Helping others understand

September 15, 2026··

Does anyone struggle to explain to other people what it is like to go through a failed taper and suffer withdrawal and needing time to get through it? It’s probably prideful but I don’t want people thinking oh she had a nervous breakdown…I know this is related to anxiety but my recovery is from a medical mistake!

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

7 Replies

Debby3d ago

NavigatorCymbalta · researching

Masha, mines not about failing, my friends think im weird doing a taper, they either dont understand the felocity it has impacted on my life with this drug and.. im sure some dnt care at all or want to know,,,.... but what they do know.. is my changing personality that Duloxotine stripped from me for 3 yrs,, and what its doing now tapering,, going from a happy go lucky person to depressed, anxious and panic attacks. Dont care what people think,, easy said than done i know,,im a softie and overthink too,, just focus on yourself.😀

30mg — 2 years plus — researching taper | without clinician

Masha3d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

@Debby. They see you going from happy to anxious or the other way? Is that why they don’t understand going off? Or is it because they see you worse and can’t understand why you would do that?

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Maria A.2d ago

LighthouseZoloft · active

Yes- my family doesn’t understand why I even tried tapering again after my cold turkey and reinstatement. They’re actually kind of upset that I did this to myself and my mom who normally comes and supports me has avoided me like the plague. I’ve been having to do this alone for now and just lean on other people like my husband for support but he’s beyond exhausted dealing with me and our two daughters.

Zoloft —50 mg to 15 mg — 8 years with a cold turkey and reinstatement in between— was liquid micro tapering, crashed at 14.275 mg and now holding at 15 mg.

Masha2d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

I’m sorry Maria. I get it. I think our caretakers have their limits too and that’s hard.

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Maria A.2d ago

LighthouseZoloft · active

Yes I know. I feel so bad for my family having to deal with this.

Zoloft —50 mg to 15 mg — 8 years with a cold turkey and reinstatement in between— was liquid micro tapering, crashed at 14.275 mg and now holding at 15 mg.

Debby2d ago

NavigatorCymbalta · researching

Yes my poor husband also is suffering,, we think its just us,, then i look at him and 100% supports me,, but when i get agitated and argue, i told him to walk away,, leave me alone and it will pass,, like a wave of depression, its horrible.

30mg — 2 years plus — researching taper | without clinician

Masha1d ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

@Debby. It’s a hard thing to explain. I wish you well!

Paxil — 20 mg — 20 years. Went off now back on — holding
Trazadone 37.5 mg
Buspar 5 mg two times a day

Join the conversation

Need a clinician who understands tapering?

Browse our map of deprescribing-informed providers worldwide.

Find a Deprescriber