To quit taking antidepressants - Hex 38 uc

[Medusazul]

Good morning all!

I've been taking a minimum dose of antidepressants for quite a while now (5 years). I don't take it because I get sad. I take it to avoid having panic attacks, trauma triggerings of all kinds, and general anxiety. It has been a long road since I was 17... To be in the world with fear.

So... I've been thinking about quitting, even though my therapist says it's not the time yet.
A week ago, I started taking half a pill, and I've been feeling a bit anxious and sick. This morning I asked Yi, what would be the results of quitting this pill, and I got 38uc.

At first, it seemed to tell me not to do it. But then, reading Trojina's look at it, I'm hesitating.

Seems to me like 38uc can feel much like the experience of drinking a fizzy drink, bubbles up your nose, frisson, it's enlivening and sparky and refreshing. Yes, looking back on my 38uc castings they aren't dull.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your kind analysis of this.

 

[Hans_K]

Please don't experiment with something as important as your mental health. If you feel something needs to change about your medication go see a doctor, but don't consult an oracle.

So... I've been thinking about quitting, even though my therapist says it's not the time yet.
A week ago, I started taking half a pill, and I've been feeling a bit anxious and sick.

Please let this be an indication that you should not experiment with this and listen to your therapist.

At first, it seemed to tell me not to do it. But then, reading Trojina's look at it, I'm hesitating.

The fact that you start doubting when you read someone else's explanation already indicates that an oracle in this case, is not the right way to come to a decision on something so important.

 

[Medusazul]

Thanks, Hans, I believe the same. You are absolutely right.

Anyway, I always consult the oracle to talk to myself and reflect, not to decide on significant things like this. I consider Yi to be very wise and compassionate, and the mindful act of reading and thinking about it from different angles gives me peace of mind.

The fact that you start doubting when you read someone else's explanation already indicates that an oracle in this case, is not the right way to come to a decision on something so important.

So true

 

[Trojina]

Good morning all!

I've been taking a minimum dose of antidepressants for quite a while now (5 years). I don't take it because I get sad. I take it to avoid having panic attacks, trauma triggerings of all kinds, and general anxiety. It has been a long road since I was 17... To be in the world with fear.

So... I've been thinking about quitting, even though my therapist says it's not the time yet.
A week ago, I started taking half a pill, and I've been feeling a bit anxious and sick. This morning I asked Yi, what would be the results of quitting this pill, and I got 38uc.

At first, it seemed to tell me not to do it. But then, reading Trojina's look at it, I'm hesitating.


Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your kind analysis of this.

There is some danger in picking out bits of commentary in place of what the I Ching says. Better to read what Yi says first and foremost and then read what people feel or think about it.

I agree it wouldn't be wise to make a decision about stopping the meds based solely on Yi's answer. Nonetheless it can be interesting to get Yi's views on where you are with the meds, get the 'story' of you and the meds according to Yi. It's natural to ask, I have many times with various medications. Generally though I haven't understood the answers until way after the meds have ended etc etc.

Yi says

Oracle
'Opposing.
Small affairs, good fortune.'

Image

'Fire above, lake below. Opposition.
The noble one thus both harmonises and divides.'


Looking at my journal now I see 38 occurring where there is somewhere in the situation a completely different perspective/way of doing things I haven't quite seen yet. The quote of mine you posted reminds of 38 as the basis for much humour, jokes land on a 38 place in our brains as something so off the path, so what we hadn't expected, so on a different wave length it's funny. You'll see 38 in misunderstandings which also can be funny. I'm not saying 38 is funny in itself and yet the word 'funny' in the different sense we use it in English as 'unusual' also applies. "That's funny I did not leave a banana on my bed but there is one there." This is something out of place, unexplained and yet explainable if we look at it with a different eye. I think the character or is it ideograph (I don't know) shows eyes looking in different directions. Taking the Image with your name in we have

'Fire above, lake below. Opposition.
The noble one, Medusazul, thus both harmonises and divides.'

Why is it a good idea to realize the reality of differences in perspective while at the same time harmonizing?

Because

'Opposing.
Small affairs, good fortune.'

When things are so disparate, diverging in viewpoint it can only remain beneficial when kept quite small or balanced. And there can be with 38 one tiny factor one has overlooked that changes the whole look of the landscape, while it still being the same landscape. So the interesting exercise to do with 38 is to cast about in your mind for perspectives you hadn't even thought of.

How does this apply to your question? Well like Hans I think you have to take the advice of your therapist but what might 38uc be saying to you about this generally?

So... I've been thinking about quitting, even though my therapist says it's not the time yet.
A week ago, I started taking half a pill, and I've been feeling a bit anxious and sick. This morning I asked Yi, what would be the results of quitting this pill, and I got 38uc.

At first, it seemed to tell me not to do it. But then, reading Trojina's look at it, I'm hesitating.

I don't think it's possible to take this as 'yes stop' or 'no don't stop' it seems to be more advice for an experiment in how you think about this. What would be a completely different way to view this? What if you turned it upside down and saw it the opposite way ? I don't know how that would apply but it's for you to play with.

Also a different way of doing it, doing the reduction might be talking to the Dr about a different medication to wean you off the other one or a different form of the medication you take now. I say this as reducing by cutting pills in half can be a bit clunky. That is the body may need a very gradual reduction and so with some meds there can be a liquid form which allows more gradual reduction. Probably not with anti depressants but in any case seems worth talking to a medical Dr, one who prescribes the meds about your reduction. I'm thinking the therapist isn't someone who deals directly with prescribing meds? You need a two pronged approach possibly (very 38) one from the Dr on a pharmaceutical level and one from the therapist.


I think it helps to think about 38 as the structure of humour not because 38 situations we find ourselves in are funny but because in helps to get the flavour of 38. Another staple of comedy, at least here in the UK, is an actor playing someone who feels they are very refined or clever but everyone else can see they aren't. It's a mismatch between 2 perceptions, our perceptions of self and others perceptions of us is used in comedy a lot

 

[Medusazul]

Yes, Trojina, it's quite like that. My therapist is not a medical doctor, and he advised me not to stop. On the other hand, I saw a psychiatrist two years ago, and he advised me to stop. I need to check again with him and come up with a safe way to do this.

I'm feeling Yi is talking to me because I feel emotionally great taking the pills, but I don't wanna go on, because I believe is bad for the brain to take it for so long.

 

[Trojina]

Another thought is if you are only taking a half tablet it might be you have in fact already quit so to speak. Fear of letting go of meds like this can cause anxiety in itself. Now, I have no idea what your body is dealing with these meds right now I can only say that I have found sometimes I have had great trepidation about stopping certain meds, reduced them gradually then forgotten to take them for a day or two and then realised it's okay, my body isn't hooked. It will be different for you of course that's just a thought.

I need to check again with him and come up with a safe way to do this.

That's a very good idea. He might even say your dose is so low you have as good as come off them already.

I'm feeling Yi is talking to me because I feel emotionally great taking the pills, but I don't wanna go on, because I believe is bad for the brain to take it for so long.

I'd hazard a guess (without knowing) you are kind of almost off these already, it's not a big hurdle to go the extra half tablet maybe. But seeing your psychiatrist is a good idea and also not forcing yourself if you feel bad is a good idea. You are taking a very low dose so I shouldn't worry it will harm you, these days these medications are pretty safe I believe.

Also your therapist knows you well and perhaps it's a matter of timing. Like if you are going through a hard time it's not going to be the best time to adjust your meds. Maybe the therapist takes that into account in advising you as is 'yes it's a good long term goal to come off the meds and indeed you are at least half way there already but be kind to yourself and don't force it if you aren't ready'.