[Blue_Bird]

Is 3-4 months of stability long enough to consider getting off my medications? Would I just continue to do great and have no symptoms almost as if I'd never stopped, or would things likely go back to the way they were?

I feel like I'm "cured" I guess that's the only word I can think of to describe it.

[venusss]

Did you develop any coping skills that will make you to be able to exist without your chemical blanket? Did you change your life enough to be able to handle it?

[ChangingMyMind]

I think venusss asks good queations, because I don't think the medicine "cures" the problem. It just masks the symptoms so we feel better and are able to get back to life and cope. I was on an antidepressant for 11 years and also felt "cured" but I knew I was dependent on the medicine. I didn't go to counseling or work through anything during this time even though I should have. I didn't think I needed it, I felt fine and was told I'd be on antidepressants for the rest of my life anyway and I believed it. Well 11 years later I had to come off that antidepressant due to new intolerable side effects. I figured I might as well try to stay off since 11 years was enough time to "reset" my brain. Well, big mistake! Depression hit after 21 days off the medicine and now I'm stuck in an 8 month long depression.

Of course we are all different... Maybe it's long enough for you, maybe not... But if you've been in therapy I think you have a better chance.

Good luck to you!

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[Altered Moment]

If it ain't broke don't fix it is my philosophy.

[Lady Lindsey]

I would be cautious about getting off the medicine, I know how it feels to have so much meds to take, and all I want to do is stop.

I felt so much better a few months ago, and decided to titrate off my meds.... not a good thing... I went into a major tailspin and ended up back on them all...

Things to think about:
why do you think you are healed?
If you have a set back, do you have healthy coping skills in place?
Have you talked with your doctor or T about coming off of them, what are there thoughts?
Be honest with yourself... have you dealt with all your issues and are you sure that you are able to have strong coping skills?
Maybe think of tapering down, not completely coming off the meds and see how you respond

I know how much you want to get off the meds, I so much do also.. but possibly you feel you are healed, because of the meds....

[happywoman]

My initial subjective response to you question bluebird is based on my own experiences is..." No-wait 18 mths or a few seasons".i'd discuss with pdoc and continue with appointments until transitioning to no meds. I would also work on reducing one tablet at a time so you can determine effects of med changes. But I'm pretty cautious and only have a few years practice of mood monitoring and prn self medicating. I would also like to change or stop meds eventually but fear psychosis. Don't mean to be naysaying as I have had some years without meds at times. Think as previous entries effective coping skills and psychological ,cognitive and lifestyle changes work is necessary.

I agree with the others here. Three months does not sound like enough time to have developed good coping skills, lifestyle changes (nutrition, exercise, relationships) and worked on any underlying issues (if there are any--and there usually are, if not from the condition, then from the fallout and stress on relationships).

Medication is more of a treatment than a cure, so whatever imbalance the medication is helping to maintain will need to be supported in other ways.

[Nightside of Eden]

You probably feel 'cured' because the medication is working. A lot of us have gone off our meds because we felt 'cured' only to discover that feeling was coming from the meds and that all our symptoms returned when we stopped the meds.

A lot of forms of mental illness are incurable and we have to accept that we'll be on meds for the rest of our lives. It's no different or worse than treating any other chronic condition like hypothyroid or diabetes.

[LastQuestion]

It's important to gradually taper off psychotropics as the brain will adapt to their presence, which often leads to dependance on the drug at which point discontinuation leads to withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can resemble features of a disorder, even present themselves as a depressive episode or symptoms of disorders one does not have.

Withdrawal can be terrible, destabilizing, or no problem at all. My advise is to do research, ask questions, work with a clinician familiar with discontinuing psychotropics safely, develop coping skills, and be ready to get out of bed, exercise, eat healthy, get sleep, as part of a routine, a habit, so that if withdrawal is difficult it's easier to do those things which aid in the recovery process.