Worried I’m slipping back into poor mental health

[Respos]

I’m starting to worry that my mental health is dipping again. Nothing huge has happened, but lots of things feel slightly off at once.
Friends feel less close, there have been cancelled plans and comments that have rubbed me up the wrong way. My husband has just started a new job and feels quite disengaged. My son has been coming home upset about things at school, and another mum recently approached me about a fight between our boys. Money is really tight, I’m the heaviest I’ve been in a long time, and I feel surrounded by a lot of anger and negativity generally.
What worries me is that this time last year i really got a hold on my diet, felt physically healthy, was doing a better job budgeting and was close to my friends but mentally I was heading towards a breakdown at the end of October.
I recently stopped antidepressants because I hoped I could manage things differently, but over the last few days I’ve had more anxiety and some odd physical restlessness too.
I’m functioning, but I just feel vulnerable and a bit “off”. How do you tell the difference between a difficult patch and the start of something more serious?

If I read your post correctly you had a breakdown at the end of October 2025 and are now starting to feel “off”.

Have you looked into SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder? I always start to feel off at this time of year as the days shorten and dusk gets earlier. I use a SAD lamp to help. Also try to get out in daylight at lunch time.

Sorry that you go through this. Weirdly I always felt I had the opposite, much happier in the colder months. But I think in recent years I've really grabbed on to this too much and been disappointed if the season wasn't non stop wonderful.

We are all different and I was just picking up on what you posted. I know people who enjoy the seasons like you do.

I hope you find a solution.

Do you think it was wise to come off the medication? That’s where I would start I think.

As things have been off for you does not mean this is something serious. Give yourself some time to relax, think with a clearer mind about all the issues and if then still it persists, then you could consider something serious. Plus ask some health professional about this and your discontinuation of medicine.

Please excuse what may be an obvious question, but since you are trying to stay off medication (which I applaud!), and since we know that exercise is the single best thing for depression ... are you making a point of getting in some exercise? That might also help if you are saying you're heavier.

It was a hard decision - I just felt a bit numb and thought it would be nice to just how how I feel with no medication. I came off the contraceptive pill around the same time as my husband had a vasectomy a few months ago. Weirdly I also feel kind of worried because I had such a lovely time with my mum this morning and was verging on hyper. It occured to me once or twice that I would be experiencing a massive come down some time today.

Thank you, i do have a tendency to catastrophise and be a bit fatalistic, like so certain I'll never feel ok again.

Really gentle exercise. I didn't mention this but my legs have been hurting quite a lot lately. I did couch to 5k earlier this year and loved it but towards the end I really hurt one of my legs and despite going to a sports rehab centre for treatment, I can't say it's worked brilliantly. I keep putting off going back.

Would this mood not coincide with coming off tne meds a few days ago. Did you do that with your doctors approval?

Been off them a couple of months following a review with the doctor. It was a very quick follow up phonecall and he had no concerns but said to book in an appointment if I experienced symptoms. The idea of going back on them seems such a mess around but maybe I'm wrong.

Do you have any other options? For instance, do you have the option of swimming pool exercising? Would you be able to do gentle cycling?

Also, I feel like an idiot writing this, as I don't exercise at all, but I assume the point is to get your heart pumping and such - so maybe upper body exercises?

What I've found is coming off medication people generally feel the effects 6-8 weeks later. So if it's been a few months that could be why.
I find planning my week out helps so make plans to see family or friends or organise the junk draw or run an errands that has needed to be done. I plan out the meals too. I found it helped give me focus. Maybe plan date night with your husband or as a family even if it's a family walk.
The SAD is real too. I usually get sad in winter but trying to change my mindset a little bit e.g. cosy winter months Christmas etc.
Money is a big trigger in my mental health so I finish budgeting that too helps me but it does take a lot for me to look.
Definitely look into gentle exercise and vitamin D supplements. I understand about medication as I was recently being pushed to go on them post partum but it's like a switch went off in my head that a lot of situations I was in was out of my control the one thing I can control is how I react to situations and how I look after myself and it made such a difference. I told myself unless I was to go on medication which I didn't I have to push myself more to do things that are good for me.
That being said - I gave myself 2 weeks a time to do this and if I couldn't do it I would've gone on medication as I do think it wasn't fair on my partner or myself to see me constantly upset.