I don't want to take the meds.can I do this without them?

[Privateandconfidentialplease]

I have read some of the posts on here and the leaflet contained within the sertraline tablets. I wasn't keen on taking them anyway but I have been trying to deal with my increasing anxiety and depression for a year or so and I am not doing very well.
But the side affects really worry me. I know lots of people just get common side affects but even those worry me, let alone the rare ones. I hate taking anything, especially things that will make me feel ill or interfere with my periods. Yeah, I guess that is what is worrying me. That and putting on weight. I am feeling miserable about my weight anyway so I don't want to make it worse.
I am just scared of how this would affect me. Maybe I will have another go at dealing with this myself. The doctor has put me on the list for cognitive behavioural therapy so maybe that will help. I only saw the doctor today as I just couldn't go before now. I reached my limit last Friday so had to ask for help finally.
Does anyone know whether cognitive behavioural therapy is good? I don't know anything about it.
Did anyone put on weight with sertraline? And did it give you irregular, painful periods? or any other side affects aside from sickness or tiredness?
Thank you, I don't have anyone in RL that I feel i can confide in. I keep swinging from wanting to manage myself, to taking the meds if it means it helps.

I have a doctor's appointment in a week and a half. There is a part of me that is worried to change to a different ad. Maybe it will work but if it doesn't can they not increase the dose one more time?

My oh doesn't understand. He said to me earlier that if the ad's aren't working I can just stop taking them. I did say I wasn't doing too well beforehand but he wasn't listening at that point. He is doing more around the house at the moment which helps and I know he doesn't really know what to say but I guess I feel I can't confide in him much. I can't throw much at my best friend either as she has alot on her plate and I don't want to be thought of as the miserable friend. I saw my dad earlier and told him, he was lovely bless him but he didn't have much time. He asked why did I feel that way and I said I didn't know.
I really only have this forum to talk about it because you understand.

Hello Private Sertraline dose can go up to 200 mg so if you are not feeling better by the time of your appt, increasing the dose again is an option to discuss with your dr. But you have another week and a half before then so perhaps that won't be needed. I know what you mean about swapping to another ad being a worry, but if you are on 100mg (?) there is probably still scope to increase if needed before you and your dr need to consider that.

for the bird poo incident. I once went for a day trip to London, walked out of King's Cross station and a huge bird poo splatted on my head and jacket - great start to the day. Agree re the surprising size of bird poo - we have chickens and I am constantly surprised at the size of some of their droppings - huge.

It's a shame your oh is not really seeming to be understanding what you are going through. I think its really tricky for partners to know what to do for the best and how to be supportive, even with the best if intentions. Glad you could talk to your dad. And it's good you have this thread.

I woke super early as usual! I managed to walk to my activity and do it. Only for a short time but I chose an achievable time and did it. I was pleased.My oh did say I should have stayed longer but he doesn't understand. I explained that in the past I had walked there and turned around or walked there and got changed and had not been able to do it so just got changed again and went home. That I had been so upset I had to stop it on a few occasions and leave. So getting there and doing it and not feeling anxious whilst doing it is a positive for me. I was a little anxious just before but did calm breathing and just got on with it. I don't know if I would go so far as to say I enjoyed it but I definitively felt better when came home.
I have had a busy day but I think it's been a good one. I am tired now so will get an early night but there is a part of me hoping that maybe this is the first day of many good days.
Yes I am on 100mg. Whoa, so tired I shall have to stop typing. I would love to keep chickens but I am scared to hold birds! :) if they had something wrong I would have to touch them. Don't get me wrong, I love nature and watching birds, just not touching them.

Good to hear you've had a good day Private

Hi just want someone to have a chat within have a one year old baby not I had a little girl 3 months ago and I suffer from bipolar and just been put back on my med but tbh I just feel useless Like I really don't want to do anything my kids cry and I don't understand what to do its might sound stupid but I cry myself to sleep ..my family and really no help..and my husband is in Pakistan so looking after the kids myself..and yesterday I went food shopping and it felt like everyone was steering at and giving me dirty so I just left the asda and did it only lol..

Hi Samy, I am sorry you sound really unhappy. I don't know much about bipolar so I am not really best place to advise but I didn't want to read and run. You said your family are no help, what about friends? I would talk to your health visitor too. I would also talk to the gp again to see what else they can do.
When mine were that small I would always be out and about at either mother and baby groups or the local leisure centre play sessions or just for walks as everything seemed easier once we were out. Especially in this warm weather.
I hope you are feeling ok today. Why don't you start a thread on here and see if someone more experienced can help you.

I've been on sertraline for ages. No side effects and no weight gain.

Thanks toddler, I starting taking meds 3 weeks ago and they upped the dose a week ago. I only had some side affects at the start but it has been really rough since last summer and escalated last year so I had to try them.
Wrongtrouser, I have had a good day today. I woke early as normal and even though I do feel delicate (that if something stressful came up I would not cope) I didn't feel that pit of depression and my anxiety was fine. I had a small moment of anxiety but it was mild and I kind of concentrated on something else. I have been busy alot of the day with the kids.
This has made me hopeful for the future. How are you doing? Are your kids still off next week?

Hi Private,
I've just started taking Sertraline. I completely get your anxieties around taking it, btw.
I'm on day 4 and have felt completely spaced out and really depressed mood today.

I was just wondering whether you or anyone else can tell me when I might expect to start feeling a little better?

I am six weeks in I think. I am starting to feel quite a bit better. They do not mix with alcohol well. Ok at the time but the next day is quite a nose dive! I am a lot more positive and able to do more. I am also back exercising which I had stopped due to the side effects. I still get flushed now and then and sometimes my thoughts are too loud in my head (!!) (both these are the drugs) - but I resisted for over a year and I do wish I had taken them sooner. I am on 50mg

You are sounding much more positive private. I'm so pleased. Going to do your activity, enjoying it and not feeling anxious is great. It doesn't matter if you were there for 2 or 200 minutes. That's great!

Hi Private Good to hear you've had another good day. That is very hopeful . My children off school this week too. My oldest is very busy revising for exams so we are mostly having a quiet week but hoping to take the dog up to the coast one day soon. Hope you have a good day tomorrow.

Midnight, I think they say a few weeks before you feel better. I have been on them 3 weeks. They increased the dose 1 week ago as I wasn't feeling better. I have just had a run of a few good days.I post on here most days for anyone who still is reading it! Mainly wrongtrouser (xxx) and a few other peeps, thank you wolfie. :) I did have a dip early evening, with increased anxiety but I kept thinking that I had had a good day and I wasn't going to let it get me down.I was quite busy and it passed after an hour or so but it was nothing like it has been.
Stilllearnin I have been steering clear of alcohol after I read on here they didn't go together and made someone feel worse. I can't bear feeling depressed and anxious and just want to get back to myself as soon as I can.

MidnightPixie3 I think most people don't find the positive effects of Sertraline starts for at least two weeks, sometimes a little longer. So the first few weeks can be difficult as you are not getting any benefits. You are very early days - do persevere, it is worth it.

Thanks wrongtrouser. Enjoy your quiet break. Tomorrow I have a few things on and one thing I am worried about but I haven't really been thinking about it. My kids are either playing like angels or screaming at each other!

Hiya private I've gone to my gp but you know how they like..they will say that my hormones is still like a roll coste and will take to settle but how I feel inside like I'm trapped in my own body and can't get out..today I was cleaning the garden and my son fell down the garden step and hurt his eye😭😢..I felt like my life was over..tuck him to the hospital and the doctors made my life hell but bareing I'm mind that I had to wait 5 hours before the doctors came..doctors made me feel like it was my fault that it happened and now I've got soshul servies on my case 😩😩..feel like how much I do right it always backfires and proves me wrong

The hospital automatically tells social services. It's not an indication they think you have done something or neglected your kids. It's just basic child protection they have to do. They might not even contact you, it depends on any history, if they contact you just be honest.
Try to talk to someone in rl. I hope you have a better day today and that your son is ok now.

A rather odd day today. Felt shakey alot of the day. Anxiety was up and down but not too bad. I try to distract myself when I feel uneasiness coming over me and my heart racing. Not sure it's working but I am definitely not as bad as I was which is a positive still. Though as I write this I am feeling the anxiety.thunk I will try to crack in with a job to distract me.
I have noticed I am not wanting to eat much. That's not actually a bad thing though as I needed to lose weight.

Ok, so I am having a rush on my anxiety and feeling scrappy. I did the job but still feel low and my heart is racing. Oh I hate feeling like this.
Not sure what I can do, just ride it out I guess.

Crappy not scrappy!

Hi Private. Hope you are feeling better by now. Don't panic about having a not so good day, you are heading in the right direction still and will have ups and downs. Are you able to work out whether there is anything particular which starts your anxiety? I know that if I get too tired my mood goes all over the place. I get frustrated with myself for getting tired (which I do easily) and then round and round I go getting fed up. Now I have recognised this, I try to just accept it, and do something restful instead. The cbt sessions should help you with techniques for dealing with feelings of anxiety. Do you know when your sessions will start?

Hi wrongtrouser, my evening got worse. I popped over to see my friend once oh came home and I felt better just general chit chatting with her but not completely and when I left I was in tears walking home. I know my friend would hate to think I was so upset and there was no reason for it though.

I don't know what triggered it. Except for going to a physio appointment which shouldn't make me anxious. Though I was a little anxious there. She was lovely though so no reason to be feeling like that. Had a little cry earlier, didn't help though.

My online cbt will start in 2 weeks once the kids are back at school.

My physio was nice, she said I need to look after me and that I was worth it. I really felt she genuinely cared.
Going to listen to an audio book of the chrysalids by John wyndham, it's a nice male voice and I have read it twice over the years so if I fall asleep I won't be confused! :)
Ok, let's hope tomorrow is awesome!

I can't sleep! :(
I couldn't sleep til about 12.30am and then my son woke me with a heavy nosebleed (unusual ) at about 2.30am. By the time I had sorted him out and cleaned up it was about 3am. Then I couldn't sleep. :(
I remember now that I had 2 teas at my friend's house and normally I would have decaf and not anything after 6pm. Maybe that's why it took so long to sleep, the caffeine.
Though the early start is not unusual.

Still anxious. :( I went out for a walk with the kids which was nice but my son isn't too well today so we couldn't do anything too demanding. I am going to try to get to sleep early. Maybe in the morning if I sleep well I will be less anxious.

Have you not been offered beta blockers OP? Get rid of that anxiety once and for all? They're not like ADs, just as and when.