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Dear Silveraven:
Do not worry that it is all over the place. You can post as many times as you want.
I can so relate with your story, and even thought I am not off cymbalta 100%, I´ve reduced dose.
I am also on the edge, everything irritates me, I have no patience. I wasn´t this way before cymbalta. I also have to keep the front up and act as if everything is ok, but it is not.

It is so hard for our family members to undestand. I think things would be a little different if we had real family support. But things are the way they are not the way we want them to be. At the end, when you feel bad, at least do not feel alone, there are people on this site -like me- going through a similar situation.

Although you mention 2 months as a long time, it is a short time when one quits a med. I had an experience quitting another psychiatric medicine and it took me from 3 to 4 months to stabilize. Everyone is different and it takes different lenght of time for the body to adjust.

You ask if what you are feeling is because of the lack of cymbalta or if this is just ME???? Well if this is you, then you can develop a new version of you by doing changes.

Do not despair. Try to get help somewhere else. Do you have a therapist you could talk to???
Do you have a hobbie or sport you could release some stress??? (yoga and meditation have helped me lots).

You mention that you feel like going back to something. Have you considered homeopathy??? or acupuncture?



hugs
Cookie

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Joanze, on 02 August 2010 - 09:54 PM, said:

Hi,

We are all scared…I sympathize and wish I had a magic wand for all of us!

I weaned off this in initially by reducing 1 mg every 4 days… But when I got to the 3rd week, I started skipping days…then as of 9 days ago, I completely stopped taking it. PROBABLY NOT MY MOST STELLAR MOVE, but I had to because my insurance changed. My symptoms? Extreme, extreme fatigue, I feel like very muscle in my body is over exercised (and I haven’t moved much!), a lot of DIZZINESS, almost like vertigo, extreme emotionalism like yours (very labile)…

For now I just tell myself, “OK, feel the feelings and go with it…” I try to “ride the storm” but it IS very hard on our loved ones. We just need to keep explaining our feelings to them, and keep them in the loop.
My biggest fear is the return of the anxiety and the depression which put me on the pill. I have decided to do the following to counter this:

1. Yoga (because it helped me 12 years ago)
2. Vitamins (because I never gave them a chance)
3. Drink a lot of water (because it seems to help the dizziness)
4. Meditate (because I took it in school and know it works)
5. Cognitive therapy (because I need it)
6. Talking “praying” to God (because it works!)

Maybe I will start a new Post… called “New Beginnings”

Take care and keep on going…
Joanze

Dear Joanze:
Cymbalta withdrawal doesn´t scare me. I know it could be real horrible, but I it will end sometime. What really scares me –like you said- is the return of my Depression.

I totally agree with the tips you gave to counter this.
-I love yoga, since it has helped me to improve my mood and reduce my anxiety.
-Vitamins do help. Depression could be caused by lack of nutrients.
-I always forget to pray to God, and it is so important to pray so we will have the faith, courage and strenght to overcome this.
Thank you for sharing
Hugs
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[JustJulz]

I understand what you are going through too, and having to deal with the rage and crying is kind of scary. It is happening even though I am reducing slowly, so I really get where you are coming from since you quit pretty quickly.

A friend recently told me about a study done with 'depressed subjects'. I don't know the particulars, but they were divided into three groups: 1 on an antidepressant, 1 on an antiD + exercise, and 1 on exercise only. Guess who did the best? The exercise only group. Now, I don't know how they evaluated their improvement, how long the testing period, etc. but I have heard and read that exercise is the best antidepressant of them all.

I think your plan for survival is a good one. I am all about exercise (tho I don't do what I should), and really understand the need for vitamins. Don't forget sunshine, and if not that, then vitamin D3, at least 2-4,000 mg (or IUs) a day. Talk about a life saver for me- it tempers my temper, my rage, my snotty little comments to myself. When they start creeping in, I have to say to myself "so, what did you forget to take recently? are you up on your vits? did you get enough sleep?" There's a list, and if we skip, we pay.

Hang in there, please, and let us know how you are doing. I want to know that you made it through this, that things got better. We all are aspiring to end this madness, and each has a different approach, but ultimately, we want to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe you can show us that there is.

Peace,
Julz

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I totally agree with Julz on the effect of exercise on improving mood and reducing anxiety.
Also on the importance of vitamins and sunlight