@Kat66, @Sonia2 and @Mamgu So sorry to hear of all these struggles. I'm approaching  1mg 0f Escitalopram and know I still have such a long way to go. Some days I feel defeated and recently my anxiety has ramped up due to everything that's happening on the world stage. The lack of control over anything and everything makes me feel like I'm in free fall.  All I have is my breathing, acceptance (so difficult in this climate) and distraction 🤗🧡

@CatbirdHi,  I completely understand, I don't watch the news anymore, I'm a bit of an ostrich I'm afraid, it ramps up my anxiety which affects my withdrawal symptoms. I can see you've been doing a slow taper off escitalopram, the low doses are challenging for some people. You've done great to get this far. You also on other meds and supplements too, I cannot imagine what that feels like. I tried and tested various other meds at one point and quickly went back on citalopram, I think that juggling around has had some effect on my withdrawal today.

I wish I could offer words of comfort, just know you are not alone, many of us share your symptoms and your worries. Sometimes just sounding off helps, it does me. x

52 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

@CatbirdHi,  I completely understand, I don't watch the news anymore, I'm a bit of an ostrich I'm afraid, it ramps up my anxiety which affects my withdrawal symptoms. I can see you've been doing a slow taper off escitalopram, the low doses are challenging for some people. You've done great to get this far. You also on other meds and supplements too, I cannot imagine what that feels like. I tried and tested various other meds at one point and quickly went back on citalopram, I think that juggling around has had some effect on my withdrawal today.

I wish I could offer words of comfort, just know you are not alone, many of us share your symptoms and your worries. Sometimes just sounding off helps, it does me. x

Your kind words are so comforting @Sonia2. Thales you so much for your response xx

On 3/5/2026 at 3:59 PM, Kat66 said:

Hi @Sonia2 here is what I've just posted on facebook; gives you an idea of where I'm at!

 

I feel so battle weary and broken by all this. I've been tapering since 2021 after 8 years continually on an SSRI. Fast forward to now and I am in the endgame of my taper, 0.15mg. I have also gone through menopause at the same time. My marriage has been so battered and I don't know if it will survive. I hope so. My husband is also worn down by my ugly withdrawal battle but remains steadfastly supportive and loving. I don't know who I am any more and even when I'm off the drug I have no clue what will happen. By all accounts it's far from over when you get to the magic zero. I don't smile, don't laugh, and am just plodding through my days. I look forward to sleeping and a couple of TV shows that temporarily take me out of my head, which is filled with a level of catastrophic rumination beyond anything I've ever experienced before. I long for a feeling of peace. To just enjoy life. Maybe that day will come. I hope so.

Hi, I’m so sorry you’ve been struggling so much despite such a long slow taper. I can relate to a lot of your symptoms, and I tapered off the same drug. I hope the rest of your taper goes OK and you soon start to improve.

@Mamgu have you had any thoughts about an exit strategy? I’d be interested to know. It’s the scariest bit. 
 

@Catbird @Sonia2 avoiding everything but the main headlines seems to work for me. I like to know broadly what’s going on but find if I indulge my naturally morbid curiosity too much I get sucked in and it makes me feel so much worse.

 

@sarahw thank you for your kind words. Are you off citalopram now?

 

I’ve also just deleted Facebook from my phone. Do you guys go on the WD/SSRI groups on there? I don’t think it’s helping me. There’s such an onslaught of misery and sometimes unhelpful advice it’s driving me crazy.

 Think I’ll just stay here with you guys. Sending you all a hug 🤗 

Edited March 8Mar 8 by Kat66

1 hour ago, Kat66 said:

@Mamgu have you had any thoughts about an exit strategy? I’d be interested to know. It’s the scariest bit. 
 

@Catbird @Sonia2 avoiding everything but the main headlines seems to work for me. I like to know broadly what’s going on but find if I indulge my naturally morbid curiosity too much I get sucked in and it makes me feel so much worse.

 

@sarahw thank you for your kind words. Are you off citalopram now?

 

I’ve also just deleted Facebook from my phone. Do you guys go on the WD/SSRI groups on there? I don’t think it’s helping me. There’s such an onslaught of misery and sometimes unhelpful advice it’s driving me crazy.

 Think I’ll just stay here with you guys. Sending you all a hug 🤗 

 

Hi @Kat66 - I'll be honest I've no idea what I'm going to do!  I read the Brass Monkey post re the End Game over on SA loads of times but that implies we should not be getting any WD symptoms before considering jumping off (If I read it correctly, I doubt my own judgement these days).  As I'm still in the midst of it all I suspect it would be wisest of me to continue reducing the dose. I also considered I'd need to get down to 0.00something mg before I'm ready - but that's years away 🤷‍♀️

 

I also keep well clear of the news, I listen to the radio a lot and get the headlines that way but as soon as I engage in it all, I become overwhelmed with grief and depression.  When I'm really down I can't even bear to watch the satirical programmes like Have I Got News For You, or even The Last Leg 😞 There doesn't seem to be any good news at the moment - I'm sure there is really but we have to trawl through the doom and gloom to find it.

 

A few years back I joined a couple of WD Facebook groups but soon realised they weren't for me, there's too much misery, as you say - I think this site is much more supportive and provides positive advice and tactics, I'll stay here I think!

 

Sending you lots of hugs and positive vibes through the ether xx

 

 

2 hours ago, Kat66 said:

@Mamgu have you had any thoughts about an exit strategy? I’d be interested to know. It’s the scariest bit. 
 

@Catbird @Sonia2 avoiding everything but the main headlines seems to work for me. I like to know broadly what’s going on but find if I indulge my naturally morbid curiosity too much I get sucked in and it makes me feel so much worse.

 

@sarahw thank you for your kind words. Are you off citalopram now?

 

I’ve also just deleted Facebook from my phone. Do you guys go on the WD/SSRI groups on there? I don’t think it’s helping me. There’s such an onslaught of misery and sometimes unhelpful advice it’s driving me crazy.

 Think I’ll just stay here with you guys. Sending you all a hug 🤗 

@Kat66 Hi, I don't use facebook but I can understand how reading other people's stories can feel overwhelming. I don't use anywhere else other than this site but I do use chat gpt sometimes for reassurance but sometimes I find that a strain on my cns if I overuse it. There is so much bad stuff going on in the news I cannot watch it, I prefer to look at the news on the BBC website and choose what I read. Hope you're having a better day today, I'm feeling a bit agitated today, very unsettling. All the best x☺️

7 hours ago, Kat66 said:

avoiding everything but the main headlines seems to work for me. I like to know broadly what’s going on but find if I indulge my naturally morbid curiosity too much I get sucked in and it makes me feel so much worse.

I’m with you @Kat66. I can’t go near the news ATM it scares the shit out of me. Same with social media. I’ve kept FB locked for years. I only use it to sell things on marketplace.

@Mamgu @Sonia2 @Catbird

 

What I like about this site (and SA before it), is that I feel more connected to a handful of people like you guys whereas FB feels like an endless stream of strangers. I used ChatGPT to ask about an endgame taper strategy and tbh it was a lot more helpful than I expected. Trying to find things like taper calculators and other info in a general search can be exhausting especially if we don’t have much of an attention span right now. Mamgu what makes you think it will take years for you to come off? 

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Kat66

4 hours ago, Kat66 said:

@Mamgu @Sonia2 @Catbird

 

What I like about this site (and SA before it), is that I feel more connected to a handful of people like you guys whereas FB feels like an endless stream of strangers. I used ChatGPT to ask about an endgame taper strategy and tbh it was a lot more helpful than I expected. Trying to find things like taper calculators and other info in a general search can be exhausting especially if we don’t have much of an attention span right now. Mamgu what makes you think it will take years for you to come off? 

 

I seem to be perpetually "only two more years to go", it feels the nearer I get the more it slips away from me.  I'm making such small drops and have to wait a long time between drops for things to settle - so the way things are going for me, it'll be a while yet.  Of course, my WD symptoms may lessen in intensity and I may be able to pick up the pace but I've been doing this since 2019 and am resigned to it taking as long as it takes.  That said, I've maintained full-time employment throughout so maybe it's been worth the cautious approach.

 

When I first joined SA, Chessie Cat said to take things slowly, my goodness I never anticipated it would be this slow 😂

@Mamgu the pace is so painfully slow. What keeps you going?

 

I am the world's most impatient person and I'm afraid I've probably rushed my endgame taper a bit too much. At this point I just want to get off so I'm prepared to suffer a bit. As of today, I am at 0.095mg, and aiming for 0.075, 0.055, 0,355 then maybe off. 

Does anyone else feel a painful existential crisis as a result of coming off ADs? I don't know who I am any more, I feel as if nobody I know is 'good enough' any more, everyone's too shallow, no one understands me, I need to run away and live in a forest on my own. Like you're done with society/socialising/small talk etc. I'm probably not describing this very well but I guess if you know what I mean.....you'll know what I mean!

Good job slow tapering. Unfortunately I didn't know and cut by 10mg over 4 months (5 at the end) ans have been in a living psychiatric hell. Also citalopram. Am working my way back up to my original dose and will probably stay there forever.

Honestly?  Fear keeps me from picking up the pace 😂.  I needed to keep working, for my sanity and because of the income, so cold turkey wasn't an option for me.  I never anticipated it would take me this long, I genuinely thought I'd be done by 2022.

 

On the face of it, your plan appears to be good so I'll be interested to see how you get on.  Got my fingers crossed for you.

 

On another note, I love your picture!!  My dog was from Ireland and my son called him Dougal after the Father Ted character, because the dog is a bit daft.  I think he's more a Jack myself, being a yappy little terrier-mix 🤣😂

15 hours ago, Kat66 said:

Does anyone else feel a painful existential crisis as a result of coming off ADs? I don't know who I am any more, I feel as if nobody I know is 'good enough' any more, everyone's too shallow, no one understands me, I need to run away and live in a forest on my own. Like you're done with society/socialising/small talk etc. I'm probably not describing this very well but I guess if you know what I mean.....you'll know what I mean!

Hey @Kat66 Ive moved this back here. We like to keep all these comments in one place.

 

Im sorry for what you are experiencing. These drugs can effect us in all sorts of ways.

16 hours ago, Kat66 said:

Does anyone else feel a painful existential crisis as a result of coming off ADs? I don't know who I am any more, I feel as if nobody I know is 'good enough' any more, everyone's too shallow, no one understands me, I need to run away and live in a forest on my own. Like you're done with society/socialising/small talk etc. I'm probably not describing this very well but I guess if you know what I mean.....you'll know what I mean!

I get what you mean @Kat66 though I'm still on ADs

@Kat66, I often feel like living in isolation so that I can recover from all the stressors of life, just to be left alone to heal, but I guess that wouldn't work either.🙂x

Edited March 20Mar 20 by Sonia2

17 hours ago, Kat66 said:

Does anyone else feel a painful existential crisis as a result of coming off ADs? I don't know who I am any more, I feel as if nobody I know is 'good enough' any more, everyone's too shallow, no one understands me, I need to run away and live in a forest on my own. Like you're done with society/socialising/small talk etc. I'm probably not describing this very well but I guess if you know what I mean.....you'll know what I mean!

Yes, I was feeling exactly this about a year ago. Like I just couldn’t be bothered with anyone any more. I wanted to be alone, I looked forward to being able to live alone one day when my child has grown up. Over the last year it has softened a bit, I’m connecting a bit better with my partner again now.

 

Another side of this for me is just not feeling very warm towards humanity in general, feeling I’m in a rat race and wanting to get out of it. I’m also very sensitive to social pressure for some reason, I react strongly against norms and expectations. Like all the things you’re supposed to do at Christmas.

Yep, me too 😞  I've always struggled socially and that's probably part of the reason I ended up on Citalopram in the first place, but who knows for sure?  I work from home and it's just me and my dog so I don't mix with people much.  My partner visits occasionally which is nice, he's more of a socialphobe than I am.  Neither of us fit in with 'the normal people' and I'm OK with that.  But what I'm realising is I need human contact, yet when I'm round people they irritate the f*ck out of me and I can get snippy 😬😆

 

I really can't engage with the news either, the stupidity of humanity scares me witless.  I just want to run away from it all.  These feelings have become much worse since withdrawal so I strongly believe it's part of the process.  I'm hopeful those feelings will go away.

 

Hoping we all find our peace within the midst of all this ❤️

The war and instability in the world is really nerve wracking. It doesn’t help any of with a sensitised CNS. It’s hard to get away from. Far worse than COVID

Hello everyone

I just thought I’d post an update. I got down to 0.06mg cit and jumped just over a week ago. Since then I’ve descended into another level of hell I didn’t know existed. All the symptoms have intensified. I can’t quite get my head around it. Apparently I’m in acute withdrawal even though I’ve been tapering for the last 5 years. It’s insane. I feel like I’m basically in the foothills and there’s still the main mountain to climb. I thought I’d already climbed the main mountain with tapering! It’s all mind blowing! Sending love to all my fellow warriors x

Edited May 30May 30 by Kat66

15 minutes ago, Kat66 said:

Hello everyone

I just thought I’d post an update. I got down to 0.06mg cit and jumped just over a week ago. Since then I’ve descended into another level of hell I didn’t know existed. All the symptoms have intensified. I can’t quite get my head around it. Apparently I’m in acute withdrawal even though I’ve been tapering for the last 5 years. It’s insane. I feel like I’m basically in the foothills and there’s still the main mountain to climb. I thought I’d already climbed the main mountain with tapering! It’s all mind blowing! Sending love to all my fell

@Kat66 Hi Kat, congratulations for finally coming off, whew, it's been a long haul but you've done it.👏. I understand how your symptoms have intensified since jumping off having gone through it myself. Unfortunately it 's not uncommon for this to happen having read other people's experiences. We've been at this a long time, enough to recognise symptoms and not let our imagination run wild. It will take it's course and from experience we have learned how to bear it and manage it the best way we can.

My own symptoms have intensified since withdrawing from caffeine around three months ago, old symptoms returning, new symptoms starting. It 's been a nightmare.

I see you have posted on my thread too, I'll take a look.

So good to hear from you Kat, I have been thinking about you. Here if you ever want to chat. Hope things improve soon for you. x🙏🙂

7 hours ago, Kat66 said:

Hello everyone

I just thought I’d post an update. I got down to 0.06mg cit and jumped just over a week ago. Since then I’ve descended into another level of hell I didn’t know existed. All the symptoms have intensified. I can’t quite get my head around it. Apparently I’m in acute withdrawal even though I’ve been tapering for the last 5 years. It’s insane. I feel like I’m basically in the foothills and there’s still the main mountain to climb. I thought I’d already climbed the main mountain with tapering! It’s all mind blowing! Sending love to all my fellow warriors x

Hope things settle for you in the near future 🤗

17 hours ago, Kat66 said:

Hello everyone

I just thought I’d post an update. I got down to 0.06mg cit and jumped just over a week ago. Since then I’ve descended into another level of hell I didn’t know existed. All the symptoms have intensified. I can’t quite get my head around it. Apparently I’m in acute withdrawal even though I’ve been tapering for the last 5 years. It’s insane. I feel like I’m basically in the foothills and there’s still the main mountain to climb. I thought I’d already climbed the main mountain with tapering! It’s all mind blowing! Sending love to all my fellow warriors x

Im sorry to hear @Kat66 I normaly suggest coming off at 0.01mg before stopping, have you considered RI that last dose and seeing if it settles things for you? You could perhaps consider an extended hold at that dose before coming off that last bit more slowly after your system has settled down.

@Kat66 sorry to hear it's all worsened a lot for you.

It's a tough choice as there's no real way of knowing how long the severe symptoms might last.