Overview

hey sweetie! So sorry you're having a rough go of it coming off the prestige! A couple months back i stopped my Wellbutrin without talking to my Dr but I didn't have any problems with that one. I can tell you a few years ago I was on Ultram (prescription Pain Medicine ) I was having lower back issues, and I was on it for I think about five months before I had my back surgery. And I had the absolute worst withdrawal coming off of that! I was sick as a dog! Like I couldn't even sit up and the world would start spinning on me!! You might be able to reach out to your provider and ask if they could give you something for the nausea. Or you could ask if it's OK to take something over-the-counter. Sometimes the medicines that you take for motion sickness can help. Like the two over-the-counter ones that I've used are just Dramamine and meclizine. But I definitely wouldn't try those unless you've talked to your doctor to make sure they're not gonna interact with your other meds. Otherwise just taking it easy, eating frequent small snacks and meals kind of helped me. Definitely make sure you stay plenty hydrated! like one of those drinks with electrolytes like Pedialyte or even Gatorade. (I think the Pedialyte even comes in like a freeze pop) And I found laying down with a cool compress on my forehead or the back of my neck really helped! Hope this helps a little bit . sending you some big hugs as well!

*little wave hi* I want to be very careful and preemptively say I am not a medical professional and this is out of my licences wheelhouse as a therapist. 🤣 But speaking just from the place of supporting others as their doctors make changes to medications or wean them off, I will agree completely with what you wrote. It can be common coming off an SNRI to experience the symptoms you named. Sometimes talked about as FINISH (flu-like symptoms, insomnia, nausea, imbalance, sensory disturbances, hyper arousal). You are already doing the best thing possible which is having the doc lead the weaning process and going slowly. Im glad you’re not having to deal with the brain zappys but I’m sorry it feels so yucky otherwise. You can use off prescription short term aids to help manage symptoms from the withdrawal but I would check anything with your health team. Otherwise just knowing you’re in a withdrawal window that does eventually end and just being really gentle with ourselves. Extra rest, extra self-care. I hope it slowly starts getting easier for you little bit by little bit. Sending virtual hugs.

Trauma hits everyone different. You are doing the right things. You will make it through this. I believe in you.

I’m so sorry this is overwhelming and hard right now. It’s beautiful that you recognize the trigger, the trauma response and old coping patterns even as they happen. That is the biggest part of the battle in slowly changing them. I can hear the way you are holding yourself with compassion in it too and I am all out Pom-pom cheerleading you doing that. I know sometimes a return of old coping mechanisms can feel like a game over button that starts us over. Womp womp. But this isn’t retro Mario style gaming, it’s 2026 rpg style! When we return to the coping mechanism we are not back at the beginning, we bring with us all our xp, and gear!! I swear this metaphor works. 🤣 Even in an old behaviour YOU are a different person than each time before, with a little more awareness, a little more practice. Like you write, you are not alone. One breath at a time, one moment at a time. You are human and beautifully imperfect. Also *climbs into the hard place with you and just sits* we don’t need to fix nothin. Happy to just sit with you in it. ♥️

That’s so wonderful! I love these ideas and how much you know what works for you. Scent is the most powerful sense for memory recall so it’s a great one to invoke feelings of calm or safety. 💕

I like adding things that hit different senses, like a smooth stone, a calm scent, and a snack I enjoy. Small reminders of safety help me settle faster.

Trying to break patterns is not easy! I think you're showing great bravery. Sending you warms thoughts 🌟

oh sweetie I'm so sorry you're feeling the stress!! Like you said just remember deep breath! And remember I think you are way stronger than you think you are!! You're incredibly brave to come here and reach out! But even better, your self-aware of what you're doing! Which means you are in control!! And I will sit here with you and metaphorically hold your hand anytime you need me to! 🫂❤️❤️ Big hugs my friend big hugs!!

I have a big doctor appointment coming up soon at Mayo... I'm starting to feel it in my body, mind spirit and soul... I know this is a stress response or rather a trauma response from years, decades, or a lifetime of not being heard, not being seen, and lack of validation. I find myself withdrawing from safe people and slipping into unsafe habits again. I logically don't wanna do this! It is hurting my heart and I feel so frustrated, angry and sad when I see the choices I'm making, but I keep doing it! I just wanna stop! But I feel so helpless... which is a lie my overreacting brain is telling me... Deep breaths... calm... peace... one moment at a time... Tears are healthy... I'm not alone... But everything is so big! So intense... I just wanna hide my head in the sand like an ostrich and let the world run by... I don't need answers, just people to sit with me in this moment. To be kind and gracious, as you always are. When life gets hard, I gotta learn to trust people, not run away.

has anyone had withdrawl from med changes? I have been taking 50g of pristiq for 6 years but wasn't working. I finally made the step to see behavioral health and have them do my medications instead of my Dr. they made a few changes including a med to help ptsd nightmares but are slowly weening me off of my pristiq starting with 25 mg. since the change I am withdrawing from them eventhough i'm not completely off of them. thankfully no brain zaps as I call them yet but i'm dizzy tired sick to my stomache and have an awful headache. if anyone has gone through this is there anything I can do to help this? I'm terrified of what it will be once I'm totally off it

@redruffle41 in gooddc today u drinkvc but I ran out but I still sad and I not wanna be sadccdatse it no feel good but I feel happy too but not when I remember,,..

Yes! I thought I was the only one! For me, I have found the only way to break that funk is to make sure that I am distracted. The past couple of years I have saved up through the year so that I can travel on my birthday. Being a tourist really makes it easier to not focus on the birthday blues for me. And as for the energy to clean, the only advice I have there is kind of the same. I put on my headphones and the most upbeat music I can find and then I'm not focused on the task but it just happens to be what my hands are doing while I dance and sing to the music. I hope this helps and Happy Early Birthday 💜

@LilSnuggleBug how's the separation going? Relationship transitions can be difficult. Opening this up for an update!

Hey @Snowyy. How are you feein today?

@NickyMoon It starts with one good person. Unfortunately if is a very reasonable and understandable response for anyone who has been through trauma. If you have been badly hurt by people in the past, why would your trauma ever want you to let someone close when you are feeling so weak and vulnerable. You trauma puts up walls as a defence, to limit the maximum possible damage, but it comes at the terrible cost of having to go through all your problems alone when you really don't need to. I think you need to reprogram your brain by showing it that some people can be trusted and can help. When you are feeling better, find someone who you know is reliable, kind, and trustworthy. This could be a friend, family member, or loved one. You can even tell them in advance what you are going through and that you might call on them from time to time. Start trusting them and talking to them about small things, not major emergencies - you wont want to do that yet. By talking to them about small things you are teaching your brain that its ok to seek help, and that this person can be trusted. Hopefully by the time a 'big thing' comes along you will already have established a bond and you will feel more ready to talk, because it is not just a huge bombshell out of nowhere, but just something slightly worse than things you've already successfully dealt with together. Starting with small things may seem silly, but remember its not really for 'you' it's for your brain. Give it the positive memories it needs to help fix and heal the broken trust from the past. I hope this helps. No one should go through all their pain and suffering alone. 🫂

Heyo! So, happy birthday 😊 even though you're a bit down right now. It sounds like there's some pressure around your birthday that's making it hard to act natural. I think low mood before birthday is really common. At the same time, the experience can vary among individuals. The way I deal with low mood surrounding holidays or celebrating is to let myself be down. I don't try to push or alter my mood or emotions..... If I have tasks that need to get done I use a reward system for myself. (ie, clean the kitchen then I get to play Nintendo or cell phone or rest til I have to go to work etc). I also use imagery to imagine the event going really well. It sounds like you could use some positive socializing and whatever else is going to get you through...... I also think its worth taking the time to use this as a way to get to know what coping mechanisms work for you and why. It could be that some rest or a bit of laziness is an ok thing, or not. It just depends on what works for you and only you have that information 😊

Hello everyone! I'd like to bring up the topic of the time leading up to a birthday. I'm really curious if there's anyone here who completely loses their mood a week or two before their birthday? I've been feeling down and lacking energy for over a week now because my birthday is on February 3rd. This happens every single year. But on my actual birthday, my mood comes back. If there's anyone here in the same situation, maybe you have advice on how to deal with this? Because I need the energy to clean my home, but I just can't find it.😞 Socializing gives me a bit of a mood boost, so I'm always happy to meet new people. Usually, when I'm talking with others, I feel needed, and that makes me feel better.🥺👉🏻👈🏻

Thank you both so very much. Especially offering to talk to me if i need it. That honestly means more to me than you both know.

Hello!! I want to start by saying it makes complete sense that you want to move forward without having to live again every detail. Pushing yourself to "talk it out" before you’re ready can feel like being retraumatized again and again, and you don’t have to do that to find your peace. That on edge feeling you said, is your nervous system trying to protect you, it’s that your body is still operating in survival mode. I can tell you what worked for me, and what my ex therapist tolf me when i was 12, when memories or disgust hit, they aren't just thoughts, they are physical sensations, instead of trying to think your way out, try to calm the body: If you're feeling overwhelmed, splash ice cold water on your face or hold an ice cube, this resets the nervous system instantly. This worked for me and take it with care, this mnay be work for me but not for you, if the memories force themselves on you, try a to visualize it or do it physically: have a safe jar, when a memory or feeling starts to overwhelm you, put that specific "image" or "feeling" into the container and lock that. The disgust you do feel is an extreme common reaction to bad experiences, but it belongs to the event, not to you. You are the person who survived it, not the gross thing that happened. YOU ARE STRONG, YOU ARE VALID AND WHAT YOU FEEL IS VALID, i'm sending you hugs and lot of positive vibes, if you need to talk about it or even if you need someone, reach me. Sending you best wishes and hugs❤️❤️.

Healing is not a straight line, it doesn’t come with a deadline or a finish flag. It takes time, it takes facing nightmares that don’t always make sense. It takes therapy, and often more therapy than you ever thought you’d need. And that doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means the wound was deep. One thing that helped me was journaling. When thoughts loop endlessly in my mind, writing them down gives them somewhere to go. It’s called docking. Taking the pain out of your head and placing it on paper so it doesn’t keep racing, so it doesn’t keep owning every quiet moment. You won’t forget what happened. That isn’t failure. Healing isn’t about erasing the past, it’s about time. Time to breathe without bracing. Time to look in the mirror and slowly stop seeing only the broken child who spent years just trying to survive. The way I coped was therapy. I know how hard it is to take that step. I know how vulnerable it feels. But it helped me understand something vital, what happened to me was not my fault. And what happened to you is not you fault either. Surviving does not define us as damaged. It defines us as resilient. Please remember this: You are not alone. You are not broken beyond repair. And you are worthy of being loved My door is always open if you need a friend

@Snowyy I’m really sorry you’re carrying this. What you’re describing makes so much sense, especially after going through something that hurt you deeply. Nothing about the way you’re reacting means you’re broken or “odd”, it means your mind and body learned how to survive when things weren’t safe. That on-edge feeling and those coping habits are signs of strength, even if they feel exhausting now. Healing doesn’t mean pretending it never happened, and it doesn’t require you to relive or explain it in detail if you’re not ready. It’s okay to move forward slowly. The pain coming back doesn’t mean you’ve failed or gone backwards, it just means your system is still trying to protect you. There are ways to cope without talking much about the past. Some people find grounding things helpful when memories hit, focusing on your breathing, noticing what you can see or feel around you, or doing something physical like walking or stretching to remind your body that you’re safe now. Writing things out privately, creating routines that help you feel steady, or having one small thing that brings comfort can also help take the edge off. None of this fixes everything overnight, and that’s okay. Please be gentle with yourself. What happened was not your fault, and feeling disgust or pain about it doesn’t define who you are. You’re already doing something brave by wanting to heal. You don’t have to do this perfectly, and you don’t have to do it alone, support can look many different ways, at your pace, on your terms. I’m really glad you reached out. You deserve peace, and even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, it is possible to move forward while still honoring what you’ve been through.

So I don’t want to get into much detail as I have a hard time sharing my past but how do I stop feeling it? Like the pain every time I think it’s gone Im forced remember what happened and I don’t want top, it hurts soo bad and it makes me odd like everything I do in life is different to everyone else as it’s like a coping mechanism to keep me safe like I’m on edge and I try not to let it affect me but some of it was too bad and it disgusts me in a way as it happened but how do I fix it?? I don’t mean completely disappear like it never happened but how do I deal with it. Is there anyway to move forward without having to talk much about it like anything I can do to cope??

@LittleAmbi Thank you for sharing this. I’m really glad you wrote, even if you’re not sure why you did. Feeling that lonely can be incredibly heavy, and it makes a lot of sense that being home so much has stirred things back up again. I want you to know your feelings are valid, and for sure you’re not weak or failing for feeling this way. It actually says a lot about you that you’re still trying: working out, doing chores, looking for ways to care for yourself even when it’s hard. That takes real strength, even if it doesn’t feel like it’s helping right now. Loneliness is a tough one, it’s not something you can “productivity” your way out of, and that’s not your fault. (And for what it’s worth, you spelled loneliness just fine. I’m really sorry you’re carrying so much, especially with everything going on in the world. When dark thoughts start to feel overwhelming, reaching out like this is a meaningful step. You’re not invisible here, and you’re not alone in this moment, even if it feels that way inside. I’m here to listen, truly. If you want to talk more about what’s been weighing on you, you don’t have to hold it all by yourself. 💛Feel free to follow and reach out to me anytime, even if you want to just say hello!

I know what it feels like to not have many friends in real life. That quiet loneliness can ache in places you didn’t know existed. I have people online who care, who show up, who understand me in ways that matter, but in the physical world it feels so sparse right now, and that hurts in its own quiet way. The world itself feels overwhelming. You turn on the TV or scroll your phone and there is no shelter from it. The fear follows you from room to room, like a storm that doesn’t know how to pass. It’s exhausting, and it’s heartbreaking. I wish I had a magic wand. I wish I could smooth the sharp edges and make everything feel safe again. I can’t do that. But what I can do, what we can do, is be here. We are here to listen. We are here to sit beside you, even in the silence. You don’t have to explain yourself or be strong for us. The world may feel frightening right now, but you are not facing it alone. We will walk through this together, one breath, one moment, one small act of kindness at a time. My door is always open if you need someone to talk to

i dont have many friends irl. Well i guess i dont really have any. Im home all the time again and thats how my depression came back just as bad as before. i workout now and have a list of chores to try to improve my mood and keep me occupied. But nothing helps the lonliness. I think i spelled that wrong. then everything going on in the world. I dunno the point in this post. I just feel alone and i figured i should write here as the dark thoughts are getting over consuming. i just feel so alone. Thanks for listening.