Quitting Zoloft

Last July, I wrote here about feeling blah and starting the medication Zoloft.  Then I wrote about how it helped me out.

Well, now I'm writing about how I quit.

I quit taking Zoloft a few weeks ago.

I had been warned to taper off of it slowly.  Apparently quitting cold turkey can make one feel horrible.  So taper I did.  I was routinely taking 25 mg (half a pill) every day.  For about two weeks I took 25 mg every other day.  For another two weeks, I took 25 mg twice a week.  And then I kept forgetting to take it, so I quit.

Originally I wanted to taper off in November, after Reese turned one.  But then we moved that month and I didn't think moving to a new state was the best time to rock the boat with altering my medication.  I waited until mid-January to start weaning down my dose.

So far so good!  I feel...good.  Like myself.  I'm trying to be ridiculously self-aware these days to make sure I'm not slipping off the edge of a depression cliff.  If you know me in real life, feel free to provide me feedback with your observations!!  Wow...that's a dangerous statement.  Don't all ten of you that know me and read this blog provide feedback at once.  Might be overwhelming... ;)

A wise, helpful family member pointed me in the direction of this self-assessment tool.  My plan is to take this quiz every few weeks to see how I'm doing.  So far, according to that quiz, I'm a HAPPINESS FREAKIN ROCK STAR.  That feels encouraging.  Obviously every day isn't like that, but that's okay.  My "average" is a lot higher than it used to be, for which I am grateful.

I'm interested in other people again.  I have a lot more energy day to day.  I don't dread time with my kids.  (I think) I'm handling this job transition more healthily than I would have six months ago.  Some days, even when I don't work, I STILL shower.  Wow.  If that's not a positive indication, I don't know what is.

So there ya have it.  I felt sad.  I feel better.

How about you?  Have you ever taken antidepressants?  Or anti-anxiety meds?  For how long?  How did it go if/when you tried to stop taking them?

Thanks for reading and helping an extrovert like myself to not feel alone!