@Kirkstall BlueHaving been on a few of these drugs, I can tell you 'fear' is the biggest reason to stay on antidepressants.
I'm really glad you're finding a way off them as it's a convenient mask.
For me, I didn't find the 'artificial' boost helpful as I couldn't tell it was the real me or not being jovial and cracking jokes or whatever. Before I came off mine I had the huge fear of what would happen next, who would I be, what would I do, etc.
It took a bit of a breakthrough for me to understand the old cliché about "love yourself".
It's true cos who the fook else will love you if you can't love yourself! You will find that people think you're weak and take advantage if you can't, at least, respect yourself.
So I built from there.
Don't get me wrong, I have my down days. My Brother passed away last year and I nose dived, badly. I'm 80% back to being me, but I have his Inquest still hovering over me, yet to come.
You have to understand who you are currently, who you were previously, in order to accept whatever you're going to be in the future as it's all you.
You may not be sunny and light all the time, but that's life and you embrace it. You'll have awesome days and you embrace that too.
Stop running and face it as it's all you. It's YOUR journey and you'll feel more whole than you expect.
Close your eyes and take a deep deep breathe...
Back wax only?!... ffs man, it’s not a wax unless you do sack and crack as well. The woman you’re on the date with will want you bald as a coot mark my words. Glad you have had no trouble getting back in the game, unlike Thorin Oakenshield and his classic thread from over the summer. You sound so talented learning all that stuff in order to do the work on your house. Your kids must be very proud of you. Let us all know how the date went.I did for most of last year. Probably had 2/3 quiet nights on the grog. I only drink alcohol if I'm in good spirits (before downing good spirits!). Before all this I had a massive session when I met my 'new' brothers for the first time. Ace day, but for the next few days I had a really intense doomsday scenario in my head (tbf I drank cider at the end as my brother likes that drink..I'd forgotten cider makes me violently ill!).
Booked into see my doc for next week to discuss withdrawal. As I said above its not so much a big downer I fear once off them, but more I'll lose this really content, confidence 'new me'. I'm hoping I can take that with me. I remember when I first took them it really was like 'being on drugs'...and I can still feel them coursing through me, even on the lowest dose.
Anyway...more importantly I need to book my back wax in if this date goes well tomorrow evening... :)
Cheers.