5 replies to this topic

[jmconner]

I took my last Cymbalta tablet in late March. So I'm just finishing up my second month of withdrawal symptoms. Intense and unrelenting anxiety has defined my life for the last 6 or 7 weeks. I feel strangely detached from my life and feel like I'm watching everything/everyone as though I'm not entirely here -- as though others can't see me.

 

Two months ago I had no reason to be anxious. Life was fine. But within the last two months, my 15-year old son has become withdrawn. (My husband has noticed it, so that's how I'm sure I'm not making it up -- as I don't trust my own judgment right now.) And he went from getting good grades in the fall to getting lousy grades this spring. 

 

This turn of events has added to my anxiety. Every time I think about it I get this awful shooting anxiety through my body. And I worry (actually, I'm quite certain) that what I'm experiencing with the withdrawal from Cymbalta is having a detrimental impact on him. I've tried so, so hard to act "normal" around my family throughout these two months. But I don't think I have any idea how I'm acting -- I feel like I'm living in a different plane of reality right now. 

 

Knowing that my hell is spilling over to my son's life is excruciating to me. And adding "real" anxiety to this Cymbalta-withdrawal anxiety is close to intolerable. 

[fishinghat]

My sympathies JMC. I wish I had a magic answer but I don't, the only thing I can say is maybe if you explain to him that it is temporary and will go away with time it will relieve some of the stress he is experiencing. You are at the worse part of the withdrawal and should start seeing brief periods of relief soon but it will take you several more months (typically) to really start getting a handle on things. Be patient. It will pass.

 

God Bless.

[jmconner]

I am so grateful for this forum and to those of you who are both willing to share and offer support. (Thank you, fishinghat.) It is keeping me sane. Thank you.

[thismoment]

jm

 

I agree with fishinghat. You have to be straight with your son and let him know what's happening to you-- you're in withdrawal-- and you will be out of the loop for some months until you heal and recover.

 

A distraught mother can't fool even a baby-in-arms with a "brave face"; communication is multi-dimensional and words are often the weakest communicator-- your 15-year-old son knows you are in pain and he is frightened. Of course it will reflect in his behaviour at home and his achievement at school.

 

Find a way to keep the anxiety down because it is the ultimate destabilizer! A person with anxiety putting on a brave face presents a twisted image and it approaches the macabre; if you get your anxiety under control with a benzodiazepine or similar (perhaps hydroxyzine), it will be instantly mirrored in your placid (and familiar) face-- and that's what speaks to those who love you-- not words.

 

I totally understand what you are going through, and I assure you that your feeling of remoteness, insulation, and bodily estrangement will slowly fade and the fuzzy edges of your person will eventually merge into one. Hang in there my dear! Brief the members of your family and sit back and watch the show; marvel at it-- even enjoy the unenjoyable because you can't stop it.

 

Talk to your physician and work to get the anxiety down.

 

Take care.

[ZappAlta]

awwwww Jm  stop beating up on yourself . You are at least feeling and are aware -though the thoughts seem negative I understand.   Share the felings with your son ask him to come walk with you - you dont have to burden him with a lot of details -just engage in dialect as to what he is feeling etc.

[stephpease68]

Hmm Im 17 days off this cymbalta crap. MY kids 25 ,21 18 .all that is said and not said about your conditions affecting your child. I kinda get the feeling Mine don't care to understand. At his age your son is in a hormonal and social nightmare! ! ITS difficult to TALK and focus beyond your own ISSUES but hugs are easy and foods/snacks can open the conversation with his age group.but medication or not you cant risk the long term affect and losing your son to anything.