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

Not great @Mummyrj18 but thank you for asking! We ended up calling the crisis line last Friday and I’m now being seen by the home treatment team everyday 🙈 I just want to feel better instead of this anxious, crying mess all the time! 😢 how about u? 🙏

@Whycantgiraffesdance i know it's so hard. I have moments of thinking maybe I'm improving but then back to square one again. Feel like I can't remember what it's like to be normal but it's been a relatively short period of time so trying to tell myself I can be that person again. Sorry to hear your still feeling as bad take all the support you can get it will help 💐Xxx

Thank you I will! I guess I’m doing better than 5 days ago but if I start to feel a bit more positive I end up overanalysing myself and talking myself back into feeling anxious again! I think it’s so long since I felt normal it’s hard to know what is! I hope you’ve had a good day today ❤️

Hi ladies

I know this threat hasn’t been posted in a while but wanted to chat if that’s okay.

i feel the exact same as you have all described. I’m feeling so low today, no energy just completely flat. I’ve been on sertraline 50mg for 5 weeks and 4 days and just feel completely crap, no improvements if not worse than before I started. As per dr’s instructions I’m increasing my dose this Saturday to 100mg - praying I can find the light again. Have use had any experience in increasing your dose? And did you find it had an improvement? Makes me feel like I don’t want to continue this as it’s such an emotional rollercoaster so looking for reassurance and guidance 😢 xx

Hi @SCeee so sorry you’re suffering too. I wanted to offer you some hope in that the last time I posted on this thread back in February I was a mess, I cried everyday, I couldn’t leave the house because I was so anxious, I couldn’t look after my kids, I could barely function and I felt so low I just didn’t want to be here anymore. 4 months on (which I know sounds a long time!) and I’m in such a better place. It took a good 12 weeks for my meds to kick in before I noticed a real difference and the dosage was increased 3 times in that time. I know it must feel really hopeless at the moment but it will get better! Keep going with the meds, it just takes time. Are u getting any other support? X

@Whycantgiraffesdance

I am SO happy you’re feeling better! 🥹🫶 I bet those dark days feel like a different world away now, so pleased for you! I have the most wonderful husband who is so supportive and kind to me, I’d be lost without him. And the most gorgeous little 2 year old who keeps me smiling everyday 🥹 I’m just so fed up of feeling this way and want to have my spark back. Can I ask what dose your on now? I’m praying moving upto 100mg will help me! How long after increasing your doses did you feel better? Thanks so much for responding! Xx

Thank you @SCeee ☺️ I’m on venlafaxine but I started on 37.5mg, then roughly every 3 weeks I increased to 75mg, then 150mg, then 187.5mg and I’m now on 225mg. It wasn’t until I reached 225mg (which I guess is my therapeutic dose) that I started to really notice a difference but I did start to feel gradually better before then. I did try Setraline before but I felt so more worse and I found the side effects too much, upset stomach etc. it is common to feel worse before you feel better though on most antidepressants so don’t get disheartened if you’re not feeling any better yet! I have PND so I’ve been under the perinatal team for a few months which has also helped enormously. I’m glad u have a supportive husband, I couldn’t have got through it without my partner either! x

@Whycantgiraffesdance im so chuffed for you that your feeling better and reached a stage where the dark days no longer haunt you 🥰🫶 I’m just praying things start to get better for me. Come Tuesday next week that’ll have been 6 weeks, so really hoped to have felt an improvement by then. Hoping that upping to 100mg will help, but nervous to have the awful side affects again 😢 just don’t want to carry on feeling low. Xx

I think the general consensus is you need to wait at least 12 weeks for meds to start making a real difference, I remember thinking that nothing was working and then gradually the clouds started to lift. I really hope you start to feel better soon as I know what’s it’s like to feel so low and hopeless. Have u considered any talking therapies at all? Might help along side the medication. Has anything in particular triggered your mood? xx

@Whycantgiraffesdance that’s what I’ve seen too so I’m remaining hopeful that with the increase in dose I’ll get some slow relief. My GP has given me a number for free CBT on the NHS so also going to book that. No nothing at all which is the frustrating part as I have such a wonderful life that I’m so thankful for everyday.. I think I’ve also suffered from low self esteem so think that pays a massive part in it. Xxx