Well, it’s time for an update on my taper. I was originally taking 100mg of sertraline, and reduced my dosage to 75mg for two weeks. Then I cut back to 50mg for 9 days – I was originally planning on two weeks, but I’m still feeling really good, and I’m anxious to get this over with. So last night I cut back to 25mg, and I’ll see how I feel in a week. If everything is still going well, I may completely stop at that point, and if not, I’ll stay on 25mg for a second week.
As for withdrawal symptoms, I really haven’t noticed much of anything. I’ve had no dizziness and no brain zaps, so big bonus there. I have had some very minor itchiness a few times, but I do get that occasionally, so it could just be mild allergies. My mood is still really good; I think it’s even better than it was before I started the taper, as I said in my first post. I’ve found it much easier to get past daily annoyances and barely give them any thought beyond a minute or two. The types of things which used to really bother me greatly, to the point that I’d obsess uncontrollably about
them, are having a minimal effect on me now. I feel like I’m responding to things the way I used to pre-sertraline, which is great. Some bigger tests are coming, though. I’ll be going through PMS for the next week, which is always interesting, and sometimes not fun. I also work in a retail pet store, and Black Friday is this week – yay.
The people and the children… oh dear god, it’s truly enough to drive a saint crazy, and we’ll be dealing with the madness until well after Christmas. So we’ll see about
that! I really do feel great, though, so I’m not too worried. Oh, and my energy levels and alert
ness are also still improved, so bonus there too!
Andrina, thank you for the encouragement! It’s always good to hear another success story, especially pertaining to coming off a medication such as this one.
Stillme, thank you for your kind words. I know what you mean about
those rough patches – they’re a real bi***! It’s the biggest thing that kept me from trying to come off sertraline for so long. I’ve always tried to find better ways of dealing with stress, and have found it extremely difficult at times. I’ve even wondered, many times, if there is something inherently wrong with me that makes me so sensitive to it. While I do think I have certain traits which make me more vulnerable to stress, I also am very stubborn and view it like a challenge. And, boy do I love a good challenge!
I’ve found a few things which have given me some relief. I’ve put considerable effort into learning more about
my own personality and really digging deep to gain an understanding. Realizing that the vast majority of people who’ve experienced the same things I’ve experienced have similar traits to mine (and similar difficulties) has been very reassuring that I’m not broken; I’m actually quite normal for the given circumstances. As a result, being less judgmental of myself has allowed me to be objective and work on changing my behaviors into more favorable and beneficial ones. In that vein, I’ve just recently learned a little about
cognitive behavior therapy, which I find intriguing and want to learn more about
.
Another hugely positive thing for me is working out, intensely and with purpose… just me, the weights (or cardio), and my music. I know it’s not for everyone, but for me it provides a great release, something positive to focus on, and something I can really bust my ass on and see and feel results. The best thing about
exercise is that you can start at any level and work at your own pace. As long as you’re careful and put thought into it, you can benefit from it. (Insert the “Check with your doctor first” disclaimer here.) Stretching at the end of a workout helps relieve a lot of tension, too. It’s almost like meditating for me; I get into a zone and only think about
my breathing and feeling each muscle as I stretch it. After 15 minutes of that I feel much more relaxed.
One last thing I’ve found very helpful is music. I like to find something mesmerizing (Pink Floyd does it for me) and just put my headphones on for a bit. Total escape, even if only for a few minutes! I’ve been playing Pink Floyd almost exclusively during this taper!
