MAFS star Domenica Calarco details 'tough' journey coming off antidepressants after 15 years

By Kate Dennett For Daily Mail Australia 14:58 27 Jun 2024, updated 15:38 27 Jun 2024

• READ MORE: Domenica Calarco breaks her silence as she finishes 21 days at a mental health retreat after 'traumatic' experience on Married At First Sight
• If you have been affected by this story, call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or visit their website lifeline.org.au

Domenica Calarco has revealed that she has come off her antidepressants for the first time in 15 years as she gave a mental health update.

The Married At First Sight star, 31, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a video of herself from her 21-day stay at a private mental health facility in New South Wales.

Dom has spoken openly about her mental health struggles in recent weeks after suffering a 'major depressive episode', and has now detailed her medication changes.

In her latest video, Dom gave an insight into her 'tough' medication journey and told how she was coming off sertraline after feeling like the antidepressant wasn't working anymore.

Sertraline is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase the amount of serotonin in the brain.

Dom explained that her doctor was weaning her off sertraline for the first time in 15 years with a plan to 'transition' to a new antidepressant - which she has since started.

'So this is the reality of changing medication,' she shared. 'Last night, my doctor, we had a meeting and we wanted to try and see if my old medication that I was on was actually working.

'I just have felt for a while now that it hasn't been working, so I was like I think we need to transition to something new. So that's what we're doing.'

Dom went on to detail some of the tough physical symptoms she experienced during her first few days of medication withdrawal, including heart palpitations.

'The brain zaps are so intense right now and the nausea is very bad, I haven't eaten much today,' she explained in one clip.

Dom said it was the hardest thing she has ever put her body through and spoke about the difficulties of coming off her medication amid a 'major depressive episode'.

'My journey coming off prescribed SSRI anti depressants on top of battling a major depressive episode and an anxiety disorder has to be the toughest physical thing I've ever put my body through,' she wrote in a caption.

'I will be forever grateful for the doctors and nurses at the clinic I was in who helped guide me not only with counselling but new medications that are starting to take effect. 

'Today marks two weeks of being off the SSRI medication I was on for 15 years. I am still feeling the withdrawal symptoms but each day is getting better and better.'

Her latest update comes just days after Dom first spoke out about completing her 21-day program at a mental health facility.

She reactivated her page on Sunday and offered a lengthy explanation of what she has been going through in a video taken at the facility on the day of her discharge.

'It's safe to say it's been a little while. I wanted to take this moment to have an honest and heartfelt conversation with you all who've been with me through thick and thin,' she began.

'As many of you know I've been on a break for the past month to focus on my mental health. This journey has been incredibly challenging but also deeply transforming for me.'

Dom said she needed the time to 'heal, reflect and gain a better understanding of herself' and thanked fans for their support during the difficult time.

The reality TV star explained how she had 'spiralled into a deep depression' over a month ago and 'couldn't see a way out'.

'I had a lot of trauma that I didn't work through from my childhood and I know that now. And then I went through a divorce in my 20s and then MAFS which in itself was an incredible experience but also quite traumatic,' she shared.

'I didn't want to suffer with my mental illness in the way that I was upon reflection I realised that I was putting my happiness in the hands of other people.'

Dom said she had 'reached a point where I no longer wanted to suffer' and started her journey towards happiness again with her stay at the mental health facility. 

'I'm in charge of my own joy and it's time for me to enjoy my life again and realising that I'm happy with the person I'm becoming is just really life changing for me,' she added.

Dom vanished from the spotlight following criticism from Bachelor star-turned-podcaster Abbie Chatfield.

The backlash arose after she and fellow MAFS bride Ella Ding hosted controversial groom Jack Dunkley on their podcast, Sit With Us.

If you have been affected by this story, call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or visit their website lifeline.org.au.