about withdrawal. Are they any better then the primary care physicians? I'm still talking to people who get the "it should be in the water" line and after all the warnings that are out that is complete BS.

So I guess my question is, is it worth trying to get referred to a psychiatrist?

Thanks!

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Tootall..I would say under the heading of "supervision and care" and if it is possible a psychiatrist that understands SSRI's and withdrawal..now that may be a Tall order Give it a try.

Regards, Johnny

[nicemom]

I think that is very important for your recovery Johnny. When you can understand it, it puts it into perspective. I like what you said about why the docs can't understand it. It doesn't follow any logic to them and why would they not think that it is us and that our minds are screwed up? Our minds ARE screwed up but now in the way they think. That is the reason I didn't go to the doc for any of my symptoms. Its too exhausting to try to convince them and truly, they can't do anything about it anyhow. So to me that is wasted energy. I also thought about it as a trauma, because it truly is.

Tootall~In my opinion, I think counseling never hurts and working on issues is very helpful but other than that I think you are wasting your time trying to convince a shrink that your symptoms are all caused by w/d. The ones that believe are very few and far between. Plus I look at it this way, again, what do you want them to do for you?

[nicemom]

I also want to add,,,the help you need is within you. Using your coping skills is your 'prescription'.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Thanks Dianne... I think these skills are very important that this juncture. I am also considering going to a councilor for "biofeedback" to help reduce the strees levels and "intercept" panic attacks before they happen.


Regards, Leicamann