Meds for anxiety. Dd refuses to take sertraline because she feels like a zombie. Are all anti anxiety meds like that?

[LimitIsUp]

Dd (18) has severe anxiety. She won't take sertraline as it makes her feel like a zombie. Unfortunately she self medicates with cannabis. She and I would prefer her to find a suitable licensed medication.

She has a telephone appointment lined up with the GP next week

Do all anxiety medications make you feel excessively tired and quite emotionally numb?

Thanks everyone, very interesting and informative and will help in the discussion with the GP.

If anyone has any advice on how to find a 'good' therapist for CBT I would be grateful. How do you determine who is most competent and experienced?

catgotyourbrain - are you happy to let me know where you source your online gummies?

Thanks again

Yes of course - Biovea are pretty good value and a reliable company in my experience. Amazon used to sell it too but not always. You can pay £ or £££ depending on supplier

I take beta blockers when i need to and they are a gamechanger.

Really don't think you should take them with cannabis though and i am sure using cannabis regularly might worsen anxiety long term.

Also I just read Matt Haig's ' reasons to stay alive' and it's very good on anxiety attacks. Well worth the read: positive and not long. I know a lot of people have felt it a Good Thing

"Really don't think you should take them with cannabis though and i am sure using cannabis regularly might worsen anxiety long term".

I think I am winning the argument on cannabis with dd - one look at the cannabis vomiting syndrome link, and also the poster who was very ill with withdrawal and she's wising up

Thanks cat for the biovea recommendation and for the Matt Haig recommendation

& thanks again everyone

I have also read Matt Haig's book, excellent for people suffering from depression or anxiety, but also for those supporting someone in that situation too, I found it immensely helpful.

I am on sertraline and I think it's brilliant. However my friend tried it and ended up in A&E with panic attacks. It really does depend on the individual!

My advice to her would be to find a medication that works through experimentation and give it time to settle down in her system as well.

Any type of drug use is a big no no for people with delicate mental health. It seems like a prop but it's not.

I also can't recommend enough doing cardio exercise and weight bearing exercise for mood management. Even going for a jog 3 times a week. I know it is cliche but honestly start getting the healthy foundations in place.

I'm on flouxetine 20mg for about 3 weeks now and don't feel like a zombie I think...I've been watching Shitts Creek on Netflix and laughing at the jokes!

My Gp also prescribed proponolol for me yesterday to help with the physical symptoms and I feel almost like myself right now.

Maybe try another AD?

Sertraline made me feel 'hollow', empty. I reduced my dosage to almost nothing before I even spoke to my GP (I was abroad). I can't put into words how it made me feel, not effectively anyway. I can cry at adverts, crowds chanting etc and on sertraline I felt nothing - no joy, no happiness, I absolutely get it.

I actually take Amytriptaline (sp) for another condition and I've found that as well as the muscle relaxing it gives, it helps my depression too, almost as a side effect.