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Original poster

Overwhelming anxiety

38 replies

Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 19:15

Hi.

I’ve been on sertraline for nearly 10 years, there’s been ups and downs but overall sertraline saved my life. For the past 2 months the anxious feelings have been too much to bare some days. I don’t know what to do. Spoken to my gp, all they have suggested is to up my dose and put me on a waiting list to speak to someone. I need help now, some days it gets so bad I think dark thoughts of not being here any more. I’m scared. Any advice I would be truly grateful. Thank you

OP posts:
Leafywa · 31/05/2023 19:41

No advice just positive thoughts, thinking of you and hoping you get the support you need. The world is better with you in it, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Original poster
Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 20:28

Thank you. I appreciate you taking time to reply to me. I’m hoping better days are coming

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Leafywa · 31/05/2023 20:34

its very cliche but when I’m struggling I try to remember everything is temporary. Which means a week month or year from now I’ll look back and think maybe today made that awful day worth it. For now I’d search for something good in today, maybe it’s a lovely cup of tea or a good programme and just sit in that good moment no matter how small. I’m watching westworld now you should give it a try! I love the it crowd when I’m having a bad day, but maybe I have a crap sense of humour 😂

Leafywa · 31/05/2023 20:35

Can you go privately for therapy also? I spend around 50 a session for my own and it really feels worth it.

Aquamarine1029 · 31/05/2023 20:36

Could peri-menopause be a factor, op? New anxiety and increased anxiety is a key symptom.

YellowHatt · 31/05/2023 20:41

Do you have a list of things to try that could potentially help you feel a bit better in the moments when it feels too much? Sometimes it feels better when you know you have things to fall back on, a bit of a safety net. We could help you think of anti anxiety ideas if you’d like help.

YellowHatt · 31/05/2023 20:43

Aquamarine1029 · 31/05/2023 20:36

Could peri-menopause be a factor, op? New anxiety and increased anxiety is a key symptom.

I cut out caffeine too and didn’t notice until I had a cup of (caffeinated) coffee months later how much of an effect it had on my anxiety. Seemingly small things in our lives really can have a massive impact.

fourlambbhunas · 31/05/2023 20:47

I had a friend who's sertraline stopped working after nearly 10 years, once she was switched to a different one she was okay again. Push for a change in medicine not just a higher dose. If peri-menopause could be a factor I have read that evening primrose oil helps. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, I had this kind of anxiety post partum and it was absolute hell. Scariest thing I've been through, sending love x

Original poster
Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:41

That’s a good way of thinking. I do love a cup of tea with some biscuits. I can’t judge I’ve never watched the IT crowed. May I could do a list of all the positives each day to outweigh the bad feelings

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:42

Thank you for you’re reply. I think I might be a bit too young for pre menopausal. I’ve had anxiety for years but it seem to have spiked an I just can’t get a grip of it or what’s causing it

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:44

Any help would be much appreciated. I find it hard to get out of my own head most of the time.

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:47

I’m terrified when it comes to any medication. I don’t even like taking paracetamol, I’d rather sit in pain. As I’ve been on sertraline so long I’m even more reluctant to try anything else. I have been looking into cbd oil without the thc.

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:48

Thank you all for taking time out of you’re day to reply. I hope you’re having a good happy day

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Aquamarine1029 · 31/05/2023 23:01

Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:42

Thank you for you’re reply. I think I might be a bit too young for pre menopausal. I’ve had anxiety for years but it seem to have spiked an I just can’t get a grip of it or what’s causing it

How old are you?

Turmerictolly · 31/05/2023 23:47

I think you should try the higher dose and see it it works as that is what the GP has recommended.

flapjackfairy · 31/05/2023 23:58

I recently read a book called panicking about panic that is v easy and simple to read but which made perfect sense. It made me realise that the overwhelming feelings are caused by the cocktail of hormones released when we get anxious . It sounds simplistic I know but it really helped to know there was a physical reason for feeling so bad and that it would inevitably pass. I hate the awful feeling of dread and knowing it was a normal response to cortisol and adrenaline etc really helped.
You may already know this stuff ( as I did) but somehow the way he explained it has really helped me .

Quitelikeit · 01/06/2023 00:04

is your current brand different from your usual brand?

you’d be surprised how many people it affects if the pharmacy order in a different brand of sertraline it doesn’t affect everyone but it definitely affects some people

Original poster
Tryeveryday · 01/06/2023 00:04

I’m 33. I’m not sure if I’m too young for that to start or I could be wrong.

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 01/06/2023 00:05

I’m waiting for my prescription for my higher dose. I’ll give it a try just feel like I’m going backwards

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 01/06/2023 00:07

Sounds interesting. I’ll have a read of that. I work full time and keep busy doing jobs around my home in the hope it will help keep me distracted from my thoughts and feelings

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Original poster
Tryeveryday · 01/06/2023 00:09

Yes!! Already had 3 different brands this year. That gives me anxiety as I think the tablets are different as they are different colour and shape. Box is different colour

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Catclown · 01/06/2023 00:32

I was on sertraline a few years ago, it worked ok at first, then the anxiety got really bad, I had so many intrusive thoughts, dark thoughts. Panic attacks , I was always on edge. I spoke to the dr and they suggested propanalol, it was a game changer, could you speak to the gp and see if this could be an option for you?

I honestly don’t know where I would be now if I had not started on the new drug, I sometimes think how different life is now and how I can enjoy things in the moment, I don’t catastrophise and just see danger in everything.

I am sorry you are feeling like this, anxiety is so awful and I really hope you manage to get it under control soon.

fourlambbhunas · 01/06/2023 01:43

Catclown · 01/06/2023 00:32

I was on sertraline a few years ago, it worked ok at first, then the anxiety got really bad, I had so many intrusive thoughts, dark thoughts. Panic attacks , I was always on edge. I spoke to the dr and they suggested propanalol, it was a game changer, could you speak to the gp and see if this could be an option for you?

I honestly don’t know where I would be now if I had not started on the new drug, I sometimes think how different life is now and how I can enjoy things in the moment, I don’t catastrophise and just see danger in everything.

I am sorry you are feeling like this, anxiety is so awful and I really hope you manage to get it under control soon.

I second this, propanalol really helped me too. It stopped all the physical symptoms for me. And as someone else said above try and find the brand that works best for you, I've had to ask to only have teva brand x

Leafywa · 01/06/2023 07:43

Yes definitely a positives list! My therapist at one point had me doing a gratitude list every day and it was five things at first and every day it got longer meaning I had to push to think of more things I was grateful for. Not a replacement for medicine ofc but a nice little well-being thing on top!

YellowHatt · 01/06/2023 08:12

Tryeveryday · 31/05/2023 22:41

That’s a good way of thinking. I do love a cup of tea with some biscuits. I can’t judge I’ve never watched the IT crowed. May I could do a list of all the positives each day to outweigh the bad feelings

Great idea.

Also I was taught not to think of things as being distractions as such, because it’s better to recognise when you’re feeling anxious rather than try (and fail) to hide from it. My therapist told me to say “I see you anxiety, on your way” and to imagine it floating away like a cloud that I could give an extra boost away to by breathing. If that makes sense!