Six Things You Need To Know Before Trying To Get Off Antidepressants | Cari Nadeau
Most people that find my site are searching for ways to get off their antidepressants.
A lot of these people are searching because they tried to get off and they failed.
Getting off antidepressants can be tricky. It’s best to have a solid game plan to maximize your chances for success. The first time I tried to get off Celexa I failed miserably.
The following is a guest post by Cari Nadeau who had emailed me telling me that she had successfully healed from major depression and anxiety.
Enter Cari:
Six Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Off Antidepressants
Ask your doctor about getting off of your antidepressant and they will probably tell you to cut down incrementally over a couple of weeks. No preparation, no backup plan, no nutritional fortification. Nothing. This makes me absolutely irate…because then comes the inevitable ‘relapse’ into depression (which is actually drug withdrawal, not depression) and the hopeless feeling that you will be on a drug you don’t want to be on for the rest of your life.
I’ve been there and it’s a horrible experience. Everyone around you just wants you to go back on the drug because they can’t stand to see what you are going through trying to get off of it. They’re afraid you might hurt yourself. YOU’RE afraid you might hurt yourself. No one around you understands that you are actually experiencing drug withdrawal because of the changes the drug has made to your brain.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Your psychiatrist or MD won’t have the answer to this problem. But Dominate Depression does.
Here are the six things I wish I knew before trying to get off of antidepressants:
Use a Compounding Pharmacy To Customize Your Medication
Use a compounding pharmacy to help get off your antidepressant slower. Compounding pharmacies are pharmacies that will custom make medicines for you. This enables you to cut down VERY slowly and steadily by TINY doses. If you can’t find one close to you, you can find one to order from online. Your doctor needs to call in the prescription, just like a regular pharmacy. You can also find out if the med you are on is made in a liquid form, which might be available at your regular pharmacy.
Wean Off As Slowly As Possible
Slow and steady wins the race. I’ve seen taper plans that recommend cutting down by 10% at a time, which is infinitely better than the usual 25% at a time your doctor will tell you to do. But, do whatever feels right to you. There’s no rush. The slower you go, the greater your chances of success will be, especially if you have been on antidepressants long term.
Watch What You Put In Your Body
Get your diet on track to support maximum healing potential of the body and brain. Avoid the foods that are exacerbating any inflammation or immune dysfunction in the body. In many cases, that will include things like gluten, dairy, alcohol and sugar. There are many other foods that can cause immune problems. The best way to figure it out is by doing an elimination diet. Also get as many toxins as possible out of your environment. Things like chemical house cleaning products and body care products will just add immune stress to the body.
Use Supplements To Help The Process
Fortify with supplements and amino acids well before you start your taper to be fully prepared. Taking the right amino acids in the right doses can make a world of difference during the tapering process. Also, as this is a time of stress on the body, a good multivitamin, extra vitamin D, fish oil and/or cod liver oil and probiotics are crucial. I also think turmeric is a great supplement for anyone dealing with depression because of its potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Don’t Skip Any Of The Steps Or You’ll Have To Restart
Not following the proper protocol could mean ending up right back where you started because your brain needs LOTS of time, healing and patience to repair what the drug has done to it. Take the precautions seriously and do it right the first time.
Be Gentle With Your Emotions and Energy
Energy work can help minimize symptoms and support the healing process to make it easier and more successful. It can improve your health and life overall and for some can heal depression if the root is from an emotional or energetic cause. Getting off antidepressants can be a sensitive process and it can help to allow yourself to process what you are experiencing.
Conclusion
Depression is curable. TJ’s site is an amazing resource that I recommend to people who are looking for ways to heal depression. It’s just a matter of taking action, finding the source of your symptoms and applying what you have learned. I realize that this is no small feat when you are depressed…everything feels overwhelming…but just reach out and I am here for you.
Cari has her own site at CariOnPurpose.com where she shares about her healing journey if you want to get in touch with her.
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