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Medication and GP management

Medication and GP management

hey everyone,


I’ve come to this space to try and find a solution or perhaps guidance in terms of managing mental health treatment long term.

I have been on and off antidepressants for generalised anxiety for over 12 years.

I have recently come to a new phase in my life where I feel confident and stable to try coming off my antidepressants.

I was able to reduce by half which seemed to be working well. My biggest downfall to this is my sleep.

Over 5 years ago I experienced a difficult time and was unable to sleep for 3 days from debilitating anxiety. Now, if I feel as though I am not falling asleep soon enough, I go back to that moment and fear going through that again.

I have tried psychology and have been prescribed off label medication for sleep in the past.

I have recently been told by a new dr to not take this off label medication due to the dependencies

I am really at a loss on what to do.

As humans, if we cannot sleep, we cannot function and in turn it impacts our daily living majorly.

I am told to take medication, I am told to not take certain medications, I am told to go to talk therapy. None of this seems to work long term or (as per General practitioners) is safe, long term.

I would love to know your experience tapering down antidepressants and how you’ve managed insomnia.

Is there something out there that we are missing? We need more help from our GP’s but the information is not helpful. Especially for long term management

12 replies

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In response to: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

👋🏼 Welcome to the Forum @Jasmine30

Thank you for posting your truth and reaching out.

I was diagnosed with ADHD 20-something years ago. It wasn’t until I got to menopause and my medication became far less effective that it was obvious that I also have generalised anxiety.
I have a very active sympathetic nervous system, that means I can sweat drench a t-shirt just walking down the street.

I am currently on antidepressants. Next week I have a follow up appointment with my GP who has a strong education in women’s mental health.

I don’t know if any of my truth is relevant to you, but I hope you know that you are not alone.

G

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Thanks so much for sharing. It helps to know we are not alone. I feel as though it’s a constant battle to accept that medication is necessary now that my body is so adapted to this but also very frustrating that I cannot seem to get appropriate help/treatment to come off this without any negative impacts.
I’m very glad you are seeing your GP to get the best help for you.

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

@Jasmine30 The was a Mental Health Recovery Webinar // Working with your GP for optimal mental health care // Wednesday 26th June 2024.

I don’t know if it was recorded or one of the Peer Guides @Ru-bee can find some information for you?

Do you have a MHP?
You can always call or email SANE for support.

You don’t need to do this alone.

G

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Great idea @Glisten

You can find the recording for it here @Jasmine30

In response to: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Golly gosh, how relatable!

You are correct that sleep is important for so many things, including maintaining emotional regulation.

My experience with antidepressants is closely linked to my late-stage ADHD diagnosis. Initially, I had a GP who wasn’t the best fit for me. When I changed doctors, I was fortunate to find someone who understood my condition. Following my ADHD diagnosis, a more effective medication was prescribed, which suited my brain better, as the previous ones were affecting my cognition over time. That journey was quite distressful at times!

In terms of therapy, just like the antidepressants, I found that EMDR has been the most effective for me by far. It is particularly tailored to those with CPTSD and worked for me in terms of how quickly it helped me connect trauma responses and emotions to fears and past events. Some other therapies were not as successful (and some were even harmful).

Back to sleep…

I’ve found that the anxiety (or fear) of not being able to sleep is a never-ending cycle that I can get trapped in at times. The only constant I can find in helping me achieve sleep is that I need to switch it up, which is so ADHD!

I’ve had to learn that my brain runs out of the ability to get the benefits—almost like it becomes resistant to a drug. My sleep isn’t of particularly high quality, but some things that have helped me are:

  • Meditation (which also needs to be varied for me to stick with it).
  • “Gamifying” going to bed earlier, sometimes with apps like sleep trackers.
  • Writing down all of my fears and resentments, pretending that I’m freeing myself of them by getting them on a page and then scrunching it up into in the bin.
  • Staying up, telling myself that I don’t need to go to bed, and waiting for the “fall asleep heavy wave” to head for the bed.
  • Asking a friend for a hug in the evening. 🙂

They say that variety is the spice of life… but maybe it is also one of the paths to wellness?

I hope my sharing is helpful (or at least a little entertaining).

xx

In response to: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Hey @Jasmine30

not sure exactly what it is that is keeping your from sleeping, but 15 or so years ago I came off all my psych meds under the supervision of my psychiatrist cause I was in a really good place and also my gp.
it was that last tiny amount of medication that I just couldn’t get off cause I just could not sleep. It was the horrible withdrawals, aches and pains and night sweats.
my gp prescribed me a high dose antihistamine and that did the magic trick! I was free of the meds and I could finally sleep!

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

This is incredible and I’m so happy to hear it’s been a successful journey for you. I actually didn’t think I’d ever hear of someone successfully coming off their meds and live a happy life. May I ask what your diagnosis was/is, how long you took medication for as treatment and if your reduction in meds impacted your life at all in terms of work and relationships? Of course. You don’t need to answer this. I am interested to know but understand this was your own journey in which you may not wish to share the details. @Bow

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Thank you so much for sharing your journey and how you have managed your wellbeing!

I love that you found a different form of therapy that has worked.

You are also so right! I think some therapies can have a negative effect. It’s all about finding the right fit in terms of therapist and what they specialise in.

Thank you again. I really appreciate you sharing with me.

It all helps. X

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Thank you! I actually had a listen of this today.

In response to: Re: Medication and GP management

Re: Medication and GP management

Yes, thank you 🫶🏻 I listened to this today. Insightful
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