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Are You In a Wave?

LostinCanada
LostinCanada
in Symptoms & Coping Strategies

Featured Replies

Please remember:

 

Waves are a necessary part of the healing process. When you are in them it is very easy to forget this! But this really means you are healing.

 

The wave will break, it will pass. ❤️

 

Feelings and thoughts aren't facts. We don't need to act on them. We can acknowledge them and move past them.

 

Treat yourself with compassion, kindness and acceptance. Do all you can to make an environment of healing for yourself. If possible lessen your stressors, let go of expectations and commitments. Your main job is to heal. Be gentle with yourself.

 

Find distractions, whatever works for you.... reading, games on your phone, going for a gentle walk in nature, and so on.

 

Try to find glimmers in every day, no matter how small.... whether it is gratitude for food in the fridge, a warm bed or the blue sky.

 

During those beautiful elusive windows, take time to write yourself encouragement for those times that the waves will hit. Hold on to the windows to get you through the waves.

 

Please watch this helpful short video:

https://youtu.be/KQtO6HXJfjw

 

 

We are stronger than we realize. We can win this fight like those before us. ❤️🙏

 

*Waves and Windows Defined

 

Waves- During withdrawal there can be an increase in symptoms and intensity. New symptoms can appear. It feels like you will never heal, that somehow you are going backwards instead of getting better.

 

Windows- A feeling that you are healed and have returned to normal.

 

Both waves and windows

can last seconds to weeks.

 

I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

 

Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

 

TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg

 

9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for refux/150 mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger 400 mg as needed for nausea

 

"... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

    •
    • Like 9
    • Thanks 2

    Thank you @LostinCanada, 

     

    This s reassuring. I  am enduring a dreadful wave of anxiety and dread at the moment. Feeling very alone, even though I have this forum. Nice to see you here. 🩷

    Aug 2006 - Sertraline 25/50/75/100mg TO June 2019 - Reduced from 100mg to 50mg over a few months

    Sept  2019 - Reduced from 50mg to 25mg lasted a week,  then went back up to 50mg, after a few weeks back up to 100mg.

    Oct 2021 - Reduced to 75mg, Dec 2021 (mid) reduced to 50mg , March 2022 - Reduced to 25mg

    Oct 2022 - Reduce to 0mg (Immediate withdrawal crying, mood unstable, impending doom, digestive probs, tingling,numbness,burning, brain zaps,  insomnia)

    Feb 2023 -  "Panic attack" lasting 14 hours, 2 weeks later start back on 25mg sertraline, 12 hours later severe 'panic attack' with chest pain, tachycardia, restlessness, hyponatraemia, impending doom, racing thoughts, akathisia mild.  Taken to emergency. 

    March 2023 back up to 50mg (on medical advice), April 75mg, May 100mg. Back to 75mg within a few weeks due to feeling too stimulated and anxious. 

    Nov 2023 resume taper. 70, 65, 60, 55, 50 (March 2024)

    April 45mg, May 41mg, June 37mg, July 34mg Aug 31mg, Sept 28mg, Oct 26mg, Nov 25mg, HOLD 

    Jan 1st 2025 24mg, Jan 12th 23.5mg, Jan 20th 23mg, Feb 20th 22mg, March 20th 21mg, April 14th 18.9mg, May 5th 17mg, May 28th 15.3mg, July 16th 13.7mg, Aug 26th 12.3mg, Sept 16th 10.5 mg, Sept 22, 10mg, Oct 7th 8.3mg, Nov 4th 8mg, Dec 1st 7.7mg, Dec 26th 7mg 2026 Updose to 7.2mg Mar 20th, Back to 7mg Mar 21. Currently holding

     

    Other supplements: Fish oil, Mg citrate/glycinate 150-300mg per day, Ginkgo biloba daily, womens multi vit/min 3 times week, Vitamin C 1000mg night, valerian/passiflora as needed. B12 as needed. Bone support for osteopaenia (Ca/Mg, K, D)

    •
    • Like 1
    • Author
    5 hours ago, Tracey said:

    This s reassuring. I  am enduring a dreadful wave of anxiety and dread at the moment. Feeling very alone, even though I have this forum. Nice to see you here

    You're welcome...thank you...seems so many of us are dealing with this atm. Minute by minute. ❤️🙏

    I am not a medical professional. My comments are based on my personal experience and information on SA.

     

    Paroxetine-2002 onward-20mg/ Citalopram-2007-20 mg-straight switch from paroxetine-back to paroxetine after a month/ Sertraline -25 mg-Dec 2016- given for a month instead of paroxetine (doctor mistake) Oxazepam -10 mg-2016-twice weekly for a couple months for sleep/ Zopiclone -3.75-7.5mg-2020-2022-once a week for sleep/Paroxetine -20 yr+/ Dec2018-May 2022 20 mg/ May 2022 30mg/2022.07.28-2022.08.24 30mg to 0mg/ Prozac-10mg August 24-29 2022/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.11.28-2022.12.04/10mg-Dec 5&6/22/ Prozac-10mg-Dec 8&9/22/Paroxetine -5mg-2022.12.07 to 2023.07.01

     

    TAPER-Paroxetine-2023-Jul 2-4.9mg/ Jul 21-4.8mg/Jul 28-4.73mg/Aug 4-4.65mg /Sep 21-4.58 mg/Oct 27-4.56 mg/Dec 5-4.54 mg/2024-Jan 2-4.52 mg/Jan 9-4.51 mg/Jan 17-4.49 mg/Jan 26-4.47mg/Feb 6-4.46mg/Feb 19-4.44mg /Apr 4-4.43mg/Apr 28-4.4 mg/May 5-4.39 mg/May 19-4.36 mg/Jul 2-4.34 mg/Jul 9-4.32mg/Jul 31-4.3 mg/Oct 1-4.29mg/Nov 27-4.25 mg/Dec 5-4.22mg/2025-Jan 5-4.17mg/Feb 2-4.1mg/Mar 7-4.07mg/Apr 23-4.04mg/May 23-4mg/Jun 22-3.99mg/Jun 30-3.95mg/Jul 18-3.92mg/Sep 25-3.9mg/2026-Mar 25-3.85mg

     

    9am-paroxetine, 200mg mag bisglycinate/75 mg DGL if needed for refux/150 mg calcium citrate/algae oil for omega 3/ginger 400 mg as needed for nausea

     

    "... your strength will be in keeping calm..."-Isaiah 30:15

    •
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    yes! Thank you!

     

    Right now I'm experiencing increased PHYSICAL symptoms. I'm victim to the immunity-suppressing side effects of these drugs. Since Christmas, I've been in bed with extreme fatigue/sinus infection about 75 percent of my time.

     

    I am so grateful for all of you!

    January 2001: klonopin, depakote, wellbutrin. Was experiencing overload from: getting married, selling my house, quitting my job, taking care of one grandmother as my other one died. All in the same year.  Asked Dr. for support and got called "mixed bi-polar" cuz I didn't have real bi polar symptoms.  AND I ACCEPTED THAT. UGH

     

    Always felt sick on the meds so I would taper off. Then I would get EXTREME insomnia which I tolerated for several months before I would reinstate some combo. I've done this about 8 times. I'm extremely sensitive so I take really low doses. Still I feel sick.

     

    Currently tapering off 1.4 mg paroxetine. Started at 20. Also on prasozin, 1 mg, Trileptal, 75, seroquel 50.

    5/6/26 now on 2 mg paroxetine.

    7/15/26 1.4 mg paroxetine

    •
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    • 4 weeks later...

    well said...minute by minute! 🙂

    Zoloft 50-100 for 28 years with Wellbutrin

    Lexapro for 1 year

    Effexor for 1 year

    Back to Zoloft for 2 years

    Prozac 30 mg for the past 2 years

      

    Oct 13 2025 - 10 mg

    Nov 11 2025- 8 mg (-20%)

    Nov 26 -4.8mg (-40%)

    Dec 20 -4mg (-16.67%)

    Jan 5 2026-3mg (-25%)

    Jan 28 -2.4mg (-20%)

    Feb 26-2mg (-16.67%)

    March 26 2.5mg (+25%)

    CRASHED so badly ended up in the hospital..

    March 26 25mg Zoloft 

    34 years total on SSRI ... 

     

     

     

    • Like 2

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