Sertraline 2- A second handholding thread

[freckles20]

This thread is a follow on to the original handhold thread- for those beginning or continuing their journey on sertraline. All are welcome.

This is a supportive thread, where all situations are unique and there is no judgement.

Hi everyone, I've been reading through your posts and have taken the plunge to ask the dr for a prescription. I was prescribed it a year ago but never even picked it up because I got so anxious over starting it! My anxiety is low level in the day,but horrendous at night so I talk myself out of it in the day. I took Citalopram for years but weaned myself off after starting to get brain shock type feelings in the hours leading up to taking my next tablet. I'm scared of side effects and things being worse before they get better as I have my dc and work. I desperately want to get to that better point though.

@DasAlteLeid you poor thing it is awful starting these tablets, I've upped mine Tuesday and dipped again myself, still barely eating and if I do panic so much as the food going down slowly so avoiding, doctor messaged me rather than phoning as I'd asked and just said when he gets results from recent barium swallow of its normal will refer psychiatry, hope you're ok

@wendz86 struggling to get much support from the doctor he just sent a message saying will refer to psychiatry 8f barium results normal and if I feel unwell go to A&E, I basically just wanted reassurance but he hasn't really offered any, nightmare this I must add I do also have loss of taste due to the oral thrush

@FreddyP I am so sorry that you’re struggling too. I know it’s hard to be positive but if the barium swallow results are fine then really that’s a good thing. You don’t want physical health problems on top of awful anxiety. I know you’re probably desperate to find a reason why you’re struggling with eating, it’s something that a lot of anxious people have a problem with and hopefully the increased meds and psychiatric help will get you to a better place x

@NeverSurrender I am at a desperate point too, I’ve struggled with my mental health for 20 years and this is the first time I’ve felt low enough to try meds. I knew I would have trouble with them as I’m so sensitive to all and any medication but needs must at the moment. Otherwise I think there is a real danger of me ending up in a mental health facility.

Feeling spaced out and exhausted this evening. Picking DD up from after school club now and am going to try hard to put a brave face on until bedtime. Everything is such a struggle at the moment and I can’t believe just a few months ago I was feeling happy and positive. I’ve sunk so low in such a short time.

Sorry @NeverSurrender I meant to say good luck with the meds and please come on here and keep us updated/vent/anything you want. I’m finding it v helpful and hope to support others on this rollercoaster journey too x

Thank you @DasAlteLeid I'm sorry you're feeling so rough too. Has anything happened to change things?
I've spoken with a lovely nurse who has prescribed Setraline for me. She spoke to me for a while and I feel better than I did before. I'm thinking about trying to find a counsellor when I feel a little better. I've always felt a lot of guilt about things which aren't actually my fault back to when I was a child and then the last few years have tipped the balance and I'm no longer coping.
I just want to live my life again, so nice things because I want to not because I know I have too. I feel like a fake and that's not fair on my DH and DC.
I really hope the Setraline helps with that. I feel awful at the moment and have thoughts that they would be better off without me, although I know that's not true and is just the anxiety talking. It's like my default get out, when things are bad I think when my youngest is grown up I'll just go. I didn't tell the nurse that and I don't believe really that I'd ever do it I just want my brain to stop going there.

@NeverSurrender no one would be better off without you, never think that. I know the feeling but it’s just your brain trying to mess with you. Anxious thoughts are false thoughts and not to be given consideration. You will feel better again, I’ve had whole years of not being plagued by mental health problems here and there! And lots of good times in between.

My mental health deteriorated after a number of bad things happened, historic family abuse was uncovered, money worries, job problems. It all manifested in terrible health anxiety and every day feels like a fight to survive both physically and mentally.

I just saw some mum friends at after school pick up and I feel absolutely awful. I was so flat and slow when talking to them and I felt like they were looking at me oddly. I don’t know them that well and don’t want to tell them I’m taking antidepressants right now. My pupils are really dilated and I look a mess. Feel so depressed now.

@DasAlteLeid I'm sorry you're having a bad time I've also suff6for over 30 years with mental health, thanks for your kind words just the anxiety is so bad today I can't face food then this worries me more 😢 I'm also supposed to be back in work tomorrow but can barely function. Like you I'm very sensitive to medication and it took ages for them to get me on the right one over 20 years ago, this has all started for me as they said I had to come off them as I'd been on them to long. Hope you're OK x

@FreddyP if you don’t feel able to go back to work then I would suggest getting your sick note extended. Nothing is more important than your health. Saying that, I find work can help distract me when I’m feeling low - could you discuss a phased return, maybe two hours a day? So it’s not too much pressure? X

I have been on meds 10 weeks, mood significantly improved. However my Dad passed away unexpectedly 5 days ago and i am not feeling any different, like my mood is unable to change. Just accepted his death and carrying on as normal. Not hugely involved with funeral arranging. Just seems so weird and unnatural to be relatively cheerful. Is this down to meds? Anyone else been though it?

@Professionallytorn so sorry to hear about your dad passing away

I think the meds do block certain reactions - one of the reasons I was always so reluctant to start them is because an old boyfriend of mine told me 20 years ago that they make you feel like you’re in a bubble, you can’t feel heightened emotion in either direction. I’m only five days in so can’t comment personally but I vividly remember him telling me that.

Please give yourself time, you’ve had a massive shock and it’s likely that along with the meds, your brain hasn’t yet caught up with what’s happened yet and the grief will come. Be gentle with yourself and take away any expectations you have of acting certain ways - grief doesn’t come with a blueprint and you will feel different from one day to the next I expect.

Day five here and after last night’s very low mood, I’m feeling a little better. I slept poorly, but didn’t feel panicky for most of the night which is a big improvement. Decided I’m going to give the pills another few days at least, and I’m going for a little run this morning to try and boost my mood naturally 🤞 my pupils are back to normal this morning but who knows what the day will bring…

Hello all. Week 4 for me and hoping they will kick in soon. The first two weeks were awful with bad side effects but now I'm through that I'm hoping to see some real results! I read you usually see a difference between weeks 4-6, so fingers crossed.

@Professionallytorn sorry to hear about your dad . I haven’t had anything like that so no experience but it’s all very new so may be shock as part of it .

@Forrandompostsbi started to feel a lot better after 5 weeks so hopefully will be soon for you

@DasAlteLeid I am trying to increase my exercise again as feel it really does help .

Two mile run completed and I’m feeling a fair bit better! Can feel anxiety lurking but managed a decent breakfast and getting on with the day with determination 💪 wishing everyone a good day x

@DasAlteLeid Thank you so much for your reply. I think you are right about "make you feel like you’re in a bubble, you can’t feel heightened emotion in either direction". I just feel guilty and abnormal that i am 'carrying on as if nothing has happened' I appreciate grief is a journey, and I should be kind to myself, I just worry my siblings will think I don"t care that my Dad died. Perhaps going to the funeral will trigger something in me.

@Professionallytorn try not to give yourself additional worries at this time. Grief affects people in different ways and at different times, I’m sure your siblings understand that. Maybe you could make a small mention to that effect if you’re worrying, you could say it doesn’t feel real yet and you’re feeling a bit numb - that’s the truth and no one would think that was odd, it’s quite a common reaction in your situation.

I’m just jotting this down here as an aide memoire for when I’m feeling crap again - I’ve had a fairly good day today! Carried on the positive feeling from my run this morning, got some cooking and cleaning done and seen a friend. It’s a bit of a cheat as I’ve kept too busy to let bad thoughts in and that’s not how I want to live my life, but I think any day where I’m feeling like life is ok is a good thing, so I’ll take it. Feeling a tiny bit woozy now I’ve sat down and still definitely sticking to 25mg for the foreseeable, I think the side effects of 50mg would just be too much for me.

@Professionallytorn so sorry to hear of your dad's passing apart from the meds it takes time to absorb what's happened, sending hugs x

@DasAlteLeid well done you're doing great! I had an awful night of panic possibly due to the bdose being upped last week, I didn't manage work but forced myself through a panic attack to eat porridge this morning and tried to remind myself all is fine. I like you didn't experience any side effects from 25mg but unfortunately wasn't high enough for me personally. You're determination is great!

Thank you everyone for your kind words x

@FreddyP that’s brilliant news about managing to eat, when you’re in the grip of panic things like that feel insurmountable. You’ve done a great job persevering today despite feeling bad. Honestly I think while you’re adjusting to your new dose you need to forget about work and concentrate on yourself. If one of my colleagues said they were having trouble eating due to extreme anxiety I would tell them to stay off work until they were feeling much better, and I’m sure you’d say the same. So don’t treat yourself worse than you would treat anyone else x

I’m still feeling ok, had a friend round for dinner and felt good for most of it but then had a woozy head/dissociative few minutes which felt a bit scary. I could almost feel the Sertraline rushing through my body?! Honestly I hope that I can stay stable on 25mg as I can’t see me managing a higher dose 🤦‍♀️ Even things like Sudafed affect me really strongly!

@DasAlteLeid aww thanks for that, yes I think you're probably right I've just spoken to a work mate and she said she doesn't think I'm ready just yet just hope this dose settles soon. Hopefully you'll manage on 25mg fingers 🤞do you take it for anxiety?x
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