Surviving Antidepressants is a volunteer-led organization that aims to help people who are struggling with antidepressants and interested in weaning off. The group helps guide people through withdrawal symptoms and offers support in a number of different ways.
This article will explain why Surviving Antidepressants is an important resource for anyone who is hoping to overcome their depression without the use of psychiatric drugs.
What Is Surviving Antidepressants?
Surviving Antidepressants is a peer-led online forum that allows people to engage with one another through written text. The community-oriented program encourages people to connect and share their knowledge, experience, and history with antidepressants.
One of the main struggles that people face when they are trying to quit antidepressants is a lack of support. This can make it even more difficult for people who want to quit but don’t feel like they have anyone to reach out to.
This is why forums like Surviving Antidepressants can be so useful. They provide a lifeline for people going through withdrawal. They can also help provide knowledge (such as coping strategies or advice) for people who are trying to reintegrate into life without medication.
Why Would I Need to Join Surviving Antidepressants?
Some people are able to stop taking antidepressants relatively easily. Others, however, have a great deal of difficulty. One of the hardest things to deal with is withdrawal symptoms. Some drugs, like Tramadol, can be extremely dangerous to withdrawal.
Many people are unaware when they begin using antidepressants that they can cause dependence. This means that when they stop taking them, they will go through unpleasant symptoms such as:
- Anxiety
- Difficult dreams and nightmares
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Stress
- Shaking
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Chills
- Aching muscles
- Emotional instability
- ‘Brain zaps’
These symptoms can be so uncomfortable that many people decide to start taking their antidepressants again.
What Does Surviving Antidepressants Offer?
As a forum, there are several different areas on the website where you can communicate with others. The subforums are organized by topic. These include:
- Introductions and updates: Introduce yourself and keep people updated about your progress stopping antidepressants.
- Tapering: Provides advice about ‘tapering.’ Tapering is a gradual reduction of medication which can minimize withdrawal symptoms by slowly getting your body used to functioning without the drugs.
- Symptoms and self-care: Learn about what people may have done to manage symptoms that you’re experiencing.
- Finding meaning: Share and help other people find meaning in life. This forum deals a lot with philosophy, faith, and religion.
- Relationships and social life: People are able to talk about how well they’re integrating into their social life and family life without their antidepressants.
- Current events: There are a variety of current events forums that deal with news and scientific updates.
Conclusion
Antidepressants can be challenging to quit, but websites like Surviving Antidepressants are a great way to help people connect with others.
If you or a loved one are thinking about stopping antidepressants, don’t hesitate to reach out to the people on sites like these. It could mean the difference between life and death.
