- Hot flashes
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Emotional fluctuations
- Anxiety
- Brain zaps
Things I realized that I have to work on being more consistent with on weekends:
- Waking up and taking supplement dosages at the same time that I would during the weekdays
- Having my meal times consistent with weekday meal times (NOT at 8 or 9pm)
- Prepare for on-the-go meals to keep consistent with my meal plan
- Do not consume simple sugars! Sunday evening I didn't have dinner (was running around and didnt make the time) As I sat having my cousin do my nails i began snacking on red vine licorice, one after another I chatted and continued eating. All of a suddent my energy crashed and I just about fell asleep right there at the nail station. I was sooooo sleepy, a sleepy that I haven't felt all week since my clean eating began. Point taken, stay away from simple sugars. Got it.
My dosage goes down by 20% beginning Monday night which makes consistency that much more important in minimizing withdrawal symptoms. I went grocery shopping and have my meal prep to take care of. I didnt sleep well at all last night with the insomnia at my door, so i hope i make it through the day with enough energy to complete my prep process.
Day 4 Tears and Sugar Cravings
Yesterday I was craving sugar like a mad woman. I was wanting to snack, snack, snack. On top of fighting off the desire to ransack my co-workers candy dish completely, I began to feel extremely sad. I teared up while at my desk despite trying my best to stop, the tears came. Well, tapering must be tampering with my emotional stability because simply thinking about certain people in my past had me breaking down. Anyway, this all seems normal to someone who isn't on a mood stabilizing medication, for the rest of us, emotional moments can be rare and intense.
Just as soon as the tears came, they too left. I left work soon after and headed to my uncles house and as i drove out to Fremont, I felt myself getting in an irritated /angry mood; haha, this is only week one, people. I still suffered the aches and pains in my bones here and there throughout the day as usual. The night sleep was awful, even with taking the codeine cough suppressant I was awake, tossing and turning all night. and after my cry fest i chewed at the skin around my nails pretty badly (anxiety?) possibly. I haven’t experienced any brain zaps or dizziness only the random wave of nausea a few times.
Last night my JNK and Neuro Endure arrived. So today I’ve implemented them in my supplement schedule. These are the supplements needed for the program:
Beta 1 3d Glucan
Omega 3 Supreme TG softgels
Vitamin E
JNK
Neuro Endure
Ref: ( J. Harper, How to Get Off Psychoactive Drugs Safely)
If you are looking to find a program that can help you safely wean off of your medication or if you quit cold turkey and need help with the withdrawal symptoms, check out this book or log on tohttp://www.theroadback.org for more information.
Today is Friday, and in keeping all things in perspective, I am blessed.
Day 3
That being said, here i am. I just opened this account with the purpose of jotting down my journey, my symptoms, my thoughts and moods, my possible meal plans, my ideas, my happy and my sad.
Two nights ago I was taking 112.5 mg of Effexor EX. I took it every day for the last year and some odd months. I’ve gained over 25 lbs since start and have finally decided that its time to wean off. I dont want to be “Addicted” to any pill, regardless of the pros that my physician has reiterated to me time and time again. Who I am today is not who I am supposed to be. Yes, it helps with dealing with the bad as it keeps my mood pretty stable, but I’m trapped and it’s time to FEEL again.
I found James Harpers book “How to Get OFF of Psychoactive Drugs” and am currently on day three of his weaning off plan. I am also counting beads. I have already pre-pepped all of my pills and removed approximately 10% per week, per dose (this week -10%, next week -20%, etc., etc.)
I’ve experienced a few symptoms, sleeplessness being one. small aches and pains in my bones and kidney pain. Its funny because through the writing down of symptoms i have noticed that i have become so immune to the aches and pains that its difficult to stop and realize that what I’m feeling is NOT normal. I’ve lived with these things off and on for so long that I am spending an awful lot of time in my own head differentiating between what is my tolerance and what is normal.
I may not be making much sense as i currently have a head cold, its 7am and I have yet to have my coffee so Ill come back later after the rest of my brain wakes up.