Desperately low

[Mummyrj18]

This is my third post in a few days. Feeling so desperate !!
was experiencing low mood and anxiety and started sertraline a couple weeks ago. I know they can make you feel
worse before better so been trying to ride it out but today I feel horrendous low mood and panic. Intrusive thoughts . Has anyone felt this bad on sertraline at the beginning ? My mood couldn't be any lower. I'm talking to my gp but I don't know how to get through the days right now.

I have three children I need to get better xxx

I could have written that post myself @Mummyrj18 currently dealing with the switch from citalopram to Setraline and I feel horrendous, so low, agitated, panicky, suicidal idealation. I started them for panic and extreme anxiety but it’s just getting worse. I actually have an appt with a private psychiatrist tomorrow as I’m literally at my wits end and I also have two young children that need me to get better. So sorry I can’t offer anything positive but just wanted you to know you are not alone x

Thank you sounds so similar to me, good not to be totally alone. feel so desperate. Feel like the sertraline has plummeted me into a serious depression Can't feel any joy or hope but I know it's in me somewhere. Thank you for replying

I feel exactly the same, I just can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment! It’s horrible isn’t it! Do you have a support network in real life?

It's unbearable, I have a partner and been talking to doc but keep feeling worse. I phoned a helpline today they suggested I call crisis team which has caused me more panic that they think I'm that bad. I had anxiety like this years ago never thought it would happen again. Have you got help from doctor or anyone else ?

Oh hey, did I comment on your post the other day? I'm sorry to hear you're still struggling. It's a bloody nightmare trying to get mental health support in a crisis, I felt I was being fobbed off and sent all round the houses. The trouble with a mental health crisis is that it makes you less and less able to access the help you need.

Maybe a call to your GP practice or 111? Explain that you're feeling overwhelmed and don't know how to get the right help.

<virtual hand squeeze>

What will the joy look like? Can you build a mental picture of what happy will look like? Make it as detailed as possible - who's there, what's the temperature, what are you doing/seeing/smelling/hearing?

Crisis team can prescribe diazepam which might help you, they gave me a few weeks worth to get through the initial weeks of starting sertraline and it helped definitely

@ClawedButler yes you did thank you just keep feeling worse , not myself at all. Felt like there was no hope today. It's the most awful feeling

I’ve got diazepam and propanalol which do help calm me down if I’m having a panic attack. Several visits to the gp @Mummyrj18 but not getting any better hence the appointment with the psychiatrist. I’m finding the physical symptoms tricky at the moment, nausea and upset stomach which then makes me lose my appetite which then makes me feel worse! Not sure if it’s just the anxiety or the tablets!

@veryawkwardohno i have diazepam to help but my mood has gone so low. Think I might need crisis team been trying to fight it but really struggling today xx need hope it will get better

Yeah I think a chat to the crisis team might be a good idea. If this is not a crisis, what is?

The worst that can happen is that you are no worse off than you are now.

@Mummyrj18 Did u get to speak to anyone? Hope you are ok x

@Whycantgiraffesdance I've been reading a book that has helped me before about intrusive thoughts. I tend to feel bit better by evening but expecting full on anxiety by the morning again. My doctor wants to up my setraline so I guess I need to go with their advice. Thank you so much for checking on me. I hope you are ok too xx

I really feel for you all. A week ago my doc gave me bromazepam as I broke down to her saying I couldn't cope and I'd thoughts of dying. I should have taken the sick leave she suggested but didn't. I work from home, the kids are off (one has autism) and I'm back to the darkness again. No energy. Leg and shoulder pain. Get tired even making the bed and can't look after my two kids properly (they are clean and fed but that's about it) Ive been feeling this way for years but always put it down to low ferretin levels but my bloods are fine. Interesting question about what the joy would look like. I'm going to think about that one. Wishing you all the best and great to talk to people who understand this debilitating illness

Definitely need to up the sertraline dose, needs to be at 100 or above to be affective, diazepam should help with the anxiety, have you tried mindfulness etc, works for some

You are welcome @Mummyrj18 I know how hard it is so hate to think of others struggling as well. Can I ask what mg you are on of Setraline? I’m on 50mg which I’m expecting needs to be upped but so scared the side effects will worsen! And I hear you about feeling slightly better at night, I’m calmer now than I have been all day but I know the panic will be back as soon as I wake up!

@UnicornsAndRainbows23 So sorry you are suffering as well, it does help a little to hear others stories, I wish none of us had to suffer like this though 😔

Thinking of you. I hope you're ok x

I'm sorry you are feeling so low. I haven't been on sertraline but I have really really struggled at the start of taking different ADs and I know how difficult it can be.
Be very kind to yourself and try and keep reminding yourself that the real you is underneath all of this and that you CAN feel better. Take care.

@kizziee thank you needed to hear that xx

@Whycantgiraffesdance been on 50 for two weeks, upped to 100 mg today also nervous if it will have a positive or negative affect x I'm so exhausted with this x

@Mummyrj18 I hope you get on ok with the 100mg 🤞🏻 how was your morning today?

@Whycantgiraffesdance terrible morning again woke early with heart racing, upset stomach feeling desperate again but managed to calm myself a bit by lunchtime which is an improvement. So frustrating when you think you might be improving just to go through it all again, how have you been today ? Xxx

@Mummyrj18 Totally agree, I don’t know why mornings are so bad but I think I read somewhere it can be to do with cortisol levels being highest in the morning so if you are prone to anxiety that doesn’t help either! I had another panicked morning but I had my psychiatrist appt today and they actually diagnosed PND and given me some different tablets to try so will have to see how I get on 🤞🏻 hope tomorrow is better for you x

Yes that's right about cortisol and mornings.