[buttman]

i know i am not the bearer of good news but it was a shock to me as well when i read it, yeah, post withdrawal disorder is an actual thing and can last months or up to a year.

here’s a couple of helpful links about it - Post-Acute-Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS): An In-Depth Guide

this is a better one in my opinion - https://psychcentral.com/blog/archiv...inful-lengthy/

i like this little exert at the bottom…

…But I would want to know about it beforehand. And I’d want to be working with a caring, thoughtful psychiatrist who not only acknowledged the potential problem, but was proactive in helping his or her patients deal with it. I would run — not walk — away from a psychiatrist or physician who claimed the problem didn’t exist, or that I shouldn’t worry about it.

just thought people should be aware of this problem as it isnt normally acknowledged by psychiatrists.

[Sunflower123]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I believe I'm fortunate enough to have an understanding psychiatrist.

[Shazerac]

Are you experiencing this?

[UpDownAround]

With adderall, I have more remorse for abusing it than desire to keep abusing it. I took stimulants off the table and there is an ADD component in my mental health mix. I am still pissed at myself almost 3 months after stopping but I don't think I need treatment. but I don't think that's what they mean. I had the headaches for well over a month and they should have stopped within a week or two. The last 4 or 5 weeks of headaches weren't a direct physical symptom of stopping. That is not as long term as what they are talking about, but I definitely get that you don't quit having withdrawal symptoms just because the physical cause has run its course.

[Maven]

Getting off psych meds, from what I've read, even when you taper slowly, can have withdrawal that lasts years. But the drugs change your brain. I just wonder, what have the drug companies (and those who prescribe them) done to us?

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by Maven

Getting off psych meds, from what I've read, even when you taper slowly, can have withdrawal that lasts years. But the drugs change your brain. I just wonder, what have the drug companies (and those who prescribe them) done to us?

We are a profit center. I wonder if the prescribing of so many drugs is widespread in countries where there is no profit motive.

[Maven]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

We are a profit center. I wonder if the prescribing of so many drugs is widespread in countries where there is no profit motive.

This is one reason why I'm against forced medication (as well as forced ECT and psychosurgeries). I'm not saying meds are bad, necessarily, but I don't like that, on some forums, criticizing meds isn't well-received. To some, it's unsupportive, but I've been on several kinds of psych meds for 39 years, and I base my opinions on that and what I've read, watched, and researched. And finding a psychiatrist or a doctor who will support you tapering off, if that's what you want to do, isn't easy. But it's your body, and it should be your choice.

[Mygrandjourney]

I tend to think that we can do much more damage to ourselves by "self-medicating" than any psychiatrist can.

[buttman]

Originally Posted by Maven

Getting off psych meds, from what I've read, even when you taper slowly, can have withdrawal that lasts years. But the drugs change your brain. I just wonder, what have the drug companies (and those who prescribe them) done to us?

no lasting damage i hope, i have reduced my med recently and i have noticed these withdrawals and i think they are a huge barrier to getting better and bc the symptoms of withdrawal can cause a relapse it makes it even harder to reduce and hopefully come off meds at some point, its good to e aware of this though and just recognise what it is so you are prepared for it, the trouble is you have to recognise your mental illness symptoms and try to establish what is happening, withdrawals or returning symptoms,

i'm doing ok at the moment and i can recognise the difference, i know i am getting withdrawals and so far no symptoms of my mi, they really should research withdrawal symptoms and i think something should be developed to help with withdrawals as well.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

With adderall, I have more remorse for abusing it than desire to keep abusing it. I took stimulants off the table and there is an ADD component in my mental health mix. I am still pissed at myself almost 3 months after stopping but I don't think I need treatment. but I don't think that's what they mean. I had the headaches for well over a month and they should have stopped within a week or two. The last 4 or 5 weeks of headaches weren't a direct physical symptom of stopping. That is not as long term as what they are talking about, but I definitely get that you don't quit having withdrawal symptoms just because the physical cause has run its course.

Oh man. Been there! I had to be put on an AD because the depression was unbearable. I would go on a binge until my whole bottle was gone (5-7days only). Then I’d sleep and cry for days. Talk about a total mind ****.

[splitimage]

I had PAWS really badly when I first tried to stop drinking (2006). It was so bad, that I started drinking again just to feel normal. Then when I finally stopped drinking, it took my brain 9 months to get half way back to normal. It's pretty scary stuff.

splitimage

[Chulio]

Luckily is goes away with time. Definitely some stages you have to go through. At 6 months from too many illegal drugs to mention I feel physically good. Exercise helps a lot for me