Advice on sertraline

[hazelrose]

Hello everyone 😊
My gp has suggested taking sertraline for my anxiety issues.
I know I have it but I always thought I was ok, just having “episodes” from time to time and being “normal” in between.
But, I’m starting to think that my “normal” might not be. Even when I’m ok I still worry and overthink way more than a normal person. I get very irritable and easily stressed.

I don’t take any medication and the thought of taking AD is in fact making me feel anxious. I’m scared because of the bad reviews I’ve read, I’m scared I’ll get worse when in fact I’m “ok” most of time??

I’m scared it’ll change my personality and numb my emotions? There’s lots about my emotions I like. I like that I cry happy tears, I love that I love my children so intensely. I like how empathetic I am. How caring I am.
Would any of those things be affected or numbed? In which case it wouldn’t be worth it.

Agggh! Decision making makes me anxious 😂

I think I'm discovering that it doesn't change the values inherent in me that make me caring and empathic, and that make me feel intensely loving towards my niece and nephew (whom I have a significant relationship with). It also hasn't stopped me from being able to cry when I really need to. But it has had the effect of making me less at the mercy of my anxiety and emotions from minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day. I'm only just over 6 weeks in at 50mg and GP today increased dose to 100mg because I'm not having enough 'better days' yet, but if that turns out to be too numbing or personality-altering, I'll come back to 75 or 50mg and suck up not having more than a few better days here and there. Think that would still be better than the constant depressed level that became my normal for years and years. (I really relate to what you said about your "normal".)

Sometimes I do feel a bit numb and sedated but it comes and goes and isn't unpleasant, just different and needs to be embraced, I feel. Give it a proper chance, if it's a good fit for you it'll definitely help your anxiety levels over time. I've noticed I'm not dwelling as much on intrusive or repetitive thoughts and concerns.

What else have you tried for your anxiety? Sertraline in itself won't make anxiety disappear. You do have to make other positive changes. I agree with PP, it does give you a break from the obsessive mental loops.

It screwed my memory up though, like I was living in a perpetual present. I was on it for six months and off it for about three. Still getting life back together but am not depressed like before.

Perhaps CBT or counselling would be better than ADs for you seeing as you are ok and just go through episodes? You can learn to change your thinking about worry and your reactions to problems.
I'm on AD's for anxiety. They don't make me feel numb or lack emotion but I do feel more tired and have side effects. I never feel 'normal'
I'm working hard on other things so I won't need to go on the meds again.
I do Thai Chi, I've done a CBT course on worry and had counselling. All these have helped me more than the meds. Initially I had to go on meds because my anxiety was 24/7 and very severe.