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 don't know what beta blockers are? How do they work please? Thanks

Hi Private. Sounds like you've had a rough 24 hours. I hope you son is better. I think coffee and tea drinking is well worth thinking about in relation to your sleeping. I am, these days, incredibly sensitive to the amount, type and timing on coffee and tea drinking. If I get it wrong, I have trouble getting to sleep and it's not just lying awake, I get a horrible dizziness/nausea as I am falling asleep which I then have to try to wake myself up from.

I now do the following - no coffee or tea after 1pm and no real coffee at all, even instant ground coffee.

I don't know if it's related to the medication, as I used to be able to drink coffee all day. Possibly is. Perhaps it would be worth seeing if cutting down on tea and coffee helps your sleeping?

I had a fairly stressful morning for one reason and another which has wiped me out - very tired. But did manage a lovely walk in the woods with child and dog this afternoon.

I hope you are feeling a bit less anxious now.

They prevent the heart pumping excess adrenaline around the body. So stops the physical effects of anxiety (swirling stomach, shaking etc).

Thank you wrongtrouser, sorry that you had a stressful morning. Glad you had a lovely walk with your dc. My son is feeling much better thanks.

I usually only drink a few cups of decaf tea a day and not after 6pm. I don't drink coffee. I have reduced the amount of tea I drink over the last month. I have actually gone off it. My appetite has gone down too. Which is one good thing at least! But I think you are right. I will try not to drink after 2pm and see if that helps.
I haven't had a good day. There was a moment of calm, the kids were playing with friends, dinner was finished and I was feeling not quite so anxious just a bit unsettled. Then my mother turned up and stressed me out, so annoying.

I guess I am feeling unsettled still. I still can't concentrate on much. Maybe a good night's sleep will help. I hope you have a good day tomorrow.

Gamerchick-thanks i will check out those but I don't know. It was hard enough to convince myself to take sertraline. I have a doctor's appointment next week so I will see how I feel and discuss that with him.

Hope you have a good day Private

Thanks wrongtrouser, I actually have had a good day. I woke at 2.30am again but as I had had nearly 5 hours sleep it wasn't so bad. I listened to these YouTube meditations and I found it helped get me to sleep and when I woke at 2.30am I managed to drift off a little til 4am. I still listened to meditation stuff and just relaxed. I hadn't really done meditation but if it helps me sleep and relax then I will try it.
I went out on a country walk and picnic with the kids and one of their friends for the day. It was relaxed and calm. So far!
How was your day?
I might try to do my activity tonight if oh comes back in time. (I never did apply for that job. I really wasn't well enough and I am glad as it would have put too much stress on me.I can apply next time something comes up though.)

Good to hear you had a good day. Sounds like leaving the job application was the right decision - better to just concentrate on getting better first. I've had a good day - saw a friend I haven't seen for ages and then just pottering at home with the family.

I am glad you had a good catch up with your friend, it's been a lovely day for it.
My day started early again at 3am! But my day has been ok actually. Except for a slightly tearful moment first thing, then the rest of the day went well.
I managed to write clues for my kids Easter egg hunt and we did it today so that was good. Last week I wouldn't have had the energy I don't think.
Like you I pottered around with the family this afternoon so it was relaxing.

Though I have just spent the last few hours quite unable to sit still but tired at the same time. Which is really annoying! Still an improvement though. :)

Sounds like a good day Private. I like the sound of Easter egg hunt with clues. We just hide them round the garden. Hope you get a better night's sleep.

I did get a better night sleep! :) I was so tired last night I went to bed and was asleep before 9pm. I then woke up at about 4.10am. But that's still more sleep than I have had for a while.
I wrote the clues to prevent my kids arguing! They had their own set of clues. Otherwise I know my son would have got more than my daughter, or got them quicker and there would be moaning! :)
Have a good day.

Hi private just been reading through your thread and it sounds like you are doing so well.
I'm on day 4 of sertraline I feel rubbish but know it's early days and hoping to feel a bit better soon the nausea and sweats are not fun though. I keep flinging doors and windows open much to the kids disgust!!
I have an Easter egg hunt to plan too I think my kids are almost as excited as Christmas, I hope it lives up to their expectations!

Hi Sham, I found the side affects reduced and disappeared so I hope you feel better soon.
Good luck with your Easter hunt, my kids were super excited too! Makes it all worth while doesn't it. :)

I am actually really disappointed in myself as I am feeling really anxious today, for no reason. I went to do my activity and just turned round and walked back again :( what a loser.
I am seeing my best friend this afternoon with our kids so hopefully this afternoon will be better.

My afternoon was ok. It was nice to see my friend and her family, all the kids played and I did laugh so it was nice. I still felt strange and anxious but not so much as earlier. I thought I was going a bit mad earlier to be honest and strange thoughts were whizzing unwanted in my head.

I need some tips on how to calm myself.I feel I can't breathe with the anxiety, my heart is racing and I can't concentrate or be calm or still.I just feel like pacing and tapping my fingers which is weird. I have been like this for a few hours and anxious alot of the day.
I will get the kids down then listen to a meditation. I can't think of anything else to do right now.
Maybe I will wake up feeling better tomorrow.

Exercise helps. You have excess adrenalin running around your body. Your brain thinks its in danger so is giving you what you need for flight or fight. Since there is neither all this adrenalin doesn't know what to do with itself.

Use it up and you should feel better. A fast walk, an exercise dvd or whatever gets your blood pumping.

Gamerchick, thanks. I hadn't thought of that. To be honest my mind and body has been chaotic today so I couldn't really think straight. It makes sense. I will do my activity tomorrow and next time I feel like this I will go for a fast walk or something.

Well that's why you want to keep moving by drumming or pacing. It's a physical thing.

You don't need to wait if you're still feeling it now, it's a bit like going for a pee you wouldn't wait to do that would you? Even if you just do some jogging on the spot, slow jog then pulse raiser fast run, back to slow jog.

You can take the control back once you know what's happening to your body at any given time. It doesn't have to control you as much as it is.

I think the idea of exercising if you are feeling particularly stressed is a really good one, particularly if there is something you can do which absorbs your mind as well, to clear your mind of worries.

I think as well that you should remember you have been very anxious and low for a while, and the ads are only just starting to work and help you feel better. Your mind and body have got into patterns that it will take a while to unlearn, if that makes any sense. So try not to worry too much if you find yourself feeling poorly from time to time. You seem to be so much better than a week or so ago, you are moving in the right direction, it will just take a while to adjust.

And you shouldn't feel disappointed in yourself for not feeling so good at times. It's not your fault. It is still early days. You can start to see how much difference the ads are making, which shows it is not as simple as you being able to control how you are feeling, so try not to judge yourself harshly. You sound like you are doing really well, and if you can't manage everything at the moment, try not to worry. Hope the meditation helped.

Thank you gamer. I just wanted yesterday to be over. I was in my pj's in bed and just wanted to sleep. The meditation worked quickly so that was good. I still woke early but I had had 5 or 6 hours sleep so it wasn't so bad and I am used to it now.
I got out early and did my activity, so half hour walk there, an hour doing my activity (which is so great as i haven't been able to do that well for a long time) then half hour walk home. I did feel a little anxious but nothing like yesterday.
Wrongtrouser your comments really helped make me feel better about myself and the way I am feeling.Thank you.let's hope today is a better day.
I hope you have had a good weekend.

Well so far, today has been a better day. I have been unable to sit down most the day so after my activity i went on a country walk with my son for an hour and a half and then again for an hour in the afternoon and just doing stuff at home but not really as purposeful as I should have. I could gave done lots of jobs but I didn't want to! Oh well!
I am taking this as a good day. :) still a bit anxious and not able to be still and relax but better than before.

Happy Easter private glad you've had a good day. Hope the egg hunt went well!

Happy Easter Sham, I hope the side affects are not too bad now?