Hi,
I am happy that you are able to recognise your symptoms and also fairly flexible with your medications. And I also understand that medications are not always the the remedy for psychological disturbances, but medications to help to manage the symptoms and help be happy.
Saying so ,when to taper the medications ? and when to stop the medication?, this question is quite complex. Time duratio varies from patient to patient, and a decision should be taken by two people, that is the therapist and the patient.
In your case after reading the the history and your experience and your decision to reduce the medication and stop, I do respect it, but at the same time yes there are disturbances when you stop the medications, you might experience disturbances known as withdrawal symptoms and sometimes if a good course of medication is not given and also during the medication if you have not learnt the psychotherapy skills to manage your depression, anxiety or OC symptoms, then there is a fair chance of relapse or recurrence.
Most of the times people who experience the symptoms or disorders of depression or anxiety or OCD, do you have a sensitive personality or emotional personality. Sensitive personality people do you have lots of positive, strengths and also so good with intelligence and might be very good in their profession, but at the same time they find it very difficult to handle emotionally stressful conditions and become disturb and can show range of symptoms of anxiety, depression and also OCD, if they continue to encounter repeated emotional stresses during their life. It is very difficult to take criticism, can become easily angry or easy proved, aur tend to be alone ok, decreased social activities, decreased number of friends, like to be alone , talk less and also be an introvert.
There is nothing wrong in having a sense to personality, if a person doesn't accept these limitations then the guilt cycle starts and that would increase lots of questions and doubts about themselves, this can create low confidence, low self esteem, sometimes helplessness, irritability and sleep disturbances.
Next Steps
you should taper your medication, not only based on your duration of medication , but also based on how good you have learnt yourself to cope up with the stress or any kind of symptoms of depression or anxiety.
life is full of challenges, so you would encounter lot of stress full situations and might again experience these emotional disturbances,
so learn coping techniques, skill to handle any kind of stressful situations. learn to accept one self, accept that no human is perfect so even I am not perfect but let Milan how to accept myself and be happy.
there are very good psychotherapeutic techniques like CBT , acceptance therapy, life skills, positive psychology.
so meet a psychiatrist who can look after your medications and also have a very good psychotherapeutic skills and also can impart you positive psychology to look at your positive capabilities and skills and improve them
Health Tips
useful tips for coping with stress and improving your positivity
1. learn relaxation techniques like deep breathing, in deep breathing give more importance for breathing out part
2. learn mindfulness or get coached or
trained in mindfulness
3. learn and practice yoga
4. learn and practice meditation
5. learn progressive muscle relaxation techniques
6. learn new lifestyle changes which keeps you healthy and happy, like early morning regular physical exercise, balanced diet which includes good amount of vegetables and fruits,
7. keep yourself well hydrated
8. spend quality time with family , work can be stressful even though sometimes we enjoy
9. good social network
10. above all first we should decide that, we have to be happy
if you require any help with medications or with psychotherapeutic techniques or positive psychology, you can contact me as I am a qualified psychiatrist and psychotherapy and a positive psychologist