Adjusting to meds

@Anonymous I tapered off of it for like a week and went on another med that didnt work. Did the 200mg work for you?

@mfazio No, not at all. I just kept feeling more and more depressed and they just kept increasing my dose until it got to 200 and by then I was completely emotionally blunted. Quitting zoloft was liberating and I refuse to take an ssri ever again. This is just my personal experience, and it happened over an extended period of time. Everyone is different. Give it some time and if it feels like it truly is not working for you, speak up and look for other options.

@Anonymous I’m sorry you went through that :/ I will keep it up to see how it works for me. What is something you do to cope with anxiety and ocd?

@mfazio Well I haven't been doing very good at that lately but! I think something mental health professionals neglect to address is physical health. This includes stress. I resent the dynamic of treatment where it's like addressing the patient as the problem. It's more likely that we are experiencing mental health issues because our physical needs are not being met. I struggle with food insecurity, extreme stress, and chronic insomnia. When you are feeling anxious or having an OCD spike, it's worth considering if you are meeting your nutrional needs, if you are well rested, and if you are investing enough time in self care. I'm serious. Managing stress is CRUCIAL. taking time to relax and have fun is so so important. If your physical needs are not being met, how could medication ever address that? Additionally, if your needs are not met, your medication will probably not work properly. A lot of times when I am struggling very badly, what I really need is rest, food, or social interaction. I don't get enough of these things. These things are critical for humans. So it's only natural for mental issues to occur if these needs aren't meant. That's my view. It is not our fault, and it is so unlikely that we just ARE mentally ill. Try to align your mental health care with your physical health care and do not underestimate the importance of enjoying the simple pleasures of life, like spending time with your friends, relaxing, doing nothing, hanging out, etc., along with exercise and meeting your nutrional needs and sleep. Matter of fact, make that stuff a priority over everything else. Easier said than done. Even though I know better, I neglect these things in favor of work and school. I'm struggling, too and I don't have all the answers. But that's the basis of how I think these things work. Sorry I don't have a straightforward answer

@Anonymous That’s a really great point! I think I’ve been stressed out with work and I’ve been traveling a lot and drinking while going through anxiety and switching meds. I definitely have not been eating enough due to my extreme anxiety I’ve been having but getting back on track is important for our health! Physical and mental! I think taking time for myself will be healing. I hope my meds do give me some relief. They did work in the past I think I just needed therapy to help but I mostly was okay when I was on 100mg but I am just never satisfied. so we will see I guess

@mfzio Pls take time for yourself and be very careful with drinking alcohol. I would recommend stopping it altogether. It interacts with psychiatrist meds and it can be very dangerous. It certainly is not helping you right now. Might not have to quit forever, but perhaps for a time. I wish you well with everything

@Anonymous Oh yes very true! I don’t drink regularly! Just when I go out with friends but I think I’m gonna stop drinking for a while now it doesnt help at all

@madadam That’s true! I know I do it’s just soooo hard omg. Like I’m so tired and I have headaches everyday. Granted I’ve only been on it again for like 2 weeks total 50>75 mg but I’m like I know it works because when I was on 100 it worked (obviously didn’t take ocd and anxiety away) and I got off of it because I’m dumb lol I thought I’d be fine. I was wronnnng wrong wrong. I just am hopeful this will kick in within the next month and I’ll start to feel relief

@mfzio I dropped off it too because I thought i was doing well and then it got bad again. Thats when I really figured out what I have is most likely OCD, and that's what my NP and therapist are working with me on. Now I'm back up on meds and just getting to the point where I think I'm doing better. Triggers still suck for a bit but they seem to drop off quicker. And case in point about meds hitting people differently- you said you get headaches and my meds never did that for me. I get headaches all the time whether I'm medicated or not lol

@madadam I’m so glad it’s working for you! That’s great. And we know it gets better too because we have been on it before. OCD sucks but I think with therapy and meds (if needed) then we can finally get our life back! Not saying meds are needed but again everyone’s different so some people just do better on them. Yeah I get headaches when I’m stressed or tired which I have been

@mfzio Honestly, if taking a pill or two every day for the rest of my life keeps my head relatively balanced, I will absolutely do it lol

@madadam No fr same idec anymore I just want to be stable again

@kookykayla Ugh yeah I know I was only off of 100 mg for a week so my doctor thought just starting me on 50mg again would be okay. 50 was fine but once I went to 75 I got increased anxiety and very tired. I know it’ll eventually get better but lord I forgot how hard this transition is

@sequsie So true! I definitely did that too! But once I got off of it my ocd flared up SOOO bad so I’m like never again. I was just on medication I wasn’t in therapy so I think therapy was the missing puzzle piece there