Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I'm so stupid - anxiety and can't take the meds (sertraline)

19 replies

PinkLemonadee · 15/02/2026 20:56

I'm so fucking stupid, honestly. I've had extremely bad anxiety to the point where some days I struggle to get out of bed. I've had a small prescription of diazapam which helped loads but now isn't helping much at all. I was prescribed fluloxitne which gave me terrible diarrhoea so I couldn't continue taking them and now have sertraline which I'm terrified of taking.

I know it's stupid but I feel so damn stuck. I absolutely fed up of having exactly no life - I can't even go to the shops because of the horrible physical activity and panic attacks. I spent my mum's funeral on Thursday basically out of my head on diazapam.

I know the medication will probably help me but I'm so scared of feeling worse that I just can't take them. Can anyone please kick some sense into me?!

OP posts:
MatJas · 15/02/2026 20:59

I also have awful anxiety so u have my sympathy, I’ve been on medication for 20 years now and in the beginning had a few of the side effects an was terrified of them so much I used to half a capsule to take incase I got a nasty side effect, eventually I realised that most of the side effects don’t last long and the benefits outweighed them anyway, please try and take them as I’m sure you will feel the benefits within a short time

MissCooCooMcgoo · 15/02/2026 21:03

PinkLemonadee · 15/02/2026 20:56

I'm so fucking stupid, honestly. I've had extremely bad anxiety to the point where some days I struggle to get out of bed. I've had a small prescription of diazapam which helped loads but now isn't helping much at all. I was prescribed fluloxitne which gave me terrible diarrhoea so I couldn't continue taking them and now have sertraline which I'm terrified of taking.

I know it's stupid but I feel so damn stuck. I absolutely fed up of having exactly no life - I can't even go to the shops because of the horrible physical activity and panic attacks. I spent my mum's funeral on Thursday basically out of my head on diazapam.

I know the medication will probably help me but I'm so scared of feeling worse that I just can't take them. Can anyone please kick some sense into me?!

Op, I felt exactly the same before I started taking it!

I bargained with myself and I split mine in half and took 25mg for a week before going up to 50mg.

Whats scaring you the most?

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 15/02/2026 21:04

Thank you. I think I'm just really scared of the anxiety getting worse because I can't take it. I'm so tired of feeling like this.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 15/02/2026 21:05

MissCooCooMcgoo · 15/02/2026 21:03

Op, I felt exactly the same before I started taking it!

I bargained with myself and I split mine in half and took 25mg for a week before going up to 50mg.

Whats scaring you the most?

Show quote history

It says it can increase the anxiety for a bit and genuinely I don't think I could take it. I literally went to the supermarket with my friend today and was so physically anxious I never even left the car. It's like something in my body is broken.

OP posts:
Bababear987 · 15/02/2026 21:07

You can only feel better by taking it, if you have any side effects you just stop (under supervision of doctor.)
If you dont take it, anxiety this bad will not get better by itself generally.

StarsAndFishes · 15/02/2026 21:08

I felt the same before I took it, I am now the same about another medication that will no doubt help me lots but I’m scared of the side effects and the general ‘what if’, anxiety is hard work, what you are struggling through now is harder than any side effects and if they don’t suit you your GP can help you taper down and try something else. I my case they gave me enough clarity to get help and feel like I had space to think. It’s a leap of faith but you can do it, all the logical reasoning is on the side of taking it, take that leap of faith

MissCooCooMcgoo · 15/02/2026 21:09

OK, here's how it went for me.

Forced myself to take half for a week. Nothing changed. Not worse not better, went up to 50mg and again felt no worse or better, until I got to day 14 and woke up feeling marginally less shit.

It got better from then on.

You can do this OP. I believe in you. You do NOT have to live like this.

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 15/02/2026 21:16

Thank you. I know it's utterly stupid but my aunt died in front of me from a medication reaction when I was a teenager and it's left a bloody deep fear in me.

Thinking of starting with 12.5mg which is a quarter of a tablet if that sounds reasonable?

OP posts:
MissCooCooMcgoo · 15/02/2026 22:41

PinkLemonadee · 15/02/2026 21:16

Thank you. I know it's utterly stupid but my aunt died in front of me from a medication reaction when I was a teenager and it's left a bloody deep fear in me.

Thinking of starting with 12.5mg which is a quarter of a tablet if that sounds reasonable?

Great idea 😊 I'll wait whilst you get it down you ❤️

MissCooCooMcgoo · 15/02/2026 22:42

And it's not stupid. Anxiety is not rational. Be kind to yourself.

MissCooCooMcgoo · 16/02/2026 10:49

@PinkLemonadee how are you doing?

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 16/02/2026 12:57

I ended up falling asleep last night and not taking it but I have an appointment with my GP in about an hour for a chat about other options and I've booked a counseling session with a local therapist who's apparently very good at 4pm

Might be baby steps but hopefully in the right direction

OP posts:
Gnomer · 16/02/2026 13:56

Well done for taking some positive steps OP. I hope the dr and therapist are helpful.

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 19/02/2026 11:44

I've just taken 1/4 of a tablet. Anxiety is pretty high ATM but it also feels like a positive step. I'm just hoping it helps 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

OP posts:
CapitanSandy · 19/02/2026 13:16

Well done. You’ve done the hardest bit taking it for the first time. I hope it’s helpful.

EdwinStarrTheBackStreetsNSoul · 19/02/2026 13:47

I'm on 150mg sertraline it definitely helps with my 100mph thought patterns when anxiety about situations arise .
IE straight to worst case scenario.

MissCooCooMcgoo · 19/02/2026 14:24

PinkLemonadee · 19/02/2026 11:44

I've just taken 1/4 of a tablet. Anxiety is pretty high ATM but it also feels like a positive step. I'm just hoping it helps 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

YES well done op 😊

It's going be OK. Just keep going now don't stop.

Original poster
PinkLemonadee · 19/02/2026 18:03

Thank you!

I'm really hoping that it'll stop the horrible physical anxiety symptoms because I can't deal with them for much longer. I want my life back!

OP posts:
MissCooCooMcgoo · 19/02/2026 18:11

PinkLemonadee · 19/02/2026 18:03

Thank you!

I'm really hoping that it'll stop the horrible physical anxiety symptoms because I can't deal with them for much longer. I want my life back!

It's so horrible isn't it.

I had constant panic attacks with barely a break in between for 2 solid weeks before I sought help. This followed a full on panic in the office at work.

I felt generally unwell, dizzy, sick, heart beat 100 miles an hour. I lost 11lb in 4 weeks because I couldnt force any food down. Honestly thought I was dying.

It can get better though op. Sertraline saved my life and I don't say that lightly.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page