First few months Paxil free

gamzu · 12-07-2008, 07:04 PM

What are your experiences of the first few months Paxil Free?
I'm totally convinced that it's all in my head, if I just exercised ate well and found coping skills for my anxiety I would be symptom free. Apparently I'm still suffering, so maybe that's not the case.

Is there hope for a smoother sailing, or do I have to swallow the pain and move on? (which i'm finding to be very difficult).
With brain fog being the strongest of my symptoms and a tendency to detach myself when I feel uncomfortable sensations. I'm feeling like a big wreck

I will do my best to go on but I just need to know someone understands my pain. I'm only 20, I work full time (I'm a graphic designer a preschool assistant)
and I feel like I'm being robbed from my creativity and joy in life, I understand that it's not forever but as of now I feel very grieved.

I so strongly just want to wake up and jump out of all the pain and sadness I now find myself in. I want to smile a genuine smile and tell the world it's ok. But I guess I have to accept the pain and the possible chaos it may cause, because for now my smile is not genuine at all.

For those of you that finished withdrawal, what would you say kept you going and kept your hopes alive?

tonys · 12-07-2008, 07:11 PM

How long were you on Paxil?

What was it prescribed for?

LCrawford67 · 12-07-2008, 07:17 PM

You need to remember, w/d doesn't end with that last pill. Now, your brain and body must adjust to life without Paxil.

Fort the brain fog, try crossword puzzles, or other "thinking" type games. Take a good grade of fish oil.

I'm almost a year off of Paxil and still have issues with irrational thoughts. But, I know what it is, I have my moments with them, and I move on. They don't last too long.

The fact that I was able to stop a drug that I never thought I'd be able to quit, the feeling of having control over my health and actually feeling and being healthier than I'd been in years; those were the things that kept me going. So, no w/d symptom while I was tapering, or after I'd quit, was ever bad enough for me to ever think about anything but moving forward.

That's just my experience and everyone handles things differently and everyone's experince is different.

Nothing worth having is easy, so accept there will be good days and there will be bad. But, the bad days won't last and the good days will outweigh the bad.

After that, there will still be good and bad days, but that's just life.

At least you'll be able to experience all the good and bad, drug free. And at your age, you've got a wonderful, Paxil free, life ahead of you!

gamzu · 12-07-2008, 07:22 PM

I took it for 5 years.
I was prescribed Paxil for anxiety attacks which was later discovered to be asthma. My doctor urged me to stay on saying that the anxiety worsened my asthma (probably true...) When I tried tapering off the first time in 2006 I became severely depressed and non functional, and went back on till I found PP and discovered my first taper was too fast. I now did a 17 month taper from 20 - 0

tonys · 12-07-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamzu

I took it for 5 years.
I was prescribed Paxil for anxiety attacks which was later discovered to be asthma. My doctor urged me to stay on saying that the anxiety worsened my asthma (probably true...) When I tried tapering off the first time in 2006 I became severely depressed and non functional, and went back on till I found PP and discovered my first taper was too fast. I now did a 17 month taper from 20 - 0

I'm glad you tapered, I CT'd around 26 months ago. In terms of what I can relay from my experience, there are waves of physiological withdrawal episodes which can last for quite some time. They vary in degree and intensity, but will subside as time goes on.

gamzu · 12-07-2008, 07:30 PM

Thanks Laurie!

I guess I can just accept that these thoughts and feelings will come, but move along despite them.
It can be hard work to divert attention from nagging thoughts and feelings. But at the moment thats my best choice.

gamzu · 12-07-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonys

I'm glad you tapered, I CT'd around 26 months ago.

Yes, happy I found PP

I CT the first time and it was awful. I went back on Paxil after a few months.

12-07-2008, 07:04 PM	#1
gamzu Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 50	First few months Paxil free What are your experiences of the first few months Paxil Free? I'm totally convinced that it's all in my head, if I just exercised ate well and found coping skills for my anxiety I would be symptom free. Apparently I'm still suffering, so maybe that's not the case. Is there hope for a smoother sailing, or do I have to swallow the pain and move on? (which i'm finding to be very difficult). With brain fog being the strongest of my symptoms and a tendency to detach myself when I feel uncomfortable sensations. I'm feeling like a big wreck I will do my best to go on but I just need to know someone understands my pain. I'm only 20, I work full time (I'm a graphic designer a preschool assistant) and I feel like I'm being robbed from my creativity and joy in life, I understand that it's not forever but as of now I feel very grieved. I so strongly just want to wake up and jump out of all the pain and sadness I now find myself in. I want to smile a genuine smile and tell the world it's ok. But I guess I have to accept the pain and the possible chaos it may cause, because for now my smile is not genuine at all. For those of you that finished withdrawal, what would you say kept you going and kept your hopes alive?

12-07-2008, 07:11 PM	#2
tonys Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 212	Re: First few months Paxil free How long were you on Paxil? What was it prescribed for? __________________ 1998 - Paxil 20mg/Depakote 2000mg for "Bipolar Disorder" and a panic attack which caused agoraphobia for two weeks. 2003 - Paxil 10mg/Depakote 1000mg - No symptoms or withdrawal issues 2006 - September - Cold Turkey off of Paxil/Depakote Currently taking fish oil, magnesium, vitamin E & C

12-07-2008, 07:17 PM	#3
LCrawford67 Moderator "Everybody poops" Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 26,493	Re: First few months Paxil free You need to remember, w/d doesn't end with that last pill. Now, your brain and body must adjust to life without Paxil. Fort the brain fog, try crossword puzzles, or other "thinking" type games. Take a good grade of fish oil. I'm almost a year off of Paxil and still have issues with irrational thoughts. But, I know what it is, I have my moments with them, and I move on. They don't last too long. The fact that I was able to stop a drug that I never thought I'd be able to quit, the feeling of having control over my health and actually feeling and being healthier than I'd been in years; those were the things that kept me going. So, no w/d symptom while I was tapering, or after I'd quit, was ever bad enough for me to ever think about anything but moving forward. That's just my experience and everyone handles things differently and everyone's experince is different. Nothing worth having is easy, so accept there will be good days and there will be bad. But, the bad days won't last and the good days will outweigh the bad. After that, there will still be good and bad days, but that's just life. At least you'll be able to experience all the good and bad, drug free. And at your age, you've got a wonderful, Paxil free, life ahead of you! __________________ aka LC aka Laurie C. Paxil, 20 mg since 1997, for IBS Two unsuccessful attempts to quit. Started tapering 11/27/06 PAXIL FREE 12/29/07 If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. ~Kevin James

12-07-2008, 07:22 PM	#4
gamzu Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 50	Re: First few months Paxil free I took it for 5 years. I was prescribed Paxil for anxiety attacks which was later discovered to be asthma. My doctor urged me to stay on saying that the anxiety worsened my asthma (probably true...) When I tried tapering off the first time in 2006 I became severely depressed and non functional, and went back on till I found PP and discovered my first taper was too fast. I now did a 17 month taper from 20 - 0

12-07-2008, 07:30 PM	#6
gamzu Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 50	Re: First few months Paxil free Thanks Laurie! I guess I can just accept that these thoughts and feelings will come, but move along despite them. It can be hard work to divert attention from nagging thoughts and feelings. But at the moment thats my best choice.

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