Taking SSRI's for nearly 10 years?

Question

I have been taking SSRI's for around 10 years, i am taking prozac at the moment and have tried them all. When I stop taking them I feel suicidal. When I take them (which is always) I am disinterested in everything, I cannot stand other peoples company other than that of my fiance's, family and close friends. I was out with people from work last night and just could not believe how much i did not care about anything they said, I find my job boring I cannot get out my bed in the morning basically I am pretty unhappy with everything. I have changed jobs, moved to different countries and I still cannot find any contenement. I also take Valium to curb panic attacks. Whats the next thing to do? I have seen doctors, pyschologists, psychiatrists had tests for phaechromosytosis and nothing changes. I am 29 years old and cannot believe that I have to live the rest of my life like this. I used to take recreational drugs when in my teens and had a major meltdown 10 years ago. What now??

Answer 1

Hun- I can relate. My cousin got the OCD real bad and he was a mechanic- now he can't even go near a motorbike cos he hate grease that much.

Hun you should shop around with your psychiatrists till you can find one prepared to change your meds.
Have you tried Seraquel? My cousin been on that and he much better now. I mean not perfect- but he still can operate now like a "normal" person.
Before- he was too afraid /anxious to even touch his own shoes. Now he can pick up stuff from the floor and not even worry about dirt or nothing.
Have you tried CBT?

He only 29 too and married. He in the same boat as you hun- he thinks everyone but family is lame and boring- and maybe they just are.

Take care your marriage or fiance hun- cos that's the last thing you want to let down- take it from me- I been married twice already.
Stay strong and try and be optimistic and distract yourself with little busy work or something to take your mind off of things. Don't think too much hunny!

Stay well!

Answer 2

I hate to say it, but I think you should keep looking for a good therapist AND a good psychiatrist. I would seek a therapist that has some training and uses Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). I would follow the therapist's instructions well and try to develop a rapport with him. Tell him your history. Don't give up.
Unfortunately, you probably want to find something that gave you the same feeling as your recreational drugs and that without them you have 'deadened feelings'. Other drugs cannot replace feelings and no drug can really give you a true sense of feelings, but you have to reclaim your ability to enjoy life. Sometimes that does not mean just having fun. Sometimes that means giving to others and accomplishing something worthwhile in life.
Remember an old saying, you only get out of life what you put into it.
I hope you can reclaim your life. It is still there. Develop a perspective that you have a lot to OFFER, give and you will receive. Peace and I hope you experience the love waiting for you and is already around you.

Answer 3

You cannot just go off a SSRI "cold turkey". You need the advice of a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist. It requires a "weaning" process.

Psychiatrist Peter Breggin, M.D., wrote a book "Talking Back to Prozac" (St. Martin's Press, 1995) which describes problems people have with SSRI's. This is "heavy" stuff, and you should not be relying solely on advice you receive from Yahoo ! Answers. My advice to you is to find a psychiatrist in whom you have some confidence. He will have to deal with both the effects of the SSRI's as well as the underlying problems the symptoms of which the SSRI's have masked. A combination of working with somebody who understands the "chemical" aspects of what is going on along with some "depth" psychology may help you on your way to recover.

Answer 4

Well, since you have tried the medication and psychotherapy approaches, I'll give you some non-traditional ideas to ponder. No guarantees, now.

I suggest that you look inwardly and contemplate a new way of looking at life and life's processes. One problem that you may have is that you are allowing your ego to continually present negative thoughts to your consciousness which you choose to analyze and decry rather than just be aware of.

By becoming aware of these obsessive thoughts, you can relegate them to the background of your consciousness. You can casually observe them and thus not be controlled by or obsessed with them.

You can then realize that you can reach out to the external world to find a rich diversity and joy.

Let me give you a metaphorical vision to contemplate. When you find yourself falling into the darkness, immediately create a mental picture of yourself sitting alone on an ocean beach. You can look up and watch the clouds nonchalantly meander across the sky. You can look at the ocean waves crashing into the shore, but all you can feel is the salty breeze against your face.

Those waves can be your meandering thoughts. Those clouds can be the pointer to the stillness you seek.

And, know, in your vast consciousness, that you are at the beach, but, also, the beach is in your awareness. You are in the universe, but, also, the universe is in your awareness.

Therefore, you can decide that you are the universe. The clouds pass through you. You can swallow the ocean in a single gulp.

You can find that peace. That higher level of consciousness. Seek that. It may bring you some solace.