That sertraline makes me realise how mental I've been for the last decade (at least)

[glassecase]

Honestly never felt better, well maybe pre-18 years old.

Amazing stuff and I don't feel like I'm 'on' something.

I’ve been suffering for a while now - the past 5 years or so. I’m still so scared to take these. Will they really help me? I can’t carry on living like this.

@funinthesun19

I’ve been suffering for a while now - the past 5 years or so. I’m still so scared to take these. Will they really help me? I can’t carry on living like this.

@funinthesun19 waited 42 years before seeking help. Please speak to your GP. I thought I conquer anxiety alone. I think that word is banded about so often people associate worry (natural) with anxiety (condition). Honestly, I need medication to make me feel normal.

Op I feel exactly the same. It is my biggest regret that I spent the best part of thirty years suffering and not seeking help because I feel so much better on medication.

zazu44 yes I'm on 100mg/day. When I went up to that dose I started to feel the benefit. It's a common dosage level.

insideoutsider.

Yes all that information is on the patient leaflet, together with how big the risks are. Your post came across as very patronising. Have you read the whole thread?

SAME. I'm such a normie now 😂

Oooh insider is going to hate me I tell my patients NOT to read the info leaflet especially the anxious ones. I tell them the main side effects but try not to make the process a scarier one than it needs to be. SSRIs and SNRIs are SO safe these days compared to the old fashioned ones.

I would say - if you try one and it doesn’t work for you, don’t despair. There are others to try and sometimes it’s a real process to find one that works for you. I had a patient who has just tried an SNRI for the first time after years of being on an SSRI, and they feel like they’ve got a new lease of life.

@OliverBabish

Oooh insider is going to hate me I tell my patients NOT to read the info leaflet especially the anxious ones. I tell them the main side effects but try not to make the process a scarier one than it needs to be. SSRIs and SNRIs are SO safe these days compared to the old fashioned ones.

I would say - if you try one and it doesn’t work for you, don’t despair. There are others to try and sometimes it’s a real process to find one that works for you. I had a patient who has just tried an SNRI for the first time after years of being on an SSRI, and they feel like they’ve got a new lease of life.

@OliverBabish I didn’t read the leaflet, I trusted my GP’s judgement and I’m so glad I did. Thank you to you and all the HCP who know what’s best for us.

I don't call mine happy pills, either. I call them my loony pills

And I'm pretty open about taking them, to colleagues and friends. Not to advertise, but to normalise. If I had a bad back I wouldn't see painkillers as a secret shame. This is no different.

And to the charming PP suggesting all the silly mummies read the info that's available on the bloody leaflet before 'begging' the doctor for mother's little helpers... Sheesh.

@teawamutu DH calls them my ‘crazy pills’ as I can’t face going to collect them from Boots so he does. It’s all tongue in cheek because in the 14 years we’ve been together he’s never known me so calm.

@motherrunner I'm sorry you haven't felt like saying it before! Xx

@funinthesun19

I’ve been suffering for a while now - the past 5 years or so. I’m still so scared to take these. Will they really help me? I can’t carry on living like this.

What have you got?

Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and try.

@OliverBabish

Oooh insider is going to hate me I tell my patients NOT to read the info leaflet especially the anxious ones. I tell them the main side effects but try not to make the process a scarier one than it needs to be. SSRIs and SNRIs are SO safe these days compared to the old fashioned ones.

I would say - if you try one and it doesn’t work for you, don’t despair. There are others to try and sometimes it’s a real process to find one that works for you. I had a patient who has just tried an SNRI for the first time after years of being on an SSRI, and they feel like they’ve got a new lease of life.

Love this

Watching this thread with interest

sausagepastapot
I have managed to really prioritise things, discount stupid shit, be more organised, more focussed

This is interesting.

Did you find it made you more motivated eg getting on with home and work stuff that you might have let slide in the past?/that Setraline is good for motivation and kick-starting self generally?

I've had these sat in drawer since before Christmas to scared to take them as was told by gp and also pharmacy that side effects can make you feel worse b4 better. I've had a terrible week this week and ran out of parpanol (get more Mon) so give in an took first one this morning (can't make me feel worse than I do surely). I have a terrible headache and feel sleepy not sure if it side affect or just lack of sleep an if its side effects I can handle it (if don't get worse). Reading this gives me hope tho fingers crossed they work.

Great post & thread

I also don’t want people worrying about withdrawal symptoms if you stop. Yeah, they happen but equally, I often hear patients say “oh yeah I stopped taking mine last month, felt like I didn’t need them anymore” and inside I’m screaming TAPER! Taper the dose down!

This isn’t to say that I don’t value talking therapies - I absolutely do. It’s just for the majority of people I see, they are not in a place where they can just dive right into therapy. They simply can’t do it. The medication takes them back to zero, back to a more neutral state, so that they can start the work from a place that isn’t pure hellish anxiety 24 hours a day or the lowest of lows.

For me, I think I will be on medication for a good while. I’ve been on it now for two years and in that time, I’ve really built up belief in myself that I can manage whereas before I was just jumping from one anxious moment to the next. That’s not to say that I’m reliant on it - I am just very realistic that I need it alongside my coping mechanisms in order to live my life normally.

Please - don’t be ashamed. Don’t be scared. No doctor is going to prescribe you anything that they do not think is suitable for you. Don’t expect it to solve all your problems. DO take it as prescribed, don’t just stop it cold turkey unless there’s a real issue (a reaction or something - rare, but nevertheless). Accept that it might take a while to see a real difference (6 weeks for minor changes in mood typically) and that you might be on them for a while. It’s fine. It’s honestly fine.

Today marked 6 weeks and I'm so much happier. Felt an improvement from day 3 I think, and now feel normal but without intrusive thoughts at 2am and without the feeling of life being an inconvenience

@DeeCeeCherry

sausagepastapot I have managed to really prioritise things, discount stupid shit, be more organised, more focussed

This is interesting.

Did you find it made you more motivated eg getting on with home and work stuff that you might have let slide in the past?/that Setraline is good for motivation and kick-starting self generally?

This last week I've been able to spend several hours at once working at my computer. Previously I'd have wandered off after about 10 minutes or checked my phone or something. I feel like as much as I can't really tell the difference with my anxiety yet, my concentration has improved.

@glassecase

Today marked 6 weeks and I'm so much happier. Felt an improvement from day 3 I think, and now feel normal but without intrusive thoughts at 2am and without the feeling of life being an inconvenience

That’s great long may it continue for you

Improvement from day 3thats good am hoping within 2weeks that's what gp said would be great if sooner tho.

Bit envious of you lot — none of the usual suspects work for me, so I have to take phenelzine, which has worldwide availability problems at the moment meaning I'm always on tenterhooks as to whether I'll be able to get my next batch 🙄

Same for citalopram. After the initial two weeks of feeling a bit heartachy and sick I feel bloody great. Just like me, but on a good day. Like I've woken up in a good mood. I can concentrate and think clearly. I can make decisions. I have more energy. I've had low level depression for years and god this is a relief

This last week I've been able to spend several hours at once working at my computer. Previously I'd have wandered off after about 10 minutes or checked my phone or something. I feel like as much as I can't really tell the difference with my anxiety yet, my concentration has improved

Thank you LindaEllen that's so useful to know