Sertraline and Anxiety - My Success Story

[Funnyfishface]

I know when I was at rock bottom and paralysed with anxiety I would trawl these boards to find something that would give me hope. That it is possible to recover from anxiety and panic attacks.
So for those of you who need some reassurance that it is possible to recover. Here is my story.

I have always been confident and outgoing. 4 years ago I went through quite a stressful time and almost overnight I started to get nervous, edgy and experiencing some very strange symptoms. What I now know were panic attacks. I stopped going out. I became afraid of everything including getting stuck in traffic, stuck in a tunnel if on a train, I didn't like car parks, I stopped travelling, I was worried I would need the loo and wouldn't get to one in time, I couldn't go to a restaurant etc my life became so restricted that everything became such a huge effort.

I tried everything, searching for reasons as to why this would happen and how could I put it right. I tried hypnotherapy, regression, crystal healing, cbt, one to one counselling. Linden method, panic away - I have tried them all.

I was prescribed citalopram 10mg. I looked at the box for 3 months before plucking up the courage to take it. Things marginally improved. And I thought that my life would always be that way.

I bought a mindfulness book and cd which is fab. And I busied myself. I got a part time job. The first week was awful. I didn't think I would be able
To continue. But I did. I went back to my gp after the first day at work and sobbed. I needed this job to help me get better. I switched to sertraline and started to improve.

I have stopped doing my 'safety things' like carrying a bottle of water and medication everywhere. My bag was full of rescue remedy, paracetamol, diazepam. I would go to the loo 5 times before leaving the house. I would check for windows and exits on entering buildings. I don't do that now.

I'm back travelling on trains, planes and I am 90% back to the old me.

My family found it very difficult to understand. I have fantastic friends who have unconditional love and patience. Without them my recovery would have been so much longer.

I am kind to myself now. I know my limitations and say no if I can't take on something. I am much stronger.

I wanted to share my story to give others hope. You can and will recover xx

[heart]

Funnyfishface.....That's really encouraging, I suffer from a fear of vomiting which rules my life and there are so many things I can't do it's ridiculous!

I've just started a thread about finally trying to take AD's. I've been given Citalopram....would you say it wasn't very good for you then?.....I'm desperate for something to work

I am on sertraline for PND & severe anxiety. I'm on 100mg increased from 50mg. I feel marginally better after 8 weeks of taking them but I still feel so very anxious.

When did Sertraline "kick in" for you?

I have GP on Tues, do I tell him all this ie it's been 8 weeks still not feeling great, anxiety high but I am without doubt finding it easier to cope with difficult DC 7.5mths.

How long does one give AD's?

Very, very happy for your success! Well done

Hi daisycat - everyone reacts to different meds. For me citalopram improved things marginally. But I had a rough time getting on them. Side effects were quite difficult. I had terrible insomnia. And I was scared to stop or change. When I started my job the anxiety was heightened and I was in such a desperate state I went back to the gp.
I was persuaded to switch that day to sertraline. I was absolutely terrified of side effects. I trusted my gp. I had no side effects whatsoever. The difference was almost instant.

Thejourney22 - I keep a daily journal so I can see exactly how far I have come. And there are times when you don't think you have improved at all but when you read back and you can see your own words it's amazing.

I would say the first three months were up and down. And if I had anxiety it would take a week to recover. Sometimes taking myself off to bed.
On the odd occasion I get a panic/anxiety attack now I can sit through it, control my breathing and within an hour I'm sorted.
I would be honest with your gp. But accept its early days.

You will both get through this and come out stronger the other side x

Thanks for sharing Funnyfishface.

Thanks Fishface .... most encouraging

I've just come off sertraline as i found the side effects were worse than the benefits. It really helped with anxiety but not the depression in my case, and made me completely exhausted more than usual.

Thanks funny. Good to hear. I'm havin a bit of a wobble this week had headache for several days now and feel a bit shaky and have that horrible feeling in my tummy. So it good to hear a positive story.

That's great news funny . it's really good to hear a positive story, I think a lot of people come on here when they feel low but don't say when they are better so you are never sure if they have recovered.

Hi - I was never depressed. It was anxiety and panic attacks. And it hit me like a bolt out of the blue. I hit rock bottom and I thought that I would never recover.
It's a vicious circle then - you worry about everything - you take action and stop doing the things that you love for fear of having an attack or funny episode - your world slowly closes in and before you know it you can't leave the house.
When I read my journal back I can't believe how far I have come. And if I can do it so can all of you.
If I can offer any advice or help anyone please message me and I will x