If I have no side effects after stopping meds, were they really working?

Did they do what they were supposed to do?

I don’t feel like it.

Side effects are while you are taking the meds not the other way around.

Why did you stop taking an anti-depressant, while you are talking harming yourself ?

I might talk to my doctor about it since that is what the police and the crisis counselor said to do but I don’t know if I like the medications.

I just want to know if I should be feeling withdrawls.

Lexapro is a relatively mild anti-depressant. I don’t think the absence of withdrawal signifies much but I am not a psychiatrist.

Ask your doctor . . . yes there withdrawal symptoms including depression and want to do self harm.

I’m not a doctor !

Yeah I have self harmed a lot past few weeks.

@SergeantQueen I am very sorry to hear you’re hurting and that has led to self-harm.

The absence of withdrawal symptoms has nothing to do with how effective the medicine was. I’m glad to hear you had no withdrawal symptoms when you stopped taking the medicine. Some psychiatric medicines have horrendous withdrawal symptoms that can be truly frightening.

Please talk to your doctor, and tell them you stopped. Please add that you have been self-harming while off the medicine. That may be an important point for the doctor to know.

I live with a mental illness, and I recovered. I do a few things to keep myself happy and healthy:
1. I meditate every single morning. It’s not as hard as it seems. There are apps for it and tons of YouTube videos to help. Meditation is the most important thing I do for my mental health.
2. I take medicine daily as prescribed by my psychiatrist.
3. I do therapy every other week and more often in times of stress.
4. I’m sober.
5. I get good sleep.
6. I eat only healthy food.

I understand depression. I used to live with it. I hated myself. Slowly, I got better. I know what the black pit feels like where no light shines. It f*cking sucks.

Recovery is possible.

I wish you the best of luck.

Doesn’t feel like it’s possible but here I am anyways.

I made an appointment with a school counsellor.

That’s excellent news.

@SergeantQueen I’m sorry you’re having a rough time. Is your family around or any good friens you can have visit?

Good news on counselor !

I’m not a doctor.

Feeling no withdrawal could mean it wasn’t very effective for you, but not necessarily. While you were on it did you feel like it was helping at all? Maybe you needed a higher dose or a different drug. Not something to decide on your own since some psych drugs give people very negative experiences.

Most psych drugs it’s advised to taper off when you stop taking it, just something to keep in mind for the future. Always check with your doctor.

That’s good that you will be talking to a counselor.

Do you think you might want to go inpatient for some more intensive therapy and care? I feel like you might benefit from an evaluation at a behavioral hospital. The behavioral hospital I worked at, people could walk themselves in like an ER and be evaluated.

I tried but I don’t know how, I don’t drive and I have no car.

I called the police a few days ago because I wanted to kill myself but they just talked to me and left.

Get back on your anti depressant !

Oh gosh. Police don’t always make the right decision. It’s good you called them though. Good you called someone. Do you know the name of the hospital near you? Maybe they have a number you can call to speak to someone.

You can always call the suicide hotline also.

Please call the National Suicide Hotline.

(800) 273–8255

Tell them that you have been suffering depression for a long time (years).

Tell them that you were prescribed anti-depressant medication (what kind and dosage) and that you have gone off of it (and when).

Tell them that you have a history of self harm.

Tell them that you have a history of trauma.

How are doing today?

I made the appointment but apparently it was on the wrong day so that got cancelled. I don’t know what to do and I want to give up.

I’m so sorry to hear the appointment was canceled. Your feelings are normal. Despite the frustration, please make another appointment. You’re worth the effort.

I think I’ll just call my medical doctor and try to get their information.

Don’t like that this is so hard.

Please call the school counseling center again. You’re worth the effort.

Ok but I’m not able to go to the appointments because I am not on campus anymore and they are being stupid by scheduling the appointments for a different day than what I put in.