Please help, I'm struggling!

[PainterInPeril]

Hi, I'm on fluoxetine and I'm on my knees with it. I'm really not coping now. It's made my mental health worse and it's messed up my sleep which was already rubbish. I'm not even sure why I'm posting but I would appreciate some helpful comments or suggestions please!

@PainterInPeril the fact that you're thinking of how to help her when you're also struggling some days says so much about you .. ! It's great she had you support but it might be to be quiet is all she can manage right now ..Hope you will keep sharing and posting when you need it .. a problem shared is a problem halved ..

@desertcoffeeyoga Yes I understand the need to stay quiet. Let's hope it's not what I'm fearing.
I was hoping for a decent night's sleep but made the fatal mistake of reading and replying to an email in the early hours. This led to me spending all night trying to think of a suitable business name for the sender. She hadn't even asked me for ideas! I think my brain was looking for an excuse to stay awake. And to add insult to injury, every single name I came up with was taken! I'm such an idiot!
@desertcoffeeyoga @Atalune @LizFlowers @FippertyGibbett

@Incrediblytired
How are you all today? I hope you all have a good day whatever you're all up to? xx

Hi lovely,

I was in the same dose that you are and and now back down to 20mg. I find if I take it as soon as I wake up I sleep better aT night but I do get tired during the day and often need. Nap.

For this reason I tried to come off it a few times but became such a ratty, irrational person so now I balance the pros with the cons.

Speak with your doctor, other drugs such as citalopram may suit you better. Fluoxetine was prescribed for me for OCD AND ITRITABILITY, I don't think it has helped at all with depression. Take care x

@shouldibesad Hi there! How long were you on 40mg before you reduced to 20mg? I hope you have a good day. xx

I was on 40mg for 8 months and reduced it very easily and quickly, it lifted a lot of the fog and I wasn't as tired!

Painter...I think we are all having bad days at the moment it's really not easy

@shouldibesad I know, it's horrible for everyone, isn't it? I'll be glad when it's over. Covid and all that, I mean. I'm sorry you feel so rough too. Be assured you're not alone, we all stand shoulder to shoulder in all of this.

Thank you 🙏🏼😪💙...honestly though, the fluoxetine levels my emotions but does t take it all away. I have to actively battle still x

@PainterInPeril hope you got a better night's sleep..I think we can call relate to busy monkey mind just before bed if you have read something...I try to be religious with my magnesium tablet before bed, no coffee after lunch and also try not to watch or read anything that will stress me out but sometimes slip up and then pay with no sleep

@desertcoffeeyoga @shouldibesad I slept a bit better last night thank you. I probably need to be more patient and not expect miracles. "Monkey mind" made me laugh. That's it exactly! Hope you're all having a good day today.

Ohhh I know all about monkey mind!!!

@desertcoffeeyoga I wouldn't mind it if I could be productive at the same time, but I end up getting overwhelmed and zoning out!

Need some positive comments for Sertraline please.
I started on 50mg 2and a half weeks ago didn’t make any difference to my depression and anxiety dr upped to 100mg which I’ve been taking for 4 days still feeling very tired no energy I stay in bed all day but make sure I walk for an hour every day I cannot sleep at night I have lost my appetite during the day but can eat ok after 10pm which is strange just want to feel better any success stories please

@SunnySandy Hi, I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling too. I have no advice to give, I'm afraid.
It might be better for you if you start your own thread so other people will see it and can hopefully help.
I sincerely hope you start to feel better soon. Take care x

@PainterInPeril thank you for your reply it means so much! I’m sorry I don’t know how to start a new thread I’m new here today 🥴 x

@SunnySandy That's ok, I'm a newbie too! Welcome! I'm just trying to remember how I started the thread I think if you go into the "Talk" topic and click on "Chat", you can then click on "add a thread" at the bottom of the screen... I think that's what I did. If I'm wrong, just email MNHQ, they will help you with any queries you may have. They're really lovely. x

@PainterInPeril I think I may have done it but not sure yet 🙏 bless you. How are you ?

I'm still struggling but after my little meltdown on Friday, I'm a tad calmer, thanks. Still totally exhausted. How are you feeling at the moment @SunnySandy?

Aww so sorry to hear that, it’s a struggle to say the least. I’m really exhausted with no interest in anything it’s so unlike me. I don’t sleep until about 4 in the morning then I’m in bed all day just napping just hope this tiredness improves soon x

At least you're able to nap, that's good. Maybe just make the most of your naps, it's what you need right now.
My mind won't let me sleep. It keeps thinking up new projects and plans for me to do. Only I'll never get to do them because I'm too tired!. By the way, I made a mistake, I should have said to post on the mental health topic not chat. Sorry!

@PainterInPeril Thanks you’re right everything is a plus. You’ve hit the nail on the head! Your projects and plans may bear fruit for the future, when things settle down for you 🙏 I truly hope so xxx

@SunnySandy Thank you! x

Hi Painter. I have been on fluoxetine for many years now. I started because I was continually overwhelmed with life, especially around the time of my period.
Initially, it took a while to get used to the dose. I was and am still on 20mg. Although now I take it every other day as my periods have stopped (I’m 50).
18 months ago my anxiety really spiked. And I could not sleep. My mind was racing at night, I’d get up feeling crap and find the day overwhelming. I was
Exhausted after several weeks of this and at the end of my tether. I did consider upping my fluoxetine again, but spoke to my GP before i did that. Mainly because fluoxetine does make me feel a little ‘numb’ iykwim?
My GP said not to up the fluoxetine but instead prescribed Amitriptyline on a really low dose to be taken a couple of hours before I go to bed.
The first night I took it, I was skeptical. But after two nights I was sleeping through.
Speak to your GP. Speak to the best you can find in your surgery. There is help out there.
Incidentally I have continued with Amitriptyline as it’s a prophylactic for migraines, which I have also suffered with for 20+ years.
I really hope you can get some help.

@FooFightersFan Hi, thank you for giving your experience. I'm sorry you have so much to cope with. I hope you feel better soon.
Is amitriptyline an analgesic? (Look who swallowed a dictionary this evening! Just hope it's the right word!) I have M.E, and am menopausal, so that might work for me. (I sound like a right nightmare, don't I?!) As for sleep, I'm going to need horse tranquillisers!
How are you now? Have your migraines gone completely? I truly hope so. x

Ahhh Paint, that’s kind. Thank you.
Amitriptyline isn’t a painkiller, no. It’s another antidepressant, but I take 10mg which my GP assured me is a tiny dose.
It does help with the migraines to a degree, but I do still get some.
I’m very ‘balanced’ right now due to the fluoxetine and lack of PMT! Amitriptyline has helped enormously throughout the past months insomuch as it’s helped me keep a good sleep routine.
You are not a nightmare!!! I’d say that about myself tho ordinarily 😂
Being mentally healthy is so important. I think of my drugs as supplements because my body is deficient in some chemicals. I also take thyroxine. So yeah, I’m a walking pill box 😆
Hope you get some help xx