Why so long ?

Please provide clear details. Taking what for example? Are you saying you develop protracted withdrawal years later? If so then the answer is you didn't. Something else is causing the problem.

Also you are currently tapering mirtazapine. What you described is typical withdrawal. It can't be protracted withdrawal if you are still taking drugs. Maybe after 3 months of being completely drug free and still having debilitating symptoms then we can start thinking of it as being protracted. Anything before this time frame is still in the I'm crashing from drugs zone. What you are describing is the effect of drugs messing with 5-ht receptors. Why you were prescribe them is irrelevant as the withdrawal symptoms are based on the receptors the drugs work on. Drugs are biological agents, they do not care the reasoning for taking them.

Sorry I was confused about the protracted withdrawal and withdrawal. I do want to come off the mirtazipine but feel like I’m going round in circles, stuck in a loop . Do I reinstate, or don’t I. I do now have health anxiety, but I feel I have to take them, to begin my tapering journey. I just wish I knew then what I know now. Thanks for the reply 😌

Right, this is why keeping track of dose, taper schedule is important. When the withdrawal symptoms strike they can be powerful. The symptoms also make it hard to think clearly. This is what psychiatry calls your "underlying mental health disorder" It's B.S.. It's drug withdrawal. What you are describing is the withdrawal itself. The shower, can't sleep, anxiety, worry, paranoia, memory impairment. It's the result of the brain having a hard time regulating itself. What happens is drugs mess up the communication system in our nerves. Our nerves control everything. So the whole body and mind are thrown out of balance. This being out of balance is what produces the symptoms you are describing. When it gets bad the best option is usually to hold the dose. It's a sign that you tapered a little to quickly. Some drugs and doses are worse than others, but universally it's the same across the board. Lexapro, prozac, paxil, it doesn't matter. They are more alike than different. Education is important and sorting out what is true and is not usually takes some back and forth conversation.

You can't help being lied too. Who distrusts a doctor? Almost no one does. Until they are hurt by them. It's a very challenging problem to know parts of the medical system is corrupt.