1st Lexapro Update - Feeling Okay

Hi Klou....I'm sorry that you're experiencing severe anxiety after a too-fast taper then a large updose. Unfortunately, most doctors are not well-versed in how to handle tapering and withdrawal issues. It might take some time for you to stabilize after all those changes. Some people can stabilize in a matter of weeks, but others can take months. Everyone is different. When the anxiety starts level out and you're feeling more 'normal,' that's when you'll know you're ready to taper again. It's crucial that you give yourself this time to hold so you can stabilize. Here is some information that I hope will help: https://taper.community/thread/affd8e83-2361-4973-8f07-76d16744448a https://taper.community/resources/blog/reinstating-after-failed-cold-turkey https://taper.community/resources/blog/how-to-taper-off-lexapro https://taper.community/thread/ff7ce496-025a-4391-95b4-cdd0063f092b

Reinstating when it hit that hard was the right call, and honestly, slowing down to learn before trying again puts you ahead of most people. On kindling: try not to let it loom too large. With Lexapro, that risk is really about repeated rounds of crashing and reinstating, not one too-fast taper you caught and reversed. Your system can resettle from a single hit like that. And the best protection going forward is exactly what you're planning, one slow taper instead of another fast one. The one thing I'd let go of is the mid-July deadline. It's not too soon or too late on its own, it just depends on whether you're actually stable by then. Right now, three weeks in with anxiety still severe and bouncing around, you're not there yet. Wait until you've felt steady for a good stretch, consistent baseline, more good days than bad, nothing crisis-level. And the "is the Lexapro causing the anxiety?" question, I'd shelve it for now. Mid-stabilization, there's no way to tell that apart from leftover withdrawal. You'll get a much clearer read once you're settled.

@Based Psychiatrist Thank you so much for your reply. It's very helpful. I appreciate your input and reassurance re: reinstatement, kindling and a timeline for another taper attempt. I definitely only want to try one more time and to do it right--low and slow. I will be patient and let this experience settle. It's hard when I have the anxiety so often and it is so physical. I understand I should table the question about whether the Lexapro is the culprit of the anxiety. However, if it is, will I ever be settled? The whole reason I tried the too-fast taper to begin with was to see if it was the problem. I was having anxiety symptoms before the withdrawal. It was suggested to me by my provider and my therapist that the Lexapro could either be a) not working anymore or b) the culprit of the anxiety. Will reinstatement help with any of that?

Relying on drugs long-term for anxiety is a poor idea. As you already know. Having anxiety long-term is also a poor idea because it deteriorates your body and health. You need to develop and maintain supportive and effective long-term measures and habits against anxiety. I can help you with that because anxiety is something I definitely have a lot of experience with. My recommendations would be sauna - if your cardiovascular health permits you to go to sauna, sunbathing if your skin health permits you to sunbathe, physical exercise such as long walks and bike riding, summer weather, social time, getting a massage, good diet, getting a cat or a dog, breathing exercises such as 5 fingers breathing and box breathing and other exercises such as Schulz autogenic training or Hof's breathing exercises.

"I guess it's good to know that it can take months instead of weeks. I'm really sad this happened to me. It's really hard." — @Klou

It IS hard, but you're going to be okay! I think acceptance goes a long way during this process. Reach out anytime you need support. 🩷

@Catina Thank you! ❤️