Sertraline Buddies #2

[Umbongo1]

For anyone starting out on this drug...

@Vampyhooch - I started to feel better around 4.5 weeks after taking sertraline. I started on 25mg for the first week and increased to 50mg. The depersonalisation wasn't as bad this time around as it was the last time around for me. It was still unpleasant but I think because I knew what it was from before, I accepted it for what it was and knew that it would not be forever.

I don't know about you but I would try and focus on an object and it was just all so weird! I'd be questioning if it was what it was and if I was really looking at it. Also, registration plates looked very weird to me too. It's all so difficult to explain to someone who's never experienced it. It's just really not nice. But it will disappear.

Have you tried practicing awareness on the present moment? I googled some practices and found that it helped me even if it was just for the time I was listening and practicing. I found Mingyur Rinpoche - Calming the Mind helped. Here's the link:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=dG5ywz8OGqo

@MariposaPink

Yes I know exactly what you mean! Sounds like a bit of derealisation too which I also get. The most disconcerting symptom for me is looking in the mirror or at photos of myself and thinking it doesn’t look like me! Bloody awful.

I know what it is and I know it’s the brains defence mechanism from an overload of anxiety/overwhelmed with emotions but it’s so damn awful it’s hard to ignore it. Makes me feel so disconnected from myself and my life :(

Yes being present definitely does help a bit, if I think about it too much just ends up getting worse

@Vampyhooch - yes derealisation too. I had more of that than depersonalisation this time around. First time around I remember wailing at the GP that I wasn't real. I didn't feel real. What's happening to me!?! And just feeling scared.
Isn't it funny how it's the brains defence mechanism and yet it does us in! I've actually taken this opportunity to "reset" my life. I'm really making a concerted effort around how I manage/respond to things and my attitude and general behaviours. Something has to change because I'm not going down this road again!

@MariposaPink

When it went away did it kind of go overnight or did you gradually notice you had periods where you felt more Back to normal?

Oh god I know what you mean it’s awful isn’t it. I hate trying to explain it to people who haven’t experienced it because it sounds nuts! Everywhere I’ve read says to stop worrying about it and accept it & that once the underlying anxiety goes away so will the Depersonalization/derealisation hence me trying the medication with the hope it will curb the anxiety/depression and stop the odd symptoms!

Thank you for speaking to me about this btw, makes me feel less alone knowing someone understands what I’m going through 💐

@Vampyhooch - of course, it's my pleasure to help where I can. This is a great thread to be on and receive support. It's been a great help to me.

I had very brief moments of clarity and then it literally went overnight. You know that moment when you wake up in the morning but before you open your eyes? Well I'd think, "Is it today?" And it wasn't for a while but then it was.

Do you have a particular trigger for anxiety and depression? Or is it just an overwhelming accumulation of life and the sh*t that's thrown at us?

@MariposaPink

Yes it seems like there is a lovely bunch of people on here. Really supportive but yes thank you it helps a lot being able to talk to someone who’s been through it.

Yes I know what you mean, that’s reassuring. Did you have it constant or did it come and go? Mine is pretty much 24/7 but then I’ve been anxious probably for longer then I realised which probably hasn’t helped. Think my brain has just said enough is enough now.

No particular triggers really. Perhaps health is a big thing for me though. It’s been a tough year - me having a health scare with my heart with me ending up in resus at the hospital even though it was ok in the end. My eldest who is 9 (8 at the time) had 4 collapsing episodes within a few weeks out of the blue which scared the crap out of me. He collapsed in my arms one day and honestly I thought I’d lost him. Never been so frightened in my entire life. Then I’ve also lost two family members (grandad and cousin’s boyfriend through Covid). So I guess with all that my brain is just wondering what the hell is going on. My nerves have been shot for months with constant worry. Which resulted in panic attacks out of the blue and now anxiety and depression

@MariposaPink Thank you, I bit the bullet yesterday and took one. Put me on 50mg straight away. Hit I think 11pm.. And I felt awful.. Sick as a dog, wretching and then I felt completely out of it, couldn't switch off. Started mini panicking in my head, anxiety wouldn't let me settle (Now I know why I went cold turkey).

I've lost all my appetite today, I feel sick and the nausea is terrible. My DH is working from home so I just took baby to bed with me but I'm feeling super on edge.

I dunno what to do, I'm the worst I've been in a while with depression and anxiety, but these are equally making me feel so unwell.

Feeling a bit off today.

Feel the dread in my belly and a bit shaky like I’m on the verge of a panic attack?

Just really groggy and hot like I’m hungover? Is this normal?

@Vampyhooch - it's no wonder you have anxiety and depression. Those are very traumatic experiences; completely understandable why you are feeling this way.

It makes one nervous when the body takes over; be it an illness, attack of some kind, (including anxiety). You feel so out of control and possibly that your body is working against you. Not a nice feeling but glad to hear it was just a scare and all is ok now.

I'm sorry to hear about your grandad and your cousin's boyfriend too. My condolences to you and your family.

I can only imagine how petrified you must've been when your DS had those episodes. Every parents nightmare when something frightening happens.

Have you had any counselling? And I would recommend hypnotherapy.

In the height of my anxiety, my fears went haywire. I've always had a worry about choking..me or others because of a little boy I knew choked on a grape and lost his life. This was about 25 years ago but it's stuck with me. So I started watching my DH and DD like a hawk when they were eating in case I needed to jump into action. If I could've done, I would have told them not to eat at all! But in my head I was wishing that they wouldn't eat. I also ate tiny little morsels of food so I wouldn't choke. Then I had some hypnotherapy and began to see reason and become a bit more rational with my fears.

I know yours is different because you've actually lived through these terrible events but it may help you.

Ok so you have the feeling of dread today; can you take some time out and do some meditation? Maybe get out in the fresh air for some exercise? Talk to someone? The groggy feeling is normal. Some people also report feeling hot but I didn't feel that way.

Try this...interventions for anxiety by Mark Tyrell. It's in podcast form and if you scroll down, there is a video too. Let us know how you get on. We're all here for you!

www.unk.com/blog/podcast/036-behavioural-interventions-for-anxiety/

@MissPepper8 - you've got day 1 under your belt so well done. It's one day closer to feeling brighter.

Someone else on here felt nauseous and found that if they laid down straight away (or it could've been staying upright) for a while after taking the pill, they didn't feel so sick.
And I think someone else mentioned drinking lots of water helped.

You will lose your appetite. Mine is still not back completely after over 6 weeks. I have toast for breakfast and then a small evening meal. I've lost over a stone...but I needed to anyway! I lived off breadsticks and water until I started to feel better.

Also, perhaps try taking them before you go to bed so you will hopefully sleep through most of the awful feelings.

If you need to stay in bed then stay there as much as you can. I know it's hard with a baby and I'm lucky that my DD is a teen so she can get on with stuff but it does help. I was in bed for almost 4 weeks! Just listen to what your body is telling you. I did and I also look younger for it! No bags under my eyes and eye wrinkles have smoothed out!

Persevere with the pills. It is hard but you do begin to have moments of clarity before waking up one day and feeling much, much better.

@MariposaPink

Yes it has been a whirlwind of lots of things going on! Add to that planning to get married in July (which got cancelled because of covid). Then my partner got sacked a month into lockdown because he had a day off so I could attend my grandads funeral. So much unbelievable stress in such a short period.

They worked out I have a heart arrhythmia of some sort that is worse when I’m stressed so I now have to take tablets when the attacks occur.

Yeah it honestly scared the life out of me. I was constantly checking on him to make sure he was still breathing etc. I’ve calmed down a bit now and it hasn’t happened for a while so I’m trying to rationalise.

I am on the waiting list for phone counselling but it hasn’t happened as yet. Apparently there is quite a long waiting list.

Feeling a little less groggy now. Had something to eat took my sertraline and popped over to my sisters. I find every now and again I just get drowsy/a little lightheaded so making a conscious effort to chill a bit more than normal to give the tablets chance to kick in.

Does make me panic a bit when I feel like that though hence the feeling of dread like something bad is gonna happen.

@MariposaPink I will try before bed, just been taking them in the am. I'll be honest I'm struggling with the way there making me feel, I feel my mood is upped and I'm not so tearful but Im so groggy and "unwell". I'm feeling sicky anyway as hormones are settling from giving birth but geez.. Wow really? It's no wonder they really suppress your appetite.

I'm stuck between giving up and persevering on with it, I don't want to be struggling with kids and school when DH goes back to work eventually but I just feel so damn awful I can't do anything with them.

How is everyone, I’m on day 5 of upping to 75mg feeling okay, not great! Slightly more sleepy and bit jittery nothing I can’t cope woth and nothing like it was at the start, anxiety is still really bothering me though I’m just so fed up! When did this drug start and help reduce anxiety?

@Lottie124
I’m on day 5 of first starting 50mg.
Hope you feel better soon. I felt a bit groggy and jittery this morning. It improved a lot this afternoon however feeling a bit flat/low now.

@Vampyhooch it’s horrible the side effects isn’t it! I hope things start to improve soon for you too, I normally improve my afternoon but not today just putting it down to a bad day and I’m tired hoping tomorrow is better! I just hate this anxiety it’s constant! X

@Lottie124

Yes it is awful. I hope the medication helps you soon.

Is it normal to feel really low as a side effect?

@Vampyhooch yeah I think so at the start it can make you feel worse, I did get really low when I started out on sertraline x

@Lottie124

How long did it take to settle for you? It’s not a nice feeling at all

@Vampyhooch it different for everyone but I would say few weeks maybe, it’s horrible just keep thinking it will pass and you will feel better,

I’m now on day 9 and upped from 50mg to 100mg yesterday. I still have an upset stomach, low appetite and headaches but actually feeling a little brighter at points during the day today - my head feels a little less ‘whirry’ with intrusive thoughts.

Mornings so far have been awful - heart racing, head racing, feeling sick and sad and hopeless.

Trusting it will get better for us all in time x

@BillStickersIsInnocent

Hope the side effects ease for you soon. Great that your getting a little relief from intrusive thoughts etc. That’s a positive sign in the right direction of better things to
come :)

How is everyone feeling today?

Morning all, I’m not too bad today! Feeling slightly on edge today pretty anxious too! I’m hoping it’s the increase in dose causing it x

How do you know if you need to increase your dosage. I had 4 days of 25mg now I’m on day 7 of 50mg and I’m struggling to see any difference. I mean there could be I just can’t tell. Is 50mg even enough to make any difference?