Currently, due to various reasons, GPs are less reluctant in handing out anti-depressants. If you have a friend who works at a pharmacy they’ll tell you about the sudden increase in the number of people taking antidepressants. Around 20% of adults in the UK are said to be experiencing depression.

Let’s clarify that psychotherapy is not the only way to come off of antidepressants but it is a guided way if your mental health is unstable. Understand the following process if you’re looking to help yourself or a loved one come off antidepressants:

1. Understand the situation at the time you started taking antidepressants. At the time did you feel disturbed by life situations or was it due to psychological issues? Situational issues are based on physical health, activities, environment and relationships matters. Psychological issues are more likely to be unresolved issues from your past or simply negative thinking even though your living situation is stable.
2. Once we know what type of cause you were living through at the time you started we’ll need to restore your current situation to match a time where your body was producing good energy. The best way to do this is to talk about your life during a peak phase and then write down what you need more of now to help you experience better energy flow.
3. At this stage your issues have not been cleared, whether they are situational or psychological but we have a route to get your body producing the right energy again. If you decide to reduce your antidepressant dosage you’ll need to make sure your life includes the right amount of positive activity. Activities that help tend to fit into 2 categories: free minded exercising or rewarding/challenging tasks.
4. Reduce the effect of negativity. To get off antidepressants you do not need to have zero hardship in your mind and life. You need to reduce the effect it has on your biology and psychology. The best approach is to have people you can freely speak your mind to and if you do not have this then we need to build positive release mechanisms such as exercising, volunteering, reading etc.
5. Coming off antidepressants will lead you to get anxiety and depression symptoms for 1-3 weeks depending on how long you have been on them. You can stop them gradually by increasing the number of days you miss between taking them. Fundamentally, make sure the people around you know you are going to do this so they can support you.

Antidepressants are not a way to identify if you have depression or not. They are there to keep you mobilitated whilst carrying depression. Your body needs to biologically retain its ability to produce and manage 3 chemicals. Your body is naturally good at managing these and even if you were born with a reduced ability there are good ways to train your body to maintain it. Clearing the reasons for depression is always a priority but if you are keen on coming off antidepressants do not fall into the trap of thinking they are necessary just because you suffer from depression.    

Feel free to reach out if you require further assistance but I really hope this helps you.

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