4 minutes ago, Saar8srl said:

@lost4ever I’m your neighbor. From Iran 🤗have lived there until my age of 12.

Welcome, my dear neighbor. I am honored to get to know you. I only wish it had been under better circumstances. All my love to you all.

I am going to lose my mind. The symptoms disappeared as if they never even existed, and only a burning sensation in my stomach remains, which is rare for me. These fluctuations are going to drive me crazy. Before, they used to have a starting point, a peak of severity, and then a decline—after which they would flare up and fade out, but never at this insane speed. Is this neurological damage, an improvement, a rebalancing process, or is it nothing at all?

6 hours ago, lost4ever said:

My situation is neither promising nor bad; it's just continuous fluctuations where everything keeps repeating itself.

My question is: I am in need of Magnesium and Vitamin D3. My Vitamin D3 level is 13 , which is a severe deficiency. Magnesium Glycinate caused me violent episodes. Magnesium Citrate was very comfortable, but after I was forced to take Zoloft for only 3 doses, I experienced severe activation. I completely stopped taking anything, whether a supplement or a medication, and I had an annoying reaction to magnesium.

For your information, 136 days have passed, and I am completely clean and free of drugs.

What do you advise me to do?

Taking supplements can be risky and worsen symptoms, as you have found out.

That said, if you're experiencing a severe deficiency, it is potentially worth trying to address this with supplementation. We would advise starting with a very small dose of it, and seeing how you react to just a little bit of it first, and if this goes ok slowly increasing it. This would be a safer way to try to introduce it.

5 minutes ago, Luke said:

Taking supplements can be risky and worsen symptoms, as you have found out.

That said, if you're experiencing a severe deficiency, it is potentially worth trying to address this with supplementation. We would advise starting with a very small dose of it, and seeing how you react to just a little bit of it first, and if this goes ok slowly increasing it. This would be a safer way to try to introduce it.

Thank you for the advice, but after my comment, a violent wave hit me. However, unlike every other time when I rush to think about taking supplements or visiting doctors, this time I decided to slow down and accept the current situation.

3 minutes ago, lost4ever said:

Thank you for the advice, but after my comment, a violent wave hit me. However, unlike every other time when I rush to think about taking supplements or visiting doctors, this time I decided to slow down and accept the current situation.

That's understandable.

I personally did not notice any reactions to nutritional supplements myself, and I was severely ill pretty much constantly. We're all different.

I think on balance if I were in your position I would still try to address the deficiency as that can cause symptoms by itself, but I definitely understand wanting to wait until you're a bit more stable, especially given you've already found other substances difficult to tolerate.

You could possibly consider some sunlight to help with vitamin D if you're not getting much already or trying to eat vitamin D rich foods if they are available to you, as lower risk options.

29 minutes ago, Luke said:

That's understandable.

I personally did not notice any reactions to nutritional supplements myself, and I was severely ill pretty much constantly. We're all different.

I think on balance if I were in your position I would still try to address the deficiency as that can cause symptoms by itself, but I definitely understand wanting to wait until you're a bit more stable, especially given you've already found other substances difficult to tolerate.

You could possibly consider some sunlight to help with vitamin D if you're not getting much already or trying to eat vitamin D rich foods if they are available to you, as lower risk options.

During those 10 years and 14 cold turkeys, I was never sensitive to food or vitamins at all. I used to get D3 and B-complex injections completely normally without being affected in the slightest. However, this year changed everything. After an attempt to put me back on Escitalopram, just a single dose triggered severe activation. Following that, I developed a mild-to-moderate sensitivity that was somewhat manageable. But four and a half months ago, they tried introducing Zoloft at a 25mg dose. I took it for only 3 days, and it caused severe activation again. Since then, I have become violently sensitive to everything. It seems they have caused some sort of damage or hyper-sensitization. Furthermore, many attempts to raise my D3 levels naturally have failed miserably. I have no idea why, but despite sun exposure, healthy fats, and healthy food, it keeps dropping.

I have noticed that everyone is different, and I don't know the reason why.

I wish you a full recovery.

Thank you for your time.

22 hours ago, lost4ever said:

During those 10 years and 14 cold turkeys, I was never sensitive to food or vitamins at all. I used to get D3 and B-complex injections completely normally without being affected in the slightest. However, this year changed everything. After an attempt to put me back on Escitalopram, just a single dose triggered severe activation. Following that, I developed a mild-to-moderate sensitivity that was somewhat manageable. But four and a half months ago, they tried introducing Zoloft at a 25mg dose. I took it for only 3 days, and it caused severe activation again. Since then, I have become violently sensitive to everything. It seems they have caused some sort of damage or hyper-sensitization. Furthermore, many attempts to raise my D3 levels naturally have failed miserably. I have no idea why, but despite sun exposure, healthy fats, and healthy food, it keeps dropping.

I have noticed that everyone is different, and I don't know the reason why.

In that case, if natural attempts aren't working, if I were in your shoes I would potentially try supplementation, but as above, very slowly and cautiously with very low amounts and then slowly increasing it if that goes ok.

22 hours ago, lost4ever said:

I wish you a full recovery.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, you too. You're most welcome.

I am going to experience psychosis, or maybe I already have, I don't know, because of these horrific symptoms. Locked up at home, locked out of life. Fear, anxiety, physical symptoms—total destruction

8 hours ago, lost4ever said:

I am going to experience psychosis, or maybe I already have, I don't know, because of these horrific symptoms. Locked up at home, locked out of life. Fear, anxiety, physical symptoms—total destruction

Sorry to read this @lost4ever such a tropper. You are just in WD, it won't hurt you, just feels so bad I know. Stay close to the community and take one day at a time. We are all here for you.

Welcome my brothers and sisters. I wish everyone healing and beautiful patience.

Today, a devastating wave hit me and lasted for hours, unfortunately gathering all of my psychological and physical symptoms. I went out with my son on my motorcycle. I wasn’t even able to ride it in my condition, but it was my son's request. I collapsed internally, but I didn't show it. Suddenly, with the intensity and the pressure, everything disappeared as if nothing had ever happened. My beloved son and I went to my workplace because he loves going there. I was able to work normally. We stayed out for two or three hours, I don’t remember exactly. Unfortunately, my biological clock got disrupted, and the physical spasms and pre-sleep jerks (hypnic jerks) returned two days ago, and today they are a bit more severe, after having disappeared for 7 months. Now, the psychological symptoms are more painful than before; they haven't changed, but they have become clearer. I don't know how to describe them, especially the ones that affect my sense of identity. I get thoughts of hallucinating or losing control. The thought itself doesn't scare me, but what scares me is going mad in front of people.

Today, my level of acceptance reached a point where I said to myself: "If the thoughts and the screaming in my head continue, I will personally act on them." This did not stop the symptoms, but it lessened their intensity. My lymphatic system is severely triggered. It is a wave, and I know that, but I am exhausted.

Thinking of you @lost4ever. This too shall pass.

@Chippy @Luke @SarahMc

Thanks you for everything you do ❤️

It is hard to discover that your family and friends are the cause of your problems. It is hard when the people closest to you are the ones who hold the most resentment. I used to only see betrayal in movies, but now I have witnessed it in reality. What should I be patient with now—them, or the WD?

---

Has anyone fully recovered?

On 10/2/2026 at 8:12 PM, lost4ever said:

It is hard to discover that your family and friends are the cause of your problems. It is hard when the people closest to you are the ones who hold the most resentment. I used to only see betrayal in movies, but now I have witnessed it in reality. What should I be patient with now—them, or the WD?

---

It think family can be very hard in life sometimes, friends, we choose those, if they are not real friends they won't understand, if they are hold them tight.

10 hours ago, lost4ever said:

Has anyone fully recovered?

MANY people recover from this mate. Might not feel like it when everyone on here is stills suffering. Over time we will fill the success stories section I have no doubt. x

Symptoms like abdominal cramps and hypnic jerks (body twitches) before sleep completely disappeared suddenly yesterday night.

However, the feeling of hallucinating right before falling asleep has returned.

Today, my symptoms shifted rapidly between a feeling of suffocation and a fear of going outside. I went out for shopping normally, but then I suddenly had a panic attack, accompanied by restlessness and racing thoughts. I wanted to drop everything and run, but I made a phone call that distracted me from the symptoms. Afterward, I went to work and felt completely normal, but I was mentally exhausted. I eventually left work and returned home

After my situation was terrifying—with fear, anxiety, cramps, and an intense urge to vomit—I went out to work late because of mental boredom.

I arrived and felt the urge to escape, so I washed my face with relatively cold water. In the middle of a conversation with a friend I’ve known for 6 years, I completely forgot his name. Right after that, I felt electricity in my head, followed by a sudden sense of relief that lasted for an hour, and then the screaming and electricity returned.

If I had connected my brain to electrical wires, I could have benefited from selling it to the state! 🤣"

---

@lost4ever these big shifts are good signs, things are working hard behind the scenes, searching for stablity. Hang in there. You are also having windows, clear windows by the sounds of it. There will be more these as time passes I am sure.

@Chippy

I would like your advice. I am suffering from ongoing yet fluctuating and daily withdrawal symptoms. To explain a bit: my agoraphobia and fear of driving are constant. However, other symptoms—like leaving the house, the "screaming" inside my head, hypnic jerks before sleep, digestive issues, and intrusive thoughts—disappear completely for weeks at a time. When they do return, they rotate and alternate. Their intensity varies, and their duration has decreased, lasting less than an hour when they occur. They might repeat during the day, or they might not.

Throughout my periods of quitting or using medications, I either went "cold turkey" or took the full dose, following the advice of my "genius" doctor.

I didn't bounce around between many medications except during this past year; the first 10 years were spent on Escitalopram 10 mg or Citalopram 10 mg. During this last year, I was switched to several medications. They helped a little, but their side effects, such as appetite changes and cold extremities, were bothersome. Apart from that, the SSRI family was quite brutal for me. I took a single dose of Escitalopram 10 mg, and my last medication was Zoloft (25 mg, 3 doses), with the very last dose taken on May 16th of this year.

Behaviorally, I have learned CBT, ACT, ERP, and NSDR. I became highly proficient in them, to the point where I now help people who want to overcome anxiety, OCD, and intrusive thoughts without taking medication. My work helping others came at the suggestion of two doctors who told me, 'We cannot offer you more than what you have already learned yourself.' A third doctor told me, 'If you recover completely, write us a report and outline the method you used.' As for behavioral therapists, I used to interrupt them frequently because they merely memorized the material without truly understanding how it works in reality. Most of them disliked me for this. To use an analogy—since I am an engineer—they are like someone who learned the rules of construction but has never actually worked on a construction site (they memorized it, but they don't understand it).

Thank God for everything, but I have lost my cars, both of my houses, my freelance business, and the remainder of my cash. I have a family, and the situation is extremely difficult. I used to push myself hard, but there were no quick results. So, I decided to move back into my family's home and live on the bare minimum with acceptance and contentment.

My question here is: I absolutely do not want to restart any medication, but is this a wrong decision? Could it cause me additional damage or injury?

And what do you advise me to do based on my simplified description of these symptoms? I do not want to rush back into life, but at the same time, I do not want to cause myself any harm because I have children. If I were unmarried, I wouldn't care at all.

My friend, I am relying on you since you have lived experience with this matter

8 hours ago, lost4ever said:

My question here is: I absolutely do not want to restart any medication, but is this a wrong decision? Could it cause me additional damage or injury?

And what do you advise me to do based on my simplified description of these symptoms? I do not want to rush back into life, but at the same time, I do not want to cause myself any harm because I have children. If I were unmarried, I wouldn't care at all.

My friend, I am relying on you since you have lived experience with this matter

Hey @lost4ever I am sorry for all the suffering described above, you have been though alot this year.

Starting new drugs is 100% not something you want to consider at this point. We see only more harm for people who do.

The only thing we ever suggest is RI a small dose of the drug that a person was on for a long time. The body becomes dependent on a drug once it has taken it a long time. Stopping it quickly can cause WD. Apart from time only RI the orginal drug can help. Not to treat 'underlying mental illness' but to hold back/prop up WD and ease the symptoms. You would then whilst stable carefully taper off it. Reinstating an Antidepressant

You seem to be cycling through symptoms which is a good sign. How severe would you rate your symptoms at the moment out of 10, 10 being severe and 1 being mild?

In many ways it doesn't matter if you have a family or not, you should do what is best for you regardless, your life matters just because you are you, and not because you are a parent or husband etc...... We dont suggest a more 'wreckless' mindset just because you have no depedancies. x

39 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Hey @lost4ever I am sorry for all the suffering described above, you have been though alot this year.

Thank you

39 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Starting new drugs is 100% not something you want to consider at this point. We see only more harm for people who do.

Thats what happened to me

39 minutes ago, Chippy said:

The only thing we ever suggest is RI a small dose of the drug that a person was on for a long time. The body becomes dependent on a drug once it has taken it a long time. Stopping it quickly can cause WD. Apart from time only RI the orginal drug can help. Not to treat 'underlying mental illness' but to hold back/prop up WD and ease the symptoms. You would then whilst stable carefully taper off it

The drugs i used was Escitalopram 10mg last dose was 1/8/2025

39 minutes ago, Chippy said:

You seem to be cycling through symptoms which is a good sign. How severe would you rate your symptoms at the moment out of 10, 10 being severe and 1 being mild?

Daily symptoms are not constant; they constantly fluctuate between 2/10 and 6/10

19 minutes ago, lost4ever said:

Daily symptoms are not constant; they constantly fluctuate between 2/10 and 6/10

I think in this case you are doing the right thing. Staying off the drug. And definitely no more drugs. Time is your friend. X

59 minutes ago, Chippy said:

I think in this case you are doing the right thing. Staying off the drug. And definitely no more drugs. Time is your friend. X

Thank you for your time. Thank you for what you do; I highly appreciate your efforts.

Yes, I will not take the medication, even during the most severe attacks. I will accept them and let them pass.

There is something else:

Before May 16th, and before the acute activation I experienced due to Zoloft—and before I was convinced that it was withdrawal (WD) because doctors, research, and even AI rejected that idea—I took some supplements:

• Zinc: My emotions and sexual desire returned after using it.

• Vitamin C: It calmed my lymphatic system and drastically improved my sleep.

• Magnesium Citrate: It reduced my cramps and muscle tremors.

However, after May 16th and the activation that occurred, Vitamin C started causing me anxiety/tension, and Magnesium began causing abdominal cramps. My last use of them was about 4 months ago. As for Zinc, I stopped it because I had originally planned to use it for a limited period only.

There were symptoms that existed before taking these vitamins, which disappeared while taking them, but have now returned gradually 3 months after stopping them. Should I go back to using them?

I don't know if their return is just a wave, but I suspect it might be a deficiency. My usual waves are aggressive right from the start—they are either completely there or not, and they fluctuate suddenly, not gradually.

Based on your experience, what is the best thing I can do?

5 minutes ago, lost4ever said:

Based on your experience, what is the best thing I can do?

I think magnesium can be calming. Apart from fish oil omega 3 I always advise to get what you need from food as much as possible.

If you want to try a supplement start very low and increase slowly over time and just one at a time. You can’t tell what helps and what doesn’t otherwise.

When in wd we are sensitive supplements can make things worse. So I stay a purist and eat well practice acceptance and give it lots of time. I think there is always a temptation to try to fix or help. From my experience and what I see this can lead to making things worse.

I just wanted to add that having periods where you feel normal is a very good sign that things will get better, at coming up to 5 months off.