'I value my life.'    Wow, I definitely needed to see that in writing this morning.  That was a great wakeup sentence for me - I am dealing with a few stressors right now, and these 4 simple words really kicked me in the patootie!!!   Thank you Rhonda for your postings - I really appreciate them.  Have a peaceful Thursday.  ~Debra~

05/21 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY
"The language of friendship is not words, but meanings," wrote Thoreau.  Life indeed takes on new meanings, as well as new meaning in The Program.  To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends -- this is an experience not to be missed.  CAN I RECALL MY INITIAL REACTIONS WHEN I CAME TO THE PROGRAM?  DO I BELIEVE THAT I'VE FINALLY COME HOME?

TODAY I PRAY
As The Program has given life new meanings for me, may I pass along to others that same chance to re-evaluate their lives in the light of sobriety, common purpose, friendships and spiritual expansion.  Praise God for my new vision of human life.  Praise Him for restoring for me the value and purpose of living.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
I value my life.

Thanks sweetie..

BTW how is the loss going?? I haven't talked to you in a while..

I've been on Wellbutrin and Prozac for 12 years. Last year I just HAD to try weaning off of both, one at a time, of course. My prescribing therapist advised me to take B12, Omega 3, and a bunch of other vitamins I don't remember but the B12, & Omega 3 were the most critical.

My first problem was that I was spending more time and money taking the vitamins than the meds. I still try to keep up with the B12, & Omega 3, and a multivitamin but after a hellish year went back to the meds.

The second problem was the subjective nature of my symptoms clouded my ability to gage whether or not the weaning was successful. It was not. That's just me, but DH was very well aware of the risks and what to look for. Twice he tried to get me to see the therapist and twice I broke the appointment. I railed against him thinking he was one of those men who don't understand women and/or depression and every time we had an argument it was all too convenient to blame the meds-which pissed me off even more.

The third problem was a real eye opener. I had PHYSICAL symptoms: sensitive skin, swelling ankles, all over aches and pains that were debilitating, really. I blamed my weight (BMI 40) and saw my Primary who suggested an antihistamine, which got me to thinking about the WB and Prozac again...she wrote the script and all I can say is bless her heart.

The thing is that I was watchful for the old symptoms of anxiety and foggy headedness to return but my symptoms had merely morphed into other forms when I went off the meds! Of course if you've heard it once you've heard it a thousand times: Everyone is different and psychotropic drugs are as much an art as they are a science. This is just my story so I thought I'd share.

One more quick thot: Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to provide relief from addictions such as food, smoking, etc and associated with weight loss.

PS While it took another full nine months to fully recover from my hiatus, the aches and pains dissapeared within weeks.  So much for depression being all in my head!

Thanks for the update Mike!