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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think increasing my antidepressant is a weakness

33 replies

EmmaLouu · 24/09/2022 20:49

I started on sertraline for postnatal anxiety/panic attacks, after the birth of my first child in April. Since then I have more good days than bad and therapy has helped me no end.

However, I had a panic attack last night at 3am. Out of nowhere.. while my husband and baby daughter were safe and sleeping well. I just feel defeated and I’m posting here for traffic.

I want to go back to the doctor but I know they will just say ‘increase your dose’.. I feel I should be able to deal with this unmedicated. My pride is getting in the way… I’m pretty sure I know the answer.

Has anyone else felt the same??

OP posts:
Takingturnstogether · 24/09/2022 20:51

If you were on blood pressure tablets and your blood pressure went up after being stable for a while, would it be a weakness to increase your medication?

YouBoggleMyMind · 24/09/2022 20:52

Nope not a weakness. A sensible decision.

SarahSissions · 24/09/2022 20:53

I think the strongest thing in the world is to admit you need antidepressants and use them properly. So many people refuse to, when from time to time we all need help to regain our equilibrium.

go to the GP, you’ve already been brave enough to admit that you need some support xx

TheChosenTwo · 24/09/2022 20:54

You do know the answer.
And in the kindest way, you know yabu! You wouldn’t think twice about taking stronger antibiotics for a physical illness that needed more help, mental illness is just as valid and important.
look after yourself and see yourself as a priority. And congratulations on the lovely little one, you’ll soon be celebrating her first Christmas, what a lovely time 💐

JamSandle · 24/09/2022 20:55

Not at all. Look after yourself. It's not a failing x

tickticksnooze · 24/09/2022 20:58

I feel I should be able to deal with this unmedicated

Why? You don't necessarily need to increase medication because of a single panic attack or blip - it's normal as a human to have difficult days - but equally it's not a weakness to increase medication if that is the medical advice.

One panic attack is not defeat. It doesn't mean you're failing or weak or relapsing. It just means you're a human who had a less good day. See how things go before you panic about the panic attack.

If you had a headache you wouldn't bang your head against a wall to make it go away - giving yourself a hard time about a panic attack will stress you out and make you more likely to have more.

Go easy on yourself.

Bimblepops · 24/09/2022 20:59

Definitely your pride, I promise you that I’ve felt exactly the same about antidepressants, but it’s just silly!

Medicine is medicine and illnesses are illnesses, whether they are physical or mental. You’d take a paracetamol for pain and top it up with ibuprofen if you needed to…upping the dosage of antidepressants is the same thing.

Also, don’t forget you haven’t actually seen your GP yet, they might not actually suggest changing the dose.

it’s really hard after having a baby, sending you love and strength!

eyestotheleft · 24/09/2022 21:03

In these situations, it's sometimes helpful to be a 'friend', or even just a 'neutral' person to yourself. That is, if a friend was in your position and said to you..'oh I shouldn't increase my dose it's a weakness' What would you advise? What would you say to them? What would you think?

I don't know you..but I bet you would fully support a friend to take a little extra to stabilise them for the time being. You wouldn't see it as a weakness but actually as a strength.

I honestly can't remember where I saw or read it but there is some quite famous quote / saying which is that sometimes we have to use all our strength to ask for help.

I can quite definitely say that medication saved my life, repeatedly. I also know the last thing I am is weak.

Sending love x

OgdensGoneNutFlake · 24/09/2022 21:04

You're already taling them, so this is just tweaking the dosage to help them work.
I was on sertraline after my DS was born, took it for about 2 years and then when I was ready and healthy and well again I came off them, just gently decreased my dosage over a period of 8 months. It's not a weakness to know you need help to be the best mum you can be. When the time is right you can come off them but for now accept the support.

WonkasBooboofixer · 24/09/2022 21:30

If your leg were broken would you take a paracetamol no you'd get it put in plaster. Get the right treatment for your illness.

properdoughnut · 24/09/2022 21:32

What would you tell someone else in your position? Would you tell them they are being weak?

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 24/09/2022 21:34

Only if you think putting a cast on a broken arm is a weakness or chemotherapy treatment is an illness. Anxiety and depression are not failings, they are illnesses. It’s your illness and society’s conditioning which is making you feel this way.

Nothing turns your world upside down like having a baby and going on maternity. Add in that all your hormones going hay wires and I’m guessing sleep deprivation it’s unsurprising you feel this way.

TabithaTittlemouse · 24/09/2022 21:36

I’m on the highest dose of my antidepressants. I have been for 6 months. I’m far from weak and that’s mostly due to my medication.

Wolfiefan · 24/09/2022 21:37

I have asthma. At the moment I need more medication.
I have MH issues. Sometimes I need more medication.
I don’t see either as weakness.

WingingItSince1973 · 24/09/2022 21:39

I was on 50mg for years. Sadly after alot of bad things happened I'm now taking 200 mg daily. Sometimes you just have to take the doctors advice. They may not put the doseage but they may want to increase it by 25-50mg daily and if that helps then thats good. Mental health is awful. I'd rather live feeling happier than go through the depression and anxiety I had xxx

Olivia199 · 24/09/2022 21:40

I'd absolutely agree with PP's. It isn't a weakness, it's a good decision to support you and your family. I was on sertraline for a long time and did find that I developed a level of tolerance where the previous dose just didn't quite cut it anymore. Upped a bit and everything evened back out. Better to sort now rather than a little while down the line when things aren't so great!
Antidepressants aren't a weakness, they're a strength. They're showing that you have the strength to recognise where you're at and do something about it if it isn't right. I always knew I COULD survive without them but that's exactly what it would be. Surviving. I wouldn't thrive, I wouldn't enjoy it. I'd survive. Day in day out. Whereas with them, I got to live my life, a happy life, and feel like myself. Why would I survive when I can thrive?

HelenMirrensWeightedBlanket · 24/09/2022 21:43

I’ve been on ADs since I was 23. I’m 49 now, and I expect I’ll be on them for the rest of my life. I have a lot of flaws, but being weak isn’t one of them. I’m one of the strongest people I know, and that’s partly down to my medication. I view it in the same way I view my diabetic friend taking insulin - I need this medication to survive. Making the choice to take it is a positive, strong thing to do.

Sometimes taking care of yourself means accepting help - think of ADs as the help your GP can give you.

ChampagneCamping · 24/09/2022 21:45

Personally I wouldn’t increase my medication for one panic attack but I would for multiple with no prospect of easing.

Hankunamatata · 24/09/2022 21:49

I was on and off anti d for years. Only got given sertraline after dc1, it really was a lightbulb moment for me. Years on I tried to come off, lasted 6 months, I just wanst a nice person - snappy, irritable, shouting all the time, crying over nothing. I realised much of it was linked to my cycle so for 2 weeks a month I felt awful. Went back on sertraline and have an inner calm, I dont cry all the time, I'm happy, I enjoy life.
Dont let worries about medication stop you feeling well and happy

PrancerandDancer · 24/09/2022 21:55

Today I have marked being on them for 1 year after resisting for years.

I had one panic attack a few months ago a week or so having covid but it felt different. It knocked my confidence but I bounced back much quicker. Probably due to the medication. I never regret going on sertraline. They have improved my life no end. Please don't let your pride stop you from being happy. Its not weak to get the support you need, it's actually incredibly brave.

Mountainpika · 24/09/2022 21:56

As others have said, not being weak. I've taken antidepressants since 2005 and have taken higher and lower doses as needed. Go for it and live your life.

AnnaMagnani · 24/09/2022 22:26

Thinking 'I should be able to manage without antidepressants or I am weak' is a depressed thought in itself.

Nobody manages their asthma with a bit of beating themselves up. Or thinks I'll leave my Epipen at home, it's just weak that I don't eat peanuts so I'll have a peanut sandwich and be fine with a bit of positive thinking.

Anxiety and depression is not a quick thing, one panic attack after months isn't a failure and it's not a competition to get off antidepressants the fastest.

OgdensGoneNutFlake · 26/09/2022 11:30

How are you getting on OP?

AllCreaturesEqual · 26/09/2022 12:03

TabithaTittlemouse · 24/09/2022 21:36

I’m on the highest dose of my antidepressants. I have been for 6 months. I’m far from weak and that’s mostly due to my medication.

This is absolutely bang on. I’m on 200mg of sertraline and I’m almost managing.

Asking for help and knowing when you need it is a strength.

HilarityEnsues · 26/09/2022 12:07

In addition to any medication changes (which you may or may not want to do if it seems a one-off), you could try reading the books of Claire Weekes, a few of us were raving about her on another thread, her books on panic/anxiety are incredibly helpful and she would probably tell you that it is not unusual to have a panic after a period of calm/feeling better, and go through some ways to tackle that for the future. 'Self-help for your nerves; is great if you suffer from nervous exhaustion and high anxiety, and panic attacks, she also wrote a book called 'Pass through panic' as well which may help you.