Staying off SSRI's and SNRI's - How's it working for you.

So very happy for you . I ditto all you say
Walking , volunteering, being with positive family members and friends. Helping those in need.
Try TMS before the meds!!!
Enjoy life !!

Congratulations! I am so very happy for you. Is there anything you did that helped with going off the medication that you can share, please? Thank you!!!

Congrats!

I'm celebrating one year free of the evil psych drug, Zyprexa. Didn't realize just how bad it was until free of it: no more paranoia, breathing problems, hypersalivation, coordination/balance issues, sexual dysfunction, twitches/tics, fear of developing Tardive dyskenesia, massive weight problem, metabolic dysfunction (was pre-diabetic, not any more), mood suppression (zombieism).

I'm now tapering off of Lamictal and, if successful, will be drug-free for 1st time in 23 years!

This is the second week since mid December that I have been without any symptoms from the Pristiq and Lamictal that I took for 10 years. I also also took Lamictal with the Pristiq. Until these last two weeks, I would still feel dizziness, brain clouding and feelings of doom. I even enjoyed drinking 3 beers during Super Bowl without the countereffects of the drugs. I exercise almost every day and am trying to eat healthy by avoiding sugars and processed food. Thank you for sharing and do your best to be healthy. As always, I will not hesitate to take some medication if I become afflicted with major depression, but will never again accept the meds as a permanent solution....as I did for over 20 years.

Staying in motion is my primary defense. Journaling has helped me to track my progress and express desires for my life. Cognitive therapy is a means of working through depression. Look up the work of Dr. Jesse Wright. He provides lots of tools online to help a person manage depression. He created a depression center at the University of Louisville and wrote the book "Breaking Free from Depression" along with his daughter. Breathe, stretch, talk, meditate, pray and grab some sunshine.

I have taken antidepressants on 3 separate occasions, each around 18 months-2 years, then stopped for several years. Lexapro, 2004-2006 and stopped abruptly, which I do not advise. I felt like I had a bad flu with dizziness and bad headache for a week. Then Zoloft 2008-2010, and lastly Pristiq for 20 months 2012-2014. I have been off of antidepressants since that time and have not felt the need to revisit them. I seek out joyful things to do in my life, exercise a lot, play music, read, and spend time with family and friends. I take a natural supplement that helps balance the neurotransmitters associated with mood. It is L-methlyfolate and comes in 7.5 and 15 mg. I take the lower dose. Hope this helps - there is life after anti-depressants and I don't have to deal with the side effects of the meds.