Success Story: Recovery from Antidepressant Withdrawal and PSSD

[@Laura_Critique_Psychiatry]

I think offering people realistic hope is also so important. Yes absolutely protracted withdrawal is terrible for lots but I believe very much in healing for everyone and I think after years and years of suffering we have to question the mind and body impact in this to and the negative forums can really be very damaging sometimes. I have been through protracted withdrawal so I know first hand it exists but I will always believe in healing. The brain is remarkable. Great video.

[@safaasgari3115]

think I have the most severe mental symptoms since I read many people stories. I have extremely severe intrusive racing thoughts. Severe flasback thoughts and images from childhood memories till now. Weird feeling. Hyper sensitive to every thought and sensation. Hyperawarness. Combined with severe depression and derealization and 24/7 hypersalivation with panick and cognitive impairment, brain fog attacks, I feel like I am the strongest person in the planet

[@francinewebsterclarke3454]

Thank you for your help in this video I am so grateful for this video

[@andywilson5677]

Unfortunately I think for some people it can be permanent. I have been living with a protracted withdrawal injury for 13 years now with no improvement in the past decade. I am glad you recovered and I hope that I'm rare and most people will also recover with enough time and healthy living.

[@JennyTaylor-li2bo]

What are you still dealing with?

[@andywilson5677]

@@JennyTaylor-li2bo Numb genitals, sexual dysfunction, brain fog, difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly, problems socializing and connecting with others, insomnia, anger, lack of motivation, mood problems, frequent mouth ulcers, headaches, dizziness, fatigue. I took citalopram for just 4 months after I dropped out of college and was depressed about it. I never had any other mental health problems and I never had any of these symptoms before I took that drug.

[@Cymanable]

@@andywilson5677I am sorry for you. Do you took any other drug or supplements during that 13 year period?

[@merakli_meleha]

Hi

[@3Mpire258]

May I ask what you’ve done to improve or are currently doing to improve your situation ?

[@claireh.7605]

The neuroemotion and lack of sexuality got me. Instead of putting the neuroemotion aside, I followed it into making conflicts with people. I also have decrease libido - I don’t have this magical curious drive toward women anymore. I have some erections but not the full spectrum of emotional interest and sexual energy that comes with it.

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Sorry to hear that, it does gets better!

[@claireh.7605]

@@Protracted-Withdrawal except.. people look at me funny and my reputation is damaged.. i hurt people at work and ruined lives by getting them fired with exagerrated complaints. People at work had a kid with cancer and had to start a gofundme. I kept writing angry emails complaining about people - them too (I didn't know about their kid at the time) - and they ended up having to retire and I assume be without a job. Their 20 year career in the company was over. And they had a low wage thankless physically demanding job too. At the time, I thought it was all somehow okay and justified and fair. It was like within the first 3 months of stopping Lexapro.

[@Justlikemagic96]

@@claireh.7605be thankful you can work at least. Some people are so debilitated they can’t leave their bed. Like too physically and cognitively damaged to be able to think or move a limb. So tired of seeing people who don’t have it that bad complain as if they have ALS or something..

[@Idk-ni3vd]

You are a absolute unit man. You are very strong

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Thank you!

[@Vancouver_1986]

One way you can be strong is advocating for yourself. I found the following on MadInAmerica recently. It's so deliciously snarky yet 100% accurate: How to Interview a potential Psychiatrist (& applies to Walk-in Clinic GP's as well): 1. Have you ever suffered from depression? (I understand that the depression rates are quite high in medical school.) 2. Are you comfortable with the violent and oppressive history that are the roots of your professions and that still exist today? 3. Have you ever thought about suicide? (I understand the rates for suicide are quite high for the Mental Health profession.) 4. How is your marriage? (I understand there is a lot of marital dissatisfaction in your profession.) 5. How do you deal with stress? 6. Who is running mental health checks on your profession to ensure you are fit to serve the public? 7. How many of your patients have you cured? 8. How many of the people who come to see you are not diagnosed with a mental illness? 9. What do you think of the methods that the DSMV uses to determine the criteria of a mental illness? 10. Do you agree that shrinks should be paid on a results-only basis? 11. How do you feel about me taping our sessions? 12. If your children were Dx’ed with Mental Illness(es), would you want these medications for them? 13. Would you ever take the drugs you are prescribing to me? 14. Have you ever been medicated? (I understand that medication is quite high for Doctors and in particular shrinks.) 15. Have any of your patients ever died of drug related side effects from the medication you prescribed to them? 16. Have any of your patients ever committed suicide? How many? 17. Have you ever been sued by a former patient? Do you mind if I FOIP that? 18. How many formal complaints have been lad against you by former clients? Where can I verify that information? 19. Do you have hospital privileges? Why did you lose them? Why not? 20. How much money are you being paid for this visit?

[@Seongbin-0]

i am 18, have been disabled by drugs and trauma for 4 years now. i don't know what to do anymore, i am so behind everyone, i don't know how long i can wait. my school and future is ruined...

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Sorry to hear that. It does get better!

[@philvujosevic7303]

Thank you so much for this, happy you got better! Is there any way to get in touch with you? I’ve been dealing with this for 3 years and long to talk to someone who’s made it to the other end of the tunnel

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Thank you! You can contact me via my website or sm.

[@Snowflake1374]

On sertraline for 16 years and tapered too fast. Is it more severe and impossible to recove then?

[@felixlediem1724]

How bad was your ED and did you suffer from physical changes like shrinkage or changes in consitency?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

At first complete impotence, it resolved after few years.

[@Cymanable]

Thank you for your video! It is so important that this information is spread. You also give so much hope to all other sufferers. So many things were exactly the same for me, such as not being able to sweat and the numb skin. I am so happy for you that you are on the other side. All the best to you.

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Thank you

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

I have pssd from 3years,not recovery!

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

you will get there, just hold on :)!

[@nowleaks8643]

Congratulation for recovery! What helped you most other than time, excercise or diet?

[@Idk-ni3vd]

You need to pay for that information

[@kenpe1455]

Typical

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

It was combitnation of many factors, but exercise and diet was the most signifcant, yes. And you don't have to pay for this info ;)

[@marcinjarmula2211]

Hi. Did you get any physical withdrawal symptoms? How long did they last?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Tak, fizyczne objawy odstawienne utrzymywały się około 4 lat, potem zaczęła następować poprawa.

[@marcinjarmula2211]

@@Protracted-Withdrawal a mogę zapytać jakie to były objawy? Po wznowieniu leku wycofał Pan go od razu czy robił Pan "tapering" 10% na m-c?

[@marcinjarmula2211]

Jak długo trwała u Pana ostra faza wycofania po tym jak za 2 razem odstawił Pan lek i jak ona wyglądała?

[@JennyTaylor-li2bo]

When did you get sensitivity of skin back? What year did this start for you?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

I beleive 5/6 years out unfortunatelly. It was last thing that resolved.

[@Oz011-z4v]

Thank you for the video. Can you tell us how long have you been on AD and what was the dosage?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Few years, sertraline 100 mg.

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

Pssd is not permanent?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

It is not, sometimes it just takes a lot of time to recover. You will get there!

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

❤

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

Do you experience strinkage and narrow tissute of the penis?

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

This Is permanent

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

Erectil disfunction from this ssri sertraline

[@germainedenon311]

do u have schizophrenic like symptoms from.the withdrawal?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

I believe I did, was not fully psychotic, but was veryyyy suspicious and distrustful.

[@baka3489]

How do you cope with insomnia? How long did it take you to sleep normally

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

@@baka3489 dbałem o higienę snu, odpowiadam na ten temat w moim drugim filmie

[@baka3489]

@@Protracted-Withdrawal a miales ze w nocy wiecej oddawales mocz? Ciagle sie budze w nocy do toilet? Czy to przejdzie?

[@MsFiFix1]

How did you fund yourself without working ? Did you live on your own

[@MsFiFix1]

How did you fund yourself without working ? Did you live on your own. Also can I book an appointment with you

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

For a year I lived with my parents, then I had to live on my on using my lifetime saveings, then, after 3 years I was able to work in a simple job and after recovering from cognitive issues I started working full-time.

[@JennyTaylor-li2bo]

Someone said you have dealt with this for 15 years?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

The recovery process lasted 6 years since I quit the meds 6 years ago, however I was suffering from the meds much longer.

[@JennyTaylor-li2bo]

@@Protracted-Withdrawal I thought you were only on the meds a couple of months?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

@@JennyTaylor-li2bo I were on them few years in total.

[@JennyTaylor-li2bo]

@@Protracted-Withdrawal thank you for answering. I have a major reduction in skin sensation and can't feel muscles. When did you see that get betterM what year did you get off the meds?

[@Idk-ni3vd]

Thank you so much for giving me hope im 5 years in and lately I have been thinking about giving up But this gives me more hope

[@jfmoore]

Such an important video, thank you so much for sharing, so glad you found a path to recovery after so long. Bravo.

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Thank you :)

[@johncatalano7101]

Did you fully recover sexually as well?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

@@johncatalano7101 I did.

[@Idk-ni3vd]

Did your emotional numbness heal fully?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Yes, it took few years however.

[@Idk-ni3vd]

@@Protracted-Withdrawal thats great. My after 5 years my emotions are unfortunately still blunted to some degree, coming year I will live as healthy as possible and workout a lot. And try to eliminate stress in my life. I hope that this will make me heal. Do you have any other advice? I

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

@@Idk-ni3vd Feel free to schedule a meeting so we can talk :)

[@minepolz320]

Same,4: year's it's hell on earth

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

@@minepolz320 it does gets better!

[@minepolz320]

​@@Protracted-Withdrawal nothing changes, all PSSD symptoms remain the worst thing that remains is anhedonia and lack of emotions no sex drive no pleasure initially I came with depression Got Prescribed SSRIs after that got PSSD and worsen Depression Until I prescribed myself an MAOI, in any case, those symptoms associated with depression went away, almost complete remission for depression, but it had no effect on PSSD, also anhedonia, SSRIs are just poison if you really have endogenous depression

[@Snowflake1374]

How did you taper? Was it fast, c/t or slow?

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

Unfortunatelly I c/t / tapered too fast, but please keep in mind that tapering does not prevent from protracted withdrawl.

[@AntonioMarzano-l2e]

Congratulation for your recovery❤

[@Cymanable]

@@Dabne5587any proof for your claim?

[@peterjones2493]

How do you know he's a liar

[@Protracted-Withdrawal]

@@Dabne5587 Who are you then? Let's talk :)

[@Paiyce]

Thank you so much