Frightened about how I'm feeling

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi everyone,

I'm a full time single mum to a wonderful DD. I have always been on my own with her since birth. We have a lovely relationship, I'm lucky that I have my own place. Great family and friends close by.

But recently I was made redundant from a good, well paid job (which I hated tbh) but did it to pay the bills. My parents are elderly and not in great health.

Since being made redundant, I've cried most days. I literally feel so low, I'm incredibly sad about my parents eventually passing away. My dad has end stage Alzheimer's and dementia.

I'm writing this is tear because I'm putting up a strong front to my DD, I don't want her to feel bad. But inside I'm falling apart.

I don't know what to do. Im thinking of taking sertraline, but really concerned about the side effects. So I've avoided it. But I can't carry on feeling like this 😢 Are the side effects awful?

I can’t commend on sertraline but I do take fluoxetine for anxiety and depression and I do credit it with saving my life. I am a much better version of myself on it. How old is your daughter? Are you having any luck searching for new jobs? It sounds really tough x

My DD is 9. I've only started looking for jobs recently, but is so tough out there in the job market which is scaring the life out of me. I'm trying to be positive but the press is so bad about the market that I can't help but worry that I'm going to lose everything.

Is fluoxetine an antidepressant?

I literally feel no joy or happiness, I just want to cry all the time. My life just feels utter crap.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so low. You’ve got a lot to contend with. I was in this place mentally a few months ago (minus the job loss. Mine was mostly circumstantial due to childhood trauma). I started on sertraline start of July and am a much happier version of myself. Not 100% but I’d say 75% which is a huge improvement. I had side effects for a few days and it took 4 weeks to feel a bit better but it saved my life. I wish you well

I've read horror stories of feeling sick, getting brain zaps, no sleep 🤪 it all really scares me.

I'm quite an anxious person as well, mainly due to my circumstances. So I'd like something to help with that too.

I felt nauseous for a week and insomnia for a few nights but that eased. I take mine in the morning and I have no issues. It really helps keep my anxiety at bay as well as making my moods manageable

I’m on sertraline. I felt a bit more anxious the first week I took it and then it settled and I felt like nothing was happening. I stuck with it though and it made such a big difference when it kicked in. I had no other side effects, brain zaps, nausea etc.

Ok I might try it, I was going to start on the lowest dose of 25mg and see how I go. I'm off work now so I guess it's an ideal time to give it a try!

I really hope it will help lift my mood, because right now I feel so bad.

I never thought I'd consider antidepressants 😬

All you can do is try. If it isn’t for you, you can wean off of it and try something else if you want to. Taking ADs isn’t a bad thing and we all need help sometimes. When I started talking to friends and colleagues about mental health I realised more people struggle than we realise, they just don’t talk about it. If you had a broken leg you’d go to the doctor and have it treated. Your brain is the same

I just wanted to send you a virtual hug after reading your post OP. You have a lot to contend with and it's no wonder you're feeling so low. Do try the medication, at the lowest dose so your body can get used to it. Right now things just look awfully bleak for you and I get that (I've had similar episodes).. take one day at a time, one foot in front of the other. Try and remember to take time out for yourself, a bath/face pack/painting your nails can really help you to find some balance when everything around you feels so overwhelming. Sending love and strength your way xx

Each person is different, and meds affect everyone differently, but for me, Sertraline has been a god damn joy!

I started slowly on 25mg daily. I took it after my breakfast to help with any possible nausea. Then, with my doctors approval, jumped to 50mg after a couple of months, then again went up to 100mg, and i’ve been on that for 3 years now (just started to come back down and ween myself off)

The only side effects I noticed, was that I felt more anxious for a week or two, but I knew that was just the meds, then somehow, that just faded away and one day I noticed that I felt ok, and like my brain was a bit clearer and I had the willpower to manage my anxiety better.

I think the only way of knowing what side effects will be like, is to try them. If they last longer than advised, then your doctor will help you to find something else that might suit you better. Don’t give up if you do get side effects, try and see it through, unless they are really bad and affecting your daily life of course.

I’m sorry you are feeling this way and I hope you find a solution. Sertraline was so good for me, and I hope it is the same for you.

That sounds exactly like my Sertraline start 👍

Thanks everyone, I'm speaking to the doctor today to get some 😊 I've tried without anything for so long and think I need it now x

I don't know what to do. Im thinking of taking sertraline, but really concerned about the side effects. So I've avoided it. But I can't carry on feeling like this 😢 Are the side effects awful

Not for my sister. She did so well on sertraline

She started off on 25 mg

Split in half (12.5mg)

Each morning for 2 weeks .....with a pint of water

After 2 weeks upped to 25 mg. Taken as above

After 2 weeks 37.5 mg taken as above

After 2 weeks 50 mg taken as above

For my sister 50 mg was fine and she's now back on 25 mg

🥰

Have a Google of ‘anticipatory grief and see if that rings any bells. Perhaps you’re grieving your Dad already 💐 Sertraline worked really well for me and I came off it no problem later when I was ready. Wishing you so much luck on the job market too.

I have been taking sertraline for 2 years. Was a bit worried about side effects to begin with but honestly it was fine and helped me enormously. The first sertraline tablet I took was on an empty stomach and made me feel very nauseas all day. For the next few days I made sure to take it after breakfast and was completely fine. After a few days I could take it on an empty stomach with no problems.

I felt a little wired for a few days but nothing much, it was a background thing. Insomnia for a couple of nights but that was it. If I am late taking it now and perhaps take it in the late afternoon I don't sleep well that night. I just make sure to take it in a morning and if I forget I don't take it later, I just skip the dose.

Thank you so much I'm feeling much more positive already and I've not even taken the tablet 🤣

Thats good to hear 🥰 Just remember to up it slowly, try to stick with the it, even if it feels like it isnt working, it could take a month or so to build up a decent amount.

Let us know how you get on. Don’t do it alone, we’ve all been there and can help advise you through it if you have ANY questions at all 💚

Thanks, I'll wait I think until Thursday to take it. I'm collecting it later this morning and worried it would interfere with my sleep. Tomorrow I've got a lot on. So will wait till start Thursday x

I took 25mg today around 11.00. I felt ok at first, a bit of a woosy feeling and all the noise in my head seemed to calm down. Then I got a slightly dodgy tummy, and I felt exhausted so I've been asleep for the last hour 😬

I'm wondering if I should be taking it at night?! I do feel slightly out of it!

Did you take it after food? You can try it at night yeah, it’s probably trial and error for the start, whatever you think best suits you and your body.

I told it with some food..

I still feel quite woozy, like I'm coming round from an anaesthetic 🤣 but I do feel lighter and slightly happier. Not sure if thats just in my head though.

But I'm might take it tomorrow at night because I can't go the whole of tomorrow feeling like this 🤪

Even if it’s just in your head, it’s good that you feel happier, that’s a victory to celebrate 🥳 Yeah, give night time a go. Once any side effects have passed, you can probably be a bit more flexible with the timing.

Thanks 🤩