Hi, I'm May

Welcome May. That cold turkey stop after your first son worked out, but this time is a different story and it sounds like you already know that. The crash you hit at day 5 of zero is exactly what happens when the brain has been on a drug for months and suddenly gets nothing. You went back up and stabilized, that is smart instinct. The chest tension and broken sleep at 2am sound like your nervous system still adjusting to the 25mg after that rough drop, those symptoms often lag weeks behind the mood improvement. Typically what people do is once they stabilize, they start with 10% cuts in dose and then hold for a certain time. Check out the taper plan generator in the side bar. Its also Worth logging check ins under My Taper as you go, you will see the pattern of what cuts work for you and what do not. And please, when you get a chance, comment on other moms posts here who are scared about the same thing. Your story of going back up and holding for three months is exactly what someone else needs to hear right now.

Hi @May, welcome! I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time right now. Given that you've had so many dose changes, I'd be cautious about making another one. It takes time for the body to adjust to a new dose. Doctors automatically think that any issues will be resolved with increasing the dose of a drug, but more isn't necessarily better, especially in an already-sensitized nervous system. You're already seeing improvement at the 25 mg, so that's a good sign that things are stabilizing. https://taper.community/thread/ff7ce496-025a-4391-95b4-cdd0063f092b Once things are stable, then as @Based said, you can do a slow Hyperbolic taper off of the Paxil. There are also non-drug ways to manage PPD and PPA. These conditions are usually temporary conditions due to the hormonal changes in the body after childbirth. Using SSRIs will definitely create physical dependence and need to be tapered if and when ready to stop them. Here are some things you can do to improve your sleep: Start with the simplest things rather than adding supplements, especially while your nervous system is sensitive: • Keep a consistent wake-up time every day. • Get some morning sunlight/daylight if you can tolerate it. • Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet. • Avoid caffeine and nicotine later in the day. • Start a gentle wind-down 1–2 hours before bed—dim lights, warm bath/shower, quiet music or reading. • Gentle daytime movement can help, but don't push yourself if you're in a wave. • If you're lying awake and becoming frustrated, get up briefly and do something quiet in dim light until you feel sleepy. • Try not to watch the clock or pressure yourself to sleep. I would be cautious with supplements and herbal sleep remedies. During withdrawal, people can be unusually sensitive to substances, and “natural” doesn't necessarily mean risk-free. And remember that withdrawal insomnia can come in waves. A bad night—or even a bad stretch of nights—doesn't mean you've lost your ability to sleep. ❤️ I hope this helps! We're here anytime you need to reach out for support during this difficult time. Catina 🩷

Some other helpful links for you! https://taper.community/thread/cbf196f2-7a92-460e-b78c-419887d02db2 https://taper.community/thread/3c6f1a16-3d21-4077-9ed5-8267209ffca3 https://taper.community/thread/fad854f7-f9a4-421d-b60f-bf11aa13a251 https://taper.community/thread/31d4a5cb-737e-4eec-8449-1894a8a9747c https://taper.community/thread/ebf43c1f-a3a0-423b-9ac2-537b3183ce70 https://taper.community/resources/blog/how-to-sleep-during-benzo-withdrawal (good tips for everyone) https://taper.community/thread/gentle-somatic-practices-for-antidepressant-tapering-withdrawal-e927e79d-c601-4cb4-b2b7-bc2eab1115fd https://taper.community/thread/ec72f5e5-39fe-4f0e-b3c9-083b3e99d1c3