Sertraline - I’m too anxious to take it for my anxiety... 🤦🏻‍♀️

[fireflylanegirls]

I’ve been prescribed 50m Sertraline for anxiety.

My anxiety is very out of control.
I had a baby last year suffered with post natal anxiety.
My son was born 5 weeks before the first lockdown so becoming a mother combined with lockdown was a really difficult time.

I was then diagnosed with OCD.

My anxiety has completely taken over and I’m not even able to rationalise things anymore.

I’m due back to work in 3 weeks time and I don’t know how I’m going to manage.

I really want to get better for the sake of my son, my husband and myself.

I’m really frightened to be on medications.
I’m worried about the side effects but also worried they will make me feel worse than I am now.

What if I lose control of my anxiety because of the medication?
Will I be numb? Or zombie like?

I’m so frightened but I really need help and I want to get better.

Hey :) I know how hard it is, but think about it this way.

In 6 months time, would you like to still feel like this, or would you like to feel better? The meds could be the key.

I was so nervous before I started as well. I did have side effects but it wasn't anything like I'd been worried about.

Some people have no side effects at all. You just don't know how it's going to affect you until you try it.

Some GPs recommend you start on 25 before moving up to 50, but mine just told me to go straight onto 50 and I was fine really.

Even if you do get side effects you should find that they ease by the time you have to go back to work. But if you're still feeling unwell, you just phone in sick. You have to put yourself first and give yourself a fighting chance 💗.

I take Citalopram rather than setraline but it's been great for me. There were initially side effects but nothing terrible and now I feel more able to cope. I'm also on the hugest dose and don't feel like a zombie.

I know we are all different but I take 50mg daily for anxiety and have done for approximately 2 years. I was initially scared of taking it and they sat in my drawer for weeks before I finally gave in.
I didn't/don't suffer any side effects or 'zombie like' feelings, I just feel a lot less anxious and to be honest I have my life back without all the continuing worry and stress that I felt before. I have stayed on 50mg as when the dose was increased I didn't feel quite right but am really happy with the low dose - it works for me, and it works well!

Highest not hugest but I suppose it kind of makes sense

I’ve been on sertaline for ( weeks and I could feel a difference within days. It really has helped me to feel lighter, more positive and less anxious. The only problem that I have is that it’s causing (or at least I think it’s causing) horrendous diarrhoea. I was hoping it would have calmed down by now but it’s still ongoing....... However, the mental benefits have been incredible.

OP I know this is hard, but please start taking your pills. They really can help you to feel better

Sorry - been on it for 5 weeks!

What if I lose control of my anxiety because of the medication?

It’s anti-anxiety medication. You won’t lose control, your anxiety will reduce. You can’t ‘control’ your anxiety - you know that, that’s why you have sought help. Take the meds.

Will I be numb? Or zombie like?
No, this is unlikely to happen. You might get some short-term side effects but you need to make a bargain with yourself to try to ride them out a little.

The worst that can happen is that you stop taking them if you don’t get on with them, and you’re back to square one.

But now is the right time to take them. You have a window of time before returning to work. Your DH will support you.

Be brave, OP.

I was on it for about a year. It really helped me and if I needed it again in the future, I’d take it.

It didn’t give me “zombie” feelings but it did take the edge off so I wasn’t feeling everything so acutely. It brought things back to a more manageable level.

The other main side effects I had were a dry mouth, which eased off after a couple of weeks, and I lost the ability to achieve orgasm (apparently this is not uncommon with SSRI drugs, and I have had no problems in that area since coming off sertraline).

Give them a chance to help you, OP. If they don’t suit you, you can taper off them again.