Getting off SSRI's?

[Negro-kitty]

Ok, time for me to give an actual response (sorry your thread got hijacked by the semantics police, dan!).

I have found and seen that it can go both ways -- your old problems come back like before, or you have made progress.

If many of the original problems were situational, then it is likely that going off the SSRI after these problems have been resolved (i.e. you had no job and were broke, now you have a good job and money) will result in you feeling better than you did before, and overall fairly stable.

If your problem was more organic, and not related to anything in particular, then often (I would say more likely than not) your mental health is improved after coming off the SSRIs. This is ESPECIALLY true if you have been on the SSRI for a while (which is recommended)...see, if you are on it for long enough ( a few months to a year or two) your attitude towards life, some of your habits, and even parts of your personality can really change (generally for the better). And this change is to some degree permanent. Thus, when you go off the SSRI, you find that it has changed you enough so that you are now okay on your own.

Another way to make life good after SSRIs is to undergo therapy and as necessary cognitive behavioural therapy. For example someone with anxiety might not be able to work on his issues without being on an SSRI, but once medicated he is able to make progress. Generally if the progress is significant, it will be at the very least semi-permanent, so that when he goes off the SSRI he has eliminated this problem for good.

I'm hoping that all made sense...I'm a bit tired at the moment!

 

[alostlittlebird]

What is life like AFTER SSRI's? Does life go on plesantly or are you back to the same problems that got you on SSRI's in the first place?

I think first, it's important to realize that antidepressants don't treat depression, they treat the symptoms of it. But the advantage is that by doing this they put you in a state of mind so that mental progression is much more possible. Whatever it is that your depression stems from, whether it's introversion, low self esteem, etc. - it is best to try and realize the problem (which is much easier to do with the help of a therapist) and confront it within yourself while you are on the medication.

That being said, when you have finally made progress, you will be the first to know. A part of your mental process will have turned around, and it will be very clear to you. The problem may feel, if not gone, at least improved. Out of first hand experience, I can say that any progress made will not revert once you quit the ssri - BUT, your state of mind MAY. By this I mean that you may quit the ssri and begin having some of the same hollow feelings as before, even though you don't feel as troubled from within as you used to. It's risky because many people tend to fall into their old habits once they don't feel as upbeat, and that can cause them to redevelope their old problems. However, none of this is guaranteed, so realize that the more positive your attitude, the better chances you have to permanently cure your illness.

I'd like to share some things I have gone through recently while finally curing myself of depression, but it's far too involved so expect a pm

 

[Dan1584]

Thanx guys for the responses, very imformative and helpful, I appreciate it. Keep them comming guys.

oh and...

I'd like to share some things I have gone through recently while finally curing myself of depression, but it's far too involved so expect a pm

I'll be waiting, don't tease me now...