LEXAPRO - FOUR YEARS LATER

The Daily Shed #1689 - Mental health is no joke and sadly, our society still wants to stigmatize it. As if you can just "power through" anything and everything life throws at you. It's not that simple, and yet it doesn't need to be hard. Sometimes, the harder thing to do is ask for help. Please, if you need help, talk to someone. Even if it's asking a friend to listen or a parent. It doesn't have to be a doctor until you're ready for it to be a doctor. Let people in your life know you are hurting and don't assume that they already know or that they have "picked up on" your "signals." Say it in plain words: I need help. They'll listen. Heck, I'll listen. You are worth it and you deserve to be happy with yourself.
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Hello friends! Welcome to my shed. The Daily Shed is a daily (Mon-Fri) talk show and vlog that I produce in my shed. Each day, I pick a topic to discuss, and spend about 10 minutes on the subject. Then we talk about it in the comments! Thanks for checking out the show! - Chevee

[@ablondal]

I'm so glad you've found a way through it all. Makes my heart warm.

[@CheveeDodd]

Thanks Agust!

[@idahofiberart]

Thank you so much for this.

[@jonathanhowe42]

Congrats my friend! It really shows the power of support and folks who are willing to take the time to help you through and stick around to see it through.

[@CheveeDodd]

Thanks so much Jonathan!

[@n20games52]

Much respect. You really seem to be doing so well. I hope this vid reaches an extended audience, too. I truly believe that people knowing they aren't alone with their anxieties and depression is a big part of the coping process. My sister has tried dropping her meds from time to time but there have been many complications when she's done that. Her big problem now is that none of the meds seem to really work anymore. They take the edge off but that's about it. Carry on and take care!!

[@CheveeDodd]

Man, that sounds rough for your sister. I hope she finds something that works for her! Thanks for always being there Carl!

[@heatherboughton5936]

I'm sorry that you had a bad time on Lexapro. We all react differently. For me, I felt fantastic. My cognitive skills improved because my brain was no longer chronically depressed and I became the woman I used to be, years ago. I think it's really important to talk about the self with regard to medication. We can't say that everyone who takes it will have bad experiences, because that can actually cause some to stop taking it. As a 64 year old trained therapist (psychotherapy), I can say that in all my years I have tried everything you can imagine, simply because of the stigma and shame there (still) is with taking a medication. It is as life saving to many, as heart medication. It is not possible with major depressive disorder (aka clinical depression) to 'think positive' ' do exercise' etc etc. All those things are useful as an adjunct to medication, but for those of us who have hard wiring issues, medication is the only thing that will sort it out. I prefer to have a great quality of life and only wish I had taken something consistently when I was in my 30's onwards. Thank you for your video.

[@CheveeDodd]

Thank you for the thoughtful response! Ultimately, I'm glad I took the medication. Yes, it impaired me, but it got me through some very tough times. I'm glad to be done with it though and my healing journey continues!

[@kostaborojevic498]

One should always use some sort of supplemental support for tapering. Like 5htp and all the cofactors needed for serotonin production. Also depression and anxiety is often times mercury poisoning. Parkinson is too. You might want to check out cutler chelation. Also for your father.

[@ParanormalPat]

My doctor tried pushing that shit on me and I refused. My brain somehow healed itself and I'm back to normal a long time ago.

[@cl4417]

Support is definitely necessary but I can’t help to think you used someone else as a crutch to get off of the medication, I wonder if you would have tapered off without her or do you think you would still be on it?

[@CheveeDodd]

That's an excellent question. Things were improving before her (after my ex moved out), but at a much slower pace.

[@cl4417]

@ thank you for sharing your experience, I’m currently on lexapro and a couple of other medications myself. I plan on it being no more than 2 years

[@lp.8819]

Well done. I have been on citalopram since 2015. I know that long term SRI use can cause testosterone problems in men! May want to have blood check and if that is the case TRT will help you.

[@CheveeDodd]

I didn't know that. I'll talk to my doctor. Thank you!

[@andrewlepore2616]

Yup, been on them for 5 1/2 years and have the testosterone levels of a 70 year old man at 22

[@lp.8819]

@@andrewlepore2616 in the UK and I’m sure all around the world you go to the Dr feeling depressed they slam you on anti depressants and just leave you on them… 12 months max I think and there’s me since 2015, and the most damaging side effect is low test which as you guessed it causes depression and a whole host of problems … ban ant depressants and make TRT the next cure for depression !

[@surajnirwani6000]

Can you say you were 100% healed After 3 years post lexapro? Are you feeling the same before taking even a single tablet ?

[@CheveeDodd]

I would say that I have no lingering side effects after these 3 years. There is no more fogginess, my creativity and intelligence have returned, and I am no longer apathetic as I was. I am not the same as before because my anxiety hasn't returned like it was before starting the medicine. That part has stayed away.

[@hassanmhasson4541]

Did you notice notice any different after 4 year's...... You said you didn't feel like your old self until 3 years off Lexapro In other words this year between the 3th and the fourth year did you see different

[@CheveeDodd]

Nope. Things have been level ever since.

[@surajnirwani6000]

Are you able to read, write, concentrate,remember feel and see the world Like before or are there any scars left behind by ssris?

[@CheveeDodd]

Yes, I think so. It feels pretty "normal" these days.

[@surajnirwani6000]

Sir Did you notice any head pressure After lexparo withdrawal and if yes when did it stop?

[@CheveeDodd]

Yes, that lasted for a month or so. It wasn't quite a headache, just felt like a stuffy nose but inside my head.

[@ejazahmed4570]

From 4 year u r taking this medicine. 10 mg or 20mg? through out 4 years. Medicine mg quantity? Sorry bad English. Please tell

[@CheveeDodd]

20mg the entire time.

[@ejazahmed4570]

@@CheveeDodd because u have gone all through this, tell me is it ok to take 20mg at a time or 10mg twice a day.

[@CheveeDodd]

I took it once a day and was fine with that.

[@DogDigit]

What dosage were you taking if you don't mind me asking?

[@CheveeDodd]

20mg