Going off meds

I've been on medication, a combination of Wellbutrin and Abilify, for going on two years now. In recent months, the combination hasn't been working and rather than trying to adjust to new medication, I want to return to my pre-med days where I was alert, awake, and alive. I always felt like the meds dulled my ability to really enjoy myself, which was leading to more depressed states anyway.

I'm seeing a therapist once a week right now, and plan on working with her to maintain balance. However, I know there will be inevitable down moments in my future. They never really went away, but it's been years since I experienced a downward spiral without medication.

Has anyone else experienced going off meds and relying on therapy for managing depression?

Can't say I've had the experience of going off meds, since I used them so little. I think your goal here is an admirable one, but I hope you don't go solo when doing it.

About a year and a half ago, I posted a list of my own therapists recommendations. They included things like exercise, being out in the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead. and, importantly nutrition. My therapist makes a point of inquiring of all her patients about their diet, it is appalled by the amount of junk food Americans eat, and believes it contributes to various types of mental illness (she admits the scientific evidence is not as strong as she would like). Keeping regular hours, a healthy sex life (hey, scientifically established- semen contains chemicals that work to counter depression) and, I think yoga are all beneficial to minimizing depression.

Hope these ideas help (hint: they won't help if you don't try them, lol). Please let us know how you progress with your plans.

I hope your doctor knows you're doing it (I guess that's what pistils means by not going solo).

I had a period of five years of remission, 2007-2011 where I was med-free, in therapy and enjoyed life greatly. From what I know about my friends' lives it's not at all unusual. But in my case I first got well on medication, and then VERY slowly tapered off it under psychiatrical supervision.

I tried to taper off my meds around year 2 of when I was originally diagnosed back in the late '90's. I was okay for a while but, started getting panic attacks, and my thoughts were racing in no time flat. The doctor put me back on a different met (celexa) and the side effects were much more manageable. From years of battling depression of my own, and not knowing I had the disease, my brain felt exhausted and I more than happily slept. Each time I woke, my brain felt a little bit better. It's been close to 17 years now, and I'm still noticing improvements in my ability to think, and reason, my ability to feel and connect with others, and my ability to concentrate. Those were things I was never capable of doing once the panic and racing thoughts set in, which grew steadily worse as the disease took over my life.

I hope you are successful in your endeavour but, if you're not, there are other meds out there which may assist you.