Thread about what happens in #psychdrug #withdrawal.
I know, thread sure goes on a long time....but so does the withdrawal.
Background: Psychiatrist cold stopped several medications, at once, no taper in my case.
1/15
I know, thread sure goes on a long time....but so does the withdrawal.
Background: Psychiatrist cold stopped several medications, at once, no taper in my case.
1/15
At first, I didn't know what was happening. I was very sick, throwing up, diarrhea, mental confusion.
I was never told about withdrawal syndromes from stopping psych meds.
Psychiatrist who stopped the meds said I probably had the flu.
Ended up in ICU for 2 days.
2/15
I was never told about withdrawal syndromes from stopping psych meds.
Psychiatrist who stopped the meds said I probably had the flu.
Ended up in ICU for 2 days.
2/15
I experienced intestinal upsets & issues, regularly, for months.
3/15
3/15
Suddenly off meds, one being quetiapine, I had to learn to sleep again. That was torment.
Took weeks to work through nightmares, altered reality, waking up suddenly, sheer exhaustion to get anywhere near a good few hours of sleep.
4/15
Took weeks to work through nightmares, altered reality, waking up suddenly, sheer exhaustion to get anywhere near a good few hours of sleep.
4/15
I live alone, just with my cat, so...
...what about friends helping?
Friends never helped me in withdrawal. In fact, they rolled their eyes at me, shunned me, said things like, "You know, you have to show up."
You're often quite on your own to handle meds withdrawal.
5/15
...what about friends helping?
Friends never helped me in withdrawal. In fact, they rolled their eyes at me, shunned me, said things like, "You know, you have to show up."
You're often quite on your own to handle meds withdrawal.
5/15
I experienced psychoactive symptoms in withdrawal, meaning the process set off, for me, manic & psychotic states.
These stopped after about 4 months.
I ended up detained on psych units twice. Psychiatrists there didn't address withdrawal, at all.
6/15
These stopped after about 4 months.
I ended up detained on psych units twice. Psychiatrists there didn't address withdrawal, at all.
6/15
There were many days of just holding on, biting down, staring at walls, and hoping to get to some better place.
7/15
7/15
My joints hurt, hands & feet would suddenly become numb or tingly.
This further interrupted attempts at sleeping.
8/15
This further interrupted attempts at sleeping.
8/15
My skin was itchy, in various places on my body, at all different times.
9/15
9/15
My body could no longer regulate its temperature.
I was hot, so hot...then freezing, so cold...then hot again.
10/15
I was hot, so hot...then freezing, so cold...then hot again.
10/15
Headaches and sinus issues plagued me.
11/15
11/15
My vision suffered.
Felt like I needed more eyeglasses.
Felt like crud was constantly in my eyes or gathering in the corners.
12/15
Felt like I needed more eyeglasses.
Felt like crud was constantly in my eyes or gathering in the corners.
12/15
Of course I had periods of anxiousness, but I found out that I was lucky in my withdrawal to NOT get akathisia.
Akathisia is extreme agitation, an internal unrest, turmoil or torture. Victims of it often become suicidal.
I was spared from this horrible condition.
13/15
Akathisia is extreme agitation, an internal unrest, turmoil or torture. Victims of it often become suicidal.
I was spared from this horrible condition.
13/15
I felt damaged.
I was damaged.
Felt like I was fading away...disappearing.
14/15
I was damaged.
Felt like I was fading away...disappearing.
14/15
Almost a year since I went into psych drug withdrawal, I am better in ways.
The best is that I don't experience "mental illness" symptoms, like mania, depression, psychosis.
But I'm isolated.
I have physical health problems, plus new ones emerging.
Withdrawal is hard.
15/15
The best is that I don't experience "mental illness" symptoms, like mania, depression, psychosis.
But I'm isolated.
I have physical health problems, plus new ones emerging.
Withdrawal is hard.
15/15
