So its been a week and a half off my meds and it doesn’t seem to help. My sex drive is still low and the consequences of leaving the meds are bothering me. I have suffered chronic tension in my jaw, neck and shoulders, and my heart flutters almost all the time. Today I heard voices for the second time since leaving the meds and had an episode wherein I was agitated and speaking almost incoherently to myself. Am I sick or not, I was confused and thought the voices were telling me the truth about being a hypocrite pretending my illness. Hubby was very supportive. My body feels like it is on the edge and my mind jumbled up and blank. I still feel the deadness and lack of motivation, it just doesn’t cease. I’m thinking of returning to my meds if this continues, because the anxiety and tension is driving me crazy. I miss the calm I felt on my meds. Maybe I was stupid to go off them! What do you think?
@Hadeda please visit your psychiatrist and try to get slowly back on the meds…yes, I think you are ill.
@Hadeda I dont know if you tapered off of the meds slowly - If you got off of the meds too quickly, this can cause a lot of problems. I would contact your pdoc and see what could be done about it
I think going on medication — or discontinuing medication — and expecting a miraculous life-change is asking for too much. I choose not to take drugs because my personal life philosophy precludes drug-use. I feel more alive off drugs, I’m more myself, and I’m healthier. I can learn to confront my anxieties without the use of a crutch.
Since discontinuing medication, my libido has yet to fully return and my motivation is a bit better than it was on drugs, but no where near where it was pre-diagnosis. I’m slowly regaining what I’ve lost, but I expect it to be a long, drawn-out process. In other words, there is no real quick-fix.
I still get ideas of reference — but identifiable. In other words, I recognize it’s an idea of reference and I can dismiss it. Or I can choose to engage it. It’s really up to the individual how they respond to the symptoms of this illness.
A successful withdrawal depends on a lot factors, such as [1] how long you were on the medication, [2] how much of the medication you were taking, and [3] whether you weaned yourself or abruptly discontinued.
My first day withdrawing from Haldol I had mania, the second day I had delusions, and the third and fourth day, it all subsided. I was on the medication for three months at a relatively low dose.
It takes work to change a life. Exercising, eating healthier, therapy, pushing your boundaries, recognizing and identifying your weaknesses — there are no simple solutions to life’s problems.
@gainesms isnt your dx bipolar type 2?
My initial diagnosis was bipolar type II but three months ago I had a psychotic break and was diagnosed as schizophrenic.
Yeah these diagnosis change, mine did, went from schizophrenia to bipolar type 1 to schizoaffective, back to bipolar type 1 or schizoaffective, they are not sure.
Listen I was a bit harsh with you in some of my posts - I do apologize for this - @gainesms
Apology accepted. And I apologize for riling you and others up. I’m used to heated debates — no hard feelings, though.
why did you stop taking your meds?.
I think it was probably a bad decision to get off the med’s. It takes a while for them to completely leave your system. You might be worse when that happens.
[quote=“Hadeda, post:1, topic:14040”]
the anxiety and tension is driving me crazy. I miss the calm I felt on my meds
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I feel like that when I leave off my meds. And the next day I do feel calm + am glad I took them. After that it’s the same ole - but better than being without them
i think you need to see the shrink…hope you are feeling better.
take care