Posted 8/19/2013 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,
This is my first post and I'd like to get your thoughts and input on my story and my new "plan" for living healthy.
I'm 32 yrs old, and have been on 200mg/day of zoloft for Generalized Anxiety (not the panic attack type of anxiety) since I was 20. Even before I was on zoloft and definitely after, I was a very heavy drinker. I knew that alcohol and SSRIs did not mix, but even my doctor, on my 6 month med checks, did little to thwart my drinking. She continued to prescribe this high dosage without ever considering other methods of treatment.
After my second arrest for DUI, I finally woke up and faced facts: It was time to make some serious changes. I've stopped drinking and started living healthier. Rather than turning to alcohol to escape stress, I've thrown myself into fitness and therapy. Through this, I've come to realize that after 12 yrs of the highest dosage of zoloft, I've probably done more damage to my body and mind than what the medication was ever prescribed to help.
On the inside, I'm a zombie, while going through the motions to portray a perfect existence on the outside (high-profile career, wonderful family, beautiful home, sparkling personality, blah blah blah, etc.) All the while, I've never lived my adult life as a truly happy individual.
If 12 years of medication, and years of off-and-on therapy have made little headway, it's time to go back to the ground floor and rebuild.
I've begun weaning myself off of the zoloft. I'm now on day 5 of 150mg (from 200) and have no withdrawal symptoms. I'm wondering how long I should stick at this dosage before going down to 100mg. (I'm not especially trusting of doctors right now and until I hit a wall with this, I'm going to do it my way.)
This week I start yoga and meditation training to learn to deal with stress and anxiety through my own powerful mind rather than through a mind muddled by medication.
I will also use my Christian Faith, a healthy diet, fitness-released endorphins, and on-going alcohol counseling to get me through this transition and on into my new med-free life.
I welcome any advice and/or criticism and wish you (us) all a healthy mental and physical journey as we fight this obnoxious disease.
-gettinghealthyinside