A must for newbies and Old Timers!

Question

I came to decision yesterday. But first here is some background. I have been on anti-depressants for many years. Even with the side affects, they have helped me maintain moods better. After getting clean from vics I so wanted to be clean from everything. I thought this would be a good time to get off Zoloft. I was taking 50-75+mg per day. I knew not to quit c/t, so I decided to level at the 50mgs and go from there. This was about 1 month ago. I never got below the 50mg. I have had such lethargy and depressed moods. 
    Yesterday, I read up on PAWS in GreatGreebos journals. Now it doesn't say to take anti-depressants. It does say that depression after being clean can be very bad. It also talks of triggers. Time-line and events or people. Yesterday was day 60 which is one of the trigger time-lines. 
  I said that to say, I decide to up my Zoloft again. Now is not the time for me to fight that battle. I am still fighting the addiction battle. Not to say I'm not winning. I am, but this is a life long battle to stay clean. You may think that 1 or 2 months is good. But in the overall picture, it is still very early in the recovery process.
      We, who are not newbies and are not 'Old Timers', And the old timers need to be more open about the recovery process, after the physical withdrawals. Sometimes the newbies get the idea that after 4-5 days, the battle is won. When the truth is. The battle has just begun! 
      To the newbies; I want to say that it is better being    clean. Much better. Knowledge is power. You need to know what may lie ahead, so that you can stay clean.

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

To sum things up. It is vital to take vitamins, minerals and supplements (amino-acids, if not on anti-depressants). Our bodies do not take in these ingredients like a 'normal' person would. Hence, we need more to get the same job done. Just eating right won't do it for us. 
You are responsible for taking the actions to help your mood improve. Use all the tools available to you. Your state of mind is crucial to recovery!

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

luv you too!

angel44240 · Answer

Hey Dave! Now ME? Giving YOU advice?? Unheard of! LOL.. just kidding.. but I'm soo glad you posted this!
My oldest son was on Zoloft for a few years- they weaned him off of them, THEN he started feeling moody and depressed again.. It screwed with his seratonin and made him even worse than what he was BEFORE he went on the Zoloft!
They have him back on the zoloft, because it's something he can't possibly do without at this time.. unless there's a miracle drug out there that's not habit forming and that can actually FIX the issue!
Just like you and everyone else told me since I've been here.. ONE step at a time.. babysteps, perhaps.. Take care of ONE thing, wait a little while, then take care of the next.. we all know recovery is a process.. :D   But NOT a process that can win us over! :D
Love ya!
Alli

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

It takes a mindset. Some say it takes a year before they felt somewhat normal. My goodness, I hope not. But it may very well be true.

taekwondo_fighter · Answer

great post........  i keep thinking i have this thing beat...  and i do...  but the cravings are there...  i guess this battle will continue till i die...  who knows...  thanks for the post

hopsing94 · Answer

Well Dave that explains alot. A few days earlier would of been nice. Thanks alot man.
LOL

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

I agree. And now with BlotOutTheSun disappearing, all the more reason to stress the importance of taking care of all areas of our lives and bodies!

flmagi · Answer

So happy your talking about the depression thing. It really was the main reason for my relapse.  I wish I had gotten on anti-dep. early in my 2 months of cleanliness. Maybe I could have avoided the relapse. And depression can cause so many other problems, lack of energy, physical pain, sleepliness or over-sleeping etc.  I really think everyone needs to pay extra attention to this, since it could easily set some people up for a relapse.
I agree, everyone really needs to know after the 5 days of withdrawels, you are far from done. In the big picture, the withdrawels is the easy part. 
Good luck to every one.
magi

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

I do. Since I am on Zoloft, I can't take very much of the amino acids. What I do take is with a Natural Dr's supervision. {Don't do this at home kids. Without medical supervision.}
I also think that since I have been on them for a while. That is why my w/ds were less than others. Who knows, though?

toxictome · Answer

Do you take these as supplements on the side?

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

Magnesium, potassium, manganese and calcium are all good too. Hot packs help too.
VinDaLoo, here we come! :-) Walking helps also.

toxictome · Answer

Good post and great comments. Aftercare is very important. Being a recovering alcoholic and remembering the process....i don't think I really started to feel like my old self until after a yr. But people need to understand they need to get a support system like NA or talk to a therapist or something to deal w/ all the underlying issues why theyabused drugs to feel emotionally better. I'm on day 7 and i feel so lethargic today...my arms and legs feel like lead weights.....I read on another web site that tumeric(in curry powder) is good for rls, and also if your body is low in iron, that will cuz rls...

GoingToMakeIt · Answer

Thanks Kimmy and IBK. I tell them that too, but when your in the throws of w/ds. It doesn't sink in. I always say 4-5 days and then it starts to get better. I don't say 3, even though for some it is. I say 4 or 5 so they don't have false hopes. i also try to tell them to set themselves for the mental battle ahead I love this place. Anything we can do to help others is good. 
     Are true goal on this forum is keeping people clean and free from drugs. Giving them the tools so that they, and we, can succeed. It isn't just getting them through withdrawals. IBK I love how you stress the aftercare. It is vital. So is Nutrition and supplements! It should be mandatory! We wrecked these bodies. They need more now to stay afloat than the average Joe that never used.

IBKleen · Answer

This is excellent reading. Thank you.

What I tell folks is that in a few days the physical withdrawal will be gone, but then the mental game begins. You are right on the money about the time lines....I see it everyday and I have done it so many times. 

People don't understand that they are battling a disease which is cunning, baffling and powerful. It takes prisioners. It will talk to you and tell you to "celebrate" when you are feeling good, or feeling bad. It wants what it wants and it will go to any lengths to get it.

One more thing, I almost always tell people that it takes 90 days to start to feel better. Of course I get attacked for saying that, but I know it to be true.

Thanks again. this is great.

kimmiek · Answer

Good post.  And I think its a good idea not to mess with your depression meds right now.  Give your body some time to adjust to one thing at a time.  You are doing GREAT!!  And you are definately GOING TO MAKE IT!!!