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The Side Effect of Going Off Antidepressants You May Not Have Heard Of

Imagine this scenario. You’re having an average day, and you’re in the mood for a coffee. You decide to walk over to your favorite coffee shop, just a few short minutes away. Step, step, step. Zap! Step. Zap! Wait, what? Zap? Zap shouldn’t be a part of this equation. This strange sensation is something that happens to me, as well to many others. It’s a side effect of antidepressants that many are not familiar with, but it does happen.

It goes by a variety of names: brain zaps, shivers, shocks, etc. It pretty much is what it sounds like. In my experience, it feels like a quick zap to my brain, which sometimes leads to a shivery feeling down my body or a type of dizziness. In my case, as explained in my description, I find these zaps occur when I’m walking. Other people who get the zaps may describe the feeling differently or find it is triggered by different movements or nothing discernible at all.

The first time I experienced this was during a time I was stopping an antidepressant under my doctor’s supervision. This was over 10 years ago and at the time, my doctor didn’t know what I was talking about, and to be frank didn’t believe me (I’ve since stopped seeing this doctor in part thanks to his dismissiveness). I described it several times, and was responded to with shrugged shoulders. So I took to the Internet and was surprised to find many people discussing this symptom, and was so glad to know I wasn’t “making it up.”

Unfortunately for me, I had no support going through this, and for several months struggled with this withdrawal effect. It would sometimes occur several times a day within a five to 10 minute window. Other times it would only happen a few times a week, a month, and so on. One tip I learned from my online research was that fish oil could possibly lessen the problem. I tried it and I don’t know if it was a placebo or not, but it did seem to help. I later learned that tapering off the medication even slower would have likely improved the situation. I’ve since mentioned the experience to other doctors and psychiatrists, and they’ve given me reassurance that this does happen to some people.

The first time I encountered the zaps, it was the worst I’ve experienced it. I continue to take antidepressants — which sometimes includes going on and off different meds. I let my doctor know I want to switch to something else if they’ve stopped working for me. During these transitions, I occasionally experience the zaps, but it’s milder and short-lived. I’ve also had brief time periods, usually over a few days, where they seem to come out of nowhere. I then may go more than a year and not have an episode.

According to my research, one of the best ways to avoid or lessen this effect is to be sure to do any med changes slowly. For some individuals, it isn’t a symptom of withdrawal, but a side effect of a specific medication. In this case, they should discuss this with their doctor to see if another choice might be a better fit.  There are varying theories as to why this problem occurs, but there is no definitive answer. They do know it happens though, and that while

unpleasant, it is not harmful.

I’m sharing my story with this side effect, because it still isn’t well known. If you come across a doctor who doesn’t seem to understand or believe you, feel free to point them in the direction of this article (or get a new doctor). Please be assured that other people have experienced the zaps, and have gotten through it. You aren’t alone, and you can get through it too.

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To the People Who Say ‘I’m Tired’ When Someone Asks How You Are

im just tired

When people ask you what’s wrong, that’s what you say.

You say I’m tired.

Like you just didn’t get enough sleep last night. Like maybe if you get a couple extra hours tonight, or rest up this weekend, you’ll be better on Monday.

But deep down, deep beneath all the fake smiles and the jokes you make to lighten the mood, you know that’s not it.

You might be tired, yes, but you know sleep won’t fix it.

Because it’s life you’re tired of. You’re tired of people treating you like you don’t matter. You’re tired of feeling like you have no future. You’re tired of getting lost in your own head, of drowning in the thoughts and self doubts that pester you every second of every day, while you fight to keep your head above the tides.

Those same tides that threaten to wash away the makeup you carefully paint on every day so you look more like a person and less like a hollow shell of who you used to be.

Can’t they see that what you’re really tired of is pretending? How do they not notice that your porcelain smile is chipping more every day, your body armor has dents in it, your face paint is running, and the rivers in your eyes are bursting the dams you so carefully construct so as not to drown everyone around you.

So when they ask you, “Are you OK?” you just say “I’m tired.” Because you believe it’s the only way to keep them safe as you self-destruct on the inside, the only way to protect them from the disaster that is you. You believe you have to lie so the ones you love don’t look too close.

But you’re so, so tired.

And that’s OK. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that it’s OK to be tired sometimes. “Normal,” even. And you don’t always have to have a reason. Because sometimes just keeping it together is exhausting.

When you feel like this, it’s important to know you’re not alone. You are not the only one who feels this way. In fact, I think most people would be surprised at the number of people around them who feel the same way. I was. I started reaching out to those around me who often answered with, “I’m tired” and found out they feel a lot like I do.

And the funny part is, knowing that others felt this way helped me start to feel more awake. It’s like we all share this secret code now — when we say “tired,” we really know it means “I’m not OK.” And then we talk, and maybe cry, and sometimes we laugh. And we feel better.

So to all of you out there who feel like being tired is just the way you have to live now, I tell you this: You are all members of a club, and yes, the key to membership is kind of awful. But the plus side is you now have hundreds of allies who fight the same battle you do. You know the code word. Reach out to them. Talk to them. Accept their support. And maybe tomorrow, you won’t feel as tired.

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16 Things People Don't Realize You're Doing Because You're Emotionally 'Numb'

What is “emotional numbness”?

 “WhenDepressionMakes Me Numb, Not Sad”

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One symptom I wish more people understood is feeling numb. A sense of hollowness — like a dull, numb lump — often defines me when I’m really down. It’s a shitty, zombie state of gray flatness. Life passes by and you won’t bother to wave at it because you don’t really care. In fact, you just don’t really feel anything.

She’s not the only one who has felt this way, so we asked our Mighty community to share something they do because they’re emotionally “numb.” You can read what they shared below.

If you can relate to feeling numb, you’re not alone. Whether you’re struggling with numbness from a struggle with mental illness symptoms, the impact of trauma, grief or something else, we want you to know we see you. We are so grateful you’re here and in our community. If you’re struggling, we encourage you to post a Thought or Question about it on the site to get support from other people in our community who get it.

Here are things people don’t realize you’re doing because you’re emotionally “numb”:

1. You Isolate

“I isolate myself behind the ‘introvert’ behavior when really, I’m hiding. I’m barely out in public. When I do, it’s usually forced — shopping, events or errands. I make myself go out to do those things. Point A (work) to point B ( home) is all I focus on.” — Janelle F.

2. You “Overreact” or Don’t React at All

“I’m in the ‘either or’ mode… either I overreacted or I don’t react at all.. I can be functional with a smile, but inside I’m completely numb.” — Ashley W.

3. You Have Trouble Hearing and Processing What’s Going on Around You

“When I go numb, I basically stop hearing and stop processing most of the world around me, going into work mode so people just assume I’m busy or in a bad mood.” — Cathryn C.

4. You Don’t Laugh Out Loud Anymore

“Something I’ve noticed I’ve been doing lately is not reacting externally if, say, I watch a funny YouTube video, but I can still feel myself laughing internally. It’s like my brain knows it’s funny, but I have no outward expression whatsoever.”

“Day-to-day I’ll be extra forgetful, forget to message people back, have to ask people to repeat things and might seem like I’m not listening when I’m actually just not present. I get extra clumsy too and tend to knock things over or walk into things. When I’m conscious it’s happening and can’t seem to get back to reality, I tend to switch onto self-destruct mode to try and get some feeling back.” — Harriet L.

6. You “Zone Out”

“I zone out to the point I’m only physically there, but mentally elsewhere and emotionally dead. I will just sit and not interact with people or my surroundings. If I’m walking, I will hold onto the person and that’s the only way I stay with them.” — Raven M.

7. You Have No Desire to Date

“A different one for me is dating. Some don’t understand how I can go such long periods of time being single, without even showing interest in dating, but it was the last thing on my mind.” — Amanda Z.

8. You Sleep a Lot

“Sleeping in the middle of the day.” — Emily S.

9. You Pick Fights to Feel Something

“Personally, when I go numb, I try to pick fights with my fiancé, in order to get a reaction of emotion, since I can’t feel any emotion myself and me trying to push him away since I am uncomfortable with myself. Then, once the battle is over and my numbing state is satisfied, it is as though I come back, with a full experience of emotions, and begin to cry because I feel so horrible for words I didn’t mean, despite not being able to explain what happened. Overall, it seems like for a brief time, I lose myself completely and all control of my mental processing.” — Autumn T.

10. You Put Yourself in “Risky” Situations

“Something people don’t realize I’m doing because I’m emotionally numb is placing myself in risky situations. I’m willing to come to harm physically and/or emotionally so that I feel something — anything — other than the ‘nothingness’ of being numb.” — Louisa T.

11. You Seem “Robotic”

“I say exactly what I am thinking. I turn into a robot I have very little empathy and my body language and voice are flatlined. When I am numb like that, I’m usually trapped in my head — sitting, staring and waiting to come back to myself.” — Nicole S.

12. You Experience More Anxiety and Panic Attacks

“Having panic attacks instead of feeling negative emotions. I don’t like being mad or sad. I’m numb to those negative emotions because of trauma and PTSD. I just get anxious instead.” — Liz T.

13. You Distract Yourself Frequently

“I begin to distract myself by playing games on my phone, or I clean. I do whatever I can because I become so uncomfortable I cannot sit in the anxiety and discomfort.” — Dana B.

14. You Have Trouble Following Social Cues

“I interrupt. I don’t hear lots of what is happening, I have trouble following social cues and I just interrupt people.” — Kristy G.

15. You Self-Medicate

“I pretend I’m happy and not affected by the situation at all, while I go numb myself physically with substances.” — Lauryn L.

16. You Seem “Emotionless”

“I’m totally emotionless. I don’t get excited, or show facial expressions.” — Justin L.

If you’re struggling with feeling “numb” you’re not alone. We are so grateful you’re here and in our community. If you need support, we encourage you to post a Thought or Question about it on the site to connect with people in our community who get it.

MENTAL HEALTH

What the 2018 PIP ruling means for those living with mental health issues.

What the 2018 PIP ruling means for those living with mental health issues.

A High Court ruling found that the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) policy had discriminated against people with mental health conditions. We explain what the changes could mean for you.

What was the High Court ruling against PIP?

Personal Independence Payments for a mental health condition is assessed in two components:

  • Daily living component (how your mental health affects your daily life) and,

  • Mobility component (how your mental health affects your ability to travel and make journeys).

Regulations introduced by the Government in March 2017 meant people unable to travel independently on the grounds of psychological distress - rather than other conditions - were not entitled to the enhanced mobility rate of the benefit.

In December 2017, the High Court ruling declared that this policy had been "blatantly discriminatory" against people with mental health conditions and was unlawful because there had not been any consultation on the issue.

How will my PIP claim be affected?

How your PIP claim will be affected is determined by the date you started claiming. The catalyst for the ruling focused on how people with mental health conditions had been discriminated against.

So you’re most likely to benefit from the changes if you meet the following criteria:

  • You don’t currently get the higher rate of the mobility component of PIP.

  • You’re unable to make a familiar journey alone due to psychological distres

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  • If you claimed PIP on or after 28 November 2016 and you receive the standard mobility component or no mobility component at all the DWP will automatically review your claim.

  • You will not be required to attend a face-to-face assessment, but may be contacted by phone or post if they need further information about your claim.

  • If you already receive the enhanced mobility component of PIP, nothing will change as you are already claiming the highest

  • If you started claiming PIP before 28 November 2016 the government will not be reviewing your case.

  • If you don’t receive the mobility component or the standard rate you are entitled to make a new claim. You should be aware, however, that your PIP could go up or down based on the new assessment, so it is recommended you seek advice before starting this process.

  • The amount of PIP you are entitled to will vary between claimants and depend on your level of disability and the time in which you started claiming.

  • If you have been identified as having been underpaid, you could receive payments backdated to 28 November 2016, meaning in some cases you could be owed 1000s.

  • The DWP have updated their guidance and the new changes are now being implemented

  • If you are currently in the process of applying for PIP due to a mental health issue you will be contacted by the DWP.

  • If a decision was made on your claim before the new guidance was implemented and you are affected by the change then your claim will subsequently be identified and payments will be backdated.

  • If your mental health affects your ability to travel and make journeys because you experience psychological distress then you should explain this in your assessment, and provide any supporting evidence you can.

When you go through the PIP appeal process a tribunal decides whether or not the DWP has made the correct decision. Tribunals are already applying the new rules.

So if you are waiting for a tribunal, they will look at whether or not you find it hard to make a journey because of ‘overwhelming psychological distress.’

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The appeals process

To appeal a decision of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) you must first ask for a mandatory reconsideration’ and receive a ‘mandatory reconsideration  notice’ before you can appeal  This process applies to benefits such as:

Once you have your form, you have to appeal straight to the tribunal service. This is called ‘direct lodgement’. The DWP will not send your appeal to the tribunal. 

To make a direct lodgement you have to send the tribunal:

  • One copy of your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice, and

  • A letter or appeal form requesting an appeal

For most benefit appeals the form is a SSCS1 but for Tax Credits and Child Benefit it is an SSCS5. 

We recommend that you send the form rather than a letter. This will make sure you send the tribunal service the information it needs for the appeal.

We recommend that you send the form rather than a letter. This will make sure you send the tribunal service the information it needs for the appeal.

The form will ask if you want to have a paper or oral hearing. A paper hearing means that the tribunal will look at your case without you being there. An oral hearing means you have to go to a tribunal. You are more likely to be successful if you have an oral hearing. You should fill in the form and send it to:

Address: HMCTS, SSCS Appeals Centre, P.O Box 1203, Bradford BD1 9WP

The tribunal will tell the DWP you are appealing. The DWP should respond within 28 days and should send you a copy of their paperwork.  

You might receive a lot of paperwork from the DWP. Do not feel that you need to go through it all at once. Read through it at your own pace. You may have your tribunal hearing in a few weeks or months - it can be a long wait.

Also, if the DWP do not change their decision at the end of the mandatory reconsideration then you can appeal to the tribunal. 

What are the time limits for filing an appeal?

You have 1 month to submit your appeal from the date on the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice.

If you miss the 1-month time limit because of special circumstances, you can ask the tribunal to accept your appeal late. For example, if you or your partner were seriously ill at the time, you may ask the tribunal to accept a late appeal. You must try to ask for this within 13 months of the original decision.

Who can help me with my appeal hearing?

You can get help with your appeal from a specialist welfare rights adviser at your local Law Centre, Citizens Advice Bureau, an independent advice agency or your local authority’s welfare rights service, if they have one.

You can usually find details of local services in the telephone book, Yellow Pages or on the Internet.

What if I have to represent myself?

If you can’t find a local organisation to help with an appeal, you will have to represent yourself at the hearing. Appealing and representing yourself may sound overwhelming but it’s actually quite common practice.   

The tribunal system is set up so that people can represent themselves, and people do this every day.

The tribunal system is set up so that people can represent themselves, and people do this every day. It’s best just to be prepared and understand the process by reading through this information to help your chances of success.

If you feel you would still like some support, you can also ask a friend or family member to help you prepare.

Always try to get evidence for your appeal. You can send evidence with your appeal form, but don’t worry if you can’t get the evidence in time. You can send it after you've sent the form. You can give evidence to the tribunal on the day of the hearing, but it is best to send it before. If you have a lot of evidence on the day the tribunal panel will need time to read it, and this could delay the hearing.

The tribunal will not contact your GP, psychiatrist or any other medical professional to ask for evidence. You need to speak to them yourself and ask them for evidence. You can ask them for a letter or report that backs up your claim. Be aware that some medical professionals will charge you for a letter or report. If you can’t afford this, or it would be difficult to pay then make this clear to the medical professional.

There are some sample letters you can use for submitting evidence for your appeal at the end of this section.

If a carer or relative has information about your condition they can also send this to the tribunal before the hearing.

Remember to make copies of the medical evidence and bring it with you to the tribunal, just in case anything is missing on the day

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How can I appeal a decision about my benefits?

Blue Badges available for people suffering from mental illness

It's easy.People living with mental health conditions will be entitled to Blue Badge parking permits from 2019 following a big overhaul of the disabled parking system.

Although people with mental health conditions can currently apply for a Blue Badge, the current rules for assigning the badge is open to interpretation and lacks clarity.

The new criteria will aim to give clear and consistent guidelines on Blue Badge eligibility for people suffering from a mental illness across the whole of England.

The changes intend to streamline the process, putting an end to the area lottery whereby local authorities apply different eligibility criteria.

The Blue Badge overhaul is part of the government’s drive for greater parity between physical and mental health conditions.

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The Blue Badge scheme currently means those with physical disabilities can park closer to their destination than other drivers – as they are less able to take public transport or walk long distances.

The changes will now be extended to people living with less visible conditions such as mental health.

The new Blue Badge criteria will ensure eligibility for people who:

  • Cannot undertake a journey without there being a risk of serious harm to their health or safety or that of any other person.

  • Cannot undertake a journey without it causing them very considerable psychological distress

  • Have very considerable difficulty when walking (both the physical act and experience of walking).

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You can apply now, but the new Blue Badge criteria, which could benefit millions of people suffering from mental illness, will come into effect in early 2019.

The Department for Transport will now work with key stakeholders to develop new guidance for administrating Blue Badge applications when these changes come into play.

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People deemed eligible for the Blue Badge Scheme can access goods, services, and other facilities by allowing them to park close to their destination.

The scheme provides a national range of on-street parking concessions for Blue Badge holders who are traveling either as a driver or passenger.

Blue badge benefits allow holders to:

  • Park without charge or time limits at on-street disabled bays, on-street parking meters and pay and display machines.

  • Park on yellow lines for up to three hours, unless a ban on loading or unloading is in force.

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