Withdrawl symptoms 1 month after stopping AD's?

Hey all! Back again, Seems to be a regular thing for me at the moment!

I recently tapered my Mirtazapine medication from 15mg > 7.5mg > 3mg > 0. I did this over 2 months but only spent a week or so on the final 3mg. To be honest the past 28 days Ive been off the drug, Ive felt amazing. Then on friday I heard some bad news and it sent me spiralling down again. Stupidly I went on a night out on Saturday and ended up drunk, which i think has made my symptoms worse.

I found that even while on the drug I was still very highly sensitive to bad news which could send me back into feeling anxious again. By bad news I mean things like the death of someone who i know of, or even something mental health related that might be related to me. I have found that if something really shakes me, I will have anxiety attacks the following days until my brain is able to process what Ive thought about and move on.

I'm wondering now if these easy triggers are effects from stopping medication, or whether this is just how I am now after my episodes last year. I just watched a video saying that if you dont taper the final doses long enough, you can have lifelong negative effects on the brain! I was only on a small dose of 15mg for 4 months so didnt taper as slow as I wish id had.

Anyone who has withdrawn from AD's, Id like to hear your thoughts!

Cheers for that hibee.

Yeah it looks like im just extremely sensitive to things now. I hope ill be able to work on this in the future. Some of the things that set me off are trivial and i would never ever get like that in the past. The fact its happening quite regularly now (once every two months) is definitely having a big impact on my life. As my anxious periods seem to last 4 days at least before starting to lift.

Will keep you posted.

Thanks SC,

Day 4 of anxiety episode:

This morning was pretty horrible. The Gf slept over which was comforting but still waking up with dread on a morning. It's that strong i can feel it coming and going like flushes over me. Panic builds and builds then peaks, then it disappears for a few minutes, then starts again.

My only real coping technique that works is to abstain from thinking about anything too worrying. I tend to have a habbit of cycling thoughts of "Am I ill again" which fuels the anxiety even more. The other thing thats worked in the past is forcing myself into a social situation, that requires me to think and engage in whats happening. A class or a group task, as much as i hate doing it, i know it will help me by simply escaping the anxious thoughts going on.

Thanks, will check out the resources.

Day 5:

Spent 2pm onwards feeling almost 100%! As I said the anxiety lifted, and I was able to enjoy the day. That lasted until about 9:30pm. Started to feel some worry set in. Was pretty dissapointed and ended up having a poor nights sleep. Let's just say it was a weird nights sleep, at first i almost sent myself into panic mode as I didn't think Id ever get to sleep. I decided to leave the TV on as comfort and managed to nod off. Probably woke up about 6/7 times but I'm glad I didnt go into a nervous breakdown like the last time this happened. Just a constant tension feeling in my brain, as if it was damaged in some way.

Got up at about 6am this morning, anxiety in the moderate/high range. Went straight out for a run for 15 minutes, definitely helped! Im now sat at the computer waiting to go to work. Anxiety seems to be low with moderate spikes occasionally.

If these are part of withdrawl symptoms (which i hope they are), I feel like they are managable, as long as it doesnt get worse. I'm going on holiday tomorrow for a week which I'm nervous about as I'll be leaving my partner (the one who calms me down the most). Fingers crossed I can return to feeling great again throughout the trip.

I take that back. Thia morning i was out of control. Complete dispair and almost didnt get to my flight. Very high anxiety for about 8 hours today. Its now 4pm and im sat in the hotel feeling exhausted. Need a plan for tomorrow as i cant have another episode or ill be getting the next flight home

Thanks!

Well this morning was more barable. I actually slept without feeling I was going mad!

Still waking up from 4am with weird stomach sensations but instead of jumping up for a run I just sat up and began deep breathing for 10 minutes.

Following this i read some stuff and waited for thr anxiety to settle. It really seems like waking up to a minefield on a morning. One bad thought can set everything off. Slowing things down worked this morning though. Fingers crossed this continues..

Thanks again SC

Had a good 10 hours feeling good yesterday.

Woke up about 5am this morning, anxiety feeling worse than yesterday, seems like i didnt catch it early enough upon waking.

Im not experiencing many physical symptoms though. Only feeling sick in my stomach when i wake up, it then subsides and the feeling of dispair kicks in.

I hope this one doesnt last all day. Im only on day 2 of my holiday :/.