To all the lovelies above, if you would like another reassuring account, I can share my own experience. I found Sertraline to be very similar to Citalopram, so the experience for me is interchangeable. To anyone scared of what's to come, please just have faith and know that if the drug works as its supposed to, you will eventually see good results. It took a long time for me, possibly up to 2-3 months, to see a significant change but it was so worth it. I could think clearly, I wasn't reacting wildly to situations and my emotions were finally in check. There is a slight element of numbing, but if you are considerably distressed, anxious and/or depressed, trust me... its a relief. It allowed me to put myself back on track, make some serious life changes, and actually view my life in the right perspective. The initial side effects aren't especially pleasant, but I would consider it more like planning on a bad cold or a flu. I suffered from increased jaw clenching (actually cracked a tooth and had to have it removed, so consider a bite guard if you start to experience this, and I say increased because I clench my jaw usually anyway due to anxiety) I also had nausea, and felt very "fizzy" in my brain for a while. I cant describe it, it feels like I can feel the blood rushing through me. BUT none of the symptoms stick around, and once you settle down, after maybe after a week, maybe 2, you will start to feel a lot more human.
Something to make sure you bare in mind, my anxiety has gone almost back to square one recently, even with the long term use of tablets, and it's wholly down to COVID and all the uncertainty, one of my coping techniques is control and forward planning and thats all gone up the creek minus a paddle! So, for anyone starting now, or recently, you are already on high alert, we all are, so be kind to yourself and make yourself some allowances. The drugs are great, but they don't fix your environment.
I hope that was useful. And good luck all.