Hey anita, it’s 12:25 (night) here in Greece!

Oh so it’s gonna hopefully stop my ruminations and let me feel something finally!

Did u have a hard time quitting? How come u stayed for that long on them?

I think i’ve seen this post in here you’re talking about, the ocean, etc. I guess that’s one way of looking at things, but i think i gotta be open to love first, and right now i am not feeling it sadly 🙁

So u basically mean that we CHOOSE to love and act on it, rather than wait on the feelings that come and go?

Yes, Confused: in my mind, love is about Choice, a series of choices, every day. It’s about the words we choose and actions we take.

It’s about acting according to what we value rather than reacting to “feelings that come and go”.

⚓️ Anita

I took the train from Amsterdam to Milane, from there to Venice, from there to Rome, to Athens, and from there to Crete. And from Crete to Cyprus and from there, to Israel, a short distance away by boat.

Yes, Klonipin (a Benzodiazepine which is supposed to be taken for a few months top- but was prescribed to me for 17 years).. that was very hard.

The SSRI was not hard to get off.

Anita

Good morning (7 am here, West coast, U.S.A- by the time I submit this message), Good afternoon (4 pm in Greece):

You asked about withdrawal from Klonipin (generic name: Clonazepam) in your previous message. It was very difficult. I kept lowering amounts and stopping altogether only to take it again for the longest time because of the feeling of panic and insomnia when withdrawing.

I did a little study this morning on SSRIs and their effect on MDD & OCD. Here it is:

SSRIs increase serotonin availability in the brain, which can reduce symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). They are considered first‑line treatments for both conditions.

Escitalopram (Lexapro, in the U.S.) is widely studied and is considered one of the more effective and better‑tolerated SSRIs for major depression. A 2023 systematic review found escitalopram superior to several other antidepressants in acute‑phase treatment of MDD.

Many people begin noticing improvement within 2–4 weeks, with full effects often taking 6–8 weeks.

OCD generally requires higher SSRI doses and longer treatment duration than depression.

SSRIs are effective for 40–60% of people with OCD. Improvement often takes 8–12 weeks, sometimes longer.

Many clinicians gradually increase SSRIs to the maximum tolerated dose for OCD because lower doses may not be sufficient. This is consistent with expert guidance that OCD often responds better to higher SSRI exposure.

Escitalopram at 10 mg is the standard starting and therapeutic dose for major depressive disorder. Many people respond well at this dose. For OCD, 10 mg may help, but OCD typically requires higher doses (e.g., 20 mg or more) for optimal effect.

Whether 10 mg is appropriate depends on the individual, their symptoms, side‑effect tolerance, and a clinician’s judgment.

Any dose changes should always be guided by a healthcare professional.

Most SSRIs share a similar side‑effect profile. Many effects are mild and improve over time, especially in the first 1–2 weeks.

* I was on Sertraline (Zoloft, in the U.S.), one of the most studied SSRIs for OCD, “Flexible dosing up to 200 mg, which is important because OCD often needs higher doses”, I read today (I was on 400 mg for years!)

For a much shorter time, I was on another SSRI: Fluoxetine (Prozac).

🧪 💊 🧫 Anita

Hey 👋 Confused:

Things are not black and white/ all or nothing (binary thinking) when it comes to mental health. You can be depressed and obsessive without fitting neatly into either diagnosis.

“It’s not gonna cover my symptoms”- I don’t understand

🤔 Anita

Well, Confused. the Lexarpo he prescribed can help. The rumination, oh, how wonderful if it’d be gone, wouldn’t it?

Lerxarpo became a thing after my time, an improved prescription.

What’s important is how you feel, that you place your own interest high above. Be on your side, Make yourself the most important person- not in her life- but in your own.

🍷🌙🤍✨️ Anita

The word rumination makes me think of someone who is deep in memories of negative feelings. Such thinking can only drain one of feelings and strength. Much like Cancer patients who go thru Chemo therapy. Their body has been fighting the good fight and is exhausted. Your thoughts do affect the body. The body stores that energy. But if the thoughts and feelings are in conflict then the body can be drained of energy.

I hope you are taking care of your health. Remember that one doesn’t need to feel the emotions all the time to have the emotion in their body. For example, I love my wife. But, I don’t always feel that love in my head. Then there are times when I am holding her next to me that the love surges into my body. One can not always be on the up swing. There has to be times of rest. Don’t dwell on the negative energy. Well, Sorry about my two cents. It is like my foot is attracted to my mouth.

Hey guys

I think i am deep in ruminating for the past 4 months, thinking of how good things were, how i was feeling, all the positive emotions, comparing to the emptiness of the present and it has definitely been harmful..
Is it reversible or the damage done is permanent?