Stopping medication

Hi @Former-Member

I am sorry to hear how tough things have been for you, it sounds like you're really struggling right now. I'd really like to encourage you to speak to your psychiatrist about how you're feeling, and to be as honest as you can about it. You said you started meds last year? Can I ask - has your usual medication changed just recently? Just sometimes this can leave people having such thoughts, so it's really important to be aware of changes to how you're feeling (which you seem to be, so that's really good).

Although the Forums are unable to offer crisis-support, please remember you can contact the following organisations if you need to anytime 24/7 -

Lifeline 12 11 14 or online chat
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or online chat

You don't deserve to go through this alone, so please reach out if you need to. We are your friends, and we're here if you'd like to chat or just get some distraction if that's helpful.

Take care,

Mosaic.

Oh @Former-Member you sound like you're in a bad spot tonight 😞

I feel for you. I would love to come off my meds but I don't think my psych would allow me to. Actually i have stopped them a few times before and it wasn't too good.

I don't want to be on them forever; I do want to stop them one day but for now I guess i need them to help me.

You really need to discuss this with your psych next week. Tell him everything you are saying here.

Thinking of you, hope you can get through this. We are here for you xxxooo

@Former-Member

Good to hear you have a safety plan and you will get your husband to monitor you.

Take care, talk here anytime. thinking of you. xxxooo

Hi @Former-Member,

As far as I understand it, unless you are on a community mental health order, it is up to you whether you take your prescribed meds or not. Your psychiatrist can make strong recommendations, but it's you who decide whether you take that advice or not. Correct me if you think I'm wrong about that in your situation. I'm saying this in the hopes of reducing some of the anxiety you seem to be feeling about this.

Having said that, there are a couple of things that might be worth considering:

• why you started taking meds in the first place: if there were unlivable aspects to what you were experiencing then, those are likely to return again.
• it often is a bumpy ride until we find the right meds for us: during this time it is quite often the case that we may become very anxious and frustrated about the experience and question everything about the process.

The most important thing from my experience is that any withdrawal from medications you may or may not decide to do is done very gradually, preferably under medical supervision.

Kind wishes with it all, @Former-Member.

@Former-Member

I like the way you describe your little fighter within. It can be our spirit or fire in the belly that gives us meaning. Your posts are very responsible even if you do feel down or angry. That says a lot about you. I have always gone with the minimum amount of medication necessary. I am on more now (last 9 months) than I ever have been. I use prn meds rarely but am doing it more to start being kind to myself rather than endure distress. I have posted about my reservations about medication before. It is good to talk, be informed and work with your psychiatrist to maintain the best situation.

Take care

Apple

10 months of medication.

Problem is, that I don't feel they are helping. I still have major lows and I am feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever in my life. I have no energy. I still "leave the room" during therapy, I still can sit there for 60min staring angrily at my psych. My focus and goals have evaporated. I personnally think my mental health has deteriorated since starting the meds. I've gone from bouncy ball to flubber toy in 10 months.

I am just so angry.