Coming off anti-depressants

[rose539]

Hay everyone, its been a few months since my last post. I'm still depressed, although though cbt i have gathered more energy in myself and am able to see things more postively. I am coming down gradually off my anti-depressants, i was on 100mg of sertraline and im now on 50mg and trying to come off them altogether. So far im coping ok, i thought that coming down would unblock my emotions and allow me to feel my emotions instead of them being numbed, but so far i only feel a bit more emotional and still find it hard to cry. I would love to just have a good crying spell to get all the heavy sadness i feel out! but so far not happening, i still have that horrible heavy heart feeling. Has anyone else had experience coming off this drug, and will coming off them allow me to feel again?  

[4Maddie44]

Hi, I did not find it hard to come off Sertraline.  It is not like
Effexor withdrawal.

I was diagnosed with depression many years ago, and have been  on a variety of anti-depressants in that time.  When I stopped Sertraline, my depression came back within months, and my doctor then put me on  to Effexor.

Are you like me, think you can cope without medication?  Take your time withdrawing, and see how you go.  Anti-depressants are not addictive as such, but when we lower the dose, or stop taking it, often the depression returns.

Crying may not help you release your feelings.  The heavy heart may be because you need the anti-depressant.  Think long and hard.

Take care, and let us know how you get on.

[rose539]

Thanks M4!

[M4Y0U]

It can take up to 7-8 weeks off the drug in order to be normal. Yes you should be able to feel again.

M4