... to feel like I just can't cope, yet can't open up to DH / friends?

[bellainthemiddle]

I'm feeling totally overwhelmed and tearful and panicky and I just don't know how to get over this. I feel like I should be able to pull myself together, but I just can't do it.

The stupidest thing is that I just can't bring myself to open up to DH or my friends... I just want to pretend that everything is fine because I'm worried about worrying people.

I think I just need somebody to tell me to stop being an idiot. Any takers?!

I think stopping anti-depressants suddenly without speaking to a doctor is not a good thing to do, Occidental. Citalopram did me the world of good, but my GP advised to up the dosage gradually over a week or so, and when coming off them he told me how to do it very gradually. He told me not to stop suddenly without coming back to see him. They definitely didn’t make me feel worse at any point.

That's terrible advice @OccidentalPurist. Anti-depressants should not be stopped right away, without the GP's advice and monitoring.

Also, they affect people in different ways, so your experience does not mean that will be OP's experience, and she could come to more harm if she didn't take them. There are also lots of different types, sertraline is usually prescribed for anxiety. If one type of medication doesn't work, then you should try another, until you find the right one for you.

I only advised stopping the ADs immediately as the OP had only just started taking them. As I said in my post, I gradually came off mine over six months.

In mine and other friends' experience though, they are all really bad news unfortunately.

Op you sound absolutely lovely. You will get through this. Please keep communication open with your dh and gp.
Don't keep anything bottled up please!
Anxiety and/or depression can be so hard and i understand your concerns re brexit, i feel the same way. Hopefully when it happens the world won't stop turning.
I have noticed in your posts that you think other people must find your emotions irritating- would you think that about someone else? I think not! No one worth anything is going to find you irritating.
I hope you feel better soon.

I don't feel at all lovely - I feel like a selfish idiot! But thank you all the same. [hug]

Thanks for all the advice and support, everyone. I'm going to stick with the Sertraline at the moment. The doctor did say that in the first few weeks it can actually make you feel a little worse - so maybe that's the case. I'm also taking hydroxychloroquine and naproxen (because of the lupus diagnosis) so I feel like a total drugs junkie and I think that if someone shook me, they'd hear all the pills rattling around inside!

I know the feeling Bella! I'm only on 3 types of medication at the moment, but there are times I'm on loads more! It's those times that I find it difficult, due to having to take them all at different times, so I have to be careful to not get them mixed up. I sometimes feel like a rattle, because of how many I have to take!
My lovely DH sorts them all out for me, once a week, into one of those pill trays with the days and times on them.

You know we're here to talk to, even if you just want a chat, but do talk to your partner.

Hi @bellainthemiddle I've been thinking about you, and was wondering how you're doing. I hope you're ok.

Sounds like I’ve stumbled across an old thread but I’ve also been struggling with this so just wanted to say hi. I was given CBT on NHS and it really is great. I also try doing a gratitude diary every day and a course on my iPad called ‘mastering Anxiety’. I was put on Sertraline but unfortunately it gave me stomach issues and as I have Crohn’s I wasn’t willing to risk it. Some days I feel fine and others I find myself going off into anxiety but the CBT helps me pull myself back in much sooner.