Zoloft Withdrawal

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Here's another post from join-the-fun.com/zoloft-comments.

Zoloft withdrawal

I just wanted to share a successful strategy of tapering off Zoloft with everyone. I am like everyone else here -- suffering from the same issues -- but I was lucky to find this advice on one of the WEB blogs for Zoloft withdrawal. I decided to try and have been relatively successful. I feel like I see a light at the end of the tunnel now!

I switched to liquid Zoloft which allows me to taper off EXTREMELY slowly and precisely. My doctor did not even know about this strategy, so I was on my own experimenting with it.

Here is how it works, but you will have to figure out what works best for you.

Have your doctor give you a prescription for liquid Zoloft. 1ml of liquid Zoloft equals 4mg of a pill you are taking. So if you are taking 100 mg of Zoloft for example you will be taking 25ml instead. Ask your farmacist to give you a couple dispensing syringes (they usually keep them behind the counter and will give them to you for free). they are critical because you will need to have a way to measure the exact amount of liquid Zoloft and decrease it very slowly.

Over the last eight months I went from 150 mg to 12(!) I experience some mild side effects -- zapping, irritability. If I felt that the side effects are just a little bit too much I would go back up on a dose a couple of ml. I tried to follow a schedule and go down 1ml per week but it did not work. There were times when I was able to go down 1ml every two days, other times I had to stay on the same dose for three weeks before I was able to go down again. I dont know what it depends on. I still have ways to go, because the lower you get the more difficult it becomes, but if you are really serious about getting off it -- try liquid Zoloft, and be patient and don't be harsh on yourself. If you have to increase your dose or stay on a certain level for a long time -- it is OK.

I have 12 mg still to go and I will take it easy -- I have gone a long way now and I know it will happen at some point. Good luck to you all!

end of comments by Anna on Zoloft Withdrawal

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Zoloft Weight Gain

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(The following post comes from the Zoloft Comments Page at join-the-fun.com.)

ZOLOFT WEIGHT GAIN--How to lose it

I've read all of these comments and just want to let you all know that you should please get off of Zoloft. This is a bad drug. I was on it for a year and a half and the first 3 months were fine but after that all hell broke loose.

I didn't care about anything but having a good time, whether that was drinking, skipping work (even cheating on my husband and almost getting a divorce). Please understand this is something I would NEVER EVER in my life would have done had I not been on 150mg. of Zoloft. This drug took my personality and completely skewed it into something I didn't recognize.

The RAPID weight gain came around month 4. One Monday I could fit into my suit and that Friday I couldn't even pull the pants up over my butt (and i've never had a big butt in my life, always gained weight in my stomach). It was insane. I went from a size 4 to a 16!!!! I tried several times to get off of this crap and had withdrawals. Finally, the last month I was on it, I saw a picture of myself and completely broke down. It looked absolutely NOTHING like me. I was unrecognizable to myself and it scared the crap out of me. So I decided to go off it and I didn't care what it took.

It has been 14 months since I have been off of Zoloft and have about 10 lbs more to lose. Here is the only thing that has worked for me. DON'T EAT SUGAR IN ANY FORM. This means especially high fructose corn syrup. Limit or eliminate carbohydrates. Most importantly--weight training and cardio is the magic bullet. Start slow but don't stop until you are happy with yourself!

end of comments by Mandy re: Zoloft Weight Gain

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Here's What I Do Every Morning

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Today I want to briefly tell you about a simple action that can instantly make you feel better.

I practice this myself - usually when I first wake up in the morning - but also sometimes during the day, whenever I find myself getting a little tired. Or if I need an energy boost.

If you're depressed, then you REALLY need to be doing this!

It's similar to a technique that's been around for a while here in the States.

Maybe you've heard of the Emotional Freedom Technique by Gary Craig. He started a program that involves tapping 14 very specific points on the human body as a way to relieve, well, just about anything and everything you could imagine.

His program is an offshoot of Roger Callahan's - the California man who first started the procedure. (Here in America, anyway.)

I could go on and on about these two men and their programs, but you can easily 'google' them if you want to learn more.

Besides, the way I do the 'tapping' really has nothing to do with them or their technique. I learned it from a Korean yoga master who told me that millions of Orientals have been doing it for thousand of years.

I compare it with drinking a cup of coffee. Without any unpleasant side effects whatsoever.

It can give you a temporary boost. You will feel better. But it's not going to end your problems for you. Sorry.

It can, however, lift you out of a 'blue mood' or a fearful mood or a lethargic state. At least for a while. It can make you more energetic. Happier. Clear-headed.


See, what I do is designed to temporarily help me feel better - more alert - more lively - happier. And from THAT place, then I'm more able to function to do other activities.

Think 'cup of coffee' type benefit.

So what do you do exactly?

Well, with Callahan and Craig, you would tap a few very specific points on your face and other areas of the body. In a very specific sequence.


But here's how I do it:






I tap every square inch of my body that I can reach that isn't too sensitive to be tapped.

Starting with the top of my head, I tap all over my skull. Then I tap all over my face. Then the back of my head, the sides, the ears. Every point that's not overly sensitive gets hit.

Tapping not too hard; not too soft.

Then I tap the back of my neck.

Then I do each arm.

Generally, I'll use all four fingertips on my face and neck, while I'll tap my arms and legs and body by either cupping my hands or making a fist.

I go all the way down to my feet. Every point I can reach with my hands - I tap it.

The whole procedure takes about five to ten minutes - about the same time as it takes to drink a cup of coffee. (Although you can run through it quicker if you wish.)

I often start when I first wake up in the morning - tapping my face, arms, chest and neck. Whatever I can reach without too much stretching or effort.

As a way to wake up and get moving.

I also do it sporadically throughout the day, as the situation warrants.

I generally will do it if I'm feeling a little tired for an energy boost. Or perhaps when I'm taking a break - like taking a 'stretch break'.

But you could also try it to feel better emotionally and physically and mentally. It almost always makes me feel at least a little bit better.

Think it might help you feel better? There's only one way to find out! I compare it's effects to stretching out the body - sort of like doing yoga.

Some people seem to benefit much more from yoga than others. Generally, I'd say it depends greatly on your mindset.

If you WANT yoga to help you, it will.

Same here. If you want to feel better by tapping all over your body, you will.

If you want to prove it's worthless, I suppose you could do that as well. (Although you might want to look at WHY you'd want to prove such a thing!)

The point being - your mindset can override just about anything in the world.

Whatever you expect, and whatever you want to prove - is usually what happens to you.

I believe *something* happens when you tap yourself all over your body. Something beyond the placebo effect. It bets the blood flowing.

It does 'stir up' the stagnant energy.

You really do have meridians of energy running throughout your body. That energy does tend to form blockages in the living of life.

Tapping activates those lines of energy.


It's not likely to solve your problems, but it can help you feel better. Consider it a form of tap dancing!!

It does seem to temporarily neutralize whatever emotional distress you may be feeling at the moment.

I recommend you give it a try. Especially if you suffer from depression or anxiety or any other emotional issue.

Whether it really can end your problems for good, well, that's when the placebo effect kicks in. That's not an insult. The placebo effect is very real. It works on the power of your intention.


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all the best,

Mark

brought to you by
Mark Ivar Myhre
The Emotional Healing Wizard

How To Heal The Pain Caused By Others

So....

What happens when you've been wronged by
another and you want to move on? How do you
let it go - get on with your life - and make sure
it doesn't happen again?

Right now you may be in some sort of a mental
prison. There may be a lot of resentment and
other similar feelings. And what you're feeling
now - the bitterness, the resentment, the anger, the
hurt; WILL influence your future relationships.

Bitterness only leads to more bitterness. Hurt
leads to more hurt.


The short answer is that you forgive yourself
for attracting them into your life - so you don't
have to continue to carry the burden around
and so that you don't repeat the same experience
with another person.

You forgive yourself for ALLOWING it to
happen - not for causing it to happen.


Forgiveness is a way to clear out those old
feelings from the past so you will be better able
to believe in yourself and trust yourself.

Not to mention you’ll be wiser and more perceptive.

But are you responsible for what they did?

No, absolutely not. You don't forgive yourself to
make them 'not guilty'. You created your reality
and they created theirs.

And the realities overlapped.

A cheater is basically that way before you meet them.

A betrayer is a betrayer before they come into your life.

The question is - why did I attract someone like
this into my life?

Of course you didn't KNOW they would cheat or
betray you when you first met them. But then, maybe
there were little hints and clues you ignored. I don't
know.

The point is, you CHOSE to allow them into your
life. You allowed it to happen.

That 'allowing' is your responsibility; something you
can forgive yourself for.


The value of forgiving yourself is -

first of all, it's empowering to accept responsibility
for YOUR contribution. Yes, I understand you
were wronged. They engaged in hurtful behavior
that was unjustified.

By forgiving yourself, you don't say their behavior
was acceptable. On some level, they must 'pay'
for what they did. But that's not your business.
(I understand many try to make it their business!)

But you would be much more productive by dealing
with YOUR contribution to these events. And not
worrying about their contribution.

"They'll get theirs."

But look at the damage it does to YOU by not
forgiving yourself.

Maybe you don't believe in yourself anymore.

Maybe you don’t trust yourself to make good
decisions.

Maybe your self-confidence is lacking.

Maybe you’re carrying around a ton of pain.

And I would guess many other problems as well
have come up because you've been wronged.

Forgiving yourself can heal the damage they caused.

Also, you don't let someone 'off the hook' by
forgiving yourself for what they did.

YOU LET *YOU* OFF THE HOOK BY FORGIVING YOURSELF.

Sorry to shout, but I want to make that point clear.
By forgiving yourself, you empower yourself. You
free yourself from your own private prison of pain.

Forgiveness is a strength; it empowers you.

Secondly, forgiveness opens the door to change
so you can truly move on and be free.

By not forgiving yourself, you are not honoring or
respecting yourself. You're saying you don't matter.

Forgiveness creates freedom. Forgiveness is
liberating. Forgiveness is a positive, pro-active
decision. It's a deliberate choice from a position
of power and responsibility.

It's an act of character and integrity. It takes courage.
I admit it's not easy to be kicked by someone and
then forgive YOURSELF for being kicked. Because,
"It's not me - I didn't do this! It's THEM!! They're
the bad ones!"

But finding your own contribution to being kicked
is like finding a foothold to greater power and greater
strength. You will become 'more' if you forgive
yourself for being wronged.

It takes enormous courage to let go of the blame. So
often we seek our strength in blame. We anchor to it.
And the thing is, we really are justified to blame!

We really WERE wronged. Nobody would deny that.
It's obvious.

But what I'm saying is to go beyond the obvious. If
blame really did solve problems, what a wonderful
world this would be!

But blame doesn't solve problems. In fact, it locks
those problems in place.

The trap is, you really are justified in blaming. But
if you do, it keeps those painful feelings in place.
You can't grow and stretch and reach for more in
life when you're blaming.

It's like putting your feelings in the freezer. And then
you have to tote that freezer around with you every
where you go.

Blame is like being seduced by a beautiful woman
with a hidden agenda. You think she really does like
you when all she wants is your money.

If you know her game, you can easily resist. If you
turn a blind eye, you'll get taken.

You think blame is your friend, but really all it
wants is your power. You must give up your power
to blame.

I know it doesn't seem that way, because we always
get a cheap hit of power when we blame. But it
never lasts.

It's like spending on credit. There's no problem until
the payment comes due!


But to me, the biggest benefit of forgiving myself for
being wronged by another is that it helps to ensure
that it doesn't happen again. "I've suffered enough. I
don't want to go through the same situation again."

But if I don't forgive, then most likely I WILL repeat
the same mistakes again. Or else, I'll try not to love
anyone else for the rest of my life. Which is almost
impossible.

More likely, since I haven't explored the reasons
WHY I created a hurtful person into my life, I'll
create another hurtful person into my life.

Then I'll have to go through the same pain again.

Just thinking about that is depressing!

You want to live a better life, not repeat the pain
of the past.

Forgiveness helps to make things better. So next
time, you'll have a better chance of finding
someone who'll treat you with respect.


Because you respected yourself enough to
forgive YOURSELF for what THEY did.


You forgave yourself for YOUR contribution;
because you played a part in what happened.

You are not a spectator in your life.

You're not a helpless victim.

You created what happened.

Not by causing, but by allowing.

You allowed another to hurt you.

Now, you will turn it into something good by
changing yourself.

And the way to change is by recognizing what
happened, feeling the impact of what happened,
and forgiving yourself for why you let it happen
in your life. Here's how:

Forgive-Yourself.com

And later, if you choose to forgive them as well,
that's great. But always forgive yourself first -
as an acknowledgment to yourself that YOU
are in charge of your life - not them.


Why didn't they go ruin someone else's life instead
of trying to ruin yours? You may never know.

But the fact is, you let them in, they betrayed you,
and now you're left to pick up the pieces.

Okay, you will.

You'll be a winner. You'll take their sucker punch
to your gut, and you'll become a better person. Not
a bitter, beaten loser. You'll take the pain they tried
to dump on you and use it to become strong and
powerful.

You'll find the good in their act of wrongness.

While they will in all likelihood continue to be a
punishing person.

Maybe someday you'll forgive them for their
misdeeds, but for now you're ready to grow and
heal and move on. Here's how:

Forgive-Yourself.com

Remember the old saying -

Living Well Is The Best Revenge!

Forgiveness can be that first step to living well.

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Thank you!







Mark Ivar Myhre, The Emotional Healing Wizard,
claims you can make a greater change in your life
in the next two hours than most people make in
their entire lifetime. Go to -
Forgive-Yourself.com