Sudden overpowering anxiety

[LarryUnderwood]

I have been tapering down my sertraline for 3 months and after a month on 25g every other day took my last dose on mon/tues last week. Been fine then on tuesday I had the most overpowering sadness and anxiety all day - I felt almost like I wanted to give up. I often get a day or 2 of this around a week before my period, so thought it might be that. But the anxiety has persisted - tight throat and chest, almost can't catch my breath, intrusive negative thoughts and overall sense of DOOM. Work has been stressful this week - I've made a few small mistakes - well, not mistakes exactly, but where I havent done things in the way my boss wanted me to (I'm in a senior position in a new job). And I can't stop thinking that maybe they are regretting hiring me, that I'm failing, its all too much etc. I havent felt like this since before sertraline (over 2 years ago). I love my job and my bosses have been nothing but supportive. What's happening to me?!

Hi op, didn't want to read and run. I tapered off sertraline and it was a bit rocky. I can only comment on my experience which was that I found each drop it took a couple of weeks to adjust. I went down to 12.5mg as the first drop from 50mg to 25mg so bumpy. When I made the drop to 25mg I thought I was going mad, teary and overwhelmed and I developed sinusitis which may not have been related but it was so painful. I remember thinking I was experiencing emotions that have been sligthly dulled again and this did help as it got easier. It took me a couple of weeks to level out and I think I took a day off work. If you still aren't on form at work it is much better to take a day off to rest rather than stress yourself out. I also found magensium helped a lot, its good for anxiety. It can feel like the worst thing when you are coming off ADs but it levels out I promise. There is an analogy of if being like 'waves and windows' in AD withdrawal but the waves get less and disappear and the positive windows stay longer. You are not alone, look after yourself Maybe have a chat with your doctor.

Ah thanks @MorePotatoSalad. I woke up on Friday and felt fine, as if a cloud had lifted. I couldn't quite believe that the day before I'd been thinking the way I had. It was really quite bizarre. Perhaps it was one of those withdrawal waves.