SSRI support

[Hayleyn19]

SSRI support. I just need some support for anyone else taking or taken SSRI for anxiety... or depression, I guess they go hand in hand. I had a health scare a few months ago and I've been suffering since, worried sick and crying alot, my doctor prescribed sertraline which shocked me as I never thought I'd ever need something like antidepressants but I've been researching how common they are to reassure myself. I've been taking 25mg for 5 days and I feel worse than I did before, I can function but I'm just terrified I'll never be the same me again, I'm doing hypnotherapy and meditation to help as well but right now, especially in the mornings I feel helpless. I know everyone is different but can you ever recover from anxiety, will the side effects get better?

Hello
Im so sorry to hear how you are feeling. It does take a few weeks for SSRIs to start making you feel better and at first they definitely make you feel worse. What you are experiencing is a normal part of the process but it is so difficult 😞

You will be yourself again I promise. This is temporary and the medication will help you feel better once it starts working. Have you considered a talking therapy? CBT is very helpful for anxiety especially together with the medication. Meditation is a brilliant tool but it is a long term rather than quick fix, hard to start with but like training a muscle it gets better and better.

Yes you can recover from anxiety but only when you can accept it as being something you have to live alongside and manage, and that sounds awful right now but it really is something you can get under control with the right tools, treatments and support. I’m speaking from experience.

Exercise is also very helpful for dealing with the build of nervous energy chemicals, burning them off so to speak. Brisk walking or a swim or a run. Anything that will raise your heart rate for at least 30 min every day will be a great help. I think of it as another medication.

I know accepting anxiety feels impossible but over time you will be able to sit alongside it more easily and that’s how you loosen it’s grip.

For now, it’s the basics of food, rest, exercise and choosing the mindset that this medication will work in the next couple of weeks. I hope you have supportive relationships because this is also crucial.

sending you peace xx

Hi @Hayleyn19 im sorry you’re going through this. It’s totally normal to feel much worse for up to about 4 to 6 weeks on SSRI meds. I have taken them a number of times over 30 years and it’s always been like this, but then at around 6 weeks you should start to feel much improved and like your old self again. It’s hard sticking with them for those initial weeks, but if you can, they do work really well!

Yes, the side effects for most people go away completely.
I have been on meds thrice all times ssris, the side effects were there for sometime and they lifted and each time i ended up feeling like myself.