Been feeling increasingly strange and now quite worried

[Worrtu]

Over the last week I’ve felt really strange. I can’t really describe it properly but maybe a bit spaced out and almost like I could fall asleep but also very anxious. I’ve taken sertraline (50mg) for a couple of years which helped my anxiety. Not sure if that’s relevant. I also haven’t been sleeping the best but also not terribly.

I feel really cross, upset and sensitive. It’s in my ‘good’ part of my cycle too so this is supposed to be the time I’m calmer and happier. Tonight I feel like my eyes aren’t focusing properly and im not in pain but just feel so so weird.

I have a 3 year old in their bed and a lone parent so I’m starting to panic a bit. Has anyone else experienced this?

Call 111 and talk to them

That is how i feel sometimes when anxiety is bad, especially the vision bit. Why don't you go to the GP? It doesn't sound urgent to me but I would definately get checked.

Could be the heatwave - dehydration?

@lightseeker it’s not been that hot today and I’ve drank quite a lot. @YellowSummers I don’t know why I am getting more anxious though as im still on the sertraline?

How old are you?

How long have you been on Sertraline and thst specific dose? It needs to be altered from time to time.

I felt really awful yesterday - like I had the worst hangover (without the drinking, unfortunately). I'm sure it was heat related, even though i thought i was hydrated a d it was cooler.

I’m 38.

I’d ring 111 for advice. Do you have anyone you can call to come and sit with you, or watch the baby whilst you go to an and e. I think you should be checked

@Temporaryname158 my parents wouldn’t help at this point in the evening and would cause more stress rather than less. Don’t have anyone I could ask they’re all busy with their families

I’d feel a bit crazy calling 111

Yes that's brain fog.

Tiredness, stress, heat etc all causes. Very much doubt it's anything physical if there's no other symptoms.

Being a lone parent to a 3 year old & then having problems sleeping would definitely cause that.

Can you get any more time to yourself, anyone that can help with childcare, can you fund nursery even for a few hours a week.

Are you getting out with friends or mum friends for a coffee /soft play to help with loneliness & stress.

I’m not a medical person, so just sharing in case it helps - I had awful side effects when I stopped taking sertraline, really dizzy and spaced out, like I would just black out for a few seconds. Might be the dosing like a PP suggested?

I get that. Almost like you've disappeared. Doesn't last long and am sure it's hormonal? I'm a lot older than you though post menopause.

I hope it passes soon. Have you eaten much today? Can you have a nice relaxing bath? __

why? they are there to help!

I get a similar feeling with migraine. Have you ever had any?

As you are alone with your DS, would it reassure you to tell someone in real life, so they can check in with you tomorrow? DM always tells me if she’s under the weather, just in case she gets worse overnight.

Firstly, you should always get checked out properly.

But secondly, I have always been sensitive to hormonal shifts. I asked how old you are because I think it could be the start of some changes towards peri menopause. Doctors always say you're too young but I have friends who started with symptoms around 38-40.

I have always felt totally exhausted the week before my period... sometimes couldn't keep my eyes open... feeling spaced out etc. I'm nearly out the other end of menopause now ...

Also the only migraines I ever had were triggered by hormonal changes.

I would keep a tracker if your cycle and symptoms.

But do check with your GP about your meds

Thanks everyone. Could I be getting used to sertraline and the dose not working anymore?

It could be a deficiency. I felt similar when I had iron deficiency. I've known people feel that way and improve with magnesium supplements too.

It sounds very much like your anxiety is peaking !.
Are U overtired ,?
My son's gets the vision thing and that's when I know he is struggling with his anxiety and he will be burning out .
Try and have a bath and relax anday e ask your GP for some talking therapy x

And missing a dose or 2 causes this I just re read another post my son does this occasionally and has those exact symptoms!

My iron has actually drastically dropped recently to 14 (ferritin). Perhaps it is that

It very well could be iron related – when my ferritin dropped to 24 my anxiety shot up, and I almost felt a bit derealised, sometimes for days in a row, despite being on fluox that usually managed it. Your levels should be at least 80. Mine is 32 now and I already feel better. You should be taking at least 120 mg of iron supplements a day.

Do you suffer with migraines ?

I have hemiplegic migraines with aura and sometimes the prodrome arrives a couple of days before the migraine. Sometimes I will feel spacey, my vision is blurry or strained, and I just feel generally ill at ease, and fuzzy round the edges. Then the aura (numbness, slurring, blind spots) kicks in - the first time it happened, I did the FAST test thinking I was having a stroke. After the aura comes the headache and once that passes I'm fine until the next one. It is anxiety inducing but it is a chronic condition, not an emergency. While I really hope you don't have this, it's something to consider. Either way it is worth visiting your GP to rule out / diagnose the problem. Hope you feel better soon.

14 is very low. You need supplements.

I feel like this with too much coffee- really like you described, spaced out/wired but also tired and on edge. Could it be too much caffeine? I went cold turkey a few days ago and already feel an improvement