Trying to Lead a Normal Life
Friday, December 1st, 2000 (continued).
Anne said: “I have a test Monday evening, and I am having a hard time trying to get into it.”
Since I’ve been weaning off the Paxil, I’ve been bunked out in my parents’ basement, living with them way out in the country, not doing much of anything, not seeing much of anyone. I was about to enter the second year of my graduate programme when, following my doctor’s orders, I tried to get off the Paxil cold turkey in early July, and my life hasn’t been mine since.
The stuff that I study in university takes some heavy duty brain power, and I knew that I’d never be able to perform at the expected level, so I managed to get a leave of absence from my programme for this year. If I hadn’t been granted a leave of absence, by now I would have failed out of the programme, without a doubt.
All I meant to get at here is how amazed I am that anyone can live a normal life while going through Paxil withdrawal and post-Paxil withdrawal. As well as I’ve been able to keep it together, I don’t think I’d be able to do it if my parents weren’t letting me live with them rent-free and if I hadn’t gotten the leave of absence from my programme.
I give a tip of the hat to anyone who has managed to live a relatively normal life while going through all this. I don’t know how you do it.