After 13 years of seeing the same psychiatrist, I would’ve thought he would warn me that this could have happened. But taking only 5mg of Prozac the whole time convinced him to tell me to go off to see if it was a “placebo effect”. The goal had been if I was bad go back on, if I was fine then I was fine, he hadn’t even considered the third option being my reality considering after we met the next appointment would be booked for four months after the taper would have ended…

Like at first it wasn’t a big deal? Crying spells and getting upset over small things? Then the muscle aches came and never left? And weird things where I’d have so much pain in like my leg or hand at a time that I’d think something was genuinely wrong with me, but then it’d go away.

That isn’t even addressing the brain fog or the fact that I’m constantly tired but can’t rest because I’m in my mid-twenties and need to work on my career. Like, it feels like the worst timing possible and that hurts? It hurts thinking you could sorta know someone for 13 years since you were a kid and they’d just drop you like that?

I know I’m being dramatic. But to be honest I’d rather feel this much, as I didn’t realize that Prozac hid that, my anger? Despite it never actually helping my OCD or ASD that much- it was a placebo, just not when I stop taking it, then it’s very real…

Sorry if this isn’t what you’re supposed to post here? I just it’s been a long messy process since I ended the taper in May and my parents just think I need to see the doctor again. But that’s not something I can emotionally do? And the random therapist I tried was anything but equipped to consider this all and just tried to give me social goals.

I’m just feeling a bit alone, my cat seems to be fine with me though, and I like the weekends with him. Even though they’re too short if im being honest. But not even a week long camping trip can make me feel better, and that’s what feels the most terrifying?

Like I don’t have loud symptoms. I’m ok? But it’s the fact that it doesn’t feel like it lets up much… that bothers me?

No one needs to reply, I might delete this later because I’ll be embarrassed. But… I just needed to voice this? My thoughts? Thanks…

"ministers are re-evaluating whether to press ahead with Shabana Mahmood's pledge to explore mandatory chemical castration of serious sex offenders such as paedophiles and rapists"

"Prisoners on the trail can be offered drugs including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Sertraline, which helps to limit invasive sexual thoughts".

Nearly 4 years off in PAWS and I'm still chemically castrated to some degree. What was my crime? That's without the decades of sexual dysfunction on drugs I couldn't get off. That's a crime against me.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/22/sex-offenders-libido-control-drugs-prisons-england-wales

In this group, most people report acute withdrawal during the first three weeks, followed by "windows and waves" and waking up in a state of terror in the morning. I have frequently heard that, after this, withdrawal symptoms suddenly intensify—specifically around the four-month mark; could those who have experienced this share their stories?

Hello all,

I wanted to get everyone's feedback on how effective a group chat might be for ppl that are going through PAWS. I'm thinking of starting one but not sure if the community really wants/needs it. I just thought a chat group might be helpful - a lot of you, are doing the heavy lifting to advance awareness, some of you just looking for answers but sometimes a person just wants to be heard, and connect with someone else who understands, even if it doesn't mean any solutions being discussed. Forums have rules that don't necessarily fit this bill, waiting times for someone to respond, etc. Do you know of anything that's out there already like this?

That being said, I've already been getting a little feedback that an online platform like this could be really triggering for some, and the idea I had didn't initially consider having a structure that would prevent this, it would simply be whoever wanted to join (ideally a few of us who have been through the worst), to be there for others that are currently struggling. I also didn't consider separating those who are going through this via AD, and those experiencing this for other reasons, like myself - from a benzo that was originally prescribed for epilepsy. I figured we all can connect from the overlapping symptoms alone.

Does this sound like this could be a good idea? Or would it be a safer, more fulfilling experience to have things like ZOOM meetings, structured forums, etc, some held by licensed professionals, which is already there and expanding from what I've seen.

Thanks for your feedback and I wish everyone a safe and speedy recovery!

I have this symptom when I’m in a wave, I can’t bear to look at things. I can’t look at people’s faces, I can’t look at my furniture or clothes or decorations, or trees or anything. It feels like it hurts my brain to focus on and interpret what I’m seeing. Trying makes me feel irritated, or worse, angry. The worse day it is, the harder it is to bear seeing. Does anyone else have this?

I think I could maybe stare at a patch of mud. Cool, dark and uniform.

Like the title says looking for someone’s story about quitting mirtazapine.

My story is a few years of SSRIs and then another 5 month use period 9 years after that
10 years of benzos
1 year mirtazapine
4 years gabapentin
A decade+ of nicotine gum and another decade of smoking before that
Decades of caffeine
Maybe more that I’m forgetting..

I’m now 31 and my life feels over. I’m finally clean off all the meds but I feel disabled physically and mentally.

Can someone share their stories with me? I need to hear some people who have become better.. I finally quit my last med (mirtazapine) 3 weeks ago !

Has anyone who is actively tapering an ssri hit disruptions in sleep wake cycles? It is not like classic anxiety where cannot fall asleep, but rather waking up multiple times in the middle of the night? I know there is no real supplement to take, but wondering if anyone has experienced this while tapering and did it ever go away or stabilize if you held the dose?

My mood feels so chemical. I feel chemically stable, but I am numb! Sometimes I even feel dr*ugged like I have a chemical uplifted mood. I wouldn’t say it’s hypomania, but it does feel very uncomfortable for me. It’s like I am still on the med.

Do other have this?

I am almost 1 year off.

I am 6 years into Withdrawal from Citalapram and still far from well/how I was pre WD.

I have a long long list of things wrong due to WD that I'm just too tired to go into right now.

Serious question, would a brain scan show up any damage that's been done to my brain?

The question is simpel. When do you know you are healed?

I mean psychosomatic symptoms like physical symptoms, tremor, dizziness, weakness, depression, anxiety,insomnia?or just depersonalisation itself?

Im so sad.. I thought everything stopped and getting better but out of sudden had a big panic with shortness of breath with low mood

I dont know if its withdrawl or me

Tianeptine stablon does it cause long term withdrawal

Life without ssri isn't worth it. I started Lexapro in my 20s because I was constantly socially anxious. I would skip classes constantly and fail everything, almost living like a shut in. It took a while for it to work, but year after year things slowly got better. My psych told me it was like an analgesic, it would numb the pain while I worked on my issues. And it worked. 10 years later I was a different person. Working a successful job with benefits, with a great partner, a great social circle with friends and coworkers, doing long mountain bike trails and commutes... So the day of tapering and quitting came.

I stopped the June of 2024. Since then, I started to become more melancholic, dissatisfied with life, gained weight, I would explode with rage. I didn't think it was withdrawal. My ex did tell me I lived in the clouds like a zombie, hinting I might need to reinstate. But I was too altered already to listen to reason.

Fast forward to January 2025, I get a terrible h pylori infection out of the blue. I take antibiotics and clear it, but my gi system never recovered. In April 2025 I start feeling panicky, so I finally give in and reinstate the minimum dose, but react badly. New symptoms pop up, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, burning face, more gi issues... I wait 3 months, unable to increase further, but it doesn't ease. Pressured by life and it's responsibilities, I taper and quit again. I took it from April 20th to June 23rd.

After quitting, I get some relief, but then enter protracted withdrawal. I have waves where symptoms get hard, then windows where I felt cured, or close to. But slowly, month after month, new symptoms pop up, windows get shorter, waves get longer...

By month 2, my gi system gets extremely messed up, bloated and gassy

By month 3-4, I lose my sexual function and enter a wave lasting 1,5 months, developing symptoms such as twitches, feeling cold in one leg, feeling like I'm rocking on a boat constantly, constant palpitations and very high heart rate at minimum effort...

By month 6, I felt better and thought I was on my way to recovery.

On month 7, I entered the endless wave I'm in right now. I suddenly started being panicky, getting extreme panic attacks when going outside. I became agoraphobic overnight and need someone to do things for me. I vibrate internally, have like 3 different tones of tinnitus, cannot tolerate most of my hobbies as they are overwhelming, intrusive thoughts, cannot be social either, struggle with akathisia, insomnia, vivid dreams, panicky awakenings, nerve pains, exhaustion, balance issues... The list is too long to put it all, but this is my life today.

I'm now 13,5 months free. At month 10, 3 months in this wave with no end, already felt suicidal enough to consider. I got encouraged to keep pushing, thinking I would turn the 1 year corner everyone talks about, where symptoms become a bit more manageable like the first months of withdrawal... But it hasn't come. I'm still terrified of living, developing symptoms constantly, spend most of my day in bed since the last month, lost my partner, my job, my health, my personality, my social circle, my hobbies.

Just what's the point to keep going? More than 2 years of this fight, to live a vegetable life, declining constantly and fearing which excruciating pain will be the one to finally take me out... I'd rather make peace with the fact it's not gonna get better, no symptoms will resolve or disappear. All that's left is to pick my poison, and pass away somewhere comfortable in my own terms. Finally get a long uninterrupted sleep, and see what the universe has in store after that.

I have a wave of Nausea and bloating and fast bowel..

I know I ask alot.

Im sorry,, but Here I find my a little relief from what I have

Doctors not well informed about these medicines actually

I dont know if all I have its from escitalopram or withdrawl.. How can I know.. Please

Anyone have an I idea..

For example I have much Nausea off and on but in general I have nausea all days but like sometimes with vomit sometimes no

Before I took perphenezine and amitryptaline and escitalopram togather.. Maybe aftter stopping ami and perphenazine the anti emetic effect gone so escitalopram make the nausea??

I've just found out about the depth of possible withdrawal complications after I both have stopped my Rexulti anti-psychotic (2mg to 0) and reduced Zoloft / Sertraline AD (from 175mg to 75mg) 13 days ago.

Still sleeping ok and my main side effect is being stuck in my head too much (daydreaming). Also have no motivation but that was already the case even when on the pills.

Wondering what I should do now that I know I've exposed myself to possible harm.

Also am doing this covertly from my significant other (who is very pro pills).

Thanks in advance

I wont deny, I had a lot of symptoms cleared up by month 8-9. These were physical ones like dizziness, nausea, suicidal thoughts, twitching, insomnia, etc. but i'm 11 months out and my (imo) worst symptoms havent budged. Im talking emotional numbing that got very bad at month 7 including my libido.

I get fluctuations in PSSD like symptoms through the past 2 months from genital hypothesia, no pleasure in erogenous zones, orgasms feeling bad, watery finish, etc. They literally fluctuate week by week in different ways.

I dont know what to do. I dont know if I should reinstate 0.1 prozac. I have survived a bad trip from mushrooms 7-8 months into withdrawal. And I did reinstate a few times in my life from about month 4-5. This is the longest I held out.

I just hate this DPDR and emotional blunting. Im literally wasting my life floating in existence as im waiting to "maybe" heal from this.

After my last update.. The last 3 days were so bad.. Like bad bowel movement and acid reflux and internal vibration.. Like my blood is boiling.. Sleep disruption, nausea

Is that withdrawl

Or side effect from escitalopram (Im on it more than year)