It seems unfair that I should have to take anti-depressants just because there’s loads of morons out there…
… Is exactly what someone with a mental illness might say. I started taking anti-depressants again a little while ago, when I wasn’t coping so well and my thoughts were along the lines of the above sentence.
I was feeling very much in despair. I was angry a lot. At everybody. Stupid drivers in stupid cars in my way on the stupid road, stupid people who couldn’t queue or observe stupid manners, stupid people who looked at me funny in the street and made me cross.
My mum suggested that surely not everyone could be stupid. (In fairness, these people were all strangers, they could be brain surgeons for all I know; to me they all caused intense annoyance).
When the tablets started working they stopped everyone else being stupid. I was much less angry and in far less generic turmoil, but the plan wasn’t a long-term one. I was promised I’d be off them by this September. I’d take them daily, then miss days until I was eventually free.
The trouble was, while everyone else was getting less stupid, I was getting a little more stupid. I stopped having any sort of ideas. Not an ideal situation for someone who is at uni and in the middle of an assessment period. So I stopped.
I can’t remember exactly when I stopped taking them, but it was around the time I had my eyebrows threaded*. In case you are interested, this is what I was working with prior to threading:
The lovely lady also sorted me out for the best eyebrow pencil for my shade. This is what I ended up with:
I remember for the fortnight following my eyebrow threading, I felt elated. I was full of energy and having a million ideas a minute (maybe this was a mini withdrawal, who knows? Part of my original problem was all of those ideas that kept elbowing their way into my head).
At the end of the fortnight, things began to get a bit hairy – for my brows and my moods. I can’t pretend it’s easy being off my tablets; I think I’m still having a few mood swings from the effects of not taking them (it’s probably because I decreased the dose a little quickly), but I’m getting there.
I’m able to think a little quicker, so shouldn’t be too slow to write anything in my exams. I’m more tired, but I have a busy life anyway so it’s hard to be certain of the cause.
I’m going to keep having my eyebrows threaded and I’m going to keep plodding on. I want to start my next year of uni without anti-depressants because although they lifted my mood, they slowed me down. There was a week when I forgot to take them and when I resumed the dose I was wiped out for a further two weeks.
The pills did their job, but I’m looking forward to carrying on without them.
*Don’t stop taking psychiatric medication just because your eyebrows look good. Always seek advice from a medical professional – they might think your eyebrows are terrible and prescribe you a stronger dose!
Your eyebrows look awesome!! I’ve never had mine threaded, I think you may have just tempted me into having a go!
Also, good luck with the meds- just don’t be afraid to go back and see your GP if it gets too much!! Great post (and eyebrows) #VR&HT
Thank you! x
I will never forget when my Mum stopped taking her meds; she was on a pretty high dose and I remember thinking it was liking she was coming off Heroine. She had the sweats, shakes, a fever – the whole shebang! BUT looking back to the woman she was back then to the woman she is now, she 100% did the right thing. Life isn’t always easy, but she feels more human off them, and she’s more my Mum off them. And FYI – everybody else IS stupid! Well… IMHO that is haha! #RV&HT
Wow, I guess I’m lucky I’m not that bad! It’s better to feel human x
I’ve never had my eyebrows threaded (not even entirely sure what it involves 🙂 ) but yours look great. Good luck with keeping in control of your meds and your emotions, I hope it goes to plan #RV&HT
They sort of rip out multiple eyebrows by rolling cotton over your skin! Thank you, I hope so too x
Hope things work out dosage/tablets-wise!
I find that my tablets help me to think again, but I totally get that it’s not the same for everyone. Mental health is so unique and different for every person, and I really wish people would stop acting like the same treatment should work for everyone!
#RVHT
I am very slowly decreasing my dose of antidepressants at the moment. I know how hard it can be with and without them. If you start the “bad” feelings again please go back to your doctor xx
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
Your eyebrows look great! I can’t cope with getting mine threaded anymore – it hurts too much so I have them waxed instead.
Glad to hear you are managing without your tablets ok. #KCACOLS
I love your disclaimer, but hey – there might actually be something in it, like a reverse Samson off of the bible (he lost his strength when they cut his hair) In other news, I really hope you manage to get your chemicals regulated before next year of uni – I know all about depression so I really feel for you! #kcacols
I hope you can manage without them. I have been on medication for over a decade – you get used to the slow down and to be honest – it’s the least of my problems. Take care! #kcacols
What a fab post, your eye brows are fab and I love how you have relayed this because I actually suffers depression and I came of medication and found other ways to cope having a tidy house is one thing that always perks my mood up #KCACOLS
Wow you look amazing Hun and it’s nice to see your Coping without your meds but still know the importance of taking them. I never threaded my eyebrows as they are too thin anyway. I also love your disclaimer 🙂 keep calm and stay positive xx #kcacols
Funny enough I found having my eyebrows done help me feel better too, I think it’s all part of looking after yourself! #kcacols