I have been trying to write for ages but I can never seem to steal the time. Between my new job and house-hunting, I’m exhausted at the end of the day.
I have been trying to go off my anti-anxiety medication for good now. Partly because my worries have subsided somewhat since I moved, partly because I’m on a waiting list to get a new doctor so I have no idea how long it will take to get a refill.
The process has been really frustrating because there is just so little information on what to expect going off the medication. I went to a half dose for awhile and then a half-dose every other day, then (mostly) cold turkey the last week or so. Some of the side effects are annoying but expected, like brain fog, irritation, dizziness, some anxiety, etc.
The biggest difference I’ve noticed is a huge weight gain. This is what makes it so frustrating, because I can’t find anything online about if this is a side effect of going off medication. I just know I’ve had a huge appetite the last month or so, like nothing I eat is satisfying me. I’m trying to get more nutritious food and I’m actually exercising more than ever, but I can’t seem to curb my appetite. I am trying not to cry every time I can’t fit into clothes I’ve worn for years or see the extra layers of fat in the mirror. But I’m a small person and every extra bit of weight shows on me.
As a perfectionist this is so hard on me. I’ve been doing so well fighting my negative thoughts and adjusting to my huge cross-country move and my new job. But if one thing is off, like my weight, I obsess about it and feel like a failure. I usually start the day with good intentions, but after a long day of work I inevitably crash and just want to gorge. I’m not in my own house so I don’t feel like I have any control over the kitchen. I am still settling into a whole new daily routine so it does through one’s food habits off, so I shouldn’t be surprised. Still, it’s one more thing to deal with emotionally that I wish I didn’t have to.
Alice's Anxiety 