On 8/18/2026 at 9:49 PM, LostinCanada said:

Hi @Saar8srl I will answer your questions here so it is on your thread. Feel free to just tag me if you have any other questions. 😊

Your message:

I’m new in this wd and still try to understand what is happening to me. Can I ask you some questions?

are you fully healed ?

No I am not. I am still tapering after my reinstatement 3.5 years ago. My CNS is extremely sensitive

How did you experience your wd?

Dp/dr, SI, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, tremors, akathasia, histamine intolerance, bloating, terror, dizziness, neuropathy, crying, monophobia, irritability, sweats, heart palpitations, vision issues, sound sensitivity, aphasia, reflux, phantom smells, body aches

Did you experience depression?

No, though I will get a low mood once in awhile

How long did it last for you ?

Never long

And after 3 months did you still have new symptoms popping up?

Yes

thank you so much if you will be able to take the time to answer my questions. ❤️

Thank you @LostinCanada . You have been so nice. I can’t thank you enough. I just need time to process this whole situation and tell myself that I will be able to heal and that it’s not dangerous what is happening to me. When a wave hits me I panic because I start thinking this is what I am now and I have this depression with me and now I am damaged and will not heal anymore…

20 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

You have been so nice. I can’t thank you enough.

You are very welcome. ❤️

21 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

need time to process this whole situation and tell myself that I will be able to heal and that it’s not dangerous what is happening to me.

Acceptance is important and yes it does take time. You will get there. Keep treating yourself with kindness, no expectations, no stress, just lots of love. 🙏💯

22 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

start thinking this is what I am now and I have this depression with me and now I am damaged and will not heal anymore…

This isn't you but the drugs effects. People worse than us have healed and moved on with good lives...we will get there too.

Question I have been smoking again since a month. I know this is not really helping me but I also red somewhere that quieting is now not an option because it will make things worse. When I am in a wave I smoke a bit more than when I feel ok. What are your thoughts?

I gutted overnight. Not significant difference that time. But maybe you can feel worse in general in some respects. Maybe it can be even better in some respects. I don't know, maybe you can feel more calm but have less motivation same time.

Nicole Lamberson had 24/7 akathisia (pacing), but she said that after quitting she felt less "nerve burning".

On the other I read that someone used smoking and anti-akathisia substance and after gutting his akathisia became more severe... But you don't have akathisia.

Try to be off for one week and if it became much worse, you can start again or buy nicotine chewing gums...

Oh, and somone from Rxisk.org mentioned he get brain zaps, usually related to SSRI WD, every time he quit nicotine...

Edited August 20Aug 20 by The Dust

26 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

Question I have been smoking again since a month. I know this is not really helping me but I also red somewhere that quieting is now not an option because it will make things worse. When I am in a wave I smoke a bit more than when I feel ok. What are your thoughts?

Nicotine is a powerful substance therefore can definitely provoke a reaction, no one can predict how you will react so only experiment can give you an answer.

I personally can't think of a worse time to quit smoking so I'm leaving it as it is until a long-term stabilization, each battle in its own time.

Edited August 20Aug 20 by Fullhealing

Can I ask on this occasion, how can you tolerate it? I had to quit, I felt so sick. I become somehow jealous seeing how someone can smoke like nothing...

Edited August 20Aug 20 by The Dust

40 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

Question I have been smoking again since a month.

Since you just started recently, I would seriously consider stopping again. It puts extra stressors on the CNS. Anything that does that can impede healing.

Eating clean and being as healthy as possible is still the best thing you can do for yourself at this point.

AI makes an interesting observation. It takes energy and resources from your body to maintain the addiction. In my opinion that energy and those resources are better spent on healing the injury from ADs.

AI:

Smoking nicotine quickly reaches the brain in under 10 seconds, mimicking natural brain chemicals to trigger a surge of dopamine. This action boosts temporary focus and mood, but over time changes brain chemistry, builds physical dependence, and causes irritability when nicotine levels drop. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Immediate Brain Stimulation

• Reaches brain fast: Inhaled smoke carries nicotine through the lungs into the blood, hitting the brain almost instantly.

• Binds to receptors: It attaches to special sites called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

• Releases feel-good chemicals: It triggers a release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which create brief feelings of pleasure, relief, and alertness. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Long-Term Brain Changes

• Builds tolerance: Repeated use makes these brain receptors less responsive, meaning you need more nicotine to get the same effect.

• Changes brain structure: The brain grows extra receptors to adjust for the constant presence of nicotine.

• Triggers withdrawal: When nicotine levels fall, the extra receptors fire incorrectly, causing anxiety, anger, restlessness, and strong cravings.

Edited August 20Aug 20 by LostinCanada

Thank you guys . I will think about it .. big hugs ❤️

I really want to be open with you guys about my condition.. this is the hardest thing in life that I have ever had to deal with. Today I’m ok ish .. but yesterday and other days I wake up or and the day with a massive depression that I don’t even can call a depression. I can feel it coming up in my head . Feelings of doom , nothing matters , everything is going down and my life is worth nothing. I can’t do anything and focus on noting. Only thing I can do is go on the internet and watch for succes stories . I also start comparing myself with famous people or people I know .. it’s like I want to heart myself by seeing them happy and want to show myself how stupid I was to put myself in this position.. of course I know this is not healthy but I can’t fight this . When the so cold depression comes I can’t think clear anymore it’s like somebody else is taking the system over. This is so weird . The days when I’m better I go out for a walk and I try to be around people but usually I can’t on bad days .. is there anyone here who also is familiar with this behavior ? I can’t believe this is happening to me . Mental problems like this are hard to handle

19 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

I really want to be open with you guys about my condition.. this is the hardest thing in life that I have ever had to deal with. Today I’m ok ish .. but yesterday and other days I wake up or and the day with a massive depression that I don’t even can call a depression. I can feel it coming up in my head . Feelings of doom , nothing matters , everything is going down and my life is worth nothing. I can’t do anything and focus on noting. Only thing I can do is go on the internet and watch for succes stories . I also start comparing myself with famous people or people I know .. it’s like I want to heart myself by seeing them happy and want to show myself how stupid I was to put myself in this position.. of course I know this is not healthy but I can’t fight this . When the so cold depression comes I can’t think clear anymore it’s like somebody else is taking the system over. This is so weird . The days when I’m better I go out for a walk and I try to be around people but usually I can’t on bad days .. is there anyone here who also is familiar with this behavior ? I can’t believe this is happening to me . Mental problems like this are hard to handle

I totally understand. This is also the hardest thing ive ever been through and its hard to describe what its like to those who haven't been through it.

Remember this isn't natural depression or anxiety. This is all chemical as our brains frantically adjust. Its not YOU. It will pass. Unfortunately it just takes a while. We are here for you ❤️

@cherrysquid did you experience this too? How did you deal with this ? Did you stay in your bed and couldn’t come out also ? Normally I’m a very strong person but this makes you not be you so it’s hard to fight it

17 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

@cherrysquid did you experience this too? How did you deal with this ? Did you stay in your bed and couldn’t come out also ? Normally I’m a very strong person but this makes you not be you so it’s hard to fight it

Yeah i was exactly the same. Very hard to move and do things. Even going to the bathroom I felt so heavy and like I was walking through mud. I dont know how I dealt with it. I just waited. Waited for the windows. And they got bigger and wider with time.

Yes, every daily task is just too hard. I feel ashamed.

@Saar8srl . I just saw your post and welcome to the site. I know it's frustrating to deal with all of these symptoms as body heals and at the same time, to try to do as best as you can to support others. You are not alone in this journey. There are many people with alot of experience in here that I will recommend to follow their guidance. These drugs are powerful, but the good thing is that the brain and nerve system know how to heal. If I was You I will not use any other drug. If you reinstate the minimal dose, you will still need to hold long before gradually tapering off no more than 10%. Some people, like me, I can't do more than 1% cut at this time as my body still dealing with my cold turkey and reinstatement 21 months ago.

Patience and acceptance and do what ever you can to deal with the symptoms. One day at a time..

3 hours ago, The Dust said:

Yes, every daily task is just too hard. I feel ashamed.

Don't be ashamed, you have nothing to be ashamed for <3

15 hours ago, The Dust said:

Yes, every daily task is just too hard. I feel ashamed.

Nothing to be ashamed of @The Dust

My depression is changing and it feels like it’s getting worse. Is this because of the Ri? Can 1mg really change your mood? Should I tapper off or is this just a wave?

can 1 mg lower your mood after 14 days. I haven’t had any windows since 29 of July . I don’t know anymore

7 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

can 1 mg lower your mood after 14 days. I haven’t had any windows since 29 of July . I don’t know anymore

We can't be that specfic what causes what, noone can say 1mg can cause a worsening of a specfic symptom, when the nervous system is dysfunctional and settling symptoms can certainly fluctuate.

Have you got an appointment with Dr H?

Can you add your RI into your signature for me please, helpful to have these update?

Yes on 9th of September .

21 hours ago, Saar8srl said:

Yes on 9th of September .

Ok, good to know, let us know how you get on. :)

I have a question for all the people who had ct and kindling. Did you also suffer from anhedonia and depression? No lack of joy and motivation ? And if this Anhedonia lift and all the taughts come back , is it going to hit you like a train ? I just don’t know how to live my life like this . Every day not able to get out of my bed and do stuff and also enjoying life…

For myself I can see anhedonia as a consequence of physical pain an tiredness. It's like my brain can pay attention to aspect that are no that vital. Survival mode.

Depression, I don't know if I have it. We can say that I have "psychical" depression, but in my mind I still have motivation to do things, despite my disappointment related to everything that happened.

On the other hand maybe I have depression because of negative thought. I can't see a moment, when everything will be normal.

No, maybe we can name it depression after all.

Your case looks different, because you don't have that much psychical pain. Or what?

I don’t know how to describe what I’m going through.. some days I can’t even get out of the bed and compare myself with others on the streets . It’s like I want to have the pain inside . Some days I’m a bit better and I can feel hope. Most of the time I am not able to have feelings and thoughts. It’s blank . Some head and eye pressure and burning head. It’s so weird every day is different than the other. I can’t enjoy things and I have lack of motivation. The main problems are depression and anhedonia ( lack of feelings, thoughts and motivation). Thank you for your respond ❤️I hope you heal soon

I just hope I didn’t ruin everything for myself by starting the Ri. I don’t know if it’s possible to ruin even more than I already did to myself …